Chapter 354

Chapter 304: Sleepwalking

“Can’t wake up?”

During the night, in the forest of the Dream Realm, the white little fox sitting on the grass under a huge tree perked up its ears upon hearing Gregor’s words, wagging its tail curiously as it continued to look up at Gregor on the dream cocoon with even more curiosity.

“How can you not wake up?”

“I’m not quite sure… It’s just that… After returning to the dream cocoon, I tried to use the Awakening Dream Technique to wake up directly, but no matter how many times I tried, there was no effect. No matter what I did, I kept staying inside the dream cocoon. This is the first time I’ve encountered such a situation.”

Gregor, who had taken the form of a black dog, spoke in a calm voice, slowly explaining. As he spoke, he jumped down from his own dream cocoon, stepping on branches one by one until he reached the grass of the Dream Realm.

Generally speaking, those who could enter the Dream Realm knew how to use the Dream Entry Technique and the Awakening Dream Technique. They could quickly enter dreams in the real world and also quickly awaken within the dream cocoon after returning from their shapeshift.

After joining the An Yin Bureau, Gregor was quickly taught the Dream Hunting Method, which included quick entry and awakening techniques. Every time Gregor entered or awakened from a dream, the process went smoothly. But this time, he suddenly found himself unable to wake up!?

“Can’t wake up with the Awakening Dream Technique? You, black dog, did you make some mistake? Usually, this kind of problem doesn’t occur,” said the little fox, tilting its head as it saw Gregor leap in front of it. It always thought this black dog had a bit of a dull mind, so making a simple mistake was possible.

“It shouldn’t be my mistake… I’ve been using the Awakening Dream Technique for over a month now, and recently, I’ve used it every day. I’m quite familiar with it. Just now, I tried many times, but couldn’t wake up.”

Gregor rebutted, and as he spoke, the little fox’s expression froze, then nodded thoughtfully.

“Hmm… It does seem like it. Although you’re a bit slow, having used the simple Awakening Dream technique for so long, you shouldn’t suddenly lose your ability to do so…”

The little fox muttered, then looked up and down at Gregor’s black dog form and asked again.

“Hey, have you possibly fallen into deep hypnosis?”

“Deep hypnosis?” Gregor asked in confusion, while the little fox shrugged and explained easily.

“It’s a special ability that can put someone to sleep deeper than a pig, making them impossible to wake up, no matter how much they’re hit. Many vampires are good at this. Could you have been hypnotized by another extraordinary being? Have you ever had prolonged eye contact with anyone?”

Listening to the little fox, Gregor began to recall.

“Vampire hypnosis… There are such extraordinary beings and abilities? But I don’t remember having any prolonged eye contact with anyone. After dinner in the dining car, I went straight back to my carriage and read until I fell asleep.”

Gregor recalled, then suddenly seemed to remember something and continued.

“Oh, could it be that the food I ate in the dining car was tampered with? I might have been drugged!”

“If the drug caused this deep hypnosis, then it would explain why I fell asleep so early before.”

“Huh? Drugged? That’s certainly possible. Grandpa mentioned that drugs that can induce deep sleep exist, and some high-tier ‘Shadow’ societies can make them. But anyway, black dog, you might have been tricked in reality!”

The little fox said, realizing that something wasn’t right about Gregor’s situation. Her tone became serious, and Gregor felt a bit nervous when he confirmed this.

Gregor understood that in reality, he was sleeping soundly in his carriage, probably intentionally. This meant that he was vulnerable in reality and could face danger at any moment.

“Miss Fox, do you know any way to wake me up from this deep sleep? I might be part of someone else’s scheme, and my physical body in reality is in great danger!”

The black dog form of Gregor anxiously asked the little fox. Hearing the severity of the situation, the little fox’s heart raced, and she replied.

“Waking up from deep sleep from the Dream Realm… Hmm… I’m not sure either. Grandpa never told me anything like this.”

Standing up, the little fox paced back and forth while muttering. Hearing her words, Gregor’s heart sank. He knew that the little fox knew much more about sleep, dreams, and the Dream Realm than he did. If she didn’t know how to help him wake up, then neither did he. His body was being controlled by others in reality, and he didn’t know what to do!

“Oh no… Oh no… Why did this happen right after leaving Igewent…”

Facing the crisis, Gregor urgently began pacing in circles. In his anxiety, he desperately tried to think of a solution but came up empty. He couldn’t understand why, as a young apprentice traveling from Igewent to Tivyán, he would encounter such trouble. He hadn’t carried any confidential items, so why was he being targeted?

While Gregor was pacing anxiously, the little fox suddenly remembered something and said to Gregor.

“I don’t know how to wake you from deep sleep, but I can make your body move slightly while you’re asleep, so others might think you’re still awake. If someone wants to take advantage of you while you’re sleeping, seeing you move might make them hesitate.”

Hearing this, Gregor’s eyes lit up.

“Make my body move while I’m asleep? Miss Fox, can you really do that?”

“Of course! Who do you think I am?”

Facing Gregor’s doubt, the little fox puffed up her chest proudly and said.

“Considering all the help you’ve given me lately, I can share a bit of information with you. I’m a Black Tier extraordinary being on the ‘Shadow’ path, specifically the Dream Eating branch. I can directly invade your dream cocoon and control your actions within it. If I make you dreamwalk, those who want to harm you might stop.”

Hearing the little fox’s offer, Gregor was surprised. He hadn’t expected the seemingly young little fox to be a Black Tier extraordinary being and part of an unknown Dream Eating branch.

‘The Dream Eating branch… Is this also an extraordinary branch within the ‘Shadow’ path? It seems to focus on controlling dreams. To control someone’s dreamwalking, what kind of spirituality must one possess to advance to this branch?’

Gregor wondered, but without hesitation, he said to the little fox.

“Then please, Miss Fox, make me dreamwalk immediately. We can’t let those people realize that I’m completely defenseless.”

“Alright!”

The little fox said, then climbed onto Gregor’s black dog form and instructed him further.

“So, black dog, use the Shapeshifting Return Spell to return to the dream cocoon. I’ll go in with you. Don’t resist when I enter.”

“Alright, Miss Fox.”

Gregor said, and started the shapeshifting process again. With a faint glow on the black dog’s body, Gregor lifted the little fox gently, floating towards his dream cocoon. Eventually, both of them merged into the dream cocoon together.