Chapter 940: Dreaming Awakened

"I want to protect people," Qinglong said directly. "The Tianji Shike will cause widespread casualties, and I need to prevent that from happening."

"Then I'll reduce the intensity," the young Tianji said. "As long as I can lower the death rate, I can still complete the mission, right?"

"Oh?" Qinglong raised an eyebrow, then lowered his head and started fiddling with his fingers.

"We're just caught in the middle," the young man added. "We don't care about any conflicts between you and Tianlong; we just want to protect ourselves."

The other Tianji members all cast sincere glances at Qinglong, as Tianji's words were already quite humble.

Everyone was now only seeking a way to complete Tianlong's task without offending Qinglong.

"Impossible," Qinglong said with a smile, then scanned the room before fixing his gaze on the two still sleeping Tianji members. "Wake up Tianrabbit and Tianpig."

"What..." Tianshe was stunned.

"Today, I'm here," Qinglong said with a grin. "No one gets to dream anymore."

The atmosphere grew tense once more, as everyone vaguely sensed that something significant was about to happen.

But why had Qinglong suddenly turned against Tianlong's approach...

What did it matter if all the participants here died?

Weren't their goals from the start to eliminate all the participants?

Everyone knew they had to tread carefully now, as neither of them could be provoked. Though they were Tianji, standing above all the Shengxiao and participants, they still had people they feared.

If this situation wasn't handled properly, the only outcome would be their disappearance.

"Tianpig and Tianrabbit... they're Mengxingzhe..." Tianshe said. "Qinglong, you want to wake them...?"

"Mengxingzhe won't help," Qinglong replied. "Make them open their eyes and look at me. From now on, no one is to contact Tianlong."

"You..." Tianshe frowned. "No... that can't be right... I..."

"What's wrong?" Qinglong said. "Are you willing to accept this? There were so many Mengxingzhe originally, but they all woke up one by one, while these two have been lost in their beautiful dreams. Why should you all handle the hard work while they get to keep dreaming?"

"But their condition for becoming Tianji is to remain immersed in beautiful dreams," Tianshe said. "That's what Tianlong promised..."

"I didn't promise anything," Qinglong said. "Make them open their eyes and look at me."

On the side, a tall and muscular woman slowly stood up—it was Tianniu.

Her eyes flickered slightly as she walked over to Tianrabbit and Tianpig, then extended her sturdy arm to grab their collars and casually toss them into the air.

The two fell quickly before they could hit the ceiling, slamming hard onto the floor.

"Good job," Qinglong said, resting his chin in his hand. "Keep going."

Knowing she couldn't defy Qinglong, Tianniu grabbed their collars again and threw them skyward once more.

The repeated sensations of falling jolted the two dreamers awake.

They cried out in alarm as they hit the floor, then staggered to their feet after a moment.

Tianrabbit was a middle-aged woman, while Tianpig was a tall young man.

"What..." The towering Tianpig stood there dumbfounded, glancing at the round table and the people around him. "Who are you..."

Tianrabbit stood nervously behind Tianpig, looking terrified and unable to speak.

"Ha..." Qinglong grinned, his gaze chilling.

Tianpig looked again at the people near the table, seeing men and women of all ages, and became even more convinced he had been captured.

"Don't try anything funny..." Tianpig said to Qinglong. "Do you want money or something?"

"You're awfully bold..." Qinglong said, still smiling as he touched his cheek. "After sleeping for decades, you've even forgotten about me?"

"What..." Tianpig blinked in confusion.

"No wonder..." Qinglong said. "You've been lost in beautiful dreams, making you think you've already left this filthy, stinking place and returned to the 'reality world'... I'm just making you see the truth. Take a good look—where are you now? Where are your loved ones?"

Tianpig froze as if struck by lightning, memories flooding back.

Yes... those memories were just from so long ago, not gone forever.

"Ah!" Tianrabbit suddenly screamed.

It seemed her memories had returned.

"Qing... Qinglong..." Tianrabbit said, her voice trembling as she looked at her hands. "I... I'm awake...?"

"Welcome to the real world," Qinglong said with a laugh. "Please, have a seat, both of you. After all, you've been sitting here for decades—don't be shy."

The two looked on the verge of mental collapse. They had forgotten this terrifying place countless times, even living out old age in their dreams, only to open their eyes and face the worst nightmare again.

"It's Taoyuan..." Tianpig finally remembered everything. "I never got out... My family is all..."

"It's all the beautiful dreams Tianlong granted you," Qinglong said with a laugh. "I'm much kinder than him—I want you to see reality."

The room's atmosphere grew even more oppressive.

"Sit down already!" Qinglong waved his hand. "You're being too polite!"

Tianpig and Tianrabbit hesitated for a moment before slowly sitting down.

Every person in the room had once been trapped in Tianlong's dreams, but they had awakened earlier and thus despaired sooner.

"Qinglong," Tianniu said, flexing her wrists, "I've woken them up for you. Now let me go."

"Oh...?" Qinglong looked at his fingers again. "Did I ever promise to let you go?"

"I need to release the Lounyi," Tianniu said. "Even if the Tianji Shike isn't involved, I have my own duties. If I delay, I can't be held responsible."

"Forget it," Qinglong said. "Just sit down. I've already called in sick for the Lounyi tonight."

Only then did everyone realize this oppressive atmosphere felt like a "rebellion."

It was as if Qinglong had them all confined here.

Strangely, Tianlong's throne was right on the other side of the room. Was Qinglong really planning a rebellion so close?

"Qinglong... what's the point of this?" Tianniu asked. "Even if you take control tonight, what about tomorrow morning? Can you keep us from ever falling asleep again?"

"Tomorrow morning... that's when the real show begins," Qinglong said, waving at Tianniu. "You sit down too. Let's all spend an unforgettable and enjoyable night together."