Stranger Danger-Chapter 1238: Taoist of Sleep

The Taoist of Sleep hailed from the True Martial Sect of the Three Temples of Dao. Specifically, he inherited his skills from the Jade Leisure Mountain of True Martial Sect.

His main cultivation art was called the “Hidden Dragon Art of Sleep and Dreams”. A powerful Sage-stage martial art, it taught its practitioners to practice by sleeping and slay their enemies by dreaming. It taught them how to remain in a half-asleep, half-awake state at all times.

The Taoist of Sleep had been practicing the “Hidden Dragon Art of Sleep and Dreams” since he was a child. He was the type to lie low until it was time to enter the limelight and astound the audience. Once, he slept for three decades under a pine tree. When he awoke, he broke three stages in one go and became a Trueman, shocking the entire world.

The sect master of the True Martial Sect once said this:

“He lies under a pine tree when he sleeps.

He stands above the clouds when he awakens.

He slumbers as a nobody for ten years.

He awakens as a star now and forever more.”

Unfortunately, despite his extraordinary talent and Taoist background, the Taoist of Sleep believed in the poor becoming poorer, and the rich becoming richer. A selfish man who would do anything to achieve his goals, he once unleashed his dream Magia and plunged a commandery with tens of thousands people into an eternal slumber for practice. It was the crime that saw him exiled from the True Martial Sect.

However, the Taoist of Sleep did not repent despite his exile. On the contrary, he became even less scrupulous than before. He often chose innocent people as the targets of his practice, planting countless dream seeds to steal their minds and generally wreaking all sorts of havoc. Such was his crimes that both the orthodox and the unorthodox sought to hunt him down.

Unfortunately, their efforts did not just end in failure, it resulted in many losses as well. The problem was that the Taois of Sleep’s “Hidden Dragon Art of Sleep and Dreams” was too anomalous and unknown. If someone fell asleep, the Taoist of Sleep would be able to enter their dreams and spy on their thoughts and memories without a trace. He could also plant a dream seed to take control of them or kill them outright.

Of course, his pursuers tried not to fall asleep. However, a warrior could only replace the need for sleep with meditation after they had forged their yang god and become a Trueman. Everyone else below this level must replenish the loss of their qi, essence and spirit via sleep.

Moreover, not even a Trueman or Grandmaster could forego sleep forever. They still needed a suitable amount of sleep to adjust their qi, essence and spirit and maintain the harmony between their physical body and their spirit.

And the second they fell asleep, they would enter the Taoist of Sleep’s domain.

Because of this, no matter how airtight their plan was, and no matter the number of people involved in the hunt, they could not stop the Taoist of Sleep from discovering their plans and reacting accordingly. Naturally, it was a complete loss for the pursuers.

In summary, despite being loathed and hunted by both sides of the jianghu, the Taoist of Sleep remained perfectly well. In fact, he was growing stronger and stronger. Today, he was a Great Trueman and the forty-eighth named warrior on the Earth Champions Ranking.

Although everyone else present was a Great Trueman and Great Grandmaster as well, they were far weaker than the Taoist of Sleep. Naturally, they were quite wary of him.

“Yawn... it’s fine. Ignorance is not a crime.”

The Taoist of Sleep let out a yawn before answering lazily.

“If you don’t think that attacking Ye Qing after he leaves Cloud Hue Pass is the best course of action, then what is your suggestion?” The old man named Old Farmer saluted the Taoist of Sleep before asking.

“It’s nothing special really. You cannot catch the tiger’s cub unless you enter the tiger’s den,” the Taoist of Sleep answered.

Lady Bones exclaimed in shock, “Are you suggesting that we kill Ye Qing inside Cloud Hue Pass?”

“Ye Qing is seriously injured after fighting Taba Xuanwu. There is no better time than now to kill him.”

The Taoist of Sleep’s voice was erratic, soft, and naturally sleep-inducing. His words were positively spine-chilling, however. “You won’t find another shop past this village[1].”

Older Farmer shook his head disapprovingly. “Taba Xuanwu is even stronger than he was now that he’s a Half-Sage. Even you won’t find it easy to pull off an assassination while he is guarding Ye Qing.”

“You are wrong.”

The Taoist of Sleep countered, “Taba Xuanwu has just become a Half-Sage. Right now, his first priority is to stabilize his cultivation level. Even if he’s willing to spare Ye Qing some of his attention, there has to be some chinks in his focus. Besides, I’m sure he’s feeling complacent since he believes that no one would dare to enter the Cloud Hue Pass. This is why there is no better time than now to assassinate Ye Qing.”

“With that in mind, will you help me, my fellows?”

“You say that, but it is just your assumption. I personally think it’s too risky,” the one-eyed man shook his head and rejected his request immediately.

“Indeed, it really is too risky.”

Lady Bones and Old Farmer also exchanged a glance with each other before echoing in agreement,”It’s better to be safe than sorry, Dao Brother.”

Opportunities were great, but what was the point if the price was their lives?

It just wasn’t worth it no matter how they thought about it.

“You seem to think that I’m negotiating with you.” The Taoist of Sleep eyed the group, and despite his sleepy, unfocused eyes, everyone suddenly felt a chill down their spines. “I assure you I am not.”

“What do you mean, Taoist of Sleep?”

Alarmed, everyone tried to move only to be struck by a sudden, powerful wave of dizziness and drowsiness.

“What did you do, Taoist of Sleep?!”

Old Farmer, the evil scholar, and Lady Bones were pretty strong. They were able to resist the drowsiness and attack the Taoist of Sleep.

“Just a toy, my fellows.”

The Taoist of Sleep let out another long yawn. If someone was paying close attention, they would notice that his breath was mixed with some sort of bug that was the size of a speck of dust.

This was why Old Farmer, Lady Bones and the others became so sleepy. It was because they had inhaled these bugs into their bodies. Unfortunately, they never noticed this until it was too late, so they all collapsed to the ground and fell unconscious before they could even reach the Taoist of Sleep.

“Yawn...”

The Taoist of Sleep rubbed his nose and muttered to himself, “It’s been too long since I spoke this much. So tired.”

The dust-sized bugs were officially called the Sleep Zhi. Colloquially, it was referred to as the Sleep Bug.

A Phenomenon-class Stranger, the Sleep Zhi was born from the drowsiness and slothfulness of living creatures. Small as dust and invisible to the naked eye, those who were infested by it would experience long-term drowsiness at best, or indefinite coma at worst. In either case, the victim could be befuddled to put it mildly.

The Taoist of Sleep’s Sleep Zhi was even more unusual than the common Sleep Zhi, however. They were raised from the civilians and warriors he had put to sleep using his spells. That was why they were stronger, more potent, connected to him in mind and spirit, and completely under his control. Caught off guard, not even an ordinary Great Trueman or Great Grandmaster could resist its influence.

That was how the Taoist of Sleep was able to subjugate Old Farmer, Lady Bones, the evil scholar and the one-eyed man all at once.

“Sleep, sleep... I’m going to take a nap myself.”

Rubbing his eyes, the Taoist of Sleep walked over to a tree, sat down, and fell asleep just like that.

Not fair that they got to sleep and he didn’t.

The sun set, the moon rose, and the stars shifted. Several hours came and went just like that. When the moon hung at the center of the night sky, Old Farmer, the evil scholar, lady bones, the one-eyed man, and the short-tempered man all opened their eyes and began moving toward Cloud Hue Pass.

They traveled like phantoms and ghosts, soundless and blending in with the night seamlessly. As they traveled, their appearance, presence, body shape and more became completely different from their true selves as well.

There was no night curfew in Cloud Hue Pass. The gates remained open at all times as well, allowing anyone entry to Cloud Hue Pass at any time.

Of course, the reason Cloud Hue Pass dared to do this was because of Taba Xuanwu and the Tyrant Might Army. No one would dare to start trouble while they were present.

Unfortunately, that also meant that the five warriors were able to slip into Cloud Hue Pass without breaking a sweat.

The five warriors did not pause to admire the view after entering Cloud Hue Pass. They went straight for the general’s residence.

1. Meaning that you won’t get another chance if you miss this one. ☜