Stepping through the gate, the scenery shifted, returning to the Azure Camel Gang's camp.
"Back here again…"
But this time, Yinlin sensed something strange.
She quickly pulled Lucian to a secluded spot.
There, a dark red eye pattern emitted an eerie aura.
As they approached, it sucked them in, and the scene changed again.
"Dollmaker…? Why is he here?"
Dollmaker turned, looking pleased, "Yinlin, you're finally here."
"And…"
He looked at Lucian, his expression stiffening.
"What?"
Dollmaker snorted, "Yinlin, you were once part of the Séance Society, but you betrayed me."
"So now, I ask—who are you?"
Yinlin frowned, lowering her head, "I'm…"
"I'm Yinlin."
Lucian rubbed his chin, pondering. So Yinlin's nightmare was about her identity not being recognized?
It made sense. As an undercover investigator, living incognito and walking a knife's edge, they often used codenames. Perhaps no one would know their real names, even in death.
Dollmaker scoffed, shaking his head, "No, you're not Yinlin."
"You're neither a Patroller nor a member of the Séance Society anymore."
"No one will acknowledge your identity or your worth. You're nothing!"
Yinlin's heart trembled. I'm nothing…?
As she sank into confusion, Dollmaker turned to Lucian, "And you…"
Lucian gripped Yinlin's soft hand, declaring, "I'm your father!"
Dollmaker: "?"
Lucian's words snapped Yinlin out of her daze, and she couldn't help but laugh.
Dollmaker, furious, thought, This guy ruined my plans and led Yinlin to betray me!
"You think you're fit to be my father? I don't have a father like you!"
Lucian sneered, "Yeah, and I don't have a beastly son like you."
Dollmaker seethed, gnashing his teeth in hatred.
"Dollmaker, for your selfish desires, you treat lives like pawns, using grand excuses to manipulate victims for your gain."
"You, a beast, dare to accuse Yinlin? I've seen plenty of shameless people, but a shameless beast is a first."
Dollmaker, enraged, spat a cloud of blood mist.
Lucian pulled Yinlin back, grimacing, "Ugh… your beastly blood probably can't even be cleansed by Meng Po's soup."
"I can't let my future wife be tainted."
Yinlin's lips curved into a smile, and the scenery shifted instantly. A massive Mech Abomination appeared in the center.
Dollmaker's echo resounded, "You're not my ally, nor a Patroller. You've betrayed everyone's trust!"
Yinlin snorted, "I know who I am and the path I'm meant to walk."
She placed her hand on Lucian's, "Lucian, thank you."
"This time, let me handle it."
Lucian nodded slightly. As Yinlin charged with her puppet strings, he secretly cast a Paralysis Technique on the Mech Abomination.
Even in a dream, he didn't want to see Yinlin hurt.
After a while, Yinlin defeated the Mech Abomination, and Dollmaker's voice faded.
Yinlin leaned lazily in Lucian's arms, "Maybe I do care if others truly trust me."
"But more than others' approval, staying true to justice matters more to me."
"When I doubted myself, you interrupted my thoughts just in time."
Lucian smiled, "I just wanted to curse out Dollmaker."
Yinlin turned, lightly kissing his lips, then rolled her eyes, "Liar."
"But since this is all fake, how did you end up in my dream?"
Though Yinlin now knew she was in a strange dream, she still didn't understand why Lucian was there.
Lucian chuckled, explaining the Somnoire.
Yinlin leaned quietly in his arms, listening, then said lazily, "Actually, staying like this in a dream with you isn't bad."
"But there are important things to do in reality. Dreams… are fake, after all."
She turned, wrapping her arms around his neck, her breath warm, "Besides… dream fried rice isn't as delicious as the real thing…"
Lucian gazed at her flawless face, her words heavy with meaning, and kissed her lips.
…
Back in the train car, Chixia and Lumi were whispering, while Jiao-Jiao and Jinhsi sat upright, discussing Jinzhou's affairs.
Chixia, sharp-eyed, spotted Lucian first, waving, "He's back! He's back!"
Everyone looked over. Yinlin said calmly, "Didn't expect it to be so lively…"
She pinched Lucian's waist hard.
Since he'd saved her from the dream, the others here must've been saved by him too.
This bizarre Somnoire had made Lucian quite happy.
Chixia stared at Yinlin, startled. Another strong rival!
Chixia and Yinlin knew each other, not just from meals but long before. Chixia had once stumbled upon Yinlin's undercover investigator identity and was awed by her strength.
Yinlin had been Chixia's role model, her guiding star.
But since Yinlin got involved with Lucian, she gained another identity in Chixia's eyes: romantic rival!
Yes, both a role model and a rival.
Chixia's mind raced. As Jinzhou's undercover investigator, Yinlin should be in the Magistrate's faction…
She gritted her teeth. The Magistrate's faction was too strong…
Besides a clever strategist, she needed a powerful teammate…
Jinhsi, across from them, didn't overthink. She stood, walked over, and adjusted Lucian's collar, "Good to see you back safely."
Before Lucian could speak, Yinlin coughed lightly. Jinhsi looked over, puzzled, as Yinlin said calmly, "Even as the Magistrate, you wouldn't steal a man from his future wife right in front of her, would you?"
Lucian: "…"
Jinhsi: "?"
Chixia, behind them, smirked gleefully.
Fight! Fight!
So Yinlin didn't get along with Magistrate Jinhsi? Was she in Rover's faction?
Jiao-Jiao shook her head. If Lucian kept flirting like this, trouble was inevitable.
He should stay in Jinzhou as a dashing Intelligence Officer, surrounded by dragons and phoenixes. How nice…
A hero can endure grievances, but you can't hurt my Jinhsi!
Jiao-Jiao didn't want the Magistrate she'd nurtured to taste love's bitterness. She got off the bench, ready to help Jinhsi…