The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 399 - 333, welcome to my world_2

But rashly dividing our forces into two paths, although it indeed allows us to avoid coming up empty and saves more time, unquestionably increases the risk.

"Speed is of the essence in warfare, I know you're worried, but who knows when Lord will arrive. We've captured so many people in one go, likely alarming the enemy… Alright, I have a plan, the carriage is parked in the alley outside the theatre. I will lead the way personally. If the situation isn't right, we will withdraw immediately. This is the Capital; they wouldn't dare make a big scene."

Zhao Douan said, giving no room for others to rebut, and made the decision.

The rest could only nod in agreement. Hou Renmeng parked the carriage behind the theatre, near the large courtyard where the actors lived.

"I know that Wu Ling, fairly famous. Actors that are this well-known usually live in the detached courtyards on the west side. Sir, we can..." Shen Juan began, but suddenly sensed something amiss.

He turned his head to look back, only to be stunned. The previously alert Zhao Douan was now, unbeknownst to them, with his eyes closed.

His head hung forward on his chest, emitting a low snoring sound, deeply asleep!

"Sir! Wake up! Wake up!" Qian Kerou despairingly called out, pale-faced and panic-stricken:

"Something's not right! Yes, that Demon Path practitioner has a magic for invading dreams, right?"

Everyone was startled, recognizing her implication.

Zhao Douan's sudden deep sleep, combined with the intelligence they had, meant that it was highly likely that the Demon Path practitioner was indeed nearby and had detected their arrival in advance.

Thus, he had cast a spell that sucked Zhao Douan into a dream world, forcefully dragging him into a slumber.

"What do we do?" Qian Kerou panicked.

They were all martial artists, entirely lacking experience in combating magic.

Zheng Laojiu suddenly reminded:

"When the Demon Path practitioner casts the dream invasion spell, he must also concentrate on dealing with Sir. At this moment, he surely can't spare the energy for anything else. We just need to find the real body of the Demon Path practitioner, and we can interrupt his magic!"

"What are we waiting for?!"

Hou Renmeng, who drove the carriage, had a fiery temper, drew his gleaming blade, and, like an arrow released from a bow, charged across the high walls and into the theatre grounds in a few steps.

Shen Juan still hesitated, but seeing this, he gritted his teeth, unsheathed his sword, and hastily followed.

"Ke Rou, you stay behind to protect Sir!" Zheng Laojiu raised his hand, stopping the female martial artist about to rush off, and gave her a look that signaled the necessity of leaving someone behind, after all, there were still two female rebel prisoners in the carriage!

Having said that, Jiu of Jinyi moved as fast as a rabbit, drawing his sword and rushing into the courtyard, only to be shocked to see two people standing in the mid-yard side by side, vigilantly facing forward: "Be careful!"

Zheng Laojiu looked up, his pupils narrowing, and he saw someone in a colorful theatrical costume of the young lead slowly stepping out from the darkness.

Wu Ling was expressionless, his theatrical dress billowing in the wind as he came out of the darkness.

Behind his neck were rows of flags, and the headpiece adorned with beads hanging behind his head trailed two long, fluttering plumes!

In his right hand, he wielded a two-meter flower spear, blocking the trio's path, and the face obscured by the painted mask uttered the words stiffly:

"Halt, whoever comes forth!"

...

...

Zhao Douan felt groggy, his consciousness in his mind scattered like smoke, difficult to gather, and in his dazed state, he only vaguely remembered.

He had arrived at the Eight Directions Theatre, just about to disembark, when a strong and severe wave of drowsiness struck him.

When he "opened his eyes" again, he found himself on a bustling modern street.

To be precise, the entrance of a subway station.

The time was at night.

The city was enveloped in a sea of night and lights.

It seemed to be the dead of winter.

He was no longer wearing an ancient robe, but a white, printed, mid-length down jacket.

Yes, if he remembered correctly, it was the one he had meticulously chosen and ordered from XiXi online after receiving his winter salary. He couldn't help it, the thriftiness ingrained in his bones...

Before him was the glittering CBD zone, the spacious pedestrian street flanked by contiguous shopping mall buildings, their glass facades excessively reflecting light pollution.

Read lat𝙚st chapters at fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓ Only.

In the most conspicuous place ahead, a huge billboard was hanging, and next to it, on the second floor of the mall, in the large glass windows, was the official store for Fruitz.

Perhaps due to the warmth inside, there were especially many customers, and from outside looking up, one could see the girls inside clearly, using the glass as a mirror to check their makeup.

"Is this... a dream?"

Zhao Douan became momentarily bewildered, his expression turning strange.

This kind of dream, which felt like a return to his previous life, was clearly out of the ordinary, most likely the handiwork of that Demon Path practitioner.

In the morning court session, he had learned that the Demon Path's dream devouring spell would pull the target into the deepest-reaching memories of their dreams.

Zhao Douan was then very curious, wanting to know what was the deepest memory imprinted in his own heart.

"It is indeed this familiar world."

Zhao Douan smiled, showing no feelings of surprise.

Because even though he had been in Great Yu for half a year, the majority of dreams he had on nights aside from his training still featured the modern city.

Zhao Douan had once heard a saying in his past life, he didn't remember it exactly.

It roughly meant that when people are in their home country, they might find this and that not to their liking, but once they go abroad, any small encounter with something from home can bring them to tears.

At the time, he didn't quite understand, or rather, couldn't empathize.

But after arriving in Great Yu, he truly grasped the concept. Home? If going abroad still allows for a return, then spanning across two worlds, across the divide of life and death, that is a true farewell.

He once thought he would never have the chance to "go back," yet unexpectedly, under the manipulation of the Demon Path's magic, he suddenly earned the experience of a time-limited return.

Even if... it was only a dream.

But...

It was also an extremely real dream.

"Excuse me, please." A stranger's voice came from behind, and Zhao Douan quickly apologized and stepped aside, no longer blocking the subway entrance.