In this cyberpunk era, why are you still playing the traditional villain?

As he was returning to his cabin with his wife, children, and elderly parents, he caught a glimpse of a guy with a very low profile out of the corner of his eye.

"What...does that expression mean?"

Seeing that Shen Qin hadn't had time to wipe away her smile, Xu Shi frowned.

It was easy to see that she was mocking him, mocking Xu Shi for pretending to be a big shot despite being humiliated by seasickness.

Anyway, she wasn't really affected. She couldn't usually do anything to harm Xu Shi, so it would be a lie to say she wasn't happy to finally see such a scene.

But Xu Shi didn't want to give her that chance, so he walked over and grabbed her wrist.

"It seems you still haven't learned how to be a good dog, Miss Shen Qin."

He smiled and said, "I've changed my mind. It's your turn tonight."

"You, you let go..."

Shen Qin struggled frantically, but unfortunately, she was powerless to resist. She had no choice but to resort to her old trick, quickly lowering her head, "I...I was wrong..."

What's the point of apologizing every time you commit a crime?

Xu Shi wasn't buying it. "I'll teach you a lesson today."

"no, do not want……"

"Hey, looks like your dad's going to have someone else sleep with him tonight."

Jiang Chengcheng crossed her arms and watched the commotion from the sidelines. "So, what do you say? Is Xiao Ke'an still going to sleep with me tonight?"

The white-haired little girl blinked her eyes, "That's fine too."

It's more surprising that Xu Shi hasn't made a move against Shen Qin. His true nature has been revealed, huh?

"Stop! We can change her, but who said she's to serve us in bed?"

Xu Shi promptly corrected her, "She doesn't even have the right to serve the emperor in bed."

"then you?"

"I'm here to train a dog."

After leaving those words, Xu Shi pulled Shen Qin into the room and tossed her a collar.

"Kneel down and put it on yourself."

……

So, when they arrived at the capital city of the empire and disembarked, everyone's mental state had completely changed.

Xu Shi looked much more spirited, and the others had basically gotten used to seasickness.

Only Shen Qin followed behind Xu Shi without saying a word, clutching his arm tightly, her body still flushed.

God knows what she went through these past two days, but one thing is certain: she has gained a more direct understanding of how she was "reformed."

She finally realized that she couldn't even control her own body anymore.

If Xu Shi were willing, even just a light touch with her finger would cause her to lose consciousness and fall into a blissful state of mental blankness.

What's even more terrifying is what happens after the bliss. Sometimes she'll be forced back to her senses, and she'll feel her memories slipping away bit by bit, feeling utterly powerless and unable to stop it.

She was initially relieved that Xu Shi hadn't paid much attention to her during her time on Silver Pine Island; her life wasn't exactly wonderful, but it was still relatively normal.

As a result, the entire cost was made up in just those two days on the ship...

"Do you know what to do from now on, Xiao Qin?"

Xu Shi was very satisfied with his short-term training and turned around to ask with a smile.

As he himself said, he didn't need Shen Qin to serve him in bed, because that was too easy. How could it be as interesting as wearing down one's spirit and will?

"I...I understand, brother. I won't do it again..."

Shen Qin responded vaguely, feeling wronged and wanting to cry.

In my memory, my brother wasn't like this at all; he'd always been very gentle with me since we were little...

wrong!

Several minutes later, she came to her senses. This wasn't her brother! Her brother was long dead!

This should have been a painful memory etched into her very bones, but now it takes her a long time to recall it. She was even led astray by Xu Shi's simple "Xiao Qin," and in her daze, she would subconsciously mistake him for that person.

She was really scared.

Xu Shi laughed happily. He had said it before: he didn't necessarily need to win Shen Qin's heart; he just needed to have her body.

Because under his manipulation, as long as he gets the other person's body, he can also get their heart.

"Master, Master."

Pan Ling had no idea what he was thinking, nor what he had been doing in the cabin these past few days.

She didn't even understand why her master had brought this guard instead of Sister Xingchuan, who was clearly more powerful. Even Brother Luoyu wasn't a match for her...

But it's true that she was about to suffocate.

"I still can't figure out the answer to the question you gave me..."

The poor, obedient apprentice begged for help.

"Tell me what you think?"

Xu Shi put away his playful mood, ignored Shen Qin, and looked at her seriously.

"I……"

Pan Ling stammered, "At first, I was thinking, is there any way to stop the train so that no one will die... But you said that's not the case, so I was thinking, wouldn't it be better if only one person died than five?"

Is this your answer?

Xu Shi nodded. "Actually, it's not exactly wrong?"

"Is that so...?"

The obedient apprentice blinked and offered a small rebuttal, "But people will still die that way, right? Not to mention that I caused it myself... I just don't feel right, and I feel like this isn't the right answer either."

"So do you think doing nothing and letting the other five people die is the right answer?"

Xu Shi asked in return with great interest.

"Okay, it doesn't seem like it?"

"You're wrong. Both of these are actually correct answers, or rather, neither of them are correct answers."

Xu Shi laughed and said that this was indeed the case. The difference lay only in philosophical thought, or rather, in the debate between utilitarianism and Kantianism. Or rather, it was a moral debate, not a black-and-white issue.

"Then, what should the correct answer be?"

But the obedient disciple clearly hadn't realized this yet, and hurriedly asked, "Also, if it were you, Master, what would you do?"

"I?"

Xu Shi mysteriously beckoned her closer and repeated to her what he had said to Xia Ke'an that day.

"……Why?"

Little Ling was clearly taken aback by what the other party said and was momentarily stunned. "Why, why would Master think that?"

"You can't accept this?"

Xu Shi patted her head. "I have even more outrageous options, like finding a way to block the road and send the train driver and the people tied to the tracks flying together."

"This, isn't this right?"

Pan Ling was dumbfounded.

"That's because you haven't understood why I asked you to think about this problem."

Xu Shi casually shrugged and said, "Silly apprentice, remember this: in this world, the most important thing is never what you should do, but what you want to do."

This was a very important lesson for her, and it also aligned with Xu Shi's own humanity.

Do whatever you want, regardless of the raging flood.

Anyway, the silly apprentice is still stuck in the circle and can't get out. To give a simple example, what should you do if you find out that a couple is having problems and one of them is cheating on the other?

If you speak out, it might destroy a family, just like those five people on orbit A that caused the deaths.

If she doesn't speak out, she'll suffer alone, which is like tying herself to a track.

But does this actually concern her? The answer is no. She could have simply stood by and watched without fiddling with the lever.

From a medical perspective, this is the crux of her problem. If she doesn't understand this, she will eventually be killed by the backlash of her own abilities. Right now, she is only in contact with the small circle of Silver Pine Island. If she steps into a wider world, the people she will encounter will be even more complex.

"So you should try your best not to let trivial things affect your mindset."

Xu Shi said earnestly, "Don't overthink things. Just do what you think is best, what will make you more comfortable, and understand?"

She chose this path herself. If she's willing to be a saint, then he has no objection. If she's willing to become like him, then he, as her master, will be even happier. As a master, he naturally hopes that his obedient disciple will become like him.

"Oh……"

Pan Ling nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

If it's the same question as before, then she still can't fully understand it.

But her mentor's words, "The important thing is what you want to do," gave her a sense of sudden enlightenment.

"Of course, this is based on one premise."

Xu Shi added, "The premise is that you must have the ability to control the overall situation, and you must also have the ability to deal with any consequences that your actions may cause."

That's true. Take his actions in the City of Night Sin, for example. He could easily have stirred up trouble and misled others, but that was more like a chess player playing a game, never having to worry about the pieces jumping up and biting him.

The truth is, if any piece were to actually do that, he would simply smash it flat with a hammer. Isn't Miss Shen Qin the best example of that?

"I understand."

The obedient disciple thought it made sense and earnestly agreed, "Then what should I do to do as Master said?"

"This is the next lesson."

Xu Shi ruffled her hair into a bird's nest. "You've only been my apprentice for a few days, and you already want to learn everything?"

"Benefactor Xu, everything that needs to be taken care of has been taken care of."

Just then, Miss Mei returned. "Both the Papacy and the Royal Family have accepted your request for a meeting. Which one would you like to meet first?"