Chapter 106: The Fall Within the Dream

“Aquarium?”

The word clearly surprised Ye Wanqing, considering this was the chaotic third layer of the Dream World.

In a place where maintaining order was already incredibly difficult, could there really be an aquarium operating here?

“To be precise, it’s an Exhibit Hall, showcasing various fish brought back from the ruins of those witches.”

“Who would be willing to display their private collection to others?”

“Of course, it’s not open to the public, only to me. And what if I told you that person’s name is Tang Nai?”

Upon hearing this, Ye Wanqing immediately widened her eyes.

That made it much less surprising, or rather, nothing Tang Nai did would seem surprising—she was that kind of free-spirited person.

Seeing Ye Wanqing’s interest piqued, Irina knew she had successfully lured her onto the sinking ship today.

Ye Wanqing’s usual daily magic consumption was roughly ten tula, while Tang Nai’s monthly supply to her was about thirty thousand tula.

Among the Exhibit Hall’s most precious displays was a specimen called the Momentary Mayfly, containing a staggering thirteen million tula of magic power.

After all, it came from the deepest part of the Momentary Witch’s Dream Realm—the Mayfly was the witch’s most treasured memory before her fall, transformed into an insect.

After drifting in the Dream World for many years, it had absorbed countless stray magic energies, making even formidable century-old transcendent experts covet it.

Before its discovery, it had quietly rested in an inconspicuous bird’s nest within the Dream World.

Tang Nai had found it purely out of boredom, climbing to the treetops and surprisingly finding a bird egg that could be plucked.

There were many similar exhibits, all lying obediently within Tang Nai’s own Dream Realm, with no fear of theft.

It was extremely dangerous to act rashly in someone else’s Dream Realm.

At even the slightest thought of the dream’s owner, the intruder would be bound and tormented in all sorts of ways.

Irina had learned this lesson well the first time Tang Nai tricked her into her dream, leaving her with deeply humiliating images.

If the photos taken inside dreams could be projected outside, Tang Nai’s album would be at least twice as thick.

However, now Irina could freely enter and exit Tang Nai’s Dream Realm, so she could take Ye Wanqing to experience a luxurious aquarium exclusive to two girls—something only seen in anime.

Provided Tang Nai wasn’t in the Dream Realm, though by Irina’s experience, this time of day Tang Nai was most likely unable to sleep due to the large amount of caffeine consumed during the day.

“All right, if we don’t go down now, it’ll be too late.”

Ye Wanqing shifted her gaze toward the distant ground beyond sight, suddenly feeling nervous.

At moments like this, she habitually reached up to adjust her glasses, so when she couldn’t feel the frame, a wave of anxiety would wash over her.

Watching Ye Wanqing’s subtle gestures, Irina gradually understood Tang Nai’s cruel sense of humor.

She walked to the edge of the fish’s belly and looked down through layers of mist, taking in everything in the third layer of the Dream World.

From this height, everything reflected on the back of her retina looked like a deep starry sky—just as brilliant, just as mysterious.

Fiery reds, enchanting pinks, dazzling golds scattered across the unlit darkness, here and there, clustering around the central area that symbolized prosperity and beautiful visions—the Neon Veil.

That area, shimmering with all colors, had already been left far behind, but its scattered light remained the brightest presence along the entire Dream Realm border, like the most brilliant star in the night sky and the starting point for most who entered the third layer of the Dream World.

No matter how many times she viewed it from above, Irina couldn’t help but silently sigh in admiration.

But there wasn’t much time now to slowly enjoy the scenery.

She turned her back to the ground, and before Ye Wanqing’s astonished eyes, slowly leaned backward.

A strong wind swept through her long skirt and hat, trailing whistling sounds in the air.

Irina gently reached out and pressed her hat firmly onto her head.

From this angle, Ye Wanqing could only see a faint smile on her face, gradually shrinking into a dot in her vision.

‘Damn it, why does she look so graceful?’

A strong sense of dissonance enveloped Ye Wanqing’s heart, especially when Irina’s face flashed in her mind—so similar to Su Mu’s.

‘Su Mu seemed like the type who wouldn’t even dare ride the pirate ship at an amusement park. But I, Lady Miti, would never be that embarrassing. The first time I went to an amusement park, I even got on the pirate ship. Although I didn’t dare open my eyes, that was still proof of courage!’

Watching Irina disappear from sight, Ye Wanqing quietly encouraged herself, then closed her eyes and leapt downward.

The rushing air constantly struck her cheeks, and the intense sensation of imbalance enveloped her entire body.

Fortunately, she had already adapted to the feeling of flight in reality, so she quickly overcame the discomfort.

Boldly, she slowly opened her eyes and was instantly overwhelmed by the breathtaking scene unfolding before her.

Previously, due to her weaker perception, she couldn’t see clearly through the mist like Irina could, but now, that dreamy scene expanded within her vision, captivating her completely.

And at the very center of her sight was an unmistakable figure.

Irina reappeared, also watching Ye Wanqing with a hint of disappointment—because she hadn’t seen the reaction she expected.

‘Why did Ye Wanqing adapt so quickly?’

Recalling her own first fall from the Dreamswimming Fish, Irina couldn’t help but frown.

Back then, she and Su Mu were much the same—soft and fragile-looking, feeling very unsafe alone in the Dream World.

Unfortunately, she had been lured onto the fish by the silver-haired witch Tang Nai and only realized just before the end that she had to jump off quickly.

To save her life, Irina had forced her weak legs to leap downward, then flailed uncontrollably in the air, screaming, while taking a huge gulp of wind and shedding panicked tears from the corners of her eyes.

Tang Nai had been laughing wildly below, raising a camera to carefully capture that moment.

She had intended to trap Ye Wanqing the same way but found her reaction far too dull.

What a shame, but there were still many tricks up her sleeve.

Thinking this, Irina flipped her palm, and a pair of exquisite black-rimmed glasses appeared in her hand.

Then, Ye Wanqing watched helplessly as Irina loosened her grip, letting the glasses drift out.

“My glasses, ugh—”

Startled, Ye Wanqing was suddenly forced to swallow a gulp of wind, her cheeks puffing out comically.

Fortunately, the glasses flew straight toward her and were caught firmly in her hand.

Her heart settled instantly, and she looked resentfully at Irina, who was toying with her.

At this moment, Irina stopped laughing.

Her lips moved silently, seemingly saying something, but the wind howling in Ye Wanqing’s ears drowned out the sound.

She could only barely discern the shape of the words.

Soon.

Careful. 

Hold your breath.

‘What does that mean?’