Sure enough, it was the same girl from the Sixth Dream with those striking crystal blue eyes.


    Who else could it be? There wasn’t anyone else with that kind of power, someone who could tear apart a steel te or crush a grizzly bear’s head with just one punch. But those piercing blue eyes made it unmistakable.


    However…


    The blue-eyed girl from the Seventh Dream had been pulled out of her cryo-chamber years ago. She had been living in this world for over a decade now. Calling her a “blue-eyed girl” wasn’t quite right anymore. Perhaps “blue-eyed auntie” would be more appropriate at this point.


    Suddenly, everything clicked for Lin Xian.


    Smith, the so-called “Big Fool,” and the blue-eyed girl must have been hibernating in the same underground base. Naturally, they had woken up at the same time.


    “You and your vige chief, Yan—both of you woke up from cryo-sleep around the same time, didn’t you?” Lin Xian asked, trying to confirm his suspicions.


    Smith’s eyes widened in shock.“How do you know everything, kid?!”


    “I did wake up about twelve years ago,” Smith exined after a brief pause. “Most of the cryo-chambers in the base were damaged, and the people inside… well, they didn’t make it. Only a handful of us survived, including me and the vige chief.”


    He sighed deeply, a nostalgic look crossing his face as he continued. “The folks from Big Cat’s Vige dug us out. Back then, the vige chief was a guy named Chen Heping. He treated us cryo-survivors real well. Once we got used to life in this era, we decided to stay in the vige.”


    Lin Xian nodded along, piecing the story together.


    Smith went on, “After Chen Heping passed away, the vigers respected Yan Qiao Qiao so much that they made her the new vige chief. She’s smart and capable, and she always helps around the vige. Even Chen Heping’s son supported her, so… she became the new chief.”


    So, everything lined up. Big Cat’s Vige still existed. “Cat Dad” Chen Heping had passed away, and the role of vige chief didn’t get passed down to his son, Big Cat. Instead, the vigers chose the respected Yan Qiao Qiao.


    From the moment Smith said “Shit!” back in the rice fields, Lin Xian had suspected something like this. The phrase was clearly something Smith had picked up from Big Cat, and now it seemed the two of them had been living in the same vige.


    As Smith talked about the vige and its chief, pride lit up his face.


    “Ha! Bet you don’t know why we call it Big Cat’s Vige!” Smith said, clearly expecting to surprise Lin Xian.


    But Lin Xian remained calm. “I know,” he said. “It’s because Chen Heping’s son is called Big Cat.”


    Smith coughed awkwardly. “Okay… but do you know why Big Cat is called Big Cat?!”


    Lin Xian suppressed augh. “Yes, when he was born, the whole vige—chickens, ducks, cows, sheep, pigs, even the big yellow dog—were all crying his name. Isn’t that how the story goes?”


    Smith’s jaw dropped.


    “Holy—! Who are you? How do you know so much about our vige?”


    “I’m just a passerby,” Lin Xian said, trying to sound mysterious.


    “Yeah, right…” Smith muttered, eyeing him suspiciously. “You’re being real cryptic.”


    Lin Xian stopped walking and gave Smith a quick once-over. Smith looked like a foreigner, but he spoke a mishmash of ents from all over X Country. It was strange, to say the least.


    “Big Cat’s Vige must be an incredible ce,” Lin Xian mused aloud. “Howe people from all over are living there? Who taught you all those random dialects?”


    “The people in the vige!” Smith replied proudly, as though it were obvious. “They all speak in their own strange ways. I didn’t know how to speak X Countrynguage at first, so I just learned from them. Now look at me! I’m doing pretty well!”


    “You’re not bad at all,” Lin Xian chuckled. “You’ve even picked up the Shandong dialect’s inverted sentence structure. But you’ve got quite the mix going on.”


    They shared augh, walking deeper into Big Cat’s Vige. Smith led Lin Xian toward his house, but before they could reach it, they bumped into a familiar face.


    “Smith, you’re back!” A man named Er Zhuzi stepped out from behind a tree, a frown on his face.


    “You’rete today. Your wife’s been waiting for you toe home for dinner.”


    Smith waved him off with a grin. “I ran into a brother on the way,” he said, motioning toward Lin Xian. “This is my new brother from the fields. He’s a wanderer with nowhere to go, so I figured I’d bring him home for a meal.”


    Er Zhuzi narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Lin Xian. After a moment, he snorted.


    “Soft skin, pretty face—you’re no good!”


    Lin Xian’s friendly expression cooled. “You’ve got a real way with words, don’t you?” he said dryly.


    Inwardly, Lin Xian couldn’t help but remember the Sixth Dream, where Er Zhuzi had been chopped to pieces and fed to the dogs. He didn’t feel the least bit sorry for him now.


    Er Zhuzi waved a hand, blocking Lin Xian’s path.


    “Smith, you can’t bring this guy home!”


    “Why not?” Smith asked, confused.


    “This kid’s up to no good, I can tell!” Er Zhuzi said, his voice full of suspicion. “I’ve got sharp eyes. I can see right through him! He’s after your wife!”


    Lin Xian sighed. Another confrontation? This was getting tiresome.


    “Alright, alright,” he said, waving a hand dismissively. “I’ll head off. You go home and have dinner, Smith. I won’t bother you tonight.”


    Turning to Er Zhuzi, Lin Xian added with a smirk, “I’ll just go to Big Cat’s ce. It’s been ages since I had some of his wife’s dumplings. I’ve missed them.”


    Er Zhuzi’s face turned a deep shade of green. “I knew it! You’re just like those scoundrels in the old stories—Big Cat’s Vige can’t tolerate someone like you!”


    Lin Xian raised an eyebrow. “You know about old stories like that? Impressive, your knowledge has grown.”


    Smith, trying to defuse the tension, stepped in. “The vige library has some old books—ssics like the Four Great Novels. The old vige chief hand-copied them himself. There aren’t many books besides those, some textbooks, and a few philosophy texts.”


    “I see,” Lin Xian said, nodding. “I’ll have to check it out sometime.”


    But before Lin Xian could continue, Er Zhuzi interrupted. “Oh, you want to check it out, do you?” he said, voice dripping with sarcasm. “There’s no way you’ll pass the vote. You’re getting kicked out!”


    Lin Xian groaned inwardly. Another democracy run by fools. He resigned himself to the inevitable.


    Minutester, Lin Xian found himself inside a warehouse, “arrested” by Er Zhuzi. Inside, a group of men was hard at work, moving sacks of rice and corn onto an electric cart. It was the infamous “Face Gang.”


    Er Zhuzi started exaggerating his reasons for bringing Lin Xian in, and the other men—Ah Zhuang and San Pang—listened with mocking grins.


    Standing in the middle of the room, Big Cat eyed Lin Xian up and down before sighing.


    “Brother, as much as I’d love to help you, we run on democracy here. So whether you stay or not depends on their vote.” He gestured to the other men.


    Ah Zhuang shook his head. “This guy cannot stay.”


    Er Zhuzi, eyes gleaming with hostility, added, “He’s trying to get close to our sister-inw! He’s not here for dumplings!”


    San Pang, looking smug, also shook his head. “Nope, not a chance.”


    As expected, three votes against him.


    Lin Xian sighed. Why was it always such a struggle for him to join the Face Gang on his own? If only CC were here. If CC was standing beside him, these three fools would have voted unanimously in his favor. And if Lin Xian admitted his connection to CC, Er Zhuzi would probably turn into his biggest fan overnight.


    “Brother, you see how it is,” Big Cat said, spreading his hands in a helpless gesture. “Democracy rules here. With three votes against, I’m afraid you can’t stay in the vige.”


    Lin Xian raised his right hand, extending a single finger.


    “I just need to say one thing,” he said, his voice full of quiet confidence, knowing this single sentence would turn the tide in his favor.


    Ever since Smith mentioned the philosophy books in the vige library, Lin Xian had already figured out his next move. He raised his gaze and met Big Cat’s clear, innocent eyes. A gust of wind swept through the warehouse, rustling a few corn husks and filling the air with the earthy scent of the fields. Lin Xian’s and Big Cat’s clothing fluttered lightly in the breeze.


    Amidst the chorus of cicadas and distant bird calls, Lin Xian spoke, his voice soft but unmistakably clear:


    “The cat is ideology; the face is metaphysics.”


    “Holy—!”


    Big Cat’s expression changed instantly as if he had been struck by lightning. He scrambled toward Lin Xian, nearly tripping over his own feet, and grabbed Lin Xian’s hands tightly.


    “A kindred spirit! A soulmate! Brother, it’s like you’ve crawled into my very mind!”


    Big Cat’s eyes softened, and he continued to rub the back of Lin Xian’s hand, clearly torn.


    On the one hand, Lin Xian had spoken to his very soul. On the other hand, there were vige rules, and democracy couldn’t be defied.


    In the end, rationality won out. Big Cat seemed to age a few years in that moment, sighing deeply.


    “Brother, I really don’t want to lose such a great friend like you. But democracy is democracy, and rules are rules. I can’t keep you here.”


    With that, Big Cat grabbed a few ears of corn and some cured meat from a nearby shelf, shoving them into Lin Xian’s arms.


    “I can’t let you leave hungry. Take this food and continue your wandering. Find somewhere that’ll take you in.”


    “Wait a minute,” Lin Xian thought, “this is happening way too fast!” Was this vige really so strict about its rules?


    “Come on, Big Cat, give me a chance,” Lin Xian said, an idea popping into his head. After all, Big Cat wasn’t the vige chief! There was still someone who could change things.


    Quickly, Lin Xian added, “Big Cat, at least let me meet the vige chief. Isn’t Chief Yan Qiao Qiao the one running this vige? You’re just the deputy, right? Even if you’re like the prince of the vige, the chief has the final say.”


    “That’s right!” Big Cat’s face brightened with hope, and he pped Lin Xian heartily on the back.


    “You’re absolutely right! Even though the vige is named after me, the chief is still the chief. We always follow her decisions. If she agrees to let you stay, it won’t matter what anyone else says—you’ll be a full-fledged member of Big Cat’s Vige!”


    “But… the chief isn’t here right now,” Big Cat continued. “She’s out hunting today, and I’m waiting for her toe back. Tell you what!”


    Big Cat waved a hand dismissively. “Come with me to my house for now. My wife’s already cooked, and we’ve got plenty to go around. Fill your stomach first. Once the chief is back, I’ll take you to meet her. If she agrees, you can stay. If not… well, I’ll give you more corn and dried meat, and you can continue your journey.”


    “Fine,” Lin Xian agreed, not wanting to make things harder for Big Cat. Besides, getting a free meal today wasn’t such a bad deal, and he could try again tomorrow. Dinner with Big Cat also meant a chance to gather more information about the vige.


    Just as Lin Xian agreed, Er Zhuzi’s face turned pale with worry.


    “Big Brother, have you lost your mind? How can you bring this guy home? I don’t trust him around Sister-inw!”


    “Oh, stop it!” Big Catughed, throwing an arm around Lin Xian’s shoulders.


    “If I trust my brother, that’s enough for me!”


    With that, Big Cat dismissed the group, telling them to regroup once the vige chief returned from hunting. For now, everyone was sent home for dinner.


    Lin Xian followed Big Cat toward the northern part of the vige, curious about what awaited him.


    In the back of his mind, he couldn’t help but wonder if there was some kind of hidden agenda. In the Second Dream, they had snuck into the garbage disposal sites of New Donghai City at night, looking for salvageable goods. Could something simr be happening again?


    Unable to contain his curiosity, Lin Xian asked, “Big Cat, what’s with all the farm produce you’ve been loading onto that truck? nning something for tonight?”


    Big Cat chuckled. “Nothing like that.”


    He waved off the question, grinning.


    “We’re just delivering supplies to the city to the north. Lord Li of Donghai City just had a baby daughter, and they’re holding a three-day banquet to celebrate. Everyone’s invited, so they need a lot of food—meat, vegetables, fruit, spices, the works.”


    Big Cat looked quite pleased with himself.


    “Lord Li sent word to the surrounding viges, offering to buy up all the produce at the highest market price. It’s a perfect opportunity to clear out our stock and make a nice profit!”


    “Chief Yan’s gone hunting, hoping to catch a live bear as a gift for Lord Li. He’s always looked after our vige, and it’s important to keep a good rtionship with him.”


    “Oh,” Lin Xian murmured, nodding as he processed the information.


    It seemed he had been overthinking things. This world didn’t have theplex struggles and conflicts he had imagined—no ss warfare, tribal shes, or wars. Life here seemed peaceful and content.


    Lord Li had just weed a new daughter. That must be Li Cheng and Li Ning Ning’s family. But… wasn’t it a bitte for Li Cheng to be having another child? What had he been up to all this time?


    As they rounded a corner, Lin Xian couldn’t help but ask, “Why did Li Cheng wait so long to have another child? Was he busy with something? Is his daughter Li Ning Ning?”


    Big Cat burst intoughter. “Li Ning Ning is his eldest daughter! This time, he had a second daughter. I don’t know what her name is yet… maybe Li Cheng hasn’t even picked a name for her.”


    “The second daughter was born just yesterday. It’s a huge celebration in Donghai City. The feast starts tonight and will go on for three days!”


    Hearing about Li Cheng’s new daughter, Lin Xian felt an unexpected surge of happiness for the man.


    “So, he had a second child,” Lin Xian mused, smiling. “I bet Li Ning Ning is thrilled to have a little sister now.”


    He looked up at the sky, now darkening as the moon rose in the east.


    “What a wonderful time we live in,” he said softly.


    People led peaceful, happy lives. Even someone like Li Cheng, a former warlord who had oncemanded the chaotic ruins of Old Donghai, was now settled down, enjoying family life.


    A happy family, a second daughter, and a grand feast to celebrate. Life couldn’t be better.


    “It really is nice,” Lin Xian murmured, his voice tinged with a hint of envy as he thought of Li Cheng’s family of four.


    Big Catughed heartily, patting his belly. “What’s there to envy? It’s just two kids! It’s not like that’s anything special. Come on, brother, we’re here. Let me introduce you to my wife, and you can meet my daughter and son too!”


    He pushed open the gate to his courtyard, and they entered the house. Inside, the smell of freshly cooked food filled the air, and Big Cat’s wife greeted them warmly.


    “Wee, Lin Xian,” she said with a kind smile, cing a steaming te of dumplings on the table.


    “I heard from Big Cat that you’ve been wandering for a while. You must be hungry. Eat something and don’t worry about meeting the vige chiefter. She’s very kind and will probably let you stay.”


    “Thank you, Sister,” Lin Xian said gratefully as he epted the te of dumplings.


    Lin Xian picked up a dumpling with his chopsticks and took a bite. The taste was familiar, instantly transporting him back to a memory—one from a year and a half ago in the Second Dream.


    The taste of the dumplings was the same, filling him with an unexpected wave of nostalgia. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect to stumble upon this familiar dish again in such a strange, dreamlike world.


    Meanwhile, Big Cat’s son, Little Cat, was devouring dumplings at lightning speed. While Lin Xian had barely finished one, the boy had already scarfed down five or six.


    “Hey there, Little Cat,” Lin Xian said with a smile, ruffling the boy’s hair. He pushed the te of dumplings toward him. “Slow down, I’m not going to take them from you.”


    Just then, Big Cat’s daughter walked out from the back room. She sat down at the table with a serious expression, picking up her chopsticks with deliberate care.


    “Dad, what about my schooling in Donghai City? Did you talk to Lord Li about it?” she asked, her voice filled with hope and determination.


    “I haven’t had the chance yet,” Big Cat replied, chewing thoughtfully on his food. “But don’t worry. Kids from viges like ours have been going to school in Donghai City for years now. Lord Li always wees them. They usually don’t go until they’re older—around their teens.”


    “I’ll be delivering food to Lord Li tonight,” Big Cat continued, “so I’ll bring it up then. I’m sure he won’t refuse.”


    Lin Xian nced at Big Cat, a little surprised by how strongly he supported his daughter’s education.


    “You’ve changed your tune… You’re really pushing for her to go to school now?” Lin Xian asked, curious.


    “I’ve always supported it!” Big Cat chuckled, his eyes twinkling with pride.


    “Knowledge is power! Only knowledge can change your fate!”


    He leaned back in his chair, his voice growing more serious as he continued. “Look, after the great disaster of 2400 and nearly a century of chaos, human civilization has managed to recover. We live peaceful, happy lives now—and that’s all thanks to knowledge!”


    He waved a hand in the air as if brushing aside any doubt. “Sure, we didn’t do it alone. The people they dug out of the cryo-chambers—they’re smart! Even if they’ve lost their memories, they pick things up faster than we do. And their storage units were filled with books, notebooks, you name it. That’s why we can live the way we do now!”


    Big Cat’s face lit up with determination. “So, of course, I want my daughter to get the best education possible! As long as she’s willing to learn, I’ll support her, no matter what. I’ll send her to the best ce to study!”


    Heughed heartily, reaching out to ruffle his daughter’s hair.


    “Work hard, my girl! Get a good education, and one day you’ll live in a big city. You’ll have a life even better than what we have here in this little vige!”


    “I think this ce is already perfect,” his daughter said after swallowing her food. “This is my home. It’s where I was born and raised. When I finish my studies, I’lle back and repay the vige… Besides, if I move to a big city, who’s going to take care of you and Mom when you get old?”


    “Your brother, of course!” Big Cat pointed to Little Cat, who was busy licking his te clean.


    “Although… this dimwit probably won’t be much help,” he added with a chuckle. “So yeah, he’ll stay here to look after us. You, my girl, you’ve got the potential to go far. Fly as high as you can! Dad will always support you!”


    As Lin Xian watched this warm family scene unfold, a strange feeling washed over him.


    For Big Cat, this was the best future he could ever hope for.


    His daughter was alive and well, his family was whole, and he no longer had to risk his life jumping out of nes or scavenging through garbage dumps. His children were thriving, his wife was kind and beautiful, and Little Cat was already lined up as the future caregiver.


    “This is great,” Lin Xian muttered under his breath, half to himself.


    He couldn’t remember thest time he had such a peaceful meal in a dream—one without hidden agendas, where everyone simply enjoyed being together.


    It’s true what they say: you don’t know the value of something until it’s gone.


    Just like Big Cat’s life right now. Ordinary, maybe, but full of happiness.


    Sure, the technology might not be cutting-edge, but the joy wasn’t missing.


    “Come on, brother, have a bowl of dumpling soup,” Big Cat said, raising his bowl to clink it against Lin Xian’s.


    “I would’ve had a drink with you today, but I’ve got to driveter to deliver goods, so no alcohol for me.”


    Lin Xian chuckled, raising his own bowl. “People still get pulled over for drunk driving around here?”


    Big Cat looked confused for a second, thenughed. “What nonsense are you talking about?” He gulped down his soup and wiped his mouth.


    “It’s not about getting caught—it’s about safety! I don’t drink and drive, and I don’t drive after drinking. I’m the backbone of this family… If something happens to me, what’ll happen to my kids? My wife?”


    Big Cat spread his arms wide, a warm smile on his face as he looked at Lin Xian.


    “I have to be responsible for my family. They’re my everything! So, what about you, brother? Got a family? Any kids?”


    “I… um…” Lin Xian hesitated for a moment. “Yeah, I have a child.”


    “A boy or a girl?”


    “A girl.”


    “Daughters are great!” Big Cat beamed, clearly delighted.


    “Daughters are like little cotton jackets—always keeping you warm! You’ve been out wandering for so long… Don’t you miss your daughter?”


    Lin Xian’s mind shed back to the image of Lin Yu Xi tearing off a car door and decapitating her imposter with a single swing.


    “Not… really,” he muttered.


    “Huh?” Big Cat’s eyes widened in shock.


    “What kind of father doesn’t miss his daughter? You’re so cold!”


    “It’s not that,” Lin Xian said, putting his chopsticks down and rubbing the space between his thumb and forefinger.


    “It’s just that… she’s a bit… mischievous. She’s not exactly like a normal daughter. She’s… loud. Really loud.”


    “Haha!” Big Cat waved it off with augh. “Every kid’s a handful! The noisier they are, the smarter they’ll turn out to be! Besides, how rowdy can she be?”


    Big Cat paused, then burst outughing again. “What, is she like Chief Yan? Can she crush a bear’s skull with a single punch? Hahahaha!”


    Big Cat’s heartyughter filled the room, and Little Cat joined in, tipping his head back andughing as well.


    “Ha… ha…” Lin Xian chuckled weakly, though the sound felt hollow.


    He didn’t really want tough, but not joining in seemed awkward.


    “Big Brother!”


    Ah Zhuang’s voice came from outside the courtyard, cutting through the moment. He stepped through the door, wiping sweat from his forehead.


    “Big Brother, the vige chief is back from the hunt. Didn’t you say you wanted to introduce this guy to her?”


    “Oh, right,” Big Cat said, finishing thest of his dumpling soup. He pped Lin Xian on the shoulder. “Come on, brother, let’s go meet the vige chief.”


    …


    After a short walk, they reached the area near the warehouse.


    From a distance, Lin Xian spotted a tall, athletic young woman. She was strikingly beautiful, though the innocence of youth had long faded from her face, reced by a confident maturity and undeniable strength.


    Her long, ck hair was tied into a high ponytail, and she wore a tight-fitting hunting outfit. Various weapons and tools hung from her waist, and on her back were a bow and arrows, along with a coiled rope.


    Despite living in an era where guns were avable, the vige chief clearly preferred the raw challenge of hand-to-handbat.


    She had sharp hearing, too. As they approached, she turned her head, her piercing blue eyes locking onto Lin Xian’s. They gleamed like two bright stars in the night.


    Big Cat waved energetically. “Chief Yan, this is—”


    But before he could finish, the blue-eyed woman strode forward with surprising speed, stopping just a step away from Lin Xian. Her eyes widened, and her lips parted in disbelief.


    “You… who are you?” she whispered, her voice shaking with emotion.


    Without waiting for a response, she reached into her hunting jacket and pulled out aminated photograph. The name “Yan Qiao Qiao” was written on the back in neat, flowing handwriting.


    The photo itself was a family portrait.


    In the picture, a man and a woman stood side by side, dressed in royal attire, their arms around each other like a king and queen. In front of them, a little girl stood with her hands lifting her dress in a dainty curtsy, smiling sweetly at the camera.


    The blue-eyed woman stared at the photo, then at Lin Xian, her face pale with shock.


    She pointed to the man in the picture, whose face was identical to Lin Xian’s.


    “Is this… you?”


    Lin Xian nodded slowly.


    The woman took a deep breath, her voice trembling as she asked, “What… what is your rtionship to me?”


    Lin Xian took the photo from her hands, studying it closely. The image looked as though it had been taken recently—or maybe 600 years ago. It was hard to say.


    After a moment, he exhaled and spoke softly. “You might not believe this, but there’s no point in hiding the truth from you anymore. I’ll tell you everything.”


    He nced at the woman, then back to the photograph.


    “If you’re sure this little girl is really you…” He lifted his gaze, meeting her brilliant blue eyes.


    “Then I am… your father.”


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