Light Fortress
Chapter 176 - 163: The Red Gate

Chapter 176: Chapter 163: The Red Gate

The old mansion in Lion Alley, usually desolate all year round, bustled with unusual activity today as several groups of people came and went.

Coming and going, scattering and leaving.

In the end, the place returned to its customary quietude.

When Gu Shen arrived at the old mansion, it was already evening. He carefully examined this old courtyard covered with red-brick dust; such buildings could no longer be found in the Da Du city area.

This had been Lu Cheng’s residence in the old city district ten years ago...

"Here he comes, finally," Song Ci said, as if seeing a lifesaver. He quickly stood up from the steps, patted the dust off his buttocks, and said anxiously, "It seems like the lady is having another episode..."

Gu Shen looked at him askance.

"Tsk, bad luck," he muttered.

"Hold on," Song Ci abruptly corrected himself, "The lady’s insomnia is acting up again. Could you take another look, sir?"

Ever since the Sleep Talker Clinic incident, Song Ci revered Gu Shen as if he were a reincarnated living Buddha. Even the Spiritual Extraordinaries of Deep Sea Tenth Layer could not cure the ailments that this lad somehow managed to resolve... The impact of this event on Song Ci wasn’t small, just like an S-rank reveal from the Judgement Institute.

Should the word get out, wouldn’t others build a shrine to worship him?

"Insomnia acting up again?"

Gu Shen found it strange when he received the call for help.

The last time he removed the Spiritual Imprint... it was confirmed that Lu Nanzhi’s insomnia was artificially induced.

Though evidence had yet to be found, Gu Shen surmised that the person who planted the Spiritual Imprint was most likely Zhao Qi, the eldest son of the Hua Zhi Zhao Family.

"Has the lady been in contact with any suspicious individuals lately?" Gu Shen inquired.

Song Ci shook his head hastily.

"I’m very sure that the lady hasn’t been in contact with any suspicious individuals... especially Zhao Qi," Song Ci said with a cold laugh. "That guy has vanished without a trace recently, probably scared and hiding out in some hospital to nurse his wounds." After the last incident, he had been assigned as the lady’s personal bodyguard.

Song Ci was more concerned than Gu Shen about who the lady had been in contact with... especially that no-good, second-generation scion. With close protection in recent times, Song Ci had been vigilant, ensuring that no one had the chance to act improperly toward the lady.

"I understand," Gu Shen said after listening, then pushed the door open and entered. The interior of the old mansion was decorated in an ancient style, with the courtyard exuding a nostalgic sense from the last century. There were native fig trees, rattan furniture, marble drum-shaped stools, and wind chimes making clanging sounds from the eaves.

It appeared that Mr. Lu Cheng was a person fond of the past.

The lady sat under the fig tree, holding a tablet and "working," looking slightly fatigued.

But she didn’t seem troubled by insomnia.

"Gu Shen... you’ve come," Lu Nanzhi said, smiling as she looked up and put away her tablet.

In recent times, the East Continent Council had become aware of the emerging "S-rank" newcomer from the Judgement Institute.

Previously in Da Teng City, Gu Shen’s consecutive breakthroughs in Dream Interpretation, and shattering records for resolving three nightmare-level Dreams had become a new legend... many were curious about this "S-rank" who appeared out of nowhere.

In less than six months, he parachuted into Da Du, becoming a core member of the "S-rank mission" special investigation team.

Now, the internal forum of the Council was dominated by discussions about S-rank newcomer Gu Shen, with most sentiments being awe, surprise, and praise... Of course, there were also those who scorned and looked down on him, but negative voices about the newcomer were now overshadowed by his successes.

Whenever Lu Nanzhi saw news about Gu Shen, she experienced an indescribable "strange feeling"... She had recognized the young man’s potential before his file was made public. Even though his true identity had not been revealed at their first meeting, she was already convinced of his bright future.

Indeed, it was a strange feeling.

If it had not been Mr. Shu who first encountered Gu Shen but herself, she believed Gu Shen would still have been discovered and would have shone in his own right.

However, today’s meeting held a more important purpose.

had sent her an anonymous email.

This email self-deleted within five seconds... and it wasn’t just the content of the email that was erased, but all information about 031 in Deep Sea, something beyond the ability of any ordinary person, directly contradicting the fundamental laws of Deep Sea.

must possess some incredible "privilege."

Compared to this minor detail... what interested Lu Nanzhi more was the connection between 031 and Gu Shen.

"Madam... I watched your election ritual,"

Gu Shen sat under the banyan tree; the residence seemed to possess a unique kind of magic power, even the breeze that swept over was gentle, like a sheer veil draped over the body, and his speech also slowed down.

"I must say... the ritual was spectacular."

As far as Gu Shen knew.

After the election ritual ended, Lu Nanzhi left the scene, and no one knew where she had gone, no one could contact her... The whole of Da Du, and indeed the entire East Continent Council, were shaken by her speech.

So... was he the first "outsider" to see the Madam?

After the election... to personally commend the madam on her "grand action," indeed, it was quite a fortunate occurrence.

"I merely did what I’ve always wanted to do, just said what I’ve always wanted to say," Lu Nanzhi shook her head, adding, "And now... there are many troubles ahead."

The Madam stared at Gu Shen, she slowly took off her two earrings and placed them on the marble table under the banyan tree.

"Let’s start..."

She whispered, "Just like in the Sleep Talker Clinic, use your ability to hypnotize me, to treat me."

Gu Shen quietly watched the woman’s eyes before him.

He saw the tiredness in those eyes... but unlike last time, this time the Madam had no signs of abnormal spiritual imprint plantings on her entire body.

Chi Huo’s sensing power was extremely strong.

Gu Shen could now be certain... the Madam did not suffer from insomnia, yet at this juncture, hiding in Lion Alley meeting no one, she summoned him with such an excuse.

Why was this...?

The answer to the question, perhaps lay within the dream...

Following his intuition’s call, Gu Shen slowly released his own Chi Huo.

Under the banyan tree.

Lu Nanzhi closed her eyes.

Gu Shen also fell into stillness.

...

...

A long, profound corridor.

Locked iron doors, one after another.

Gu Shen once again entered Madam Lu Nanzhi’s dream, this time his spiritual power was even more solid, making the scenes in this dream appear much more real...

"Chu Ling."

After entering the dream, Gu Shen instinctively called out.

There was no response.

After the illusionary dream, Chu Ling had disappeared... and had not returned to this day; if she were also in today’s dream, then he would feel a bit more confident.

In the distance of the dream, there was a force calling to him from the unknown depths.

Gu Shen slowly moved forward, he saw the blood-red door at the end, talismans were floating and sinking in the blood-color wrapping the iron door, the Chi Huo at his brow felt like a taut rope, pulling Gu Shen step by step closer to the red door.

This red door... seemed to have an infinite pulling force...

"Maybe... just touch it..."

This thought surfaced.

Gu Shen quickly shook his head, but by the time he came back to his senses this time, his palm had already touched the red door.

He was about to apply force, to push the red door open.