Does It Taste Good?

Li Jun "Little Apple," and Liu Shiling, nicknamed "Little Chubby Girl," are both "users" and "developers" in Xiang Kun's "Super-Sensing Item System."

They all developed a special connection with his "Super-Linked Object" or "Emotion-Infused Object" very early on, and based on their different understandings, they established their own unique cognitive systems, successfully finding ways to apply Xiang Kun's abilities through various super-sensory objects.

But fundamentally, their cognitive systems, the ways they connect with extrasensory objects, and the methods they use to access Xiang Kun's abilities are very different.

This is also related to their different personalities, different upbringing, different ages, and different subjective perceptions.

Although Liu Shiling is more than ten years younger than Little Apple, she has unwavering faith in her own magical system and is deeply immersed in it. She is also very proactive and radical in "developing" her abilities, and is very thoughtful, "creative," and "opinionated."

In contrast, even under Xiang Kun's guidance, Little Apple developed a special connection with super-sensory objects such as the Minion Wooden Carving and Coin through "Object-Sensing," and even perceived other "Emotional Injection objects" including the "Eight-Armed Eight-Eyed Wooden Carving" through this connection. However, she still explored the unknown abilities and world with a sense of awe and conservatism.

But in the end, Little Apple is still just a seventeen-year-old girl who often listens to all kinds of novels. Although she was born blind, her imagination is by no means lacking—in fact, she has an advantage over normal people in certain ways of thinking and understanding of the surreal world.

So after discovering what she thought was a monster that might come from another dimension, she acted like a cat encountering a creature it had never seen before, constantly trying to reach out its paws to probe, only to quickly retract them again.

The reason why Little Apple suddenly and aggressively "developed" and used her abilities tonight, and so directly "released" what she saw as a "Many-Armed Monster" from another world, was partly because she was eager to save the girl and didn't want her to be bullied, and partly because she could now contact "Gold Glitter" through some of her sensory abilities. She felt that she was no longer alone and had a partner.

Xiang Kun was basically able to grasp Little Apple's psychology.

With the exception of Lao Xia, the cognitive models he builds around familiar people are generally able to help him make relatively accurate predictions and judgments about behavior and psychology.

So when Xiang Kun heard Little Apple's somewhat uneasy, worried, and even self-blaming words, Xiang Kun naturally knew how to guide and comfort her.

"Little Apple, I think I know where that 'Many-Armed Monster' you've sensed comes from. Its existence is rooted in fear. It's the fear that others feel about their own changing direction that provides it with the basis for its arrival. So as soon as it appears, whoever it targets will feel fear and see its phantom, the embodiment of fear."

"You made the right choice today. Don't let yourself take on it, don't let your emotions be affected by it, but use it directly as a 'tool'. Remember, it is not a real living thing, nor is it your source of power, it is just a 'tool'."

"Just like you said, you are the player, and it is the piece. You must never put yourself on the chessboard."

"You've established a good sensory connection with 'Gold Glitter,' you can treat it as your ears, your nose, and sometimes, you can even try to see if you can turn it into your 'eyes.'"

"Whether you encounter problems or simply want to try something new, you can use 'Gold Glitter' more often to avoid risks. After all, 'Gold Glitter' looks like just a canary, not easy to attract attention, and can fly freely."

"You should know, 'Gold Glitter' is no longer an ordinary bird."

"If possible, you can try to see if you can give 'Gold Glitter' the ability to transmit the influence of 'Eight-Armed Monster' and 'Minions' without having to guide him yourself."

"In that case, if we encounter a situation like the one by the lake again, you can stay far away and don't need to show yourself at all. Just let 'Gold Glitter' go by."

Remember, your own safety is always the most important thing.

Xiang Kun, while adhering to Little Apple's thought patterns and established cognitive system, tried his best to reveal part of the "truth" to her in order to help her better understand the entire "super-sensory system" and avoid potential dangers.

At this point, he could no longer pretend that he knew nothing. Even if he didn't say anything, Little Apple must have already realized something.

Of all the "Emotional Injection items" he made, the Xiang Kun least wanted people he knew to come into contact with was the first one—an eight- Emotion-Infused Object Eight-Armed Eight-Eyed Wooden Carving.

Because this item was imbued with his fear, its negative effects were too strong.

However, it must be said that the "Eight-Armed Eight-Eyed Wooden Carving" is the most "aggressive" of all his "Emotion-Infused Object".

However, Little Apple integrated into Xiang Kun's "Super-Sensory Object Network" through the "Minion Wooden Carving," unexpectedly sensing the existence of the "Eight-Armed Eight-Eyed Wooden Carving," and establishing a certain connection with it, being able to "call" it freely. She also developed the ability to encapsulate and package all the emotional projections of the "Eight-Armed Eight-Eyed Wooden Carving" into a whole.

Fortunately, she invoked it through a "Minion Wooden Carving," which created a barrier, so she wasn't significantly affected.

Xiang Kun now hopes that Little Apple can simply stop guiding the "Eight-Armed Eight-Eyed Wooden Carving" to its descent and have "Gold Glitter" handle this ability entirely. She can completely detach herself, remain superior, and act as a true "chess player," controlling the pieces without being affected by the game, becoming an undetected "mastermind" to ensure her own safety.

As for how to give "Gold Glitter" those abilities, that's up to Little Apple to use her imagination and creativity. Oh, and "Gold Glitter" himself also needs to work hard.

Little Apple listened attentively as Xiang Kun spoke.

She understood what Xiang Kun meant and was thinking about it as she listened.

After Xiang Kun finished speaking, Little Apple thought for a while and suddenly said, "Uncle Xiang, have you always had superpowers? Have you... been helping me master superpowers?"

Xiang Kun wasn't surprised by her statement and went along with her thoughts, saying, "Your understanding isn't entirely wrong, is it? I do have some minor, insignificant abilities. However, the main reason you're able to master your current abilities, utilize and control that 'Many-Armed Monster,' and make 'Gold Glitter' so unique is primarily due to yourself. In fact, I've also benefited greatly from the process of you mastering those abilities."

Upon hearing this, Little Apple's face lit up with a bright smile, her eyes, though blind, still sparkling like jewels. "I knew it! Uncle Xiang, do you remember the first time we met? You were barefoot on the mountain road, trying to flag down a car, and we stopped to give you a ride. Back then, my dad and my uncle both knew you weren't an ordinary person!"

Xiang Kun smiled and said, "Professor Li and Officer Li are both very insightful people! But Little Apple, let's not tell Professor Li and Officer Li about our 'abilities' for now. Let's keep it a secret for now, okay?"

"Okay." Little Apple nodded without hesitation.

After a while, Little Apple asked softly again, "Uncle Xiang, should I... start calling you Master? Or Teacher?"

Xiang Kun laughed, "No need. As I said, the abilities you've acquired are mostly due to your own exploration. I'm just the one who guided you in; we're companions exploring this unknown territory together."

Seeing Little Apple biting her lip, seemingly hesitating about something, Xiang Kun asked, "If you have any questions, just ask. Don't worry. I'll tell you what I can."

"Uncle Xiang, you said you know where that monster came from. What's that world like...? Is there a way for us to go to that world... and take a look?" Little Apple asked, her voice a mix of fear and anticipation.

"The 'world' it inhabits is my cabinet," Xiang Kun sighed helplessly.

Xiang Kun understands Little Apple's way of thinking, knows her experiences and background, knows her inner struggles, and knows the real purpose behind her asking this question.

He sighed and said, "Little Apple, I know what you want to see in that 'world,' but I regret to inform you that the world where those 'monsters' exist is not what you imagine. Even if you get there, you won't see the person you're looking for."

"I'm sorry," Little Apple said softly, her head bowed.

The Gold Glitter on her shoulder seemed to sense her emotions, and it lowered its head and chirped softly, as if to comfort her.

Xiang Kun said, "You don't need to apologize. You have nothing to apologize for. Little Apple, you're a good child. If your mother knew what you did today, she would be proud of you. It's a good thing she's not in that 'world,' because it's not a good place. Whether she still exists or not, or where she exists, you should know that the better you are doing, the happier she will be."

Xiang Kun knew that although Little Apple's mother had passed away not long after she was born, she didn't really have any memory of her mother. But her mother was still a knot in her heart. She had never mentioned this to anyone, not even her father, her uncle, or Xiang Kun, but Xiang Kun knew very well.

After ending the video call with Little Apple, Xiang Kun turned to Xia Libing, who had been standing behind him without saying a word, and said, "Because she has been blind since childhood, Little Apple's sensory system is very different from that of ordinary people, and her dreams are also very special. If I hadn't perceived and experienced her dreams, I probably wouldn't have been able to find a way to enter the 'Hyper-Sensory State,' and my experience and understanding of the sixth sense would be much worse."

Actually, there's an even more important point— Xiang Kun's perception of Little Apple's dream is the key to creating "Alice".

Xia Libing nodded thoughtfully. "She is indeed extraordinary. Can you tell me how she uses those abilities?"

So Xiang Kun carefully explained how Little Apple used her abilities to create illusions and establish a perceptual connection with "Gold Glitter." After finishing, he glanced at the time; it was almost midnight. He couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you still able to sleep?"

"I'll give it a try."

Xia Libing returned to the bedroom, took off her coat, and lay back down on the bed.

She placed the chopsticks Xiang Kun had given her beside her pillow, then put nine Coin and a bead on her stomach. She then stretched her hands out from under the covers, cupped them together, and covered the Coin and bead with them.

It's fortunate that only Xiang Kun, an insider, witnessed this while he was sleeping; anyone else would probably have been astonished.

This time, Xia Libing fell asleep in just seven minutes, and Xiang Kun then sensed the chopsticks, triggering a dream.

The first scene in my dream was almost identical to the last one; I was still at the dining table in the living room of the house Lao Xia rented, and Lao Xia was still enjoying his meal.

It seems that after Xiang Kun "confessed" his abnormality and explained the reason for the dream, Xia Libing's subconscious had already anchored the dream related to eating, brought about by the chopsticks, to the food Xiang Kun cooked.

And the emotional projection of those chopsticks, "Little Chubby Girl," was naturally still at the table eating with them.

This time, Lao Xia "woke up" even faster in her dream. She quickly stopped eating, and then nine Coin and a tungsten steel ball appeared floating in front of her in the dream.

Next, Xia Libing followed the plan she had discussed with Xiang Kun and began to use the ten "Super-Linked Object" to construct some items.

The first thing to be built was still the Napoleon cake, but this time, two cakes that looked exactly the same appeared at the same time.

She first picked up a piece from the left and tasted it, then picked up a piece from the right and took a bite, savoring it carefully.

Although the two cakes look the same, Xiang Kun knows very well that one of them is constructed from the projection of ten "Super-Linked Object," while the other is a manifestation of Lao Xia's control over the dream world.

This is Lao Xia's assessment: What's the difference between the objects Projection Manifestation the Super-Linked Object and those simply imagined by a dream seed?

The difference is naturally significant. Without even tasting it, Xiang Kun, who perceives everything in the dream from Lao Xia's first-person perspective, can determine which is the manifestation of Super-Linked Object and which is simply imagination.

Even in dreams, the former can provide a far stronger sense of "realism" than the latter.

While eating the cake that resembled a Super-Linked Object, Xia Libing ate very slowly and in small bites, a stark contrast to her usual style, clearly savoring the taste of the cake.

After she finished eating, she began to conjure up all sorts of things again.

However, many things that she and Xiang Kun had agreed upon before could not be realized. Even things that she could imagine at will in her dreams could not be realized through those ten Super-Linked Object.

What she can conjure up are basically all kinds of food, such as chicken legs, chicken wings, rabbit meat, lobster, and so on.

Of all the non-food items, the only one that seemed to be the cold-looking "Little Lao Xia" was...

At this moment, Xiang Kun, who had shifted to a different perspective, suddenly wanted to try something.

He sensed another "Emotional Injection item".

Previously, when perceiving other people's dreams, it was impossible to sense other "Emotion-Infused Object" because he was directly experiencing the dream owner's senses and had to maintain a connection with the "Emotion-Infused Object" that triggered the dream.

But now, with Lao Xia "awake" and the introduction of the Super-Linked Object Projection, this dream, based on its existence, has become Super-Linked Object Projection. He can now "free his hands" and has the means to sense other related objects, just as he can now sense those Super-Linked Object.

Just after Xiang Kun sensed another "Emotional Injection item," the entire dream began to change. The surrounding scenery rapidly shifted, changing from the living room of Lao Xia's rented house to a huge mountain peak.

However, the table, the tableware on it, and the other furniture, decorations, and appliances in the living room are still there, as if the interior space of the living room has been instantly transported to the mountain.

Lao Xia also began to focus her attention on her surroundings, observing the changes. She had clearly realized that these changes were "the work" Xiang Kun, who had previously stated that he could not edit dreams when he was unable to enter the "Hyper-Sensory State" of another person's dream.

Therefore, all of this must have been achieved by Xiang Kun using some special method.

Suddenly, a timid, curious, yet slightly proud little girl's voice rang out from beside them. "Sister, are your chicken wings delicious?"