Volume One: First Steps on the Path Chapter 84: Youth Is Ever Filled with Dreams

As soon as Fang Lin finished speaking, the mood in the room was instantly ignited—everyone’s faces shone with excitement. After such a long wait, the long-anticipated formal segment was finally about to begin. The crowd pricked up their ears, ready to listen intently to what Fang Lin would say next.

Seeing the stark change in their expressions, Fang Lin smiled, cleared her throat, and continued, “Speaking of Dream Weaving, I have a question for everyone.”

A puzzled look flickered in the crowd’s eyes, as if to say, “What kind of question?”

Fang Lin didn’t keep them in suspense. She went on, “The question is, I’m sure every one of you has had a dream before, right?”

Hearing this, everyone wondered what sort of question that was. Still, though they were confused, they nodded honestly, answering Fang Lin’s question.

And indeed, that was the case. Dreams come in many forms—good ones, bad ones, even the longing dreams of youth, and of course, nightmares. Whether one dreams often or rarely, everyone here had, at some point in their life, experienced dreaming. There was nothing to hide about it.

Fang Lin observed their reactions and knew she had received their affirmation. Thus, she pressed on, “Very well, I see many of you are filled with questions. You’re all probably wondering what dreaming has to do with today’s course on Dream Weaving, aren’t you?”

Hearing Fang Lin so perfectly articulate their thoughts, the audience couldn’t help but feel admiration for her. They all answered in unison, wholeheartedly, “Yes.”

“That’s right, teacher. Is there any connection between the question you just asked and today’s lesson? We don’t quite understand.”

“Please help us unravel the mystery, teacher.”

“...”

Listening to the chorus of voices, Fang Lin’s face softened and she smiled. “Alright, don’t be anxious. I’ll answer each of your questions in detail.”

Everyone looked delighted and turned their expectant eyes toward her, eager to hear her next words.

“For now, I’d like everyone to quiet down a bit,” Fang Lin said gently, gazing at the eager crowd. “Let me explain everything slowly.”

Upon her request, the room immediately fell silent, the clamor subsiding.

Seeing this, Fang Lin nodded in satisfaction and spoke gently once more: “Let me start with the first question—the one you’re all curious about: what is the connection between dreaming and today’s Dream Weaving lesson?”

“Dreams, as you may know, are a mysterious physiological phenomenon. Dreams are woven from our memories and the things we experience in life, forming one fantastic dreamscape after another. Some dreams are good, some are nightmares, and some you remember vividly, while others fade as soon as you wake. Regardless of their outcome or process, the dreams you’ve had may have left their mark on you to some degree. For instance, after a wondrous dream, you might wish that one day you could do in reality what you did in the dream. Because in dreams, we often achieve feats we cannot in waking life. Which brings us to the key point—”

At this, Fang Lin deliberately paused, not continuing her thought.

The audience, who were listening intently and nodding in agreement, now looked up at Fang Lin in confusion, as if to ask, “What’s happened?”

Noticing their expressions, Fang Lin knew exactly what they were thinking. Instead of explaining, she shifted the topic. “It might be dull for me to keep talking. Why don’t we have a few students share a dream they’ve had, or perhaps the one dream they most wished would come true? What do you all think?”

The crowd’s interest was piqued, surprised by her sudden proposal. But after a moment’s reflection, they decided it was a good suggestion and nodded in agreement.

Fang Lin smiled, satisfied. “Well then, is anyone willing to actively share their dream with us?”

Seeing some hesitation, Fang Lin encouraged them further: “There’s no need to feel shy. Just speak as if telling a story.”

Buoyed by her encouragement, the students’ confidence grew. Many had been eager to participate, and now a sense of anticipation spread among them.

Sensing this change, Fang Lin asked, “So, who would like to go first?”

No sooner had the words left her mouth than a male voice sounded, “Teacher, may I speak?”

Following the sound, Fang Lin saw a tall, slender boy raising his hand.

“Of course. If I’m not mistaken, your name is Yang Ming, isn’t it?”

The boy looked surprised that Fang Lin remembered his name and nodded in astonishment. “Yes.”

Fang Lin smiled. “Very well, Yang Ming. Please tell us about your dream. Let’s give him a round of applause for encouragement.”

The audience responded warmly, clapping generously as though to cheer Yang Ming on.

Yang Ming smiled gratefully at Fang Lin and the others, then prepared to recount his unforgettable dream.

After clearing his throat, he began, “The dream I want to share happened a long time ago, when I was still very young. I remember it so well because it left such a deep impression on me at the time. I might ramble a bit, so I hope you’ll bear with me.”

The crowd chuckled and waved his concern away. “Just tell it as it is, we won’t mind.”

“That’s right! Worst case, we’ll beat you up after you’re done. We never hold a grudge overnight—settle it on the spot!” joked a few friends of his.

“Alright, just go easy on me when the time comes,” Yang Ming replied with a laugh.

He then composed himself. “Enough joking. The teacher and everyone else are waiting, so I’ll be quick and not waste your time.”

And with that, Yang Ming began his tale.

“I was very young at the time. One night as I slept, I had this dream. In it, I turned into a non-human creature. I still looked human, but my ears had grown much pointier, and my eyes were different from an ordinary person’s. But that wasn’t the most important part—does anyone want to guess what was?”

As if to liven up his story, Yang Ming paused to draw the crowd in.

The audience, half laughing and half exasperated, called out, “How are we supposed to guess? Don’t keep us in suspense—just go on!”

Yang Ming apologized, “Sorry, my mistake.”

He continued, “The most important thing was that, in the dream, a pair of wings grew from my back. They were crystal clear, broad, and wrapped around my entire body. Those wings were so beautiful that even now, I think they’re the most stunning thing I’ve ever seen. The moment I realized I had wings, something compelled me to try moving them. And just as if it had been foreordained, as soon as I flapped my wings, I took flight. At first, I wasn’t very skilled—I couldn’t fly very high, and sometimes I’d fall halfway.”

The listeners wore thoughtful expressions, and some nodded as though they, too, had dreamed such dreams.

Ignoring their reactions, Yang Ming pressed on.

“After many attempts, I gradually became more adept at flying. At least I didn’t fall midair anymore, though I still couldn’t gain much altitude. As I was savoring the joy of flight alone, suddenly a group of people much like me appeared. They had pointed ears and great wings of every hue—each pair as beautiful as the next. Both men and women, all of them were strikingly handsome or beautiful, and they soared with practiced ease.

“When they saw me, they approached and asked, ‘Why are you here alone?’ I replied, ‘I’m lost—I don’t know where this place is.’

“They gathered to discuss, then told me, ‘In that case, come back with us to our tribe. Would you like that?’ I had no objection and agreed. On the way, seeing how I was only just learning to fly, they kindly taught me how to master it. Their guidance was meticulous, and before long, I was flying at a whole new level—no longer skimming low over the ground, but soaring high and steady.

“We returned to their tribe, and I found many more winged people like us. Welcomed warmly, I gradually became part of their community and settled in to live among them.

“My days there were carefree and happy. Then, one day, everything suddenly went dark—”

Here, Yang Ming paused, his eyes inviting the audience to guess what happened next.

“What is it, what is it? Go on, we’re hanging on every word!”

“Yes, yes, don’t stop now—tell us!”

With the crowd clamoring, Yang Ming didn’t leave them waiting long. “It turned out the sun had already risen—I had woken up from the dream.”