Liu Nanfeng had a very strange dream.
He stood on a bustling street.
Yet, around him were all sorts of demons and monsters.
Not because they were ugly, but because they were truly not human.
There were snakes, pigs, foxes, and even spiders.
That wasn't all; there were monsters with only half a head, eyes as large as bulls.
There were monsters with faces devoid of features, just a blank expanse.
There were monsters with heads covered in festering sores, emitting a foul stench.
There were monsters with legs that stretched to their necks, completely lacking bodies.
...
In short, it was like a hellish abyss, chilling him to the bone.
Yet, the surroundings were filled with high-rise buildings, making it all the more bizarre.
Just then, they seemed to notice Liu Nanfeng's presence and all turned to look at him simultaneously.
Their gazes were malevolent, as if they wanted to devour him alive.
But at that moment, a painting floated down from the sky, slowly unfurling in the wind. On it were three large characters: "Guan Shan Hai."
The entire scroll depicted a vast sky, majestic mountains, rivers and lakes, deserts and Gobi...
However, there were no birds or beasts, no insects or scales; this world was utterly silent.
Just then, a flash of golden light swept through, and all the demons and monsters before him were absorbed into it, including Liu Nanfeng.
The previously calm, silent world was suddenly swept by a gust of wind.
It started small, gently rustling the leaves and branches, then gradually grew into a torrent, whistling through the sky. Grass and trees swayed, lake water rippled, and the entire world came alive.
The demons and monsters, newly absorbed, transformed into birds and beasts, scattering in all directions.
Liu Nanfeng also underwent a transformation; he seemed to merge with this world. With every breath, fierce winds arose, and the world trembled.
In this world, he was like a deity, moving mountains, damming rivers, leveling lakes, summoning winds… doing as he pleased, capable of anything.
...
A series of urgent rings echoed in Liu Nanfeng's ears, waking him from his dream.
He turned to see that the sky was bright. Looking beside him, his wife was nowhere to be seen.
The bright morning sun streamed through the window, casting shifting patterns of light and shadow. Everything was so beautiful.
Thinking of the dream he had last night, he couldn't help but find it a little amusing.
It seemed the events of yesterday had left a deep impression on him, so much so that he dreamt about them at night.
He rolled out of bed, put on the clothes his wife had laid out for him, and walked out of the room.
The sound of his wife busy in the kitchen drifted to him.
He and his wife had known each other for seven years since they met, and their relationship was deep and affectionate.
Liu Nanfeng walked into the washroom and looked at himself in the mirror, feeling exceptionally handsome today.
Despite a restless night in his dream, he felt no fatigue; instead, his spirit was remarkably invigorated.
"Are you up?"
Perhaps hearing the movement, his wife's voice came from the kitchen.
"Mmm," Liu Nanfeng replied.
"When you get back today, help me pick up a delivery," Su Jinxiu added.
"What did you buy again? Can't you just pick it up yourself?"
"I bought a bag of five-spiced rice online. They say it tastes particularly good. It's fifty catties, and I can't carry it."
"Oh, I see. Leave it to me, it's a piece of cake."
Liu Nanfeng said with a smile while drying his face.
"Darling, you're the best."
His wife's voice was filled with delight.
Liu Nanfeng and his wife, Su Jinxiu, met in college. His wife was a year ahead of him.
Liu Nanfeng had just entered university then, and Su Jinxiu was part of the welcoming committee.
There was no immediate love at first sight; everything seemed to happen naturally. They went from acquaintances to knowing each other, from knowing each other to falling in love. After graduation, they registered their marriage, a natural progression.
Su Jinxiu was undoubtedly a "bai fú mei" (fair, rich, and beautiful). She possessed the gentle demeanor of a woman from Jiangnan, along with the elegance and maturity of a modern woman. Her intelligence and emotional quotient were both very high.
Many classmates couldn't understand why Su Jinxiu would fall for Liu Nanfeng.
Of course, it wasn't that Liu Nanfeng was lacking, but rather that there were many more outstanding individuals than him.
Back then, not only were there many suitors for Su Jinxiu within the university, but there were also quite a few from outside.
Liu Nanfeng himself didn't quite understand it, but after so many years of marriage, they treated each other with mutual respect and affection, and had never argued.
Of course, this was also related to Su Jinxiu's emotional intelligence. Although Liu Nanfeng was ordinary, Su Jinxiu loved him, respected him, and was utterly devoted to him.
Liu Nanfeng was not a heartless person. He reciprocated her affection and doted on her dearly.
"I'll tell you, I had a really funny dream last night."
"What dream?"
Liu Nanfeng put down the towel and walked out, saying, "I dreamt of..."
Name: Su Hua Mei
Race: Painted Skin
Cultivation: Three hundred eighty-two years
Identity: Wife's younger sister
Previous Cause: Not triggered
Liu Nanfeng rubbed his eyes, thinking there was something wrong with them.
But those words still floated in mid-air. The appearance was still that of his wife, no different from usual.
"Dreamt of what?" his wife asked, sitting at the dining table, propping her chin with one hand, her smile captivating.
"N-nothing," Liu Nanfeng stammered, swallowing.
The person before him was clearly his wife, Su Jinxiu, but why did the words display "Su Hua Mei"?
Su Hua Mei, he had met her, and was very familiar with her.
Because Su Hua Mei had lived with them for a while and later moved out due to work.
Although the sisters looked somewhat alike, their temperament and personalities were vastly different. As long as one wasn't blind, they would never mistake the two.
"What's with that silly look? Am I that beautiful?" His wife playfully chided him with a glance.
Clearly, she had misunderstood. However, her words also helped Liu Nanfeng regain his composure.
"You... you look especially beautiful today," Liu Nanfeng quickly said.
Then he glanced again at the words above her head; they were still clearly floating there.
Could it be because he was too tired from delivering food lately?
But that didn't seem right. He accepted orders calmly; there was no pressure.
To say his life was stressful would be even less plausible.
His wife's parents had passed away early. The sisters were raised by their aunt since childhood. However, their parents had left them a large inheritance, making them quite wealthy.
Since Liu Nanfeng married his wife, they had never worried about money.
"What do you mean by that? Wasn't I beautiful before?" Su Jinxiu asked coyly.
"Of course, you were beautiful, but you're exceptionally beautiful today," Liu Nanfeng said quickly.
With every glance and smile, "Su Jinxiu" was charming, exuding the alluring charm of a mature woman.
"Silly boy," his wife playfully chided him with a glance.
Then she said, "Hurry up and eat breakfast. Are you still delivering food today?"
"Oh... delivering... delivering," Liu Nanfeng said nervously as he walked to the table and sat down.
The table was filled with a sumptuous breakfast, all made by his wife early that morning.
"Why are you spacing out? Eat," Su Jinxiu said, looking at him with a slight frown.
"Oh... okay."
Liu Nanfeng quickly lowered his head to pick up his chopsticks, but he couldn't help but look up again.
Su Hua Mei?
Painted Skin?
Monster?
Is my brain not working properly?
...
In that moment, Liu Nanfeng's mind was in utter chaos.
If the person before him was Su Hua Mei, then where was his wife, Su Jinxiu?
Painted Skin, isn't that a monster?
Did she harm his wife and then transform into her appearance?
Or was his wife also a monster?
And why were these words appearing?
Just then, Su Jinxiu suddenly stood up and bent over, reaching out to flick away a small crumb from his mouth. In her qipao, she outlined an alluring curve.
Even though they were an old married couple, Liu Nanfeng still had no resistance to Su Jinxiu's charm.
Seeing Liu Nanfeng's dazed expression, Su Jinxiu let out a satisfied laugh.
He had been with his wife for seven years, and he was intimately familiar with her appearance, scent, and habits.
The person before him looked exactly like his wife, Su Jinxiu, in every way, yet the words clearly indicated otherwise.
This made him feel conflicted and very uneasy.
He was both worried that his wife had met with misfortune and worried that his wife might also be a monster.
Although the breakfast was sumptuous, Liu Nanfeng couldn't eat with a clear mind. He finished hastily, grabbed his helmet, and went out.
"Darling, be careful on the road. Come back early today. We agreed to watch a movie together tonight, don't forget."
"Su Jinxiu" reached out to adjust his collar and reminded him.
"Got it."
Liu Nanfeng replied verbally, but his gaze couldn't help but linger on the words above her head.
Finally, he couldn't resist asking, "By the way, I haven't seen Hua Mei for a long time. How has she been recently?"