The Fangquan Peninsula wasn't actually a peninsula at all. It referred to a galaxy filled with large numbers of twin planets, which are pairs of planets that, for various reasons, had fused tightly together into giant gourd-shaped worlds.

Thanks to this unusual geography, the native inhabitants existed in two forms: cube form and coil form. During childhood, they could freely switch between the two, but upon reaching adulthood, they had to permanently choose one.

"We've already left the Ancient Battlefield Ruins," Gano explained as he manipulated the star map. "The Fangquan Peninsula became famous for surviving the aftermath of the war intact."

"So they're a powerful warrior race?" Xi Yujin asked curiously.

"Their bodies are extremely durable, they're naturally combative, and they excel at military theory," Gano replied. "Theoretically, they're also the nearest major civilization to the Deep Space Prison."

Although the Deep Space Prison was prosperous, few civilizations dared to settle nearby. Cosmic creatures were worried that if they got too close, their entire civilization might end up swallowed whole. In that sense, the Fangquan Peninsula was rather impressive.

After receiving clearance to dock, Tidal Peace slowly entered the harbor star's sphere of influence. Looking out the window, Xi Yujin saw only a handful of spacecraft, so the numerous gourd-shaped planets were fully visible.

"You all need to wear your spacesuits." He helped the little Rustlings into their spherical suits, turning the little soot-ball spirits into eggshell spirits.

The group landed on the planet. As soon as Xi Yujin opened the hatch, floating cubes and coils filled his vision. His gaze kept tilting upward as they drifted higher and higher away.

"Wow..."

Three-meter-tall cubes shimmered with watercolor-like patterns as they dashed twenty meters above the ground. On the other hand, the coil-shaped natives bounced through the air like giant springs.

Their buildings had unusually high entrances to accommodate them and were painted in the same riot of colors as their bodies, while the ground below was a dusty yellow grassland.

The towering inhabitants didn't spare a glance at the tiny visitors beneath them.

Xi Yujin and Gano wandered around for quite some time without finding a single cube willing to act as a guide.

None of the nearby shops looked like they catered to outsiders either. It seemed that the Fangquan Peninsula was actually xenophobic.

Suddenly, Xi Yujin heard the deep sound of a pipe organ. The music grew louder as it approached, causing everyone to look up.

About a hundred meters overhead, a coil spirit sped through the air while sheets of paper fluttered down behind it like snowflakes. Several cube spirits emitted trumpet-like booboo sounds.

Their language consisted entirely of musical instruments. Xi Yujin couldn't understand a word because all of it sounded like a concert to him, so he relied on Gano.

"The one at the top is a newspaper vendor," Gano translated. "Printed newspapers are still the dominant literary medium here. Yujinno, should we get a copy?"

The little Rustlings bounced excitedly in agreement.

In the blink of an eye, Gano returned with three newspapers. Xi Yujin didn't even see him move.

Taking one, he glanced at the bizarre symbols covering the page and immediately felt dizzy. He and the little Rustlings looked expectantly at Gano.

Gano coughed awkwardly before reading aloud.

In this universe, newspapers counted as light physical books, a kind of affordable luxury. Many species no longer published newspapers at all. But the Fangquan Peninsula still had dedicated newspaper vendors and large publishing companies, something exceedingly rare.

The paper was called The Peninsula Literary Criticism Daily, and according to its masthead, it was the best-selling newspaper in the entire system.

Some of the headlines included:

"The Peninsula Literary Criticism Memorial Day is about to begin! Scholars from all walks of life are invited to participate!"

"Remembering the origins of Peninsula critical literature: with the immortal spirit of the Peninsula, we endured the endless flames of war. In times of peace, we shall sharpen our literary criticism until our theories become the sharpest blades in the universe."

"Fierce ideological battle! Two schools of novelists brawl in a theater over artistic differences, both hospitalized!"

"Advertisement: Magic Cube Bar is now open! Couples get 20% off, families pay half price, and novelists receive special treatment!"

"...This Fangquan Peninsula is certainly... unique," Xi Yujin finally muttered.

As an ancient galaxy, the Peninsula had produced countless novelists. Unfortunately, they also imported their warrior culture into literature.

Whenever a novelist published a work, at least twenty eloquent readers would tear it apart. The novelist naturally refused to accept the criticism, insisting that those readers didn't understand literature, and would personally launch lengthy rebuttals. The readers, however, were often novelists themselves. Thus they fought back with their own essays.

Since intellectuals preferred civilized quarrels, an entire literary genre, Criticism Literature, was born.

As criticism flourished, different schools of thought emerged, each gathering supporters. If one novelist declared their work belonged to A-ism, critics from B-ism would immediately attack it, while fellow A-ists rushed in to defend it. Different literary movements harbored deep grudges against one another.

The Peninsula's novelists were also extremely proud. They believed electronic books were unworthy of their words, yet their criticism essays were too short to fill entire books. As a result, physical newspapers became wildly popular.

With such fierce battles raging internally, the Peninsula naturally had little interest in outsiders.

Xi Yujin found himself eager to witness the local culture firsthand, so he suggested visiting the bar mentioned in the advertisement.

...

Magic Cube Bar

Despite its name, it wasn't actually a traditional bar. It was more like a newspaper stand that happened to serve alcohol. Inside, patrons held newspapers while gulping sparkling liquor.

"Come listen to what those Fossilists wrote today!" someone shouted.

"Hahahahaha!" The cubes laughed in pipe-organ tones.

Xi Yujin changed back to his black-haired appearance and proved to the bartender that they were a family, qualifying for the half-price discount.

The bartender looked at black-haired Xi Yujin, black-haired Gano, then at the five pitch-black little Rustlings. He hesitated for a moment but still granted the discount, serving everyone, including every little rustball, a mug overflowing with bubbly liquor.

"Are you a novelist?" the bartender asked in clumsy foreign speech, noticing the newspaper in Xi Yujin's hands. "Novelists who bring their whole family to bars are pretty rare."

"Do novelists get some special discount?" Xi Yujin asked, his bargain-hunting instincts kicking in. Today, no discount would escape his gravitational pull.

The bartender laughed suggestively. "Think about it. In a bar with such a strong literary atmosphere, everyone's enthusiasm turns a three-point work into a five-point masterpiece. If a beautiful creature just happens to read your writing aloud, and you just happen to descend before them like a divine being... well... you know how the rest goes. We understand novelists."

Gano calmly glanced at him, took a sip of sparkling liquor, and mentally recorded every creature present in the bar. He didn't have any other intention. It's just that observing the surroundings in unfamiliar places was simply his habit.

Xi Yujin gathered the little Rustlings protectively around himself. After the bartender left, he patiently lectured them.

"You see, public morality, private morality, and personal achievements are three completely unrelated things. Never assume that just because someone is accomplished, they're admirable in every other aspect."

Even he couldn't claim to be morally perfect.

The little Rustlings squeaked in understanding.

Xi Yujin sampled the local food while buying several more newspapers to read with Gano.

Two in particular were exceptionally thick: Future Morning Post and Ancient and Modern Evening Post. Each represented one of the Peninsula's two dominant literary schools.

Gano read sentence after sentence while Xi Yujin leaned comfortably against his shoulder and listened.

Suddenly, a huge cube sprang into the air. In deep musical tones, it declared, "This poem satirizes reality brilliantly! Everyone, listen!"

Floating above the bar, it began reciting. None of the locals found this unusual, and several cubes even cheered.

It read:

[

Pessimistic young cubes

Dreams larger than the sky

But all are empty words.

Even a single feather of reality

Can flatten their bodies.

If they're not lying at home,

They're slumped over a desk.

]

The audience erupted.

"Perfectly written!"

"Those young cubes really need to hear this!"

"Excellent! Brilliant!"

Then another coil sprang up from the opposite corner of the bar. Its poem reached Xi Yujin's ears as the rich sound of a cello.

[

This is a seed.

You see only a seed.

But I see the vast forest of tomorrow.

This is a flower.

You think only of decorating your festival.

But I grieve for the day it will wither.

]

Its companions raised their drinks.

"To you, beautiful poet!"

"Though those Fossilists are unbearable to look at, meeting you here is my honor."

"Actually... I wrote that poem myself. It was recently published in the Future Morning Post."

"The author is actually here! Get them on stage!"

"Have a drink!"

The passionate, uninhibited literary atmosphere washed over Xi Yujin.

"It's... so lively..." He stared in amazement. He had never experienced such an intense yet welcoming literary culture.

A little Rustling nudged him and asked whether he planned to change the local literary theories.

"When you travel," Xi Yujin said, patting them gently, "the biggest mistake is thinking you should change something. The only thing that truly changes everything is time."

Another little Rustling asked, "So if Blue Planet's novelists get criticized by them, that's okay too?"

"No prob... wait. Who got criticized?"

Xi Yujin picked up the newspaper in front of them: Weekly Index of New Criticism Literature.

The Peninsula was connected to the outside galactic network, so naturally some critics had read novels from Blue Planet. Printed on the page were the titles of articles criticizing Blue Planet literature. There were so many that an entire broadsheet page wasn't enough to list them all.

After a long silence, Xi Yujin put down the newspaper and said mysteriously, "Sometimes... when someone invites us to join in, it's only polite to participate."

After all, Blue Planet had one thing in abundance: alternate identities!

And they're exceptionally good at arguing with each other!