“Yes, it was more than just a dream.”

Magistrate Ma stared blankly, muttering to himself, “During the day, I gnawed on tree bark and ate wild vegetables on the mountain, so hungry I was dizzy.

But at night, I dreamed that I became the youngest son of a wealthy and powerful family, enjoying all the luxuries and never worrying about hunger or cold.

The dream was so real and perfect,

that I couldn't tell what was a dream and what was reality.”

Ma Bangde pursed his lips. “Regardless, the beautiful dream of being the son of a wealthy family did give me the courage and motivation to live on.

I struggled on the mountain for a few days until the refugees finally left, and then I secretly chased after the group, heading to another city.

In that city, I couldn't find any relatives for a while,

so I had to beg for a living, fighting with stray dogs for food,

while being careful and cautious to avoid the beggars who controlled the begging areas in the city,

as well as the arrogant and domineering yamen runners.

Then, in my dreams, I would return to the pampered and extravagant life of a wealthy young master.”

Li Ang frowned slightly. “The you in the dream, is that you, or…”

“It's me.”

Ma Bangde said in a deep voice, “I looked at my face in the bronze mirror in the dream, and it was definitely me.

At the same time, I also searched for clues

to confirm that the official system and folk customs of the dream world were different from reality.

There were no Luzhou or Qizhou, and there was no one like me.”

Li Ang nodded. “Then it seems it wasn't you and someone else switching bodies day and night.”

“If it really was a body swap, that would be great.”

Ma Bangde said with a wry smile, “I wandered around the city for a long time before finally finding my uncle, taking out the family letter and token, and seeking refuge with him.

Although times were difficult then, my uncle treated me very well.

He gave me food and clothing, treated me and my two cousins ​​equally, and even gritted his teeth and raised money to send me to the academy to study the Confucian classics.”

“Hmm…”

Li Ang pondered, “That old Daoist priest seemed to say that the more miserable you are during the day, the happier you are in your dreams…”

“Yes.”

Ma Bangde sighed, “And vice versa.

When I am well-fed and clothed during the day, able to afford to go to the academy and study,

I encounter a series of misfortunes in the dream world.

I fall off a horse and break my legs and feet, am secretly poisoned, suffer from all kinds of diseases, and everything goes wrong.

Even if I stay at home and recuperate, misfortune will follow.

When I finished my studies at the academy and was preparing to take the imperial examination,

in the dream world, the family's patron in the court was dismissed and imprisoned for corruption and bribery. The government officials were ordered to search and confiscate the house. The entire family was kicked out of the old house.

The family's fortunes suddenly turned from prosperity to decline, tottering, and from then on, they declined.

In a few years, the family was desolate, the population dispersed, bleak and miserable, with weeds everywhere.”

Ma Bangde pointed to himself, “Now, the people of Goose City only know that I am the high and mighty county magistrate,

but they don't know that in my dreams, I am still without a wife or children, without support,

poor and sick, in dire straits, my life as worthless as grass.”

“I see.”

Li Ang nodded and said, “I heard that Magistrate Ma was diligent and hardworking when he first took office,

but suddenly stopped caring about government affairs and turned to studying Daoist arts.

I'm afraid it's because of this.”

Ma Bangde said with a wry smile, “I dare not be promoted or get rich again.

Just being a county magistrate makes me poor and miserable in my dreams, drinking thin porridge every day.

If I were promoted to a higher level, I might just die of illness and hunger in my dreams.

Over the years, I have only been able to barely maintain a balance between day and night.

Exhausted and weary,

I hoped to find a solution from the mystical Daoist arts, but I have gained nothing and wasted my years.”

After saying that, Ma Bangde stood up, bowed solemnly to Li Ang again, and said sincerely, “I see that Daoist Priest's aura is concealed, his spirit is condensed, and he is calm and indifferent. He is truly an extraordinary person.

I beg Daoist Priest to have mercy and save me from my suffering. I will definitely build a temple for Daoist Priest outside the city and enshrine Daoist Priest.”

“…”

Li Ang picked up his teacup, frowned, and remained silent. After a long time, he sighed, “Magistrate Ma, have you ever thought that

perhaps that dream on the desolate mountain was a great opportunity that ordinary people couldn't ask for?

The old Daoist priest gave you the pills, perhaps wanting you to see the warmth and coldness of the world, the fickleness of human relationships, so that one day you might have an epiphany and ascend to immortality.”

“Ascend to immortality?”

Ma Bangde shook his head with a wry smile, “I buried my father and mother back then, and drifted around with the refugees.

I have long seen through the so-called joys and sorrows.

As long as I can protect the people of Goose City from suffering the famine I did, I will be satisfied and ask for nothing more.”

“Good!”

Li Ang placed the teacup on the saucer and said sternly, “Since Magistrate Ma, you have already realized this, then I will no longer stop you.”

“Daoist Priest has agreed?”

Ma Bangde was overjoyed and stood up straight, “Is there anything you need? I will arrange for my men to prepare it.”

“No need.”

Li Ang shook his head, slammed the table with his left hand, and the teacups and saucers on the table were instantly lifted up, “Taishang Laojun, hurry like a law, Freeze!”

Li Ang shouted loudly, made a sword gesture with his right hand,

seemingly using a immobilization spell,

but actually just poking Ma Bangde's forehead with his finger, using the ripple energy to stun him.

*Pa,*

Ma Bangde's eyes rolled back, and he fell backward to the ground, unconscious.

Miss Chai, still wearing the Soul Shackles Warden mask, emerged from Li Ang's chest and asked worriedly, “Did you kill him?”

“What are you talking about? I have my limits.”

Li Ang shook his head, stepped forward, and smoothed Ma Bangde's upturned eyelids.

Miss Chai asked curiously, “Can his 'disease' be cured?”

“I don't know.”

Li Ang rubbed his palms together, quite eager to try, “Let's try and see.”

Li Ang had never given up on the research and exploration of the Biological Motherboard. During the intervals between several missions, he had been conducting various experiments, trying to find out the limits of the Motherboard's modification of living organisms.

Based on past experience, Li Ang was also confident that he could modify the human brain, which is an extremely complex and very fragile thing, to a certain extent.

Like now.

Li Ang held the Biological Motherboard in one hand and pressed Ma Bangde's face with the other.

From the skin of his fingertips, wisps of dense plant hyphae continuously emerged, drilling into Ma Bangde's mouth and ears slowly but surely,

terrifying, bizarre, and horrifying.

These hyphae were cultivated by Li Ang using the Swamp Divine Power. They were usually buried under his skin, acting as the last layer of defensive armor, strengthening muscle fibers,

and could also be used as surgical tools, releasing the Swamp Divine Power to help the Biological Motherboard more accurately modify living organisms.

The green hyphae drilled into Ma Bangde's mouth and ears, carefully adhering to the inside of his skull.

Like a CT machine, it clearly transmitted Ma Bangde's brain images to Li Ang in the form of divine power feedback.