THIP Chapter 44 V1

“Jieyin, no!”

Mu Liuyin jolted upright in bed, her eyes wide with fear. She looked around at the room’s layout, and once she confirmed she was still in her room at the Central Base, she slumped back against the wall, breathing heavily as if in shock. She wiped the cold sweat from her forehead and, still uneasy, checked over her body.

No marks.

Was it just a dream?

Mu Liuyin asked Xiaojiu if Jieyin had entered her room while she was sleeping.

Xiaojiu blinked his cat-like eyes and shook his head, saying that nothing unusual had happened last night.

The terror in her heart slowly turned into confusion. Her dark, beautiful pupils were slightly dazed.

Mu Liuyin crawled out of bed and went to the bathroom to wash up. In the mirror, she saw her pale face, still stricken with fear. She shut her eyes tightly, but the memories from the night before surged uncontrollably through her mind.

She could still feel the lingering sensation of vines, soft and smooth like snakes, brushing against her skin.

If it was a dream, it was far too vivid.

She leaned over the sink, dry heaving uncontrollably. It wasn’t until she had scrubbed herself in the shower for nearly an hour that she finally managed to get herself together and leave the room.

But when her eyes landed on Jieyin sitting casually on the sofa, her whole body stiffened slightly.

“Jieyin?” Mu Liuyin called out softly.

Jieyin lifted her gaze to her, her expression no different than usual. Her voice was casual as she said, “You’re up late today. Shouldn’t you be making breakfast?”

Mu Liuyin exhaled a quiet sigh of relief.

So it was just a dream.

But why would she dream something like that?

Still feeling bewildered, Mu Liuyin went to prepare breakfast.

While eating, noticing Mu Liuyin’s gloomy, lifeless look as she poked at her food, Jieyin asked, “What’s wrong?”

Mu Liuyin shook her head, sulking. “Nothing.”

She obviously couldn’t tell Jieyin that she had dreamt of being recognized as the jerk who once betrayed her—and then got slept with by her.

Not to mention, the dream had felt disturbingly real. Even now, she could still feel the sensation of vines brushing her body.

Lost in her misery, Mu Liuyin didn’t notice Jieyin’s eyes darken slightly.

Jieyin’s gaze lingered on the silver half-mask Mu Liuyin wore. Her lips curled into a small smile.
Since you don’t want me to know who you are… fine. Let’s play, Xu Chi.

Mu Liuyin felt a sudden, inexplicable sense of unease. She frowned, thinking it was probably just leftover nerves from yesterday’s nightmare.

At that moment, Mu Liuyin didn’t even consider the possibility of Jieyin using her dream-related ability—after all, Xiaojiu hadn’t raised any alarms.

Because Zhuo Yan was currently being treated like a precious gem at the Central Base, Jieyin wasn’t planning to rush her revenge. Instead, she quietly scouted out the location where Team Chiguang was staying and studied the surrounding terrain and buildings carefully.

To avoid attracting Zhuo Yan’s attention, Jieyin didn’t register as a mercenary. Mu Liuyin, on the other hand, had no concerns thanks to her mask and signed up solo. She would take small missions every few days or sell goods at the free market. Jieyin, leveraging her wood-based ability, found work in one of the base’s farms.

After living low-key for several months, both of their abilities had reached the late stage of the fourth tier, matching the Central Base’s so-called strongest fighter, Duan Qi.
Of course, no one but the two of them knew that.

The cool breeze blew gently; the night was heavy and still.

Leaving Xiaojiu on watch, Mu Liuyin finished her meal and lay down to sleep inside the tent.

They had taken a mission yesterday and wouldn’t return to the base for a few more days, which meant Jieyin would be on her own for meals.

I wonder if she’s okay eating nothing but canned food, Mu Liuyin thought sleepily before drifting off.

The sleeping youth lay quietly on a large bed woven from vines. Her wrists and ankles were bound by thick tendrils, like a prisoner offered up in sacrifice.

The vines slithered restlessly across her body, a thumb-thick vine brushing lightly against her lips, like a gentle kiss. Feeling some discomfort, Mu Liuyin frowned slightly—but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t open her tightly shut eyes.

Sensing her struggle, the vine paused, only to sneak its way into her mouth the next moment.

Mu Liuyin’s mouth was soft and warm. The vine seemed to revel in the sensation.

The nightmare she had suffered months ago replayed itself—but this time, no matter how much she fought, she couldn’t wake up.

The touch of the vine was horrifyingly vivid. Mu Liuyin trembled with fear, tears streaming down her face. But with the vine gagging her mouth, all she could make were broken, muffled whimpers.

Sensing her terror, the vine brushed her cheek in a bizarre attempt to comfort her.

…

When Mu Liuyin woke up the next morning, her terrified eyes shimmered faintly with tears. She yanked open her collar—no marks anywhere.

Aside from the disgusting sensation left by the vine, there was no physical discomfort at all.

Xiaojiu once again reported that nothing unusual had happened.

Though Jieyin had shown no signs of recognizing her identity over the past few months, the combination of the dream and the vines made Mu Liuyin’s thoughts involuntarily turn toward her.

She couldn’t help but ask, “Was it Jieyin’s dream-invading ability? Has she already figured out that I’m Xu Chi?”

Xiaojiu, who had been forced into dormancy last night just like a few months ago, felt a little guilty. It carefully said, [I don’t think so. Otherwise, why would the mission target’s attitude toward you have stayed the same all these months?]

Mu Liuyin closed her tired eyes and said nothing.

Fortunately, during the mission, that dream only happened once, and Mu Liuyin’s suspicions gradually faded.

When she returned to the base and saw Jieyin acting the same as always, the last trace of doubt disappeared completely.