This Villain Ch.239

Chapter 239: Dreamer

At the Hui Lian Mountain mining site, a heavy rain washed away the dust on the ground. The constant sound of mining had ceased, leaving the place so silent that it seemed devoid of any presence.

The puppet-like gray-eyed people had lost the power controlling them, standing motionless in the rain like statues.

Inside, Wu Jin and a few others slumped over chairs or leaned against the table, having fallen into a deep sleep.

In the dimly lit room, Yu Guang lay peacefully asleep on the bed.

Countless black threads crisscrossed around the bed, enclosing the space and isolating it from the outside world.

Yu Yin leaned against the bedside, embracing his elder brother, who was trapped in the illusory dream, in a possessive posture. His own eyes were also slightly closed.

This illusory dream was a power he had acquired years ago at the pearl-harvesting site in Tiantai Township after devouring the Shell Demon.

However, the Shell Demon had been too weak; its dream-weaving power could neither confuse his brother nor trap cultivators with strong wills. It had been practically useless, so Yu Yin had never used it.

It wasn’t until recently, after he devoured the Dragon Lady, that this ability was unexpectedly enhanced.

When he encountered his brother in a rare state of exhaustion and weakness, Yu Yin had been unable to resist the urge to try it. To his surprise, he succeeded in ensnaring his brother in the dream.

What should he do with his brother now?

As Yu Yin spoke those seemingly unreasonable yet intimate and natural words to lower his brother’s guard, he pondered this question.

Such a rare opportunity to trap his brother in the illusory dream—what should he do to make the most of it?

More sinister thoughts and harsher methods had crossed his mind.

But because Yu Guang had released the blood threads and allowed himself to be bound, those darker ideas faded away under Yu Yin’s gaze.

What should I do?

Yu Yin felt as though he were staring at a long-coveted delicacy, yet he didn’t know how to begin savoring it, his heart filled with torment.

When Yu Yin followed his desires and sank into the illusory dream, what he saw was a subconscious manifestation of his deepest wish: he and his elder brother were about to be married.

Yu Yin suddenly laughed. So this was all he truly wanted.

Compared to the more obvious physical desires or the instinctive craving for Yu Guang’s power that came from his demonic nature, what he yearned for most was something far more tender.

He wished to become the most special and important person to Yu Guang—the one this guiding figure, always walking ahead of everyone and lighting the way, would turn to and stay beside forever.

With a faint smile on his lips, Yu Yin tightened his embrace around his slumbering brother. His lips hovered just a breath away from Yu Guang’s cheek as he gently pulled him deeper into the dream.

‘If you won’t give me what I want in reality, then stay forever in my dream.’

…

Yu Guang stood at the table, flipping through his journal.

He had always made it a habit to record important events, as well as his reflections and experiences.

There was a gap in the entries from his time in Chazhou, but after returning, he had filled in the blanks. The journal now contained brief notes about his time there and the subsequent handling of matters in Chazhou City, all matching his own memories.

Everything seemed consistent with his usual recording style.

Closing the journal, Yu Guang stepped out the door. Everyone around him was busy but brimming with joy.

Normally, people would come to him for advice whenever something came up, but when it came to the wedding, he, as one of the main parties involved, had been deliberately excluded from decision-making. Instead, Ban Ying and Pei Wenjue had taken over that role.

The only other person with as much free time as him was the other star of the wedding.

Yu Yin sat under the jujube tree in the courtyard, holding a large pair of black scissors, meticulously cutting red paper.

A gray-eyed cat, serving as his eyes, sprawled on the table, its ears perked and its round eyes intently following the movements of his scissors.

Yu Guang’s first reaction was surprise: this kid had actually decided to sit outside in the sun of his own accord.

The jujube tree provided little shade, leaving half of Yu Yin’s body exposed to the sunlight as he sat beneath it.

Normally, unless Yu Guang urged him, Yu Yin would only sit under the eaves or hide away in his room.

Snip, snip. The large scissors made soft, rhythmic sounds as they sliced through the red paper.

Yu Guang noticed the smile playing on Yu Yin’s lips. He walked over and ruffled Yu Yin’s hair with his palm. “Why are you so happy?”

Watching from under the eaves for a moment, he saw that Yu Yin had been smiling the entire time.

“We’re getting married in a couple of days. Of course, I’m happy,” Yu Yin replied, still cutting the red paper.

The paper scattered around him was in complete disarray, with scraps littering the ground.

Looking at the finished pieces nearby, it was clear he had made a sincere effort, but the results left much to be desired.

The ‘喜’ character he had cut was missing limbs, entirely unusable at a glance.

Yu Guang observed his clumsy progress and asked, “Using the cat’s eyes to guide you—does it make cutting paper harder?”

Hearing the faint note of concern in Yu Guang’s tone, both Yu Yin and the gray-eyed cat turned to look at him.

“I’ve long since gotten used to it. Is Big Brother feeling sorry for me?” Yu Yin stared intently at his brother’s expression, distracted enough that the next snip of the scissors sliced the ‘喜’ character clean in half.

“Have some pity for the precious red paper too!” Ban Ying’s voice rang out from behind them, sounding aggrieved.

She clenched her fists. “This is top-quality gold-dusted red paper I specially ordered from Mao City! I was going to use it this afternoon for couplets and wedding characters. At this rate, there won’t be any left if you keep playing with it!”

Yu Yin, still holding the scissors, fell silent, his previously suggestive expression stiffening slightly.

Yu Guang chuckled and took the scissors and red paper from Yu Yin. “Let me do it.”

Ban Ying hovered nearby, watching skeptically. After a while, she relaxed upon seeing that, while Yu Guang’s work wasn’t particularly artistic, the cuts were neat and passable.

Ban Ying reluctantly nodded. “Fine, Big Brother, you can cut a few 喜 characters. Later, I’ll have Shi Bai, Mu Yi, and the others come to paste them up.”

Before leaving, she added firmly, “Keep an eye on your little brother. Don’t let him ruin any more red paper.”

Once Ban Ying hurried off, Yu Guang carefully cut out the shape of a喜character, then took a pen to draw guidelines on a folded piece of red paper before handing it to Yu Yin.

“Cut along the lines. That’ll do.”

He even shifted his position slightly to block Yu Yin from view, just in case Ban Ying passed by again.

Yu Yin watched his brother with a faint smile, clearly enjoying the care he was taking. He took back the scissors and, following the drawn lines, carefully cut. When he unfolded the paper, it revealed a perfectly shaped喜character.

“Look, this one turned out great. Let’s paste it on the window of our room,” Yu Yin suggested.

He personally affixed the 喜 character to Yu Guang’s window lattice.

…

That night, the moonlight outside was bright, casting the 喜 character’s shadow clearly onto the room.

Lying in bed, Yu Guang found himself unusually restless, his gaze fixed on the shadow of the 喜 character.

“What’s on your mind, Big Brother?” Yu Yin, lying beside him, placed a hand on his chest in the dim light.

Yu Guang responded, “You’ve been saying this room should be the bridal chamber, but why aren’t you sleeping in your own room these past few days?”

“What does it matter? I used to sleep here often. There’s no difference now or in the future.”

Yu Yin pressed his fingers against his brother’s firm chest, meaningfully pushing downward. “We’re about to get married, and this is all you’re thinking about?”

Yu Guang frowned, pondering for a moment before replying, “I still feel like something about this isn’t real.”

Yu Yin’s finger paused mid-poke.

“Big Brother is talking about a lack of realism again. Are you thinking of backing out?”

“No, not backing out. But I do feel it’s somewhat unreal,” Yu Guang said, feeling it was a separate issue entirely.

However, Yu Guang’s sharp and sensitive youngest brother clearly had no interest in analyzing what felt wrong. Instead, Yu Yin let out an irritated huff.

“At this point, Big Brother, even if you don’t want to marry me, it’s too late.”

Yu Guang pulled the arm he had been resting behind his head free and sat up, grabbing Yu Yin—who had just delivered his stern remark—and pulling him upright as well.

“Well, since neither of us can sleep, let’s go for a nighttime run.”

“…Big Brother, are you nervous?”

Instead of answering, Yu Guang clapped Yu Yin firmly on the shoulder and dragged him out for a ten-lap run around the mountain.

…

The day before the wedding, the Exorcism Bureau was bustling with activity. The front hall had been set up with tables and chairs, while the backyard was piled high with ingredients.

Yu Guang showed no signs of having missed a night’s sleep. Ignoring everyone’s protests, he carried tables and chairs and then headed to the backyard to help slaughter chickens and chop vegetables.

He worked swiftly, but with Yu Yin trailing close behind him like a conjoined twin, the already crowded kitchen became a chaotic bottleneck. To make matters worse, Yu Yin’s gray-eyed cat darted underfoot, causing additional disruption and eliciting a chorus of complaints.

“Get out, get out! You two newlyweds, leave the kitchen! This isn’t where you’re supposed to be!”

“Big Brother! Put down that chicken! Don’t get blood all over your clothes!”

“There’s fish in here! Don’t let the cat near it. Yu Yin, take your cat and leave the kitchen already!”

It was rare for Yu Guang to face this level of rejection, but in the end, everyone banded together to chase the meddlesome couple out of the kitchen. They were banished to the courtyard by the well to wash dishes instead.

Yu Yin sluggishly prodded at the dishes in the basin. “Big Brother, does it feel real yet?”

Yu Guang didn’t reply. Instead, he took the dish from Yu Yin’s hands. “Give it to me. At the rate you’re washing, it’ll take until nightfall to finish.”

The two of them stood by the well, surrounded by a mountain of dishes, occasionally glancing at Ban Ying as she rushed back and forth. One moment, she carried a menu into the kitchen to check the dishes, and the next, someone from the front hall called for her. Without missing a beat, she hitched up her skirt and strode off with fiery determination.

…

Soon, Ban Ying’s loud voice could be heard again, calling for Wu Jin.

“Wu Jin! Did you bring the wedding candies? We didn’t have enough time to order custom ones, but they can’t be too shabby either. I forgot to remind you—did you get them from Fu Tang Ji in the east of the city?”

“And the wedding outfits—the sizes for the temporary ones were a bit off. Make sure they’re sent to Tailor Song to be altered. Later, you need to pick them up so Big Brother and Yu Yin can try them on.”

“Wu Jin…”

Wu Jin, having just set down a pile of wedding candies and dried fruits, was sent off again to fetch the wedding clothes.

Under the blazing sun, he wiped the sweat from his brow, but the nagging feeling that something was off grew stronger in his chest.

These past few days had been a whirlwind of activity—wine, wedding candies, wedding outfits. The suddenness of Big Brother and Yu Yin’s marriage left them scrambling to prepare everything at the last minute, creating this chaotic rush.

But…something about it didn’t add up.

The more Wu Jin thought, the more his head hurt. Why did it feel so strange?

Was the chaos really just because the wedding had been so sudden? It shouldn’t be! They had already prepared for this, hadn’t they?

Wu Jin distinctly remembered how, after learning about Big Brother and Yu Yin’s relationship, they had all discussed quietly amongst themselves, deciding to get a head start on the wedding preparations.

Big Brother had always shouldered everything on his own, so for such an important event like his wedding, they wanted to help lighten the load. It was their way of showing support and care.

Ban Ying had been particularly insistent at the time, saying that a wedding was no small matter. The wedding candies needed to be ordered early, and the designs for the wedding outfits had to be chosen well in advance to avoid any last-minute scrambling.

So why did it feel like they were starting from scratch all over again?

Wu Jin returned from the tailor’s with two outfits that had supposedly been altered in a hurry.

Yet, as he looked at them, all he could think about were the custom-made wedding clothes Ban Ying and the others had specially designed. The patterns had been drawn by hand and embroidered by skilled artisans, far more exquisite than these simple, hastily altered garments.

Why weren’t those being used? What had happened to all their prior preparations? Something was definitely wrong.

Clearly, something they had already prepared and done once was suddenly gone, forcing them to start over. How could this happen?

‘Am I dreaming?’ The thought popped into Wu Jin’s head.

The moment it did, his ears seemed to be muffled by an invisible layer, and his head buzzed with noise.

Carrying the jumbled mess of conflicting memories, he returned to the courtyard of the Exorcism Bureau.

A few women holding festive quilts and pillows called out to him, “Wu Jin, come help us set up the bridal chamber. Move the bed to the auspicious position.”

Wu Jin had no choice but to set aside his chaotic thoughts and help move the bed. But as he worked, another realization struck him.

“Wait a second, why is Big Brother’s usual bedroom being used as the bridal chamber?” Wu Jin froze in place, muttering to himself.

“Wu Jin, what are you talking about? If the bridal chamber isn’t Big Brother’s room, where else would it be?”

Wu Jin suddenly smacked his forehead. “This really isn’t right!”

Because he clearly remembered watching Big Brother and Yu Yin sneak off a few times. Considering the inconvenience of a newlywed couple sharing a room in the main house, they had quietly prepared a private, standalone courtyard for them.

That courtyard had been arranged by Ban Ying, specifically set aside to serve as the bridal chamber when the time came.

Wu Jin remembered it vividly. He had even gone there to clean the place several times! Why did it now seem like everyone else had completely forgotten about it?

“This isn’t right! This definitely isn’t right!”

Wu Jin shouted, dropping the bed he was holding and bolting out of the room. In the courtyard, he spotted Big Brother washing dishes by the well.

“Big Brother! This has to be fake! Have we been caught in some kind of illusion? Or…am I dreaming all of this?”

Crack.

The sound of something breaking interrupted his frantic shouting.

Yu Guang’s hand froze mid-motion, the dish he held slipping from his grasp and shattering on the ground.

Wu Jin’s frantic words struck a nerve, amplifying the doubts that had already begun to surface in Yu Guang’s mind. His gaze darkened as the growing suspicion took root.

Beside him, Yu Yin spoke suddenly, his tone calm yet unnervingly sharp. “Wu Jin, are you overworked? Why are you rambling nonsense like this?”

“No, I’m serious! Something here doesn’t match up with my memories!” Wu Jin exclaimed, his face contorted in urgency and confusion.

Yu Guang turned his eyes to Yu Yin, studying him intently. It was as if a veil had been lifted from his sight, wiping away the fog that had clouded his mind.

And then it hit him, the glaring inconsistency that had somehow gone unnoticed until now.

“Yu Yin,” he said, his voice cutting through the growing tension, “when did you learn to speak?”

The question struck like a bolt of lightning. How had he failed to notice something so significant? A force had clearly been tampering with his perception, dulling his instincts.

Testing his theory, Yu Guang lowered his gaze to his arm and clawed at the air. Scarlet threads materialized out of nowhere, writhing in his grasp like living strands of web.

Around him, the once-familiar world began to crack. The courtyard, the bustling figures of Ban Ying, Pei Wenjue, and even Wu Jin—all of them suddenly seemed off, like poorly constructed puppets.

Yu Guang’s sharp gaze landed on Yu Yin. “This world—it’s a fabrication, isn’t it? Something you’ve created.”

The air around him grew heavy as his suppressed power surged outward, radiating from his form. The sky fractured, the houses wavered, and the people blurred into indistinct shapes as the illusion began to crumble.

Yu Yin remained seated on the small stool Yu Guang had brought him just days before. But his smile was gone, replaced by a blank expression.

“Big Brother keeps saying it feels unreal,” Yu Yin murmured, his voice low and tinged with bitterness. “What exactly feels unreal about it?”

“No matter how convincing an illusion is, its essence remains false,” Yu Guang replied, standing tall amidst the unraveling dream.

And as the foundation of the Illusory Dream—its dreamer—stirred awake, the illusory world dissolved into nothingness.

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**TN

喜 – Happiness

Thunder rumbling, Castles crumbling, I am trying to hold on~ My mind automatically played this XD