Chapter 3, Dreams

He felt unlucky, yet at that moment he suddenly sensed something was amiss

As for other places, he cannot reside there; a household registration is required

nor would it resemble a beggar sleeping in a dilapidated temple

Compared to before the time travel, although I was a loser, I had never endured the cold or gone hungry

In recent times, I have been having this dream almost every night. Moreover, this dream has become increasingly vivid.

Next, Tao Xiaowu indulged himself thoroughly

I dreamt of wandering aimlessly on the street, unaware of when a thick fog had set in. Under the dim streetlights, the narrow street was deserted.

The so-called ancient Xiguo was a powerful state similar to the original world, during the period of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States when various states coexisted.

Swiftly began to draw talismans both inside and outside this shrine

At this time, it was already late, and it was precisely mealtime

Although Tao Xiaowu has traveled through time, he has not lived the life of a pampered wife or beautiful concubine, nor has he enjoyed the riches of the world

Of course, there is no becoming an immortal ancestor, nor flying swords controlling the heavens

Then, Tao Xiaowu had a dream

However, it is said that this shrine was established during the ancient period of the Xi State, dedicated to a certain deity of that time

Known for its belief in spirits and the prevalence of witchcraft

Tao Xiaowu made some repairs, at least it can be considered that there is a roof over his head, so he does not have to sleep outdoors

Tao Xiaowu peered out from the gap in the wall, just as the moonlight filtered through the cracks in the clouds and illuminated the surroundings

The place where he currently resides, though referred to as home, is actually an ancient shrine located outside the city

He remembers that he had crossed over a long time ago; how could he return to this modern city again

How did I end up here

At this thought, Tao Xiaowu suddenly jolted awake and sat up

Tao Xiaowu thought to himself: "Indeed, these two spirits must be afraid of the talisman I drew. I never expected that the talisman I learned in my dreams would actually have some effect!"

They also do not know how long it has been, but they seem to dare not approach the shrine, merely circling around it, as if searching for a flaw to break into the shrine.

He merely traversed to an ordinary classical era, lacking an identity, and was expelled by the officials. He was caught in a scuffle with the locals and wandered aimlessly.

In the future, when I become successful, I will definitely have a temple rebuilt for you and a golden statue erected!

Only this old-fashioned apartment building stands out distinctly

Tao Xiaowu carefully hid the money away, a faint smile appearing on his face

At this thought, Tao Xiaowu was suddenly taken aback.

We are both lost souls in this vast world, and now that I reside in your home, it can be considered fate. Therefore, I offer you a bit of dog meat.

Moreover, the roof has collapsed significantly, and no one can clearly state which deity is enshrined here

Yes, it is this dream again

The woman suddenly felt something and, puzzled, looked around in the elevator, even reaching out to touch the air a few times

Although it is merely boiled in plain water and requires dipping sauce for consumption, for Tao Xiaowu, who is accustomed to the irregularities of hunger and satiety, none of this is a cause for complaint

Having finished the tasks at hand, Tao Xiaowu was already famished. After walking dozens of miles during the day and performing various rituals for others.

From Tao Xiaowu's perspective, two whirlwinds occasionally come to a halt, revealing two shadowy figures shrouded in black mist, with only their blood-red eyes visible, which appear particularly terrifying

Thus, with this thought in mind, Tao Xiaowu, after having eaten and drunk to his fill, fell into a deep sleep in a daze

The wind outside has started blowing at some unknown time, howling fiercely.

It is said that only those who are dissatisfied will dream, constantly dreaming of things that have passed away

It was originally supposed to be in a certain room, but today it was unexpectedly encountered by that woman, and thus it woke up like this

With a soft ding, the elevator doors opened. A woman walked in, smiling and talking on the phone, seemingly speaking a dialect that Tao Xiaowu could not understand

Without any hesitation, he swiftly took out the cinnabar ink and pen, reciting incantations: "Yuan Shi An Zhen, Pu Gao Wan Ling. Yue Du Zhen Guan, Tu Di Zhi Ling..."

Today has been quite fruitful, earning several thousand in money, all of which will be saved for future use

Perhaps it is precisely because of this that I have had such a beautiful dream

Within this shrine, there are also incomplete murals depicting some scenes from the ancient Xi State of yore

At that moment, Tao Xiaowu's whole body trembled, and he suddenly woke up

However, this is all unnecessary worry; although the elevator shakes quite a bit, there have been no accidents.

He took out the dog meat given by his master, contemplated cutting off a piece to offer before the wooden carving, which had long since rotted beyond recognition, of the deity.

Tao Xiaowu did not know whether these things were useful or not; in any case, he decided to draw them down first and discuss later

The sky has not yet brightened, remaining in the darkest and most profound moments of the night

Since this dream cannot be awakened from for the time being, Tao Xiaowu would rather continue to live it.

Moreover, at this moment, Tao Xiaowu doubted whether he was dreaming, and it was simply impossible for him to fall to his death

Tao Xiaowu had a look of utter confusion on his face

I am currently wandering outside, homeless. You too have seen your temple collapse and your incense offerings grow cold

Moreover, it was as if Tao Xiaowu was not even seen, as it directly crashed in, passing through Tao Xiaowu's body

Fortunately, he was still carrying several pounds of dog meat, wrapped in lotus leaves.

At midnight, with no one walking, the building appears increasingly dilapidated

This is what is referred to as the unification of households and people; in such a world, there are no household registrations, which is far more terrifying than the absence of identification in previous eras

One can clearly see that outside the shrine, there are two whirlwinds continuously swirling around it.

In two months, it will be cold, and it will be very difficult for people to stay here. At that time, we will have to think of another solution

In this era, consuming dog meat is quite a normal occurrence, akin to that of pork, beef, and lamb, and it is even priced a few cents lower, making it a favorite among the common folk.

At this moment, such a ritual of worship is merely a means to seek peace of mind

The walls are constructed from logs of a thickness that can be embraced, and over the years, they have long since been charred to a black color

These were all given by that master

It is this dream again, today is truly unfortunate, I haven't even arrived at the destination before being awakened by that woman

Tao Xiaowu wiped his face; he has been having this dream frequently lately, yet he does not understand its meaning.

He has been living here for over a month, yet he has not witnessed any supernatural occurrences related to the deities in this temple

Almost as if his feet barely touched the ground, Tao Xiaowu felt himself floating and drifting into this building

The shrine has been established for at least several hundred years, and it appears to have a very ancient style

Fortunately, the elevator was still operational. Tao Xiaowu, in a daze, stepped into the elevator and randomly pressed a floor button. The old-fashioned elevator emitted creaking sounds, as if it could malfunction at any moment and plummet down.

The hamster, as if having filled the tree hole with food, feels a great sense of security