Chapter 43: Utterly Shaken
Bai Zongnan stood with his hands behind his back.
His tone was light and indifferent.
Yet, the imposing aura radiating from Bai Zongnan at this moment stunned everyone present.
They all knew.
Today, Bai Zongnan had come to cause an uproar at the Prefect’s residence.
“Hmph, I’d like to see just what you’re capable of, that you dare kill my son!” Zhang Yuan snorted coldly.
With a flash of light,
Zhang Yuan drew his weapon.
It was a silver spear, emanating a terrifying energy.
Clutching the spear, Zhang Yuan lunged at Bai Zongnan in an instant.
As the silver spear shot toward Bai Zongnan, it seemed to pierce even the void itself.
“Zhang Yuan’s combat strength is incredible!”
“It’s said he’s mastered the Ninth Yin level of the Nine Yin Mystical Arts, and with that silver spear, he’s practically invincible. Bai Zongnan stands no chance…”
“Heh, Bai Zongnan just crippled Zhang Yuan’s only son, Zhang Wenbo. Now Zhang Yuan is seeking revenge—can you blame him?”
“Zhang Yuan’s power is indeed frightening. Bai Zongnan may have beaten Zhang Wenbo, but with Zhang Yuan in action, victory is certain!”
A crowd of onlookers began discussing fervently.
Clearly, they were all wary of Bai Zongnan.
After all,
The strength Bai Zongnan had demonstrated was already enough to terrify anyone.
Yet, they had still underestimated him. With a mere wave of his right hand,
Clang!
A metallic reverberation rang out.
Bai Zongnan caught Zhang Yuan’s silver spear bare-handed as it thrust toward his chest.
“What? Impossible!”
“He caught Zhang Yuan’s attack with his bare hand?”
“This is beyond belief!”
The spectators’ eyes widened in horror, hardly believing what they saw.
Zhang Yuan’s expression was emotionless as he spoke. “Bai Zongnan, no matter how strong you are—even if you’ve reached the level just below Emperor—you’re still no match for me. Kneel and beg for mercy now, and perhaps I’ll let you leave. Otherwise, I will shatter your bones!”
As his words fell, Zhang Yuan slammed the spear even harder against Bai Zongnan’s chest.
He meant to take this opportunity to seriously injure, if not kill, Bai Zongnan.
That way, Zhang Yuan believed, the fire in his heart might finally be quenched.
Bai Zongnan stared at Zhang Yuan unmoved, then lashed out with one palm.
Bang!
A violent clash sounded.
Bai Zongnan’s palm struck the silver spear.
Crack, crack, crack.
The supposedly indestructible spear splintered inch by inch.
“What? The silver spear was shattered by his palm? How can this be?”
Cries of shock erupted all around.
This silver spear could even destroy celestial iron.
Yet now, Bai Zongnan had broken it with a single palm—his power was truly monstrous.
Zhang Wenbo, who had been smirking just moments before, now found his smile frozen in place.
A thick sense of dread flooded his heart.
Suddenly, he remembered something his father once told him.
His father had warned him that Bai Zongnan was an extremely dangerous figure.
He was to leave Bai Zongnan’s sight immediately should he ever encounter him.
Now, Zhang Wenbo finally understood his father’s concern.
Bai Zongnan’s strength far surpassed all his expectations.
Even his father, Zhang Yuan, wasn’t a match for Bai Zongnan.
Let alone himself.
“Run!”
The thought of escape flashed through Zhang Wenbo’s mind, and he dashed toward the door.
“Where do you think you’re going…”
Bai Zongnan sneered, raising his hand to hurl a ball of thunderous flame.
The fireball roared out, burning fiercely, then exploded—engulfing Zhang Wenbo and blasting him away. His miserable scream filled the air as his body was incinerated to ash.
“You wretch!”
Zhang Yuan roared, leaping into the air.
He lunged at Bai Zongnan, aiming for a fatal blow.
“Don’t forget my warning!”
Bai Zongnan laughed coldly.
He reached out into the void.
Space twisted.
From this twisting void emerged countless threads of magical energy.
These threads wove together to form a prison.
The prison ensnared Zhang Yuan, dragging him inside.
Zhang Yuan’s cultivation was formidable.
But under Bai Zongnan’s suppression, he was rendered no different from an ordinary cultivator.
So, caught in Bai Zongnan’s grasp, he couldn’t struggle at all.
“Father, save me…” Zhang Wenbo shrieked as he saw what was happening.
He hoped Zhang Yuan would rescue him.
But
Zhang Yuan had no time to care for his son’s fate.
“You little bastard, I won’t spare you, I won’t…” Zhang Yuan’s furious roar shook the air.
He desperately channeled his power, trying to break free from the prison, but found it impossible.
Zhang Yuan was shocked.
The restraints this young man used were far too strange.
…
“Boy, release my son, or you won’t leave here alive today!”
Zhang Yuan’s voice was low and threatening.
Bai Zongnan looked at him with mocking eyes and said, “Quite the tyrant, aren’t you?”
“Today, I’ll teach you a lesson!”
With that, Bai Zongnan stepped forward.
He struck at Zhang Yuan across the void.
A thunderous boom sounded.
Zhang Yuan was sent flying by Bai Zongnan’s blow.
He spat out a mouthful of blood, his face drained of color as he stared at Bai Zongnan, “How… how can this be?”
He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
He was the Vice Leader of the Alliance of All Races, ranked fifth among the younger generation, yet Bai Zongnan had defeated him in a single move.
How powerful was Bai Zongnan?
“Hahaha! He actually dared to provoke my husband—he must have a death wish! My husband is undefeated across all races!”
“Zhang Wenbo, that fool! Brought this on himself. With my husband on the scene, how could he let the tiger back to the mountain?”
The women around Bai Zongnan cheered excitedly.
Hearing them affectionately call Bai Zongnan “my husband” made Zhang Yuan nearly cough up blood. Each woman was intimately close to Bai Zongnan.
Who were these women? Were they all his wives?
That Bai Zongnan had so many beautiful wives was enough to make anyone jealous.
Zhang Yuan was nearly mad with envy, wishing he could tear Bai Zongnan apart.
But he quickly recovered himself.
Now was not the time for rashness. He hurriedly said, “Brother, it’s all a misunderstanding! I wasn’t here to help that scoundrel against you!”
“Heh, I know you were putting on an act, trying to provoke me. If I’m not mistaken, you meant to use me as a weapon. But, unfortunately for you, you miscalculated! I, Bai Zongnan, hate nothing more than being used by others! Since you wanted to act against me, I’ll oblige you!”
Bai Zongnan’s expression was cold, his eyes glinting with chilling intent.
“No, no, you’ve misunderstood—I would never use you, brother. Don’t believe that little bastard’s words. I was confused for a moment, deceived by that whelp. If you’d show some mercy, we could even discuss cooperation.”
Zhang Yuan hastily explained.
Bai Zongnan’s face remained impassive. He flicked his finger, sending a blade of energy slicing toward Zhang Yuan.
With a dull squelch,
Zhang Yuan’s body was cut in two.
“No… this can’t be…”
With his dying breath,
Zhang Yuan let out a venomous roar before his corpse fell lifeless to the ground.
Zhang Yuan and his son Zhang Wenbo were both slain by Bai Zongnan.
“Zhang Yuan is dead, and so is Zhang Wenbo! Zhang Yuan was a half-step into the Creation Realm, and Zhang Wenbo was killed by this man—his power is monstrous!”
“Indeed, who would dare provoke him now?”
“Perhaps he’s truly a hidden Emperor-level figure…”
The surrounding cultivators whispered among themselves, all feeling the terror Bai Zongnan inspired. None wished to linger, and they quickly retreated.
…
“Brother, thank you for your help. Without you, I fear my old life would have ended here,” one cultivator said gratefully. He had also attended the auction.
He recognized Bai Zongnan.
He had witnessed Bai Zongnan win nine sacred stones at auction and knew how rare those treasures were.
“No need to thank me…”
Bai Zongnan waved his hand, handing the man nine sacred spirit fruits.
The man accepted them and said, “We meet again, my friend. Another profit for us.”
“Haha, but aren’t you afraid of overdoing it? Nine sacred spirit fruits are no small thing. Most people can’t take their effects all at once.”
Bai Zongnan replied.
The man grinned. “I may not be able to use all nine, but I believe one day, someone will.”
With that,
the man left.
He clearly didn’t fear Bai Zongnan’s betrayal—there was no enmity between them.
Besides,
he believed Bai Zongnan was not the sort of despicable man who would go back on his word.
Bai Zongnan didn’t linger either, leading his wives back to their residence.
“Husband, aren’t we going to search for the Dragon Pearls?” Shen Bingrou asked, puzzled.
Bai Zongnan shook his head. “Not yet. If we search now, we’ll only make things worse. I must wait for the right moment and let the major powers entangle themselves first.”
Shen Bingrou nodded.
…
Night descended.
Bai Zongnan sat cross-legged in the courtyard, eyes closed in meditation. Suddenly, his eyes snapped open, gazing into the distance.
Rumbling…
A violent wave of energy swept the land as a massive portal appeared, radiating an ancient, powerful aura. Endless black mist poured from the portal.
From within, a demonic figure emerged—its face deathly pale, its eyes deep and black.
Its presence was terrifying.
“It’s the Demon Emperor—he’s awakened!”
Cries of alarm rang out.
The Demon Emperor was a supreme force from the end of the last era.
His power was unimaginable.
Back then, even the Celestial Dynasty, Demon Sect, and Monster Domain fell.
Only the Demon Emperor survived.
Now, at last, he had awakened.
…
“It was you who awakened me…”
The Demon Emperor’s gaze fixed on Bai Zongnan, his eyes icy and sharp.
“Indeed, I did. The events of those years are still vivid in my mind,” Bai Zongnan replied.
“You destroyed the Demon Kingdom I painstakingly built; you shattered my hopes; you left me all alone. Today, you will pay in blood!”
The Demon Emperor roared in fury, raising his right hand.
Suddenly, he clenched his fist.
Crack, crack, crack!
The sound of bones breaking echoed as the Demon Emperor’s withered arm swelled abruptly.
His arm
stretched to a hundred meters long.
“What manner of thing is this?” Bai Zongnan frowned.
That shriveled arm contained immense destructive power.
The Demon Emperor swung his arm at Bai Zongnan.
Whoosh.
Bai Zongnan raised his right leg.
He kicked out—so fast that before the arm could reach him, his foot had already struck the Demon Emperor’s wrist.
Crack, crack, crack…
The arm was kicked clean off.
The Demon Emperor shrieked in agony, a pitiful sight.
He tried to flee, but Bai Zongnan would never let him escape.
With a muffled bang,
Bai Zongnan smashed the Demon Emperor’s head.
Then he seized the remains and performed a soul-searching technique, hoping to find clues about the Dragon Pearls in the Demon Emperor’s memories.
The Demon Emperor had once been a sovereign at the Emperor Lord level.
Bai Zongnan was curious about his memories.
They were vast and chaotic, including cultivation methods and more.
But he found nothing about the Dragon Pearls.
Perhaps the memories weren’t clear enough.
“Wait, what is that…”
Suddenly,
Bai Zongnan discovered a small golden sapling within the Demon Emperor’s memories.
It appeared to be formed from runes. Upon seeing it,
Bai Zongnan’s face lit up; he hadn’t expected to find such an important clue.
“Is that a divine tree?” Shen Bingrou asked in surprise.
Bai Zongnan nodded, then plucked the golden sapling.
“This is the Devourer Divine Tree! It’s said to be born from celestial spirit wood and is of extraordinary value!”
He examined the tree carefully.
Its roots reached deep into the earth, its branches spread above.
Such a divine tree was exceedingly rare—even in the Ancient Celestial City, it was a rarity among rarities.
Bai Zongnan planned to plant it, hoping it might be of great use in the future.
…
Bai Zongnan took Shen Bingrou back to their room.
She nestled in his arms and asked, “Husband, do you think the Devourer Divine Tree is the Dragon Pearl?”
He frowned slightly. “I think the Dragon Pearls are still missing a few. But this tree will be useful to me. I plan to cultivate it near a space-time passage—it may draw the other thirty-eight Dragon Pearls to it.”
Shen Bingrou said, “Then I wish you success, husband!”
After a few tender moments, Bai Zongnan left and made his way to the All Races Alliance’s headquarters.
He wanted to see if they had any information.
The Alliance was not far from his residence.
Soon, Bai Zongnan arrived.
The guards recognized him and allowed him in.
“The Leader invites you, Lord Lin…”
When Bai Zongnan reached the garden outside the leader’s mansion, a cultivator greeted him.
He followed the man into the garden, where stone tables and stools stood among the flowers.
A tall woman stood by a table, sipping tea.
She was graceful and beautiful, her skin fairer than snow—a peerless beauty.
“Please, take a seat, Daoist Lin.”
She gestured to the stone stool.
Bai Zongnan nodded and sat down.
The woman poured him tea.
He took a sip and asked, “May I ask your name, fairy?”
“My name is unimportant. I am descended from one of the All Races’ ancestors.”
“Oh? Which ancestor, may I ask?”
“My ancestor’s name is Qingqiu.”
Bai Zongnan was astonished. “Could it be… the ancestor of the Qingqiu Fox Clan?”
The Qingqiu Fox Clan was a legendary ancient race, reputedly the source of many myths.
“Yes,” the fairy replied.
She continued, “The Qingqiu Fox Clan is the royal line of our people.”
Bai Zongnan nodded.
The Qingqiu Fox Clan was ancient and storied, though not the most powerful.
Compared to the Dragon Clan, their strength was far less.
They had built many relics in the Primordial Mines, said to contain countless treasures.
But those areas were perilous, and the Fox Clan rarely ventured there unless faced with catastrophe, at which point they would open the forbidden areas and summon aid from other powers.
…
Despite their relative weakness, the Fox Clan’s long, glorious history allowed them to endure. They were also united, making them particularly formidable.
“What is it you wished to see me about?” Bai Zongnan asked with a smile.
“You save me, I help you find the Dragon Pearls, and after that, we part ways—no debts between us,” the Qingqiu fairy said coolly.
“Your cultivation is lost. To recover, you’ll need rare treasures. As it happens, I’ve just collected five hundred and ninety-six stalks of Dragon Blood Grass. If you agree to cooperate, I’ll share some with you for healing.”
The fairy frowned slightly.
If Bai Zongnan could heal her wounds, it would be worth the risk.
But
she doubted his trustworthiness.
“I suspect your motives are not pure,” she said.
Bai Zongnan replied calmly, “They are not.”
“In that case, farewell. You are not a suitable partner.”
She turned to leave.
Bai Zongnan sneered. “If you refuse to cooperate, do you really think you can leave here on your own?”
At this, she paused.
“My strength, Brother Lin, you must sense it. Without sufficient power, I would not have dared approach you,” she said.
“Your power is great, but you don’t know—I specialize in defeating those stronger than myself. So, if I wish to kill you, I can do so anytime, anywhere.”
His tone was even.
Her expression grew uncertain. She was clearly weighing her options.
At length, she said, “Fine. I agree to work with you. I trust you will honor your word. When my injuries are healed, we can discuss our arrangement further.”
She stood and left, her aura weak with injury.
“Take care,” Bai Zongnan called.
She looked back with a mocking smile, but said nothing and departed.
Bai Zongnan did not see her out.
After finishing his tea, he left the mansion.
He traveled to the edge of the Dark Forest, then returned to the Death Marsh.
There, inside the ancient black castle, he sat cross-legged and began cultivating his Indestructible Dominance technique.
Immediately,
he felt a surge of vital energy. His internal power was rapidly drained.
Moreover,
that energy assaulted the vortex in his dantian, threatening to break through and escape.
“No wonder the Fate-Defying Art creates such a bizarre dantian vortex—it can suppress even someone at my level,” Bai Zongnan marveled inwardly.
He was at the peak of Emperor Lord Fourth Heaven.
He had hoped to break through to the Fifth Heaven this way, but found it impossible.
The dantian vortex formed by the Fate-Defying Art was too dangerous—without high enough mastery, one risked backlash.
He explained this to the Demon Lord, who was intrigued.
“What kind of constitution do you have?”
“I’m not sure. I only remember it’s a fate-altering constitution.”
“Perhaps Heaven favors you, granting you a miraculous ability.”
“Heaven favors me?” Bai Zongnan muttered, unconvinced.
It felt more like a calamity, a disaster meant to destroy him.
…
For the next few days, Bai Zongnan secluded himself, striving to break through to the Fifth Heaven.
He felt increasingly uneasy.
As if something major was coming.
He also noticed something strange—his mind seemed to contain extra memories, but whenever he tried to examine them, they vanished without a trace.
He wondered if it was all just his imagination.
“Could it be… in my past life, I was another unrivaled master?”
He took a deep breath.
He sensed that things were not as simple as they seemed.
Bai Zongnan wanted to chase these mysteries and discover the origins of the strange memories in his mind, but they were so vague he found no clues at all.
It left him deeply frustrated.
…
That night, while Bai Zongnan was cultivating, the sounds of battle erupted outside.
Then screams pierced the sky.
“What’s going on?” Bai Zongnan opened his eyes, alert.
He left his room and went outside.
In the distant sky hovered a crowd of cultivators.
Their robes were all embroidered with the words “Black Tortoise Island.”
On the deck of a massive battleship stood many chests.
Each chest brimmed with spirit crystals, radiating intense energy—so much that even an Emperor Lord would benefit greatly from consuming just one.
“That ship is incredibly wealthy—crystals piled like mountains. How much fortune must it hold?”
“Enough to buy entire planets, I’d bet.”
“I envy those who can harvest so many spirit herbs from the Dark Forest and bring back such riches—they’re truly wealthy.”
The surrounding cultivators chattered excitedly.
“Heh, let me tell you all—this ship’s herbs are impressive, but the crystals are even more valuable. Some did gather expensive herbs, but not everyone was so lucky. Some left empty-handed, perishing in the Dark Forest!”
“No matter how many herbs you collected, you owe two thousand source crystals! If not, don’t blame us for what happens!”
The leader was a man in purple robes, about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, his cultivation terrifying.
This was Zhao Peng, leader of Black Tortoise Island’s guards.
Black Tortoise Island was one of the most dangerous areas of the Dark Forest, said to hide countless treasures.
That’s why so many flocked here.
They all sought fortune, but also feared the dangers.
This time, to earn source crystals,
even cultivators from the outer and inner regions of the Dark Forest had come, making it overcrowded.
After Zhao Peng announced the crystal fee, many paid up.
After all, safety came at a price.
…
“Damn, such a rule! We’ll pay the two thousand source crystals!”
Soon,
another group paid.
And then more followed.
When everyone had paid,
“Hahaha, we’ve struck it rich! Let’s go harvest herbs!”
Zhao Peng laughed with glee.
The crowd followed him to Black Tortoise Island.
The island wasn’t far from the Dark Forest, only about a hundred thousand kilometers.
After an hour’s journey, they arrived.
Black Tortoise Island was less an island and more a colossal tortoise resting on the shore.
The island covered hundreds of acres, surrounded by powerful wards, and deep within stood a grand palace complex—the residence of the Island Lord.
“What a magnificent place…” Bai Zongnan exclaimed.
He sensed the complex array patterns woven into the island—unique and powerful, unlike any he’d ever seen.
“Brother, the wards here are formidable—you must be new to the Dark Forest?” a cultivator asked.
“Yes, I am,” Bai Zongnan replied.
Hearing this, many nearby sneered and mocked him as naïve.
Still, they only dared to whisper and kept their distance.
Bai Zongnan ignored them and walked onto the island.
The place was garrisoned by many, all tasked with its defense.
Besides the islanders, there were also cultivators sent by other powers.
The Island Lord’s palace was at the island’s heart.
Newcomers like Bai Zongnan lodged in a valley on the outskirts.
“Did you hear? The Island Lord’s daughter died in the Dark Forest recently!” someone said.
Many were surprised.
The Island Lord was a famed powerhouse of the Dark Forest—who would dare harm his daughter?
Moreover,
he was a Saint of the Immortal Realm, ruling the forest for millions of years.
Who would dare touch his daughter?
The cultivators discussed this at length.
Bai Zongnan frowned, recalling that the Island Lord’s daughter’s mother had also been poisoned and killed.
He detested such ruthless methods.
“Such evil people will meet retribution sooner or later,” he thought.
“They say those cultivators tricked the Island Lord’s daughter, then, when she refused to marry them, killed her!”
Another chimed in.
Bai Zongnan was reminded of Zhen Mi—the girl still waiting for him at home.
She must be heartbroken.
He resolved to return to the fishing village as soon as possible.
“Hey… isn’t that Brother Lin?” A sarcastic voice called out.
A group clustered around Zhao Peng approached, led by a burly, handsome cultivator.
They all knew Bai Zongnan.
Zhao Peng had once invited him to a banquet, which he refused.
These cultivators held a grudge.
And Bai Zongnan had once taken their storage rings.
He glanced coolly at the burly man and moved on.
But the man blocked his way.
“Brother Lin, we’re fellow disciples. Don’t you know to greet your seniors?”
The man’s hostility was obvious.
Their arrogance made Bai Zongnan uncomfortable.
“Why should I?” he replied flatly.
“You—” The man bristled.
He moved to teach Bai Zongnan a lesson, but Zhao Peng stopped him.
“Brother Lin, stand down. Since he wishes to stay here, let him be. We’re short on beds—go find some dry wood and make shelters in the valley.”
“Thank you, Brother Zhao!” the cultivators said, bowing before hurrying off.
“Brother Lin, this is Zhao Peng, the top genius of our lineage!” someone introduced.
“So it’s Brother Zhao—an honor,” Bai Zongnan replied.
Zhao Peng smiled faintly. “Since you’re new, stick with me so no one bullies you.”
With that, Zhao Peng strode off.
The others dispersed, and Bai Zongnan hurried after him.
“What, do you really think you’re one of us? Don’t forget, you’re just a third-heaven Emperor Lord—hardly our equal.”
Zhao Peng stopped, casting a cold, murderous look at Bai Zongnan.
“I go where I please. You’d do well not to block my path,” Bai Zongnan said calmly.
Zhao Peng smirked. “Growing more arrogant, are we?”
Only then did Bai Zongnan realize how deeply he was enmeshed in this mythic world.
Fallen leaves spiraled onto the golden earth. A foot lightly sidestepped one, landing on the asphalt beside it.
“Ah Xian!”
An excited voice called out, growing closer, undissipated by the wind, reaching Bai Zongnan’s ears with perfect clarity.
He’s here—it’s been so long…
Bai Zongnan moved nervously toward the voice, head bowed.
It was him.
His white shirt stood out in the golden world. The boy ran toward him, waving his arms wildly, nearly sending his shoulder bag flying.
His gestures were exuberant, his happiness plain.
A hundred meters closed in an instant.
Before Bai Zongnan could look up, that familiar presence wrapped him in a warm embrace.
“Ah…”
In that moment, Bai Zongnan’s mind went blank, just as it did the first time he met A Qing.
“I finally found you, Bai Zongnan…”
A trembling voice whispered in his ear. The boy’s faint scent lingered at the tip of his nose—enticing, yet dangerous.
“It’s been a long time…” Bai Zongnan replied, voice barely audible.
—
Under the dusk’s golden light, the tree-lined path was bathed in radiance.
A boy and a girl, holding each other tightly, did not let go for a long time.
Gradually, Bai Zongnan returned to himself, gently pushing A Qing away, lost in confusion.
A Qing’s eyes were damp as he stepped back, fidgeting with his hands, his gaze traveling down as if to take in every detail of Bai Zongnan.
Bai Zongnan smoothed his hair, a little embarrassed.
Though they had known each other so long, Bai Zongnan still wasn’t used to such burning attention.
Or rather, he didn’t like it.
But—who could help that he was who he was?
He sighed inwardly and cleared his throat. “It’s been a while. How have you been?”
“Other than missing you, everything’s been fine. And you?”
Me? Do you really not know how I’ve been? Bai Zongnan sighed, but said only, “I’m fine too…”
“…A month after we parted, I returned to Xinzhou. I gave up that apartment too.”
“That’s my home, after all. No matter how disappointed my parents are in me, they wouldn’t abandon me, so…”
Halfway through, Bai Zongnan’s voice caught.
Guilt washed over A Qing’s face, and he fell silent.
For a long time.
“I’m sorry…”
Bai Zongnan heard A Qing murmur.
Once, that “I’m sorry” moved him, made him pity, even forgive.
But today…
Hearing those familiar yet now cold words, all he felt was endless sorrow.
How strange it is, to find a former lover so unfamiliar.
Bai Zongnan stared blankly at A Qing’s face as tears blurred his vision.
The scene faded, shifting, time rewinding, as if some unseen force was pulling him away.
A voice seemed to whisper in his ear.
“Come back… dear Ah Xian.”
Bai Zongnan awoke.
He was still surrounded by cold stone walls.
Did he just dream again?
He held his forehead, feeling a headache. What message did this dream have for him this time?
His right hand groped behind him for a damp notebook, flipping skillfully to the last page, where the handwriting was messy but familiar.