Operator #17 · [Tomorrow]

"I'm going to show you more evidence to prove you're living in a dream."

Ming De took the lead, leading Sixty-Three into the deep alleyway.

A sign on the wall of the deep alley reads "Nine Realms Station VIP Reception Hall".

"You haven't walked this road in a very, very long time, have you?"

Sixty-Three: "Correct"

Boss: "Do you still remember where our journey began? Why did we choose this path?"

Sixty-Three: "It seems to be because of your sense of ritual?"

BOSS: "You're right, but I hope you can dispel the superstitions and unveil this mysterious veil."

This alley has no side roads, but occasionally you'll see a few small turns.

Ming De snapped his fingers, and the towering courtyard wall immediately sank, revealing its original industrial design and foundation blueprints.

This is a simple sandbox park with a length and width of about four kilometers, divided into thirty-two paths and four levels, capable of accommodating nearly a hundred passengers at the same time.

"Our current location is actually only about two kilometers away from the Council of Five Kings as the crow flies," Ming De pointed to the giant bronze sculpture plaza in the distance. "I want you to take a longer route."

Sixty-Three then asked, "Why do you do that?"

"Xiao Qi should have explained it to you already." Ming De continued forward with Sixty-Three: "There are many, many mysteries and many, many incredible things on this journey. I can't just stand in front of you all at once, with the height of a 40-centimeter thermos bottle, and tell you about things that will change your destiny—after all, not everyone can accept a cat pointing fingers at them with such arrogance."

A huge fountain plaza came into view, and Ming De continued.

"This is a miracle that I created together with the passengers of the underground world. Starting from the outer perimeter, the intersection of Longhua Road and Moon Lane is the construction team and armed employees who are farther away from the station and closer to the mortal world."

"The further you go in, the more bizarre and fantastical phenomena you'll encounter." The Black Cat winked at Sixty-Three, as if proudly showing off its architectural design. "The first thing people need to do upon arriving here is to remain quiet, let go of all negative emotions, promote blood circulation by walking, clear their minds, and maintain a sense of awe."

Sixty-Three points to the distant bronze sculpture of a giant.

"--Where did those statues come from?"

The boss said, "They were once my close colleagues, fighting for the same cause their entire lives, only to die in the vortex of power."

Sixty-Three: "I would like to hear the details."

The BOSS looked melancholy. "In ancient times, there were ambitious people in the giants' camp who wanted to compete with me for the power of management. These workers all had bite marks from White Lady on their faces. As carriers of the virus that spread the Vita Imprint, as viral bombs, they were sent to my station—ultimately, there was no cure. In order to deal with the giant Madness Butterfly in their bodies and stop the spread of the epidemic, I turned these brothers and sisters into bronze statues."

Sixty-Three: "It must have been very uncomfortable, right?"

"Whatever." The BOSS's serious attitude vanished, replaced by a contemptuous smile.

Sixty-Three: "Then what about this path? I remember the first time I walked this path, I wanted to find my companions, but I couldn't get close to them no matter what I did. Was it some kind of spatial magic?"

"A very simple trick." The BOSS gently raised his hand, and the entire platform of the fountain plaza rose up, revealing the rollers and conveyor belts within. "These activity areas will automatically drift and separate the passengers based on their positions."

Sixty-Three: "Why did we have to separate?"

"Humans are social animals. When they fall into the water, they instinctively call for their companions to save them. This ambiguous relationship is more in line with the state of mind when traveling by train." The boss squinted, patiently explaining like a clever little devil, "You can see your companions in the distance on this journey, but you can't talk to them or communicate with them, because everyone is going to different places. It's the same for us on the train. Many people are destined to meet again in the next life—this is a rehearsal. You are not alone; there are many passengers like you still on the road."

Sixty-Three: "Xiao Qi said that this kind of ritual is meaningless. The BOSS wants us to break the superstition."

"For the waiters, this journey is one of bitter waiting." Ming De led Sixty-Three toward the reception hall. "But I want to emphasize that waiting is meaningful. They must remain motionless, maintaining a noble demeanor, while waiting for the most important person in their lives. Anything that comes too easily is not something to be cherished."

Sixty-Three: "Truly wondrous"

The BOSS, head held high and chest puffed out, said with great pride, "This ritual is necessary. Once its principles are understood, it ceases to be a ritual, but rather a scientific method of guiding human thought patterns— Sixty-Three, let's get back to the main topic."

Standing in front of the empty reception hall, Sixty-Three suddenly felt as if he had been transported to another world, and was completely bewildered.

"How can I prove to you that this is a dream? Actually, the answer is very simple." As the BOSS spoke, he pulled up the small table in the reception area and, just like Xiao Qi had done, turned the crank on the dressing table to raise the tabletop and reveal the drawers underneath.

"Dreams are composed of human consciousness."

She reached into the drawer, but couldn't find anything.

"Neither you nor Jiang Xueming have ever seen these things before. These are memos from the waiters and the customer service manager. They're used to record new passengers' personal information, the waiters' first impressions of them, their clothing preferences or eating and lodging habits, and they're kept together with the registration book."

In the end, Ming De went to great lengths to pull out a diary, but the diary was empty; nothing was written in it.

"Even the [Fragrant Dream] that created this world couldn't create anything it hadn't seen before—except for Bu Liuxing, this is irrefutable proof that you're living in a dream."

The blank pages are like the last fig leaf, the weakness of Fragrant Dream. It cannot create things that neither the dreamer nor Jiang Xueming knows or has ever seen.

"I understand. I..." Sixty-Three continued walking forward, looking around the empty, square terrace, then at the building of the Prince's Hall, before finally sitting down at the small counter in the bar. "I understand."

Ming De went to the bartender's designated spot, took out lemons and eggs from the freezer, and said to Sixty-Three, "Would you like a drink?"

Sixty-Three: "Either way is fine."

The boss immediately started mixing drinks, wanting to give this disheartened old man a farewell party.

Aren't you curious? Aren't you curious why I'm telling you these things?

Sixty-Three: "I think you've made everything clear to me, are you planning to kill me? Even death row inmates get a good meal before their execution."

BOSS: "No, keep guessing."

Sixty-Three: "You should be approaching your harvest season soon. To get through this difficult time, perhaps I will become excellent food. Do you want to eat me?"

BOSS: "That's not right either. Keep guessing."

Sixty-Three: "Boss, stop messing with me. Stop messing with me. I'm tired enough."

The wine glass landed in front of Sixty-Three.

His dark eyes were reflected in the golden liquid.

Ming De stepped onto the bench and hunched over in front of Sixty-Three.

"You're right. If I go crazy during harvest season and can't stand the pain of being skinned and dismembered, I won't be able to sleep at all and will definitely eat a few VIPs. I value these little guys a lot, and if they die because of something like this—I will be heartbroken for a very, very long time."

Sixty-Three: "Will I become your sleeping pill?"

"No." Ming De shook his head. "My physical essence has been eroded by the Vita Imprint, and it is in a very weak state. Its behavior of devouring VIPs is entirely out of the instinct of hunger. No matter how much it eats, no one can guarantee that it will obediently sleep."

Sixty-Three: "So what will you do to me? Do you want me to help you complete this ritual? To take David Victor's place? After all, he's your favorite VIP—but do you dare? Do you dare wake me, this addict, from my dream? Maybe the moment I wake up, I'll immediately unleash the power of my soul and escape to somewhere else."

Ming De did not reply immediately.

--She just stared at Sixty-Three with her round cat eyes for a very, very long time.

"Kid, you haven't gotten old."

"What nonsense are you talking about, Boss?"

"I think you humans are all children to me, and you never get old—whether you're sixteen or sixty, it's all the same."

"What exactly are you trying to say, Boss? Don't try to reason with me. I've been wallowing in the mire of Regret Pill for thousands of years, I don't even remember the exact length. I've had many opponents who also tried to spout this meaningless nonsense, and in the end, it proved that their words were far more powerful than their skills—you want to reason with me? Who do you think you are? You're my defeated opponent."

Ming De: "Go forward, go forward, I need your strength."

Sixty-Three stared at the BOSS in disbelief, almost unable to comprehend this chaotic context.

Ming De: "Those who cannot let go of the past cannot move forward. I am slowly and methodically explaining these things to you, not to deliver a death sentence—although what you have done is enough to warrant a thousand executions. After you began to regard yourself as a god, you must have committed many acts of utter disregard for human life and incurred the wrath of both heaven and man."

Sixty-Three: "BOSS"

Ming De: "But just like the miracle you created, the Bu Liuxing you created, in his first knightly duel with Victor, he clearly distinguished between [a logbook and a spoon].

Sixty-Three: "Boss, what should I do?"

Ming De raised his wine glass. "Don't rush, let me finish what I have to say first—"

"--I believe that Bu Liuxing's birth is Red Mountain Stone's reward for you. At least in creating this life, you have already taken a big step forward. Similarly, I will deal with you according to the rules of Liuxing. I will definitely settle everything clearly."

"You stole my Red Mountain Stone during the next harvest season and made a mess of the station, so I need you to protect me this harvest season."

"Jiang Xueming's [Fragrant Dream] might be able to make my physical body fall asleep, but there has never been such a precedent, nor has there been time for the Chang Ghost to come into contact with Jiang Xueming's spiritual power. There hasn't even been a chance to experiment."

"If I fail, I'll have to hold four more funerals, and at least four VIPs will end up in my stomach."

"In the worst-case scenario, if my physical body fully awakens, not a single person will remain alive in this station. It won't be until four months later that the Taowu enters its next dormant period. The Philosopher Foundation will then use the world's most powerful forces to reseal my physical body."

"The Chang Ghost born during the harvest season will also bring endless Spirit Calamity. If the armed employees, medical personnel, and rapid response troops outside are clever enough, they can evacuate in advance, but I cannot accept this outcome."

"I want you to use the power of the [Regret Pill] to guarantee the success of my harvest ritual. All randomness and uncertainty are [inevitable] in the face of your soul power, right?"

Sixty-Three swallowed nervously, shaking his head guiltily.

"No, no, no, no, Boss, please don't let me stay here forever!"

The immense pressure weighed on his heart, almost crushing him.

Ming De continued, "You would never give up such an opportunity, Sixty-Three. This is another fair and equal deal between us, just like when you first came before me, exchanging a trip for the Universal Elixir."

She grabbed Sixty-Three by the collar, her eyes filled with intense aggression.

"But this time, I believe you can't resist this temptation. Think about it carefully! Sixty-Three! Last time, the love you released created Bu Liuxing. What will happen this time? You must be very curious, right? You must be extremely curious!"

Sixty-Three cried out in terror, "No, no, no, no! Boss! Don't tempt me! I just want to stay here. I just want to stay in this dream!"

Ming De: "Come and try! I'll have Jiang Xueming wake you up. Whether you use the [Regret Pill] ability to escape or continue fighting me, I'm not afraid! Because Lady Luck favors the brave!"

Sixty-Three: "But..."

"There are no buts." Ming De gently patted Sixty-Three's face. "Lift your head and walk forward. This is the last gift I'm giving you. Apart from the staff and stone, the waiter and the ticket, I can't stand the way you little guys look so lost and bewildered, as if you've fallen and are covered in blood, having lost all your courage— the Little Kitty can't stand seeing this."

Sixty-Three shakily took out the letter from home and read it carefully again.

He seemed to finally understand the aesthetics of Ming De.

Because life is only once, it's a one-way ticket.

He could now understand the aesthetics of the Madness Butterfly Sect.

Because after a person dies, they turn into mud, sand, the earth, and the ocean.

"I understand." Sixty-Three took a deep breath. "There's still one thing I don't understand. I've never understood it."

Ming De: "Ask away, I will answer to the best of my ability."

Sixty-Three wanted to summon a spirit, but couldn't do it no matter what he tried.

--Under the influence of [Fragrant Dream], he was twenty-one years old, like a lamb to the slaughter, unable to summon any spirits, which perfectly matched Jiang Xueming's physical condition at the time.

"I've had countless battles with this train conductor, Wood Plark, because he's extremely knowledgeable about time travel, even an expert in it. In my universe, he's the train conductor of the unknown FE204863. In this parallel universe, however, Teacher Ke Plark to FE33031—I don't understand the meaning of those two strings of numbers."

"Every time I return to 2006, besides Jiang Xueming, the person I care about most is this train conductor. He is almost the strongest opponent I have ever encountered in my life. Only he was able to see through the power of the [Regret Pill] in just a few rounds and fight me with chocolate milk. Like me, he was repeatedly learning the opponent's combat skills and trying to use the power of time and space to seize victory."

"I beat him more than thirty times. In those thirty-odd times, he used a [Sexy Bomb] to leave this string of characters on my spirit body --FE204863. Why? I can't figure it out, I just can't understand it!"

"Jiang Xueming's number is FE33031. What does that mean? When I wanted to change his spirit body and modify his soul power, almost out of a terrible instinct, I engraved this string of numbers on his spirit arm to distinguish myself from him. It seems that everything is predetermined, and it seems that the powerful pull of fate made me do these things without thinking."

"Regarding the unknown plot FE33031," Ming De pondered, stroking his chin, "This string of numbers is actually the zip code of a small county town in Miami, Florida, USA."

Sixty-Three: "Postal code?"

Ming De: "Jiang Xueming and his friends have broken through Niflheim's giant defenses. The railway will run along the strait, leading to the underground world of the Pacific Ocean, all the way to North America—how can you expand your territory without guns? Miami is an arms-producing city. My first new station will be here, and Wood Plark, this extraordinary magic teacher, will be the new train conductor on this line."

Sixty-Three: "What about FE204863?"

Ming De: "It's the railway line built from Iceland to Washington, D. C. on the east coast of North America—204863 is the genetic code for the poplar tree (Populus macrocarpa), a plant in the Salicaceae family. It lives in the northwestern United States, where there is frequent fog and rain, and the environment is harsh, making the construction of the railway line extremely slow."

"So," Sixty-Three murmured, "Wood Plark, because of me and Jiang Xueming, has embarked on completely different paths in two different directions around the world?"

"Very neat." Ming De smiled, his eyes narrowed. "A very neat chiral pattern. Just like your obsessive-compulsive tendencies, it's comforting."

After letting go of everything, Sixty-Three suddenly became affected and sentimental. "Does he know about my affairs?"

Ming De: "Who are you asking about?"

Sixty-Three: "Jiang Xueming"

Ming De: "He knows everything."

Sixty-Three: "Will he hate me? I changed his life, like a heavy stone. I had so many opportunities to help him directly, to change his life. I've done that countless times at other times."

Ming De: "That's just wishful thinking on Shitou's part. Jiang Xueming is like a weed; he never complains about Shitou, he only tries to break through it."

Sixty-Three: "If... if he knew the shooting star was because of me."

"No, he doesn't care." Ming De sneered, "He doesn't even care about his adoptive parents, he doesn't even care about the hometown that shaped his personality, how could he care about you? You're still so arrogant, Sixty-Three, you think too highly of yourself."

Sixty-Three: "That's good, that's good. Will he become obsessed with the 'Regret Pill'? I'm worried, after all, I'm the one who took the 'Regret Pill' away from him."

"He told me something very interesting." Ming De raised his wine glass, giving him Sixty-Three face, but receiving no response for a long time, he finally became a little impatient. "He told me that during the final battle with the giants in Niflheim, Meteor almost died."

Sixty-Three: "Such a thing actually happened."

"But [love] pulled this lucky boy back to the human world." The BOSS continued, "Jiang Xueming was disturbed by the spiritual pressure of Niflheim. In the midst of the powerful mental impact, he seemed to see another ending. He saw a dream that was difficult to distinguish between reality and illusion."

"He dreamt that he woke up in a health center, where there was no Nine Realms Station at all. The doctor told him it was all a lie, and that Meteor and Bailu had long since died—in a car accident. The young police officer who was keeping him company liked him and hoped he could face reality and live a good life."

Sixty-Three: "It was just a dream, wasn't it?"

"Who knows?" Ming De curled his lip. "My spiritual essence was by his side and witnessed this scene. I'm not quite sure if it was a dream or a disturbance in a parallel universe—perhaps there really is such a possibility that in another parallel universe, another Jiang Xueming is going to have to accept a tragic life. But I immediately pulled him back to reality."

Sixty-Three: "It's alright. It's alright."

Ming De: "In short, I think he's much stronger than you. He's like an iron man—indestructible. He doesn't care about regrets at all, nor does he care about a 'Regret Pill'."

At Sixty-Three, he finally raised his glass, having mentally prepared himself.

Ming De: "You're about to wake up, Your Majesty the Demon King, full of energy and in top form. Come, let's clink glasses, to our tomorrow!"

Sixty-Three: "A toast to our final jousting match!"

Ming De drank the wine in one gulp.

"If my physical body wins and you lose, then I will eat you."

At Sixty-Three, he raised his cup and drank heartily, his expression arrogant.

"If I win, you'll enjoy this harvest season in peace, while I'll escape from under your nose by any means necessary, using the [Regret Pill] to break through your defenses, find a way out amidst the blockade of the Lapis Lazuli Guards and Guangling Zhixi, deliver the Ultimate Insult to you, and then wait for the next [Miracle of Love] to occur."