Chapter 30: The Ghost in the Dream

The setting sun cast an orange-red afterglow across the apartment building’s corridor, where the air was redolent with the aromas of various simmering stews and stir-fries from neighboring apartments.

Lu Chen emerged from the stairwell, stepping into the corridor. Xia Shi followed close behind him. The young woman caught up to the youth in a few quick steps, silently taking his hand.

Lu Chen chuckled, a hint of helplessness in his smile.

“We’re almost home now. I’ll have to let go of your hand when I open the door.”

The young woman lifted her clear eyes, her gaze tracing the sun-drenched corridor until it settled on the youth’s rented apartment door. Her soft bangs swayed gently in the evening breeze.

“There are still at least twenty-eight steps to go, you know. It’s not close at all.”

“You’re right about that.”

A warm sense of contentment bloomed in Lu Chen’s heart. He tightened his grip on her hand slightly, leading her through the corridor until they reached the entrance of his rented apartment.

Lu Chen released Xia Shi’s hand, pulled out a key from his pocket, and unlocked the tightly shut security door. The iron door silently creaked open, revealing countless cockroaches scurrying over the threshold, and a thick, cloying scent of blood spilled out.

Silvermoon sat at the desk at the far end of the room.

She was still clad in her pale ceremonial dress, the bloodstains on it even darker and more pronounced than before. Casually, she swung her fair feet, her toes brushing back and forth over the crawling insects that covered the floor.

She swiveled her chair around, her eyes, hidden beneath a white cloth, piercing through the gloomy room to fix upon the youth standing in the sunlight.

“‘Do you ever feel a terrible ache in your neck? It’s not because you’re tired; it’s because she’s constantly riding on your neck.'”

Lu Chen flinched, retreating into the corridor and glancing frantically left and right. The air still carried the scent of neighbors’ cooking and the murmur of voices, and the street below remained bustling with traffic.

However, Xia Shi was nowhere to be seen, as if she had never been there at all.

Taking a deep breath, he addressed Silvermoon:

“What horror movie line is that from now?”

“‘Shutter.’ It’s a line describing the female ghost in the film. No matter how much the protagonist denies her presence, she relentlessly haunts him, always by his side.”

“‘…Just like you, then.'”

Silvermoon’s face covering fluttered, and Lu Chen sensed she was chuckling softly.

“Indeed, indeed, my dear host. You have awakened me once more, so I shall remind you again.

“You acknowledge my existence and have begun to actively wield my power; yet, you refuse to believe my warnings, choosing instead to dance a beautiful, illusory waltz in the palm of my creator’s hand.

“Don’t you find that contradictory?”

Lu Chen clenched his fists, his voice low and grave:

“I believe in your power, but I don’t trust your intentions.

“Xia Shi… even the Xia Shi who returned to me, has spent countless days and nights by my side, facing life and death with me. But you have only spoken to me once, in a dream-like illusion.

“Forgive my bluntness, but how can you expect me to abandon her and place my complete trust in you? How can I believe you harbor no ill will, or that you aren’t slandering her?”

The youth’s voice was laden with suspicion. Silvermoon, unfazed, rose from her chair and extended her slender arms towards him.

“I do not expect you to instantly see the error of your ways. However, might I ask you to remember two more things?”

Lu Chen bit his tongue lightly, nodding in silence. Silvermoon continued:

“Firstly, please conceal my existence from her. I know you wish to be completely honest, but do leave yourself a path of retreat.”

“‘…I’ll consider it. Thank you for the advice.'”

“Heh, good. Secondly, though you haven’t realized it, you have always been exposed to her gaze, which is rather unfair.

“From now on, when others spy on you, you will also be able to spy on others.”

Lu Chen’s pupils contracted, and he hastily inquired:

“‘…Always exposed to her gaze? What does that mean?'”

Silvermoon raised a slender, pale finger and pressed it to the spot on her face covering that concealed her lips.

“Alright, alright, I cannot continue to betray my creator.

“As for the rest, I invite you to experience and explore it for yourself.”

Before Lu Chen could press further, Silvermoon once again dissolved into specks of light and vanished. The surrounding scenery melted and warped, and Lu Chen’s consciousness plunged back into the abyss.

****

“Damn that riddle-speaker!”

In the early morning, the youth awoke with a roar from his nightmare, sitting bolt upright in bed. His head throbbed violently, his breathing was ragged, and his shirt was drenched with sweat.

Lu Chen wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead, attempting to piece together the fragmented memories Silvermoon had disrupted.

Everything that had just transpired was clearly a dream.

Yesterday afternoon, he had indeed returned to his rented apartment with Xia Shi, but they had simply entered the door, played some games, cooked a little, and encountered nothing out of the ordinary.

However, the Silvermoon in his dream was undeniably real. This entity had infiltrated his pleasant dream, communicating with him in this manner, warning him not to reveal her existence, and incidentally transforming his sweet slumber into a nightmare.

Yesterday, after defeating the Giant Crow and the Knight, he and Xia Shi had gone to the hospital partnered with the New Light Group for routine reports and examinations.

There, he had shown the staff his completely healed arm. The medical personnel were naturally quite surprised, inquiring if he knew the reason behind it.

Although he hadn’t yet received Silvermoon’s warning, Lu Chen had not divulged the existence of Silvermoon, this talking spirit artifact (?).

He hadn’t intended to confess everything to everyone immediately anyway. He wanted to have a thorough discussion with Xia Shi before deciding whether to reveal everything to the outside world, lest he be dismissed as a madman seeing hallucinations.

Therefore, he simply stated that it was most likely the effect of the Heart of the Moon.

After a general understanding of the situation, the medical staff arranged for him to return today for a more detailed examination, with the assistance of Morning Star, to ascertain exactly what had happened to him. Lu Chen readily agreed.

Following that, their official business concluded.

Xia Shi’s injuries were not severe; they were mostly superficial wounds, minor enough for a magical girl to heal on her own.

After the young woman received some simple treatment, he returned home with her, intending to enjoy some time alone together and, incidentally, discuss the matter of Silvermoon.

‘…Hmm? What happened after that?’

‘He remembered playing some games with Xia Shi, having some drinks, training the crow for a bit, chatting idly, and planning to make something to eat together once it got dark… but what happened next?’

‘How did he feel like he’d just drifted off and woken up to daylight?’

Lu Chen rubbed his throbbing temples, momentarily bewildered. He was about to get up and wash, but Xia Shi, who was lying beside him, first reached out and wrapped her arms around his arm.

“‘…Don’t go… five more minutes…'”

A sleepy female voice drifted into his ears, and a warm, soft sensation spread across his arm.

Lu Chen’s breath hitched as he looked at the young woman beside him. She was slightly curled up, her dark, long hair fanned out across the pillow and sheets, hugging his arm like a raccoon.

The youth’s mind momentarily malfunctioned. He gazed at the girl’s relaxed and languid profile, and for some reason, he spoke respectfully:

“‘…Miss Xia Shi?'”

Hearing her name, the young woman slowly opened her beautiful eyes.

She yawned drowsily, then finally looked up at Lu Chen—and subsequently, revealed a blank expression much like his own, and for some reason, spoke respectfully:

“‘…Mr. Lu Chen?'”