Doomsday Wonderland Vol. 13: Sleepwalking in Dreamland

1588: Separation and Vitality

Wu Yiliu had seen some basic small magic tricks before. Most of the time, when there was a need to set the atmosphere, magicians would start pulling colored ropes from their sleeves, one section red and one section yellow, the colorful ropes constantly gushing out into a long strand.

He now felt as if he had become a magician, pulling one section after another of a life-saving rope. Guard Chen was the first knot to be pulled out, and with him, he pulled out Pisces, then through Pisces, he pulled out the Changeling staff that was listening behind him...

Now he had finally pulled out the last and most crucial section. The rope had landed on the ground.

At this point, he had exhausted all means, entrusted everything he could, and inside this iron cage, there was nothing else he could do.

Except wait.

The sunlight, broken and fragmented by the iron bars, gradually slid off the floor and windowsill, leaving behind an orange glow. The previously noisy prison suddenly fell silent. The professor and student waited an entire night, right into the next morning.

Wu Yiliu knew that the longer they waited, the more likely his arrangements would go awry. Every step of his plan had to be carried out by others; he could not see or hear, and once the plan was spoken, he no longer had control over it. Only heaven knew what would happen next.

As he grew more and more anxious and uneasy, even Professor Qiao's reassurances had little effect. Suddenly, there was a sound of light and rapid footsteps outside the door. When they heard it, its owner had already opened the door and strode into the room.

Wu Yiliu immediately rose from the ground, feeling a withdrawal of adrenaline and blood.

The thin, gaunt woman named Huanzi stopped in front of the iron cage, her face still bearing traces of excitement and tension. She glanced at the two inside the cage and shouted behind her, "Hurry up! Why are you so slow?"

With hurried footsteps, two guards appeared at the doorway.

"Watch them closely," Huanzi said quickly, as if she couldn't wait to leave the pocket dimension. "As soon as I remove the cage, grab them."

Professor Qiao had already stood up by this point, and the two stared straight at the people in front of them.

"What then?" one of the guards asked.

"Whatever you like," Huanzi said with a frown, looking irritated by the guard's extra word. "Lock them up or infect them, it's up to you!"

They were just handed over to the guards?

Wu Yiliu's heart jumped into his throat—he hadn't had time to figure out whether this was good or bad when the iron bars that had surrounded them suddenly disappeared from sight. The gaunt woman weighed a small iron cage in her hand, and two prepared guards pounced on the pair. Even Professor Qiao, an old lady with no threat, had her arm twisted behind her back.

Hearing Professor Qiao's low moan of pain, Wu Yiliu struggled in desperation. The tall guard behind him yanked his arm hard and barked, "Stay still!"

Huanzi was obviously in a hurry.

She didn't even take a second glance at the two after retrieving her item, and turned and rushed out the door—this act itself was a clear signal: they must have obtained the [Pocket Dimension Setting]. She must be anxious to leave for fear of being trapped in the pocket dimension herself.

That meant there was little time left for the two of them. If they didn't act soon, they would become permanent residents of the pocket dimension. But the assistance that should have appeared in Wu Yiliu's plan was nowhere to be seen.