Chapter 36: Dream Walker
The afternoon sun hung heavy over the district, casting long, sharp shadows across the cobblestones. Kai walked home with the swagger of a king who had just claimed a new territory. The lingering taste of Mrs. Lin-her saliva, her submission, the sweet bitterness of his own seed on her lips-was still fresh in his mind.
He felt lighter, yet infinitely more dangerous. The Level Up had scrubbed away the physical fatigue of the morning, replacing it with a humming, restless energy.
He reached the gate of his small, humble home.
"Mom?"
Ye Rou was in the small garden patch by the front door. She was bent over, holding a wooden watering can, tending to a row of struggling herbs.
The pose was unintentional, but to Kai's heightened senses, it was a masterpiece.
She was facing away from him. Bending at the waist. Her faded dress, worn thin from years of washing, pulled tight across her hips. The fabric strained against the sheer volume of her ass-that massive, heart-shaped cushion he had oiled and massaged just the night before.
As she poured the water, her body swayed slightly. Drip. Drip.
Kai stopped. His eyes traced the deep valley of her spine down to the flare of her buttocks. He remembered the feel of her asshole under his thumb. He remembered the friction of his cock sliding between those cheeks.
His pants tightened instantly.
"Kai?"
Ye Rou sensed his presence. She straightened up, brushing a stray lock of hair from her forehead with the back of her hand. When she turned, her face lit up, but there was a shyness in her eyes that hadn't been there two days ago. A flush crept up her neck as she looked at him.
"You're back early," she said, her voice soft. "Did you... finish your preparations?"
"Just a break," Kai lied smoothly, his eyes dropping to her chest for a split second before meeting her gaze. "I need to grab something from my room before I head out for the evening training."
"Oh. Okay," she smiled, though she shifted her weight from foot to foot, clearly remembering the massage. "I'll... I'll just be here. If you need anything."
"I have everything I need," Kai said, his voice dropping to a low rumble.
He walked past her, brushing close enough that his arm grazed hers. He felt her shiver.
He went inside, heading straight for his room. He locked the door behind him and sat on the edge of his bed. The air in the room was still, silent.
"System," Kai commanded.
[Ding!]
The blue interface materialized in the dim light.
[Status Window]
Name: Kai
Level: 4 (100/200 XP)
Available Stat Points: 5
Kai stared at the numbers. The XP curve was stable now-200 points per level. He had 100 points sitting in his reserve, carried over from the massive payout he got from breaking Mrs. Lin.
"Five points," Kai muttered, clenching and unclenching his fists.
He thought about the "Weeping Ghost" quest. He thought about the physicality of fighting a spirit, or perhaps fighting Ye Qing's group if they interfered. Charisma was useful for seduction, but in the dark, damp corridors of a haunted dorm, he needed to be a monster.
"Strength," Kai decided. "I need to be able to rip a ghost apart with my bare hands."
He dumped all five points into Physical Strength.
[Allocating Points...] [Strength: 9 -> 14]
CRACK.
A sound like a dry branch snapping echoed inside his own body.
"Ghh...!"
Kai doubled over, gripping his knees. It wasn't pain-it was intensity. It felt like molten lead was being poured into his muscle fibers. His bones felt like they were densifying, becoming heavier, harder. His skin tightened as the muscles beneath swelled and refined.
He gasped, sweat beading on his forehead. The sensation passed after ten seconds, leaving him panting but feeling... incredible.
He looked at his hand. The veins on his forearm were thick, pulsing with vitality. He squeezed his fist. The air pressure in his palm collapsed with a dull thump.
[Strength: 14 (Superhuman)] [Note: You are now physically stronger than 90% of Early Mortal Realm cultivators, purely on muscle mass.]
"Good," Kai grinned, rolling his shoulders. "Now for the loot."
He looked at the [Shop] icon. It was pulsing gold.
He remembered scrolling through it days ago, seeing items that were locked or too expensive. But now, with 100 XP in the bank, he had purchasing power.
He tapped the icon.
[System Shop: Level 4 Unlocks]
Spirit Shackles: 50 XP
Aphrodisiac Mist: 30 XP
X-Ray Glasses (1 Use): 20 XP
Kai scrolled past them. He was looking for one specific item. An item that had caught his eye when he was just a Level 1 weakling.
There it was.
[Item: Dream Walker Incense] [Rank: Rare] [Cost: 100 XP] [Description: A stick of incense crafted from the petals of the Nightmare Lotus. When burned, it allows the user to project their consciousness into the dreams of a target within a 50-meter radius.] [Effect: The user can manipulate the dreamscape. Planting seeds of desire, fear, or submission in the subconscious mind. What happens in the dream feels real to the soul.] [Uses: 3/3 Sticks]
Kai's heart raced.
100 XP. It was his entire reserve. It would leave him at 0/200 towards Level 5.
But the potential...
"I can get into their heads," Kai whispered. "Ye Rou. Mrs. Lin. Even Li Hua."
Physical conquest was one thing. But if he could corrupt their dreams? If he could make them dream of fucking him every single night? They would wake up wet, confused, and desperate. He could break their mental defenses before he even touched them in reality.
"Fuck yes," Kai hissed.
He pressed [BUY].
[Transaction Complete.] [XP Deducted: -100] [Current XP: 0/200]
A shimmer of light appeared on the bed next to him. A small, black lacquer box materialized.
Kai reached out and opened it.
Inside lay three sticks of incense. They were a deep, bruised purple color, swirling with a faint, ghostly smoke even though they weren't lit. They smelled of heavy musk and opium.
"Dream Walker," Kai murmured, picking up the box.
He looked at the wall that separated his room from his mother's room. She was just outside, gardening. Tonight, she would sleep in that bed.
And tonight, he could visit her.
"This is perfect," Kai grinned, a dark, predatory light in his eyes. "I can train during the day... and conquer during the night."
He snapped the box shut and shoved it into his pocket.
He stood up, feeling the raw power of Strength 14 ripple through him. He was broke on XP, but he had never felt richer.