Chapter Twelve: Luring the Enemy In Deep

At ten o’clock, Ye Feifan directly purchased ten lottery tickets, feeling he might as well take a chance.

“Ten lottery tickets, ten consecutive draws begin!”

A large spinning wheel appeared, but it was empty. The pointer spun continuously and stopped automatically after ten seconds.

“Congratulations, host, you have obtained the [Midnight Knocking] plot card!”

“Congratulations, host, you have obtained the [Deadly Bus] plot card!”

“Congratulations, host, you have obtained 1 lottery ticket!”

“Congratulations, host, you have obtained the [Incomplete Invisibility Card]!”

“Congratulations, host, you have obtained a waterproof flashlight!”

“Congratulations, host, you have obtained the [Midnight Vision Experience Card]!”

“Congratulations, host, you have obtained the [Power Conversion Card]!”

“Congratulations, host, you have obtained 1 gold coin!”

“Congratulations, host, you have obtained 1 gold coin!”

“Congratulations, host, you have obtained 1 gold coin!”

A critical hit! A jackpot!

Ye Feifan was somewhat surprised. Wasn’t he supposed to have bad luck? He just exploded all at once!

Ignoring the useless items with a wave of his hand, Ye Feifan began to examine the new items: a silver tin flashlight (seemingly styled from the 1970s or 80s) and five cards.

“[Midnight Knocking] plot card: On a stormy night, the Zhang family is disturbed by eerie knocking sounds at the door. Sometimes, the person and their identity are switched—you look at him, he looks at you. Who is outside the door? Using this card unlocks the side quest [Midnight Knocking].”

“[Deadly Bus] plot card: Bus No. 88 has arrived. Please disembark in an orderly fashion. Passengers boarding, please pay one yuan. Please give seats to those in need of care. Thank you for your cooperation... Using this card unlocks the side quest [Deadly Bus].”

“[Incomplete Invisibility Card]: Using this card grants the host absolute invisibility for half an hour, completely undetectable.”

“[Midnight Vision Experience Card]: Using this card grants the host the vision of a black cat in darkness for half an hour.”

“[Power Conversion Card]: Using this card reduces the host’s power to the Second Tribulation level, converting the lost power entirely into physical strength and flesh.”

After reviewing these descriptions, Ye Feifan fell silent. This was quite different from what he had imagined.

“System, I am already undertaking [Midnight Knocking]. What should I do with the plot cards I just drew?”

“Host, do not worry. The prizes will never repeat the same plot card. Using these cards can upgrade the dungeon level, and rewards will increase accordingly.”

“If that’s the case...” Ye Feifan looked at the black card in his hand, uncertain and uneasy. The card bore a pitch-black silhouette, resembling a character from a certain cartoon.

Staring at the card for a minute, Ye Feifan exhaled deeply and said, “Use the [Midnight Knocking] plot card!”

---

“Host used the [Midnight Knocking] plot card. The main quest [Blue Star’s Love] has been activated. The side quest [Midnight Knocking] difficulty rises from Normal to Ordinary level.”

Ye Feifan was surprised. What was going on?

“Host, do not panic. Plot card quest difficulty is divided into six levels. Default quests are Normal. Using one duplicate plot card upgrades difficulty to Ordinary; two duplicates upgrade it to Nightmare. The remaining three levels are currently inaccessible to your permissions.”

Permissions?

The more the system acted up, the more anxious Ye Feifan became. Though he always acted in front of others, when it came to being alone, the act fell apart.

The black-clad figure who abandoned him in the mass grave was a thorn in Ye Feifan’s heart. The girl from his nightmares for ten years remained a mystery. To find answers, he had to become stronger—and the only path was through the system’s quests.

Only three words applied: No choice.

Taking a deep breath, Ye Feifan rubbed his stiff face and slowly raised another black card. It depicted a green bus marked with “88”—likely Bus No. 88.

After observing the Zhang family all day, Ye Feifan had asked the system many questions, gaining some information.

Blue Star had once experienced a similar past. Though the criminals were punished, some grudges remained unresolved. Clinging to their last will before death, they transformed into other entities, growing stronger over time but unable to fully manifest (after all, the nation forbade spirits from forming).

Heavy resentment and lingering obsession made these entities “Unfortunates,” as Blue Star sent them into Ye Feifan’s care, hoping he could dispel their grudges (the system absorbed these unclean entities, turning them into plot cards or other items).

More deeply, they were called “Ominous.”

Ye Feifan deduced that the main quest was issued by Blue Star and that his fall was no accident but a test. Passing it gave birth to the “Dream System.”

Having accepted the first main quest, the otherworld had changed. The cultivation world was entering the era of “Ominous.”

Many ominous entities feared cultivators. Whether those released would behave differently remained unknown.

“Use the [Deadly Bus] plot card!”

If he was going to face it, he might as well go all out.

“Side quest [Deadly Bus]: Bus No. 88 has arrived. Please disembark in order. Passengers boarding, please pay one yuan. Please give seats to those in need of care. Thank you for your cooperation... Please go to Beichen Teahouse on a stormy night to board Bus No. 88. Arrive safely at the terminus and wait until dawn to complete the quest. Rewards will vary but guarantee at least one lottery ticket. If you forfeit this opportunity, you must wait for the next stormy night to proceed.”

Just by the name, it was clear the task was not simple. Reading the details, Ye Feifan grew even more anxious.

He was indeed a cultivator, but only at the Fourth Tribulation level—essentially still human. Fear was natural, nothing to be ashamed of.

“Does reducing my power mean the challenge difficulty decreases?”

“Yes!”

Receiving the system’s clear answer, Ye Feifan didn’t hesitate to use the [Power Conversion Card]. Instantly, his power dropped from Fourth Tribulation to Second Tribulation, and the lost strength completely nourished his flesh and bones. He felt it was a fair trade.

At eleven o’clock at night, Ye Feifan lay on the boat and fell asleep, letting his dream enter the Dream Realm.

“Heaven help me. You all contribute some energy fluid!”

Skillfully lighting a beginner’s dream incense, he lured the Zhang family’s dreams but spared the brightest few, who must have consumed energy fluid—otherwise, they wouldn’t shine like hundred-watt bulbs.

Spared the “light bulbs,” Ye Feifan added a bit of beginner’s philosophy medicine, merging the other dreams but still left the Zhang family heir’s dream untouched.

Finding the bus riding rules in the system shop, Ye Feifan modified them slightly and spent ten points to convert the rules into a dream inheritance, which he then implanted into the Zhang heir’s dream.

“You’re in luck, kid!”

After finishing, Ye Feifan tossed the gathered dream fish into the dream furnace and left the dream realm.

Standing by the window, Ye Feifan quietly gazed at the Zhang family’s dog hole. The surroundings were silent, and in the darkness, it felt as if a pair of eyes were watching him.

...

Today, Zhang Da came to the brothel with two servants, picking a few girls to bolster his image and dispel rumors of his incompetence. But at a critical moment, he faltered and drifted into a drowsy sleep...

Upon waking, excitement flickered in Zhang Da’s eyes. He remembered his dream vividly; its content was explosive. Arriving late would mean missing a great opportunity.

With such an elusive opportunity, Zhang Da was anxious. He quickly summoned his two servants and left the brothel.

Outside, the dark sky was gloomy. Thunder roared, followed by flashes of lightning and a sparse drizzle.

“It’s really raining!” Zhang Da said with unexpected joy, hurrying under the eaves with his two servants.

The servants bit their lips, enduring the cold rain silently as they followed Zhang Da.

The brothel’s side was near the Liu family’s territory. On the other side stood the Beichen Teahouse pavilion, a favorite spot for many city elders. They gathered here to chat, drink tea, and play chess—a sort of retirement club.

Beichen Teahouse was only two or three kilometers from the brothel. At their pace, it took just five or six minutes to reach the pavilion.

The pavilion was octagonal and open-air. At this moment, it was somewhat chilly and empty due to the rain and late hour.

If asked for the time, it was about 11:50 p.m.

Feeling the darkness around, one servant whispered nervously, “Young master, why have we come here?”

Zhang Da shot the servant a cold, serious look. “To find my opportunity. You two behave yourselves. Don’t cause trouble. Understand?”

“Yes, young master.”

Satisfied with their response, Zhang Da nodded. “Take out three pieces of one-tenth tael silver. When I do this, you do the same. Got it?”

“Yes, young master...” The second servant was nervous but still produced three pieces of one-tenth tael silver.

Zhang Da took one, leaving one for each servant.

[PS: Prosperity, democracy, civility, harmony; freedom, equality, justice, rule of law; patriotism, dedication, integrity, friendship.]