Chapter 343: Sleeping Beauty

Chapter 343: Sleeping Beauty

"The Lord Mayor's condition is not optimistic."

Upon hearing this, Evelyn felt a shiver run through her heart.

She hurriedly asked, "What happened to the Lord Mayor? What occurred?"

Christiman quickly replied, "Do not worry, I shall tell you about the Lord Mayor's condition later. We are currently on our way back; once you see him, you will understand."

Hearing this, Evelyn forced herself to calm down.

She nodded, "Mm, I understand."

Her own condition was hardly better; how could she help Alice?

Evelyn took the time to regulate her body and restore her strength.

Li Wei heard the three's conversation, his thoughts deep within.

From the fact that Alice could still write and send letters, she likely faced no life-threatening danger.

So what exactly had happened?

Something that Christiman and Bella were unable to resolve?

Both possessed considerable strength.

Under Christiman's lead, the group arrived at a secluded valley.

Within the valley stood several simple wooden houses.

Christiman introduced, "This is our residence; it is somewhat humble and conditions are harsh, please forgive us."

Evelyn paid no heed to these details, asking immediately, "Where is the Lord Mayor?"

Bella led the group toward the central house.

"Lord Mayor Alice is here; months have passed since her last awakening, and when the next will occur remains unknown."

Bella spoke as they walked.

She approached the door and pushed open the wooden panel.

Evelyn stepped inside with eager anticipation.

Seeing Alice lying on a bamboo bed, sleeping with a tranquil expression.

She urgently asked, "What exactly has happened to Lord Mayor Alice?"

Li Wei followed behind, entering the room.

Seeing the Sleeping Beauty, Alice.

Lying there, she had already become the focal point of everyone's gaze.

Awake, Alice would surely be a beautiful maiden of captivating charm.

At least in Li Wei's view, Alice remained young, tender like an eighteen-year-old girl.

He was not particularly surprised by this.

After witnessing many extraordinary practitioners, Li Wei knew those with high power typically possessed astonishing lifespans.

Some extraordinary methods could even help one maintain beauty until death.

Bella looked at the sleeping Alice and explained, "Do you remember the group that attacked the Lord Mayor outside Flying Flower City back then?"

Evelyn asked in surprise, "How? Was there something wrong with that group?"

"We were all dismissed with various excuses and never saw those who attacked the Lord Mayor."

"Didn't the Lord Mayor say they were all killed?"

Bella said, "Indeed, the group that attacked the Lord Mayor did die, but there were others behind them."

"Isn't the mastermind Kilah?" Evelyn asked.

Bella shook her head, saying, "Kilah is likely the mastermind, but he is not the only one."

"The person responsible for the Lord Mayor's current state is likely related to Kilah; I suspect Kilah has ties to the Black Cultists!"

"After the Lord Mayor disappeared back then, I investigated her whereabouts and inadvertently discovered traces of the mastermind."

"I found that the group attacking the Lord Mayor originally was entirely controlled by the Black Cultists."

"Following the clues discovered, I finally located the Lord Mayor's position."

"Through the concealed teleportation array left by the Lord Mayor, I came to this Peach Blossom Realm and found the Lord Mayor."

"At that time, the Lord Mayor could remain conscious for a period. I also learned from her that after returning to Flying Flower City, she was attacked by the mastermind."

"Bewitched by a nightmare curse, entangled by nightmares, unable to shake off the hex, always at risk of losing oneself in the dream world."

"Thus, the Lord Mayor chose to teleport away from Flying Flower City initially, seeking a safe place to lift the nightmare curse."

"But unexpectedly, the nightmare curse was too powerful; over the years, the Lord Mayor found no way to remove it, instead suffering further erosion, with waking time growing shorter and sleep time longer."

"The teleportation array left by the Lord Mayor was one-way, capable only of transporting into the Peach Blossom Realm, unable to depart."

"Without the array, the only way for us to leave the Peach Blossom Realm is to pass through the third layer of the Poison Dragon Cave."

"The third layer of the Poison Dragon Cave is too dangerous, for the Lord Mayor might fall into a coma at any moment, losing mobility, easily encountering peril."

"Therefore, we have never had the opportunity to leave the Peach Blossom Realm."

Under Bella's narration, the group gradually understood the past events and Alice's current predicament.

Li Wei asked strangely, "If you cannot leave the Peach Blossom Realm, how did you deliver the letters and crystal flowers to Maple Leaf City?"

Bella looked at Christiman, saying, "Although we cannot take the Lord Mayor out of here, Christiman can contact the outside world through the ability of 'Windflower Grass'."

Christiman said, "I have been using 'Windflower Grass' to gather information from the outside, inadvertently discovering novels circulating within Poison Dragon City."

"Thinking the Lord Mayor was trapped here too long and bored, I tried to bring some novel books into the Peach Blossom Realm to amuse her."

"Seeing the novels originated from Maple Leaf City, the Lord Mayor asked me to carry a letter she wrote personally to Maple Leaf City."

"She said there is a master there who can help her lift the nightmare curse."

Hearing this, Li Wei paused, stunned.

His mind swirled with countless thoughts.

Who could lift the nightmare curse?

Surely it must relate to the Somnambulist?

Who is the master mentioned by Alice?

Li Wei subconsciously associated the Dream Weaver and the Dream Thief.

Even the Somnambulist might not manage to lift the nightmare curse, yet the master Alice spoke of was certainly a senior explorer of the dream world.

Thus, it could only be the Dream Weaver or the Dream Thief.

But where in Maple Leaf City would such figures exist?

He had never encountered them, never witnessed them.

Logically speaking, having traversed the Dream World of Maple City countless times,

he ought at least to have caught sight of the traces left behind by the Dreamweaver.

Then, abruptly, a thought struck him with sudden force.

Indeed, he had seen those very traces left by the Dreamweaver.

In those days, when the Mage Tower of Maple City was assaulted by Black Cultists, every mage was dragged into the Dream World.

The nightmares had mutated, poised to corrupt the minds of all the mages.

Even as Li Wei found himself unable to contend with the mutated nightmares,

A Dreamweaver stepped forth.

With effortless ease, he swept clean every corrupted dream.

Li Wei only realized belatedly.

Only now did he realize that within Maple City truly resided a Dreamweaver of immense power.

But who was that individual?

Li Wei turned his gaze toward Kristiman and asked, "Did Lady Mayor Alice ever mention who this master might be?"

Kristiman shook his head and replied, "No."

Bella explained, "Lady Mayor Alice merely knew that the master resided within Maple City; she did not know his true identity.

Sending the Crystal Flower to Maple City was but an attempt to seek even a sliver of hope."

(End of Chapter)