An ancient ck-framed oil painting floated in the murky dreamscape. Inside the painting, Irene is confused about the current situation.


    “This doesn’t make any sense! I’ve already broken free from this thing’s control and even got myself a body in the real world!” Irene paced in circles within the painting. “I epted having to lug this painting around out there—as if it’s extra baggage—but howe things are even worse in the dream world? Theoretically, shouldn’t I be freer here?”


    She looked up, staring directly at Yu Sheng.


    “You’re asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?” Yu Sheng shrugged. “I thought you’d be freer in the dream too. I wanted to see what you look like at five foot six, but you’re still a paper doll.”


    Irene huffed, too annoyed to even bicker with him. After circling the chair inside the painting countless times, she finally gave up and sat back down, grabbing a fluffy teddy bear and squeezing it tightly.


    “Now I’m stuck with this bear again… But it’s fine, I guess. At least I can move freely in the real world. The dream world isn’t that important. Yeah, not that important.”


    “Sometimes, I really envy your optimism,” Yu Sheng remarked sincerely.


    Irene immediately shed him a toothy grin, but whether in reality or in the dream, her threatening gestures never had any real effect.Yu Sheng stepped around the floating painting and approached the sleeping silver fox named Foxy.


    “So, what’s next? Same asst time—I lie on her tail? Then we both ‘sink’ down?”


    “Same as before, but this time the connection will be more… direct,” Irene exined as she floated beside him. “I’ll try to keep Foxy’s consciousness close to awake. That way, it’ll be easier for you tomunicate with her and perceive her surroundings afterward. But at the same time, Hunger will notice you. It wille for you… What happens after that, I can’t help you with. Any contact or struggle on the level of consciousness—you’ll have to handle on your own.”


    She paused, then added reassuringly, “But I can be yourst line of defense. If I sense your mind destabilizing rapidly, I’ll forcibly pull you out. It’ll be just as unpleasant asst time when you woke up suddenly, so you’d better be prepared.”


    “Honestly, I’d rather not go through that again,” Yu Sheng sighed but quickly nodded, his resolve unwavering. “Alright, let’s get started.”


    He found afortable spot nestled among Foxy’srge tails, then caught Irene as she hopped down from mid-air. Together—a person and a painting—they leaned against the fox’s tail, sinking once more into the drowsy depths of the dream world.


    Perhaps because of their previous connection, this descent was even faster and smoother than Yu Sheng had imagined. He felt a brief moment of disorientation, and when his vision cleared, he saw the figure of the fox girl.


    She was quietly crouching amid scattered rubble, staring nkly at something ahead.


    Yu Sheng moved to stand behind Foxy, following her gaze.


    He saw a massive wreckage, like the remains of arge aircraft that had crashed. Twisted metal frames and broken decks hinted at its former grandeur. Faint glimmers—like lingering spirits—drifted among the shattered debris.


    The entire wreck had settled at the foot of a mountain. Copsed and molten rocks had almost swallowed it, merging it into part of the mountainside. Even at a nce, one could tell how catastrophic the impact had been.


    If ordinary humans had been aboard, perhaps none would have survived.


    Yu Sheng stared in shock at the crash site but quickly remembered his purpose. He approached the fox girl and spoke softly to avoid startling her. “Foxy.”


    Foxy’s ears perked up instantly. She jumped to her feet, looking around in search of the voice. Unable to find the source, she hesitantly asked, “Benefactor?”


    “It’s me. Don’t bother looking around; I’m connecting directly to your consciousness.”


    “Benefactor! You’re really here! I thought I imagined itst time… What’s happening?” Foxy’s face lit up with surprise, though she still instinctively nced around. “I was just daydreaming in the valley, and suddenly I’m here. Am I dreaming?”


    “Yes, I used some methods to guide your dream. Only like this can I contact you—but now isn’t the time to exin the details,” Yu Sheng said quickly. “Listen, Foxy, I’ming to rescue you. To do that, I need to open a special door, and I need your cooperation. Do you trust me?”


    “Rescue me?” Foxy was momentarily stunned before shaking her head vigorously. “No, don’te! You finally got out, Benefactor. This valley is strange—once you enter, it’s hard to leave! You mustn’t—”


    “I have a way!” Yu Sheng interrupted gently. “Foxy, listen to me. I’ve found a stable method to enter and exit the valley. I just need your help to open that door. Don’t worry about that monster; I can handle it. Do you understand? I’m quite powerful, and I’ve even brought some… well, powerful friends this time.”


    He tried to reassure her, doing his best to make her feel at ease. Foxy looked a bit confused, her thoughts seemingly sluggish as she tried to keep up with his words. After a moment, she asked hesitantly, “So… you’re an immortal, Benefactor?”


    Yu Sheng blinked, not expecting her to jump to that conclusion.


    But he could roll with it.


    “A very powerful immortal,” he said, trying to sound convincing.


    Foxy broke into a smile. “Benefactor, what do you need me to do?”


    “You don’t need to do much; just focus on sensing your surroundings. You might feel someone peering into your mind or looking through your eyes—don’t resist; that’s me.”


    “Alright.”


    Yu Sheng let out a small sigh of relief. Convincing Foxy had been easier than he’d expected. Now… he just had to face the second challenge.


    “Irene,” he called softly in his mind, “let’s begin.”


    The next moment, a slight dizziness washed over him, and Yu Sheng felt an indescribable pull.


    A new connection formed between him and Foxy. Unlike the subtle link they’d established before, this one was stronger and more… forceful.


    Part of his consciousness slipped out of his control, merging with a flood of new sensations. It was like his nerves had suddenly connected to an entirely new set of limbs. Though the feelings were somewhat vague and dyed, he began to perceive Foxy’s surroundings.


    Cold. Decay. The stench of rot and decline. Wind swirling through the valley, rustling the dark trees.


    Night eternal. Hunger evesting.


    The fox girl stood among the trees, her eyes wide as she took in her surroundings.


    She didn’t fully understand what her benefactor was doing or if simply staring around was enough. She was just trying her best to follow his instructions.


    Then she felt the connection he had mentioned.


    She started slightly but sensed no malice.


    Foxy had always been keenly aware of even the slightest ill intent, but this time, there was none.


    Instead, she felt aforting reassurance. Even her constant hunger seemed to lessen.


    When the overwhelming hunger and suppressed madness surged toward him, Yu Sheng felt as if a colossal wave was crashing down—a mountain copsing in the pitch-ck night. Hunger and frenzy, almost tangible, like a vast shadow or solid darkness, engulfed every inch of his perception in an instant.


    He didn’t even have time to call out Irene’s name. In that critical moment, he focused all his effort on recalling the features of the valley that Foxy had shared. Then, the frenzied darkness swallowed him whole.


    Yet, deep within the dark tide, he found that he was still conscious.


    Hunger gnawed at his soul, causing it to wither and die. Yu Sheng watched as “he” was devoured in an instant within the dark frenzy, his perspective that of a detached observer.


    As the hunger receded, the withered soul awakened once more. He opened his eyes in the darkness, uncertain whether he’d just experienced another death or if it had all been an illusion.


    He drifted through the depths of the void, unable to sense the passage of time or the boundaries of space, unsure if he was even moving at all.


    All he could feel was… a gaze fixed upon him.


    Not just a single gaze—the entire chaotic darkness was part of that watchful eye.


    He was like a speck of dust, tiny as a needle’s point, submerged under the endless, hungry stare.


    After what felt like an eternity, he finally glimpsed something in the depths—a massive, floating limb or perhaps a shadow.


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