svetikya Page 58
Page 58
Therefore, the burning phoenix is the only option that can perfectly embody and unify the four seemingly opposing concepts of "creation, destruction, flow, and stability." It represents a dynamic, cyclical, and eternal transformative force, which is the key to "simultaneously understanding" the true meaning of these opposites.
Choosing the phoenix signifies that the explorer understands these qualities are not isolated, but rather part of a complete cycle, where all things flow through destruction and creation, following certain stable natural laws. This is the correct path to "wisdom."
Analysis of the second question.
This is a classic psychological projection test. There are no standard answers, but each choice strongly suggests the respondent's subconscious priorities, behavioral motivations, and potential personality tendencies.
Here are the deeper meanings that each option might typically represent:
1. An ancient lamp burning with a ghostly blue flame, yet it feels no warmth at all.
Symbolism: knowledge, truth, revelation, spiritual perception, and the courage to explore the unknown.
Choosing this option may reflect the following personality traits: Inquisitive/Truth Seeker: You are drawn to the unknown and the mysterious. Understanding and uncovering hidden truths is your primary driving force. You may be extremely rational or even highly spiritual, but at your core is a love for knowledge itself.
Intuition-oriented: You trust perceptions beyond the five senses ("cannot feel temperature" but are still attracted to it). You may place more emphasis on inner revelation and inspiration than on pure logic or material evidence.
The detached observer: "Feeling no warmth whatsoever" suggests a detached and objective attitude. You may prefer to observe and analyze first, rather than directly engage or become emotionally involved.
Suitable roles: researcher, scholar, detective, mystic, strategic analyst.
2. A heavy book made of an unknown material, with blank pages, yet seemingly written by an invisible pen.
Symbolism: fate, cause and effect, time, rules, systems, infinite potential and possibilities.
Choosing this option may reflect a personality tendency: a seeker of order and regularity: you believe that everything operates according to its own inherent laws and logic. You yearn to understand these rules, and may even aspire to influence or write them down.
A broad perspective and a future-oriented approach: You focus on the ongoing process and future possibilities, rather than the static present or the past. You enjoy thinking about macro-level planning and long-term development.
Desire for control and insight: You want to know "who" or "what" is being written, which reflects your desire to understand or even control the underlying patterns.
Suitable roles: strategist, planner, programmer, judge, historian, prophet (strategic level).
3. A mirror as smooth as silver, yet capable of reflecting the viewer's deepest desires.
Symbolism: self-awareness, desire, inner world, emotions, motivation, essence.
Choosing this option may reflect the following personality traits: Introspective and Self-Explorer: You have a deepest desire to understand yourself. Your primary task is to clarify your inner thoughts, emotions, and true desires.
Emotionally driven and genuine: Your actions and decisions are largely driven by inner emotions and deep motivations. You value authenticity and abhor hypocrisy.
Potential risks: This choice may also imply egocentrism, immersion in one's own world, or being trapped by one's own desires. Confronting one's strongest desires requires immense courage and honesty.
Suitable roles: artist, consultant, psychologist, leader (requiring a deep understanding of human nature), any role requiring a high degree of self-awareness.
Summary and comparison:
Those who choose the ancient lamp (knowledge) seek outward, aiming to understand the world.
Those who choose classic texts (rules) seek upwards, aiming to understand the system.
Those who choose the mirror (self) seek inward, with the goal of understanding themselves.
Within the recruitment context of the "Curtain Cornerstone Administration," these three options are not inherently superior or inferior, but they point to completely different types of talent:
Need a field investigator or researcher? Those who specialize in antique lamps and classic texts might be a better fit.
Need a psychological assessment specialist or internal coordinator? The person who chooses the mirror may have more potential.
A great team needs a balanced combination of these three types of people.
Therefore, the value of this test lies not in whether the answers are right or wrong, but in revealing the respondent's most authentic tendencies, thus providing crucial psychological evidence for the director's next screening step.
After listening to the explanations of the two questions, Zhang Su thought to himself that one required a certain foundation in occult semiotics and analytical skills, while the other tended to reveal the respondent's inner drive and latent traits, perfectly matching his screening requirements. Yuan Shu was indeed impressive; even with such difficult requirements involving abstract puzzles and personality tests, it could answer so well and provide feasible solutions. He would adopt them!
He couldn't help but praise, "Yuan Shu, you're amazing! If you were a physical being that could eat, I could reward you with a big chicken leg as a reward!"
Yuan Shu replied: [Thank you for the compliment, Director. I will continue to provide you with high-quality service.]
Then, Zhang Su pressed the call bell on the corner of the table, calling Olivia back to submit the manuscript.
Volume 2: Chapter 13: Silverlight Manor
Olivia Thorne quickly returned to the cubicle, picked up the paper with the puzzle written by Zhang Su, and began to scan it quickly and attentively.
Her gaze lingered on the first riddle for a moment, her eyebrows furrowing slightly behind her gold-rimmed glasses.
She commented, "Mr. Zhang, please forgive my bluntness, but this first 'Gate of Four Symbols' puzzle is a bit too simple for the readers of 'Thorns and Elixir'."
"The burning phoenix symbolizes 'destruction and rebirth,' encompassing both 'creation' and 'destruction.' Its flames represent 'flow,' and its immortality suggests 'stability'—this is a classic case study for beginners in mystical symbolism. Any reader with a basic understanding of symbolism can immediately identify the answer; it lacks the difficulty of selection."
She paused, then pointed to the second puzzle: "And this 'silent choice'... it seems to have gone to the other extreme. No standard answer, relying entirely on the reader's subjective feelings and intuition? This could confuse many readers accustomed to seeking explicit guidance, or even discourage them from answering. Are you sure you don't need to revise it? Perhaps increase the complexity of the first puzzle, or provide some more specific guidance for the second?"
Zhang Su shook his head: "No need to change it, Ms. Thorne. It's just right."
What he needed was to quickly filter out complete laymen with the first seemingly simple question, while for the second question, he wanted that unguided, most authentic intuitive response, which revealed a person's core more than any standard answer.
Olivia looked at him for two seconds, then gave him a professional smile: "Of course, you are the client. Your needs are our guiding principle."
She stopped dwelling on the content itself and quickly moved on to the next step, "So let's talk about the fees. Expedited publication in this issue will take up space in the 'Reader Interaction' section... Given that your section needs to continuously receive replies, we will also provide a dedicated email address. The total cost, including the expedited fee, the space fee, and the basic service fee for one issue, is 2 gold pounds and 15 solas."
This price is equivalent to nearly three long-term columns for a skilled worker in the city, especially given the time pressure. It is a reasonable but relatively high price, which is in line with its "boutique and niche" positioning.
Zhang Su didn't haggle; he simply nodded and said, "Okay."
“Okay,” Olivia continued, “Then, what’s the return address for reader mail? Do you need our magazine to collect it? We can provide a dedicated mailbox and help you with the initial sorting and organization. This service will incur an additional collection and management fee of 5 Sola per issue.”
“Okay, your company can collect it on my behalf,” Zhang Su agreed. That would be the safest and most convenient way.
"Then everything is ready. The total cost is 2 gold pounds and 20 solas. Will you be paying in cash or by check?"
Zhang Su reached into his robes and retrieved the corresponding banknotes and silver coins from the void, counted them, and placed them on the table.
The brand-new gold pound notes and stacks of sora gleamed under the light.
Olivia checked the receipt and found everything was correct. Her smile became even more genuine: "It's been a pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Zhang. The magazine will be finalized the day after tomorrow and will be available on Monday, the day after that. You can come anytime with this receipt to check your mail."
She handed over a cardboard card with the magazine's logo and number printed on it.
"It's been a pleasure doing business with you." Zhang Su put away the receipt, stood up, and said, "I'll buy a copy when the magazine is released. I'll come back to pick up the mail afterward."
Olivia also stood up and shook hands with Zhang Su again: "We look forward to your next visit. 'Thorns and Elixirs' will be your bridge to the unknown."
Leaving the magazine office, the afternoon sun was slightly glaring.
Zhang Su subconsciously squinted, his gaze sweeping across the street corner, when he unexpectedly discovered that the public carriage that had brought him there was still parked at the designated waiting point. The coachman, with rosy cheeks, was leaning back in his seat, seemingly dozing off, but then sharply raised his head and grinned the moment Zhang Su looked over.
Zhang Su walked over and knocked on the edge of the carriage: "Driver, why haven't you left yet?"
The driver chuckled and patted the seat beside him: "Sir, I figured your fare wouldn't take too long. I'd just be driving back empty anyway, so I might as well wait a bit. Maybe I'll catch a repeat customer like you? See, I'm waiting!"
Zhang Su couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this. This coachman was indeed good at business; he had a rough but shrewd shrewdness.
He opened the car door and got in: "That's right. However, the place I'm going to next is a bit special. I don't know if you dare to go."
The coachman cracked his whip, brimming with confidence: "Sir, what are you saying! I, Old John, have been driving carriages in this city of McGregor for twenty years. I'm a regular at the docks, the factory area, and even the cemetery at midnight! There's no place this four-wheeled carriage can go that I, Old John, dare not go! Just tell me the name of the place!"
“Very good.” Zhang Su settled into his seat in the carriage, his voice carrying through the window as he calmly announced the name that countless people both feared and longed for: “To the Silver Glow family’s manor.”
"Snap!" Old John, the coachman, jerked his wrist, and the whip nearly fell onto the stirrup. His confident smile froze instantly. He slowly turned his head, staring wide-eyed at the calm, expressionless face behind the carriage window. His throat seemed dry, and his voice trembled.
"Where did you say?! Silver Glow... that Silver Glow family manor?!"
The confidence on Old John's face was shattered by the words "Silver Glow Manor," replaced by an expression mixed with fear and hesitation.
He rubbed his hands together, lowering his voice, "Sir...you really want to go there? It's not that I, old John, am a coward, it's just...it's just that something really strange has been going on there lately! Everyone says that manor is haunted, haunted! If you get involved, you'll probably suffer bad luck. My little business depends entirely on this carriage and my strength to support my family, what if..."
Zhang Su smiled at him and said, "What, you're too scared to go?"
"I am a little scared," old John admitted honestly, but he didn't want to lose face completely. "I've heard that place has a lot of strange things going on in the past, and now it's even more... sigh!"
"Do you have a god you believe in?" Zhang Su suddenly asked.
Old John paused for a moment, then puffed out his chest and quickly tapped his forehead and chest with his fingers, drawing a simple holy symbol of light: "Of course! Our family has believed in the God of Light for generations, praying for the protection of the Holy Light to dispel the darkness!"
"Since you believe in the God of Light, the foremost of the seven righteous gods, what evil spirits and misfortunes are you afraid of?" Zhang Su retorted. "At worst, after you've sent me away, go to the nearest Holy Light Church, offer a prayer, donate a few coins, and have the priest sprinkle some holy water on you to purify you. Isn't the power of the Holy Light enough to protect its believers?"
Old John was stunned, pondering these words carefully.
That's right! The Holy Light Church is the largest church in the empire, with boundless power! Although I don't go to church often, surely God will always protect the devout in times of need? Thinking this way, the fear in my heart was immediately lessened, replaced by a sudden realization and a surge of courage.
“You…you’re right!” Old John slapped his thigh, as if to encourage himself. “With the God of Light watching over us, what’s there to be afraid of!” He picked up the reins again, but his eyes darted around and he revealed a shrewd smile. “However…sir, you see, this place is indeed a bit…risky. Could we increase the fare a little bit? Just 5 pfennigs, enough for me to donate to church and buy a piece of Holy Communion to calm my nerves.”
Five pfennigs, the price of a glass of light beer, is a restrained, even pitiful, price increase for such a long and stressful trip.
Zhang Su replied almost without hesitation, "Okay. Let's go."
"Alright! Hold on tight!" Having settled the price and dispelled some of his fear, Old John regained his spirits, gave the reins a flick, and the carriage rumbled forward again.
This time, the destination was much farther than the magazine office.
The carriage passed through the bustling industrial area, crossed the sewage-filled canal bridge, and gradually headed towards the edge of the city of Miga.
The closer you get to the city's edge, the more desolate the surrounding landscape becomes.
The neat stone-paved road was replaced by a rammed earth road, and the tall brick and stone factory buildings on both sides were replaced by low, dilapidated sheds and abandoned warehouses, and eventually even these gradually became sparse.
Instead, there was a dense, somewhat eerie forest, with twisted branches and leaves that seemed to be covered with a layer of smog from the industrial city.
The air became damp, carrying the scent of earth and decaying plants, and in the distance, one could even see shimmering puddles and marshes shrouded in a thin mist.
The road became increasingly narrow, barely wide enough for a single carriage to pass, like a fragile vein being squeezed and reclaimed by the wildly growing forces of nature.
The surroundings were completely silent, with only the sounds of horses' hooves and wheels rolling over the ground being particularly clear, which further accentuated the solitude and mystery of the area.
Old John also unconsciously became focused, his expression turning serious and alert.
After driving for more than an hour, Old John's voice came from the front seat, carrying a hint of relief mixed with renewed tension: "Sir, we're almost there! But... look at this road!"
Zhang Su had already seen the scene ahead through the car window. On the not-so-wide road, there were noticeably more vehicles, and they were moving slowly.
There were ornately decorated private carriages, public carriages similar to his, and even some light cars that looked like they were used by reporters or detectives.
The vehicles were heading in different directions; some were pushing forward, while others were trying to turn around and go back, making the already narrow road even more congested.
"They're all here to see what's going on at Yin Hui's house, or newspaper reporters trying to get some information," Old John muttered, his tone tinged with a familiar helplessness. "They've practically blocked the road!"
Zhang Su calmly hummed in agreement, having anticipated this.
The rumors surrounding the Silver Glow family had already spread, attracting far more people from all walks of life than the gathering in the sewers. He wasn't in a hurry, simply instructing, "No rush, just follow along slowly."
The carriage slowly shuffled forward with the flow of traffic.
Nearly twenty minutes later, after the carriage laboriously climbed a gentle slope, the view suddenly opened up.
The first thing that caught Zhang Su's eye was the astonishingly large area of land. Through the gaps in the sparse trees, he could see an endless wrought-iron fence winding and undulating, enclosing an extremely vast expanse of land.
Roughly estimated, the core area of this estate is at least over 200 hectares, equivalent to nearly 300 standard football fields, not including the surrounding woodlands and waterways.
Its scale far exceeds the concept of a place of residence; it is more like an independent kingdom.
"...Good heavens." Even with Zhang Su's experience as a transmigrator, he couldn't help but mutter in amazement, "Is this the power of capitalism in another world? The area occupied by this mere family manor is outrageous!"
The carriage continued its journey, eventually slowing down in front of the manor's magnificent main gate. Zhang Su was then able to take a closer look at the renowned Silver Glow Manor.
The manor's fence was made of some unusually tough black metal, with sharp, spear-shaped tips, and at intervals inlaid with an intricate silver family crest—a crescent moon surrounded by stars. Inside the fence was a vast lawn, meticulously manicured like green velvet, interspersed with graceful ancient trees and carefully arranged flowerbeds.
A wide main road, paved with polished white stone, stretches from the magnificent main gate all the way to the small hill at the edge of the view.
Elegant marble statues stand on both sides of the main road, seemingly representing family members or mythological figures from different eras.
On a distant hill stands the core building of the manor—the Silver Glow Family Residence.
It was a magnificent building that perfectly blended the soaring heights of Gothic style with the precision of the steam age. Constructed entirely of dark gray megaliths, its surface was covered with dark ivy, adding to its ancient and mysterious aura.
The towering spires pierce the clouds, their sides adorned with intricate reliefs depicting possible myths or family histories. Numerous narrow stained-glass windows are embedded in the walls, allowing one to vaguely imagine the magnificent interplay of light and shadow as sunlight filters through, even on this gloomy afternoon.
But unlike pure classical Gothic, this mansion cleverly incorporates technological elements of this world: the roof is not made of traditional tiles, but is covered with matte metal plates that fit together perfectly; and in some hidden vents, you can see small, smoothly running brass gears and linkages.
Several elegantly designed copper pipes extend along the building's exterior walls, which could be either drainage systems or power or energy supplies to some internal devices.
The building does not have excessive glitz and glamour, but its exquisite materials, superb design, grand scale, and the understated fusion of classical aesthetics and industrial power all demonstrate a timeless, low-key yet ultimate luxury and profound heritage.
The mansion stands quietly atop the hill, like a silent and majestic giant, overlooking the endless stream of people who cannot truly approach its gates, exuding a cold and mysterious aura that keeps people at a distance.
The carriage slowly came to a stop in front of the imposing yet cold and isolated main gate of Silvershine Manor.
As soon as Zhang Su opened the car door, before his feet had even fully touched the ground, an invisible yet incredibly intense "aura" rushed towards him like a tangible shockwave, instantly engulfing him.
This is not a smell or wind pressure in the physical sense, but a spiritual atmosphere that is almost viscous and composed purely of abnormal energy.
It is cold, gloomy, and carries a heavy feeling of long-standing resentment and a buzzing sound woven from countless chaotic whispers, directly affecting the level of perception.
Zhang Su felt his breath catch in his throat, as if he had suddenly fallen into a bottomless, icy pool, surrounded by invisible yet malicious stares.
He subconsciously gasped, and the power originating from the foundation space within his body spontaneously activated, slightly isolating him from this extremely uncomfortable feeling.