Chapter 586: What Is Dream and What Is Reality?

The wondrous spell Ji Yuan was performing at this moment appeared to be a simple illusion. In reality, it was one of the most intricate techniques he had ever employed in his life. When considering its technical prowess and maximum originality, it could even be said to be *the* most profound spell, without the qualifier "one of."

The wondrous methods created by Ji Yuan, aside from being top-tier offensive techniques, and regardless of cultivation difficulty or specific talent requirements, largely complemented each other. This naturally included the "Dream Roaming" chapter and the "Heaven and Earth's Wondrous Methods."

By combining the art of Dream Roaming with the genesis of heaven and earth, Ji Yuan could make people materialize within an illusion, making it feel indistinguishable from a real world. At least, Emperor Hongwu and Grand Eunuch Li Jingchun, who stood before Ji Yuan, could not discern its true nature.

As the surrounding scenery grew increasingly clear, Emperor Hongwu Yang Hao and Grand Eunuch Li Jingchun, who were typically calm and collected, found themselves slightly agape. This experience was vastly different from the water-based illusion they had witnessed earlier, performed by Du Changsheng.

"Customer, your rice cakes are here!" "Come, come, don't miss out! Top-quality medicinal wine for bruises and excellent wound salves!"

"Candied hawthorns! Candied hawthorns!"

"Please come in, customers, please come in!"

"How many in your party?"

They found themselves inside a tea stall, roughly six or seven *zhang* in length and width, furnished with just over ten square tables, each seating four. Two of its sides were enclosed by woven walls, while the other two remained open. The counter was situated about seven or eight paces away. Beyond the tea stall, the street, though not particularly grand, was lively with people constantly coming and going. Most of the buildings were old, and there were numerous other makeshift business stalls or market stands, alongside a scattering of more established buildings and shops.

The surrounding clamor was distinctly that of a bustling marketplace. Yang Hao observed a tea stall attendant ushering two customers inside, just a few feet from him. He could feel the slight breeze as the three passed, and even caught the faint scent of sweat from the two newcomers.

Old Eunuch Li Jingchun, equally stunned, surveyed his surroundings, instinctively assessing who among the passersby might possess martial arts skills. However, he quickly noticed his exaggerated expressions and movements were drawing attention, prompting him to rein himself in considerably. He then realized that many people were still furtively watching them. Glancing around, he finally understood it was due to his and the Emperor's attire.

Fortunately, the Emperor had not been wearing his dragon robe in the imperial study earlier; he was dressed in cooler, more comfortable summer attire. Though still opulent, the clothes were not the bright imperial yellow, making them less conspicuous. As for Li Jingchun, while he wore the grand eunuch's uniform, it was clear that the people around had never seen such garments and likely didn't recognize them. The furtive glances they received, besides being due to their lavish attire, were probably because Li Jingchun remained standing with a slight bow, leading others to mistake them for a young nobleman and his old servant.

While Li Jingchun was observing their surroundings, Yang Hao looked down at their table. Gone were the palace's finest teas and the imperial kitchen's meticulously prepared pastries. Instead, the cups held cloudy tea with fragments of tea leaves, and the pastries were rough, varying in shape and size, appearing quite crude—not to mention the simple vessels they were served in.

Yang Hao reached for the teacup, feeling its warmth in his hand. He gently lifted it, inhaling the tea's aroma. Just as he was about to take a sip, the old eunuch, who had suddenly observed his move, interjected with a warning.

"Your Maj—... Third Young Master, be careful! It might be poisoned!"

Everything around them felt incredibly real—or perhaps, it simply *was* real. The old eunuch was extremely anxious; there appeared to be no armed guards or imperial soldiers present, leaving him as the sole protector of the Emperor. As he spoke, he bent down, fumbled in his robes, and produced a silver needle.

Ji Yuan watched the master and servant duo with a serene expression, observing Li Jingchun gently touch the silver needle to the tea in the cup. He then carefully tasted the tea from the needle. Only after circulating his internal energy to check for toxins did he nod in relief.

"Third Young Master, the tea is safe!"

Yang Hao, having grown impatient, not out of thirst but a desire to confirm his suspicions, immediately lifted the cup and took a large sip after the old eunuch finished testing for poison.

The instant the tea touched his tongue, what he tasted was not the usual fragrance, but an initial bitterness—a bitterness surprisingly strong for tea—followed by a hint of saltiness, before finally registering as actual tea.

It wasn't pleasant to drink, but it was undeniably tea, with a remarkably authentic taste and aftertaste.

Only after tasting the tea did Emperor Hongwu Yang Hao look at Ji Yuan with a look of astonishment.

"Mr. Ji, where have you... brought me? Is this a place far from the capital, or..."

Ji Yuan smiled, placing the book he held onto the table.

"Since Your Majesty already harbors a suspicion, why ask what you already know?"

Both Yang Hao and Li Jingchun felt a jolt pass through them. They looked down at the book on the table, its cover clearly displaying the title "The Shame of the Wild Fox."

"The Shame of the Wild Fox" was a lengthy work with numerous chapters. The one Ji Yuan held was, naturally, just a single story. Yet, every story is set within a specific world. Yang Hao couldn't help but ponder the book's background, and his already heightened excitement caused his heart to pound even faster.

"Mr. Ji, this... am I dreaming, or am I truly within the world of 'The Shame of the Wild Fox'?"

Ji Yuan's smile remained.

"What is a dream? What is reality? If everything you perceive—what you see, feel, think, and imagine—tells you it's real, with every minute detail vivid in your mind, then even knowing you will 'awaken,' can Your Majesty definitively say whether this is a dream or reality?"

Ji Yuan's words seemed to say nothing, yet Yang Hao nodded, no longer fixated on whether this was a dream. In his perception, he was more inclined to believe that he was currently in a real world, albeit one that might not endure, as it was a world manifested by an immortal's great power to fulfill his wish.

Grand Eunuch Li Jingchun also listened intently, missing no part of the conversation between the Emperor and Ji Yuan. In his heart, there was excitement, but even more so, a profound shock.

'The power of an immortal! Is this truly the power of an immortal?!'

Li Jingchun managed his composure better, but Yang Hao had not experienced such intense excitement in a very, very long time. He had forgotten when he last felt this way—perhaps shortly after becoming emperor, or perhaps even before ascending to the throne, when fear already overshadowed excitement. As emperor, even the sensation of fear had steadily waned.

After realizing his surroundings, Yang Hao, nearly seventy years old, was as excited as a young scholar who had stumbled upon a great fortune, unconsciously rubbing his hands as he looked at Ji Yuan.

"Mr. Ji, what should we do now? And Li Jingchun, stop standing; quickly sit with us. You're drawing too much attention."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Li Jingchun acknowledged the command and, unaccustomed to the casual setting, took a seat at the empty table.

Ji Yuan took a sip of the tea in his cup and then sampled the rice cakes on the table. What was remarkable was that even he, the creator of this illusion, could distinctly taste the tea and discern the sweet, crispy texture of the rice cakes. He could even tell that, despite their rough appearance, these rice cakes possessed a delicious flavor that came from years of refinement.

Although all of this was merely a manifestation of Ji Yuan's profound magical abilities, the fact that he himself could experience these sensations was something he found truly fascinating. After tasting the pastry, Ji Yuan glanced at the book on the table, then turned his gaze to Yang Hao.

"It's not appropriate to address you as 'Your Majesty' here, so I will call you 'Third Young Master'."

"Oh, Mr. Ji, you are an immortal being! There's no need to concern yourself with imperial etiquette. Please call me whatever you wish!"

Yang Hao at this moment hardly resembled an old man; he was like a young person on a rare outing to a novel place. Ji Yuan nodded, then gestured towards Yang Hao and Li Jingchun and spoke.

"First, we should change your attire. While there are certainly well-dressed individuals around, it would be best for us to blend in with local customs."

"Yes, yes, Mr. Ji is absolutely right. Especially Li Jingchun's eunuch uniform—even if others don't recognize it, they'll find it odd."

It turned out Yang Hao had already recognized this fact. Ji Yuan nodded with a smile, then gestured to the items on the table and said.

"The pastries are delicious. Third Young Master and Manager Li, please try some to stave off your hunger."

When Ji Yuan uttered the phrase "stave off your hunger," both Yang Hao and Li Jingchun's hearts skipped a beat, confirming a suspicion they already harbored. Without further ado, and shedding any imperial reserve or fastidiousness, they picked up the rice cakes and began to eat.

"Mmm, excellent, truly excellent. This one is savory and crispy, and this one is sweet and flaky. Delicious, simply delicious! I must summon the chef to..."

"Shhh, Third Young Master, quiet down!"

Ji Yuan offered a knowing smile, prompting Yang Hao to instinctively cover his mouth. He said no more, chewing and swallowing the rice cake before reaching for another. At this moment, Yang Hao was in exceptionally good spirits and had an excellent appetite.

"Shopkeeper, another plate of rice cakes, and some more tea please!"

Li Jingchun turned to the tea stall owner and called out. The owner immediately responded.

"Alright, esteemed guests, please wait a moment! It's coming right up!"

In this kind of small establishment, the owner himself served as an assistant. He bent down behind the counter to package the pastries, then personally brought them to the table where Ji Yuan, Yang Hao, and Li Jingchun sat.

"Heh heh, honored guests, here are your rice cakes! I'm refilling your tea—please make way, and be careful of the hot water!"

As he spoke, the owner set down the rice cakes, then lifted the lid of the teapot on their table. From a large iron kettle he carried, he swiftly poured dark-colored tea with a "gurgling" sound. Despite the rapid pour, when he lifted the kettle, not a single drop spilled onto the table, and the teapot was perfectly filled, neither too much nor too little.

Watching the owner replace the teapot lid, Li Jingchun scrutinized him before speaking.

"Shopkeeper, what impressive skill!"

"Heh heh, you flatter me, esteemed guest. It's not about good or bad skill, just practice!"

As soon as the owner walked away, Li Jingchun, who had been intently watching him, finally shifted his gaze and whispered.

"He possesses no martial arts!"

Ji Yuan couldn't help but chuckle. This eunuch, Li, was indeed remarkably loyal. Recalling it, he thought that the eunuch by Emperor Yuande's side long ago had also been named Li.

When they had nearly finished their tea and almost devoured all the pastries, Ji Yuan turned to Li Jingchun.

"Manager Li, if you would kindly settle the bill."

Li Jingchun nodded.

"Of course! Shopkeeper, the bill!"

Collecting money was naturally the most gratifying part of the job. Perhaps sensing the distinguished status of the customers at this table, the owner personally came over to collect payment, promptly stating the amount upon arrival.

"For the three of you, honored guests, that will be twelve copper coins."

"Twelve copper coins?"

"Uh, yes. Do you have any objections, esteemed guest?"

Li Jingchun instinctively glanced at Yang Hao, then at Ji Yuan, before fumbling in his money pouch. Inside, he found only large pieces of silver and gold, along with some banknotes. He then surveyed the tea stall's modest size and simple decor...

"Uh, Mr. Ji, I... perhaps you could cover it for now..."

Ji Yuan was taken aback. "Huh? *I* pay?"