Chen Qufei’s Fantasy Novel II

"The Dream Exchange"

1: The Sleepless Prisoner

Yu Letian had suffered from insomnia for years.
Every night, when darkness flooded the city like a rising tide, he could only lie awake, staring at the ceiling as cracks spread like a spiders web. A successful professional, he had risen swiftly to become vice president of his company at a young age. Yet his tightly wound lifestyle had frayed his nerves to the breaking point.

Time and again, he had tried pills, yoga, meditation—even expensive psychotherapy—but nothing granted him a moments peace at night.

Until that one night.

Exhausted beyond measure, he collapsed onto the office sofa and drifted into a rare sleep.

In his dream, he found himself walking down a dim alley. Faint whispers and scattered strains of music floated through the air. Neon lights flickered like glowing blossoms, releasing their fragrance into the darkness. At the alley’s end stood a small shop with a wooden sign that read: "The Dream Exchange."

A girl stood at the door.

She had cat ears—snow-white and lively—and a pair of crystal-clear blue eyes that shimmered like gemstones. She introduced herself as the shop’s owner. Her name was Māoyin, meaning "Cat Echo."

“We offer restful sleep in exchange for memories,” she said with a smile. Her voice was like winter sunlight—gentle, yet tinged with a chill.

2: The Forgotten First Love

After Yu Letian’s first transaction with Māoyin, he indeed enjoyed a long-lost peaceful sleep.
He had traded a trivial childhood memory—how, during an elementary school field trip, he forgot to bring chopsticks and had to eat lunch with his hands. It was an embarrassing and insignificant recollection, and he surrendered it without hesitation. That night, he slept like a baby.

From then on, the transactions became a habit.
With each trade, his sleep quality improved.
But so did the blurring of his past.

One sunny afternoon, Yu Letian ran into Chen Mengmei, his first love from university.
Her smile was still warm, like the season’s first ray of spring sunshine. They stood outside a café. Yu Letian felt she looked familiar, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t recall a single shared memory.

“Letian... you really don’t remember me?” Chen Mengmei’s voice trembled slightly.

“I’m sorry… have we met before?”

A flicker of disappointment and sorrow passed through her eyes, but she simply nodded.
“Maybe I mistook you for someone else.”

She turned and walked away, her figure appearing especially fragile under the afternoon sun.

3: The Void of Memory

Yu Letians transactions grew increasingly frequent.
From childhood to youth, he cast away more and more of his memories without a second thought.

His coworkers began to notice a change.
The once passionate and vibrant Yu Letian had become distant and mechanical. He spoke with indifference, and often seemed distracted—his responses dull and hollow.

Then one day, he caught sight of his reflection in a mirror.
His eyes—what stared back was a pair of hollow voids, like the depths of an abyss.

He decided to return to the Dream Exchange.

4: The Final Transaction

Māoyin was still there, smiling behind the counter, as if she had never left.

“What else do you have to trade?”

“I don’t know…” Yu Letian’s voice was low and hollow. “But I need real sleep. Complete rest.”

Māoyin’s pupils narrowed slightly, then curved into a smile—like a hunting cat spotting its prey.

“Then hand over what’s left of your ‘self.’”

Yu Letian hesitated barely a moment.
All he wanted was to escape the endless torment of insomnia.

5: The Reversal Ending

When Yu Letian awoke, he was lying in a spotless, pure white room.
No pain.
No thoughts.
Not even a past.

Then a familiar voice spoke.

“Welcome back, Letian.”

It was Chen Mengmei.

But beside her stood Māoyin.

“This,” said Chen Mengmei, “is the true place behind the Dream Exchange. The memories you discarded weren’t lost—they became nourishment for this realm. Every soul that has surrendered its self becomes another brick in our world.”

Māoyin added with a soft smile,
“Congratulations. You are now the new owner of this shop.”

At that moment, Yu Letian finally understood—
Every transaction had been guiding him to this fate.

Māoyin would now depart forever, passing on the burden of the shop to him.

And Chen Mengmei—she was part of this world too.

A world from which there was no escape.
Forever.

The Mirror of Prophecy

1: The Revelation of the Bronze Mirror
Chen Wuhui was a young and exceptionally gifted scholar, specializing in philosophy and the study of human nature. Since childhood, he had harbored an unquenchable thirst for truth, yet remained caught between worldly recognition and personal conviction.
One day, while wandering along an old street in the city, he stumbled upon a dust-covered antique shop. The store was filled with curious relics, but the most captivating among them was a bronze mirror with intricate carvings—its frame entwined with vines and birds that seemed almost alive, emanating a cold, mysterious glow.
The shopkeeper was an elderly woman, her voice low and laced with an eerie chuckle. She told Chen Wuhui that the mirror was known as The Mirror of Prophecy, said to reflect the future of its possessor. However, only those who harbored a deep yearning for destiny could glimpse its true visions.
Out of curiosity, Chen Wuhui purchased the mirror and brought it back to his study.

2: The Radiance of the Future
Chen Wuhui placed the bronze mirror at the center of his study, lit a candle, and stared into its surface. At first, it showed only a vague reflection of himself—blurry and unremarkable. But over time, a bluish aura began to shimmer across the glass, revealing a scene far removed from his current life.
He saw himself standing upon a towering podium, surrounded by countless scholars and listeners, all gazing up in admiration. Books, medals, and accolades filled his room, and his theories had become a revered source of wisdom for the world.
The vision thrilled Chen Wuhui. He was convinced it was a glimpse of the future, and threw himself into his research with even more fervor, burying himself in books and manuscripts daily.
During this period, he met several important figures:

• Shen Zhiyin: Chen’s close friend and colleague, a historian and expert in classical texts, loyal and insightful, often offering constructive critiques and advice.

• Liu Ruoshui: A young painter drawn to the deeper meanings of the mind and art. She met Chen at an academic exhibition, and the two quickly grew close—eventually developing a subtle, ambiguous affection for each other.

• Zheng Yuande: A renowned member of the Academic Review Council, known for his severity and exacting standards. Though Chen initially saw him as his harshest critic, he deeply yearned for Zheng’s recognition.

3: The Chains of Glory
Years later, Chen Wuhui’s theories finally gained wide acclaim. Fame and fortune surged like a rising tide, students flocked to learn from him, and praise echoed endlessly in his ears.
Yet these achievements gradually distanced him from his old friends. Shen Zhiyin believed Chen had grown cold and arrogant, showing no patience for dissent. Liu Ruoshui also drifted away, sensing that Chen’s creative work had become rigid and mechanical, losing the spirit and purity it once held.
One day, Chen Wuhui looked into the bronze mirror again, hoping to confirm the path he was on. But what he saw was utterly different—
He lay alone in a cold, empty room, surrounded by scattered books and dust. No one came to visit, and no one mourned his death. Though his theories were etched into stone, they read like unread epitaphs, forgotten in desolation.
A chill of terror pierced Chen’s soul. He began to wonder if he was indeed heading toward the fate the mirror had shown.

4: The Trap of Escape
Determined to change his destiny, Chen Wuhui tried to reconcile with Shen Zhiyin and mend his bond with Liu Ruoshui. But it was too late—their hearts had long grown cold. Liu had left the city, journeying afar in search of true artistic meaning. Shen had retired to the countryside, refusing any correspondence.
In this lonely chapter of his life, Chen encountered a mysterious traveler—Luo Yifeng, an aged and seemingly mad man who claimed to have once owned The Mirror of Prophecy and tried to escape its curse.
Luo told Chen that the true curse wasn’t the mirror itself, but the endless yearning within the human heart. No matter how one struggled, the mirror always reflected one’s deepest obsessions and fears.
Enlightened by these words, Chen Wuhui chose to abandon his pursuit of fame and status. He smashed the mirror from a great height, shattering it into hundreds of fragments. He then embraced a simple and peaceful life, turning inward to seek wisdom and inner peace.
Yet, the real truth lay hidden in those broken shards…

5: The Unexpected Truth
Years later, now an old man, Chen Wuhui happened upon a young scholar who possessed a shard of the broken bronze mirror. The scholar said he had acquired it from an antique collector and shared an astonishing secret.
The collector had discovered that the mirror did not truly predict the future—it merely reflected the holder’s most profound fears and desires.
By the time Chen Wuhui learned this truth, his days were drawing to a close. He gave a wry smile, realizing his entire life had been shaped by illusions projected from within his own heart.
In the end, he passed away quietly one peaceful morning, a look of release and serenity on his face.

The Drink of Inspiration

1: The Wandering Painter
Lin Fengmian, a disheartened young painter, wandered aimlessly through the city streets with his painting tools on his back. His artworks had never attracted attention, and inspiration had dried up like an empty well—no matter how hard he tried to draw from it, he could only retrieve murky water.
One evening, while drifting through a gentle rain, he happened upon an old, narrow alley. The buildings there seemed to belong to a bygone era, worn yet tranquil. At the corner stood a quaint, classical café: The Garden of Breath.
The brass plaque above the door was faded, yet still radiated a peculiar charm. Lin Fengmian pushed open the door. Inside, the air was rich with the aroma of coffee and something more—an indescribable sense of mystery. A few warm yellow pendant lights illuminated the dim interior, and the walls were adorned with ancient paintings and odd specimens.
"Welcome."
A graceful middle-aged woman emerged from behind the counter. Her long black hair shimmered like night, and her deep-set eyes held a quiet intensity.
"I’m the owner here—Yi Ling," she said with a gentle smile. "Perhaps the coffee here can offer you the inspiration you seek."
Lin Fengmian looked skeptical, but his hunger and fatigue compelled him to sit down. Yi Ling brought him a steaming cup of coffee. The light brown liquid shimmered subtly, as if it held countless shattered stars within.
"This," Yi Ling said, "is the Drink of Enlightening Inspiration."
Half in doubt, Lin took a sip—and was astonished as a flood of brilliant, fantastical images surged into his mind.
He saw stars dancing upon the sea, giant birds soaring from the clouds, and an eternal fire glowing deep within a silent forest.
That night, he returned to his studio and created paintings unlike anything he had ever produced.

2: Sudden Fame
Lin Fengmian’s artwork quickly gained attention and acclaim in the art world. At exhibitions, crowds marveled at his dreamlike creations. Having never tasted such success, Lin became increasingly greedy for inspiration.
Whenever his ideas ran dry, he found himself drawn back to The Garden of Breath. Yet as his fame grew, the mysterious café became harder and harder to find. Sometimes, he would wander the city for days before stumbling upon it again.
“Does this place even exist?”
He asked Yi Ling many times, but she always responded with a quiet smile, offering no answer.
"The source of inspiration lies neither inside nor outside the café," she said calmly, as if declaring an unassailable truth.
Lin dismissed the words, continuing to rely on the miraculous coffee.

3: Growing Distant
As his obsession with creation deepened, Lin drifted further from the outside world. His studio became an isolated chamber filled with wildly imaginative works, yet it exuded a vague melancholy.
Each time he found The Garden of Breath, he begged for more of the drink. But one day, when he opened the door, he found only a note inside:

“Lin Fengmian, true inspiration comes from within. Do not rely on this place any longer.”
Fury and confusion surged within him. He crumpled the note and threw it to the floor.
“I need that coffee! I can’t create without it…”
But no matter how he searched, the café never appeared again.

4: Redemption
Deprived of The Garden of Breath, Lin sank into a prolonged creative drought and deep depression. He ruminated over Yi Ling’s words and eventually began to seek inspiration from within himself.
After countless failures, he finally painted something wholly new—a work that seemed to reflect his innermost emotions and desires like a mirror.
At the moment of liberation, Yi Ling suddenly appeared in his studio.
“You’ve finally found true inspiration,” she said with a smile.
Stunned, Lin asked, “Why are you here? Didn’t you say we’d never meet again?”
Yi Ling nodded gently. “Yes. Because now, you’ve found yourself.”
Suddenly, Lin was overcome by dizziness. His vision blurred...

5: An Unexpected Truth
When Lin Fengmian awoke, he found himself standing before The Garden of Breath. The sign above the door was weathered and broken, the interior long abandoned.
Yi Ling’s voice came from behind him.
“This café... never truly existed.”
Lin turned to find her figure growing translucent and ethereal.
“Everything you saw was born from your own longing and fear of creation,” she said.
He stared at her, stunned, as the illusion dissolved like foam.
“The only thing that truly exists,” her voice fading, “is your own spirit.”
Finally, Lin understood. The café, Yi Ling, even the so-called Drink of Inspiration, had all been projections of his own mind.
From that day on, he no longer relied on anything external. He drew only from within—and created countless soul-stirring masterpieces.

The Book of the Hermit

1: The Bookstore and the Ancient Tome
Huang Zhihua was a young clerk at a bookstore nestled in a narrow alley of the city center. The red brick exterior of the store had weathered and flaked, as if whispering stories of a once-glorious past. Zhihua cherished the tranquility of the place, especially when he was alone among the piles of books—it felt like stepping into another world.
One drizzly afternoon, the store manager asked him to clean out the dusty old books in the basement. While sifting through the lowest shelf in the dim corner, he discovered a timeworn, yellowed book. On its cover, silver letters gleamed faintly: The Book of the Hermit.
As he flipped through its pages, the paper felt fragile, like dried leaves. The book chronicled a long-lost hermitic philosophy, delving into the mysterious bond between the cosmos and the self, and the path toward a state of “supreme goodness.”
Zhihua couldnt suppress his curiosity—the content seemed to be calling to him.

2: The Land of the Hermit
Through reading, Zhihua learned that the origins of this philosophy traced back to a hermit named Ying Wuchou, who lived in seclusion in a remote valley. He refused all visitors, speaking only with those who sincerely yearned for truth.
Zhihua resolved to find this hidden valley and seek out Ying Wuchou.
Along his journey, he encountered several key figures:

• Lin Wanjun — a woman adept in astrology, who foretold that Zhihua’s journey would be filled with trials and choices.

• Guo Zilong — an old man who claimed to have once met Ying Wuchou, but failed the trials and now lived in regret.

• The Man in Black — a shadowy figure who seemed to follow Zhihua at a distance, his motives unclear.
  Zhihua crossed wastelands, forests, glaciers, and volcanoes, gradually realizing that this journey was not only a search for the hermit, but also a deep exploration of his own inner world.

3: Ying Wuchou
In a quiet, secluded valley, Zhihua finally found Ying Wuchou—an elderly man with silver hair, a serene face, and eyes as unfathomable as the deep sea.
Ying Wuchou told him, “Wisdom does not come from books, but from within. Though your journey has been long, your true cultivation is just beginning.”
Under the hermit’s guidance, Zhihua learned to seek answers from within, rather than relying on books or external knowledge. What the hermit imparted was not a set of techniques, but a kind of wisdom: doing without striving.

4: The Return
Back in the city, Zhihua let go of his attachment to books and turned his focus inward. He began to write down his reflections and shared his experiences with those who were also seeking themselves.
In the bookstore, he reopened The Book of the Hermit—only to find that the ink on its pages was fading away, as if the book had existed solely to guide him to Ying Wuchou.
At that moment, the Man in Black appeared in the store.
“It seems you’ve completed your journey,” he said in a low voice, with a strange smile.

5: The Unexpected Twist
The Man in Black revealed his true identity—he was Ying Wuchou all along. The valley, the hermit, and the entire journey had never existed; they were illusions crafted by Ying Wuchou to test Zhihua.
“True wisdom was never somewhere far away. It lies in the choices you make when facing illusion,” Ying Wuchou said calmly.
It turned out that every fantastical vision and character along the way had been projections of Zhihua’s own mind, shaped by the teachings of the hermit’s philosophy. Lin Wanjun, Guo Zilong, even the hermit himself, were all manifestations of different parts of his inner self.
Zhihua was stunned—but then a deep clarity settled over him.
After Ying Wuchou vanished, the bookstore returned to its quiet normalcy, as if nothing had ever happened.
Zhihua placed The Book of the Hermit deep within the shelves of the store—but he knew that the true Book of the Hermit had already opened within his heart.

(The End)