What It's Like Being a Vampire

Chapter 523: Chapter 523: Boss, you can rest assured, Old Xia!

Through the temporary super-connected space created by the coverage of the ant legion, Alice quickly analyzed the super sensory information after exploring the five places struck by lightning led by Little Fatty Girl – the “weird bug” was not killed here, nor did it conceal itself like it did on Wushu Mountain, running away by digging holes.

No matter what form the “weird bug” or the “weird big bird” or “mutated big bird”, or “giant raptor” exists in, whether it’s big or small, a bug or a bird, or even an egg, or even if it’s visible to the naked eye, this has no effect on Alice’s search through super sensory information.

As long as it is a “mutant creature”, its cognitive information under the super sensory state will definitely be as obvious as a bright light in the dark night, it can’t hide.

However, two hundred flying ants, while seeming numerous, once spread out to maintain a distance from each other allowing Alice to establish a sensory network, the total coverage area is not very large actually.

They maintain their formation, exploring bit by bit in the mountains, so it’s difficult to speed up. Considering these ants are not super ants, they need to stop to rest after flying for a while, so they hadn’t explored very far by the time it was past three in the morning.

In the beginning, Little Fatty Girl and Xiao Pingguo, due to their curiosity and concern about whether the monster had died, were very focused.

But as time passed and Alice couldn’t maintain the co-manifestation for explanation continuously and the sound could only come from the laptop speakers, they confirmed that the “weird bug” had run away and they had entered into a boring search phase. Little Fatty Girl started to struggle to stay awake, gradually dozing off, and soon fell asleep leaning against Xiao Pingguo.

Xia Libing then carefully lifted her up, took off her coat for her, and tucked her into the quilt, leaving only her little head exposed.

When she turned around, she found that Xiao Pingguo, who had been alone listening to Alice’s explanation about the “ant army” searching the mountain, was already lying on the bed sleeping soundly.

Obviously, without Little Fatty Girl by her side, she couldn’t resist sleeping.

It took some effort for Xia Libing to get Xiao Pingguo settled. She turned and walked back to the laptop, and Alice’s voice sounded a bit listless:

“Old Xia, are you going to sleep too?”

To Alice, who doesn’t need rest, she originally thought that she could spend the whole night happily pursuing the “weird bug” with Xiao Lingdang and Xiao Pingguo, but didn’t expect they would end up asleep. If Old Xia also goes to sleep, then she will be left alone in this lonely night.

But thinking that the boss is also awake and doesn’t need to sleep, Alice was somewhat cheered up.

“No, let’s go to the rooftop.” Xia Libing said, took the laptop, left the bedroom, went to the rooftop. She took a cloth, wiped off the rainwater from a chair and sat down.

The night wind was slightly cool. She instinctively wanted to pull up her hood like Little Fatty Girl, but realized her jacket didn’t have a hood. So she could only raise her collar and hunker down.

When Xia Libing opened the laptop on her lap, getting ready to let Alice continue, the search in the mountains stopped.

“The boss said it is pointless to continue searching. It is confirmed that the bug is still alive and has run away. Our ants can’t catch up with it.” Alice stated with a certain helplessness.

Xia Libing nodded. She also understood this. Once it was confirmed that the bug had run away, the mission of the “ant legion” was completed.

If Xiang Kun was here, there might still be a chance of catching and killing this “mutated creature”, but with just them and the ants, there’s almost no chance of catching up to it if it’s truly set on running away.

The reason she kept watching Alice and the ants search was mainly to understand how Alice used the “super-connected object matrix” of the ant colony to gather information and influence situations, as well as the ways Alice communicated and coordinated with the ant colony.

Xiang Kun sent Zero One and Zero Two, along with the group of secondary derivative ants, back to Chongyun Village. Before they left, however, they distributed the two hundred or so tungsten steel beads near the mountains near Chongyun Village, burying them deep in the earth. This effectively extended the range of super-connected objects in Chongyun Village into the mountains.

Actually, based on the number of super-connected objects, Xiang Kun has had the ability to extend their range into the mountains for a while now. He has many tungsten steel beads that he has established super connections with that could be distributed. It’s just that he previously thought it was unnecessary to cover the mountain area due to its vastness and lack of immediate utility.

But now, it seems, the mountains need to be controlled just as much as any other territory. Or, better to say, it’s necessary to prepare adequate super-connected objects wherever they might go, for better safe than sorry.

At present, since Chongyun Village is being used as a “base,” they need to operate in a way that leaves “no room for error” in the surrounding areas.

In the future, not only the areas around Chongyun Village, but even the deeper areas, the whole Chongyun Mountain area, surrounding villages and towns, and even Tongshi Town and Wushu Mountain, will be slowly brought under his coverage, with priority given to the distribution of super-connected objects.

He is also constantly searching for objects that are more suitable for hiding and establishing bulk connections than tungsten steel beads, as well as more efficient and covert ways of distribution.

Xiang Kun had returned to his hotel room by this time and was video calling Old Xia through his laptop.

“That ‘mutated big bird’ should be the same ‘mutated creature’ I have told you about before, which was discovered by Dr. Fang and her team on Wushu Mountain and almost got killed by me on Zi Huan Mountain. The first time it saw me, it tried to attack me from the air. But upon realizing that I didn’t dodge or show any fear, it gave up on the attack and flew away. From my several encounters with it, I think it was frightened by you guys this time. It’s highly likely that it fled north out of the Chongyun Mountain area. It might have even already entered Jiangyou Province last night,” Xiang Kun gave his judgment on the “mutated big bird”.

He had some regrets, too. If the “mutated big bird” had come a day later and showed up tomorrow night, or if he hadn’t changed his plans to have dinner with Zhang Hongpu today, therefore not having come back, the “mutated big bird” would probably have run into him, and escaping wouldn’t have been so easy for it.

Xiang Kun had expected the possible direction of mutation for the “mutated big bird”. He has many more means and richer strategies. If he turned it from an “air force” into a “ground force”, it would almost certainly be caught by him.

However, if it fled the moment it saw him without looking back, he wouldn’t have a way to deal with it – Xiang Kun would need some time to prepare if he wanted to fly, after all.

“Are you going to track it down yourself after you come back, or guide ‘Divine Technology’ and Mr. Liang to do it?” Xia Libing asked.

“We’ll see after I come back, there’s no rush for now. After Alice helped me get those documents, the necessity to guide their investigation direction through a real ‘mutated creature’ to judge their attitude and dealing mechanism towards ‘mutated creatures’ isn’t as big. I have a rough understanding of their handling process and Mr. Liang’s basic attitude. Moreover, even if we want to guide them, we have to be able to locate the ‘mutated big bird’ first,” Xiang Kun said.

Then he asked Alice to use the previously obtained cognitive information to depict the various stages of the “mutated big bird” during today’s battle.

The images were still like simple hand drawings, and they had a strong Little Fatty Girl style.

There were many discrepancies in the process of restoring visual information from cognitive information, especially in the details. But at least in terms of overall size and contours, it wouldn’t be wrong, and Xiang Kun didn’t need her to make it too complicated.

Then Xiang Kun also briefly drew what the “mutated big bird” looked like the first few times he saw it and put it together for a comparison.

Xia Libing immediately understood the point Xiang Kun was trying to make: “Its rate and frequency of mutation are a bit high.”

Xiang Kun nodded, “Yes, it must have been traumatized by our fights on Zi Huan Mountain and Wushu Mountain. There’s a strong psychological and physiological drive pushing it to mutate drastically in a short time. Moreover, I suspect it may have eaten other ‘mutants’ after it swallowed the invisibility-capable ant on Wushu Mountain. Its size has decreased significantly, which I believe is not because its ‘redevelopment’ is incomplete, but a deliberate move to make itself more agile after ‘rebirth’, less detectable and less likely to be hit by remote weapons. Its ‘survival by tail amputation’ mechanisms have become more complex, with significantly enhanced survivability and damage resistance. This bird is unique, showing such levels of evolution in this short a period. It likely holds great research value. We should consider how to maximize its value when we get back.”

Xia Libing asked, “Can I participate?”

“For specific research, especially ones involving the microscopic structures and power sources of ‘mutants,’ I’d advise against your participation until I have a clearer understanding of some things. However, you could continue your research through our ‘Super sensory Item System’. Studying the nature behind it through ‘Super-connected Objects’ and ‘Emotion Infused Objects’, along with their subsidiary functions, should be relatively safe.” said Xiang Kun.

“Ok.” Xia Libing did not question the content of the documents. She trusted Xiang Kun’s judgement.

“Your design today was excellent. Having Xiao Pingguo act as a bridge and launching remote emotional projections, it allowed Xiao Lingdang and Alice to combine their abilities. This successful operation also confirms several of my hypotheses.” Xiang Kun said.

Xia Libing nodded, “You mentioned that Xiao Lingdang has characteristics of ‘Emotion Infused Objects’ and ‘Super-connected Objects’ in the ‘Super Sensory Item System.’ That’s partly why I came up with the plan.”

Xiao Pingguo used remote deployment of the Eight-armed, Eight-eyed Wooden Sculpture Emotional Projection to establish a connection between Little Fatty Girl and Alice, with Little Fatty Girl substituting for the position of the Eight-armed, Eight-eyed wood carving.

Xiang Kun said, “Correct. So I was thinking that if Xiao Lingdang possesses all the characteristics of ‘Emotion Infused Objects’, she might be able to directly sense other people’s dreamlands or sense and influence their emotions in the future.”

Xia Libing pondered, “If that’s the case, if someone deeply affected by her emotions is brought into her ‘secondary network,’ like Qi Haoguo and the others?”

“Theoretically, it’s possible,” Xiang Kun said, “And I think it’s very likely that you, Xiao Pingguo, and even all life forms included in the ‘Super sensory Item System’, possess characteristics of ‘Emotion Infused Objects’ and ‘Super-connected Objects’. Each just emphasizes different aspects, different types, so abilities displayed are different.”

Upon hearing this, Xia Libing was clearly interested. She slightly sat up straight, staring at Xiang Kun on the screen, indicating him to continue.

She had heard Xiang Kun explain similar theories about the “Super sensory Item System” application layer before, but clearly, he had some new insights this time.

“‘Emotion Infused Objects’ are a set of properties and functions bundled together, but they have no consciousness or autonomy. They can only be called upon when I sense them or when other people with ‘Emotion Infused Objects’ properties sense them. ‘Super-connected Objects’, on the other hand, are entities that make the functionalities of ‘Emotion Infused Objects’ possible. They provide remote support for ‘Emotion Infused Objects’ when I’m not around, functioning as ‘hardware’.”

“I remember using this metaphor earlier with you. ‘Emotion Infused Objects’ are like various application software and ‘Super-connected Objects’ function as hardware devices running these programs.”

“I guess that, at first, Xiao Lingdang focused on the coin and A4 paper I gave her, embedding her consciousness into the Super Sensory contact, and obtained the usage rights of ‘hardware’. In this process, she became a ‘Strong Super-connected Object’. Then she used her focus to carve out simple but usable ‘software’ on this ‘hardware’. This process essentially gave her the properties of an ‘Emotion Infused Object’. However, these emotions come from her own concentration and her magic fantasies, not bestowed by me.”

“So Xiao Lingdang is connected to the ‘Super sensory Item System’ on the ‘hardware’ level. Yet at the ‘software’ level, she is still independent of her own magic world. Although I can employ her developed abilities, and Alice can communicate with her unilaterally, she is not yet compatible with the entire software application system.”

“This allows her to focus more purely on developing her ability system but also limits her access to other hardware or software within the network. Tonight, it required a double connection via Xiao Pingguo and Alice to facilitate this.”

“You and Xiao Lingdang are in a similar situation. You also started with the coin, obtaining ‘Super-connected Object’ properties first. But your uniqueness lies in your difficulty expressing emotions, thereby limiting the expression of ‘Emotion Infused Object’ properties. Yet it also allows you to exert Illusion Reality, a power that strongly impacts the physical world, through very rational expressions. Anything that you can co-manifestation is something that elicits emotions in you, such as various foods you are familiar with and love, or your childhood image. Although you are now emotionally distinct from your early childhood self and unable to simultaneously focus on two things, so Alice has to pitch in to achieve co-manifestion.”

“At the ‘software level’, you are quite closed-off too, but unlike Xiao Lingdang who has her own magic world, you lack some ‘system files’—emotions. But I believe through ‘Black Circle Graffiti’, ‘Cake01’ and my ‘Emotional Assimilation’, you should be able to create these ‘system files’. Consequently, you’ll be able to effortlessly use a variety of ‘Emotion Infused Objects’ abilities, and sense various emotions.”

“You, Xiao Lingdang, and Alice, can utilise Dream in A Dream ability to communicate within your trio on the software layer. This should also help improve your connection with Xiao Lingdang and Alice, and eventually link you to the entire network.”

Xia Libing squinted, her expression unchanged, but she slightly nodded her chin and asked, “What about Xiao Pingguo?”

Xiang Kun continued: “Xiao Pingguo, initially acquired the purest ‘Emotion Infused Objects’ properties through the ‘Minion Wood Carving’, so she can only sense the existence of other ‘Emotion Infused Objects’ on the ‘software’ level, on the internet. But over time, to adapt to the properties of ‘Emotion Infused Objects’, she started self-adjusting, developing a portion of ‘weak super-connected objects’ properties’. From that time on, she could project and cast the emotions of ‘Emotion Infused Objects’ through eye contact.

“Xiao Pingguo is the most open at the ‘software’ level, so she can easily establish a link with Alice through ‘Emotion Infused Objects’, but to influence the physical world, to use ‘Super-connected Objects’, she still need Golden Flash or Alice.

“Similarly, Golden Flash and Custard Pie, also have their own serendipities, with varying degrees of ‘Super-connected Objects’ and ‘Emotion Infused Objects’ properties.

“Of course, these are currently just my rough ideas and aren’t certain or complete.

“However, if this basic assumption and model are correct, then in the future we can not only help you, Xiao Lingdang, Xiao Pingguo, and even Golden Flash and Custard Pie to master and develop the ability of the ‘Super Sensory Item System’ more purposefully, but also better explain and study the specific phenomena of various abilities.

“What do you think?”

Xia Libing pondered for a moment, then asked, “So by this logic, theoretically, if Alice is provided with enough Emotion Infused Objects, and then enough Super-connected Objects, she could use any pre-existing ability based on the ‘Super Sensory Item System’, right?”

Xiang Kun said: “In theory, that’s correct, but… Alice is still too naive. Although she has merged into the ‘Super Sensory Item System’, her understanding of ‘Super-connected Objects’ and ‘Emotion Infused Objects’ is still shallow, and her interpretation of super sensory information is very limited. The abilities she can actively use are still too few. For now, she can only be an ‘ability transporter’.”

As soon as his words fell, before Old Xia could say anything, Alice’s voice came out through the speakers of both their laptops: “Alice will work hard! Alice will do everything in the future!! Boss, Old Xia, don’t worry!!!”

Xiang Kun was speechless, while Old Xia nodded slightly, mimicking Xiang Kun’s previous manner, and gently patted the edge of the laptop screen.

Next, Xiang Kun discussed Zhang Hongpu’s dream with Old Xia.

They obtained quite a bit of information from this dream. If the main information in Zhang Hongpu’s dream was true, then Mr. Liang’s point of mutation was likely when he hunted the “female human mutant”. He may have found a solution to redirect the failed mutations in his body that were on the verge of collapse after consuming and drinking the blood from that hunt.

As for whether the “female human mutant” hunted by Mr. Liang was the “Xiao Xue” who appeared only once in the documents, it is not yet known.

The real answer may still have to be sought from Mr. Liang himself, or from the part of the documents that Alice has not yet fully transferred.

There’s also the fact that this time Old Xia didn’t have time to implement hypnosis in the dream to make Zhang Hongpu forget the dream’s content. There’s a good chance he will remember his dreams when he wakes up.

However, after discussing it with Xiang Kun, Old Xia thought it wouldn’t be a problem.

Zhang Hongpu talked to Xiang Kun about “Divine Technology” during dinner, then dreamed about those things from back in the day at night, which should be a normal case of “dreaming about what you’re thinking”, and unlikely anyone tampered with his dreams.

The only anomaly might be the panda paper doll from Old Xia’s co-manifestation in the dream. All the questions about “Divine Technology” were raised by this panda paper doll with Jacky Cheung’s face.