Chapter 427

One Hundred Sixty-Second: The Ultimate Trial in the Dream

The “Heart Mirage Mirror,” an artifact that can reflect the true essence of one’s soul and Heart Flower, now reveals the dreams of the three sleeping individuals.

“How about this me—am I beautiful?”

On the runway of a Parisian fashion show, dressed in the latest seasonal fashion, model Erika, who shines so brightly she becomes almost unrecognizable, walks with an elegant catwalk, amidst flashing lights and the cheers of the audience. She secretly winks at someone in that direction, and immediately a burst of enthusiastic shouts erupt.

“Erika—!”

“I love you! Best one ever!”

“She’s looking this way, it’s definitely me she’s looking at!”

“Princess Erika, please let me be your loyal servant!”

“This is going to be amazing!”

Amidst the crowd, Ash, who was really the target of her wink, puts down his single-lens reflex camera, laughs with a chuckle, and gives a thumb up to acknowledge Erika’s wink from the stage.

“Ahh—perfect!

“It seems Erika truly anticipates these things.” Although he finds it strange that the audience contains some odd remarks, Kayin isn’t too concerned about such small issues. He then switches the dream scene over to Wu Ki.

This is the Mingtang Academy dojo which has grown from a small training venue to a global main dojo. Wide tatami mats are filled with young practitioners clad in uniforms, diligently practicing techniques under the master-disciple Mingtang Wu Ki, honing their martial arts skills and sweating freely.

“Alright, that’s enough for now!”

After an incomparably fulfilling session of practice, Wu Ki crosses her arms in front of her chest, then retracts them to her sides as the spirited girl exhales a deep breath.

When Wu Ki sheds her uniform, she returns to her usual state. At this moment, she is happily chatting with her elder brother, a man with immense strength despite a delicate face. In her arms is a life-sized doll sent by Ash.

While she is serious, she is a disciplined leader of Mingtang style; when relaxed, she revels like a little girl enjoying cute things… Yes, she seems very similar to how she usually is.

“Wu Ki, guess who came to see you.”

“Ah, Ash!”

Wu Ki looks towards the door with a delighted expression.

Opening the door is Ash, whose body is brimming with muscle, with an exploded hairstyle, wearing an unclosed orange robe with “Heaven” written on the back.

“Hey Wu Ki, today let’s engage in an ultra-spectacular exchange session, and afterwards, let’s have some Sukiyaki together!”

“Aah, I couldn’t ask for more!”

Observing her reflection, Wu Ki ‘holds hands’ and ‘exchanges emotions’ with a hugely incongruous Ash in the mirror. His smile is full of energy and cheerfulness, like a red warrior. This bizarre display makes Kayin struggle slightly to maintain his composure on his face, even though he knows it’s all just a dream.

“Even so, I suppose it’s understandable… what about Lily?”

In the Yagami household, Lily’s parents stand beside her with mysterious smiles, and Momoka is poised as if ready to applaud an EVA finale. Ash himself wears a highly polished, high-end suit, kneeling before Yagami Lily and solemnly pulling out a small box from his chest.

Until it opens, an excessively dazzling light spills out of the gap.

“I’ll give you half of my life, so please give half of yours to me!”

“This is my once-in-a-lifetime request, Lily, I love you! Would you marry me?”

“Well, enough of that already.”

Watching Lily on the mirror, surrounded by applause, with her embarrassed and happy look, Kayin can barely help slapping his own face.

Even though he knows the dreams work this way…

why is he always around?

What’s with this guy!

No wonder Xiaojie makes everyone feel so helpless, this must be because you pushed too hard to be liked!

“But sorry, it’s time to ruin your good dream.”

With that, Kayin forcefully turns the knob on the Heart Mirage Mirror until the image shifts into a swirling scene, distorting everything.

“Huh—from where?”

Just moments ago, they were living joyfully with Ash, but in the blink of an eye, they found themselves in a vast flat land, a sea of flowers matching their colors, albeit seemingly isolated.

The girls looked at each other bewildered. This place lacks both sun and moon; only shadows of a person can be seen from the horizon walking through.

“You are—”

Upon seeing the figure approaching, fear grips them as their eyes rapidly shrink, for the person is—

“Correct.”

Though resembling Wu Ki, Erika, or Lily, this version wears a white coat and bears a cold expression, standing in front of them as if they are their own reflected truth in a ground-level mirror.

“I am—the you within.”

“This is the final test of the Heart Mirage Mirror. It appears that someone activated its power, reshaping your dreams into this trial ground.”

The other girl beside them calmly explains the mechanism.

“The final test, is it to overcome oneself?” Quick-witted Wu Ki and Lily deduce, but the counterpart shakes her head, clarifying, “I am indeed you, but the shadow of yourself, like the shadows projected by the sun, moon, and ocean.”

As these words are spoken, the ‘shadow’ version of herself attacks, and the transformed girls dodge, but realize that this unaltered version is equally powerful.

“Could you conquer your desires?”

“That’s…”

Engaging in battle with their alter-egos, the girls hesitate, feeling a rare lack of confidence when reminded of a previous statement.

It’s embarrassing, but under Qi Jiela’s influence, part of them genuinely wants to live in such a world, as it is genuinely enjoyable.

Some things may deceive others, but they can’t fool themselves.