Chapter 17

In his dream, Yan Xuanjin seemed to have entered a world without light, where everything was endlessly dark. He felt the space around him was very narrow, yet strangely, he didn't feel claustrophobic.

The air was warm and humid, like being in a tropical rain forest. The smell of soil and grass lingered in his nose, making him unconsciously relax his vigilance.

In a trance, Yan Xuanjin thought he had returned to his spiritual picture - but when he instinctively came to the place covered by dead branches and leaves, he found that the gap that should have been as empty as an abyss had been filled up at some point.

There is moist soil, green seedlings, mottled stones, and new mushrooms.

He stood helplessly beside the land that seemed to have been newly cultivated, staring blankly.

I must have come to the wrong place... I must have come to the wrong place.

Every time he returned to his mental image, Yan Xuanjin was always terrifyingly stubborn. He could clearly sense everything in this forest, yet he stubbornly refused to face it.

He used to hate the negative emotions that were everywhere like black fog, hidden between leaves, in rainwater, and in mud. But now, when all the black fog has disappeared, what he doesn't want to believe is that the forest before him, full of a new atmosphere, really exists in his spiritual consciousness.

Yan Xuanjin walked slowly through the forest, carefully observing the surrounding scenery. The land beneath his feet had been trampled for years, and gradually, the plants had obediently given up the soil, forming a forest path.

He ignored the details that he could confirm at a glance and just kept walking along the road.

The sentinel's brain was exceptionally effective. How could Yan Xuanjin lose track of his own mental image? It was simply an inexplicable faith in his heart that guided him forward.

The sun sets quickly here, and in the blink of an eye it was already dusk. Yan Xuanjin stopped and looked at the colorful clouds in the sky.

"Meow~"

“Meow—”

...Is this the cry of a black wolf?

Yan Xuanjin was stunned and looked down at the source of the sound - it was a kitten.

Blue eyes and gray ears, just staring at him.

...Is it a spiritual being?

He squatted down and put his hand next to the cat. The kitten put its head up obediently and even rubbed against him gently.

At the moment they touched, a force suddenly appeared at the desolate edge of the forest in the distance, causing the plants to grow wildly.

Logically speaking, he shouldn't have let his guard down so easily, allowing such a strange animal to appear here, or even touch it.

But, for some reason, he was not on guard against it at all.

Who exactly is it? Yan Xuanjin wanted to understand this question.

As if it understood his thoughts, the kitten actually grabbed his trouser leg and pulled him forward.

"Don't go, there's nothing ahead."

The kitten ignored it and just kept walking forward.

Yan Xuanjin looked helpless, but still followed it obediently.

"Really, don't go..."

Yan Xuanjin stared ahead without blinking and stopped unconsciously.

"Where is this...?"

“Meow——”

The cat suddenly ran quickly to a lush grass in front of it, lay down on it and rolled around comfortably, making a rustling sound.

Yan Xuanjin walked slowly and cautiously towards a place he had never visited before.

He closed his eyes and felt that his mental strength had reached a new level. He also sensed that the boundaries of this tropical rainforest had expanded.

The rustling sound in my ears gradually faded, replaced by the sound of rain hitting the broad leaves of the trees.

Yan Xuanjin opened his eyes and wanted to find the kitten that was playing in the grass and bring it back to shelter from the rain. However, when he walked to the grass, he saw not the kitten but a person - a very delicate and beautiful boy.

Black hair, powdered face, jade-like golden complexion, eyebrows and eyes like a painting...but, naked

Yan Xuanjin stared blankly until the boy's face was splashed by rain and he opened his eyes. Then he suddenly came to his senses and looked away in shame and anger.