Chapter 4: It Can’t Be Today, Right?
Yun Chang City.
Mo Tu was enjoying a breeze atop the base building, looking rather content.
He had developed quite a taste for this lately.
This is truly blissful.
Yun Chang City had been rather quiet recently, even with star eclipse incidents, they were small fries that didn’t require the Sunlight Night Watchers to step in.
Apart from occasionally visiting the theater, Mo Tu was at loose ends.
Though it was nice being idle and liked chilling out, heavy work wasn’t on his menu.
However, he sought out joy in everything.
Where he stood was so calm that almost nothing piqued his interest, leaving him bored to bits.
Mo Tu sought “bl**d flowing like rivers,” not casual fiddling.
But…
Something else was stirring elsewhere.
The capital, despite its booming facade, had hidden weirdness beneath.
Many star holders resided there, naturally attracting roaming star eclipses. Stars and eclipses shared origins, drawing each other magnetically.
Frequent eclipses were partly due to the high number of stars.
If one star holder died, star eclipses transformed quickly, possibly faster than any Night Watcher could handle.
Maybe by the time the Watchers found the body, it’d already become a chaotic star eclipse.
That’s why frequent eruptions happened in the capital. Citizens were unlucky, swept into undeserved misfortunes.
And soon, an enigmatic eclipse might visit the capital.
It might be something old lurking behind, possibly too bizarre for the Watchers, forcing them to watch helplessly.
When exactly?
Today, tomorrow, the day after, a week, or months later.
Mo Tu couldn’t foresee the exact timing. His star provided limited info—it could be anything.
Such insight meant a lot to others, but it didn’t stop Mo Tu from doing his job and informing the leader.
What the leader did next is up to him.
Mo just wanted to witness the show.
—
Night Watcher Headquarters.
Leader Ling Feng drummed his fingers on the table, deep in thought.
A grave message came from a Sunlight Night Watcher in Yun Chang. His eyes were full of worry.
“A mysterious eclipse is coming to the capital? He sounds like this is a tough nut to crack. With all the Watcher power here, it must be really serious.”
To have such an info-savvy subordinate made life easier. It was like knowing the future. Such foresight prepares one for potential disasters.
The capital is crucial—no slip-ups allowed.
Ling Feng intended to keep Mo Tu in the capital, but someone feared his star effect would reveal secrets better left untold.
Rumors spread, and Mo Tu got reassigned to a remote area, isolated from the capital’s secrets.
Ling Feng couldn’t impose a hard decision on it; Mo just ended up where a strategic Sunlight Night Watcher was needed.
Looking back, Ling Feng suspected Mo planned this to avoid the workload and hassle.
With his smarts and star effect, the guy easily outmaneuvered pompous officials.
He had ulterior motives all along.
Ling Feng generally tolerated capable underlings who fought for national order and stability. If their actions aligned, character flaws were acceptable—even if they surpassed him in leadership.
Unfortunately, such talent was scarce.
Back in the story…
The most pressing issue was an impending unknown event.
How long until this arrives? When will it end?
Ling Feng could only make limited plans with the available information.
Let’s see how troublesome this mysterious eclipse turns out to be.
Meanwhile, a figure stood motionless, silently, eyes closed, breathing evenly.
From his state, it was obvious he wasn’t conscious but sleeping.
But his stillness was the biggest anomaly.
He stood erect, alone in a desolate place without anyone noticing.
Given these signs, it seemed he was sleepwalking.
True, sleepwalking—a common yet uncommon disorder among people.
If that was all, no big deal.
But a sensitive Watcher watching him might notice an incredibly faint eclipse aura emitting from him, barely noticeable.
No one knew why he was here.
Suddenly, he spoke as though talking to himself.
“The line between reality and dreams is thin. Reality suppresses the real self, living in a false world, with false expressions, words, and deeds. But in dreams, could it be another kind of falsehood? No, it’s the truth—dreams are real, honest emotions, words, true intentions… Come, let’s dive into dreams together, crafting a truly authentic life… I’ll witness your true form.”
The mysterious figure vanished.
Elsewhere,
Night Lan was snacking at headquarters, idly goofing off, planning to return to Yun Chang tomorrow.
The capital held no value for her anymore.
So Night Lan just wished for a safe and peaceful day in Yun Chang’s waters.
When would Mo’s “big thing” happen?
Tomorrow or the day after?
Surely, not today, right?
