Volume One: Stepping onto the Path, Chapter 108: Perhaps Already a Memory

Hearing what Fang Lin had to say, Ye Junze nodded and asked, "Teacher, I would like to know if there are specific conditions that trigger the end of a dream during the Dream Projection?"

Fang Lin did not answer immediately. Instead, she asked, "Why do you ask? Did something happen during your dream just now?"

Ye Junze pondered for a moment and replied, "In the dream, I clearly felt that there was more to come, yet for some reason, I suddenly woke up."

Hearing this, Fang Lin thought silently. She recalled that while observing his dream, it seemed he had gone to take a bath and then drifted off to sleep. Thinking of this, she inquired, "Do you remember what happened last in the dream?"

"After saying goodbye to the people in the dream, I lay down on the bed to rest. I must have fallen into a deep sleep in the dream, and when I woke up, I was back here," Ye Junze replied with a nod.

Fang Lin thought for a while before saying, "There are no specific conditions for the end of a Dream Projection. It can conclude without you even realizing it. Your situation is not uncommon; it is possible that the Dream Projection Array simply determined it was time for you to wake up and ended the process on its own."

Ye Junze nodded to show he understood. He then followed up with another question: "Teacher, will I be able to encounter the same dream again in the next Dream Projection?"

Fang Lin smiled, thinking to herself, *As expected, someone asks this every time.*

She shook her head and replied, "There is no fixed answer to this. As I have told you before, the dreams in the Dream Projection are random. It is possible that the next time you begin, you will enter an entirely new dream. However, it is also possible that you could return to this same dream and continue where you left off. In the history of the Daoist Arts Department, there have been various instances, but no set pattern. Everything depends on fate; it is best to simply let things be."

Ye Junze felt a trace of disappointment, though he could not quite articulate why. He nodded slowly and said, "I understand. Thank you, Teacher Fang."

Fang Lin waved her hand dismissively. "You're welcome. It is only right for a teacher to answer a student's questions."

Despite her words, Ye Junze still harbored a great deal of anticipation. Since the teacher said it was a possibility, who was to say it wouldn't happen again? It was good to have hope. Consoling himself this way, the disappointment in his heart faded, replaced by a sense of expectation.

He mused to himself, *Having woken up like this, I actually miss the people in that dream. I wonder how they are doing now.*

Ye Junze, lost in these thoughts, had clearly forgotten that the so-called dream was a construct of the Dream Projection Array based on his own psyche. If the master of the dream—himself—had already woken up, how could the dream continue to function? It was even questionable whether the dream still existed at all. If he truly wished to return, he would simply have to rely on luck in future sessions.

Seeing Ye Junze’s expression, Fang Lin asked, "What is it? What are you thinking about so intently?"

Ye Junze stopped his train of thought, shook his head, and said, "It is nothing. I have troubled you, Teacher."

Fang Lin smiled, knowing full well he was bothered by something. Having been at Anze Academy for many years, she was no stranger to the look on his face. After a moment, she felt she had guessed his thoughts.

Her expression turned serious, and she said sternly, "Are you thinking that the dream was wonderful? That you could do whatever you pleased, experiencing things you never had in your past life? That you met many extraordinary people, felt an instant connection with them, and that the world outside the dream is stifling, restrictive, and lacks such richness? That people in reality are hard to get along with, requiring constant compromise and adaptation, yet relationships can still shatter at any moment?

"The dream is so much better, isn't it? If you wanted profound cultivation, you only had to wish for it, without the need for grueling training. Everything seemed to fall into place effortlessly, as if you only needed to lie back and enjoy the rewards. Is there anything better in this world than that?"

Ye Junze was startled. Though he was reluctant to admit it, he knew everything Fang Lin said was true. *Yes, could there be anything better?* In the dream, he could have everything. While he hadn't consciously thought of it that way before, under her questioning, he realized that such thoughts were indeed buried within him. Cultivation had been so simple; there was no need for hard work. And there were those interesting people—Wen Yu, Qi Yi, Dr. Kong Qing, Wu Jiang, and others. Wasn't his anticipation proof that he found the dream beautiful? As Fang Lin said, there was nothing better.

Lost in these thoughts, Ye Junze nodded, inadvertently confirming her words.

Seeing him lost in contemplation, Fang Lin’s expression grew even more severe. Her voice turned cold as she scolded, "Foolish!"

Ye Junze looked up, his eyes filled with confusion, as if he did not understand what had gone wrong.

Fang Lin’s gaze remained icy as she said heavily, "Before the dream began, I said that a dream is a dream and reality is reality. No matter how wonderful the dream is, I hope you do not lose yourself in it. You must be able to distinguish the fundamental difference between the two."

Ye Junze nodded, indicating he remembered.

Seeing this, Fang Lin’s expression softened slightly. She continued, "Since you remember, why harbor such thoughts? A dream is always just a dream. In it, no matter how high your cultivation, how godlike your powers, or how much you can command the wind and rain, no one is there to hold you accountable. But these things are ultimately fake, brought to you only by a dream. Once you leave the dream, you must immediately draw a line between the two. That is the true purpose of this lesson—to temper your character. Cultivation is arduous, but cultivating the heart is even harder. If a person cannot control their own heart during practice, how can they ever hope to attain the Great Dao? Once you truly become obsessed with the dream, your entire character will be eroded by such desires. By then, it will be too late to save you."

Ye Junze’s brow furrowed as he began to think deeply. Seeing him lost in thought, Fang Lin knew her words had not been in vain, so she waited quietly.

After a while, Ye Junze seemed to have realized something and spoke up: "Teacher, there is one thing I do not understand."

"Go ahead," Fang Lin said, her tone gentle.

Ye Junze did not hesitate. "If the Dream Projection carries such hidden dangers as you describe, why does our Daoist Arts Department insist on making it a required course?"

Fang Lin thought for a moment before answering, "I just told you—the course is meant to temper your character. Even if everyone misses the things they experienced in the dream upon waking, that longing can be a form of motivation. If you have felt such great power in the dream, won't you be even more driven to reach that level in reality? This inadvertently gives you the motivation to work hard. As for the danger of obsession, there is always guidance provided after the session. As long as one is not overly attached to the dream, everyone can adjust. To put it bluntly, this trial of the heart tests the differences in your characters and whether you can, through your own efforts, let go of everything in the dream and choose to embrace this reality, despite all its hardships."

After she finished, Ye Junze remained silent for a long time, slowly pondering the truth hidden in her words.

Fang Lin was not in a hurry; she waited patiently. She could tell by his expression that he was on the verge of understanding. If he reached enlightenment, her painstaking efforts would not have been in vain.

Ye Junze focused on what she had said, adding his own insights. He understood quickly, as his aptitude had always been high. For him, the important thing was to transform the lessons from this trial into his own strength.

Fortunately, his insight was excellent. After a period of quiet reflection, his thoughts suddenly cleared. A sense of clarity appeared in his eyes, his spirit underwent a transformation, and he radiated a unique, captivating presence.

Standing closest to him, Fang Lin was the first to notice the change. A look of joy appeared on her face; her hard work had paid off.

Ye Junze looked at her with clear eyes and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Teacher Fang. I understand now."

Fang Lin smiled and waved her hand. "As long as you understand. There is no need for thanks; this is what I should do as your teacher. As long as you can clearly distinguish between dreams and reality, your character will not be easily swayed."

Ye Junze nodded. *Indeed, no matter how beautiful a dream is, it remains just a dream. Though I still miss those people, it is enough to keep that expectation in my heart. If we meet again, that is good; if not, there is no need to force it. Ultimately, I must live and grow in this real world.*

Since the dream has ended, why struggle to hold on?