174: Chapter 174 Beacon

Chapter 174: Dao Signpost

On the boundless ice sheet, a frail and tiny figure walked forward alone.

The girl's bare feet were exposed to the biting cold wind, and her steps appeared extremely slow and difficult.

The surface of the ice sheet was covered with a thin layer of snow, reflecting the blood-red glimmer of the sky.

Her little feet touched the icy surface, freezing red and bruised; every step she pressed down made her whole body tremble.

Snowflakes occasionally fell on her eyelashes, condensing into tiny ice beads, but she still endured and continued forward.

"Hoo..."

Puffs of white mist slowly dissipated in the cold air.

Wen Xin looked ahead with a dazed gaze.

The distant ice sheet seemed to connect with the sky, forming a boundless, endless expanse of dark blood-red.

A sense of loneliness, as if only one person remained in the entire world, spontaneously arose.

She didn't even know where she actually wanted to go.

She only heard a voice gentler than her mother's, constantly calling out to her and guiding her to walk in a certain direction.

No.

It must be her mother summoning her, right?

Wen Xin tucked her hands tightly into her sleeves, trying to retain the meager warmth she had left.

Then, she continued to step across the hard ice surface step by step with those bare feet.

At this moment, another voice drifted faintly along with the cold wind.

It seemed to come from the distant horizon, piercing through the endless dark blood-red before arriving here.

Moreover... there seemed to be an unusually familiar feeling to it.

Wen Xin was stunned for a moment, slowly shook her head, and continued walking forward.

Right now, she only wanted to find her mother who was tirelessly calling out to her.

But before long, that familiar voice sounded once again.

This time it sounded a bit clearer, seemingly a man's voice calling her name.

"Wen Xin——"

Although very faint, the voice carried an inexplicable warmth, resembling a yearning welling up from the depths of the heart.

Elder Brother!

Wen Xin's heart shuddered violently, and she immediately looked toward the source of the voice.

"Wen Xin, Wen Xin, hurry back, return to Mom's arms..."

However, almost simultaneously, the gentle voice calling her also sounded.

That voice was ethereal and traceless, melodious and lingering.

Like bubbles rising from the bottom of the deepest ocean, it made one unable to help but worry it would vanish in an instant.

The murmuring whisper was dreamlike and illusory, brimming with an ultimate charm.

Wanting to brand a certain thought into her mind, for a long, long time, sinking into the depths of her Soul...

"Mom..."

Wen Xin couldn't help feeling hesitant, and the steps she was ready to take back stopped.

Just at this moment, a long and stable ray of light suddenly pierced through the darkness, reflecting into her pupils.

Like a speeding sharp arrow, it shattered layer upon layer of blood-red obstacles, stirring up bursts of eerie wailing sounds.

Hearing it left Wen Xin in a trance, almost fainting.

She tried hard to open her eyes wide, following the source of the light, and looked up.

She vaguely saw a figure floating in the air, its body's outline radiating light, just like standing in the blazing sun.

"Don't be afraid, follow the light and walk towards me."

The warm and peaceful voice caused Wen Xin's spirit to rally, and she then firmly stepped towards that figure.

The dark ice sheet, however, instantly became extremely muddy.

Walking on it felt like stepping into a quagmire, one step deep and one step shallow.

It was as if unknown slick things were wrapping around her ankles, and countless hands wanted to grab her, not allowing her to leave.

The howling wind drifted across the ice sheet like bursts of piercing alarm sounds.

Attempting to cover up the outsider's voice, or perhaps summoning the terrifying monsters lurking in the depths of the darkness.

But facing the scorching arrow-like light, the darkness ultimately could not resist its piercing power.

As Wen Xin got closer and closer to the figure, the range of the light also grew larger and larger, until it occupied her entire field of vision.

The vast expanse of white light stung her so much that she couldn't help but close her eyes immediately.

"Mom... Elder Brother..."

In the quiet room, the firelight flickered.

Wen Xin lay in the center of the circle of light formed by candles, babbling with an infatuated expression, seemingly still asleep in a dream.

After about half a minute, her eyelashes trembled, and she slowly opened her eyelids, looking at the familiar face that appeared in her field of vision.

Stunned for a moment, her drowsy eyes regained a bit of brightness, and she murmured, "Elder Brother?"

Fang Cheng wore a smile and nodded at her.

"Wuu, Elder Brother!"

Interwoven with surprise and joy, Wen Xin instantly pounced forward, crying out:

"I miss you so much, am I dreaming..."

She found it truly hard to believe, fearing that the figure appearing before her was merely her own weak fantasy.

"Silly girl."

Fang Cheng pulled her into his arms and comforted her with a smile:

"Elder Brother specially came to find you back from the dream, how could you still be dreaming?"

Feeling the warm embrace and smelling the familiar aura, Wen Xin's body and mind gradually relaxed, and her tightly furrowed face also relaxed along with it.

Meanwhile, Lin Chuqiao, who was watching from the side, wore an expression of utter astonishment.

In the exquisitely decorated living room, the heating was turned on very adequately.

Fang Cheng brought the slightly restrained Wen Xin and sat on the soft leather sofa.

"So you completely entered her subconscious world without encountering any danger?"

After hearing the whole story, Lin Chuqiao's mouth opened slightly, still looking very surprised.

"Is there anything wrong?"

Fang Cheng asked.

"No, I'm just a bit curious."

Lin Chuqiao smiled and shook her head, looking at Fang Cheng with a weird gaze.

Just two weeks ago, this guy had specially consulted her about Meditation.

Now he was able to successfully enter meditative concentration and reach a level far surpassing her own; he was simply an unadulterated monster.

This caused even her, who had always been prideful, to inevitably develop a sense of frustration.

Thinking of this, Lin Chuqiao sighed inwardly, her eyes turning to look at the other person involved.

"Little sister, do you usually use your ability to do things often?"

Hearing this, Wen Xin turned her head to glance at Fang Cheng sitting beside her.

Seeing him give a slight nod, she softly replied:

"I saw Mom gritting her teeth every night, enduring the torture of illness, so I secretly prayed in my heart, wanting her to get better quickly..."

Hearing this, Lin Chuqiao's gaze paused.

She instantly realized that this seemingly unremarkable girl before her was also a little monster!

"Elder Brother, can you please not tell Mom about this? I'm afraid she'll worry."

After finishing, Wen Xin pleaded with Fang Cheng with a full face of apprehension.

"Okay."

Fang Cheng agreed to her, while warning: "Remember from now on, as long as it doesn't involve life danger, never use your ability casually again."

Wen Xin hurriedly and obediently nodded.

The matter was perfectly resolved. Next, they had to rush back to the hospital to notify Wen Huiyi and the others who were waiting.

Lin Chuqiao intended to personally drive the two back.

Fang Cheng politely declined:

"It's very late now, I won't disturb you. Next time when I have free time, I'll treat you to a meal specifically."

"No need to be so polite. Actually, I should be the one thanking you even more."

Lin Chuqiao gave a charming smile and said pointedly.

Escorting the two to the elevator lobby, she tucked the hair behind her ear and waved her hand with an elegant posture.

Wen Xin also waved goodbye very politely:

"Goodbye, Aunt Lin."

Hearing this, Lin Chuqiao's expression darkened slightly, though her smile remained unchanged.

The elevator descended smoothly.

Fang Cheng held Wen Xin's small hand, his gaze falling upon the panel information appearing before his eyes.

[ Meditation Experience + 20 ]

This time entering Wen Xin's subconscious world awakened her self-awareness.

In addition to accidentally harvesting a large amount of skill experience.

Fang Cheng also vaguely figured out a usage method for the Flame of Spirituality.

That was to use himself as a Dao marker, using the light of the lamp flame in his mind to awaken the consciousness of others lost in the darkness, guiding them to escape the distress of certain negative mental influences.

Of course, it couldn't be completely confirmed as viable just yet.

After all, it had only been initially realized on Wen Xin for now.

However.

Upon successfully completing the guidance, Fang Cheng felt that his and Wen Xin's consciousness seemed to have generated a very wondrous connection.

Thinking of this, Fang Cheng's heart stirred slightly, and he silently called out:

"Wen Xin."

"Ah? Are you calling me, Elder Brother?"

Wen Xin immediately looked up in surprise, watching Fang Cheng, who seemed not to have moved his mouth.