Chapter 116: The Dream Maiden

Qiu Tianjue stepped out of his car and sped toward "The Water Village."

Upon arrival, he checked to see if his guests had arrived yet. Learning they had not, he breathed a slight sigh of relief and stood at the entrance, surrounded by his numerous security personnel.

In Haizhou, Qiu Tianjue was a top-tier figure, possessing even more influence than Jiang Yaowen. People treated him with utmost deference whenever they met. While many were wealthier than him, almost everyone showed him respect—not only because he was the younger brother of Qiu Hongwen, but also because he was known to command the most extensive network of channels.

"The Water Village" was a venue operated by Qiu Tianjue. He did not own it, but he managed it. Such establishments functioned like global chains, found in many major cities across the world. They acted as elite clubs, networking those who met the threshold of entry into a single, interconnected platform. Some called these organizations the Freemasons, others called them "The Rothschilds," but the name mattered little; they were merely symbols. Qiu Tianjue was simply one link in this massive chain.

"Mr. Qiu, who are we waiting for?" his assistant asked in a low voice.

"Don't ask."

Qiu Tianjue snapped at him nervously, his eyes fixed on the road ahead as a Rolls-Royce motorcade appeared in the night.

After the four Phantoms pulled in, the doors opened in unison. A swarm of men in black suits and earpieces emerged, and then, a pair of polished leather shoes stepped out—Huo Dongjun had arrived.

From the passenger door, a pair of high heels emerged, followed by Princess Xie Jinyan.

Qiu Tianjue hurried over, bowing and scraping. Huo Dongjun offered a slight nod, signaling that he acknowledged Qiu’s presence but was too busy to talk and would summon him later if needed. Qiu Tianjue, knowing his place, retreated to the side and watched as Huo Dongjun and Xie Jinyan entered, soon boarding a small boat headed toward the center of the lake.

The Water Village was situated on a vast inland lake, dotted with small, man-made islands that offered both privacy and ambiance. If one were to make a comparison, these islands served as the "private rooms" for this venue, only here, they were villa-like islands on the water. Many young women, dressed in the local style, navigated the lake on bamboo rafts, ferrying the VIPs to their destinations.

On a secluded and atmospheric floating island, Huo Dongjun held a glass of fine liquor without drinking. He frowned and asked, "What exactly is Julia doing in Haizhou? Is she involved in something? Do you have any information on this?"

Xie Jinyan laughed bitterly. "If you don't know, why ask me?"

"She’s a troublemaker—the fighter jet of troublemakers," Huo Dongjun said. "Some things clearly seem related to her, but because it's so obvious, it makes you think they aren't. I’m completely confused."

Xie Jinyan pondered for a moment. "Fine, I’m curious too. I’ll arrange to meet her tomorrow and chat."

Huo Dongjun said awkwardly, "I have a feeling she’s stirring up a massive hornet’s nest. Be careful, Jinyan; don’t get dragged into it. She seems tied up with the *Poseidon* incident, and her current state is particularly sensitive."

Xie Jinyan nodded. She checked her watch and stood up. "I have things to attend to, so I'll be leaving. Do you need my car to take you?"

Huo Dongjun shook his head. "No need, thank you. I still have some business with young Qiu."

...

That night, Little Ma finished his evening routine and went to bed to dream.

This dream was even more bizarre. He felt as though he were at a scene filled with loud, rumbling noises, thick smoke, screams, and utter chaos. It wasn't a battlefield, but the site of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Suddenly, the scene shifted to a chaotic conference hall, where he witnessed a group of arrogant congressmen arguing over the benefits and consequences of a new "Homeland Security Act."

The scene changed again.

Suddenly, Little Ma was in London, inside the Parliament. He watched a stunning, statuesque woman with an elegant air delivering a passionate speech from the podium about the benefits of the new "Homeland Security Act" and assessing the new security landscape.

Right, in this dream, this woman was named Julia. She was reporting the details of the new security bill to Parliament in her capacity as Home Secretary.

Moments later, the hall erupted into chaos. She was hissed at by countless congressmen: "Cut it out... get out of here, you troublemaker... motherfucker... fuck Julia..."

But that wasn't the main point.

Little Ma, who was drifting through the dream as a bystander, was suddenly noticed by Julia mid-speech. As a mere spectator, the fact that an NPC had become aware of his existence terrified him.

With that, he jolted awake, realizing it was morning.

He touched his body and found he was covered in cold sweat. For some reason, the "Great Demon King" had been awakening less frequently, but the dreams were becoming more frequent. However, the dreams remained fragmented and impossible to piece together.

Wait, Little Ma didn't care about anything else—he was carefree and thick-skinned. But that dream-woman, Julia... was she an incredibly charismatic woman?

Little Ma thought carefully, but there was truly no information about a "Julia" in his mind. Could she be a boss-level enchantress? Was the so-called task to conquer this enchantress, gain some vital energy or achievement points, and then unlock something else?

The more he thought about it, the more he felt his brain was malfunctioning. Little Ma decisively shook his head and prepared to wash up and head to work.

The morning at "The Water Village" was even more aesthetic. Four Land Rovers with special license plates drove in.

Julia, possessing a mature, alluring charm, stepped out of the car, looking so stunning that she captivated everyone present. All eyes were drawn to her.

A bodyguard who had arrived earlier to make arrangements approached Julia and whispered, "Your Excellency, Xie Jinyan has arrived and is waiting for you."

A smile touched Julia’s sexy lips. Seeing Xie Jinyan walking out, she opened her arms for a brief, friendly hug. Julia laughed, "How is your father’s health?"

"Very well," Xie Jinyan replied with a smile.

"Let’s go inside and talk." Julia and Xie Jinyan quickened their pace.

Qiu Tianjue, having not slept all night, was exhausted, but he forced himself to follow along like a subservient grandson.

Julia and Xie Jinyan turned back simultaneously, casting a slightly annoyed glance at Qiu Tianjue. Old Qiu didn't dare act tough anymore and hurriedly stopped in his tracks.