Chapter 41 The End of the Nightmare, and the "Special Treatment" in the Dead of Night (
The night was dark and the wind was high.
The daytime hustle and bustle had long since faded, and the entire city was immersed in a deathly silence. Only the occasional clanging of armor from patrolling guards echoed through the empty streets.
Ye Feng walked alone on the only way back to the academy hotel.
This road is usually bustling, but today it's eerily quiet. The soul-guided streetlights along the roadside are flickering, as if something is devouring the light.
"Since you're here, come out."
Ye Feng stopped, lit a cigarette, and said calmly into the empty darkness, "Aren't you tired after following me all this way, Teacher Shi Nian?"
The surrounding air seemed to freeze for a moment.
Immediately afterwards, the familiar street scene began to distort, turning into a gray wasteland.
A sinister voice seemed to come from all directions:
"Hehehe... What a sharp-witted kid. It seems that it's no wonder my good-for-nothing students lost to you."
As space fluctuated, a slender figure dressed in the robes of a Canghui Academy teacher slowly emerged.
He was none other than Canghui Academy's Vice Dean, a Soul Saint of level seventy-two, Canmeng Shinian.
His cloudy old eyes gleamed with greed and murderous intent as he stared intently at Ye Feng.
"Boy, you're very strong. That third ring of ten thousand years, and that method that can reflect mental attacks... If you grow up, you will definitely be a great threat to my Canghui Academy. Unfortunately, you shouldn't have shown your strength at this time."
"So, you're here to kill me and silence me?" Ye Feng exhaled a smoke ring, his calm expression making Shi Nian uneasy.
"Not only will I kill you, I will make you disappear from this world completely."
Shi Nian sneered, and his seventh spirit ring suddenly lit up. It was a black, ten-thousand-year spirit ring. "Seventh Spirit Skill: Nightmare True Form!"
In an instant, the surrounding gray wasteland seemed to come alive. Countless hideous ghostly figures crawled out from the ground, rushing towards Ye Feng with mournful howls. This was the terrifying aspect of Shi Nian; in nightmares, people would experience the most painful torment and finally die in madness.
"Boy, repent in my nightmares! Do you see the deepest fear in your heart?" Shi Nian's voice became erratic.
However, Ye Feng, caught in the center of his nightmare, could only shake his head helplessly. He threw away the cigarette butt in his hand and crushed it out with his toe. "Fear? Sorry, I gave up that kind of thing a long time ago."
Ye Feng slowly raised his head, and his originally dark eyes now emitted a faint purple-gold light. It wasn't a soul skill, but rather the terrifying spiritual power accumulated from his two lifetimes, further enhanced by the calming jade that Mingyue had given him.
"Shi Nian, your biggest mistake was trying to use illusion magic against a—Full-Time Master." The Thousand Manifestations Umbrella instantly appeared in Ye Feng's hand. But he didn't choose to defend, nor did he choose to counterattack. Instead—crack! Crack! Crack! The Thousand Manifestations Umbrella instantly disintegrated and reformed, transforming into a two-meter-long black heavy sniper rifle! Thousand Manifestations Umbrella: Sniper Form!
"Faced with absolute physical impact, all illusions are mere fancy tricks." Ye Feng didn't even look at the ghostly figures around him, but instead closed his eyes. Mental detection, full power!
In his perception, those ghostly figures were all false energy fluctuations; only in one place could he hear a faint heartbeat. "I've found you."
Bang! A muffled gunshot shattered the silence of the nightmare. A specially crafted Soul-Shattering Bullet, imbued with all of Ye Feng's soul power, tore through the air, ignoring spatial distance, and accurately shot towards a patch of void to his left.
"Pfft—!" An incredulous scream echoed from the void. The surrounding nightmare illusion collapsed instantly, like a shattered mirror.
The street reappeared. Shi Nian clutched his chest, blood gushing out, staring at Ye Feng in terror. "You... how could you possibly have discovered my true form?! My Remnant Dream is invincible..."
"Nothing is immortal; it's just a matter of how long your health bar is."
Ye Feng put away the Thousand Chance Umbrella and walked step by step toward Shi Nian. At this moment, Shi Nian's heart had been pierced, and his life force was rapidly draining away. As a spirit-type soul master, his physical defense was even weaker than that of an ordinary power-type soul master.
"No...don't kill me..." Fear finally showed in Shi Nian's eyes.
"In your next life, remember not to mess with a cheater." Ye Feng raised his knife and brought it down. A head rolled off.
As Shi Nian died, a point of colored light rose from his corpse. It was a shrunken skull-shaped ball of light, radiating a mesmerizing seven-colored halo, which was exceptionally dazzling even in the darkness of night.
"The drop rate is pretty high."
Ye Feng reached out and caught the soul bone, sensing the immense spiritual energy contained within it. It was a gem-type head soul bone (originally called the Wisdom Skull, but here slightly modified to enhance mental control and immunity to illusions).
"Good stuff. Although it's not really suitable for me (Ye Feng follows the violent aesthetics route), it would be a god-tier item for Xiao Chun or Bing'er."
Ye Feng stored the soul bone into his soul tool and then skillfully took Shi Nian's Ruyi Treasure Pouch.
Then, he took out a bottle of Dugu Yan's specially made corpse-dissolving liquid and poured it on Shi Nian's body. Sizzle—moments later, only a puddle of yellow liquid remained on the ground, not even a trace left.
"That's it for the day, time to go home."
...
A full-time esports team, inside a luxury suite.
When Ye Feng pushed open the door, he found the living room lights were still on. The atmosphere... was a little off.
Three "Buddhas" sat on the sofa. In the very center was Mingyue, pretending to read a book, but her eyes were always drifting towards the door. To her left was Dugu Yan, wearing a silk nightgown and painting her nails. To her right was Shui Bing'er, hugging a cushion, her face expressionless but the tips of her ears red.
"Hey, everyone's here? Still awake?" Ye Feng changed into slippers and greeted them casually.
"Where did they go?" the three women asked in unison.
Ye Feng's heart skipped a beat.
"Uh... I went for a walk and took care of a nasty fly while I was at it."
He walked to the coffee table, took out the multicolored head bone, and placed it on the table. "By the way, I brought you a gift."
"This is... a soul bone?!" The three women's eyes were instantly drawn to it. The value of a soul bone in the Douluo Continent was self-evident.
"It was a gift from that old bastard from Canghui Academy," Ye Feng said casually, then slumped onto the single sofa, rubbing his temples and feigning extreme weakness. "Hiss... But that old guy's mental attacks are really something. My head is buzzing, I feel like it's about to explode."
Upon hearing this, the three women, who had originally intended to "interrogate" him about his unauthorized outing, instantly changed their attitude.
"Are you emotionally traumatized?" Dugu Yan was the first to rush over. Her long, beautiful legs swayed in front of Ye Feng, then she squatted down beside him and took his hand. "Captain, let me see. I have a way to alleviate it."
As she spoke, a faint, sweet fragrance emanated from her body. It wasn't poison, but rather a calming aura unique to the evolved Azure Phosphorous Serpent King. She pressed Ye Feng's hand against her soft cheek, her eyes so alluring they seemed to drip with moisture.
"Does it hurt a lot? How about I sleep with you tonight? My snake body is very cool, it can help lower your temperature~"
"Dugu Yan, is that supposed to cool things down? You're just adding fuel to the fire!" Shui Bing'er couldn't sit still any longer. She walked over and tried to push Dugu Yan's hand away (though she didn't actually manage to push it away), then sat down on the other side of Ye Feng.
"Mental trauma requires rest and recuperation, not for you, a demon, to drain their yang energy."
Shui Bing'er extended her fair palm, a soft, icy-blue halo gathering in her hand. "Ye Feng, close your eyes. This is my innate skill—the Ice Heart Technique—which can calm agitated spirits." Her small hand gently touched Ye Feng's forehead. The touch was cool, delicate, and carried a captivating, minty fragrance.
Ye Feng hummed comfortably. To his left, Dugu Yan's fiery body pressed against his arm; to his right, Shui Bing'er's cool little hand caressed his forehead. This sensation of contrasting heat and cold... was simply a royal indulgence.
"Hehe, Captain, your heart seems to be beating faster." Dugu Yan chuckled mischievously, her restless hand sliding up Ye Feng's arm, her fingertips lightly tracing circles across his chest through his clothes.
"Don't you think Bing'er's hands are too cold? Or is my embrace warmer?" As she spoke, she deliberately puffed out her chest, and the view under her deep V-neck gave Ye Feng a good feast for the eyes.
"You... shameless!" Shui Bing'er's face turned as red as a ripe apple, but her hand didn't leave Ye Feng's forehead; instead, she slightly increased the pressure, as if asserting her dominance. "Ye Feng, you can only choose one treatment. Cold compress, or... poisoning?"
Ye Feng was caught in the middle, experiencing both pain and pleasure. "Um... I think a combination of traditional Chinese and Western medicine is more effective. Why don't you all do it together?"
"Dream on!" the two women said coquettishly at the same time.
Just then, Mingyue, who had been silent all along, closed her book. The soft "snap" sounded particularly clear in the ambiguous atmosphere.
"Have you made enough of a scene?" Mingyue stood up. Although she had restrained her powerful aura as a Soul Saint, the unique authority of a mature woman still instantly put an end to the scene.
She walked up to Ye Feng, looking down at him with a hint of mockery and helplessness in her eyes.
"Keep pretending. You seem to be in great spirits, even able to flirt with young girls."
Ye Feng smiled awkwardly, just about to make an excuse.
"Alright." Mingyue waved her hand, looking at Dugu Yan and Shui Bing'er as if she were shooing away chicks.
"You two, take the soul bone next door and investigate its ownership. This soul bone isn't suitable for Ye Feng; it's perfect for you support or control types. Go on, don't get in the way here."
"But teacher, the captain's injury..." Dugu Yan was still reluctant.
"I will treat his injuries myself." Mingyue glanced at Ye Feng with a half-smile. "After all, there are some 'deep treatments' that you children can't handle."
Dugu Yan and Shui Bing'er exchanged a glance, both seeing the resentment in each other's eyes. However, under Mingyue's accumulated pressure, they could only obediently pick up the soul bone and leave, turning back every few steps. Before leaving, Dugu Yan even blew Ye Feng a kiss, implying, "Leave the door open for me tonight."
...
The door closed. Only Ye Feng and Mingyue remained in the living room.
The air suddenly became somewhat scorching.
"Teacher, um... actually, I'm fine, I'll be fine after a nap." Looking at Mingyue approaching step by step, Ye Feng felt inexplicably guilty. This mature woman's aura was too strong.
"Are you alright?" Mingyue walked up to Ye Feng and straddled his lap. This action was even bolder and more domineering than Dugu Yan's earlier. She cupped Ye Feng's face in her hands, her mature and charming eyes almost touching his.
"Do you know how worried I was just now?" Mingyue's voice trembled slightly; she was no longer the stern teacher, but a little woman worried about her lover.
"Shi Nian is notoriously cunning. What if something happens to you... what am I supposed to do? What will the full-time team do?"
Ye Feng's heart softened.
He reached out and embraced Mingyue's full waist, feeling her body tremble slightly.
"I'm sorry to have worried you. But I have to go, for the team, and to prevent future troubles."
"You're always so right." Mingyue sighed, then lowered her head and kissed Ye Feng's lips.
It was a kiss filled with a sense of punishment, yet also extremely tender. Her lips were soft and hot, carrying a faint scent of red wine.
Ye Feng instantly took the initiative, deepening the kiss, his hands roaming over her back, feeling the amazing elasticity and warmth beneath her silk nightgown.
After a long while, their lips parted. Mingyue leaned on Ye Feng's shoulder, panting, her face flushed and her eyes brimming. "This is your punishment," she whispered in Ye Feng's ear, her voice slightly hoarse. "Tonight, you're not allowed to go back to your room. You'll stay here... with me."
"Yes, my queen." Ye Feng's lips curled into a wicked smile.
"Oh, right." Mingyue seemed to remember something, tracing circles on Ye Feng's chest with her finger. "Who are you planning to give that soul bone to? I think Bing'er really wants it, but Yan Yan isn't going to be outdone. Aren't you just deliberately creating conflict?"
"This is called healthy competition." Ye Feng played with a strand of Mingyue's hair. "Moreover, although that soul bone is a gem, it is actually more suitable for enhancing mental cohesion. If Bing'er, as the core of the control system, absorbs it, her Ice Phoenix control will undergo a qualitative change. As for Yan Yan… I'll find her a poison attribute one next time."
"Favoritism." Mingyue snorted lightly. "I think you just like Bing'er's cold demeanor and want to melt her heart, don't you?"
"I'm innocent! My favorite is clearly..." Ye Feng leaned close to Mingyue's ear and whispered something.
Mingyue's face instantly turned red to her ears, and she punched Ye Feng hard. "You scoundrel! How could you say such a thing!"
"Hehe, just telling the truth."
The living room light stayed on for a long time that night. Although they didn't cross that final line (after all, they were still in the competition and needed to conserve their energy), the two slept in each other's arms, and the closeness of their hearts and bodies was more intense than ever before.
The next morning.
A bombshell announcement rocked Tiandou City: Shi Nian, the vice-principal of Canghui Academy, had disappeared. He was nowhere to be found, neither alive nor dead.
Although Canghui Academy protested to the organizing committee, claiming that the full-time team was responsible, the matter ultimately had to be dropped due to a lack of evidence and Shi Nian's numerous enemies.
When Bishop Salas heard the news, he just smiled coldly: "Useless. He couldn't even handle a student. He deserved to die."
Meanwhile, the full-time team appeared on the field looking radiant. Shui Bing'er, in particular, was in exceptionally good spirits, her brows radiating confidence and clarity. The soul bone from that era, thanks to Mingyue's "justice" last night, had ultimately been given to her.
"Who's our next opponent?" Ye Feng asked, yawning (his arms were a little sore from being hugged by Mingyue all night).
"Blazing Fire Academy." It was Ye Shaotian who spoke, pointing excitedly to a group of people in bright red team uniforms in the distance.
"Brother Feng, look at that Huo Wu, she's been glaring at you the whole time. Tsk tsk, that look in her eyes, it's like she wants to eat you up."
Ye Feng followed the gaze.
Sure enough, Huo Wu, with her fiery red short hair and hot figure, was staring intently at him, her eyes burning with fierce fighting spirit.
Standing next to her was a man with an equally unfriendly expression—Feng Xiaotian from Shenfeng Academy (Huo Wu's simp).
"Interesting." Ye Feng stroked his chin.
"Fire Dance, huh? Hopefully, she'll be a bit tougher than those trash from Canghui Academy." "After all, I'm the kind of person who can handle anyone who dares to challenge me. Especially... that hot-tempered little pepper."