IWYTBW - Chapter 19
Chapter 19
Silence descended upon the room. Oliver, still reeling from the terrifying sensation of plummeting through the air, patted himself down frantically, then reached out to check on Qi Jiayou as well.
A bewildered Ai Ling asked, “What... what happened to you all?”
From her perspective, her arrogant classmates had fallen into a bizarre stupor after Yi Zhen’s earth-shattering declaration. Their expressions and movements remained frozen for an unbearably long time, before they abruptly began patting themselves down as if ensuring they hadn’t lost any body parts.
Ursula gaped, Natalia stood frozen, Jin Qi looked at his unharmed companions, barely suppressing tears of relief. Only Nishikawa Hiroki stared intently at Yi Zhen, muttering under his breath a single word, “Illusion.”
Standing beside Yi Zhen, Anji was even more confused.
From his point of view, these Divine Embryos hadn’t uttered a single word since they sat down! They ate in silence and drank mechanically, making him wonder if he’d stumbled into some cult initiation ceremony. It wasn’t until Nishikawa Hiroki mentioned an illusion that realization dawned upon him.
When exactly had he fallen under the influence of an illusion?
He looked incredulously at the back of Yi Zhen’s head.
In the Interstellar Age, illusions, along with alchemy and other ancient disciplines, were no longer considered mere superstition. Many potions possessed hallucinogenic properties, and some Mecha Pilots, upon their formal ascension to A-rank, chose creatures capable of casting illusions as their spiritual embodiments, such as the Lightning Weasel, the Phantom Mirage Clam, or the Red Chiming Butterfly.
And that was the crux of the matter. Anji’s own spiritual embodiment was a Red Chiming Butterfly, a rare and beautiful giant insect native to the Warhorse Nebula. The rich gem deposits of their home world imbued their scales with a mesmerizing sparkle, capable of inducing potent hallucinations. He himself was a master of illusion, well-versed in the art of deception and suggestion, often holding an unparalleled advantage at the negotiation table. It was precisely because of this that DaHei Tiancai[e/n: Referring to Rong Hongxue lit. Big Black Genius, I cannot for the life of me think up a cool way to put that... help me... let’s use the pinyin for now] dispatched him to assist Yi Zhen. However, the current situation far exceeded his expectations... Not only did the person he was supposed to assist not need his help, but he had been drawn into the illusion as well!
When exactly did this illusion begin?
Anji’s nose twitched as a thought struck him.
Rose Pudding... Even before the appetizers had been served, he had seen the dessert that was supposed to be the last course, and even smelled its strong floral fragrance.
That’s right, now that he thought about it, the aroma wasn’t quite like roses. It was more like... like what, peach blossoms?
“The ancient Chinese philosopher Zhuang Zhou once dreamt he was a butterfly,” Yi Zhen spoke, “and upon waking, he wondered: Was it Zhuang Zhou who dreamt of being a butterfly, or was it the butterfly who dreamt of being Zhuang Zhou?”
“You say I used an illusion. But how do you know that you are not still trapped within the illusion at this very moment?”
He twirled a strand of red thread around his finger and raised his glass to everyone. “Fulfill your promises, friends. I trust you are all true to your word.”
Natalia remained silent, her eyes flickering with indecipherable emotions, expression constantly shifting.
After a long pause, she finally rose. She looked down at the red wine in her glass, suddenly reminded of the day Ai Ling’s fingertips bled the same startling crimson.
Natalia lifted her head and said to Ai Ling, “I admit... It was I who orchestrated that prank. I looked down on you, believing you to just be some trash from a junk planet, only fit to speak with us because of your connection to Black Heaven[e/n: RHX’s mecha name,prev tled as Great Dark Sky. Is referring to people as their mecha names just a.. thing?]. Now, I formally apologize to you. I am willing to make amends for my wrongdoing. Please, accept my apology.”
Her voice was low and heavy. “I may still not like you, but I understand where I went wrong: I should not have tormented you, leaving you stranded in that dangerous, potentially fatal environment. I should not... disregard a person’s life so carelessly. I am truly sorry.”
She then turned to Yi Zhen. “As for you...”
Natalia’s gaze was incredibly complex. Slowly, she said, “On one hand, I’ll say that you are no weakling, but an exceptionally outstanding older brother. On the other hand... I apologize to you. I apologize for doubting your character, denying your integrity, and insulting your words and actions.”
“I eagerly anticipate our encounter at the Heroes’ Championship[e/n: last mentioned in Chapter 7].” She stared into Yi Zhen’s eyes. “You will be there, won’t you? You will prove yourself, and I, too, will prove myself before you.”
Yi Zhen, caught off guard by her unexpected words, could only stare back in surprise.
With Natalia taking the lead, the others rose one after another. Although their expressions varied, they all offered Ai Ling their sincere apologies, and Yi Zhen as well.
Main Quest: Confrontation Complete
Quest Rewards:
Skill Points x2
Bone-Eroding Scorpion x1
Soul-Stealing Jade Bee x3
[Please select one of the following attributes to enhance: strength, agility, or spirit.
Remaining enhancement points: 2]
“Yes! My long-awaited quest rewards!”
[Well done, player,] Tai’a said. [I believe you have completed this main quest exceptionally.]
“Thank you, thank you,” Yi Zhen rubbed his hands together excitedly. “It’s mainly because I’m just that good.”
Main Quest: Domination Triggered
Quest Content:: Just do it!
I've perfectly resolved the campus bullying incident, guiding the bullies to mend their ways and turn over a new leaf. Even Natalia Rauðr Dreki —gods, that's a mouthful—the granddaughter of the powerful Grand Duke Norst Rauðr Dreki, has extended both an invitation and a challenge my way.
I think it's time to test my skills on a grander stage after some rigorous training. After all, there's plenty of time to prepare before the Heroes' Championship.
Judging by the caliber of these elite students, they're bound to reach the finals, right?
Guess I'll have to set my sights high!
Quest Rewards:
Skill Points x10
Snow-foot Spider x2
White-Cheeked Gold-Ringed Snake x2
Red-Cheeked Silver-Ringed Snake x2
Anji was utterly speechless.
Just what in the world transpired during that blank period of time? His curiosity was driving him mad!
Asking Yi Zhen was pointless; the man merely smiled without a word. And as for asking his superior... well, if he still valued his career advancement, it was best to avoid interacting with him too much.
The banquet came to a somewhat perfect end. Sitting in the car on the way back, Anji was still deep in thought. Rong Hongxue, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke up: “It seems you have resolved the issue with Ai Ling ... in your own way.”
“You don’t sound too surprised,” Yi Zhen replied. He had drunk quite a bit of red wine tonight. Instead of using his inner strength to dissolve the effects, he allowed himself the rare indulgence of remaining slightly tipsy.
“Because you have already given me too many surprises, I’ve grown accustomed to it.”
Yi Zhen wanted to roll his eyes. “Watch how you speak. What’s that supposed to mean, ’‘given me too many surprises’?”
Ai Ling, sitting opposite, hesitated for a moment before asking, “Is it Elder brother?”
Yi Zhen nodded. “Yes, it’s him.”
Ai Ling said softly, “Well, I’ve wanted... I wanted to thank you, Yi Zhen, and... apologize.”
Yi Zhen chuckled lightly and waved his hand. “Don’t make me sound like a fool. You don’t need to apologize.”
“No, this is something I must say!” Ai Ling looked at him earnestly. “I know I’m often not resolute enough, nor persistent enough. When others say something, I’m easily swayed... I know it’s wrong, but I’ve never been able to change.”
Yi Zhen frowned slightly but said nothing.
Yes, this was indeed Ai Ling’s character in the original work. Besides being overly prideful and self-deprecating, she was also very susceptible to external influences. A few words of provocation would send her running to make trouble for Yi Zhen, making her as obedient as a marionette.
Unexpectedly, she had also realized this... Was this why Rong Hongxue placed her in an environment full of cunning people, to catalyze her growth through trials?
However, if he followed this method of education strictly, Ai Ling would either undergo a complete transformation or end up in a very tragic state. There would be no third outcome.
“It’s good that you recognize this,” Yi Zhen said. “Admitting your mistakes is essential; it’s a necessary first step toward improvement. You will gradually become better.”
Ai Ling smiled hesitantly, then suddenly asked, “Are you and my brother... in a relationship?”
At this question, Anji’s ears perked up, and his fingers poised over his light-brain, ready to share the gossip at any moment.
Yi Zhen: “No.”
Rong Hongxue: “No.”
Yi Zhen: “...”
Their simultaneous denial made the atmosphere awkward.
Yi Zhen: “She wasn’t talking to you. Why did you answer?”
Rong Hongxue paused. “Because I heard it.”
Yi Zhen pinched the bridge of his nose and decided to start over, pretending the previous conversation had not happened.
“I’m not involved with him-”
Rong Hongxue: “I am not involved with you.”
“Why are you interrupting-”
“I was just reminding you.”
“Can you-”
“Go ahead.”
Yi Zhen: “...”
The oppressive silence filled the air.
Tai’a whispered in Yi Zhen’s right ear: [Uh-oh.]
After a long silence, Yi Zhen said, “Rong Hongxue, if you interrupt me again, I swear I will beat you up without mercy!”
Rong Hongxue, satisfied with his victory, nodded calmly and said, “Alright.”
Yi Zhen finally turned to Ai Ling and said, “No, I am not in a relationship with him.”
After a moment of thought, he added, “We haven’t slept together recently either. Next time, remember to separate us in your questions.”
Ai Ling: “Uh... okay?”
Having received the desired reward, Yi Zhen didn’t pursue Ai Ling’s suspicious tone any further. Back at the Rong residence, he remembered Rong Hongxue and said, “Hey, you.”
“Which ’‘you’?” Rong Hongxue retorted. “The one who isn’t your lover, isn’t dating you, and hasn’t slept with you recently?”
Yi Zhen: “Did you take the wrong medicine?”
Rong Hongxue replied, “When have I ever taken the right medicine?”
He was going crazy again.
Yi Zhen shook his head. “I owe you a favor. Natalia, the Crimson Dragon[e/n: her title, not her name. Maybe her mecha name...], predicted you would die in the Crimson Cloak Galaxy. That was probably the only valuable thing she said all night.”
Rong Hongxue replied, “I know. I heard it.”
“You heard...” Yi Zhen paused, realizing that the hallucinations caused by the Peach Blossom Miasma affected everyone present except for Rong Hongxue, who had tuned in via a listening device. “I forgot about that. There’s nothing more to say. I’ll have Anji remove this damn thing now.”
“Do you believe it?” Rong Hongxue asked.
“Believe what?”
“That I will die in the Scarlet Cape.”
Yi Zhen was taken aback. “No, I don’t.”
What a joke. As the protagonist, with the soul and aura of a main character, you couldn’t possibly die in some obscure, unknown corner of the universe, right?
Rong Hongxue, however, didn’t speak further. Yi Zhen could only hear his almost nonexistent breathing—something he envied, truly. When would he achieve such mastery over his presence?
Then, silence. Rong Hongxue had ended the call without another word.
Yi Zhen muttered, “Troublesome.”
He went looking for Anji. Upon seeing him, Anji quickly set down the data pad in his hand and flashed an awkward smile.
“Mr. Yi, you’re here. Let me help you with the...”
“Rong Hongxue said this thing needs a special medicine to remove, or else the flesh will tear off...” Yi Zhen said. “Do you have it?”
Anji froze. After a moment he reached out, his fingers gently pressing behind Yi Zhen’s earlobe. With a soft “click,” the ear cuff fell into his palm.
“...Like this,” he said, opening his hand and looking at Yi Zhen cautiously. “No medicine needed, and no need to… tear off any flesh.”
Yi Zhen: “...”
The number of strange occurrences tonight was simply too high.
He and the alien youth stared at each other in silence for a moment. Finally, Yi Zhen said, “Keep that thing with you. I don’t usually wear it anyway. Good night.”
He turned and left. As the door closed behind him, Anji pounced on his data pad like a starving tiger.
[—Even devils have hearts! Even devils can love! And this devil has his eyes on a certain someone!! Your frontline reporter is here with a live update!!]
***
Ever since receiving the main quest titled “Domination,” Yi Zhen had thrown himself into a whirlwind of activity.
His course load was intense and demanding, piled high with assignments. His original cultivation plan had been challenging enough, but now with only two months remaining until the Championship, his time was squeezed paper-thin, schedule practically doubled.
Yet, Yi Zhen didn’t complain. Like a parched sponge, he absorbed knowledge and honed his martial skills relentlessly. In the upcoming Heroes’ Championship, he firmly believed that these skills would be the key to survival and, ultimately, victory.
[Player, you are doing well,] Tai’a often praised. [But it’s still not enough. Keep going.]
Drenched in sweat and utterly exhausted, Yi Zhen still managed to retort, “This is just... a system quest!”
Finally, the weekend arrived, granting him a precious day of rest to organize his resources.
The remaining four Blood-Thread Worms were sealed in a wax pellet, ready for use. The Conceptual Crystal of the ‘Cold Pool Viper’ remained intact—his most potent trump card at present. The Peach Blossom Miasma had been depleted by nearly two-thirds during the dinner, while he still had plenty of Jade Toad Saliva. However, when used on humans it was only a slow-acting poison, far less effective than its ability to upgrade other venomous substances.
At this moment, Yi Zhen’s gaze was fixed on the reinforced glass container before him.
Inside, a scorpion the size of an adult’s palm met his gaze with unwavering intensity. Its pincers were menacing, its venomous barb gleaming sharply.
The Bone-Eroding Scorpion, ranked forty-second on the 《 Book of Poisons’ 》list of fatal poisons. Aggressive, preferring cool, dark places, this creature hunted alone, active at night, with its entire body acting as a deadly weapon.
Ah, a lovely and troublesome creature.
Excitement warred with apprehension within Yi Zhen.
Unlike the Cold Pool Viper, which had arrived deceased, this little fellow was very much alive and appeared quite formidable. He desperately needed its venom, but he also had no desire to end its life.
This was a creature straight out of wuxia fiction; in this interstellar age, it was likely the only one in existence. Killing it, Yi Zhen couldn’t help but think, would be akin to burning zithers and boiling cranes—an act of senseless destruction.
[I’m rather curious about your definition of ’‘burning zithers and boiling cranes,’] Tai’a remarked.
Yi Zhen shook his head. “I can already see the concept of the scorpion’s venom; I can extract it. But if I do, it will undoubtedly die.”
The Bone-Eroding Scorpion was a brutally efficient creature. A mere brush against its carapace would cause the skin to swell and fester. Without the resolve to immediately carve away the infected flesh—and the considerable wealth and luck to obtain the antidote—the only outcomes were amputation or death.
Furthermore, when actively hunting, the venom from its tail stinger, the true Bone-Eroding Scorpion Venom, possessed terrifying corrosive properties. It could dissolve a creature a hundred times its size—oxen, sheep, it mattered not—into a pool of blood. It could even eat through steel and melt wood.
Even with such a violent poison, Yi Zhen didn’t want to kill the scorpion to extract it. He walked a path that only he could, going against the flow of everyone else. The living scorpion before him, like a token from his homeland, silently told him that he was not alone on this path.
He sighed and directed a sliver of his spiritual power into the glass enclosure to play with it. The tendrils of spiritual energy circled around the Bone-Eating Spirit Scorpion, which remained motionless as if frozen, its raised stinger unmoving.
After playing with it for a while and seeing no reaction, Yi Zhen was about to retract his tendrils when a dark green flash struck. The scorpion suddenly lunged at Yi Zhen’s face, hitting the tempered glass enclosure with a loud bang, leaving a fine web of cracks.
Yi Zhen was startled, involuntarily taking a step back.
What a fiercesome [e/n: this is technically not a standard english word... I say fuck it. I will singlehandedly bring chaos to every language I touch]little thing!
After some thought, not discouraged, he opened a jade box next to him. Inside lay the corpses of three Jade Bees, perfectly preserved, with not a single hair of their fuzzy bodies missing.
Compared to the Bone-Eating Spirit Scorpion, the venom of the Soul-Stealing Jade Bee was a whole level lower. However, they were more docile and could be trained to attack and defend using a bee flute. Why had they sent a live scorpion instead of live Jade Bees?
As he pondered, Yi Zhen extracted the venom from one of the Jade Bees, resulting in a honey-colored crystal the size of a grass seed, rolling within his spiritual power. The scorpion seemed to sense it, clicking its eight legs as it turned towards Yi Zhen.
Yi Zhen didn’t make things difficult for the little guy. He opened a hole at the top of the glass enclosure and extended his hand inside.
The《Jade Alchemy of the Eastern Sea》Transformation Technique circulated continuously, making his fingers as hard as jade. He held the small crystalline substance and brought it in front of the scorpion.
The Bone-Eroding Scorpion stared at his fingers and quickly wrapped the crystal into its mouthparts. At the same time, its tail stinger swayed like a willow branch in the wind, brushing lightly and stealthily against Yi Zhen’s fingertip.
According to its memory, this dangerous human in front of it would soon melt into a pool of sweet-smelling blood. But it only felt its stinger hit something hard, like rock, with a crisp “ding.”
“You little heartless thing,” Yi Zhen laughed and cursed, retracting his hand and closing the lid again.
He decided to keep it for now, as he could afford to.
Yi Zhen began to try making a Blood Tribulus to test the waters. The thirteen flying blades were easy to handle; the only troublesome part was the mechanism connecting the blades—a miniature ejection device. Although the original design was ingenious, it was outdated compared to interstellar technology, and Yi Zhen didn’t want to arm himself with such backward hidden weapons.
He sighed, reluctantly putting down the parts and tools, and said to Tai’a, “Let’s go, time for some online shopping. Here’s hope I find a great deal.”
Tai’a had increased the training room’s security, ensuring no one would intrude unexpectedly during Yi Zhen’s shopping. He entered the star network, heading to a small mecha trading market he was familiar with.
To avoid being scammed by unscrupulous vendors, he had scouted the area several times before, learning quite a bit about the trading rules.
This was a small market, mostly for new mecha builders and budding mech-builder-apprentices to buy and sell practice pieces and mecha parts. Yi Zhen came here out of necessity; he could have gone to larger exchanges to broaden his horizons, but he had no money and didn’t want to attract Rong Hongxue’s attention.
In such a casual trading place, Tai’a could easily erase Yi Zhen’s transaction records, making it hard for the protagonist to detect any traces.
—Though he was already quite conspicuous.
—But the most important reason was still the first one! No money!
Yi Zhen found a sparsely populated junk parts shop and couldn’t resist wandering around out of curiosity. Including him, there were only three people in the shop, and the owner was dozing off, his face covered with a rag.
After browsing for a while, Yi Zhen casually turned and saw a delicate brass-colored component, like several crescent moons pieced together. He couldn’t help picking it up for a closer look.
“Five hundred thousand star-coins,” the shop owner mumbled slowly, his face covered.
Yi Zhen’s fingers trembled. Looking around, he found himself the only customer left in the shop; the owner was indeed speaking to him.
Five hundred thousand, what kind of price was that? A small mecha for a C-level pilot, equipped with a particle hand cannon, cost about that much—enough that an ordinary person would have to save for half a lifetime.
“Brother,” Yi Zhen said seriously, “you can cover your face with a rag, but you can’t speak nonsense. I didn’t say I wanted to buy it, so don’t get excited.”
The shop owner slowly raised his hand and lowered the rag, revealing a handsome face. His hair was dark green, long and wavy, and his eyes were also dark green. He should have been very good-looking, but his eyes were dull, his expression dazed, like a youth who had been gaming in an internet cafe until dawn. If he wore flip-flops and had a cigarette behind his ear, the image would be complete.
“Oh, you think it’s expensive,” he said slowly, continuing in a languid tone. “No problem, you look nice. I’ll give you ... a big discount. Two hundred credits, take it or leave it. Now, pay up.”
“...” Yi Zhen was speechless. “You might as well cover your face again. Thank you.”
“Haha,” the shop owner laughed lazily, “you’re quite interesting.”
“Why do you talk so slowly?” Yi Zhen asked, puzzled. “Is it some kind of cultivation method, or is your name Lightning?”
The shop owner replied, “Oh, my name isn’t Lightning. Maybe it’s because I’m a Desnian. For me, time stretches on for so long, and everything in the world is so slow...”
A Desnian!—Yi Zhen didn’t even need Tai’a to explain. This was a memorable race; once heard of, they were never forgotten.
The Desna belonged to a slow-growing civilization. Their maturation period was extremely long, often taking thousands of years to learn and grow before they could enter adulthood. Humans named them after the Dragonblood tree, a species that could live up to eight thousand years, perfectly matching this race’s characteristics.
Most people called them Longevity Star people because their average lifespan was around 30,000 to 40,000 years... a race with an age measured in millennia!
Yi Zhen was stunned.
Desnian reproduction was a challenging and rigid affair. Each individual could only have one offspring in their lifetime. Furthermore, their incredibly slow growth rate meant that young Desnians were extremely vulnerable. While in other known species, those over a thousand years old were considered ancient anomalies, a thousand-year-old Desnian was still a drooling toddler.
This led to a unique situation... The planets dedicated to raising and protecting these young Desnians were known as the most heavily fortified in the universe. Heavy Titan fleets maintained a constant patrol, their planet-killing cannons casting a perpetual shadow over the atmosphere. Even the most ruthless star pirate gangs wouldn’t dare risk provoking them.
Imagine meeting a stranger online for the first time, only to have them reveal that they’re a Desnian. What would you think?
There’s an old saying about never knowing if you’re talking to a dog online. Well, now you can add “or a Desnian” to the list!
Yi Zhen felt a shiver run down his spine. He stared at the shopkeeper. “Do others know you’re… a Long-Lived One?”
The shopkeeper let out another hearty laugh. “Ha, ha... no.”
“Then why tell me?”
“Because you’re interesting!” Lucky?! Lucky?!Lucky? Lucky?! Lucky? Lucky?!
The shopkeeper scratched his head slowly. “Going by your human lifespan, I’m already over three thousand and six hundred years old. Almost an adult!”
He’s still a minor?!
Yi Zhen jumped up, glancing around nervously. Desnians were notorious for their motto: “Harm my child, and face my wrath, no matter the distance.”[e/n: using this line to blatantly evangelize about this song in which Poseidon takes revenge for his son...] Their Titan starships boasted a firing range measured in galaxies, utilizing a weapon system aptly named “Divine Retribution.” If this “minor” called for backup, even a black hole couldn’t save you from being turned to dust.
The shopkeeper broke into a good-natured grin. “Ha, ha, tricked you!”
Yi Zhen squinted suspiciously. “Wait, you’re not?”
The shopkeeper paused for a beat, then burst into laughter again, rubbing his head. “Ha, ha, I am!”
Yi Zhen: “...”
Chatting with a three-thousand-six-hundred-year-old troll was definitely taking years off his life.
Still, seeing as the shopkeeper meant no harm, Yi Zhen relaxed slightly. He glanced around the shabby shop. “Why open a shop here?”
The shopkeeper lifted his wrist, revealing his identification information. “The name’s She Xin. I’m nearing adulthood and searching for an opportunity that will allow me to mature.”
“I...” Yi Zhen hadn’t intended to reveal his name, but with She Xin’s openness, he couldn’t bring himself to lie to the “minor.”
“I’m Yi Zhen, and I’m looking for some useful parts.”
“You’re a mecha engineer?” She Xin’s eyes lit up. “Me too! What do you need? Are you certified? What level?”
His words tumbled out rapidly, now that his passion was ignited.
“I’m not a mech builder,” Yi Zhen quickly clarified. “I just… do you have any devices that can launch projectiles at high speeds? Something that uses magnetism, perhaps?”
She Xin reached out and grabbed a round object the size of a fist.
“How about this?” he said. “It’s the core of an electromagnetic grappling hook. Old-time space explorers used them to shoot hooks at cliffs thousands of meters high and then climb up.”
Yi Zhen took it and examined it. “Why isn’t it used anymore?”
She Xin chuckled. “Not just grappling hooks, but magnetic weapons in general are getting phased out. Nowadays, we have Anti-Magnetic Field Disruptors. Most big-time pirate crews have them as standard equipment. Turn one on, and any magnetic weapon is useless. They can even mess with a starship’s navigation system.”
Yi Zhen’s heart sank. His design relied on a compact electromagnetic launcher to propel thirteen poison blades connected by magnetic force. He’d envisioned it having a much wider and deadlier attack range. But it seemed technological advancements had rendered his inspiration obsolete before he could even test it.
“But you mentioned launching something...” She Xin reached under the counter and pulled out a box filled with assorted parts. He rummaged through it, finally retrieving a thin spring, barely thicker than a strand of hair.
Yi Zhen pressed on it. It was incredibly stiff, refusing to budge. This was no ordinary spring.
“This is a Potential Energy Spring,” She Xin explained. “It’s primarily made of a special type of tubular carbon molecule. The hexagonal honeycomb structure gives it extraordinary strength, toughness, and magnetic resistance. It won’t break or deform. So when you compress it and release...”
“...it unleashes an incredible burst of launching force,” Yi Zhen breathed, his eyes widening. “This is amazing!”
She Xin beamed with pride. “Of course! Have you heard of the ’‘Six Swords of Sloth’? That mecha has Potential Energy Springs installed in its rear wings. Much larger and more complex than this one, of course. It’s how the pilot can pull off that famous ’‘Heaven’s Punishment’ attack...” He paused and then scoffed. “Like they couldn’t come up with a more original name than ripping off the Divine Retribution system.”
Of course, Yi Zhen knew about the Six Swords of Sloth. It was a renowned, veteran S-Class mecha, unlike any other. Its wings were formed by six individual blades, each representing a different sin: Envy, Blasphemy, Malice, Stupidity, Avarice, and Pride. Its pilot, Vanessa Luna-Nuova, could unleash a devastating attack by drawing any of the six swords.
When the Saint Quadrivirtue —an S-Class mecha embodying Justice, Wisdom, Charity, and Integrity—made its debut, everyone speculated that the two would inevitably clash in a battle for the ages.
But Yi Zhen couldn’t be bothered with any of that right now. He excitedly picked up the spring. “I’ll take it! Here, let’s add each other as friends. Do you have anything else like this? And how much for one of these springs?”
She Xin’s speech slowed back to its usual pace. “As for the price…”
Before he could finish, an unknown force slammed into the shop’s dilapidated storefront. The flimsy structure exploded outward, sending debris flying. Yi Zhen reacted quickly, clutching the spring and diving under the counter. Before he could grab She Xin, a wave of scorching air engulfed the shop, tossing shelves and sending merchandise crashing down around them in a deafening cacophony.
“Hey, She Xin!” he called out, “Where are you? Are you okay?”
A female voice echoed from the street outside, “Oh dear! You ruthless little thing, you’re pretty, but why do you hit so hard? Didn’t you see there were still people in the store?”
The voice opposing her seemed to belong to a young boy, clear and bright, yet filled with anger, “Shut up! Today, I’m going to teach you a lesson!”
Inside the shop, smoke and dust rose everywhere. Yi Zhen coughed from the choking air. After all, this was a virtual world; there was no way to project internal force outward. He had to use his mental power to create a barrier, crawling out from under a pile of discarded tables and chairs.
“She Xin,” he looked around, “Are you hurt?”
The rubble in front of him moved slightly, bricks and debris falling away to slowly reveal an expressionless face.
“I’m ... fine,” She Xin said slowly, “I’m not hurt.”
Yi Zhen looked at him, thinking, You’re not just unhurt; you’re unchanged completely! You didn’t even dodge. You just sat there!
“Let’s get out first,” Yi Zhen sighed, “We should see who’s causing trouble. Are they trying to kill someone?”
She Xin stood up, a small pile of gravel and plaster still atop his head, which he didn’t seem inclined to remove.
“Alright, let’s go check it out.”
The two of them kicked away the broken stones and wood as they walked outside. The quarrel had continued, one side being a delicate-looking young girl, the other a group of boys. The street was empty, everyone hiding far away to watch the drama unfold.
Yi Zhen and She Xin had been so engrossed in their discussion earlier that they hadn’t noticed the commotion brewing.
“Huh?” She Xin seemed surprised, “It’s a mecha from the Carter family.”
“Carter?” Yi Zhen found it familiar, thinking for a moment, “Which Carter?”
“The Carter family’s patriarch, Jennings Carter, is a renowned master mecha engineer in the Azoth star system,” She Xin explained. “His mental manifestation is the Bowhead Whale, so all his works bear a whale mark. The S-class mecha ’‘Hundred-Armed Titan’ and the super S-class mecha ’‘Blood Lily’ are his creations.”
Yi Zhen focused his gaze into the distance, indeed seeing a whale mark on the left arm of the boy’s mecha.
“In recent years, he hasn’t made many works. Only the family’s descendants might have a chance to obtain something made by his hand.”
“Why are you so angry?” The girl, dressed in a light gold sleeveless top and brown harem pants, holding a long staff and standing on a lamppost with delicate sandals, teased, “Can’t you take a compliment? You’re quite amusing for a young boy.”
The boy opposite her cursed in fury, “Have some decency! It’s bad enough you spew nonsense, but you also lay hands on me? You... you’re harassing me!”
The girl rolled her eyes dramatically, “Oh, look at you, your little face is all red. Wearing such tight pants, aren’t you just waiting for someone to spank your perky butt? Playing hard to get, are we? Well, I’m not falling for it.”
Yi Zhen almost burst out laughing.
The boy, covered in a humanoid mech, was likely blushing now, if he hadn’t been before.
Honestly, her flirty banter was way too greasy, totally out of sync with her pure and innocent face!
The boy was so enraged he nearly spat blood, “You’re looking for trouble! Are you insane?”
Surrounded by his gang of lackeys, clearly a wealthy and powerful second-generation type, his friends were always there to fan the flames at key moments. Yet, faced with this unusually greasy girl, they were speechless... wanting to curse her but not knowing what to say, and unable to out-flirt her.
“Look, against a lunatic, we don’t need to follow any formal duel etiquette. Everyone, get her!” The boy rallied his friends, who enthusiastically suited up in their various mechs.
Just then, a slow voice called out from below.
“Wait.” She Xin extended a hand, moving from the street’s edge to its center, immediately drawing everyone’s attention.
“Hey,” Yi Zhen couldn’t stop him, “Big brother, don’t get excited!”
She Xin walked slowly but steadily, standing firm in the street center, reaching out to the boy, “You destroyed the shop, first pay for the damages.”
Yi Zhen covered his forehead, This foolish minor! Rushing out now will only make you a target for that enraged young master. Not to mention the money, don’t you value your hide?
Sure enough, the boy’s voice turned cold, “Beat this idiot too!”
Main Quest: Mechanical Brawl Triggered
Quest Content:: Street Fighter.
I met a Desnian.
I met an underage Desnian.
I met a clueless underage Desnian.
I met a clueless underage Desnian who has the exact part I need to upgrade my Blood Tribulus
...So what am I waiting for? Time to save the day!
Quest Rewards:
Skill Points x2
Flower-Winged Cricket x88
Though the StarNet was a virtual world, mecha that appeared here, their data having been scanned and replicated, possessed the same destructive power as they did in reality.
Scattered laser beams rained down like a deadly net. Yi Zhen channeled his internal energy through his eyes, his heightened senses perceiving the world in slow motion. She Xin’s long hair billowed around him, lifted by the blast. The gasps of onlookers stretched into drawn-out cries.
A surge of warmth flowed from Yi Zhen’s palm as he slammed it into She Xin’s shoulder, sending ripples through the fabric of his clothes.
The force of the blow sent She Xin flying back, just as the net of lasers descended upon Yi Zhen.
“Bring it on!” Yi Zhen roared, his leg whipping out. With a powerful kick, he sent a metal railing soaring from the debris-strewn ground. Transferring his energy to the tips of his toes, he shot skyward like a hawk, his sleeves fluttering as he ascended what seemed like an invisible staircase.
One beam, and only one, connected with the metal railing he’d launched. The rest exploded harmlessly against the ground beneath his feet. Molten metal sprayed outward as the railing shattered into dozens of red-hot fragments, hurtling towards him.
Unfazed by the searing heat or sharp edges, Yi Zhen plucked a shard aimed at his forehead from the air as effortlessly as one might catch a falling flower petal. In the blink of an eye, he’d moved, landing gracefully atop a nearby lamppost.
He caught each approaching projectile with unnerving precision, his left wrist rotating fluidly, index and middle fingers twirling. His ring and pinky fingers curled slightly, catching two glowing shards between them before flinging them back towards his attackers. His right hand moved with similar speed and accuracy, his index finger and thumb snatching a shard, while his middle and ring fingers, like a praying mantis, captured two more. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he sent them flying back towards their source.
It was a mesmerizing display of skill, like a miniature meteor shower. One after another, the red-hot fragments were intercepted and redirected back towards the group of teenagers in their mecha, each one aimed with pinpoint accuracy.
This was no playful exchange of mudballs. The shards were deadly projectiles, each one striking the mecha at their most vulnerable joints with unnerving precision.
With all eight single-pilot mecha temporarily immobilized, Yi Zhen dropped lightly to the ground, his gaze steady and calm.
“So, are we done here?”
He had just executed the Laurel-Breaking Twelve Fingers, a hidden weapon technique derived from the 《 Book of Poisons 》. Twelve stances, each more deadly than the last. Master it, and you could pluck even the moon’s reflection from a pond.
[Main Quest: Mechanical Brawl Complete.
Reward: Enhancement Points x2, Flower-Winged Cricket x88
Please choose one attribute to enhance: Strength, Agility, Spirit. Remaining Enhancement Points: 2]
“Holy crap, did you see his hands just now?”
“No way! What kind of fighting style is that? My mind is blown!”
“I was just browsing in that shop with him earlier! To think a master was right beside me!”
“Seriously impressive… a few pieces of scrap metal, and he managed to lock up those mecha completely. What level Pilot is he?”
“No idea. A-rank? Definitely at least B-rank! But I’ve never seen him before, which is weird…”
The astonished crowd buzzed with excitement, their voices a mixture of awe and disbelief as they debated Yi Zhen’s skills. Some even started filming the aftermath.
The young woman, having witnessed the entire spectacle, jumped down from the lamppost. “Not bad at all,” she said with a grin, approaching Yi Zhen. “Very impressive moves.”
She Xin, finally back on his feet, dusted himself off, his eyes sparkling with admiration. “Thank you for saving me. You must be a mecha engineer! There’s no way you could know so much about mecha construction and their weak points otherwise.”
Ignoring She Xin for the moment, Yi Zhen turned to the young woman. She might have been petite, but she possessed an undeniable presence. Her pale gold top, almost gauze-like in its thinness, clung to her curves. A series of golden armbands adorned her delicate arms, emphasizing the smooth, supple skin beneath. Despite the revealing attire, there was a boldness to her features, a confident serenity that lent her an almost captivating air.
“Thanks for getting me out of that jam!” she said. “The name’s Li Youdeng. I’m a psychic therapist. And you are...?”
Li Youdeng. What an unusual name. Yi Zhen couldn’t help but chuckle. “I’m Yi Zhen, and this is She Xin.”
“Strange name, right?” Li Youdeng said, unfazed. “My mother was obsessed with those poetic names inspired by mountains, rivers, and the like. Too bad both she and my father were surnamed Li. But hey, I was born under a sky full of stars, bright as lanterns, so Li Youdeng [e/n:有(You): to have,灯(Deng):light]it is!”
“Not really,” She Xin interjected slowly. “My name is also strange, but no one has ever said it’s bad.”
Probably because anyone who dared was obliterated by your “Divine Retribution,” Yi Zhen thought to himself.
In the distance, the young master of the Carter family, abandoning his mecha entirely, stormed towards them, flanked by his lackeys.
“Hey, you!” he snarled, his teeth gritted. He couldn’t quite figure out Yi Zhen, but thankfully, his underlings were eager to prove their worth.
“How dare you damage Young Master Anthony’s mecha!” one of them squawked. “If you don’t want your precious machines to end up as scrap, apologize to Young Master Anthony right now!”
Anthony Carter was indeed a striking young man, with his silver hair and piercing blue eyes. “Beautiful” wouldn’t be an inaccurate description.
Li Youdeng winked at him. “Well, hello there, pretty boy.”
Anthony’s face flushed crimson, then drained of color just as quickly. “Apologize to me!” he roared.
Li Youdeng sighed dramatically. “Fine, fine, you’re right. I can’t argue with someone as handsome as you. I’m so sorry, okay? I shouldn’t have given your backside a little squeeze, or caressed your cheek, or commented on how toned your… assets are. Or how smooth your skin is. Whoever ends up with you is one lucky lady…”
Lucky? Lucky?!
Anthony was about to explode, but Li Youdeng cut him off. “But then again, you did start it with the suggestive comments. I was simply returning the favor. And I’m not even mad, so why are you so worked up?”
Anthony sputtered, his face turning red once more. But this time, it didn’t seem to be entirely from anger.
“Complimenting you isn’t the same as harassing you...” he stammered. “Just because you’re dressed... provocatively... doesn’t give me the right...” He trailed off, muttering something about compliments and eye-catching outfits, his words lost as the surrounding crowd erupted in laughter.
Ah, so this was that classic trope: the bully getting a taste of his own medicine.
Thoroughly bored now, Yi Zhen turned to the flustered young master. “Start by paying for the damage to the shop. This is someone’s livelihood. Surely, you’re not going to skip out on the bill?”
Anthony, fuming, pulled out his terminal and was about to transfer the money to She Xin when a middle-aged man came barreling through the crowd, gasping for breath.
“My shop—who destroyed my shop?!”
Yi Zhen: “?”
He glanced at She Xin, who looked equally baffled.
“This… this isn’t your shop?”
She Xin blinked. “Did I ever say it was?”
Yi Zhen closed his mouth, replaying their earlier conversation in his mind. Eventually, he just patted She Xin on the shoulder.
“You’re a mysterious one, my friend. Very mysterious.”
The shopkeeper, practically vibrating with indignation, planted his hands on his hips. “Where’s my shop? My perfectly good shop that was right here a minute ago?!” He rounded on She Xin. “You little…! I thought you were such a kind soul, offering to help me out in the shop. And here you are, in cahoots with…”
Li Youdeng quickly interjected. “Don’t blame him! You want compensation? Talk to Mister … Pretty Boy over there. He’s the one who trashed the place.”
With all eyes on him, Anthony couldn’t very well make a run for it. Scowling, he transferred a hefty sum to the shopkeeper, then shot Li Youdeng a venomous glare.
“Two months! The Imperial Championship! You better watch your back!”
And with that, he spun on his heel and stalked away with his cronies in tow, their pace more akin to a panicked retreat than a dignified exit.
Yi Zhen exchanged contact information with She Xin and Li Youdeng. She Xin aside, he found himself rather intrigued by the quirky young woman.
Despite the unexpected turn of events, Yi Zhen considered it a successful shopping trip. Not only had he made two new friends, but he had also found a solution for his Blood Caltrop conundrum.
It was only after he returned home that a thought occurred to him.
“Tai’a?” he called out. “Why were you so quiet back there? It was strange.”
Static crackled through the connection for a moment before Tai’a’s voice returned, unusually subdued.
[I detected traces of other guidance systems in the crowd.]
[Two of them.]
-------
Comments
Post a Comment