The Place of Slumber

"Pluto's place of slumber... Pluto's place of slumber..." His lips parted and closed, muttering in an incantation-like whisper. As if answering a summons, the stars across the heavens offered their response. One star trembled and bumped into its neighbor, which then collided with another, setting off a domino-like chain reaction. Amid these clashes, the stars across the sky swirled into a vast vortex. Starlight pooled thick in Zhang Yuanqing's pupils as he gazed unblinkingly at the celestial canopy. His brain whirred like a high-speed computer, receiving feedback, calculating deductions, and absorbing further responses... In the lush, dense forest, a tall, burly man paced cautiously across mountain slopes carpeted with decaying leaves and dead twigs. He had a typical Western face, with a high-bridged nose, deep-set blue eyes, short light-brown hair, and a full beard that exuded mature masculinity. He was dressed in hiking clothes suited for nimble movement. The man was not wandering aimlessly. Following markers he had left behind several days prior, he quickly located an abandoned cave. After his previous resting place had nearly been stumbled upon by the local indigenous forces, Pluto had realized that ordinary uninhabited wilderness was not safe enough. He needed a true restricted zone—a no-man's-land where ordinary people never set foot and which local Spirit Realm walkers avoided at all costs. Through several days of scouting, Pluto had set his sights on the Shiwan Dashan, where the Qinghe Branch was located. The Shiwan Dashan spanned an immense area. Tourists only visited designated zones, while walkers from both the Orderly and free factions dared not venture deep into its mountains, making it a perfect fit for his needs. Even for the Spirit Realm walkers of the Qinghe Branch, their active perimeter was largely fixed. The Shiwan Dashan was far too vast for anyone to casually explore on a whim. Even three days would not be enough to scour the whole expanse. The sole hidden risk lay in the exotic beasts dwelling within the wilderness; the Wood Monsters of the Qinghe Branch reared many combat-oriented beasts throughout the mountains. Yet through several days of observation, Pluto had found that these beasts were forbidden from roaming the outer perimeter. After all, if tourists spotted such creatures, it would cause an enormous stir. The beasts were confined to the central region of the Shiwan Dashan. The location Pluto had selected was right on the border between the outer perimeter and the central mountains. The spot had no water sources and no fruit trees—only vast expanses of pine forest, making it relatively barren. Consequently, even ordinary wildlife was sparse; squirrels were its only regular visitors. *Rustle, rustle...* Treading over yellowed pine needles, Pluto entered the shallow cave. Glancing around, he chose a flat, dry spot and sat down. Next, he retrieved essential oils, candles, silver talismans, rose water, and other materials, quickly laying out a simple magical ritual to conceal his scent, presence, and sound. Putting away the materials, he drew a sculpture carved from lustrous yin jade depicting a blindfolded ghost child from his inventory. Dropping to one knee, he pressed his hands together in prayer toward the ghost child. This was an expendable item he had purchased from a black market while passing through Southeast Asia. Combining traits of both the Night Roamer and Spiritualist classes, the sculpture housed a powerful infant spirit endowed with the ability to grant blessings. So long as one prayed to the infant spirit, one could receive a subtle blessing that allowed one's wishes to be realized. Pluto knew that this was a skill belonging to the foreign evil class of Spiritualists—Fortune Blessing! Once the blessing was complete, Pluto put the sculpture away, leaned against the stone wall, and carefully turned over his future plans. He intended to leave Bagui Province as soon as he woke next time and head to the far more chaotic neighboring Caiyun Province. Originally, he had planned to stay in Bagui Province longer to amass enough money before moving on. However, Pluto had caught wind that the Five Elements Alliance headquarters had dispatched an expert to purge the local indigenous forces, giving him a strong premonition of danger. Furthermore, Heaven's Punishment's exchange delegation had arrived on the mainland, gunning directly for him. Hence, he could not linger in Bagui Province. Once in Caiyun Province, he would find a way to scrape together some funds, then head straight west into the uninhabited wilderness to lie low. As these thoughts drifted through his mind, Pluto closed his eyes and sank into slumber. His breathing grew smooth and drawn out. His silhouette blurred, seeming to blend into the cave walls like an unremarkable boulder. The mountain wind brushed through the pine woods, and even the rustle of pine needles softened into utter silence. The chirping of insects died away. Insects dropped from the air one by one, squirrels tumbled from the branches... The spell of slumber settled over the pine forest. The swirling vortex of stars gradually calmed, and immediately afterward, a star in the southeast plummeted at high speed. "Southeast... Shiwan Dashan..." Zhang Yuanqing pressed his palm against the surface of the Great Luo Astrolabe. In his mind, an illusory river of stars lit up, perfectly replicating the cosmic movements across the night sky, with a corresponding star falling into the southeast. The star crashed into his sea of consciousness, stirring up an image of the future. In the vision, mountain ridges undulated like dragons across an ocean of wild forest. As the perspective rapidly zoomed in, it finally froze upon a stretch of pine woods. "I found Pluto's place of slumber!" Zhang Yuanqing snapped his eyes open. Sure enough, having an object Pluto had been in contact with for an extended period made locating him far easier. "Pluto really is hiding in the Shiwan Dashan. Normally, the chances of him being found would be minimal. But right now, thousands of people from the Qinghe Branch are combing the mountains. Within a day at the latest, they'll find where he's sleeping. I have to wrap this up fast—no dragging my feet..." He immediately whipped out his phone, dialed Poison Chaser, and said, "Get ready to move out. We're heading into the Shiwan Dashan." Right after, he brought out Little Red Riding Hood and shook Commandery Princess Yinyao loose. "Follow the plan. Take the Perfect Human Skin and head to the Qinghe Branch to find Yun Meng..." Zhang Yuanqing's gaze suddenly snagged on the fanny pack strapped to her slender waist, and his mouth twitched. "You can't bring that thing with you." Ignoring Commandery Princess Yinyao's aggrieved protests, Zhang Yuanqing firmly unfastened the pouch and returned it to the hat's storage space. *** Qinghe Branch. Inside the annex of the patriarch's villa, the arrogant Siren, Osmond, was holding forth about his lineage, worldly knowledge, and sophisticated taste, describing to her the heritage of a century of accumulated capital. Ordinary people were not worth Osmond flaunting his family background for, but the girl beside him, Yun Meng, was an exception. She was very pretty. Her clear, spirited eyes and pure, innocent demeanor held a deep allure for him. As a scion of an established aristocratic family, Osmond suffered from the typical ailment of noble sons: he was a philanderer. He would gladly enjoy a delightful encounter with this lovely maiden in a foreign land. Though the dalliance was bound to be brief, that was precisely the arrangement he desired. After rambling on for quite a while, Osmond noticed that the girl seated by the table was daydreaming and distracted, so he asked, "What are you thinking about?" "I have to go feed the pigs soon, and after that, I have to help you guys comb the mountains. Hurry up and finish what you're saying so I can leave," Yun Meng answered candidly. Osmond froze. Yun Meng looked at him and asked earnestly, "Are you trying to hit on me?" "What does 'hit on' mean?" "You want to sleep with me." Osmond forced a smile. "Your innocence and your smile deeply enchant me. Love isn't just about sleeping together; it's about mutual attraction." Yun Meng gave an "Oh." "Then you don't stand a chance. I don't want to sleep with you. You're not even as good-looking as Yuanshi Tianzun." A hint of distaste showed on her face. This blond-haired, blue-eyed man had facial features so protruding he looked like an incompletely evolved ape. Foreigners were all incompletely evolved apes. She much preferred Yuanshi Tianzun's handsome yet gentle appearance. "..." Osmond sat there dumbfounded, frozen like a statue. "Ah, sorry." Yun Meng, realizing she had accidentally blurted out the truth, hastily apologized. "I... I'm going to feed the pigs!" Striding on her long legs, she pitter-pattered out of the living room. Osmond silently brought out a mirror with a crystal handle and gazed at his own stiff, dazed face. Golden hair, deep-set eyes, a chiseled nose, sculpted facial contours—anywhere else, this face belonged to an absolute superstar of legendary beauty. Ugly? Osmond's cheek twitched violently. *What kind of dogshit is Yuanshi Tianzun? What right does a baby-faced brat have to be compared to me? He isn't even as handsome as Fu Qingyang.* Just then, Osmond's phone rang. The caller ID showed Demon Hunter. "Executive Officer, sir," he answered. "Any word from the Qinghe Branch?" Demon Hunter asked bluntly. Osmond shook his head. "None yet." The mountain sweep had already commenced. As a Wind Mage, Demon Hunter had taken Hoover and Chazo out into the field, leaving only Osmond behind at the Qinghe Branch to handle communications. The instant news came back from the Qinghe clansmen, he would be able to alert Demon Hunter immediately. Demon Hunter let out a slightly disappointed "Mhm." "Once it's past midnight, the uses for the Mirror of Prophecy will refresh. I'll divine tomorrow's situation. Hopefully, we'll gain something." Yesterday, they had used the item to make a prophecy concerning their quarry: *Can Pluto be captured today?* The Mirror of Prophecy had returned a single answer: *No.* In other words, Pluto could not be apprehended today. Yet failing to catch him could mean many things. It did not necessarily mean they would fail to locate him; it could also mean Pluto would manage to slip away that day. But as long as they locked down his whereabouts, they stood a strong chance of taking him the following day. Therefore, the search still had to go on. "No need to rush, Executive Officer. We have plenty of time," Osmond said with a light chuckle. He had not yet slept with that Qinghe girl, so he had no wish to depart anytime soon. Demon Hunter instructed, "Keep a close watch at the Qinghe Branch. The moment there's news, inform me at once." The two ended the call. *** At the boundary between the central and outer zones of the Shiwan Dashan, two young men in traditional Qinghe clan attire, rifles in hand and each accompanied by a giant wolf and a leopard, trudged through the lush forest. "Brother A'xin, I'm so sleepy. Let's find a spot to nap," the younger teen yawned. "I'm usually sound asleep by this hour." "You're already Level 2; skipping one night of sleep won't kill you," the older youth scolded. "Sleep is all you ever think about. They pay two hundred Federation Dollars just for a day's patrol. Such a sweet gig, and you're still slacking off!" "It's not like we're strapped for cash," the teenager muttered. "You might not be, but I am. In a couple of years, once you get a girlfriend, you'll learn that no amount of money is ever enough. Women eat money," the youth said, sounding like someone who had been through it all. While talking, they stepped into a pine forest. The teenager grumbled, "Clearly you're the one who got bled dry. Women nowadays are all about being realistic. The second they're in a relationship, they suck you dry with all their might, then move on to the next victim. If you're dumb enough to just hand money over, no amount will ever be enough. Brother A'xin, let me tell you: money is meant for women to look at, not for women to have." The youth sneered. "Watch fewer short videos. That nonsense is just meant to fool little brats like you." Suddenly, a wave of dizziness struck him, followed by surges of drowsiness. "Wait, why am I so sleepy all of a sudden..." No sooner had he spoken than a thud sounded beside him. Turning his head, he saw the teenager had already collapsed onto the pine-needle-covered ground, fast asleep. The giant wolf and the leopard were also swaying on their feet. Their massive bodies staggered and crashed down, sinking into deep slumber. The youth's pupils constricted. *F-Found him...* He backed away rapidly while reaching for his phone, intending to report back to the clan. Yet overwhelming drowsiness surged like a tidal wave. Just as his fingers brushed his phone, his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed heavily to the ground, snoring deafeningly. Half an hour later, a beam of starlight rose from the darkness. A tall young man with ordinary features emerged from the starlight. Zhang Yuanqing swept his gaze across the area and spotted the two slumbering Qinghe clansmen nearby. *Has he already been found...?* A chill ran through his heart. During dinner, he had bantered and flirted with Yun Meng for another hour, extracting details about the Qinghe clan and Heaven's Punishment's deployment from her. For this mountain sweep, the Qinghe clan had mobilized two thousand members and numerous exotic beasts. Each patrol was required to check in with the clan every hour; the moment a team went past the hour mark without reporting, the Qinghe Branch would notice the irregularity. They would then dispatch people to investigate based on the assigned patrol sector. There was no telling how long these two had been asleep—perhaps they had only just dozed off, or perhaps nearly an hour had already elapsed. Qinghe clan reinforcements might already be on their way. "Time is running out!" Zhang Yuanqing dialed Commandery Princess Yinyao's phone. "Move out immediately!"