As An Antique Shop Owner, It's Only Reasonable That I Know A Bit Of Magic - Chapter 41

The benefits of improving dream control were immense—far beyond what Su Fan had anticipated.

Dreams are products constructed by the subconscious, where the role of surface consciousness becomes extremely faint. The most direct manifestation is that in dreams, our limbs don’t obey commands, making it impossible to act as we wish. Not only that, but in dreams, our instinctual fears are amplified, while rationality and courage always lag a step behind. This imbalance causes many people, even if they realize they’re in a nightmare, to be unable to suppress the overflowing negative emotions.

Those who learn to control their dreams don’t have this problem. They can even manipulate the dream as they wish—flying through the skies or burrowing into the earth isn’t out of the question.

“That amazing? I want to try it too,” Annie said, her eyes sparkling with excitement after hearing Su Fan’s explanation.

“I’d advise against practicing it unless absolutely necessary. There’s a risk of developing mental illnesses like split personality disorder,” Su Fan cautioned.

“Oh…” Annie’s enthusiasm dampened, disappointment evident.

She watched Su Fan, who was scouting ahead, and couldn’t help but wonder: Since Su learned dream control, could he have developed some psychological side effects? Could the Su in front of me suddenly split into two?

Su Fan had no idea about Annie’s wild thoughts. His purpose in explaining was only to stabilize her mental state and emotions, divert her attention, and prevent her from slipping into the same condition as before.

Given enough time, the people in the house might wake from their unconscious state and be forcibly dragged into the dream, getting in the way, Su Fan thought.

He knew that after their two previous encounters, Freddy had realized he couldn’t defeat Su Fan head-on and was now avoiding a direct confrontation. But Su Fan wasn’t happy about it. If you hide, where am I supposed to get the points for soul enhancement? This is a hard-to-come-by opportunity.

With these thoughts, Su Fan grew increasingly impatient. Wielding the chainsaw, he roamed the dimly lit corridors but found no trace of Freddy. The house didn’t look large from the outside, but inside, it was like a tangled maze with no apparent exit.

After encountering yet another dead end, Su Fan stopped. In that moment, he seemed to see Freddy’s mocking grin. Is he trying to make me panic by making me lost?

“Heh.” Su Fan let out a light laugh and directly raised the chainsaw, tearing through the wooden wall in front of him!

Most old American villas were built with wood layered with exterior coating. In the face of a weapon as destructive as a chainsaw, the walls were as fragile as paper, shattering easily.

Annie, watching Su Fan brutally break through the walls, gently patted her chest. With that weapon and this ruthless style, Master Su Fan seems almost as terrifying as Freddy…

Despite her thoughts, Annie kept up without hesitation, closely following Su Fan. After breaking through a particular wall, their field of view suddenly widened. Intense white light made Annie cover her eyes.

…………

When her eyes gradually adjusted to the brightness, she realized she was in a medical examination room. Her clothes had also changed into a blue-and-white patient gown.

“You’re awake?” a masked doctor on one side asked kindly, gesturing with numbers. “Can you see how many fingers I’m holding up?”

Annie’s mind was foggy, but she nodded instinctively.

Seemingly satisfied, the doctor turned to another person in a white coat standing nearby, holding a clipboard. “The patient’s mental state is gradually stabilizing. Note that down.”

Confused, Annie looked around for Su Fan but couldn’t find him. “Where’s Su Fan?” she asked instinctively.

“Are you referring to the Chinese patient in the neighboring room? He’s also undergoing treatment,” the doctor replied.

“P-patient?” Annie stammered.

“Yes, Miss Hathaway,” the doctor said, nodding as he showed her the patient file in his hand. “You and that Chinese patient, Su Fan, have been suffering from long-term insomnia, leading to numerous complications—severe hallucinations, auditory delusions, and even signs of delusional disorder. But don’t worry, our institution is an authority in this field. We’ll have you recovered and discharged in no time.”

“No, that’s impossible! Su Fan was just here…” Annie immediately tried to sit up but accidentally dislodged the IV needle in her hand. A sharp pain followed. She looked down in disbelief at the back of her hand, where a stark red mark stood out against her pale skin, seeming to confirm the reality of it all.

“Please stay calm, Miss Hathaway,” the doctor said, adjusting his glasses. “Mr. Su Fan is receiving treatment next door. You’ll be able to see him soon.”

“…” Annie fell silent.

“I understand your reliance on him, but for now, please cooperate with the treatment.”

“…Reliance?” Annie asked, confused.

“After your illness forced you to retire from the entertainment industry, the dual blow to your career and mental health worsened your condition. One night, while out drinking, you were attacked by a homeless man. Mr. Su Fan happened to pass by and saved you.” As he spoke, the doctor showed two photos—one of Su Fan and another of Freddy!

Seeing the terror in Annie’s eyes, the doctor quickly added, “The homeless man, Freddy, has been detained by the police. Don’t worry, Miss Hathaway.” He then asked gently, “You seemed to have something to say earlier. Would you like to share it?”

In a daze, Annie recounted everything—about filming, the dreams, being hunted by a evil spirit.

“These are classic symptoms of delusional disorder. Those were merely figments of your imagination, Miss Hathaway,” the doctor explained patiently.

“Then, who do you think I am?” The doctor removed his mask, revealing the face of the production assistant from the film set!

“You… you… This can’t be real!” Annie exclaimed.

Sighing at her disbelief, the doctor took out the ID badge clipped to his chest. “I’ve been your attending physician all along. I’ve never been a production assistant…”

The other doctors also removed their masks one after another—producer, screenwriter, director, lighting technician, cameraman… Their familiar faces sent Annie into a whirlwind of confusion, pushing her to the brink of collapse!

“Clearly, your delusional disorder has worsened,” the doctor said solemnly. “Given your current state, we’ve decided to increase your dosage… The doctor responsible for administering your medication will be here shortly.”

As soon as the doctor finished speaking, Annie saw a man in a straitjacket being wheeled in. His expression was numb, his eyes vacant. Upon closer look, it was Su Fan!

The seemingly unstoppable young exorcist with mysterious powers now lay quietly on the hospital bed beside her, like a vegetable…

Just then, there was a knock on the door. A doctor pushing a cart full of medical equipment entered with his head down. When he reached Annie’s bedside, he removed his mask, revealing a horrifically burned and ugly face beneath.

In that instant, Annie’s pupils contracted, and her body thrashed violently! She struggled desperately to speak, to warn the other doctors, but no sound came out.

One by one, the doctors left the room, leaving only the three of them.

“Well, Annie, what a delightful reunion. But before we catch up, I have some unfinished business to attend to,” Freddy said. Raising his claw, he suddenly thrust it into the chest of Su Fan on the adjacent bed. Blood sprayed out, splattering across the ceiling!

“NO!!!” Annie screamed silently.

“Was he your greatest reliance? How does it feel to watch him die?” Freddy sneered. “But don’t worry, you’re next, Annie.”

As Freddy leered and approached Annie, his claw poised to strike, a nozzle pressed against his temple from out of nowhere.

Puzzled, Freddy turned around to see Su Fan, with a fuel tank on his back and a flamethrower in hand, grinning widely to reveal a row of white teeth.

“How about some barbecue?”