Chapter 746: The Man Who Doesn’t Dream

Liu Tao’s residence was located in the old city area. The three of them stared at their phone’s navigation for half the day before finally arriving at the front of a standalone two-story building. Chen Shi stepped forward and knocked on the door, but no one answered. Taking a few steps back, he looked upstairs and asked, “Is anyone home?”

Lin Dongxue pressed her ear against the door, her eyes suddenly widening. She waved and said, “Listen, there’s some noise inside.”

Chen Shi listened carefully and heard faint moans of a man coming from inside, sounding like he was in pain.

“Could someone have had an accident at home alone?” Lin Dongxue speculated. She had heard of middle-aged men who had fallen at home after getting drunk and had died suddenly in the afternoon.

Chen Shi considered for a moment and said, “I’ll pick the lock.”

“Isn’t that a bit too rash?” Gu You expressed concern.

“Being a little reckless is better than standing idly by.” With that, Chen Shi took out his tools and quickly picked the lock in a few tries.

With a creak, the old wooden door opened. Inside, the lighting was dim, and there was a musty smell typical of old houses. As their eyes adjusted to the dimness, the three were surprised to find strange symbols painted all over the walls, giving a creepy vibe.

Gu You’s face turned pale. “These symbols are the same as the ones Chen Fengde drew in the detention center.”

“No way!” Lin Dongxue exclaimed, “Is this red stuff blood?”

“Let’s find the person first!” Chen Shi reminded.

The sound came from a bedroom. As the three walked in, they saw a large iron cage, inside which a man as thin as a skeleton crouched. His eyes were wide, staring at them like a dog saved from being sent to the slaughterhouse.

“This is a kidnapping case!” Chen Shi immediately thought. He stepped forward to open the cage but found that it wasn’t locked at all and didn’t know how to open it.

“Sir, who locked you up here? I’m a police officer!” Lin Dongxue showed her badge.

The man looked up at Lin Dongxue. His thin neck made people worry that his head might fall off. Then he pointed to his mouth.

“He’s hungry…” Chen Shi guessed, “I’ll get some food.”

With that, Chen Shi went out and bought scallion pancakes and mineral water. He handed the fragrant scallion pancake to the man, who immediately hugged it and took a bite. However, after just one bite, his expression suddenly changed, and he spat out the food, throwing the scallion pancake outside the cage.

“Not liking this?” Chen Shi was puzzled.

“He’s on a hunger strike.” A voice of a girl came from behind.

The three turned around and saw a little girl holding a doll, her eyes bright and clear. She said, “He locked himself up, and the cage can be opened from the inside. You don’t need to bother.”

“Little girl, is this your father?”

“He’s Liu Tao… Yes, technically he’s my father.” The little girl spoke maturely, though she looked younger than ten.

“How long has he been like this?”

“It’s been ten days.”

“He could die like this! No, call an ambulance!” Lin Dongxue was worried.

The little girl frowned and said “Mind your own business” before leaving. Footsteps could be heard coming up the stairs.

Chen Shi couldn’t stand by and watch someone die. He immediately dialed 120, and soon medical staff arrived. However, the man refused to leave the cage, covering his ears and shaking his head like a child throwing a tantrum.

The doctor sighed with both amusement and exasperation. “This should be handled by the psychiatric hospital.”

“I’m sorry, could we just give him an IV?” Chen Shi asked.

“Looks like he’s malnourished. Let’s give it a try!” The doctor brought an IV stand and glucose. After coaxing for a long time, the man finally obediently extended his hand for the doctor to insert the needle.

The alley was narrow, and the ambulance couldn’t stay long. The doctor didn’t want to spend all day with this madman either. Chen Shi said, “I can handle this bottle, so you don’t have to trouble yourselves.”

“Sure, please settle the emergency medical expenses.”

After the ambulance left, the man in the cage reached for where the needle was inserted. Lin Dongxue advised, “Don’t scratch it. If it falls out, you’ll have to get another shot, which will hurt a lot.”

The man lifted his face, showing a foolish expression.

“This place is strange,” Lin Dongxue whispered, hugging her shoulders, “How could anyone live like this?”

“Should we go upstairs for a ‘visit’?” Chen Shi suggested.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate to intrude like this.”

“But it seems like they’re not driving us away.”

“He seems to be here, but I don’t know where his soul has gone.” Chen Shi joked.

Lin Dongxue tried calling his name. Liu Tao looked up, then lowered his head to pick at his feet. The cage was very narrow, and he had been squatting inside for ten days. It was incredible how he could endure it.

The IV indeed had an effect. Liu Tao’s pale face gradually regained some color, and he asked in a hoarse voice, “Why… are you in my house?”

“I’m a police officer, looking for you…”

“Help me… I haven’t… dreamt for a long time… a long time… a long time…” he spoke slowly, as if murmuring in his dreams.

Lin Dongxue and Chen Shi exchanged surprised glances. Gu You said, “Let me ask.”

“Okay.”

“Liu Tao, do you remember Chen Fengde?” Gu You asked.

Liu Tao stared blankly at the unintentional cleavage revealed by her, saying, “I don’t remember.”

“Have you been to Dream Abyss?”

At the mention of this term, Liu Tao was struck as if by lightning, showing an extremely frightened expression. “The Dream Abyss has rejected me! I did something bad to Him. He punished me, making me unable to go to the Dream Abyss anymore, unable to dream anymore!”

Gu You widened her eyes, retreated outside, and took a long breath. Lin Dongxue stepped forward and asked, “Miss Gu, what’s wrong with you?”

“It’s true! It’s true!” Gu You said in horror, “Look at what he said, and look at these symbols on the wall. Dream body swapping is real!”

“No, I don’t think so,” Chen Shi said, “This only shows that he indeed has some connection with Chen Fengde, but it must be a real-life connection.”

“After hearing these words, you still don’t believe it?” Gu You asked.

“I’ve never believed it from the beginning. I always listen with a skeptical attitude when people speak. A few words can’t make me believe something. It’s not uncommon for two people to lie at the same time, and I’ve even met a group of people who lie together. Unless… unless I dreamt to the Dream Abyss tonight and woke up the next day as a Russian big-legged beauty, I would believe it.”

“Is your attitude only seen in the coffin?” Gu You used a smile to soften her questioning offense.

“This is called seeking truth from facts.” Chen Shi smiled too.

“What do you think the two of them have in common?”

“I don’t know, but I have a guess. Chen Fengde was threatened by someone, possibly him…” Chen Shi pointed to the man in the cage, “or another puppeteer behind the scenes. When Liu Tao went to pick up Chen Fengde’s daughter, why did he do this? Just to prove that the body swapping is real? No, this is a latent threat. ‘Your daughter is in my hands, you must do as I say,’ isn’t this the most common threat play?”

Gu You suddenly widened her eyes, then lowered her head, seeming to fall into memories…