Chapter Fifty: Gathering
The Dream Palace has been restored. Returning to the Dream Palace, the freshly repaired structure looks as if it has suffered the combined effects of an earthquake, a storm, nuclear weapons, and a typhoon. The land is shattered, floating amidst a white misty air. Surrounding it is an endless expanse of white space, standing on a floating “little bird” and looking into the distance, one feels a sense of fear, as if they have fallen into space, where the sun is merely a small dot against the dark void.
Various ingredients “enthusiastically sworn” by people from all over are piled on a small “island.” The island is tiny, and the piles of supplies have squeezed Jima to the edge. She spreads her arms and, with her pure will, brings all the small islands together, as if a creator forming a world.
Half an hour later. A fake sun hangs in the sky, and surrounded by the woods, the palace stands on a green meadow. A stone path stretches straight from the distant forest to the palace. On both sides of the stone path are electronic street lamps, very modern.
Now all her secrets are known to George, and Jima no longer has to worry about small details leaking her secrets. Various ingredients flow into the modern kitchen, and Jima doesn’t rush to cook. Instead, she rummages through what remains in the Dream Palace after the crossing.
The nuclear weapon store is gone, but there’s still a lot in the ammunition depot, all kinds of bullets, with their only use being to be given to the “branch gun” for cleaning. It shoots blood bullets, and after one round, it needs to be replenished with blood and killing intent in close combat; otherwise, it will stop working.
Regarding the last time, when the branch axe gun loudly repeated the slogans she and George shouted while exercising in bed, Jima still holds a grudge and plans to find an opportunity to teach it a lesson. Just right today, she has divined some information—multiple legions will march south, following the divine command to eliminate her, including the Dung Demons.
After sorting out the bullets, she discovers a surprise. An old laptop that still works. She is delighted and turns it on. As the Windows 15 icon disappears, the desktop appears, cluttered with a large number of files. One of the folders is titled “George.”
Jima recalls that since she triggered the “Eclipse” curse in the palace, after being severely called by George while he used the holy sword against her, she has been collecting his information. All of it is dumped into that folder. Clicking on the folder, she finds a messy pile of video files, many of which are damaged and unplayable.
At a glance, Jima sees a video file named “League of Legends – Master on Dog Head.” What a coincidence.
Jima mutters to herself and clicks on the video. Familiar scenes remind her that this is the match where George advanced to Master. She obtained the recorded file directly from the game vendor through some technical means and recorded it as a video.
In the video, George controls the dog head, skillfully hiding in the grass, smelling the experience of the minions. “So you have your day too.” Jima thinks it’s funny and doesn’t skip ahead; she watches with great interest.
Before long, George’s dog head encounters the enemy champions, Spider and Crocodile, under the tower. With his superb positioning, he runs around the tower, executing various extreme maneuvers, but ultimately dies and loses a big wave of minions.
Jima laughs out loud.
Despite the huge disadvantage, George’s dog head diligently farms like a peasant, killing each minion makes him stronger. Eventually, he turns the tables despite the great disadvantages. Jima claps her hands in applause.
She thinks to herself that such happiness can’t be enjoyed alone. Just right, she has found a projector, her eyes turning mischievous as she gets a screen and hangs it on the wall of the dining room.
After hanging it up, Jima’s heated mind cools slightly, becoming rational. Wouldn’t it be too embarrassing? she thinks. Eve Frostleaf and Jenna don’t even know what video games are, they will surely look baffled.
And George, who understands, aside from his inappropriate behavior in bed, has always been serious and dull, like the boring legal provisions in a law book, rigid and straight, without any flair. It would definitely be awkward then.
Jima ponders and reaches for the screen, wanting to tear it down and make it disappear. But in the end, she stops, too lazy to think about it too much.
After finishing all this, she pulls Rianxi the cat over and, like a hostess, begins to prepare the ingredients for cooking, also preparing a stage to showcase her singing skills to everyone. As for whether singing would be awkward or not, she doesn’t care; after all, now, with a bunch of colored perverts validating her, her singing is avant-garde, advanced, and heart-wrenching.
Being able to hear her sing is truly a blessing for others, and she has even practiced. Considering the tastes of the colored perverts, which always tend to be a bit shocking, she has also asked Rianxi to evaluate her singing voice.
The effect is very good. Under her avant-garde singing, Rianxi shows a happy smile and wipes away tears, expressing that it sounds very good, giving a delightful shiver.
This is just the opposite of the evaluations from the colored perverts, who said: Jima’s voice profoundly understands the path of pain, plunging listeners into the depths of suffering and making it hard to escape.
This clearly indicates that the values of the colored perverts are the opposite of normal people. In the eyes of the colored perverts, it is a song of suffering; compared to the Siren’s song, it is just a trivial matter.
In the eyes of normal people, it is an exquisite and beautiful melody. This shows that her singing skill is very high, integrating pain and joy.
Alright, let’s make some ordinary Chinese food. Has Xiaoli ripped up the cabbage?
Yes, it’s ready.
Get some vinegar for me.
Jima hums a song, wearing an apron, and stirs the dishes in the steaming pot. The white steam floats across her face, as the fan sucks in the tips of her hair.
Thinking of the final combat segment of the gathering, Jima is filled with anticipation, a smile spreading across her face.
When the stir-fried cabbage and pork are ready, Jima checks the time; it is already 5:57 PM.
She agreed with George that it would be at 6 PM. They are usually very punctual, unless there’s an accident, so Jima doesn’t need to worry about the food getting cold.
Just as she scoops the stir-fried cabbage and pork onto the plate, she has a sudden inspiration and feels three people entering her Dream Palace.
She quickly walks to the kitchen window, tips on her toes, and looks into the distance. The kitchen’s position changes according to her will, and Jima focuses her gaze on the path outside the palace.
At the end of the stone path, three figures appear: George and Jenna walking side by side at the front, with Eve Frostleaf trailing behind them.
Jima squints her eyes and sees the Saintess Jenna using a cloth strip to cover her eyes; she has become blind and cannot be restored.
Nevertheless, Jima still senses from her face that Jenna is not happy, her emotions even tinged with anger.
Could it be that she’s upset because of my betrayal? Jima thinks, feeling a bit guilty.
At the same time, George notices Jima, who is wearing an apron by the “kitchen window,” raises his hand and waves to her from afar, his hand dropping. Looking at this brand-new palace, that roof, those spires, the more he looks, the more familiar it becomes.
George recalls the past when he and little Jima went to Disneyland together. The shape of this palace somewhat resembles the fairy tale castle in Disneyland.
