You shouldn't have provoked me.

Mengyao was silent for a moment.

She bit her lip, and ultimately chose to yield under Qin Xiaofan’s oppressive authority, revealing the process by which she used Feipao to revive Scar-A.

It turned out that Mengyao’s ability was far more than merely connecting to the internet; that was only her initial power. As she grew stronger, her abilities changed significantly.

Now, she was a Grade-A ability user.

A practical ability user.

Yet, like Scar-A, she was only a minor leader within the Skymaster organization. In fact, her status was even higher than Scar-A’s.

The two antennae on her forehead could connect her to the internet, making her the most formidable hacker. She could even infiltrate official databases and erase information about herself…

Moreover, she could invade others’ dreams and create dreams for them.

Mengyao was clever.

A few days before Qin Xiaofan distributed the Water of Civilization, she had invaded Feipao’s dream and crafted a false scenario for him.

Like a movie, the fabricated dream played on loop in Feipao’s mind.

In this false reality, Feipao lived a destitute life and, with the help of his cousin, became a peripheral member of the Skymaster organization, desperate to rise above others.

The dream felt so real that sometimes Feipao believed it was not a dream at all, but something he had genuinely experienced.

Yet, it was all an illusion.

In truth, Feipao’s cousin did not exist in reality.

After several days of dream manipulation, Feipao’s psychological defenses collapsed. He truly believed everything in the dream to be reality.

Then, within the dream, Mengyao penetrated Feipao’s subconscious and implanted a psychological suggestion to revive Scar-A.

So, when Feipao saw Scar-A’s statue, the mental suggestion triggered in his mind, and he could not control himself, thus reviving Scar-A.

In fact…

To revive Scar-A, Mengyao only needed to leave a subconscious suggestion in Feipao’s mind.

The elaborate process was simply a precaution.

If Scar-A was not a match for Qin Xiaofan, Feipao could seamlessly become the scapegoat. Her caution had not been in vain.

Qin Xiaofan had almost been deceived.

But just barely…

When Feipao confessed, Qin Xiaofan sensed something amiss by a peculiar intuition, though he could not pinpoint what it was.

Because of this, Qin Xiaofan kept his guard up, watching for anything unusual.

Yesterday, when he dreamed that strange dream again, suspicions began to form. Today, those suspicions were confirmed.

“I am quite curious…”

Qin Xiaofan looked at Mengyao and spoke slowly.

“Since you can invade dreams, wouldn’t it be easier to observe my dreams patiently? Sooner or later, I would dream about creating the Water of Civilization, or you could fabricate a dream depicting the process. Wouldn’t you then obtain the formula?”

“You think I haven’t tried?” Mengyao gritted her teeth, unwilling to accept it.

“Whenever I enter your dream, it turns blank, as if some restriction is triggered and I see nothing at all.

Moreover, I can’t create overly complex dreams within your mind.

Nor can I access your subconscious.

So I could only make a simple, colorful dream and try to use primal desires as a key to unlock your psychological defenses.

But it’s strange.

Every time I was about to succeed, a burst of white light would flare from within you, forcing you to break free from the dream.

This time was even more bizarre!

Just when I thought I had unlocked your defenses, you regained consciousness inside the dream I created!

This…

It’s utterly beyond my understanding!”

Mengyao gazed at Qin Xiaofan, her eyes rippling with emotion, and inquired earnestly, “Now, can you tell me how you managed to do it?”

Qin Xiaofan fell silent.

He carefully considered Mengyao’s words.

His thoughts expanded uncontrollably…

Then, he realized he didn’t know how to answer her.

Heaven knows!

He had done nothing at all, save for giving himself a few mental suggestions during the day: If you encounter those odd dreams again, stay rational and catch that temptress.

And then, he truly did maintain his composure within the dream…

Qin Xiaofan shuddered inexplicably. Thinking carefully, he realized how many secrets lay hidden within him—each one, when studied deeply, was chilling.

“Can you give me an explanation now?” Mengyao pressed, eager to learn why she had failed.

Yet Qin Xiaofan had no answer.

In the end, he simply stood with his hands behind his back, his face proud and aloof: “Ha, in my entire life, I, Qin Xiaofan, have never owed anyone an explanation.”

Mengyao was stunned.

Then, she felt a surge of anger: “Shameless! You have no integrity whatsoever!”

Qin Xiaofan’s expression darkened: “Enough nonsense. Tell me about your accomplices before you suffer.”

Mengyao gritted her teeth: “Just kill me!”

Qin Xiaofan’s lips curled into a scornful smile: “Who was it, just now, begging for mercy?”

Mengyao’s gaze was resolute.

“I’m not afraid of death, nor of pain! Earlier, I compromised only to understand the reason for my failure. Since you refuse to tell me, there’s nothing more to say. Now, kill me.”

Qin Xiaofan was taken aback.

His expression grew even darker: “Are you sure you won’t talk?”

Mengyao suddenly laughed.

She looked at Qin Xiaofan, her smile tinged with mockery.

“Don’t imagine me as weak and cowardly. If Scar-A could face death calmly, so can I! I fear neither death nor pain. What can you possibly do to me?”

Qin Xiaofan fell silent.

His cold gaze fixed on Mengyao for a long time, then he suddenly sighed, his tone icy.

“You shouldn’t have provoked me.”

Rip—

The sound of tearing fabric echoed sharply.

Xiaoyan, who guarded the cave entrance, immediately turned away, thinking, “Qin Xiaofan has gone mad, truly mad!”

In the cramped cave, Mengyao was utterly bewildered.

She was tied to a wooden rack, her clothes torn open, exposing large swathes of skin. She looked as if she’d been struck dumb.

Yet, before she could react, Qin Xiaofan reached out and ripped away the remaining half of her clothing!

“You shouldn’t have provoked me.”

Qin Xiaofan’s voice remained cold.

He lifted his head proudly, slowly reaching out to gently touch Mengyao’s exquisite face, smoothing her damp hair and tucking it behind her ear.

Then,

His fingers traced downward, downward, downward…

“Ah!” Mengyao’s terrified scream echoed in the narrow cave.

Then came her furious shout: “Shameless! Scoundrel!”

“What are you screaming for?” Qin Xiaofan sneered. “In your dreams, you were always seducing me. Now, I’m granting you exactly what you wanted.”