Chapter 941: Perfect Life

Tian She furrowed his brows and looked up, his eyes shooting a pleading gaze from behind his black-framed glasses toward the young man sitting across from him, who was so overweight that his neck was nearly invisible.

This person was exactly Tian Gou.

Tian Gou kept his head deeply bowed, staring at the table as if he couldn't see anything else.

Tian She knew that if Qing Long had any plans, Tian Gou would be the first to hear about them. Now, for everyone to save themselves, they'd have to make some subtle moves right under Qing Long's nose.

Tian Gou reached up to scratch his plump cheek, and at that moment, he lifted his head, meeting Tian She's gaze directly.

Tian She pretended to adjust his glasses, actually blocking Qing Long's line of sight, and then furrowed his brows intensely at Tian Gou.

"Don't ask me... I can't say..." Tian Gou's inner voice transmitted directly into Tian She's mind.

After hearing this, Tian She looked even more anxious, but he couldn't speak openly; he just kept signaling with his eyes, hoping Tian Gou would understand the urgency of the situation.

"This matter is too big... I advise you not to inquire about it... We'd better focus on staying alive." Tian Gou's inner voice came again, and he immediately lowered his head, avoiding Tian She's gaze.

"Damn it..." Tian She cursed inwardly, "Aren't you going to stand with Tian Long anymore...?"

Qing Long watched Tian She's reaction and chuckled lightly, then slowly stood up. Tian She straightened up at that very moment.

Qing Long stepped away from his chair, and Tian She moved away from the round table. The two approached each other step by step, drawing curious glances from the other numerous Tian Ji.

Tian She looked at Qing Long with a face full of terror, struggling but completely unable to control his hands and feet.

When they were less than half a meter apart, they finally stopped.

Tian She was ultimately slender in build, appearing a few years older than Qing Long but looking like a child in comparison.

"Tian She, look into my eyes," Qing Long commanded.

Tian She tried to lower his head upon hearing this, but found himself firmly restrained.

Qing Long chuckled softly: "Look into my eyes and tell me what I'm thinking."

With no other choice, Tian She tightly shut his eyes, as if demons and monsters loomed before him, making him afraid to eavesdrop on the other's thoughts.

If he glimpsed what was in Qing Long's mind... how could he possibly survive?

Tian She knew that over all these years, the only skill he'd honed was his evasive gaze, not because of any mental issue, but as a lingering side effect from his long interactions with Qing Long and Tian Long.

No matter how curious he was about those eyes, he absolutely could not pry.

Seeing Tian She's ridiculous state, Qing Long smirked again.

In the next second, Tian She also smirked, his tightly shut eyes forced open, and their gazes collided.

After seeing Qing Long's eyes, Tian She began to tremble uncontrollably.

"Tian She, what am I thinking?" Qing Long asked.

"You... you..." Tian She stammered for a long time before saying, "You want to kill me..."

"Exactly right. If you keep making these little moves, it won't just be a thought anymore," Qing Long warned. "Got it?"

"I... I... I... I got it..."

Hearing Tian She's response, Qing Long instantly smiled and released the suppression of Duo Xin Po around him.

"Glad you understand. Even brothers have to settle accounts clearly, right? Have a seat." Qing Long said with a broad smile, "We've all worked together for decades—how can we let a small thing like this cause friction?"

Tian She nodded his head vigorously like pounding garlic, then hurried back to his seat and sat down.

Now, he didn't dare eavesdrop on anyone's thoughts nearby, as he had clearly read Qing Long's intentions—a murderous heart that couldn't be hidden.

The atmosphere in the room was oppressively tense, and Tian Niu kept glancing at the clock in the center of the table.

"Why isn't anyone talking?" Qing Long asked again. "Am I that scary?"

"What do you want us to say...?" Tian Niu asked, crossing his arms and flexing the muscles in them.

"How about you all share what you were doing before you came here?" Qing Long said with a maniacal laugh. "I suspect there's a liar among you. Let's vote and expose him, shall we?"

The air fell silent for a few more seconds.

"Are you kidding...?" Tian Niu retorted. "The tricks you used to fool us decades ago... and now you're trying them again...?"

"Hahaha!" Qing Long burst out laughing. "Think about it... isn't it interesting? You all voted to throw out the 'Yang,' and from then on, 'Yang' represented 'lying.' If Tao Yuan has its own history, I must record this anecdote."

"But we're not as naive as we were back then," Tian Niu said. "That kind of rule won't trick us anymore."

"Tian Niu... you seem to hold quite a grudge against me," Qing Long said, turning his head with a cold stare. "But your status today is all thanks to me. Why not consider repaying the favor?"

"But you deceived me!" Tian Niu exclaimed. "If I'd known that 'returning to reality' just meant sitting here in a permanent dream, how could I have agreed? If not for your manipulation, why would I have to manage that horde of neither human nor ghost 'ants'?!"

"Ah, don't get angry," Qing Long laughed. "No wonder you're the first one among us to wake up. You figured out it was a dream early on, didn't you?"

"What do you think...?" Tian Niu replied with a hint of despair. "Under your control, I not only 'returned to reality' but also got a flawless, smooth-sailing life."

"Isn't that good?!" Qing Long laughed heartily. "Tian Long really knows his stuff—he gave you all exactly what you wanted! What's wrong with that?!"

The people around the table fell silent, especially the newly awakened Tian Zhu and Tian Tu.

This kind of "life" was hard to describe.

In the dream, for decades, every decision they made was the right one.

Any investment brought explosive returns, any job led to rapid promotions, any lottery ticket they bought was a jackpot, and any friend they met on the street was a tycoon.

On top of that, their families were always healthy, free from illness or disaster, and their pursued romances were effortless and perfect.

Those seeking fame quickly gained adoration from thousands, and those seeking wealth easily amassed fortunes.

Even knowing it was a dream, how many would willingly wake up?

Over just a few years, some Tian Ji gradually noticed the strangeness and began to doubt their lives, causing their dreams to accelerate and collapse.

Starting with the first Tian Ji to awaken, they split into Tian Ji Sheng Xiao and Meng Xing Zhe.

Everyone tacitly agreed not to disturb the Meng Xing Zhe and simply waited for them to wake up voluntarily.

The awakened Tian Ji Sheng Xiao would occasionally visit the dream to see their missed family members.