Ever since he got back from the alternate world, Jack Young had been running around nonstop, keeping an eye on this, checking out that, basically busy with a million things. Today, sitting on a plane, he finally had a moment to breathe—and decided it was time for a big move: figuring out exactly what world he'd just visited.
Normally, this isn't his thing. Sure, lots of worlds come with familiar pop culture backdrops—like you just dropped into a novel, anime, movie, or video game. But in reality, every world has its own weird quirks. Take the Pacific Rim universe, for example: lots of similarities, but plenty of oddball differences too. Instead of obsessing over so-called 'plotlines,' Jack prefers to use his own mind to observe the world and let his own judgment lead the way.
Real life doesn't come with walkthroughs. If you rely on one, you'll probably end up dying by it.
But this time was different—Jack couldn't help but get curious. There was a huge question nagging at him: What exactly was that last world?
Thanks to the clue about the Bright Jade Technique, he started by checking out Master Gu Long's "The Legendary Twins." He read through the whole thing, but the more he read, the more things felt kinda off. If you treat "The Legendary Twins" like a QR code and scan for key info, you'd get stuff like the Flower Shifting Palace, Villain Valley, Bright Jade Technique, Wedding Dress Divine Skill, plus all sorts of killer moves and quirky characters.
In that last world, Jack hadn't seen—or even heard of—Villain Valley, and Flower Shifting Palace was just something he blurted out for fun. The Murong Family supposedly had some fossilized divine skill in the novel, but Jack had never come across it. And that world had the Lotus Treasure Mirror, which the book doesn't mention at all. Geography, countries, and all that other info? Totally didn't match up.
If it weren't for the two most obvious martial arts—Bright Jade Technique and Wedding Dress Divine Skill—sharing the same names, Jack wouldn't have even considered "The Legendary Twins" as a reference point.
Jack had already learned the full set of both internal skills, and while there were similarities to the novel, there were also plenty of differences. He hadn't started practicing Wedding Dress Divine Skill yet, so let's put that aside for now. But Bright Jade Technique was a whole different story. In the novel, Bright Jade Technique had a few key features: it's the sect's treasure, keeps you looking young, and if Palace Master Yaoyue trains it to the ninth level, she basically turns into an invincible ice-jade goddess, with internal energy that constantly sucks in power from the outside like a whirlpool.
But from what Jack saw, that last world wasn't like that at all. Even the regular palace maids from the Guardian branch practiced Bright Jade Technique—it wasn't some secret treasure you had to keep under wraps. As for staying young, Bright Jade Technique did nothing special; just look at Night Lily, she was a totally ordinary middle-aged lady. Turning into ice-jade was legit, but the whole 'internal energy whirlpool' thing? Total nonsense.
So... did someone mix up the names of Bright Jade Technique and Bright Moon Divine Skill?
"In the book, Palace Master Yaoyue trains Bright Jade Technique to the ninth level and is supposedly unbeatable. But even at its peak, Bright Jade Technique is just half a step into the Innate Realm—being 'unbeatable' is a stretch. If the 'Bright Jade Technique' in the book is actually 'Bright Moon Divine Skill' in that world, then maybe that tracks. But the book's Lianxing and Yaoyue don't have the power of real masters at the Infinity or Great Limit level."
Princess Embroidered Jade could survive falling into a lava lake by freezing the magma with Taiyin cold energy. But in the book, Lianxing and Yaoyue get trapped in a mountain by Wei Wuya and nearly give up on life because they can't escape. Sure, internal energy masters aren't known for brute strength, but Jack would never be dumb enough to think Infinity or Great Limit experts are that helpless. If a regular person can dig through a mountain wall, there's no way it could hold back a top-tier martial artist. All things considered, the two Flower Shifting Palace leaders aren't as overpowered as the legends make them out to be.
"So, looks like Lianxing and Yaoyue definitely aren't at the eighth or ninth level of the Innate Realm. Yaoyue turning into ice-stone totally blew Lianxing's mind—it feels more like they're in some halfway state between acquired and innate skills." Jack leaned his hand against his chin, gazing out at the sea of clouds beyond the window. "Someone just stepping into the Innate Realm can almost be unbeatable. Four Wastelands, Four Nations, Mystic Divine Weapons, Ten Evil Soul Scatters—none of that stuff even gets mentioned. The Fiona Fang I know has Wind Wushang as her nemesis, but the book's Fiona Fang is locked in a feud with some guy named Ouyang Ting."
I met Empress Tianshan, but not in the "Heavenly Dragon" era—it was 150 years after that. So, meeting Princess Embroidered Jade and Flower Shifter might also be a timeline thing. The book's Fiona Fang lines up, and that 'Nine-Manifestation Cloud Dragon Ghost Dread' sword is basically the same. But if you think about it, there are endless similarities and differences.
Looking at flowers through the mist, watching the moon in the water—things seem familiar, but they're not quite right.
There's truth in the fake, and fake in the truth—it's all mixed up and hard to sort out.
So, time to throw out all that fixed thinking. Whether it's timeline chaos or just a totally different setting, the novel is only a minor reference. A real world needs real eyes to see it.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please note, we're about to arrive at Chengdu International Airport..."
Stepping out of the airport terminal, Jack found himself back in Chengdu after three months. Last time, he had a great time here with Xiao Geng Su Yue, and Jack really liked this bustling, stylish city—it's lively but never stressful.
"Heard the comic convention here is wild—full of otaku and all kinds of cute, nerdy stuff. If there's time, might as well check it out." Jack's still a certified otaku, so he's always interested in a good con. But for now, business comes first.
"Hello, Master Wudang? Uh... are you the assistant? Seriously, why does every doctor have an assistant now? Dr. Lu Yide has a front desk girl, and even Ethan Zhuo has a sweet-voiced assistant with a thick Sichuan accent answering calls. And of course—you have to book an appointment."
"If I book now, how long do I have to wait... Ten days?! Are you kidding me? Ten days? It's that popular? Should I be congratulating Master Wudang on getting rich or what? Seriously, in a chill city like Chengdu, why are so many people lining up for therapy? Play some mahjong, eat some skewers—what's left to stress about? No way, I can't wait ten days. Guess I'll just sneak in at midnight and crash his bed."
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"So, the reason it's such a long wait is because he's out giving lectures at universities around Chengdu?" On second thought, barging into someone's bed might get awkward, so better catch him when he's fully equipped. Jack switched on his Sound Skill: "Can you tell me which school he's lecturing at now?"
The assistant on the other end got dazed by the Sound Skill and accidentally blurted out info she wasn't supposed to share—Southwest Jiaotong University.
Well, looks like I've got a real connection with Linwan Technical College of Railway Engineering, the one with a train engine sitting at the gate.
With Jack's memory these days, once he's been somewhere, he never gets lost again. He hopped on a bunch of different rides, took the bus like a total normie, and got there easy. The whole campus map was locked in his head, and he found the teaching area without breaking a sweat. Psychology isn't a big deal at this school, but Ethan Zhuo's lecture was super easy to find.
Why? Because unless you're blind, you can't miss the giant billboard at the entrance with huge, bold letters—"A Warm Welcome to Famous Psychologist Professor Ethan Zhuo!" And in smaller print: "Experience the charm of a master hypnotist up close." The whole thing is covered in wild, mystical, totally confusing abstract art, with Ethan Zhuo's suave photo on the side. His smiling eyes practically beam with wisdom, like his forehead's got "Genius" carved into it.
"Wow, this is nuts. No wonder the wait is ten days."
He followed the signs north, heading for the spot listed on the billboard. Before long, he reached the library, which had gorgeous lakes and hills nearby. Of course, there was another massive, flashy billboard at the entrance. Jack's ears picked up a burst of applause, and he followed the sound into a fan-shaped lecture hall.
Ethan Zhuo was on stage, bowing gracefully. Students all around were on their feet, clapping and whistling. One even shouted, "Brother-in-law Lian, keep the class going!"
"Keep the class going!" "Keep the class going!" The whole hall was clapping and chanting in unison, actually begging for the lecture to run long. Other professors would probably be heartbroken if they saw this.
"No need to rush, everyone! I'll be giving another talk here tonight. If you want to hear more stories, you're all welcome back." Ethan Zhuo was the picture of a charming, approachable psychologist. But as he bowed, he winked and waved at Jack, who nodded back in understanding.
Ten minutes later, the two of them were strolling side by side across campus. One elegant, the other laid-back—each with his own style, catching the eyes of students nearby. From a distance, they almost looked like best buds.
"Master Wudang, you sure are busy these days—your assistant even answers your calls now." Jack glanced at Ethan Zhuo, subtly using his Sound Skill. Hey, fair's fair—last time he came for sleepwalking treatment, Ethan hypnotized him three times without warning. Not that he had a choice, but now Jack's got Sound Skill too, so it's game on! "Or maybe you're just into your new assistant?"
Ethan Zhuo heard the Sound Skill hidden in Jack's words and shook his head with a wry smile. "Nothing like that. I just can't risk carrying my phone around anymore... huh?" Suddenly, he snapped to attention, looking at Jack in surprise—like he was seeing him for the first time. "When did you pick up that trick? I almost fell for it! I always knew you had hidden talents—turns out we're in the same league."
Ethan Zhuo looked relaxed and teasing, but don't be fooled! As he spoke, a mysterious mental wave washed over Jack—not too strong, not too weak. This time, Jack could clearly sense it: the wave was meant to coax him into revealing his own abilities. Nothing too dangerous, but it showed that Master Wudang could give as good as he got.
Jack was ready for it, and his mental strength was high enough that it felt like nothing more than a gentle breeze.
Still, Master Wudang's mental power was way beyond that of ordinary people.
Jack's eyes flashed gold, and he raised an eyebrow. In his vision, a bright red symbol appeared on Ethan Zhuo's brow—three diamonds clustered together, close but not touching, forming a simple yet intricate pattern. It looked like an abstract eye, radiating a mysterious, hypnotic vibe. Stare at it too long, and you'd get dizzy.
"Just as I thought. Now I'm even more confident in you." Jack pointed at his own forehead. "Master Wudang, when did you get that?"
"Uh..." Ethan Zhuo stopped in his tracks, staring at Jack, his eyes full of shock and suspicion. "You mean..."
"I mean the mark on your brow." Jack dropped his usual caution and spoke plainly. "Three diamonds. Last time I saw you, it wasn't there—what does it mean? Don't tell me it's a Japanese brand logo!"
Ethan Zhuo was stunned, staring at Jack for a long moment before finally nodding with a wry smile. "Alright, no more secrets. Since you've seen through it, I won't hide it anymore. Time for a proper introduction." He straightened up and said formally, "Chosen One Ethan Zhuo, Hypnotist, World Observation Bureau registered ID: Master Wudang."