Chapter 90: Hindwood Forest

Rivers flowed through the air, unbound by any fixed banks, yet never spilling or ceasing, their waters a transparent blend of blue and pink, sparkling with minute points of light. Creatures woven from dreams wandered this world, their forms elegant, wings as thin as cicada’s, scattering flecks of phosphorescence with each beat, like stardust cast upon the wind.

Qi Xiao gazed around him. Unlike the dreamlike spectacle above, the landscape of the Dream Realm shifted ceaselessly—one moment a sea of blooming pink flowers, the next a tranquil pink forest, and in a blink, a crystalline pink palace. In this ethereal, rose-tinted world, even sound became gentle and fantastical, as if an invisible orchestra played a soothing melody that drifted slowly through the air.

A faint fragrance permeated the atmosphere—not overly sweet, nor cloying, just enough to gently stir the senses. Breathing it in, Qi Xiao felt only peace and delight. Rupert stood by his side. When he saw Qi Xiao finish surveying the surroundings and finally look at him, he smiled and explained, “The scenery in the Dream Realm changes constantly. It’s never fixed. This place I brought you to is a dream of my own making.”

Qi Xiao was somewhat surprised at this—he had assumed this dream belonged to some young maiden, never expecting it to be Rupert’s. Unsure how to respond, he could only nod in silence.

Rupert snapped his fingers, and at once, a magic carpet appeared before them out of thin air—a conveyance Qi Xiao was well acquainted with, having traveled upon it many times. “Azure Veil?”

Rupert hopped onto the carpet, beckoning Qi Xiao to join him. “Just borrowing your vehicle for a bit. You don’t mind, do you, junior brother?” he said with a laugh.

The carpet was clearly conjured from dreamstuff, and Qi Xiao had no objection; he simply sat beside him. “If you like it, senior brother, that’s all that matters.”

Rupert chuckled. A path of starlight unfurled before them, guiding the Azure Veil onward. The stars lit up as the carpet glided over them and faded gently in its wake.

Through the pink-tinted realm the Azure Veil traveled, and Qi Xiao, breathing in the fragrant air and listening to the ambient music, felt a tranquility and serenity unlike any he had ever known.

In the Dream Realm, time grew indistinct. Qi Xiao could not tell how long they journeyed; everything felt perfectly harmonious.

“Junior brother, we’ve arrived.”

The deep, magnetic voice sounded at his ear, snapping Qi Xiao back to alertness. In that instant of clarity, he found himself standing before an unfamiliar forest.

“Senior brother? I… how long have we been traveling?” Qi Xiao had even forgotten his studies in the Dream Realm, feeling as though he had merely drifted in a daze until they arrived.

“About two days. If you haven’t trained in dream magic, it’s perfectly normal to feel muddled within a dream. No need to worry,” Rupert explained, giving his shoulder a reassuring pat.

“I have something else to attend to. I’ll come for you in a month. As long as you remain in this forest, I’ll find you; there’s no need to return.” As if recalling something, Rupert added, “There’s a unique race living in this forest. They owe our master a great favor. If you can find them, the favor is yours to claim.”

Rupert tossed Qi Xiao a badge, which he caught and asked, “What race is it? Any distinguishing features?”

Rupert waved a hand dismissively. “I’ve never met them myself, not really sure, but I hear it’s something to do with sheep—maybe sheep-headed folk. Good luck.”

Qi Xiao wanted to ask more, but Rupert vanished with a wave. With a sigh, Qi Xiao took out his Thunderwing Dragonflame Staff and gazed at the forest ahead.

Before him, the rainforest teemed with life. The lake shone a gemstone blue-green, its refreshing scent carried by the wind, clearing away the last vestiges of drowsiness from Qi Xiao’s mind.

Colossal trees soared into the clouds, their vast canopies blotting out the sun so that only rare shafts of light pierced through. The leaves rustled gently in the breeze, their sound mingling with distant birdsong to compose a natural symphony.

On the forest floor, myriad strange and beautiful flowers bloomed in riotous color, providing a striking contrast to the ancient, gnarled branches above. Qi Xiao’s keen eyes even caught glimpses of small animals flitting about—leaping from branch to branch, foraging in the undergrowth—bringing vitality and spirit to the rainforest.

“Doe Forest…” The name was odd, but on the surface, nothing seemed amiss. Apart from the density of the trees, it resembled any rainforest from his memory.

Clutching his staff, Qi Xiao entered the forest, the scenery subtly shifting with each step. Sunlight filtered through the treetops in mottled patches, like fragments of time flowing through this ancient woodland.

As he ventured deeper, he noticed how lush every plant was—each leaf, each blossom brimming with exuberant life. Plucking a flower, he infused it with magic; the petals became even more vibrant, but nothing else seemed unusual.

A chorus of chattering broke the silence. Flower in hand, Qi Xiao looked over to see several brilliantly plumed birds entwined, each stepping on the other’s tail. The behavior was not inherently strange—birds mating—but Qi Xiao found it odd nonetheless, for by his senses, the birds’ sexes were all wrong…and there seemed to be far too many participants.

Unfamiliar with this species, Qi Xiao could not recall seeing such birds in his own world. Still, did birds have orgies? His expression complicated, he shook his head and hurried away.

Yet the faster he walked, the more uninhibited the scenes became. Not only did birds of different species gather, roosting together on a single communal tree, but they displayed their dazzling feathers to each other, performing courtship dances that transcended the boundaries of kind.

Butterflies and bees flitted among the blossoms, not simply seeking nectar but enacting elaborate mating rituals, their wings fanning as if transmitting some special pheromone.

Even in the clear streams, schools of fish swam in unison, engaged in spectacular spawning ceremonies as water splashed around them. From time to time, a few brown bears would scoop up mouthfuls of fish to feast upon, yet the fish lingered unperturbed, oblivious.

As for the beasts, the less said the better. They congregated on the grassy clearings, engaging in couplings that defied the traditional one-to-one pattern, instead forming a frenzied, exuberant mêlée.

Deeper still, Qi Xiao saw even the plants responding subtly to this riot of life—flowers blooming of their own accord, untouched, tree branches swaying gently, as if dancing to accompany this wild celebration of existence.