Hooked

Xiang Kun chatted with Yang Jie's younger brother, Yang Zhuo, for a while and discovered that this young man, who had just started college this year, actually admired him quite a bit.

This kind of worship, when judged by Xiang Kun through perception, cannot be faked.

He also found a video taken by Xiang Kun unexpectedly encountered and apprehended the wanted criminal on the street—the video did not show him apprehending and controlling the criminal, but only showed him sitting in the police car.

Xiang Kun estimated that with Zhang Qian's help, he should have already investigated most of the publicly available information about himself.

Based on his cognitive model of Yang Zhuo, Xiang Kun roughly knew that Yang Zhuo probably had a feeling of "discovering a very capable person, but no one else knows about him". As for the feeling of admiration, it should be that he felt that Xiang Kun could easily do many things that he wanted to do but could not, such as easily "deducing" various information through observation, even guessing what others were thinking, and having strong "strength" so that he could "act bravely" when needed, etc.

To put it bluntly, it's basically imagining Xiang Kun as the person he wants to be and the person he wants to learn from.

For most people, in this situation, once they have been in contact with the idol in their minds for a period of time, the image of that idol will naturally be shattered and the feeling of worship will disappear.

However, after chatting for a while, Xiang Kun discovered that Yang Zhuo's assumptions... were actually all correct.

In fact, Xiang Kun was far stronger than he had imagined.

So when Yang Zhuo saw Xiang Kun demonstrate his somewhat unbelievable observation and analytical abilities at the dinner table today, he felt an even stronger urge to learn from Xiang Kun.

After guessing his thoughts, Xiang Kun felt somewhat helpless. His skills couldn't be taught, especially since the reasoning "theory" he had just demonstrated was utter nonsense. Although he had received constant guided training and had his own cognitive system and way of thinking, the foundation was based on his mutated and evolved body and brain.

It's like he was setting lap times in a 911 GT2 RS on the track, and after he got out, the little fan next to him asked with starry eyes, "How can I achieve those lap times?"

All he could say was, "Turn when you need to turn, and floor the gas on straightaways. Yeah, first you need a 911 GT2 RS."

Besides, Xiang Kun wasn't driving a 911 GT2RS; he was driving a spaceship disguised as a car.

How do I teach this?

But after this idea popped into Xiang Kun's head, he found that he actually came up with several solutions in a flash for how to train and improve other people's observation and reasoning abilities.

He can now build cognitive models of anything. He even built a cognitive model based on a song before, so that he could quickly find the most suitable method based on his own level to perform the song.

After that, he also discovered that if he wanted to train a certain ability, such as singing, playing an instrument, or shooting, he could first collect data and information, analyze that ability, build a cognitive model, and then use the cognitive model to tell him how to train and how to improve the details of which abilities—that's what he's doing now when he's trying to master the ability of "Electric Flight".

Of course, his own cognitive model of ability cannot be applied to Yang Zhuo or others, but he can build a suitable ability model for others based on their cognitive models, in order to guide and help them in their training.

Xiang Kun quickly realized the feasibility of this plan, so when he chatted with Yang Zhuo, he began to ask him some questions in order to build a sensory and reasoning training model for him based on the information he obtained.

"Observational and thinking abilities complement each other. The latter guides the former in how to do things, and the degree to which the former completes the task determines the result of the latter's calculations. Without knowledge of psychology, without a lot of practice and experimentation, and without sufficient accumulation and experience in daily life, it is difficult to know what aspects to pay attention to when observing, what information to collect, or what the significance of the observed and collected information is."

Xiang Kun said to Yang Zhuo, who was looking very focused, "For example, do you know what your sister's habitual actions are?"

Yang Zhuo thought for a moment and said, "When she's thinking, she likes to adjust her glasses. And, if something shocks or embarrasses her, she also likes to do that."

Xiang Kun nodded and said, "Look, this is the result of your observation and summary. After you have this understanding, when you see your sister do this action, you will be able to collect this information and then judge whether she is shocked, embarrassed, or thinking seriously."

"For example, when you look at a person, observe their subtle expressions and small movements, how they behave when telling the truth, and how they behave when lying. After summarizing these observations, you'll know which details to pay special attention to when you observe them again. It's a process of systematic learning, observation, analysis, and summarization, and then iterating again. As you continuously iterate, the accuracy of your judgments will continuously improve."

"You can look into the FACS (Facial Action Coding System) and learn some psychology. Then, observe people regularly, starting with those you see often, not strangers. You can also watch videos you record, like those from everyday life, such as birthday parties or gatherings with friends, and observe the facial expressions and body language of others when they are relaxed."

"Regarding sensory perception, there's not much to train for vision; it's purely based on your subjective habits and memory. As for hearing, you can occasionally find a relatively quiet, semi-enclosed space, like a beverage shop or small restaurant, close your eyes, listen attentively, and record the sound elements you hear. Each practice session should last at least half an hour. Often, there are many subtle sounds you can hear normally, but you habitually ignore them. Over time, your brain comes to think those details are unimportant, weakening your attention to those sounds. This kind of training can help reactivate your attention to those details..."

Meanwhile, Zhang Qian, sitting next to Yang Jie, glanced at Xiang Kun, who was chatting away with Yang Zhuo, and couldn't help but whisper to her friend, "That's strange. Why does Xiang Kun seem to hit it off with your brother like they've known each other forever? With that guy's brains, I hope your brother doesn't get sold out and then still be counting the money for him..."

"My brother wouldn't be worth much even if I sold him," Yang Jie replied softly. "The girl sitting next to him is probably his girlfriend."

Zhang Qian glanced at Tang Baona, who was sitting to Xiang Kun's right and listening intently to Xiang Kun "instructing" Yang Zhuo, and whispered gossip, "I don't think so. Maybe she has a crush on Xiang Kun. Look, there's no direct physical contact between them. They don't seem like a couple who've already established a relationship. I bet the Xiang Kun gave the Minion Wooden Carving to is someone else. Maybe he has another crush on someone else."

"What crush?" Yang Zhen'er, who had just returned from the restroom, heard her last sentence and asked in confusion.

"It's nothing. By the way, I heard Xiang Kun mention that he has a very capable friend who has two master's degrees in psychiatry and psychology. She's incredibly smart, Xiang Kun learned his knowledge of psychology and micro-expressions from her. Do you know that friend?" Zhang Qian asked with a smile.

Yang Zhen'er immediately said, "You're talking about Lao Xia, right? Of course I know him. What, did Xiang Kun specifically mention Lao Xia when you were eating just now?"

"It's like this..." Zhang Qian said, briefly describing the three number-guessing games at the Hunan restaurant, and then summarizing and repeating some of what Xiang Kun had said, but she did not mention the A4 paper "magic trick" that Xiang Kun had shown in the bar three months ago.

Hearing her words, Yang Zhen'er laughed and said, "Lao Xia is indeed very powerful. Xiang Kun is the same as him. These two are monsters, the kind with built-in computers in their brains. Especially when playing cards with them, I feel like I'm playing with my cards face up. It's too miserable!"

"Xiang Kun is really good at playing cards. We used to play together in the dorm, and he often won..." Zi Cheng, who was chatting with Chang Bin, took the opportunity to interject after hearing this.

Xiang Kun could hear their conversation clearly.

Although Yang Zhen'er always acted very outgoing, chatting with everyone and saying whatever came to mind, he knew that in reality, she was holding back a lot of things when she was meeting Zhang Qian and Yang Jie for the first time, despite her apparent enthusiasm.

It's like she mentioned "Lao Xia," indicating that she knew the "powerful friend" Xiang Kun mentioned, but she didn't reveal her relationship with Lao Xia, nor did she reveal any other information about him. She even only addressed Xiang Kun by his name, without mentioning titles like "Chef Xiang" or "Carpenter Xiang."

Xiang Kun could guess that, in the minds of Zhang Qian, Yang Jie, and others, the image of Xiang Kun's mentor and friend "Lao Xia" was probably that of a knowledgeable psychiatrist or psychologist or doctor who was over forty or even fifty years old.

As it approached eleven o'clock, many people showed signs of fatigue, and everyone got up to leave.

This time, the group exchanged WeChat, unlike before when they bumped into each other several times without exchanging contact information.

Xiang Kun certainly didn't think that chatting for a while tonight would really give Yang Zhuo much guidance. For ordinary people to improve their observation and reasoning skills, they need a lot of accumulation and practice. It's not like him, who could improve rapidly through guided training and mutation.

Next, he will continue to provide guidance to Yang Zhuo via WeChat and phone. If Yang Zhuo fully trusts him and practices according to his guidance, he should be able to see some progress in about a month. The results will show whether his cognitive model training method is effective.

If his model proves effective on Yang Zhuo, it will then be applied to his cognitive model of "Emotional Injection" and "Super-Sensory Link" objects, and used to help Little Apple and Liu Shiling further "master" the objects they have established a connection with.

On his way to the parking lot, Xiang Kun looked up at the night sky, a feeling stirring within him, and blurted out instinctively, "It's going to get windy."

Hearing this seemingly pretentious and somewhat mystical remark, Tang Baona, who was walking beside him, laughed and said, "Master Xiang, did you observe the celestial phenomena at night?"

As soon as she finished speaking, a strong gust of wind swept through, causing a loud crashing sound on the street, even the sound of shattering glass. An advertising sign standing outside a bar was blown down, and almost everyone instinctively shrank their necks.

However, Xiang Kun happened to be standing next to Tang Baona, which helped block most of the damage.

The strong wind was not continuous and subsided after a few seconds.

Besides Tang Baona, Yang Zhen'er and Zhang Qian and Yang Jie, who were walking not far away, were also among those who heard Xiang Kun's words. The latter two were now shrugging their necks, staring at Xiang Kun in astonishment.

However, Xiang Kun seemed to have forgotten what he had just said. After saying goodbye to everyone, he got into Chang Bin's car.

Just like when he was guiding and training other abilities, Xiang Kun now uses his free time to sense the atmospheric electric field and other electric fields around him.

However, for the time being, he seems to be only sensitive to atmospheric electric fields. His perception of other electric fields in the surrounding area is very vague, and he is unable to obtain enough characteristic information to build an effective cognitive model. Moreover, he can only get a clearer response to atmospheric electric fields when the weather changes.

However, Xiang Kun believed that after the next two or three blood-drinking periods, he would be able to make a significant breakthrough.

On the afternoon of January 2nd, Xiang Kun carried two cardboard boxes piled together as he walked out of the residential compound and got into the X3 that was waiting for him at the entrance.

After Xiang Kun put the box in the trunk and got into the back seat, Yang Zhen'er, who was in the driver's seat, couldn't help but say, "Chef Xiang, I've never seen anything like this before. Does the birthday girl have to drive over to pick up the chef herself?" Tomorrow, January 3rd, is her birthday. In the evening, they had invited some friends to have dinner together at Tang Baona's house, and naturally, Chef Xiang Kun to Chef Xiang.

Upon Xiang Kun immediately made a move to get out of the car. "Then I'll put those two boxes back and call a car myself. Anyway, they either contain ingredients for you to cook or gifts for you. I don't mind if you don't want them."

Yang Zhen'er quickly pressed the one-button lock and said with a smile, "Chef Xiang, please calm down! I misspoke, hehe, what gift did you give me? Don't forget you still owe me a Christmas present, you need two!"

Tang Baona, in the passenger seat, added, "Zhen'er has been talking about your gift for months; she drools over my wooden carvings every day."

Yang Zhen'er rolled her eyes at him. "Who's drooling!" Then, glancing at Xiang Kun in the back seat through the rearview mirror, she asked, "Chef Xiang, what did you carve that needs such a big cardboard box? It's not some kind of stampeding horses or something, is it?"

"Of course not, I carved the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea," Xiang Kun said with a smile.

"Huh? Huh? WHAT?!" Yang Zhen'er was startled at first, then realized what she meant and snorted, "You're definitely lying, but if you really are giving me some old-fashioned wooden carving, then I'll... I'll just steal Nana's Saber!"

While chatting and joking with Tang Baona and Yang Zhen'er in the car, Xiang Kun habitually and casually sensed the items he had established "Super-Sensory Link" and "Emotional Injection" with, since all it took was a thought.

After sensing the bone he had left in the mutated spider cave in the Qinling Uninhabited Zone, Xiang Kun was taken aback, because he clearly sensed that the bone had been moved.

However, this doesn't necessarily mean it was moved by a person; it could also have been moved by some animal.

Moreover, judging from the sensor readings, the distance it moved was very short, so it's possible it was thrown out of the cave.

So Xiang Kun sensed the Rabbit Woodcarving again. When he arrived at the underground parking garage of Tang Baona's residential area and was moving things out, he finally sensed a feeling of surprise mixed with a hint of horror through the Rabbit Woodcarving.

Sure enough, the cave and its contents were discovered!

However, for the time being, it cannot be confirmed whether the person who discovered those things is "Shenxing Technology" or the same group as the two people who were encountered by chance at the hotel entrance in town that day.

However, in general, unless tourists are deliberately courting death, it is difficult for them to get near that cave. Even if they are courting death, it is unlikely that they will find the cave entrance hidden by plants on the cliff face. Even if they do find it, it is difficult to enter it.

It's possible to get the Rabbit Woodcarving after a real adventure and a lot of effort into entering the cave, but it's unlikely that you'll take the bone with you.

The fact that they took all the bones from the cave suggests that it was "Shenxing Technology"—judging from their painstaking efforts to find and retrieve the wild boar carcass from the mountains, that's their modus operandi.

But whether that's true or not, we'll have to wait until tonight to confirm.

However, as long as the bone is in the hands of the people at "Shenxing Technology," he has a way to "follow the clues" and find it.