When You're Heartbroken, Eat Mapo Tofu

Xue Ming and Xiao Qi returned to the main hall of the Council of Five Kings.

Along the way, 9527 talked about many, many things.

In particular, regarding the process of triadic substances and metamorphosis, there are many cases illustrating that triadic substances influence and entangle each other, constantly transforming the organism itself.

The rules of the three elements apply not only to people in the underworld, but also to most ordinary people, and even a very small number of plants, animals, and insects can participate in this spiritualist carnival.

An unprecedented discipline unfolded before Jiang Xueming —because the underground world's environment was extremely chaotic, constantly changing, lacking specific numerical constants and a vast database to support it, the passengers' mental world would also undergo drastic changes due to this chaotic environment.

It's more like a rudimentary folk custom, like the blind men and the elephant, filled with a sense of mystery that says, "I think it should be like this."

According to 9527--

--When Jiang Xueming first arrived at the station, he had already completed his first transformation.

Outside the Council of Five Kings, beneath the massive bronze sculpture of the Frost Giants in the Fountain Square, on that inevitable path, Xue Ming's soul and spirit were activated by the Spirit Calamity environment.

They were connected to parts of the body, and based on the skills they had learned in the past, they further strengthened and reviewed them, finally completing their first transformation.

According to the six stages of the metamorphosis of the Madness Butterfly.

The first metamorphosis is the [egg], representing the birth of life.

At this stage, people will rediscover another self. If there are still deficiencies in this person's three-dimensional nature, then this person will take the initiative to make up for them—there are two possibilities at this time.

The first scenario,

For example, Jiang Xueming, after finishing his first journey, almost immediately began to train his physical body.

The second scenario.

For example, after completing his first journey, Bu Liuxing craved a sense of fulfillment in his spiritual world. He would actively seek out various kinds of knowledge to stimulate his brain to produce more changes and enhance his learning ability.

Regarding pyroxene—this refers to the philosopher's stone, which Hohnheim pursued throughout his life.

Through the hands of the Spirit Elder, it was transformed into jewelry of various shapes. According to the supernatural tales of the Eastern fantasy genre, it could almost be regarded as a cultivator's natal magic weapon, or a magical catalyst in Western knightly fantasy stories.

Jiang Xueming had already experienced the effects of the Steel Heart.

However, this transparent corundum seems to be quite special; A Xing's rose ruby needs strong fighting spirit, anger, courage, and enthusiasm to awaken.

Corundum, on the other hand, is completely different. It requires its owner to maintain a calm and tranquil state of mind before it will emit a faint white light.

Both serve to dispel illusions in Spirit Calamity environment, enhance the user's focus and observation skills, and improve control over their body, preventing them from falling into complete madness in the face of immense fear.

Regarding sticks— 9527 frankly admitted that they were not something that [insect eggs] could easily master.

Only the nymphs that have hatched from the eggs can barely use tools to protect themselves.

The boss handed the sticks to the passengers ahead of time, hoping that these [insect eggs] would get the exercise equipment and quickly grow new limbs to become [nymphs].

Regarding the stages and forms of [transformation] itself.

It consists of six stages: egg, nymph (pseudo-insect), pupa, cocoon, emergence, and adult.

As for why the evolutionary process of the Madness Butterfly is used to represent the changes in extraordinary life—

"--Because they are very similar."

On the large terrace of the Houwang Hall, 9527 sat at a long table in the Tulip Bar and talked to Jiang Xueming about the matter.

"Employer, you've secretly looked at my ID card and know that I've undergone several transformations."

Jiang Xueming: "That's right."

Immediately afterwards, 9527 began fiddling with the bartending equipment.

"Then watch carefully."

Right now--

--Two eggs were flicked from Xiao Qi's hand. They seemed to be tossed about by a flexible thread, and a round hole appeared when Xiao Qi tapped them with her pinky finger.

The egg whites were poured into the metal cup, and the yolks were separated into another mixing container.

A pair of silver chopsticks jumped out from her collar, as if hooked by an invisible thread. They fell into the mixing container, and Xiao Qi could direct the chopsticks to beat the eggs by waving her fingers from half a meter away.

Xue Ming was dazzled by the sight, and from the silver chopsticks and Xiao Qi's fingertips, he could see subtle lines—like silk threads.

Its texture is flexible, yet it becomes strong and straight as Xiao Qi swings her arm and pulls it with her fingers.

As soon as the pair of silver chopsticks stopped moving, the silk threads, like frost upon a flame, instantly dispersed and turned into water vapor.

"Put the ring on, help me, employer." Cold sweat beaded on Xiao Qi's forehead, as if her concentration was about to run out.

"Okay." Xue Ming deliberately hid his hands in his pockets and put on the Steel Heart.

Immediately afterwards, one of the steel rings on Seventh Brother's hand began to glow.

She became energized, as if she had been plugged into an external power source, and picked up three cocktail glasses, starting to shake and stir.

Yes—she only has two hands.

But he picked up three cups.

Jiang Xueming finally saw it clearly--

--The large iron cup suspended in mid-air was tightly held by a ball of transparent silk thread, which seemed to be about to transform into a delicate pink hand at any moment, just as Teacher Victor had said, "The manifestation of spiritual energy."

"It's really amazing." Jiang Xueming was stunned. He thought to himself, if he had this ability, cleaning Jessica's room wouldn't have taken an hour.

Three glasses were placed on the table, followed by the pouring of lime juice, gin, egg mixture, and Cointreau into a measuring cup.

The soul threads that spread from Xiaoqi's five fingers stirred the [White Beauty] until it produced a lot of foam and became smooth and creamy.

Two pieces of crushed ice fell into two clear glasses, and the cocktail was poured into the glass.

"Mission accomplished." Seventh Brother raised his glass and handed another to Xue Ming. "Mine has egg yolk in it, yours doesn't."

Jiang Xueming took the wine glass and stared at the foam on the surface. "Why?"

Seven explained, "You're working out and need to control your cholesterol. I don't want to waste food, so drink the egg yolk too."

"Thank you. The silk threads I saw earlier, were they the [pupa] you mentioned before, the one in the metamorphosis process?" Jiang Xueming said, clinking glasses with Xiao Qi.

"That's right." 9527 curled his lip. "It's nothing special, it can save my life occasionally. Using it to help with something like bartending would be a waste of mental energy. I'll just show you a little bit of my skills."

Jiang Xueming stared blankly at his cup, pondering for a long time before hesitating whether to ask the ambiguous question.

He finally asked, "Xiao Qi, will wearing this ring help you? Why?"

"Because of the nature of corundum, it needs to be used in pairs." Seventh Brother raised his hand to show the pair of rings. "Corundum is a stone without emotions. It likes quiet and rational people. Such people need to form a close connection with their attendants, using the attendants' pyroxene qualities as the foundation of their relationship, to encourage the corundum to release more energy."

"So," Jiang Xueming pondered for a while before understanding the meaning, "I want to learn from you, right? Teacher Xiao Qi?"

"Ahem." Seventh Brother suddenly had some inappropriate images flash through his mind. "Let's not talk about that for now! When you and I use the Steel Heart at the same time, we can resonate with this stone and receive amplification and blessing from each other's spiritual world."

"According to this, Teacher Xiao Qi, what color is your stone? How can I resonate with you?" Jiang Xueming took the initiative to clink glasses.

"Wait, wait, wait!" Seventh Brother quickly grabbed Xue Ming's hand. "Come, come, let's drink a toast together, and I'll tell you!"

"Ah, that works too." Jiang Xueming wasn't embarrassed at all and was preparing to perform the ritual of husband and wife exchanging cups and brothers swearing brotherhood.

"Ugh! It's always like this," Xiao Qi quickly called out, then continued drinking by herself. "Can't you be a little shy? Never mind."

"I don't quite understand." Jiang Xueming took a sip of her cocktail. "I really don't understand. Does Teacher Xiao Qi feel happy when she sees me embarrassed or shy? I don't get it."

9527 shrugged and pursed his lips, looking like an old man on the subway looking at his phone. It was hard to tell whether it was the egg yolk in the cocktail that was fishy or the innocent expression on Jiang Xueming's face that had bothered him.

"Alright, alright, my little darling—I'll tell you, my stone is gold. It represents luck! Cheerfulness! Positive energy, gold! The color of super riches! But my good luck... boohoo... was confiscated by that bad cat."

Just as Xiao Qi lowered her head, sobbing and pounding the table in tears...

Jiang Xueming finished his drink.

Seventh Brother muttered, "Why aren't you trying to comfort me?"

Jiang Xueming truthfully replied, "Teacher Xiao Qi, you were faking your crying. It was all bark and no bite. I didn't understand."

Seventh Brother gently patted his cheeks a few times and pouted.

Jiang Xueming pulled out a medical report from the VIP tea room from his clothes, and said sincerely, "Take a look at this, Teacher Xiao Qi."

[Ternary substance test results]

[Examinee: Jiang Xueming]

[Physical Category]

[No abnormalities were found in any of the biological unit's tissues, blood, organs, or bones. Physical fitness and energy tests were passed, meeting the standards for vehicle use.]

[Major Spiritual Items]

[No abnormalities were found in the intracranial EEG spectrum at this biological unit. The personality and emotional intelligence test was passed, and the individual meets the travel standards.]

[Soul Category]

[This biological unit's various spiritual powers have not yet awakened. If it needs to be kept in the hospital for observation, please contact the relevant medical personnel at the station and strictly follow their medical advice.]

In the section on verifying the soul aspect, there is a very complex comprehensive table that has been blacked out.

Jiang Xueming pointed at the form whose contents were not visible, looking very concerned. "What is this?"

"This is the content that VIPs need to test and review," 9527 explained. "It's the explanation section for Soul Power, which is the ability and appearance of the butterfly within us after we emerge from our cocoon, after our spiritual energy is materialized. It's all recorded in this form. You don't have it yet—so it's all been erased."

"I see." Relieved to be in good health, Jiang Xueming asked about other things, "Where's A Xing? Didn't he say he was drinking at this bar?"

9527 shrugged, mimicking Bu Liuxing's tone. "I don't know?"

Finally, they met Bu Liuxing at a snack shop in the station.

That was a silhouette with a very interesting story.

--How much of a story is there?

The tall boy, who was 1.9 meters tall, was squatting on a small stool with more than twenty empty bowls in front of him, all of which were filled with Mapo Tofu.

A Xing ate and cried at the same time, and you couldn't smell any alcohol on him, as if he hadn't drunk any alcohol at all.

Jiang Xueming was completely stumped.

Could this kid have some kind of hidden mental illness? The kind that even the train station can't detect?

Looking at the Braille card lying on the table, A Xing's mental examination of the security card's contents showed a B+ Madness Index, nothing unusual.

Jiang Xueming stepped forward and patted the clueless boy on the shoulder. "Meteor, what's wrong? Why are you unhappy?"

"I'm heartbroken. Ming Ge, I..." Bu Liuxing's mouth was covered in bright red chili sauce. "She doesn't want me anymore. Canaan-mei doesn't want me anymore."

Jiang Xueming thought it over and over, but she never expected this answer.

"Ah?"

Bu Liuxing continued, "I was in a good mood today, and I thought, how can you have a party without a girlfriend, right? So I called Brother Mr. Bourne and asked if I could contact that Canaan girl. I said I could go find her myself, and the boss didn't say it was impossible. I was thinking, bringing an ancient astral girlfriend to the club would be great. But..."

The air raid siren suddenly went off at full blast, making 9527's teeth ache. He immediately crouched back down and hid in the laundry collection area of the customer service department.

Bu Liuxing cried and shouted, "Brother Mr. Bourne said that Sister Canaan doesn't want me anymore and shouldn't contact me again. I'm useless to that wicked woman. She slept with me once, and now I'm useless to her. She said she was afraid the other passengers would misunderstand and she wouldn't be able to collect new human DNA."

For a moment, Jiang Xueming didn't know how to start the conversation.

I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing—maybe that's just life.

Jiang Xueming gently patted Liuxing's back.

"Then what?"

"And then," Bu Liuxing said, stuffing Mapo Tofu into his mouth while tears streamed down his face from the spiciness, "I thought, I'm a man, I can't let these sentimental, sentimental things make me cry. So I ate Mapo Tofu like crazy, and I cried because of the spiciness! Ming Ge! Is that right?!"

Xue Ming was a little embarrassed. "Oh, yes, you're a man."

"You understand me so well! Ming Ge, sob sob sob." Bu Liuxing looked at the bald head. "You understand me so well, Ming Ge, you've already shaved your head. Which temple did you choose? Introduce me to the abbot, I also want to become a monk."

Jiang Xueming: "No. It wasn't me."

At that very moment--

Xue Ming finally caught a whiff of the refreshing aroma of egg and honey within the intense spiciness.

"You have a scent that I feel like I've smelled somewhere before?"

Bu Liuxing immediately stopped crying, though her nose was still red.

The kid pouted and refused to eat.

An awkward silence lasted for thirty seconds.

A Xing then said, "I've moved on."

Jiang Xueming: "That's good. But, the smell of egg yolk and honey on you..."

A Xing: "I've moved on, really."

Jiang Xueming: "Tell me honestly, is the scent on you from the snack jars of Miss Wool Sheep from Golden Township?"

A Xing remained silent.

Jiang Xueming: "No, right?"

The matter was left unresolved.

Only Bu Liuxing followed behind Jiang Xueming, constantly explaining.

"Ming Ge! Hey! Ming Ge, wait for me!"

"It's not what you think! After my breakup, I was calling everyone I could find."

"I'm heartbroken! When you encounter a jerk like that, you need an outlet for your emotions, right?"

"Then, she answered the phone and listened to me talk for a very long time. 'You went to get a checkup,' I said, 'and you didn't come out for ten hours. So I ran to catch a ride.'"

"We continued chatting on the way, and the more we talked, the more we clicked."

Jiang Xueming remained expressionless—he imitated Master Xiao Qi's demeanor, and mimicked Teacher Su's gesture of clapping his hands in front of his chest to celebrate for A Xing.

"Wonderful."