Chapter 87: Meng Ruji’s Dream Reunion

                    

Meng Ruji saw Mo Li again in the dungeons of the Land of No Reprieve.

Mo Li stood outside the cell, looking at her, somewhat speechless.

Meng Ruji remained calm, wiping her face before following him out.

After many days, her return to jail had a simple reason. After seizing the Inner Core from Mu Sui and escaping, the poison from the Nai River water lingered. She had rushed into an apothecary, robbed antidote pills with her last silver, but fell short of the eight silver cost. Arrest followed.

“Compared to last time, there are many more people in jail,” Meng Ruji remarked. “The neighbors are newcomers who don’t understand the rules of the Land of No Reprieve. The mortal realm is truly in chaos.”

“Mu Sui has already bought his life with a thousand gold and returned to the mortal realm.”

“I guessed as much.”

Mo Li handed her a bottle. “Here, little green pills. He was your life-sustaining object. Now that he’s gone, you need medicine daily.”

Meng Ruji touched the vine bracelet on her wrist. “No need anymore. That day, he must have changed it. That bastard—if he leaves, he leaves, but he still wants to be thorough.”

Mo Li smiled faintly, then suppressed it, watching weary soldiers escort prisoners.

“Come with me first. Tuzi and Ye Dahe are here too.”

In the guest room, Tuzi trembled:
“You didn’t keep City Lord Brother behind!?”

Meng Ruji sat calmly. “You were his life-sustaining object for so long. Don’t you know his personality? He’s a lost one. Asking him to give up his cause is impossible.”

Tuzi collapsed, crying: “City Lord Brother looks cold, but he’s gentle inside. Doing this, he must be struggling too…”

Ye Chuan looked guilty. Meng Ruji patted his arm:
“Don’t blame yourself. Having one’s soul seized by a deity is irresistible. This isn’t because you were possessed.”

Ye Chuan bowed his head. “Miss Meng, if there’s anything I can help with, please command me.”

“There is.” Meng Ruji spoke directly. “Tuzi, find Mu Sui’s former subordinates—Chensha and the managers. Tell them I need money to return to the mortal realm to save Mu Sui. Ye Chuan, find other avenues. Mo Li, have the soldiers cooperate.”

Tuzi nodded eagerly. “They’ll help!”

Mo Li sent Ye Chuan away, then remained.

“We can’t sit and wait,” Meng Ruji said. “Eight hundred years ago, you divined my fate. You can enter dreams, right?”

“I can,” Mo Li replied, “but I’m injured. I can’t rashly enter Mu Sui’s dreams.”

“I’m not asking you to find him. My five guardians are still on Hengxu Mountain—Qing Rao, Shang Yan, Shang Lan, Xiao Yi, Xiao Bu. Connect me to them in dreams.”

Mo Li pondered. “I could before, but I need money to set up a formation.”

Meng Ruji sighed. “Then I’ll earn money.”

Mo Li smiled. “No need. I can gather one or two gold from the offices. Enough for the formation.”

Meng Ruji froze, then whispered: “Ever since coming here, I’ve waited for someone to say that. My life of toil has finally cracked open.”

That night, Mo Li set up the formation. Meng Ruji adjusted it.

“No wonder you were the Demon Lord,” Mo Li praised.

“Stop talking nonsense.”

They sat, meditated, and Meng Ruji entered the dream world.

Chaos gave way to firelight, battlefields, Nether Monsters. She saw Qing Rao, twin swords in hand, commanding.

“Qing Rao…” Meng Ruji murmured.

They gazed across war and fire.

“Qing Rao,” Meng Ruji said, “at this moment, you don’t need to fight.”

Qing Rao trembled. “Mountain Lord… how is this possible…”

Meng Ruji touched her hair. “It has been a long time. You’ve all changed.”

The dream shattered, revealing chaos. Qing Rao hugged her, sobbing:
“I missed you so much! Why haven’t you come to me in dreams? I finally dreamed of you…”

Meng Ruji whispered: “This time, it’s not you dreaming of me. I came to find you.”

“Find me? Are you going to reincarnate? I don’t want that!”

Meng Ruji smiled bitterly. “You haven’t changed at all.”

Shang Lan arrived, performing Hengxu Mountain’s ritual. The others bowed:
“We respectfully welcome the Master.”

Meng Ruji lifted Shang Lan. “I didn’t come to help you. I need you to help me.”

Shang Lan’s voice was steady. “Master, please command us.”

“The deity intends to destroy the world. And Mu Sui… he has returned to join her.”

“I know him!” Qing Rao cried. “Yesterday, at Lu Mountain, I fought him! He was powerful. I thought I would die, but when my disciple called me, he turned and left.”

Meng Ruji’s eyes lowered. He had remembered the names she spoke.

“Yes,” she said. “Stop him. Whatever he wants to do, prevent it.”

The five guardians bowed solemnly.

“There’s no time to explain. From now on, one of you must rest each night, meet me in dreams, and report. I’ll return as soon as possible.”

Her body faded. She patted Shang Lan’s arm.

“With the mortal realm in chaos, you haven’t changed much. I’m truly fortunate.”

Next