The discovery in the library was like a massive rock cast into Xiao Qi's heart, the ripples it stirred taking a long time to subside. The vague records of 'Primordial Implements,' 'Purification' and 'Fusion,' though unverified, seemed to drape his jade pendant and frying pan in an even more mysterious and weighty veil. They also deepened his inquiry into his parents' intentions and his longing to understand the past of Xulan Mountain Villa. During the day, he continued his usual cultivation, chores, and training, burying that shock and bewilderment deep within. Yet some things cannot be made to vanish by mere suppression; they often slip into the depths of consciousness, only to surge back in the most terrifying form at the moment of greatest relaxation.
That night, the moon was hidden, the stars sparse, and all sound hushed. Xiao Qi, exhausted, fell into a deep sleep. At first, the dream was peaceful: his mother Su Wan busy in the kitchen, the air filled with the warm, distinctive aroma of food frying in the pan. His father Xu Zhan stood nearby, polishing the sword that never left his side, a gentle smile on his lips… It was the most ordinary, most precious daily life of Xulan Mountain Villa before the calamity.
Yet in an instant, that heartwarming scene shattered like a mirage! Pitch‑black demonic qi, thick as ink, surged from all directions, swallowing light and peace in a moment! Shrill screams, the grating clash of blades, the roar of collapsing buildings—all intertwined into a hellish symphony! Once again he 'saw' that night! Flames shot skyward, dyeing the night sky a ghastly blood‑red. Familiar courtyards and pavilions twisted and crumbled in the demonic flames. Clan members fled in terror, cut down like wheat stalks under the merciless pursuit of black‑robed demonic cultivators, their blood staining the blue‑stone slabs. "Xiao Qi, run!" His mother's blood‑stained white robes and her desperate shove—that was the sharpest pain in the dream.
Then, his father! Xu Zhan's tall figure stood atop the Listening Wind Pavilion, his black cloak flapping wildly in the gale of demonic qi. All around him bloomed a blue purification light, like the last beacon in a storm. Yet what he faced was boundless darkness! Several Shadow Serpent Pavilion demonic cultivators with terrifying auras closed in, their demonic qi morphing into vicious serpents and claws, wildly battering the faltering blue barrier. "Father—!" Xiao Qi in the dream cried out soundlessly. He watched his father slash apart one demonic assault, only to be struck hard by another black streak from behind! Blood blossomed on his back like red plum blossoms! Xu Zhan's body swayed violently, yet he still stubbornly blocked the path to the ancestral hall. The glance he threw over his shoulder was filled with boundless worry, reluctance, and... entrustment! That gaze, like a red‑hot branding iron, seared Xiao Qi's heart!
"No—!" Xiao Qi bolted upright from his bed, drenched in cold sweat. His heart hammered wildly in his chest, almost leaping out. His ragged panting rang unnaturally loud in the silent night. Before his eyes lingered the image of his father bathed in blood and that all‑devouring black demonic qi. A huge tide of grief, terror, and helplessness, cold as ice, engulfed him in an instant. He curled up, gripping the front of his robe with both hands, nails almost digging into his flesh. His teeth chattered uncontrollably; tears mingled with cold sweat, silently streaming down.
Just as he was being swallowed by the extreme negative emotions from the nightmare, nearly suffocating, the jade pendant worn against his chest suddenly transmitted a clear, steady vibration! Not the earlier heat, nor the sharp pain when it conveyed memories—this was a gentle yet firm vibration, like a mother's softly patting hand. At the same time, a familiar, cool energy slowly flowed from the jade pendant, like a trickling stream, swiftly spreading through his limbs and body. It soothed his racing heart, dispelling the bone‑deep chill and fear. Wherever this cool energy passed, his agitated mind gradually calmed, his churning qi and blood slowly settled. The bloody, horrific scenes in his mind seemed wrapped in a soft halo, no longer so sharp and glaring. Xiao Qi breathed heavily, feeling the comforting power from the jade pendant, like a drowning person clutching the only floating plank. He gripped the pendant tightly; its cool touch helped his chaotic thoughts gradually clear.
This wasn't the first time he'd had this nightmare, but each recurrence felt like tearing open a wound that had yet to heal, leaving it raw and bleeding. He knew this was the deepest trauma in his heart, perhaps something that could never truly be erased. Yet this time was different from the past—the jade pendant offered active, sustained solace. It seemed able to sense his extreme anguish and responded in this way. Was it because he had been frequently attempting to guide its power recently, deepening their connection? Or was it intrinsically linked to his bloodline and emotions? He leaned against the cold wall, letting the pendant's cool energy wash away the shock and sorrow within. Moonlight filtered through cracks outside, spilling onto the floor, cold and clear.
The nightmare was a warning, and also a spur. It ceaselessly reminded him that the blood debt remained unpaid, the mystery of his origins unsolved, and formidable enemies still lurked in the shadows. He could not afford the slightest slack, nor be lulled by temporary peace. The pendant's solace, meanwhile, was a kind of support. It told him he was not alone in facing all this; what his parents had left him was not merely relics and hatred, but also protection and hope. He wiped the tear‑tracks from his face; his gaze grew firm once more. The nightmare was fearsome, but after waking, the road still had to be traveled. He needed greater strength—not just in cultivation, but also in heart and mind. He must become strong enough to face those nightmares, strong enough to protect everything he wished to guard, strong enough to unveil all the truths.
That night, he had no further desire for sleep. Simply holding the pendant, he sat quietly in meditation beneath the cold moonlight until dawn. The pendant at his chest seemed to sense the shift in his state of mind. Its gentle vibration gradually stilled, leaving only that reassuring, constant coolness.