[https://i.imgur.com/rpU475d.jpg]

Part 1.The Wisdom Caterpillar

On both sides, there were towering walls constructed of huge books, surrounded by mushroom-themed furniture. Neatly arranged next to them were three-tier bookshelves, resembling a miniature library.

"Chirp chirp!" Amisa exclaimed as she saw her owner returning and flew straight into her arms. "Mido! How did you end up here?"

"I brought it here. I couldn't leave it to be fed and fattened up in the Land of Tongue Delights," the Wisdom Caterpillar said, exhaling three puffs of smoke and pulling three mushroom chairs next to them. "Please, have a seat."

After the heart-pounding escape from the secret chamber, everyone was exhausted. Amisa and Toosb sat down on the soft mushroom sofa chairs, feeling their bodies slump down like worms. Only Jasky remained vigilant, keeping an eye on the caterpillar blowing colorful smoke.

Everyone had countless questions in their minds but didn't know how to start at that moment. Silence filled the room for about a minute.

"Hey, old chap," Toosb's rabbit ears twitched, and he looked at the Wisdom Caterpillar with a serious expression. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Go ahead."

If we set aside his usual comedic demeanor, Toosb's handsome face was no less appealing than Jasky's. Especially after going through this ordeal, he appeared much more mature. Amisa was momentarily captivated by him and thought that Toosb had the obligation to clarify everything with the wisdom figure before them. She was filled with anticipation for the upcoming conversation.

"Why do you smoke pipes?"

"..." Jasky remained silent.

"Why are you asking such a strange question, ahhh!" Disappointed, Amisa couldn't help but grab Toosb's collar and shake him back and forth. "Ahhh, why isn't anyone asking, ahhh!"

The Wisdom Caterpillar observed their interaction and raised an eyebrow, then waved his slender pipe to explain, "It's my hobby and my dream instrument."

"Dream instrument?" Amisa released her grip on Toosb's collar. This was one of the key terms she wanted to understand but hadn't received an answer to. She pointed to the colorful smoke around them and asked, "Are those also powered by dreams?"

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"Correct understanding. I can make the water smoke combine the conduction of dream energy and the enhancement of dream power, like this," the Wisdom Caterpillar nodded. With a gentle wave of his pipe, the three puffs of smoke transformed into ribbons and tied themselves into a butterfly bow. Amisa was excited by this performance. "That's it! Can you teach me how to do it?"

"Amisa, wait a moment," Jasky interjected, reaching into his hat and pulling out a yellow crystal ball. "What is this?"

Toosb and Amisa also picked up the crystal balls, curious to examine them.

"It's your clearance gift," the Wisdom Caterpillar answered with a smile.

"I know, but this trial hasn't been easy for us. If you're only giving us these balls as a reward, I can't approve of this approach," Jasky's expression showed displeasure.

"Yes! Do you know? We were almost driven to mental collapse! It cracked me up, hahaha... hahaha... ha..." Toosb initially wanted to make a joke and laugh but seeing Jasky's angry glare, he quickly became embarrassed and stuck out his tongue. "I'll shut up."

Sensing Jasky's anger, the Wisdom Caterpillar furrowed his brow and dispersed the smoke with a wave, questioning, "It seems that my trial has made you quite dissatisfied."

"That's right, I'm extremely dissatisfied!" Amisa's emotions were stirred, and she crossed her arms, complaining, "If it were just solving riddles, that would be fine. But this trial is digging into our psychological traumas. It's just too much, no matter how you look at it."

"Oh?" Faced with the questioning, the Wisdom Caterpillar remained calm and glanced at the blue dress pocket of Amisa with his peripheral vision. Then, he lazily lounged back on the mushroom bed and said, "Well, that's a pity. I was originally going to tell you the way to return to your original world."

"Huh? You know how to go back?" Amisa's hands, previously crossed, dropped down.

"I know."

"So, the purpose of putting us through these trials is to help us go back home?" She excitedly stood up and asked.

The wisdom caterpillar skillfully spewed smoke rings towards the ceiling and said, "Madam, if you want me to answer, you must first explain to me, who are you?"

"Is this the final riddle? I am Amisa!"

The caterpillar continued to gaze at the ceiling while exhaling smoke, "That's not the answer I'm looking for."

"What?" Amisa looked puzzled, glancing at Toosby, Jasky, and Mido. Tentatively, she responded, "Alice Amisa?"

The caterpillar still didn't react, which frustrated Amisa. She decided to blurt out, "I'm Amisa, from Taiwan, went to England for filming, and I love singing, drawing, and songwriting. I also have a grandmother. What more do you want to know?"

"Amisa," Jasky interjected, his face bearing a shadow influenced by the trials. Without hesitation, he bluntly questioned the caterpillar, "Our vocal coach said you possess knowledge and truths of this world. So, are you genuine or just a facade?"

The caterpillar still showed minimal response, merely exhaling smoke rings in the shape of a graduation cap and books. He chuckled and replied, "Hehe~ Young man, do you think I'm just a facade?"

"First, you made us play a game of revealing scars, and now you keep throwing irrelevant questions at us. Are you trying to hide the fact that you're actually an ignorant caterpillar who knows nothing?"

Faced with Jasky's mockery, the wisdom caterpillar paused for a moment, then confidently drew on his water pipe and said, "Young man, you're right."

He then released two streams of smoke, causing the adjacent bookshelf to move, revealing a beam of light shining into the room. "There, you see that light? That's the way out to return to the original Dream Bookstore. Rest up and leave as soon as you're ready."

"Wait! I need to know the method to go back. We've worked so hard to come this far!" Amisa hurriedly responded, unable to accept the idea of leaving empty-handed.

"But you must answer my question first: Who are you?"

"I... I am..."

"Don't waste time with him. We have important matters to attend to," Jasky intervened, lightly patting Amisa's shoulder as he walked towards the exit by the bookshelf. After a moment of hesitation, Amisa silently followed him. Mido was torn between choices, while Toosby remained unmoved, his bangs covering his expression. Seeing this, Jasky reminded him, "Don't just stand there, let's go."

However, Toosby walked directly to the mushroom bed, perplexing the wisdom caterpillar who raised an eyebrow and asked, "What? Do you also want to complain for a while?"

Kneel ──────

"I apologize on behalf of my companions for their rudeness, Wisdom Teacher! I'm sorry!"