Night, a time of profound confusion, he was here, having forgotten many things.
The surroundings seemed both familiar and foreign, suddenly, figures of ill intent appeared, and yet, faced with these malevolent beings, he found himself powerless.
Hostility surged like a tidal wave, coming at him from all directions. The world fell silent, and yet he was paralyzed, unable to move.
At last, these malevolent entities, resembling ghostly, clawed figures, swarmed towards him...
"Whoosh!"
Zhao Lun jolted upright, the light in the bedroom flicking on with a snap. He wiped his forehead, damp with sweat, his senses momentarily dazed, gradually understanding the state he had just been in.
He had dreamed once more, and it felt like a nightmare—a dream that left him with a deeply unsettling feeling.
Why had he dreamed such a thing? Zhao Lun remained sitting at the head of his bed, pondering the contents of the dream.
Ever since his arrival at Hogwarts, a "lock" had appeared in his dreams, and he had not dreamed since. But now, once more, it seemed different—perhaps it was a portent, hinting at something to come.
Did that dream foreshadow the events of the future? Or was it signaling the imminent arrival of certain circumstances?
Perplexed, he grabbed a towel from the table beside him, wiped the sweat from his brow, then suddenly lay back down. He connected to his light-brain, checking its monitoring status.
The light-brain was constantly recording his progress, so if there were dreams, they should be logged here.
This time, Zhao Lun was disappointed—aside from a blur of chaos, no records had been saved.
What was going on? He abandoned his search in frustration, glanced at the time, and saw it was already 4 AM. The sky outside was beginning to brighten. Unable to fall back asleep, Zhao Lun decided to get up, don his workout clothes, and go for a jog.
By this time, light was already creeping into the sky, and he ran along the small road.
In the distance, a faint mist hung in the air, vague and unclear, preventing a clear view.
Zhao Lun enjoyed this misty atmosphere and gazed into the distance.
The sparse trees had somehow become denser, their outlines resembling those of the legendary dense forests. Strange bird calls echoed from within, sending a chill down Zhao Lun's spine.
Passing through some areas, the mist shifted, revealing what seemed to be a ferocious beast hidden within. An unsettling feeling grew within Zhao Lun, and he blinked, trying to dismiss the idea that this was merely a hallucination. But, no—it was clear that something extraordinary was happening.
He stopped his jog, no longer running, and instead circled the strange areas, quickly browsing through the information in his light-brain, verifying what he was seeing.
Finally, he confirmed—this was likely the legendary dense forest.
The legend of the dense forest had spread widely among wizards, much like the mirages described by Muggles. Few, however, had ventured inside.
There were some records of people entering the forest.
Contrary to popular belief, the dense forest wasn't actually called the "dense forest"—the name had emerged simply because people often referred to the shadowy, lightless woods by that name.
The legend suggested that the forest was a domain of gods and demons, home to divine beings as well as terrifying demons, fierce beasts, and venomous creatures.
These were not things that humans could approach, but people were still drawn to the forest, seeking its treasures. Hidden plants, rare minerals, and mystical metals were some of the coveted resources found within.
These plants could be used to create longevity potions, life-saving medicines, or materials for casting spells, brewing potions, and even crafting wands.
The minerals could be fashioned into powerful items, capable of unimaginable feats, often regarded as magical artifacts.
These metals naturally possessed extraordinary attributes, indelible in nature. With even the simplest of crafting, they could unleash a fraction of their power.
The legendary sacred relics of the Church, the vampire's Holy Grail, and the Godslayer sword were all said to be forged from such metals.
Though the legends could not be conclusively verified, many believed that these magical metals were crucial in the creation of such powerful artifacts.
Countless individuals yearned for these treasures, and many were searching for the forest. They saw only the riches, ignoring the dangers, and pursued them recklessly.
Perhaps the demons were too numerous, the beasts too vicious, or the poisons too potent—those who had witnessed the forest's existence had never left behind detailed accounts. Instead, the stories had been passed down uncertainly.
Today, those who had never seen it either considered it merely a legend, or believed it to be real.
The scene before Zhao Lun now matched the legend perfectly, and he was convinced—the dense forest was likely real, perhaps exactly as described, a treasure trove waiting to be discovered.
Others might ignore the inherent dangers, but Zhao Lun could not. Especially with such "close proximity," the overwhelming, unsettling presence of the place made his heart shrink in fear, making him feel physically tight and uncomfortable.
He recalled one particular account: "The dense forest is a wondrous place, a kingdom for powerful beings... At night, various ferocious, supposedly extinct creatures emerge from their lairs, roaring through the woods..."
"...The most dangerous of all are not these creatures themselves, but those who venture out of the forest. These beings come into the human world, attacking humans, spreading terror…"
This account was one of the earliest versions, left unchanged for truth's sake. It seemed incomplete, almost awkward in its details.
Thinking about the records, Zhao Lun grew worried. If these dangerous creatures did emerge from the forest, it would be their estate that would suffer the consequences.
Several strange occurrences had already happened recently, and now, another one might be on the horizon. Zhao Lun feared they might not withstand the threat.
Why were such changes occurring? Zhao Lun remained alert, carefully watching, prepared for anything.
The sun began to rise, casting its rays and dissipating the mist. The surroundings returned to normal—the forest was just a sparse collection of trees, not a dense, dangerous jungle.
Zhao Lun's tense heart eased, and he sheathed his weapons, double-checking that no dangers remained. He threw a punch into the air, letting out a relieved sigh.
Feeling invigorated, he greeted the rising sun, stretching his limbs and engaging in his fitness routine, letting his body follow the natural rhythm.
As heat flowed from his chest and spread throughout his body, he felt a nourishing energy settle within. His bones seemed to gleam like white jade, emanating a soft, radiant glow.
The energy, though gone from his limbs, left his entire being more focused and revitalized.
He gathered his strength in his palm, pushing it forward.
Whoosh!—A gust of wind surged forward.
The wind was so strong that the grass on the ground was flattened.
Zhao Lun withdrew his stance and exhaled deeply, feeling mentally rejuvenated, filled with boundless energy.
Looking at his flawless, jade-like palms, he swung his fists once more. Without any cheats or enhancements, his mere movements caused the air to explode.
"If this keeps up, I might just become a super soldier!"
His physical strength was growing, and with just his strength, he could easily rival a superhero.
"Mm, my skin is radiant, and my bones like white jade—envied by all."
Zhao Lun took out a mirror, admiring the handsome man in it, giving himself a thumbs-up.
"The best part is, I smell so fresh."
Women naturally exude a subtle fragrance, and men too, possess a natural scent.
As the legends of ancient monks say, after refining their bodies, they would be pure and fragrant—Zhao Lun was now moving toward that purity.
He carried a light, pleasant fragrance that even he enjoyed.
"Brother!" Maria, noticing the commotion, ran towards him with a few lackeys in tow.
"Hmph! Bad brother! You wake up without calling Maria!"
"Not talking to you anymore!" She pouted at him, though she didn't let go of his clothes. Zhao Lun could tell at once what the little girl was up to.
"Oh, really? You haven't forgotten what happened yesterday, have you?" Zhao Lun grabbed her hand, pinching her nose as he recalled their previous encounter.
"Is your little bottom still itchy?" Lately, this little girl had been causing trouble for him frequently, and yesterday's incident had left him feeling uneasy.
"No! Didn't brother tell Maria to be honest? Maria is being honest!" Maria shook her little head, avoiding his hand, though still murmuring in dissatisfaction.
"Before I even asked, you've already said everything! Is this how honest you are?" Zhao Lun teased, kneading her small face, which scrunched up like a steamed bun.
"Aiya, brother~" The little girl buried her head in his chest, pressing against him, which was the only way Zhao Lun finally let her go.
"Brother's leaving again."
Her soft voice melted his heart, and he sighed inwardly, realizing how much she had grown.
"No rush, you can come next year too."
"When that time comes, I'll take you to play. There are so many fun things to do."
Zhao Lun acted as if he were unaffected.
"Really?"
"That's wonderful!"
Upon hearing about the fun, Maria's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Yes, but the condition is that you must finish the tasks the professors give you."
"Hmph! That's easy, Maria already knows it all."
"Oh really? Let me test you then."
"Alright, alright." (To be continued.)