Zhan Lan's execution was far inferior compared to Zhang Jie.
But under Yujin's anxious urging, she still kicked the sleeping Zhang Jie out of the car, started the engine, and sped after the vehicle ahead, the one driven by Zhao Yingkong.
In the back seat, Yehui glanced at Yujin, who was half out of the sunroof, his pants brushing against the window frame and his thighs exposed. A smile curved on her lips as she secretly mocked him in her heart.
'Seriously? He's no different from that Ruan Wei guy! Their character is exactly the same!'
But just as she was thinking that, Yujin suddenly shouted.
"Turn back! Pick Zhang Jie up!"
Zhan Lan had already been displeased with Yujin for abandoning the sleeping Zhang Jie. Now that he wanted to go back, it was exactly what she wanted, so she twisted the steering wheel and headed back.
Yujin didn't wait inside the car. He climbed out of the sunroof first, spread his wings, and shot toward Zhang Jie, holding something in his hand.
"Swish!"
"Ahhh!"
Zhang Jie woke with a scream, jolted by pain. Sweat poured down his face. Just as he lifted his hand to wipe it, he froze—there was a toothpick stuck into his arm.
And at that very moment, at the end of the street, Freddy appeared again—wearing his red-and-green striped sweater, a black hat on his head, and metal claws flashing in the air.
"Phew…"
Yujin exhaled in relief midair.
This was exactly what he wanted to test—whether there was more than one Freddy in this world, and if the Freddy in reality and the one in dreams were actually the same being.
Freddy's speed was terrifying. Yujin tried throwing several shuriken, but Freddy dodged them with ease.
Seeing that the shuriken were useless, Yujin suppressed the urge to unleash a slower but stronger Fireball Jutsu. Instead, he flew in the direction of the boiler factory.
By the time Zhan Lan arrived near the factory, Zhao Yingkong had already rammed her car into the gate, forcing it open.
Zhan Lan hit the gas and followed inside. The moment the car stopped, Nova and Zheng Zha rushed over.
"Where's Yujin?"
"He told us to each find a spot near the heating pipes in the factory. Don't spread out too far, but not too close either. The moment you feel the cold pipes suddenly heat up, don't hesitate—that means you've fallen asleep. Try hurting yourself and see if you can wake up!"
Then she shouted again.
"Zhao Yingkong! Yujin told you to guard the entrance!"
Zhao Yingkong didn't respond. Her grip on the dagger tightened as she looked toward the darkness outside the factory.
Everyone quickly scattered.
Ruan Wei, however, was more cunning. He watched where everyone chose to hide, then deliberately ran deeper into the factory.
In his mind, that way he would be the last one Freddy would find.
The sky above, Yujin was slipping past Freddy.
When he saw Zhao Yingkong already prepared at the factory entrance, he shouted at her.
"Sleep!"
"What?" Zhao Yingkong thought the wind was too strong and she misheard the command.
Yujin threw two shurikens, narrowly dodging Freddy's claw swipe mid-jump, urging again, "Sleep! Hurry, sleep!"
Though she didn't understand why, Zhao Yingkong sat down on the spot and closed her eyes.
Having already stayed awake for two days, Zhao Yingkong soon fell asleep under the influence of the Nightmare on Elm Street world she was in.
"Whoo… whoo…"
Yujin landed, panting heavily, and put away his Kagune. He ran to Zhao Yingkong's side.
He raised the Reincarnator Watch and checked the time.
"If this doesn't work, one minute…"
Yujin's gaze was locked on Zhao Yingkong's face. He was so close he could even see the fine hairs on her cheeks.
His eyes then swept over her tightly wrapped chest, rising and falling slightly with her quickened breathing.
"What a pity. Good talent, wrong career. Uncomfortable when wrapped, but unwrapping affects agility."
Yujin silently counted the seconds, his expression tense.
"Not working? Freddy hasn't met her primary persona?"
Ten more seconds passed. When Yujin noticed sweat forming on Zhao Yingkong's forehead, he acted without hesitation. He quickly stepped forward and delivered a sharp slap to her forehead!
Smack!
The sound echoed through the empty factory.
Zhao Yingkong's eyes opened, confused at first. Her reaction was fast and instinctive; almost instantly, she raised her hand, dagger aimed at the man in front of her.
The shift in her gaze from dazed to clear happened in an instant. She quickly scanned her surroundings, confirming her position and the environment.
Seeing Yujin standing there, her tension eased slightly, but she remained cautious. The dagger did not drop.
"What's going on?" Zhao Yingkong's voice was slightly hoarse, clearly affected by the tension from her dream.
"I can't explain it clearly. I have to try the next plan!"
Yujin said, pulling out a handful of syringes. "These are sedatives. Use them on each of them one by one! Keep a steady pace and try to stagger their sleep, but don't let it be more than a minute apart!"
"If it's over a minute and they can't wake up on their own, wake them up yourself!"
"Got it!"
Yujin had just settled Zhao Yingkong when a piercing sound, like nails scratching a blackboard, sent a shiver down his spine.
"Oh, such a familiar place," Freddy said, deliberately forcing a strange voice that made it feel uncomfortable.
"Familiar indeed. This is the place where you tortured children." Yujin pointed around. "Remember now? Every inch of this concrete floor holds the tears and blood of your victims."
"Hahaha! I remember! I remember!" Freddy's claws scraped against a steel pipe. "So, you also want to feel fear here?"
"I definitely don't want to feel pain, but I want to show you a magic trick."
"Magic? That's a clown's thing." Freddy sneered. "Oh? You like clowns? I can also turn into a clown to torment you! Hehehehe!"
"I said, I'm going to show you a magic trick."
Freddy didn't take him seriously and slowly approached Yujin.
Yujin's hands quickly formed seals. Chakra surged within him, gathering in his throat.
"Great Fireball Technique!" Yujin shouted, unleashing the flame at Freddy.
The boiler room was cramped, leaving Freddy nowhere to dodge. He had no choice but to face the blast head-on.
The flames engulfed him instantly. His red-and-green sweater and black cap caught fire, and his metal claws screeched sharply under the heat.
Freddy let out a roar of pain, but even amidst the flames, his figure stood unbroken.
The power of the Great Fireball Technique was immense, but against someone like Freddy, it only caused discomfort and didn't deal any fatal damage.
Yujin knew clearly that even if Freddy stood still, letting him launch twenty Great Fireballs wouldn't necessarily burn him to death.
"Hahahaha!" Freddy laughed darkly.
The burn scars on his face seemed to writhe like maggots, making anyone who looked at him extremely uneasy.
Step by step, he advanced toward Yujin, helpfully taunting, "There's nowhere to hide. Your magic tricks and little wings won't save you now!"
Yujin stepped back, quickly reaching a point where retreat was impossible.
Freddy thoroughly enjoyed this feeling of driving his prey into a corner, slowly devouring it bit by bit.
Seeing his prey at a dead end, Freddy lost patience.
"Then… say goodbye!" he said, raising his claw to strike!
Just as his claw was about to pierce Yujin and the Substitution Technique was about to activate—
Freddy in front of him disappeared!
****
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