Dimensional Hotel
Chapter 375: Heart Examination

Chapter 375: Chapter 375: Heart Examination

Separated by a layer of semi-transparent misty barrier, Yuan Hao and Yuan He watched the black-clothed cultivator sitting dazedly on the bed in the prison cell. After a while, True Man Yuan He hesitantly spoke: "This person is rather prosperous-looking."

"He was just plumped up over the past couple of days," Yu Sheng casually remarked from the side, "I heard they’re feeding him over a dozen types of pills a day. Those things are nutritious and easily absorbed, and someone helps with refining..."

Master Yuan Hao pondered briefly and then turned to look at Yuanling: "Junior Brother, is there a possibility that you could condense the pills you use to deal with evil path prisoners, make their effects more potent, and save yourself some trouble?"

"Ah, pills can’t be casually condensed; too strong effects are harmful to the body. There must be harmonizing, soothing additives within," True Man Yuanling promptly replied earnestly, "After all, even though this person is an evil path prisoner, I am still a healer—as a healer, compassion is paramount. I even prescribe half a catty of Qi Smoothing and Calming Powder for him every day."

As soon as he finished speaking, the nearby veiled female guardian bowed her head and said: "Master, in the last two instances, this person has been increasingly resistant to taking the medicine subconsciously, even struggling at times within illusions."

True Man Yuanling raised his eyebrows: "Then add half a catty more of Qi Smoothing and Calming Powder, administer with two catties of nourishing soup."

After speaking, he stroked his beard and sighed: "Compassion is inherent to a healer."

Yuan Hao and Yuan He shivered simultaneously, and Yuan He quietly muttered to his senior brother: "I think the second senior brother is doing it intentionally."

Master Yuan Hao: "Nonsense."

Meanwhile, True Man Yuanling was already casting spells and chanting incantations at the cell door, and Yu Sheng saw the misty curtain covering the entire room flicker slightly as an entrance appeared at its doorway.

"Xuan Che, you and Linlang guard the door, we’ll go in for questioning."

Xuan Che and the female guardian immediately bowed and accepted the command: "Yes."

Yu Sheng carried Erin, following behind Yuanling and the two senior brothers, stepping into the ordinary-looking prison cell which only had a single bed.

But the moment he crossed the misty curtain entrance, he suddenly felt a change in the surrounding environment, his senses transmitted a certain "sluggishness," and then he saw the cell beside him abruptly expand and stretch, with the walls and ceiling silently crumbling, revealing a hypnagogic landscape overhead.

In the blink of an eye, he found himself standing in a desolate mountain forest, with a winding path running through it, the sky dim, drizzling with hazy light rain, the path muddy, yet there was a tiny tea house by the roadside. The house was small, with a rain canopy attached, and outside the canopy rose a thin layer of spiritual energy, warding off the continuous mountain rain. The eaves hung a small jade plaque, projecting the "Tea" sign in front.

The three in front, Yuanling, Yuan Hao, and Yuan He, somehow transformed into travelers in straw raincoats and bamboo hats, walking naturally along the muddy path in the drizzle, and Yu Sheng, momentarily distracted, also noticed that he was suddenly wearing a straw raincoat and a large bamboo hat—Erin tucked within his raincoat.

"This is fun," the little puppet muttered in his embrace, "much more sophisticated than ordinary dream realms!"

Yu Sheng blinked, seeing Yuanling and the other two had already walked into the tea house canopy, appearing like passing travelers seeking shelter from the rain. Below the canopy were three to five tables, with only a few scattered guests, among them sat the black-clothed cultivator—looking just as he did sitting in the prison cell, a forlorn tableau beside the table, staring blankly as if he had been there for a long, long time.

Yu Sheng followed Yuanling and the two senior brothers into the canopy, the rain sheltering guests here briefly glanced up and then resumed their conversations, while True Man Yuanling went directly to sit opposite the black-clothed cultivator, Yuan Hao and Yuan He sat as if nonchalantly in two other corners under the canopy, seemingly guarding specific positions.

"Come, sit," True Man Yuanling gestured to Yu Sheng, who then walked over to take the empty seat beside the black-clothed cultivator.

Fine rain fell onto the canopy, producing a continuous sound that induced a sleepy and inexplicably downhearted and oppressive feeling within.

The black-clothed cultivator slowly raised his head, looking at the uninvited guests before him. After a long while, he mumbled as if talking in his sleep: "Has the mountain road opened?"

"Not yet," True Man Yuanling removed the bamboo hat and placed it beside the table, speaking leisurely, "It’s raining harder over there."

"This rain has been falling for a long time; I can’t even remember when it started," the black-clothed cultivator said sluggishly, "I remember always sitting here; it’s neither dark nor bright. People come and go, but I just sit here... Are you from outside? What’s it like outside now?"

"Outside is rain, is path, is passing travelers seeking shelter."

"Is there also a tea canopy outside?"

"There is also a tea canopy."

Sounds of creaking echoed nearby, and Yu Sheng looked up to see an old mechanical man in a gray short shirt coming out from a small room beside the tea canopy, wearing a paper mask with the word "Servant" written on it and holding a tea tray, while wheels underneath emitted creaking noises. The mechanical servant approached the table, placed several bowls of tea on it, and made a noise-like greeting.

The black-clothed cultivator glanced at the mechanical man and slowly spoke: "It has kept me company for many years, and it’s starting to rust."

"You are not a local?" True Man Yuanling suddenly asked, sounding as casual as making small talk about everyday matters.

The black-clothed cultivator was momentarily stunned, then shook his head slowly, "No."

"Where is your hometown?" True Man Yuanling asked again.

The black-clothed cultivator suddenly furrowed his brow. Even in such a muddled state, a trace of struggle and hesitation appeared in his eyes.

True Man Yuanling noticed this, but his expression remained unchanged as he added calmly, "I’ve been to a place called ’Shuji.’

The struggle and hesitation in the black-clothed cultivator’s eyes instantly turned into a tremor, as if being washed over by a higher level of consciousness. He was dazed for a few seconds, then spoke as if in a dream, "Ah, Shuji, it’s a beautiful planet, at night, magic-infused vessels would pass through the city..."

"Does it always rain on that planet?" True Man Yuanling spoke softly, as if asking, but also as if guiding.

The black-clothed cultivator slowly closed his eyes, "...Yes, the large city near the equator, it’s always raining, four hundred days a year."

"Buzz," went a sound.

The "world" in Yu Sheng’s eyes once again changed instantly. The sky, which was merely overcast before, now turned into a deep night, and the woods on both sides swayed and flashed into countless neon high-rises. These modern city skyscrapers were intricately carved and decorated, imbued with spiritual energy and an immortal charm. At the same time, the muddy path outside became a wide street illuminated by street lights, the rain thick in the night, splashing endlessly, with puddles reflecting the scene of the border city’s nightscape.

Not far away, a ship surrounded by talismanic spiritual light slowly flew between buildings, with a few tourists standing aboard, and a Mechanical Man with a spirit mirror in its mouth perched atop a street light, cautiously scanning the city’s streets. Several young people walked through the rain with umbrellas, laughing and brushing past the edge of a tea stall.

Inside the tea stall, the old Mechanical Man in a gray cloth short shirt had turned into a woman with a graceful figure, wearing a plain white skirt and a Silver Fox mask, the ticking of mechanical devices inside her.

Even the simple mountain tea house had transformed into a brightly lit roadside teahouse, with a spirit mirror floating near the counter in the distance, displaying a holographic projection of the Immortal Mountain’s auspicious cloud scenery, playing a promotional video of Qianfeng Ling Mountain as a tourist destination.

The black-clothed cultivator looked up and sluggishly observed everything around him, after a long time, a glimmer of light flickered in his eyes.

The voice of True Man Yuanling sounded timely from the side, "With home so good, why go out?"

The black-clothed cultivator hesitated for a while, muttering as if to himself, "Indeed, why go out..."

After a moment, he shook his head, "I must find that thing to find long-lasting peace..."

"Find what?" True Man Yuanling looked into his eyes, his voice low and slow, "The Emperor’s Legacy?"

"The Emperor’s Legacy... Yes, the Emperor’s Legacy," the black-clothed cultivator’s gaze wavered slightly but still nodded gently, "Finding it will bring peace."

"Who told you to find it?" True Man Yuanling immediately asked again.

The black-clothed cultivator’s wavering hesitation intensified, offering no response.

True Man Yuanling did not let the hesitation in his heart continue to develop, instead decisively changing his approach, "How is Senior Yun Qingzi?"

The black-clothed cultivator’s expression froze for a moment, as if the self-logic just established in his heart was suddenly interrupted, his whole person noticeably disjointed for two seconds before mumbling, "Benevolent Master... is well, but not well. His injuries are healed, but he says his heart demons are unresolved—he must find the Emperor’s Legacy to find peace."

Yu Sheng instantly exchanged a glance with True Man Yuanling.

The intelligence all matched up.

"What exactly is this Emperor’s Legacy?" True Man Yuanling once again looked into the black-clothed cultivator’s eyes, asking in a low voice, "Why must Yun Qingzi obtain it to be ’at ease’?"

"The Emperor’s Legacy... is just the Emperor’s Legacy, the Benevolent Master said, finding it we will naturally understand," the black-clothed cultivator mumbled, "He said it possesses great power, the ability to change the world, Master desires that power, and he, he also said his heart demons are severe, but we don’t understand. He is one who traverses heavens and earth, moves mountains and fills seas, yet why does he always seem to fear something... He doesn’t tell us as he says our cultivation is insufficient, listening would just add worry, better to be ignorant as bliss."

Listening silently on the side without interjecting, Yu Sheng’s heart was instantly moved upon hearing this.

It is because Yun Qingzi "fears" something that he is persistently searching for the "Emperor’s Legacy"!

...Could it be related to the unknown enemy he encountered a thousand years ago?