Chapter Thirty: The Three Great Sects

Beyond the residential district lie the administrative zone and the encampments of the various sects. While there are many factions within this space, only three major sects hold significant influence based on their current prestige and strength.

The Court of Dharma: The oldest sect in the space, possessing formidable power. They subscribe to the "Law of Equilibrium," with a mission rooted in absolute order and justice. The Court of Dharma serves the Dream-Entry Space, providing free services such as weapon attribute testing, the compilation and posting of system rules, and the collection of dream compendiums. Hong Lei is a member of this sect.

The Qingxiu School: This sect has no fixed dogma; their guiding principle is "Never enter a dream unless forced by the system." Most of its members have no lingering attachments to their past lives and have come to view the Dream-Entry Space as their home. The majority of shopkeepers in the residential district belong to the Qingxiu School. While they are easy to talk to, they prioritize self-preservation within dreams and will not intervene unless their own safety is threatened.

The Shura Sect: Known for their erratic behavior and lack of a permanent base, they take pleasure in disrupting order—the polar opposite of the Court of Dharma. Though few in number, they are ruthless, eccentric, and temperamental. Several incredibly powerful masters oversee the sect, and its members rarely show their true faces. If encountered within a dream, one must exercise extreme caution.

Hong Lei took a deep swig of beer, lit a cigarette, and leaned back in his chair with a contented expression. He turned to Wu Que and said, "Tomorrow, I have to go to the Library to provide a report and statistical account of the 'Carnal Desire' dream. Come with me."

Wu Que nodded, then gestured toward Zhang Deshuai, who was drinking alone. "What about him?"

"I’m not going," Zhang Deshuai replied coldly, taking a sip of his drink. "I trust my master, but I don't trust any sect."

Hong Lei exhaled a cloud of smoke and said calmly, "If you don’t want to go, then don’t. I won’t interfere with your decision." He then looked at Wu Que, "If you don't want to disclose your abilities or attribute badge, you can just talk about the Nightmare, or you don't have to say anything at all. The Library has compiled many accounts of dream demons encountered by Dream-Menders in the past; you can browse them with me. It will be helpful for your future dream-entries."

Wu Que nodded, accepting the proposal. He could naturally speak in detail about events within the dreams, as his true secrets had nothing to do with the dream demons. Moreover, he urgently needed to broaden his understanding. Before the entrance to his mother's dream opened, he would continue to enter dreams and constantly improve himself. As for the choices others made, that was no concern of his.

The three of them stopped talking about work. Pleased with the drink, Hong Lei ordered a plate of roast lamb, a side of peanuts in vinegar, and several more bottles of fine wine. They ate and drank, clinking glasses and enjoying themselves thoroughly.

Feeling tipsy, Wu Que slumped back in his chair. He thought of his mother and sister, and his eyes grew moist. He glanced at his master and senior brother; they were also reclining comfortably, with a glint in their eyes. The dizzy sensation returned, so Wu Que leaned his head back, closed his eyes, and gave in to the spinning world. He knew he would sleep soundly tonight.

The next morning, Wu Que walked out of his room and stretched, accidentally bumping into the "Crier’s" crib. The Crier lay there quietly, showing no reaction. After a quick wash, he found his master waiting at the door; his lazy senior brother was nowhere to be found.

"Let's go. I'll show you what the real Dream-Entry Space is like."

Hong Lei smiled and led him through the pedestrian street. After walking a few dozen paces, the view suddenly opened up.

The first thing that caught the eye was a winding bluestone path, serving as a natural guide that led into a well-arranged sequence of spaces. Following the path, one could see a mix of rustic pavilions and minimalist glass-curtain buildings. At the heart of the architectural complex was a central plaza with a fountain, featuring a large electronic screen at its center.

Approaching it, Wu Que saw the screen displaying important information: updates to system rules, entry guidelines, dream shifts, and trade prices. One notice caught his attention:

(Regarding preliminary findings on deviations and misleading instructions in system rules.)
"The Court of Dharma’s System Evaluation Team has completed a year-long compilation and analysis of system rules. As of yesterday, January 13, 2025, we have concluded that as time passes, the rules provided by the system have transitioned from being clear and complete to vague and abstract. Furthermore, a small portion of the rules provided to some Dream-Menders contains misleading information. All Dream-Menders are urged to be vigilant and exercise careful judgment regarding the system's prompt rules."
— The Court of Dharma System Evaluation Team

"Apprentice, what are you daydreaming about? Hurry up!"

Hong Lei’s shout came from behind. Wu Que answered and hurried to catch up. Hong Lei was standing in front of a two-story building made of bamboo. The plaque on the building bore two characters in clerical script: "The Library."

Stepping inside, the scent of ink filled the air. The interior was also constructed of bamboo. In the center of the first-floor hall sat a red-faced old man with white hair, busily writing with a brush at a bamboo desk.

"He must be over a hundred," Wu Que thought to himself, taking a seat next to Hong Lei.

"Hehe, please forgive us, Mr. Bai. My apprentice is still young and new to this space, so his curiosity is inevitable," Hong Lei said.

"Hehe, no matter. My great-grandson is about his age and even more mischievous," the old man replied with a chuckle, gesturing for Wu Que to come closer. "Come, child, sit down and tell me about the situations you have encountered in your dreams."

"A hundred years old was probably an underestimate," Wu Que mused, but he sat down obediently and began to recount everything, from the dungeon snake-woman and the paradise to the flute music and the thick fog in the brothel. He deliberately hid the details regarding the Black Blade, and the strange room was not mentioned at all.

Though he spoke at a steady pace, the old man’s brush moved like the wind, even leaving him time to sip his tea. Wu Que noticed that the old man made special marks whenever he mentioned the "dungeon snake-woman" and the "paradise."

After finishing, the old man smiled warmly. "I am Bai Shusheng. On behalf of the Court of Dharma, I thank you for your honesty. The second floor is the Archive, where all kinds of dreams recorded since the founding of our sect are kept. Please, feel free to browse."

This was exactly why Wu Que had come. He bowed to Bai Shusheng, "Thank you, Mr. Bai."

Bai Shusheng smiled, "It is for the sake of the space and the Dream-Menders."

The second floor was lined with rows of bookshelves, strictly categorized by the nature of the dreams. Fragmented dreams and continuous dreams made up nine-tenths of the collection, while special-type dreams occupied only a single, short row. Wu Que flipped through a few books on fragmented and continuous dreams, quickly grasping the general patterns of both.