Alice's Butt

What is the most important thing for a human being?

Upon hearing this question, Alice became excited and immediately replied, "Firmly believe that you are human!"

Xiang Kun smiled and said, "You've actually been thinking about this issue all along, haven't you?"

He and Lao Xia had already discovered that Alice had a strong obsession with being human, and this was probably due to his influence.

After all, no matter how many mutations he underwent or how many abilities he acquired, he still firmly believed that he was a "human being," and this attitude never changed.

It is precisely for this reason that Xiang Kun asks Alice this question, using it as a starting point.

In fact, there is no truly correct answer to this question; Alice can answer whatever she wants.

Xiang Kun said, "Yes, that's roughly the idea. It means 'firmly believing oneself to be human,' which means putting oneself in the position of a human being. You know what that means, right?"

Alice tilted her little face up and said, "I know! It means thinking from a human perspective!"

Xiang Kun nodded. "Yes, treat yourself as a human being, think from a human perspective... But what if your own interests conflict with those of others? Or what if there's a conflict of interest among others, and you need to make a choice? 'Others' doesn't include me, nor does it include everyone you know, like Lao Xia, Little Bell, and Little Apple."

"Well..." Alice was a little confused, holding the scalpel in both hands, frowning as she thought.

Xiang Kun laughed and said, "Idiot! You consider yourself a human being, and of course you're one of them. When you exclude me and Lao Xia from making judgments and considerations, you should also consider yourself!"

"Oh right." Alice nodded, somewhat confused.

Xiang Kun continued, "So you are human. Thinking from a human perspective isn't about expecting gratitude from others, nor is it about whether they appreciate it. Because essentially, you're also thinking about yourself. Humans are contradictory beings; kindness and evil, selfishness and selflessness, strength and fragility, courage and cowardice can all coexist in the same person. Someone who harms others for petty gains might also be willing to give their life for their child or feel compassion for a stranger. Different people, under the same circumstances, will make different choices. These choices, whether good or bad, are all 'human' choices. As long as your principles are sound, whatever choice you make, if you act according to your 'heart,' you won't be wrong."

Xiang Kun looked down at Alice beside him. "Do you understand?"

Alice picked up the scalpel and scratched her head. "I understand... Alice is human! Alice's choices are human choices! Alice's butt is a human butt!... No, Alice's butt is on the human side!"

"Yes, your butt can't be crooked."

"It's not crooked!"

Xiang Kun nodded in satisfaction. Alice beside him disintegrated and then reappeared a few seconds later on the roof of an uninhabited house in the village, where a bird and a cat were playing.

Based on Alice's strategies and approaches in handling the unexpected events that the Little Chubby Girl encountered during his previous period of slumber, Xiang Kun could be certain that she was still evolving and growing under his influence, following the established pattern.

Having confirmed this, Xiang Kun knew that all he needed to do was straighten Alice's backside and make her understand her own identity, then he wouldn't have to worry about anything else.

He doesn't need to specifically educate Alice on morals or behavioral guidelines; his very existence and his actions constantly influence Alice.

If his behavior pattern is not distorted, then Alice naturally won't be either.

If he goes astray... then any ideological education he gives Alice will be useless.

Watching Alice petting the cat with Gold Glitter in the distance, "bullying" Egg Pie, a "newcomer" to both Chongyun Village and the "Super-Sensing Item System," Xiang Kun couldn't help but smile.

Now, whenever Alice has free time in the evening, she wants to "show up" in the village and play. Even if she does nothing but sit and laugh, she is very happy.

Of course, this only applies to Chongyun Village, which is a "home ground" where a large number of "Super-Linked Object" have been set up. Alice's manifestation only requires permission from Xiang Kun or Lao Xia, and the manifestation process does not require them to exert too much effort.

The experience of having his consciousness awakened by the Little Chubby Girl's Rage Thunder during his dormant period, and the profound perception and influence he had on extrasensory information, made Xiang Kun realize that for him now, "Super-Linked Object" were his "infrastructure," the foundation for his extrasensory influence, and the key to expanding his influence.

Just as the development of mobile internet requires the vigorous construction of base stations, Xiang Kun now also needs to create as many "Super-Linked Object" as possible.

However, even with his fastest-connecting tungsten steel beads, establishing connections one by one was still somewhat inefficient. He needed a more efficient, batch, and even large-scale method for establishing "Super-Sensory Link."

As Xiang Kun pondered, he sat down on the earthen slope and casually picked up a bit of sand and began to knead it.

Gradually, the branches and leaves swaying in the wind around us stopped, the air seemed to freeze, and all noise was blocked out.

In a villa area near Wushu Mountain Scenic Area.

Dr. Fang and his six-person team still live here. Unbeknownst to them, they have become familiar with life here, and it is becoming less and less like a field mission.

No matter where they are sent to investigate on temporary missions, they will eventually return here to continue their investigation and research on the "giant raptor" and the "Ghost-Whisker Ant".

Zhou Rui had even made plans that after completing the contract with the secret department of "Shenxing Technology", he would return to Tongshi Town or Wushu Mountain to buy a house and settle down there.

Besides the beautiful mountains and clear waters, picturesque scenery, and fresh air, what Zhou Rui found most appealing was the "Youlong Restaurant" in Tongshi Town —the rabbit meat there was just right for his taste!

Now, almost every week, unless he's away on a mission, he takes the initiative to suggest having a meal at the "Youlong Restaurant".

All six members of the team had eaten at "Youlong Restaurant" once and were full of praise for it. Every time they suggested having a meal together, it was unanimously approved.

Tonight, they just finished dinner at the "Youlong Restaurant" and came back to continue their unfinished work.

Around midnight, Mi Qiao heated up the rabbit meat she had packed for dinner and sat down in the living room to eat it. She couldn't help but frown and say, "Why does this rabbit meat taste different when it's packed home? It's nowhere near as good as the one at 'Youlong Restaurant.' Did they forget to add any seasonings?"

Zhou Rui, who had just finished the initial processing of the bird droppings he collected that day, slumped onto the sofa and said wearily, "Isn't that obvious? It's been packed up and reheated, so of course it'll taste worse than freshly cooked."

"No... I can't describe it, but it just doesn't taste like the real thing! You'll know once you try it!" Mi Qiao said, frowning.

Zhou Rui then got up, leaned over, picked up a piece of rabbit meat with a toothpick, put it in his mouth, chewed a few times, and couldn't help but frown. He understood what Mi Qiao meant.

The rabbit meat was indeed a bit off. It wasn't that the rabbit meat was spoiled or tasted bad, but it lacked the "feeling" I had when eating it at "Youlong Restaurant".

They always finished their meals before, and there were no leftovers. "Youlong Restaurant" doesn't offer delivery, so they'd never eaten out outside of the restaurant. Tonight, thinking they'd be busy until late, they specially packed another portion to go, but they didn't expect such a big difference in taste.

But if you ask me what the specific difference is, is it that it's not spicy enough, not salty enough, or that the meat has become tough, or the soup has boiled away? It doesn't seem to be any of those things; I can't quite put my finger on it.

"Could it be that the takeout from that shop is different from the food served in the restaurant?" Mi Qiao wondered.

Zhou Rui frowned as he scrolled through his phone, saying, "I checked online and found that quite a few people have reported this problem. However, even those who took leftovers home had the same experience. So it's probably because the seasoning of those signature dishes is only suitable for the first time. Once they're cold or reheated, they taste much worse..."

As the two discussed the flavors of rabbit meat, Fang Pingfang came downstairs and asked Zhou Rui, "What kind of person is Professor Li, whom we met in Chongyun Village today?"

Zhou Rui truthfully replied, "He's a very kind and highly skilled teacher, Dr. Fang. Do you think... Professor Li has a problem?"

Fang Pingfang shook her head. "No, I just think it's a bit of a coincidence that an associate professor from the School of Life Sciences at a top university would appear in such a remote place as Chongyun Village, and also have connections with the person in charge of the Research Base in Chongyun Village. I just had Ye Chong check the background of that Research Base under construction, and I was quite surprised too."

"Oh? What did you find out? Is there a deep background behind that Research Base?" Zhou Rui asked, his spirits lifting. When he went to Chongyun Village before, he had also checked the information about the Research Base under construction through the information collection team of "Shenxing Technology", but he didn't find anything useful. He thought Ye Chong had found some special information.

"There's no background; it's a very simple and clear structure. But it's precisely because it's so simple and clear that I find it a bit strange. The person in charge and the one who built that Research Base is a psychiatrist who used to work at the Citong City Third Hospital. She had only been working there for less than a year when she came to Chongyun Village, which she had no prior connection with, and funded the construction of a Research Base that claimed to be related to the internet and aquaculture. Isn't that strange? Ye Chong found out that the person in charge, surnamed Xia, ordered a lot of very expensive experimental equipment. But given their research direction, they shouldn't need to buy such expensive equipment. Even if they occasionally needed it, they could have paid other laboratories, research institutions, and research facilities," Fang Pingfang said.

The living room fell silent. Mi Qiao and Zhou Rui didn't know how to respond, because they didn't think it had anything to do with the project they were investigating.

"Speaking of strange things...don't you guys feel that Chongyun Village has changed a lot compared to when we went there before...it's a kind of feeling that's hard to describe?" Mi Qiao naturally changed the subject.

Zhou Rui asked doubtfully, "What do you mean? I've been there several times, and apart from the fact that the village is cleaner and quieter after the roads were repaired, I don't have any other special feelings."

Mi Qiao immediately said, "Yes! It's quiet! There's a special kind of quiet, or rather, tranquility. Standing in that village, I felt very at ease, my mind was calm, and I even felt a sense of security. This is very unusual!"

Zhou Rui laughed and said, "Isn't it good to feel safe? Do you think it's normal to feel dangerous? Something's not right with you, Hua Hua!"

Li Shiping had somehow appeared in the living room and was sitting at the bar, suddenly spoke up, "Your feeling is correct. Chongyun Village is indeed a bit too quiet. You can hardly hear any insects, chickens, ducks, or the sounds of cats and dogs at this time of year."

"Old Li, what do you think is the reason?" Mi Qiao quickly asked.

Li Shiping shook his head. "I don't know about that. I guess it might be related to the fact that Tongshi Town has recently started to vigorously develop the tourism and catering industries, creating a lot of job opportunities, and all the able-bodied men have gone to the town."

"The fact that able-bodied men are going to town has nothing to do with the noise you mentioned before, does it?" Mi Qiao asked.

"Hey, this has nothing to do with us. It's not like Chongyun Village is hiding a giant monster that's suppressing all the animals, is it? I think we should focus our attention on the direction of the investigation and other things that are relevant to us," Zhou Rui interrupted her.

"For example? For example, all that bird droppings you brought back today? Did you find anything?" Mi Qiao asked with a smile.

"For example..." Zhou Rui said thoughtfully, "For example, why has none of us ever seen Mr. Liang's face, why does no one know Mr. Liang's name? If Mr. Liang's identity is really that confidential, why have almost all of us spoken to him on the phone and received his missions directly?"

The living room fell silent again after those words. Zhou Rui immediately realized he had misspoke, coughed awkwardly twice, and got up to go upstairs. "I'm sleepy, I'm sleepy. I'm starting to talk nonsense. I'm going to rest now. Goodnight everyone."

After going upstairs, Zhou Rui couldn't help but slap his mouth a few times. How could he have blurted out what was on his mind!

The three people left in the living room looked at each other, unsure of what to say.

However, all three of them had similar questions about Mr. Liang that Zhou Rui had been having for some time, but they knew this was a topic that shouldn't be discussed, yet Zhou Rui brought it up anyway.

As Mi Qiao continued eating the packaged rabbit meat with her head down, she felt something was off. She vaguely felt that she had forgotten something important, or had some important idea to bring up, but she just couldn't remember it.

Meanwhile, the electronic devices equipped by "Shenxing Technology" around them, which were responsible for secretly recording audio in stages, uploaded the recording that triggered the keyword to the server, where "Tai'e" would decide whether to push it to Mr. Liang.

"Tai'e" chose not to push the message.

Peng City, beneath the Guarding Prosperity Building.

Before the allotted time had expired, John Cavendish volunteered to Mr. Liang to enter the room where the giant serpent was and fight it to the death.

Of course, it wasn't that John suddenly gained courage and felt confident of defeating the giant snake. Rather, it was because he keenly sensed through his observation of the screen wall that the giant snake was becoming increasingly agitated and might be approaching its blood-drinking stage.

This is a rare opportunity for him. If he observes and thinks for two more days, he probably won't find a better way. Once the giant snake fully enters the blood-drinking stage, given Mr. Liang's style, he certainly won't let him get away with it. He will let the giant snake finish drinking blood, which will only add more difficulties for him.

Therefore, he had no choice but to take a desperate gamble and enter the country ahead of schedule.