448 But I Just Don’t Like I

"What exactly do you want to do?"

"Nothing." Sprawled on the sofa, Ye Qingxuan cocked his head and found a comfortable position. "Life is short. Can't you let me lie down properly?"

"You think life is too short?" The one in charge brightened. "I have an idea!"

Instantly, the world caved in and history ended. After who knew how long, a giant was born from the turbidity. He opened up a new world, clear air rose up and polluted air dropped down, and all began to grow.

Time passed and a towering mountain rose in the west of Jiuzhou. It pierced the clouds. It had been thousands of years since the world had ended. Now, Mount Zhou was nothing like before and instead felt pure and peaceful.

A group of boys waiting at the foot of the mountain looked up. The white clouds had transformed into a jade staircase. It extended from heaven's door and landed beside their feet.

"The Sacred Qingxuan Sect will reopen its doors today and accept apprentices!" a majestic voice rang out from the clouds. "Anyone interested may come. After you pass through the three challenges, you will become my apprentice! If you can cultivate successfully, you will naturally be able to enjoy longevity with no worry of disasters or catastrophes. You will shine with the sun and moon and live forever with the Earth!"

With that, the group cheered. They began climbing the path of clouds with all their might to reach the peak. But then, atop a large white stork at the peak, the majestic voice seemed to realize something. "Huh?"

A beam of light fell from the sky. The majestic monk stood before the bedraggled youth. Holy light shone in his eyes. He looked both overjoyed and shocked.

On the other hand, the youth looked at him indifferently. "Elder, are you here to compliment me?"

"A natural saint! A natural saint!" The monk laughed heartily and then looked at him solemnly. "Child, I am the most powerful of Jiuzhou, Xuanqi. Are you willing to be my personal apprentice, cultivate with me, and enjoy the path to sainthood with me?"

"Elder…" Ye Qingxuan sighed. "Why do you have so many tricks? Is this really my dream?"

'Xuanqi' looked at his indifference and could not but sigh. He waved and the stork, flowing clouds, and mountains all disappeared. Bending down, he looked at Ye Qingxuan.

"Ye Qingxuan, ruling the world, being undefeatable, being immortal…these are beautiful dreams that people aren't able to have no matter what. Don't be too picky."

"I don't like it." Ye Qingxuan shook his head. "I just want to lie down."

"Would you like me to give you another game storage?" The elder rubbed his hands in anticipation.

"…Can you listen to me?" Ye Qingxuan looked down on him. "Who even are you?"

"I am you, Ye Qingxuan." The elder changed. Sighing, his surface sloughed down. What replaced him was a blurry figure that looked a bit like Ye Qingxuan.

"I am the notes in your consciousness' music theory. I am the musician part of you. I am a part of the Dreamweaver, the spirit made from the thousand-year music theory of the Ye family. I am able to project into a human shape through your cognition. It is my duty to help you choose a dream."

"Oh." After a long while, Ye Qingxuan nodded. "I don't want any dream. You can go."

"Don't say that!" The projection looked at him pitifully. He pulled many thick books from his pocket like a lonely and helpless salesman. "I have the dreams of all the Dreamweavers here. One must suit you! Please just choose one!" He flipped open the first one. "Look at this, the warlord of a city! This is really popular in the strange organisms of the aether world! What do you think?"

Ye Qingxuan shook his head. "Too troublesome."

"You want to sublimate and know the meaning of the Originator?" The projection's voice grew dark and mysterious as he opened another book. "Endless aether! This is good too!"

Ye Qingxuan was expressionless. "I don't want to scare myself when I'm bored."

"Would you like to try the end of the world?"

"No."

Finally, the projection lost his temper. "You won't learn this, won't learn that…what are you doing? You want me to make it impossible for you to become a musician?"

Ye Qingxuan was unmoved. The projection caved in.

With teary eyes, he stared imploringly at Ye Qingxuan. "My friend, can you not make things difficult for me? This is the prototype of all symphonies of predestination of the Ye family lords!

"Even if you take it and don't use it, or just play with it when you're bored, it's still good! Plus, there are also many amazing experiences waiting for you! Can't you just choose one? It's free!"

"Sorry, I truly am tired." Ye Qingxuan sighed. "I don't want those stories of going through extreme happiness and sadness, ups and downs, before finally reaching the pinnacle of life. Can't you let me go?"

The projection was depressed but angry. "What's so bad about these great adventures?"

"The only thing I don't lack in life is adventure. Really." Ye Qingxuan sighed heavily. "Every time, I'm tormented until I want to die. Please let me go. I really don't want any more adventures."

"You're a musician! You're a Dreamweaver!" The projection almost had a mental breakdown. Yanking on Ye Qingxuan's collar, he roared, "What do you want?!"

Ye Qingxuan did nothing as the projection yanked him up by the collar and spit fell on his face. He just sighed and pleaded, "I just want to rest."

The moment, the entire world quieted down. Then something shattered in the distance. The world shook, the sun and moon dimmed, everything withered and lost color. The world turned black and white.

The projection let go and said, "You win." Its stiff body quickly cracked and fell apart like a broken mirror. After breaking through the first dreamscape, the second also fell apart.

Ye Qingxuan felt himself falling.

Falling to the deepest part of his consciousness, to the lowest level of his dream.

Falling to…the end of his dream.

-

This was a silent and empty world, the bottom of his sub-consciousness, and the origin of his consciousness. It connected his so-called sense of self, his true self, and his supra-self.

Other than 'self,' there was nothing else.

Nothing else?

Is there really nothing else? Ye Qingxuan thought.

He walked forward in silence. After some time, he finally saw the figure standing before him in the distance.

The moon had risen into the sky without him realizing. The moonlight fell on the man like clothing, reflecting with a serene glow. Ye Qingxuan looked at him and sighed. "You really are here."

"I've been waiting for a long time." The seemingly familiar figure chuckled. He turned around and smiled pleasantly. "Little Yezi, you finally came to see me." He reached out to embrace the young man but Ye Qingxuan stepped to the side and brushed past him.

Ye Lanzhou turned in confusion and saw Ye Qingxuan continue walking forward.

"Little Yezi, you're already at the end of your dream! Where are you going?" Ye Lanzhou stared at his back in shock. "We've been separated for so many years. Don't you want to see me? Don't you have anything to say to me?"

At the end of the end, Ye Qingxuan heard his voice and turned around. "Enough. Just let me sleep in peace."

Ye Lanzhou faded and dissipated. The music theory projection gaped as Ye Qingxuan walked into the distance, disappearing somewhere.

Was there an end to the end of the dream?

Ye Qingxuan did not know.

"Finally, it is quiet." He curled up in the nothingness and closed his eyes. This time, he finally did not have to dream anymore.

-

Under the serene moonlight, the sleeping Ye Qingxuan flipped over. The coldness and indifference in his brows disappeared, becoming peaceful and relaxed. He seemed to have finally escaped from the layers of causes and effects and the complex reality. He had run to somewhere without people or dreams and slept in peace.

As he slept, the world became peaceful as well.