Nameless Stars
Eat your food one bite at a time, and do things one step at a time.
The bat-like monsters around London and the lost talisman will have to wait until Jiang Xueming goes to the Grand Archives for further studies before dealing with them.
Finding the Achilles' heel of these monsters, the Gate of Death of these beasts, must not be an easy task, otherwise they wouldn't have dared to appear so openly on the surface world.
Xue Ming sorted out the several things that needed to be steadily advanced next.
First, report to the boss, use the Skull and Bones Society's headcount system for piecework, and collect the bounty.
Secondly, we need to get the business license for the coffee shop and work with our partners on the renovations.
Thirdly, go home and rest for a while, then practice your exercises and get fit.
Fourth, go to the Great Library to study, find the special catalog of vampire legends, and it's best to have a guide to lead the way. If underground scholars are researching the subject of "Gate of Death" and have written a book about it, then drain that book dry.
Fifth, go to Sky Station, then to the Winchester countryside, find the group of bat spirits, and retrieve the Steel Heart.
The plan has been set; now it's time to execute it.
In the sanatorium ward, Jiang Xueming handed one of the two steel maces to Xiao Qi.
Seventh Brother looked puzzled when he received the stick.
"What is that?"
Jiang Xueming explained, "It's my staff, reforged at Mimir Hot Spring by a VIP using incredible steel-forging skills. It shouldn't be called a shoddy work anymore—it can slay dragons."
Seventh Brother raised an eyebrow and glanced sideways, then whispered a lewd joke to 3301 beside him, "Did you hear that? Did you hear that?! He handed me the stick! He gave me a stick after giving me a ring! Did you have one? Did you?~"
Jiang Xueming: "If you don't want it, you don't have to."
Bai Qingqing immediately took the steel mace back and hugged it to her chest.
Jiang Xueming then asked, "You should know how to use it?"
Bai Qingqing nodded, immediately becoming lively. Her Madness Index was extremely high, and her emotions changed very quickly. Just a moment ago, she was crying and looking aggrieved, but the sudden attack of the face wash left her dizzy and disoriented.
Through the spiritual connection with Ling Si, Bai Qingqing was able to comprehend Xue Ming's journey from his complex memories, as if the sacred F2 was linking them together, and naturally knew how to transform and combine the nunchucks.
--However, the Magic Wand itself is like an intelligent elf, with joys, sorrows, likes, dislikes, and temperaments.
Like trying to break a popsicle, 9527 tried to split the steel mace into four pieces, turning it into two nunchucks. She used all her strength, her little face turning red, but she still couldn't separate the steel mace.
A raging blue flame erupted from the Magic Wand, coalescing into a fist in the air, its veins bulging with anger, as it gave Seventh Brother the middle finger.
Upon seeing this, 3301 immediately burst out laughing, "Hahahaha! It doesn't like you! Seven! It's insulting you!"
"It scolded me! That means it cares about me!" Xiao Qi pouted, still trying to twist the steel mace. "It's so gentle! I'm so happy!"
After being kicked by Teacher San San, Bu Liuxing sat by the door scratching his head. "This stick is so rude."
Jiang Xueming gently tapped the steel mace with the back of his finger.
--It immediately split into four sections and became obedient in Seventh Brother's hands.
"Hey!" Xiao Qi, beaming with excitement after receiving her new toy, tugged at her employer's sleeve and asked, "What if it doesn't listen to me when you're not around?"
Jiang Xueming thought for a moment, then whispered something in Xiao Qi's ear, imparting the incantation.
Xiao Qi immediately repeated, "Stick! You don't want to become a toilet plunger either, do you?"
In less than a second, the nunchucks seemed to be attracted by a magnet, immediately twisting and snapping together, transforming back into steel maces.
Xiao Qi was beaming with pride and excitement, clearly delighted, and was trying to negotiate in a gentle and polite manner.
"Don't worry! I'll take good care of you! Whatever type of rust-preventive oil you need, I'll take you to the hardware store right away! As long as you behave, I'll never mistreat you!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a ball of flame spewed out from the stick, coalesced into a fist, and gave Seventh Brother Thumb.
Is this considered a reconciliation?
Is the communication finished?
Jiang Xueming didn't quite understand, but this Magic Wand was indeed very useful. After being reforged with Mingde's remains, it was indestructible and unstoppable. Crushing the flesh of the calamity beast was as simple and easy as chopping meat into mincemeat with a cleaver.
He had initially thought that if this max-level equipment could be used as material for die-casting bullets, it would be an incredibly powerful free weapon. However, considering the painful process of retrieving the bullets, the risk of losing them, and the incredible layering technique Wen Bucai had put in to create this eight-section short stick, Jiang Xueming dismissed the dangerous idea.
"You get some rest, I'm going to see the BOSS." Jiang Xueming stood up, her arm being grabbed by 9527.
Xiao Qi said, "Why don't we stay a little longer?"
Jiang Xueming: "I'm going to see the BOSS, not to fight him!"
Xiao Qi reluctantly let go, like a half-grown child, her mixed feelings instantly turning into a jumble of emotions.
"When you're done, come back and we'll have dinner together!"
Jiang Xueming: "I'll walk with you for a while; we've already discussed it."
Xiao Qi immediately let out a shrill whimper and gloated at 3301: "I told you he remembered! He's always had a great memory! Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!"
Using brute force, 3301 pushed her best friend down in a move resembling closing a coffin lid, then covered Xiao Qi with a blanket. "You should rest well and let your arm heal first."
Bu Liuxing looked like he'd seen a ghost as he followed Ming Ge out of the room, muttering to himself, "Ming Ge, no matter how many times I hear my sister-in-law's laughter, it always seems so strange. Does she have another identity?"
Xue Ming walked out without looking back. "What's your identity?"
Meteor: "Is she the legendary Grand Elder of the Soul Palace? Why can she smile so menacingly?"
Xue Ming: "Instead of thinking about these nonsense, why don't you think about what to name our coffee shop?"
"Oh! I've already thought of that!" Meteor and Xue Ming entered the elevator.
Xue Ming: "Think about it more."
Shooting star; "Huh?"
Xue Ming: "You'd better think it over. It can't be the Paw Patrol, can it?"
Meteor: "Can you read minds, Ming Ge!?"
Xue Ming covered her face, feeling a vague and inexplicable sense of frustration.
Upon seeing Jiang Xueming's expression, Bu Liuxing lowered his head in thought and adjusted his attitude.
Xue Ming pressed the button for the floor where the House of the Rising Sun was located. Instead of immediately going to the Cabinet to see the BOSS, he went to the Spirit Robe Distribution Area to return the clothes he was wearing. He no longer needed this barrier protecting his Inspiration.
Arriving at the 26th floor of the plastic-steel bridge, Jiang Xueming took off his zippered jacket and returned the swaddling clothes that had been with him for half a year to the tailor.
The woman with the [Fenxing] still looked listless.
Xue Ming gently knocked on the door of the House of the Rising Sun, and she came out, displaying an air of refinement and gentle speech.
"You've grown a lot, you don't need these clothes anymore, but you still remember to return them, that's so nice."
Jiang Xueming didn't say anything, but respectfully presented the clothes.
When Fenxing saw the extravagantly designed, sexy, and alluring open-front zippered dress, she almost lost her balance and stumbled at the threshold.
Jiang Xueming immediately apologized. "I'm sorry, I made a small change, thank you for your trouble."
"Well done! I've wanted to do this for ages!" Fenxing perked up immediately. "So this is the style the guests wanted? That's exactly what I was looking for!"
Things are starting to get a little weird--
Jiang Xueming had initially thought that this Fenxing Lady was a rather traditional woman. Based on his own assumptions, he believed she was the incarnation of the [Weaving Goddess].
However, a glimpse of Fenxing's flushed cheeks and her desire for avant-garde clothing designs seemed to contradict Xue Ming's guess.
So Jiang Xueming asked, "Sister, did you choose this place as your workplace because it's convenient for waiting for someone? Are you the Weaver Girl?"
Our attitude towards these mysterious things, or towards the gods—
Xue Ming has always been one to ask questions when he doesn't understand, without any reservations.
"No," Fenxing immediately said, "What are you thinking! I'm just a clothes maker. I do things in a way that's convenient and looks good. If you insist on having any connection with gods or bodhisattvas, it should be the Daoist nun Huangmu who bestowed divine power upon me."
Xue Ming continued, "When we first met, you seemed listless and had chosen the bridgehead as your work location. I thought you were waiting for someone."
Ms. Fenxing: "So I can rush out to a club as soon as I get off work."
Jiang Xueming: "Huh?"
Bu Liuxing: "Huh?"
Fenxing answered fluently and naturally, without any hesitation.
"I usually binge-watch TV series and movies indoors. Recently, I've been rewatching 'Dream of the Red Chamber' and 'Empresses in the Palace,' as well as fashion shows by Dior, Givenchy, and various trendy brands. When people come over, I give them clothes. After get off work, I go clubbing at nightclubs. It's normal to look listless. I need to save my energy for the stage, don't you think?"
Jiang Xueming: "Oh, I was overthinking it."
Fenxing continued, "The clothes are well altered! I'll go back and study them, and then ask the boss if it's okay to modify them like this. After all, not everyone can accept this kind of visually striking uniform, and not everyone has your figure—it'll probably scare away a lot of new passengers."
Immediately afterwards--
--Fenxing woman in the old-fashioned long gown revealed glamorous and tacky fishnet stockings with her elegant gait, a very avant-garde and hot combination. It was as if she could become the focus of the stage immediately if she took off her work clothes and put on a stage outfit or a sexy tank top. She was a veteran of the nightlife scene.
When the tailor returned to the room, Jiang Xueming saw more than twenty dresses hanging on the wall, as well as mannequins in the wardrobe, each with different styles of shirts, hats, skirts, and trousers.
Only then did I understand the meaning of Fenxing's words when we first met. "New clothes are better than old ones, but old friends are better than new ones."
Looking at the warehouse piled with materials, hundreds and thousands of standard spirit garments lay on the bare ground without any protection, like cheap goods from a street stall.
After pondering for a long time, Meteor finally spoke the truth, "Working hard and becoming stronger is so that you can take off your suit and tie, your skirt and white shirt, and wear whatever you want."
Jiang Xueming: "That makes sense."
The two friends said goodbye to Ms. Fenxing, returned to their accommodation floor, asked the customer service staff for a room, washed up, and changed into pajamas and slippers. They wanted to be clean and comfortable before meeting the BOSS.
This performance review process should be quite easy.
Xue Ming and A Xing returned to the boardroom counter and asked the lobby manager to return their weapon cases, only to see a long queue of cabinet members.
Many travelers who have been traveling for years return to the Council of Five Kings before the end of the year to give their year-end summaries. The boss is very busy.
You can even hear lively opera playing from inside the cabinet; this time, the fun is in the bag.
Looking inside from the arched stone corridor, people were crowded on the bookshelves on both sides of the inner cabinet, sitting densely in three rows, a total of more than sixty people.
Two instrument sets were nestled beside the fireplace.
In the very center of the stage, the BOSS, wearing a stone mask, is holding a young woman's hand, about to sing "The Phantom of the Opera" with her.
The spectacle was like a spinning top—it made Meteor's teeth itch with envy.
--The BOSS waved its little paw and shouted, "Sing for me!"
The young lady immediately raised her voice, producing a clear and resonant soprano.
An hour and forty minutes passed, A Xing got a little bored, so he wanted to slip away to find his girlfriend and ask about the two Wool Sheep sisters.
Jiang Xueming had no idea that A Xing had boarded the train, nor did he intend to discipline the child. Hearing Liuxing's nonsense, he didn't suspect anything at all.
Meteor handed the passenger log to Xue Ming, "Ming Ge! My stomach isn't feeling well! I'm going to the restroom!"
Jiang Xueming followed the line, but since he couldn't read minds, he couldn't guess what A Xing was thinking. He could only turn back and remind her, "Be careful."
A Xing felt a jolt, thinking that Ming Ge had figured something out. Feeling uneasy, he took bigger steps and walked faster.
Another half hour passed before it was finally Jiang Xueming's turn.
He talked with the Little Kitty for a very long time.
Explain everything that happened at Mimir Hot Spring, as well as the Skull and Bones Society and Bones Society and the Madness Butterfly Sect. Finally, hand the steel mace to the BOSS and ask him to take a good look at the staff, and ideally, write an instruction manual for it.
"I understand." The BOSS had just changed out of his costume, no longer as lively as before, and now dressed in a serious and earnest manner. "It's exciting that Wen Bucai returning to the railway system."
Jiang Xueming: "But Mr. Wen doesn't like to travel around. He hopes to continue maintaining order in the Mimir Hot Spring Market."
BOSS: "Don't worry, I won't force him to do anything."
Jiang Xueming: "About the payment."
Boss: "I'll arrange it. Besides, you gave me a surprise."
Jiang Xueming revealed the silken spirit form. "Is this it?"
The BOSS nodded, leaned against the Cat Tree Lady's belly, stood on the table, and carefully observed Jiang Xueming's soul.
"Absolutely beautiful! Such rapid growth, such unwavering determination! You are the best card I've drawn in the past thirty years, I..."
Jiang Xueming: "You're completely obsessed with mobile games, aren't you?"
"Ahem," the Little Kitty changed its approach, "Let's not talk about that for now, let's talk about what you care about. Jiang Xueming, I remember you wanted to open a coffee shop?"
Jiang Xueming emphasized, "It's not that I want to open a coffee shop, it's that Bu Liuxing wants a place to listen to stories."
"A story! Great idea!" The boss's eyes lit up. "Have you chosen a location?"
"There's a large open space next to the 26th-floor observatory. I'd like to get a plot there, right next to the access road to the observatory, to build a house." Jiang Xueming paused, a little hesitant, halfway through his sentence: "I'd like it to be as big as possible. Big enough to park dump trucks."
"What's the budget?" The BOSS reached out a paw and tugged at the sleeve of the Cat Tree Lady. The Cat Tree Lady immediately put reading glasses on the BOSS and handed him a small abacus.
Jiang Xueming frankly said, "Within 230,000 pyroxene coins, we need a main stage for a band, a large kitchen, good ventilation, and fire prevention facilities. Safety is the top priority."
The boss tapped on his abacus, then asked, "Why not choose a location next to the bar at the bathhouse?"
Jiang Xueming explained, "I want a quieter place. That spot is close to the elevator and the exit. Once the newcomers arrive, Meteor can go and grab them to ask for their stories—you understand, Boss."
The good cat suddenly froze--
--I understand? What do I understand? What does this sentence mean?
Upon seeing this, Jiang Xueming immediately spoke.
"Fortune favors the brave—this plastic steel bridge is the only way for passengers, or perhaps the path chosen by newlyweds when they receive their spirit robes, a path chosen only with courage. I think this café can offer them a place to rest for a while. Meteor can make friends with these people, listen to their troubles, and perhaps solve the problems they encounter, whether they are coming in or going out, on the ground or underground. We will definitely lend a helping hand when we see injustice."
"You've even come up with a name?" The boss suddenly grinned foolishly. "How about 'Goddess of Luck'?"
"For me, 9527 is my lucky charm." Jiang Xueming reached out, momentarily lost in a frenzy, captivated by the BOSS's beauty, wanting to pat the Little Kitty's head. "I want to thank you, BOSS, you've shown me a different way of life. I want to be a useful member of society. But I'll have to let Meteor think of a name for this coffee shop."
As if by conditioned reflex, the cat's paws pressed down on Jiang Xueming's hand, just like when they first met.
The boss was dignified, yet very happy.
"I'll waive your rent!"
Jiang Xueming: "That's so good?"
The boss's idea was very simple--
--If this coffee shop can help passengers solve their problems, it's like helping Nine Realms Station clear obstacles and repair roads.
That's what the Little Kitty said.
"You helping me is me helping you."
Jiang Xueming breathed a sigh of relief, "I have another request regarding this coffee shop."
The boss continued calculating, "I'll only give you a piece of land and an operating license, but I won't help you build the facilities and coffee shop. You'll have to figure that out yourself. The coffee shop's revenue is also subject to taxes."
Jiang Xueming said, "It's not those things. What I want is more than just a food safety license or a business license for the catering industry."
The BOSS's expression became quite interesting.
You wouldn't be.
Jiang Xueming spoke of his long-term plan--
"--I want licenses for workshops like steel forging, die cutting, vehicle modification, band performances, and shooting training. I want to build a club."
BOSS covered his face. "My god, you're planning to forge steel, blacksmith, race cars, sing, and even do melee combat, modify guns, and customize weapons for people?"
"Isn't that a bit much?" Jiang Xueming asked cautiously. "Because I myself started as a clueless newbie and learned by trial and error. From my own experience, passengers often have a lot of confusion and uncertainty. Besides the waiters, they need a place to guide them on how to fight and how to survive in the underground world. Relying solely on local armed employees can't accomplish these things."
The boss sensed Jiang Xueming's ambition.
If Jiang Xueming, this stubborn young man, was previously cold and aloof, never revealing any desires, and only wanting to live a good life as a kind-hearted person...
This club was a New Year's gift he gave to Nine Realms Station.
In the vast underground world--
--Most living things live by "taking".
Whether it's Madness Butterfly or a human.
They all take from each other, tear each other apart, and compete for the three elements.
This allows them to acquire more material and space.
During my journey through the Mimir Hot Spring Market, I realized that people's aspirations had changed; they had shifted from "when poor, one should cultivate one's own virtue" to "when successful, one should help others."
The boss was about to speak when he said, "Gun control."
Jiang Xueming: "You can let the soldiers from Guangling Zhixi come here for a vacation as a perk. I don't think anyone will dare to cause trouble under the watchful eyes of these soldiers. The ammunition and guns are separate. I'll fix them up on the 26th floor, and then take the finished product to the shooting range at the station for shooting tests."
BOSS: "Combat training."
Jiang Xueming: "It has a gym and a combat ring, and nylon weapons and protective gear."
Boss: "I need a stage."
Jiang Xueming immediately replied, "Music is the best medium for relieving stress. People in modern society often go to karaoke to sing a few songs to de-stress."
"I have a question," the boss finally finished speaking and asked the complete question, "Are you doing all this for yourself?"
Jiang Xueming took the steel mace back from the table.
"Boss, I obtained your bone by chance. I learned about your ideals from Teacher Victor, and they are quite fascinating."
The boss nodded. "Thank you for the compliment."
Jiang Xueming asked, "Your name is Ming De, one of the four fierce beasts in Chinese mythology, a strange, stubborn, and savage human-faced tiger. That's how the ancients described you, right?"
The boss nodded again. "Yes."
"You're different from the legends." Jiang Xueming stared at those golden cat eyes. "I don't know how to put it, but you're not fierce."
The BOSS grinned, amused by Xue Ming's naivety. "It's a long story. You can go to the library and find the general outline of the Abyssal Railway when you have the chance."
"Since it's a long story, as you said, I'll go see for myself."
Jiang Xueming spoke of his background and his ideals.
"Boss, I come from a family of human traffickers. The two people who raised me are not my biological parents. They are scum and beasts to the core. I was raised by them since I was a child, and I almost became a little scum and beast myself by imitating what I saw and heard."
The boss asked sarcastically, with a double entendre, "Congratulations?"
Jiang Xueming continued.
"But in the end, I didn't become that kind of person. Thanks to Uncle Chen's introduction, I was able to deliver food to Brother Ye Bei. They gave me a job, a proper job, a job with a healthy schedule and full of enthusiasm. I don't think this is a blessing from God, it's not a stroke of luck. I won't thank God, nor will I think it's because I'm lucky. I will only thank these two people, thank them for giving me the strength to fight against life, thank them for giving me the opportunity to recreate my life, and for allowing me to escape with Bailu."
The boss didn't speak; he remained silent.
Jiang Xueming bowed again in apology.
"Teacher Victor always says he's long-winded, and without realizing it, I've started to ramble on too. But I think it's necessary to tell you all this, my dear BOSS—Commander Nanami— called you, and you immediately went to help them. I was very confused at that time."
"From what I know, you must have lived for a very, very long time and seen many grand scenes, but the moment you hear about something upsetting or someone in need of help, you immediately take action. This really surprises me. Later, Mr. Wen Bucai said, 'Life is definitely not a journey from passion to cold-bloodedness.' At that time, I thought that the BOSS must also be such a vibrant being, never discouraged or admitting defeat, never growing up or getting old—just like what my brother Ye Bei said, we are still young, and it's too early for us to become frowning adults."
The Little Kitty pursed its lips, and its tail began to wag uneasily, indicating that it was unhappy.
Jiang Xueming continued—
"--So, back to my family matters, I've been thinking that the worse these two human trafficker adoptive parents are, the better I need to become. Otherwise, it would be too bad for society. There's only taking and little giving back, only broken families crying out, and very few righteous people helping these families and helping them find their children."
"I don't understand why bad people can live so happily and joyfully. I don't have that ability; I can't be a bad person. So I must try even harder to be a good person. There are already people who have set an example for me. They haven't asked anything of me, yet they are willing to lend me a helping hand. I think these are the heroes of modern society, the knights who uphold virtue in the modern era."
Jiang Xueming picked up the steel mace, and a ball of flame ignited from it.
"You were able to send the shooting star to my side, to let me meet Bai Ziqing, and to arrange these journeys for me. I have been keeping my head down and working silently all along, rarely saying a word. Today, I can finally have a proper chat with you."
"I obtained this stick by chance, passed down to me by my benefactor. I believe it is my mission—from what I've heard, its school of thought is called [Anonymous], and it doesn't serve any practical purpose for the station. I want to put its sign back up. Right here in this café I mentioned, I can do something about it."
The boss pulled a small handkerchief from the Cat Tree Lady's pocket, his eyes wide, and wiped away his tears, then blew his nose hard.
Finally, Jiang Xueming cautiously described, "Unlike Teacher Victor's simple, concise, and soul-stirring language, what I want to say is just this: to do a little bit of work, just like Commander Nanami said, a tiny bit, just so so—I only know a little bit, sorry if it sounds a bit long-winded."
The boss was crying and kept wiping his nose on the clothes of the Cat Tree Lady.
"Alright, stop with the mental attacks. Little Kitty can't handle this. What else do you want? Shut up! Go to the board counter and get the title deed and license! This is a rare, unprofitable deal for me, so hurry! Before I regret it!"
Jiang Xueming made a request. "I also hope that you can return the 9527 life-saving amulet to her. She lost one of our matching rings. If this continues, I'm afraid she will have a hard time surviving in the underworld."
The boss thought for a moment and said, "That's no problem."
Jiang Xueming breathed a sigh of relief, "Nothing else."
--The matter is over.
Jiang Xueming received a hard card cut from a sapphire, which served as a pass to the Grand Library. There was also a jewelry box containing the talisman belonging to 9527.
The lobby manager was preparing to lead this VIP guest out when his attitude became strange.
The manager learned from the conversation that Jiang Xueming had obtained Mingde's remains and was now a figurehead in the Senate. However, the [Nameless] school of thought had long since disappeared into the annals of time.
Jiang Xueming hadn't walked more than a few steps...
--The boss called out to him.
The Little Kitty asked, "I'll be going to your club often to listen to stories. Have you thought of a name yet? If not, I'll ask a great writer to come up with one when he has time?"
Jiang Xueming thought of Mr. Wen Bucai, then of Bu Liuxing, and of Victor's guidance.
Finally, Meteor sent the shop name she had just come up with via text message.
"[JoeStar·The Nameless Star]"
Joe and Jiang sound similar, and Star and Meteor have similar meanings.
The boss was puzzled. "Did this kid get his Inspiration from a manga? This name is the same as the surname of all the main characters in <JOJO's Bizarre Adventure>—JoeStar Joestar."
Jiang Xueming smiled and closed the cabinet door for the lobby manager.
He was trying to use a double entendre in the BOSS's tone, and he held a grudge very much.
"It's both a coincidence and an inconvenience, but is it something to celebrate?"
Thank you to Galaxy Track for the generous donation!
Thank you, boss! Wishing you good health!