Chapter 163: Indistinguishable (2 in 1)
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Dream Coins were a beautiful currency. They floated in the air like stars, but only for an instant.
Two Dream Coins flew into Tang Ling’s hand and moved along his arm before they ultimately stopped on the Dream Seed mark.
Instinctively, Tang Ling rolled his sleeves up for a closer look. Underneath the Dream Seed mark, Kun Ya, there were two beautiful spots in the size of a sesame seed each.
It must be a sign of his possession of the Dream Coins.
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll be taking my leave. The mist will go away soon. Once again, congratulations on starting your adventure.” Liu He’s voice remained kind and his hands retracted into his sleeves but his smile continued.
However, even with the smile, there was no emotion on his face.
“Wait, I still have some questions,” Tang Ling quickly stopped Liu He without even rolling his sleeves.
He actually did not have any questions to ask since the encounter was so sudden, but when Liu He said that not every Dream Seed could see the guide or that most Dream Seeds did not even know about his existence, it gave Tang Ling an idea.
The guide’s appearance before him must be a rare opportunity which he had to seize.
The dream world tended to have a clear and determined goal. Had the guide came all the way here just to deliver two Dream Coins? Unlikely.
As though he wanted to answer Tang Ling’s doubts, Liu He did not stop Tang Ling from asking after his departure was interrupted. Instead, he gave Tang Ling another hint. “Time is limited.”
Whether Tang Ling could get something useful from the guide or not would depend on his ability to grasp the point within the limited timeframe.
“The Dream Coins are stored here. If I have a lot of Dream Coins and my arm can’t fit all of them, what should I do?” Tang Ling asked a rather ridiculous question. He did not ask that on purpose, but he had his own thoughts.
“Hmm.” Liu He squinted his eyes. He never expected Tang Ling to ask such a strange question. He recovered his smile and said, “I think as a new Dream Seed, you shouldn’t worry about that at the moment.”
“Why not?” Tang Ling suddenly looked serious. His seemingly ridiculous question was actually the basis for him to ask why.
The question was vast and did not specifically target a single detail or matter. Tang Ling knew nothing about the Dream Domain and everything within it, but he was able to ask more about the place through such a question.
Regardless of how Liu He answered the question, he would leave him with some useful information.
“You’re smart.” Liu He seemed to be fine with Tang Ling’s little thoughts as he lavished him with praise after he understood what Tang Ling was trying to do.
Liu He then said, “Since you were able to clear the S-rank entry mission, I suppose you must have figured out a lot of things about the Dream Domain and why it exists. The Dream Domain is all about tests. The essence of these tests is to find out the limits of human capabilities. So, what are these so-called limits, you may ask?”
“It’s the fine line between life and death. So, do you understand why I said you shouldn’t worry about getting more Dream Coins at your current stage?”
“I understand. On the line between life and death, staying alive is the point. One must achieve something to be rewarded with Dream Coins, and staying alive is as difficult as it is, let alone earning Dream Coins,” Tang Ling replied quickly, but then he switched the topic all of a sudden, “As a Dream Seed, can I think of this line of life and death a type of…uh…principle in the Dream Domain?”
“Of course, it’s the path that constructs the Dream Domain. You can also think of it as the law of the Dream Domain.” Liu He was very well-mannered and he did not look impatient at all.
“Meaning, in this city, this Dream Domain, no matter what I do or where I go, everything that I encounter specifically targets my own line of life and death?” Tang Ling’s question was actually tackling a very specific topic.
“You can think of it as every step you tread forward is as such. More precisely, you can’t actually go anywhere in the Dream Domain. Understand?” Liu He’s smile looked even more sincere.
Tang Ling remained quiet this time. He latched onto the point quickly: he would surely run into a test involving his own line of life and death within a certain distance, and he was not allowed to simply wander around in the Dream Domain.
There were no tricks to all this. All he could do was tread forward step by step towards the peak that he believed was the goal.
“Well then, I should be going.” Liu He had answered quite a lot, especially with the phrase ‘the line of life and death’. It almost revealed the most important thing about the Dream Domain.
It was not considered special treatment toward Tang Ling though. The key was Tang Ling and his question. Since he was able to think about it and ask his question, he was able to get an affirmative answer from Liu He.
“The line of life and death is the limit of a person’s capabilities, so is the person’s capabilities everything?” Without caring, Tang Ling seized the chance and asked more because he wanted to know how the Dream Domain determined achievements and progress.
“It is everything within your own capabilities. The best way to overcome it is to get the highest rating.” As Liu He revealed the final details, his figure was fading into the mist. He was not moving, but a magical force was sucking him into the mist.
In the spot where Liu He stood, the water-like mist magically faded and started to reveal this corner of the city.
Nevertheless, Tang Ling did not care about the view. He fixed his gaze on Liu He’s fading figure and continued asking his questions.
“Can you tell me who you are?
“Do you and your kind exist in the old civilization?
“Are you and Kun…?”
No answer came. In just a few seconds, Liu He, the guide’s figure vanished without a trace.
How unfortunate. Tang Ling was slightly disappointed. He still had a ton of questions to ask Liu He, but at least, he now knew that the Dream Domain would not allow him to cross the line.
‘He and Kun must be the same kind,’ he thought in his mind, and the thought seemed to allow him to latch onto something, but he could not exactly tell what.
As he pondered on that thought, he drew the grade C alloy longsword from his back and kept the Wolf Crunch back in his sleeve.
The mystery revolving Kun and Liu He’s background was not a question that he should solve now. He was still in the dream, and this strange city called the Dream Domain reeked of unknown danger lurking in its corners.
After the mist dissipated, Tang Ling saw a street before him. The street was covered with rough green bricks and on both sides were grayish black walls that extended all the way down. It was narrow, b.u.mpy and filled with green mosses as if it was complaining how cruel time was.
Behind the short grayish black wall were buildings with heavy Huaxia architectural elements. Black tiles and white walls represented a famous architectural style of ancient Huaxia—the Hui-style architecture.
The buildings were anything but glamorous. A single glance over the area showed nothing but common residential houses, but when coupled with the gloomy weather, the whole scene looked like a natural black and white painting.
Other than that, Tang Ling managed to see through the lingering mist and spot even more streets further ahead. There was a wide street ahead that seemed to be the main avenue. According to how the old civilization measured the street, it could fit at least ten cars.
The strange thing was that there were many different noises from the main avenue and Tang Ling was able to make out some human voices.
However, Tang Ling still had the papers that Su Yao had given him. Although there were some hints on it that did not seem important, they were unusually clear.
‘Do not simply enter mountains, forests, caves, and houses which are complicated confined s.p.a.ces. Do not simply enter extra s.p.a.cious grounds either.’
According to Liu He, the tests were basically the same, so it made the hints seem a little ridiculous, but Tang Ling would not simply deny these experiences from other Dream Seeds.
For example, judging from how lively the main avenue was from here, there must be a lot of things there, openly and secretly. Tang Ling also believed that the basics of the tests were all the same, so it might all come one after another continuously if he headed to the main avenue.
Liu He came and went like the wind. Could he have left some form of convenience for Tang Ling in the end?
Tang Ling thought about it for a few seconds on the spot. He then decided to sheath the longsword into the clasp on his back and slowly walked forward on the old street of green bricks.
The street was very old, and as he walked along, he realized there were all sorts of shallow and deep marks on the surface of the green bricks.
After the rain, there were water puddles on the streets. They reflected the white walls and black tiles of the buildings, looking blindingly bright with a sense of distress.
Carried by the breeze was the scent of the moss. The air was so fresh that it was shocking. Unlike Tang Ling’s era, the air always had a strange smell. It was not exactly pungent, but it was there. It was known as the ubiquitous contamination.
The details of authenticity would catch one off guard. Was this a dream? Or was it reality?
Step by step…meter after meter…
Tang Ling’s battle uniform slowly transformed from a dull gray to a deep dark blue with a tinge of tenacity.
In the blink of an eye, his upper uniform transformed into a dark blue short robe and his pants changed into cotton pants of the same color tucked into his leather boots.
The Wolf Crunch remained tucked in Tang Ling’s sleeve, but the Desert Eagle transformed into a strange-looking weapon that resembled a hidden weapon from ancient Huaxia. It was still hanging at his waist.
The longsword remained as it was as well, but Tang Ling did not know that because he did not have eyes on his back. Although he was not worried about it, the Dream Domain would provide the perfect cover.
Tang Ling only walked forward 50 meters and his image had changed from a New Moon Warrior of the Purple Moon Era to a young swordsman of some unknown period in ancient Huaxia.
Tang Ling did not feel any emotions about the transformation because he accepted it frankly. He felt a little regretful though. Had he spent more time reading, he might have understood ancient Huaxia history better.
If he knew the historical background better, would the mission have been easier? However, Tang Ling had not received anything about the mission until now.
With that thought in mind, Tang Ling reached the end of the green brick street and before he could regain his senses, he saw a bunch of young children in ancient Huaxia attire sprinting past him madly from the corner of the street.
As their steps caused splashes in the puddles, he picked up their subsiding conversation.
“The grandmother from w.a.n.g family was bitten to death!”
“Stop blabbering. She’s old and she is dying.”
“She was bitten to death. I heard it from others.”
“Let’s just go have a look.”
Tang Ling avoided the splashes easily and the youthful conversation entered his ears, but he failed to dodge a pair of rough hands that grabbed him.
“Young Master Tang, where have you been these two days? Please don’t simply wander around. It’s been dangerous recently.”
Tang Ling looked up and saw the face of a man with deep wrinkles around his brows and the center of his forehead. He was scrawny and seemed malnourished, but his strong hands were holding Tang Ling. His grip was so strong that it made Tang Ling’s palm twitch a little.
It was at that moment when a hint about the mission appeared in his mind. “Tang Chongwu, the second son of the wealthy Tang family of Qingxi town.”
As the sentence appeared in his mind, his full background and the details of his cover followed.
What kind of technology was this that could implant memories directly in people’s minds?
While Tang Ling was shocked about the Dream Domain’s methods, he subtly glanced at the old man before him.
“Sorry for worrying you, Grandfather Han. Chongwu went out of town for the past two days. I don’t know what happened to the town. Just now, I heard the children said…”
Tang Ling might not understand how ancient Huaxia people conversed, but when he opened his mouth, both his slang and intonation were perfectly p.r.o.nounced. It seemed like the Dream Domain’s method of inserting memories directly into his mind also provided him with some basic knowledge of ancient Huaxia.
The man known as Grandfather Han stopped Tang Ling and sighed. His words seemed to lack rhyme or reason as he said, “Don’t ask. Don’t ask now. Let’s go back to the manor. Master might have to come out later. This is actually the third case this month.” He then pulled Tang Ling away.
Tang Ling was not in a hurry either, so he allowed Grandfather Han to take him away.
According to the information that he received in his mind, Grandfather Han was the Tang family’s guardian. His position was respectful and prestigious, and both he and his so-called brother, Tang Chongwen, were raised by Grandfather Han.
His addiction to practicing martial arts since he was young was also influenced by Grandfather Han, so there was no reason not to trust him for now.
“Just look at you. Look! Wielding swords and daggers, what is this look about? With your level of martial arts, do you think you can become a martial scholar? Why don’t you follow your big brother? He’s familiar with scriptures and is already a xiucai [1]. With that knowledge of his, he’ll earn respect wherever he goes.” Although Grandfather Han released Tang Ling’s hand, because of his age, he kept nagging him.
Tang Ling listened to the lecture with a smile as he peered around without paying much attention to Grandfather Han. He was sizing up the whole Qingxi town.
It was not a big town by any means. There was a crystal clear river that flowed through the center of town, the emerald green water reflecting the Hui-style architecture buildings with lush greenery planted on both sides. One would feel like one had entered a peaceful painting.
Such scenery was not preserved in the Purple Moon Era. Regardless of how beautiful it was, Tang Ling did not have the mood to enjoy it. His Precise Instinct was running wild in his mind, mapping out the terrain of Qingxi town. According to his battle habits, Tang Ling always memorized the terrains of the battlefield and would remember as many details as possible.
It was a test of life and death after all.
“Not speaking, are we? Are you revealing regret by not speaking?” Tang Ling was quiet, but Grandfather Han was not used to it. He turned around, and when he saw that Tang Ling paid no attention to his words and smiled in a silly way, Grandfather Han was instantly upset.
“I regret it, I do. I thought having a civil and a martial scholar would be something joyful in the family. If you’re unhappy, Grandfather Han, Chongwu will learn scriptures as well,” said Tang Ling as he tried to comfort Grandfather Han. He really did not want a character in the dream to nag at him relentlessly.
Tang Ling noticed a key point after sizing up the whole town, but he needed more evidence to verify his thoughts.
Persuaded, Grandfather Han’s furrowed brows eased and the wrinkles on his face seemed to dissipate.
Seizing the opportunity, Tang Ling casually asked, “Grandfather, what time is it?”
“Did you stay out for so long that you lost track of time?” Grandfather Han criticized, but he quickly replied, “It’s already Si hour.”
According to modern time units, Si hour was the time period between 9 to 11 a.m. However, it was rather impossible to identify the precise time judging from the background of the era.
Since it was still early in the day, even after a downpour, the town was rather quiet.
The shops along the streets were closed. Other than the group of children that sprinted on the street, there was no one else.
The strange thing was that all the houses had shut their gates tightly. Other than some dogs barking and a rooster crowing in a house, there was no sound at all as if they were afraid of something.
Was this something related to what the children said earlier and the dangerous times that Grandfather Han mentioned? If that was the case, then the mission in this dream would revolve around this matter.
However, the mission only provided some background information and he had not been told what he must do.
As Tang Ling got carried away by his thoughts again, Grandfather Han asked Tang Ling, “Are you hungry?”
It was the usual time for the wealthy to have their meals. Because Grandfather Han was worried about Tang Ling since he asked about the time, he related it to his grandson having a hard time outside the manor and possibly not even having had a full meal in the past two days.
Grandfather Han could not stop but nag again. He questioned Tang Ling about why he would become a swordsman. No swordsman could travel without silver.
Tang Ling automatically turned off his hearing. He feigned understanding and followed Grandfather Han along the way while memorizing everything that he saw.
Less than a quarter of an hour later, the two of them arrived in the south of the town.
A big manor was erected there. It had the same white walls and black tiles but was a lot larger than other common residential houses. It was countless times grander and more prestigious.
The manor was built in the suburbs. Further down south was a small mountain with lush trees, and in between the mountain and the town was a pond.
The pond was quiet but deep, the greenish surface turning dark as it deepened. It also emanated a chill.
“Why are you standing there? Come in.” Grandfather Han was standing in front of the black main gate. Maybe because it was still early, the Tang family was not afraid of what the rest of the town feared. The gate of the Tang residence behind Grandfather Han was wide open.
Tang Ling nodded and followed Grandfather Han into the manor.
To his surprise, right after he stepped through the door, a servant that sprung out of nowhere sprinted towards the gate and locked it tightly with a bang. The heavy bar was quickly latched over the gate.
“Interesting.” Tang Ling turned around and glanced at the servant’s actions, chuckling in his heart.
Based on information in the papers Su Yao gave him, he was told to not enter mountains, forests, and houses because it would only raise the level of difficulty and danger.
Nonetheless, he had entered houses, seen a mountain, and walked through the entire town, so how difficult would his mission be now?
If the principle of pus.h.i.+ng the limit of life and death remained constant, what kind of limits would this mission test? More importantly, did the difficulty include the existence of his seed?
In this indistinguishable dream that screamed peculiarity and strangeness, Tang Ling was somehow able to slowly eliminate the nervousness and fear in his heart.
What remained was the excitement and the urge to challenge the mission!