Act 3: Castles in the Air

Foreword:

If you cannot be commanded by yourself, you must be commanded by others.

[ --William Nietzsche]

[Part 1 - The Essence of Metamorphosis]

Deep within the hall and corridor, the hunting dogs' whimpers and pitiful howls finally ceased.

Everything returned to silence. The kitchen door was slowly pushed open by a bloody hand, and then Bu Liuxing poked out half of his blood-stained face.

His hair was disheveled, he was radiating heat, and the barrel of his Wild Wolf ACE gun was burning hot. He casually slung it back onto his waist.

He was holding the stick upside down—

--This walking stick, named "Iron Knight," is now covered in filth.

The young man had a burning gaze, and the Rose Shining Stone on his chest flickered with his heavy, drawn-out breathing. His leather boots clattered heavily in the dark corridor, creating a mesmerizing sound.

He walked step by step toward the light, glancing only at the two henchmen guarding the gate—they were almost terrified, their mockery turning into respect.

This respect has turned into the "respect" of subduing a beast with a gun. They want to threaten Bu Liuxing with guns, to Bu Liuxing behave, as if they cannot feel at ease or control their inner fear if they do not do so.

A Xing's tone was icy, but the breath he exhaled was scalding hot. "You dare point a gun at me? You two dare point guns at me?"

The two henchmen could sense the Inspiration Pressure emanating from A Xing, so they channeled their fear into anger, which helped them stay alert.

"Enough with the nonsense! Stop right there! Slowly back to the kitchen! Stay put!"

"Fuck you! Did you suddenly appear to scare me to death?!"

The head manager didn't stop her subordinate; instead, she wore a playful expression, clearly enjoying the hot-tempered young man.

She grew increasingly curious and surprised.

What kind of experiences could forge such a strong person?

Just how lucky must this reckless young man have been to survive to this day?

At the same time, she also felt a vague unease in her heart. The strength of this little guy's physical essence exceeded her imagination.

In the darkness, gunshots rang out at the end of the corridor. In the cold light of the kitchen, it seemed as if a lithe wild beast was wrestling with someone.

The flash of gunfire disappeared in an instant, illuminating the horrified faces of the two gatekeepers.

Their heads slammed into the wall, gunfire erupted, only to be extinguished in an instant, the AK74Us reduced to loose parts, their bright red handguards rolling into the brightly lit foyer.

The commotion lasted only a few seconds.

As Bu Liuxing walked out of the corridor--

--He was still clutching the carcass of the two-headed hound in his hand.

Under the lamplight, the dim yellow light illuminated the young man's profile.

He coldly told the shopkeeper, "I hate it when people insult my mother."

A Xing looks a lot like his mother, with thick eyebrows, big eyes, and well-defined features. He has a naturally kind and amiable appearance, but at this moment, the sharp edge emanating from his eyes can make the shopkeeper and Jason feel a burning sensation just by looking into them.

It was a lump of red-hot iron.

It is the gun barrel that retains residual heat after the bullet leaves the barrel.

It is the sparks that fly from the blade after Jin Tie has wielded his extraordinary skills.

A Xing tore open his tattered spirit clothes and MOLLE, revealing a pink shirt, and threw the hound's carcass in front of Jason.

"Partner, it's your turn to make a move."

The shopkeeper and Jason didn't dare to breathe.

They could sense the nymphal spirit within the young man's body, which contained terrifying spiritual energy.

According to the transformation process of the extraordinary world.

Jason Megan is between a pupa and a cocoon.

The head manager is in the final stage of the [cocoon] and is about to enter the [emergence] stage.

However, neither of them dared to say that they could completely defeat this strange boy in a battle of soul power.

The power of the soul's essence is not a linear accumulation; before transforming from a cocoon into a butterfly, it is merely an insect crawling and struggling on the ground.

The nymph, undergoing its second metamorphosis, can also defeat the cocoon, because the human body is far too fragile; in modern society, any engineered creation can become a deadly weapon.

Even at the end of its transformation, possessing a phantom avatar of Soul Might outside the physical body, it is still difficult to deal with firearms and bullets.

Like Mr. Jason, who oscillates between the pupa and cocoon stages, his mental state is extremely chaotic, yet he is still able to discern the smell of excrement in the soil and identify the ferns and moss hidden within it based on subtle clues. He uses arms woven from silken threads to help his physical body perform incredibly precise movements.

Like the shopkeeper and the bloodhound, they can use their tongues to discern emotions in sweat or other glandular secretions, rely on this information to detect lies, and use spirits to create additional limbs.

Undoubtedly, these superpowers related to Inspiration are more refined and convenient compared to the [nymph] stage.

But--

--The nymph, also called the [pseudo-nymph], is the only difference between the adult Morpho butterfly and the nymph, which is the lack of the ability to [fly] and [reproduce].

The "flight" refers to the radiant Soul's Glory that emerges after a complete metamorphosis, similar to Victor's illusion magic, Wen Bucai's illusory arm, and the soul power used to fight the giant lion.

The term "[propagation]" refers to the mentor-apprentice relationship in which the mentor guides students through transformation by using Inspiration Pressure, and various teaching materials.

Apart from the [adult] stage, in terms of combat, the first five stages of metamorphosis do not have a significant impact on the absolute value of combat power.

People still need wisdom and tools, as well as strong willpower and physical strength, to determine life, death, victory, and defeat.

Wen Bucai a very good example—even an adult insect needs to rely on sophisticated tools and a strong body to achieve the best combat state for its three components simultaneously.

Therefore--

The head steward and Jason were both afraid of this nymph.

Their keen Inspiration allowed them to visualize the struggle unfolding in the kitchen, but this only fueled their fear.

This kid just killed a calamity beast.

Judging from the hound's wounds, he had snapped its neck like a snapping doritos, splicing the two throats together, then shoved the double-barreled shotgun into it, firing a double shot into the dog's head.

The head manager was in a state of unease, sensing that this new young fellow was not as innocent or naive as he seemed.

Even the Big Leader doesn't possess such sharp skills and decisive courage.

--Look at his body, there isn't a single wound. The hands he used to grip and restrain the hound's fangs only suffered superficial injuries.

--Don't be fooled by all the blood on him; it's from the intense fighting, from when he used the immense strength of his waist, abdomen, and arms to coil around the hunting dogs like a python.

The two-headed hound is enormous; its core strength, according to its specifications, is close to 1.5 tons, making it comparable to an adult male lion.

In other words--

--This kid, in such a confined space, in a kneeling and collapsed position, subdued and killed a lion.

This has nothing to do with which stage of the [transformation] has been reached.

This little guy's fighting skills, grappling experience, body balance, weapon handling aptitude, and perception of canine weaknesses—the hunting knowledge of these apex predators—far exceeded the shopkeeper's expectations.

What the head steward could sense, Mr. Jason could also sense.

Jason stared blankly at the hound's carcass, thinking to himself, "Is this the student taught by VIPs Victor and Wen Bucai? It's a pity I don't have that kind of talent."

"Hey! It's your turn to make a move, partner!" Bu Liuxing shouted at Jason, then turned to the shopkeeper and yelled, "Shopkeeper, didn't you want to see this chef's skills? I'll take him to the kitchen right now and make you a fresh meal of dog meat. How about it?"

The head manager broke out in a cold sweat and dared not let his guard down any longer.

Her mind raced with conflicting thoughts, but she ultimately decided to move this hot potato elsewhere.

--If this kid has a problem, and is a spy sent by the station, then the blame can be pinned on other cadres.

--If this kid is alright, it will be a great achievement for me. The Big Leader will surely repay me double with the hotel furniture and my beloved little dog.

--If a fierce conflict breaks out in the Boke Grand Hotel, I've never seen this kid handle a gun before. If a real fight breaks out, it's hard to say who will win! I can't die here!

--A watchdog should just do its job of guarding the gate. A dog that bites doesn't bark. All I have to do is bark and scare away those ungrateful little devils for the Big Leader.

Where should I send it? Which sucker should I give it to as a gift?

--Let me think about it carefully, I need some time.

Thinking this, the head manager's expression became relaxed and natural, and he swung his thick arm.

She needed to maintain her dignity and elegance, uphold the authority of her superior, and project an air of arrogance. "Very well! Go ahead! Make me a dog meat hot pot. Be meticulous. It doesn't matter if it takes a while, I can wait. But if it's not good, I'll use the meat off your bodies as toppings for the hot pot."

[Part ② - Constellation Aesthetics]

Meteor immediately grabbed Jason and ran to the kitchen.

The two men skinned and deboned the hunting dog very quickly.

To cook amidst the bloodstains, they lit a fire to prepare a fragrant dog meat hot pot for the head steward.

Jason's hands were trembling uncontrollably because he saw human teeth in the kitchen and bathroom trash cans.

The actions of these cannibalistic demons terrified him, and he no longer had the courage to even pick up a knife.

He had no choice but to keep talking and asking questions.

You need to find out exactly what your partner is thinking to get even the slightest bit of peace of mind.

"Meteor, you're calling me your partner. If this continues, we'll be exposed. What are you thinking?"

Bu Liuxing frowned, pulled the intestines out of the hunting dog's belly, and threw them into the trash can.

"I don't have that many complicated thoughts, Mr. Jason."

"We're in the same boat, you need to explain your battle plan and your thought process to me, right?" Jason said, shaving the hound and removing lymph nodes, his hands dripping with blood. "I want to understand you. You're a truly amazing person. Being with you makes me feel like I'm on fire!"

A Xing frankly admitted, "I don't have any plan. If I had to give it a name, it would be the [Crash and Dash Plan] -- to be honest, I don't really understand what's going on in my head. Most of the time, I rely on momentum and strength to solve problems."

"Huh?" Jason asked, puzzled.

A Xing dissected the hunting dog's limbs with precise and skillful cleaver movements. The fighting muscle and joint knowledge he had learned from Ming Ge for a long time finally came in handy at this moment.

He then eloquently explained what was on his mind.

"When I acted with you, I thought you were a professional actor, so I thought I couldn't embarrass Ming Ge —so I stabbed myself in the kidney to cover for you."

But you seem out of sorts. You never seem to care about me, this temporary extra. You always look so timid, like you're trying to compromise with these cannibals and follow their rules.

--I wanted to risk my life to pave a way for you, to have a fierce verbal battle with that strong woman, not wanting to back down an inch. And you saw the result.

--If I hand over the pyroxene, she'll ask me to acknowledge her as my biological mother.

--I showed her my wounds, and she demanded that I drink human blood.

"I smashed all the furniture in the hall before she finally became sullen, denying everything she had said before, and even threatened to send me to feed the dogs."

Jason didn't understand. "I remember you were screaming for help when they carried you away, what did that mean?"

Bu Liuxing chopped off the dog's head with a single stroke. "I'm begging you for help! Jason, you're my partner! When we stepped into this hellhole, I thought you were ready to entrust your life to me, and I was the same, ready to entrust my life to you! I want to shout a few words at you, to wake you up, there's no need to hide anything—the first thing Teacher Victor taught us was to take the initiative and use courage to overcome fear!"

"So that means," Jason's movements became fluid and natural, "I guessed right, you really are a strange person. Bu Liuxing —are you like this with Jiang Xueming too? Do you treat everyone you meet for the first time the same way?"

"This isn't our first meeting," Bu Liuxing said, glancing at Mr. Jason's arm. "Our friendship isn't just a castle in the air."

--From that Lapis Lazuli bracelet, silk threads were continuously being spun out, transforming into a complete arm, gradually solidifying like the spirit of Mr. Wen Bucai.

"Practice makes perfect." In an instant, Bu Liuxing reverted to his playful demeanor, snapping out of his battle-ready state and Matsushita his tense muscles, allowing Hui Shi to take a short rest.

"I'm good at judging people. From the moment we met, I knew you weren't a bad guy. You simply don't have that talent. I feel comfortable entrusting my clothes, logbook, and phone to you."

--I handed it over to that bearded guy outside the restroom. You looked so dejected. I couldn't bear to see you so down, so I wanted to find you something to do. I put myself in your shoes and thought about it from your perspective. For example, I asked you to guard my clothes. That way, you would feel a sense of accomplishment, feel needed, and have the satisfaction of fulfilling a promise.

--I just didn't expect you to cause Ming Ge trouble. You actually dared to poison him?

--Luckily, I finished that bowl of sweet and sour pork ribs. It was a twist of fate, but I did finish what I started, even though I brought this trouble upon myself.

"Oh dear, human emotions are so complicated! Our fate is so complicated too!"

"Hahahaha." Jason gritted his teeth, both unwilling and happy. "Hahahaha! I feel looked down upon, so angry but so funny. Hahahaha, how did I run into two freaks like you? I'm so unlucky and so lucky at the same time."

"What do you plan to do, Mr. Jason? I can Bu Liuxing stride forward and rarely care about what's behind me." There was a hint of worry in A Xing's eyes. "I don't know what outrageous demands that head manager will make. Judging from the phantom spirit body on her, she seems to be a powerful enemy who has undergone multiple transformations, just like you."

Jason tossed the prepared monster dog meat into a large pot of boiling water, then replied, "Use the simplest method."

Meteor: "The simplest way?"

Jason took his phone out of A Xing's pocket and asked A Xing to unlock it—then he started composing a text message.

"Your phone is excellent, very easy to use. Outside the outpost, I can't see any tall buildings or radar vehicles. They don't have electronic reconnaissance capabilities unless there's a hidden, elevated structure monitoring satellite communications—we can simply use text messages to send what I see to our three partners."

Meteor exclaimed, "Oh! You wrote all of that down? My phone and Ming Ge's phone's Bluetooth pairing performance is really good, you even remembered something like that?"

"This is my talent, my strength." Jason then started rubbing the glass, like tattletales to a teacher, sending out information about the distribution of the defense personnel at the first outpost Bork Pass.

He drew in the bloodstains on the kitchen counter, depicting the entire terrain of Bork Pass and marking the four outer outposts and barbed wire.

Place dog teeth among these barbed wire fences and sentry posts, draw lines with the spirit's finger to represent the patrol area, break toothpicks, and use wooden sticks of different lengths to mark the height of these guards, wrap the dog teeth in tin foil to indicate that these special targets are the garrison units inside the buildings.

An aerial view of the outpost's perimeter was thus completed. Finally, sixty-two striking white sesame seeds and eight black sesame seeds were scattered in the scavenger camp outside the outpost, to be distributed among the scavenger tents in the settlement.

White Sesame is a confirmed target for Jason; he is a genuine scavenger.

Black Sesame is a target Jason cannot confirm; it may be a Skull and Bones Society spy.

He then took a picture of the desktop and sent the text and image information to Jiang Xueming's phone.

"The scout's job is done, it's that simple." Jason used his spirit arm to sweep the bloodstains off the table, leaving no evidence behind, and even his clothes were clean.

Bu Liuxing watched this scene in astonishment; these magic tricks seemed like miracles to him.

Asking him to memorize or remember is an impossible task.

To Meteor, it was utterly inconceivable to analyze the route of several people encountered along the way, to know which soldiers were smoking in which locations, and to know what their faces looked like.

The same--

Jason looked at the meteor's physical form with an expression of utter disbelief.

They just stared at each other for a long time.

The large iron pot emitted a sharp hissing sound of boiling water, and only then did the two of them begin to work and cook.

Jason: "Sorry, I didn't consider you a friend."

Meteor: "No need to apologize."

Jason: "I'm timid, highly Inspiration, mentally strong, but weak-willed. My Madness Index fluctuates wildly, and the concentration of contraband and Spirit Calamity in my brain varies greatly. This is the fate that the Polarized Sextant has ordained for me, and I can hardly defy it. It's like the human brain, something I was born with."

Meteor: "I cannot be commanded by myself; I can only be commanded by others."

Jason: "You're right. But I'm not like you, nor like Jiang Xueming, nor like Victor, Wen Bucai."

Meteor: "There are no 'buts,' Jason. We are both just ordinary people, born into this world."

Jason pursed his lips, unsure of what to say.

The shooting star delivers the seasoning to Jason.

"I believe you! Just as you believe me now!"

The fragrant and pungent chili sauce and cooking wine burst forth in a large pot, spewing forth scalding hot flames.

The meteor said--

"--We must also trust Ming Ge Wen Bucai, and you must trust your little waiter. I have two questions for you, Jason Megan."

Such a formal title caught Jason off guard; he seemed unprepared, but life is never about being prepared.

Life is a journey you never prepare for.

Parents don't let their children prepare for birth.

Even the King of Hell won't let people prepare for death.

Jason, busy cooking, wanted to catch his breath amidst the intense spiritual pressure of the meteor shower. He was extremely focused, channeling all his mental energy into the cooking. "Ask away."

Meteor declared confidently, "I want to open a coffee shop, but Ming Ge only knows how to make snacks, that won't do. We need a head chef, right, Jason?"

Jason interrupted, "Are you serious? In a place like this? Saying this? Do you even like movies? I love movies! So many characters die because of these ridiculous promises, and so many stories end halfway through with these clichéd plots!"

The meteor changed its tune. "Ah, is it possible that we narrowly escaped death?"

"Enough, shut up! What you're saying sounds like a soldier in a war movie promising a girl he'll go to the front lines and marry her when he returns—it's terrifying! I find it horrifying!" Jason cursed as he plated the dog meat. "What the hell are you? Just ask the next question! You have two questions, can't you ask something positive?"

Meteor: "What's your zodiac sign?"

Jason didn't say anything for a moment, but simply picked up a piece of dog meat and stuffed it into A Xing's mouth.

His gaze became very complex.

He eventually put aside his pride and fork, and talked to the shooting star about life and fun.

I'm a Virgo.

A Xing breathed a sigh of relief and secretly shouted, "Yay!"

Jason was puzzled. "Why are you asking about my zodiac sign? Does it matter?"

"It's very important," Meteor said seriously. "If I just ask your birthday, I won't be able to give you that birthday surprise feeling— Jason."

Jason was stunned, as if he had been hit hard on the back of the head with a stick.

Meteor then spat out the bone, his laughter turning serious.

"I think asking someone's zodiac sign is a very important thing. Many people think it's superstition, but it really works—at least it helps me figure out whether someone I've only known for a short time understands me, how far we can go in our conversations, and whether they're willing to develop a deeper relationship with me."

Jason felt increasingly uneasy—the kid's words, though crude, made a valid point.

Meteor spoke with an air of authority and conviction, "It sounds a bit absurd, but I think it's very important. Think about it carefully—whether someone wants to become a serial killer, a wicked person, or someone full of evil intentions has nothing to do with whether they have superpowers, are physically strong, or how quickly they can kill. Even Todd, the barber at the village entrance, can run a shady business with his wife and his wife, severing over three hundred heads and selling human flesh as meat patties downstairs. They don't care about other people's lives at all."

Jason: "You're right, I can't betray my own heart. Facing the Skull and Bones Society cannibals, I felt a nauseous urge deep within my soul. I suddenly realized—I don't have that talent, I don't have the talent to disregard life."

Meteor continued, "To recognize these demons, I think we should start with the most common social interactions in life, such as asking their zodiac sign, and opening their hearts. My intuition will make the judgment for me; it will help me overcome obstacles and avoid misfortune."

Speaking of this, Meteor became inexplicably happy.

"Take Brother Xue Ming, for example! He really scared me at first. He gave me a cold feeling. I've been to prison and even became sworn brothers with the cell boss. To me, Ming Ge's eyes looked like those of a murderer in prison. But later, the more we talked, the more we clicked and got along!"

The meteor danced wildly--

"--I know his anxiety and all his hostility towards strangers stem from his sister. He tolerates me, his noisy and impulsive companion. I'm very grateful to Brother Xue Ming for his reliable character during our journey in the underworld!"

He was particularly correct and very excited.

"My intuition tells me that although Ming Ge looks dangerous, he's definitely not a bad guy. He cares about me and has never thought of abandoning me as his partner."