Chapter 532
Finding Old Man Lu!
Chapter 532 Finding Old Man Lu!
"If that's the case, then it's a pleasant surprise." Rowan smiled slightly.
He continued walking forward, and about two hours later, he returned to Tianqi City.
The city gate was still bustling, with merchants and travelers coming and going in a constant stream. The guard saw Rowan, nodded amicably, and let him in.
Rowan walked through the bustling streets and returned to his residence in Qingfeng Lane.
Everything in the courtyard remained the same. The old locust tree swayed gently in the breeze, its branches rustling softly. The moss by the well had grown even more lush, resembling a verdant carpet.
Luo Wen pushed open the door and found the room clean and tidy, with a pot of tea and some snacks on the table.
"Lin Feng and the others have been here." A warm feeling welled up in Luo Wen's heart.
He sat down, poured himself a cup of tea, and slowly sipped it.
The tea was top-quality Longjing, with a fragrant aroma and a sweet taste. The dessert was Osmanthus Cake, famous in Tianqi City, soft, chewy, and with a delicate osmanthus fragrance.
As Luo Wen sipped his tea, he pondered his next plan.
He lost one-tenth of his mental strength, making him unable to engage in high-intensity combat or training in the short term. But this doesn't mean he's destined to be idle. He can use this time to gain a deeper understanding of Earth's culture and technology, preparing for the future.
Thinking about this, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind.
Although Earth's technology is underdeveloped, its people are not lacking in wisdom. If they can be guided in the right direction, perhaps the planet can become more self-reliant before the arrival of support from the Virtual Universe Company.
“This is a long-term plan,” Rowan thought to himself, “it needs to be done slowly.”
After finishing his tea, he lay down on the bed to rest.
This time, he finally got a good night's sleep.
There was no headache, no hallucinations, no annoying voice. His consciousness sank into a tranquil darkness, and he didn't wake up until the next morning.
Rowan opened his eyes, feeling refreshed.
Although his mental energy had not fully recovered, at least the feeling of fatigue and weakness had disappeared. He sat up, stretched his limbs, and then began to wash up.
After having breakfast, he left his residence and headed towards the headquarters of the Mysterious Bureau.
He was going to cancel his leave and also wanted to find out what had happened during his absence.
The headquarters of the Bureau of Mysteries was as busy as ever, with staff members hurrying to and fro, each seemingly with endless tasks. But Rowan keenly noticed that their expressions were much more relaxed than before, and their steps were no longer so heavy.
"Did something good happen?" Rowan wondered.
He found Chen Yuan's office, knocked on the door, and went in.
Chen Yuan was sitting behind his desk handling official business when he saw Luo Wen, and a look of surprise appeared on his face.
"Rowan, you're back?" He stood up. "How's your recovery going?"
“I’m much better now,” Rowan said. “Thank you for your concern, Deacon Chen.”
"That's good, that's good," Chen Yuan nodded. "A lot has happened while you were gone."
"Oh?" Rowan raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
"Guess what?" Chen Yuan said with a hint of excitement, "In the last ten days or so, the number of evil spirits appearing has decreased significantly!"
"Reduced? By how much?"
“It’s decreased by at least half,” Chen Yuan said. “We used to receive seven or eight reports of evil spirits causing trouble every day, but in the last few days, it’s only been two or three on average. Moreover, the level of those evil spirits has generally decreased; most are low-level minor evil spirits, and those of mid-level or higher have almost disappeared.”
Luo Wen's heart skipped a beat.
"When did it start?"
“About ten days ago,” Chen Yuan thought for a moment, “shortly after you left. At first, we thought it was a coincidence, but after observing for several days, we found that the situation was indeed improving. Headquarters also received similar reports, saying that the workload of branches in various regions was decreasing.”
Ten days ago was the time when Rowan sealed the will of the Star Beast.
It seems his guess was correct; sealing the Star Beast's will did indeed affect the Star Beast's physical activities, thereby reducing the generation of evil spirits.
“This is a good thing,” Rowan said. “Hopefully, this situation will continue.”
“Yes,” Chen Yuan sighed, “the evil spirits have been causing such a ruckus these past few months; everyone was struggling to breathe. Now we can finally breathe a sigh of relief.”
Luo Wen nodded, then asked, "What about Lin Feng and Zhao Xue? How are they?"
“They’re doing well,” Chen Yuan said. “They’ve been training hard since you left. They both achieved good results in the martial arts competition a few days ago. Lin Feng came in fifth place, and Zhao Xue came in third.”
"Third place?" Luo Wen was somewhat surprised. "Zhao Xue has improved very quickly."
"Yes, that girl is usually quiet, but she surprised everyone with her performance," Chen Yuan said with a smile. "Headquarters has now listed her as a key talent for development."
Rowan revealed a relieved smile.
He knew Zhao Xue had great potential, but she had been blinded by hatred in the past and unable to fully unleash it. Now that she had gradually let go of her obsession, her strength had naturally improved by leaps and bounds.
“Oh, right, there’s one more thing,” Chen Yuan added, “that you might be interested in.”
"What's up?"
"Have you ever heard of 'mechanical arts'?" Chen Yuan asked.
Rowan shook his head.
“Mechanical engineering is an ancient craft that utilizes various mechanical structures to create tools,” Chen Yuan explained. “It used to be used only to make simple farm implements and toys, not very useful. But recently, a very skilled craftsman has emerged, and it is said that he has created something truly magical.”
"What is that?"
"A machine that can be driven by internal force," a hint of surprise flashed in Chen Yuan's eyes, "I heard that as long as you input internal force into it, the machine can move on its own and perform all sorts of tasks. It doesn't require human or animal power; it's entirely driven by internal force."
Rowan's eyes lit up.
A machine driven by internal force?
Within the virtual universe company's system, the so-called "internal force" is actually the manifestation of cosmic energy within the human body. If Earth's craftsmen can create machines powered by cosmic energy, it would mean that this planet has taken its first step in technological development.
"What's the craftsman's name? Where is he?" Rowan asked eagerly.
“His name is Lu Fang, an old man in his sixties,” Chen Yuan said. “His workshop is in the western district of Tianqi City, on Blacksmith Street. Are you going to find him?”
“Yes,” Rowan nodded, “I’m very interested in this kind of machinery and would like to take a look.”
“Then you’d better be prepared,” Chen Yuan chuckled. “I heard that old man has a very eccentric temper; he doesn’t usually see anyone. If you can get him to speak, you’ll be lucky.” “I’ll try.”
Luo Wen bid farewell to Chen Yuan and left the headquarters of the Mysterious Bureau.
He didn't rush to find Lu Fang, but instead went back to his residence first and then went to the street to buy some things.
Since he was visiting a craftsman, it wouldn't be appropriate to arrive empty-handed. He bought a jar of fine wine, a box of top-quality tea, and some delicate pastries, wrapped them in cloth, and carried them in his hand.
After making all the preparations, he headed towards the western district.
The western and eastern districts of Tianqi City are quite different. The eastern district is the wealthy area, with wide streets, numerous shops, and well-dressed nobles and merchants everywhere. The western district, on the other hand, is the working-class area, with narrow streets, low houses, and mostly inhabited by craftsmen and peddlers.
Rowan walked through several winding alleys and arrived at Blacksmith Street.
The sounds of hammering echoed throughout Blacksmith Street, a constant clanging and banging. The air was thick with the smell of rust and coal smoke, making it hard to breathe. Blacksmith shops lined both sides of the street, each displaying a dazzling array of ironware: swords, farm tools, pots and pans.
As Luo Wen walked, he inquired about the location of Lu Fang's workshop.
"Old Lu?" A young man working as a blacksmith looked up, wiping the sweat from his face with his sleeve. "What do you want with him? That old man is not easy to deal with."
“I have some questions for him,” Rowan said. “Where is his workshop located?”
"It's at the end of the street, the last one," the young man pointed, "the one with the old elm tree by the door. But I advise you not to make a wasted trip; that old man doesn't see anyone, not even the emperor."
Thank you.
Rowan walked towards the end of the street.
After passing through rows of noisy blacksmith shops, he finally saw the old elm tree.
It was a very old elm tree, its trunk so thick that it would take two or three people to encircle it. Its branches and leaves were so lush that they almost blocked out half the sky. Under the shade of the elm tree, there was an inconspicuous little house.
The door to the small hut was tightly shut, and the windows were covered with oiled paper, obscuring the view inside. A wooden sign stood by the door, with a few words scrawled crookedly on it: "No Trespassing."
Rowan stepped forward and gently knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" came an old and irritable voice from inside. "Didn't you see the sign? No unauthorized personnel allowed! Get out!"
"My name is Luo Wen. I have some questions for Master Lu," Luo Wen said. "I apologize for disturbing you, Master Lu."
"No! No matter who you are, I'm not seeing you!" The voice grew even more volatile. "I said no unauthorized personnel allowed, can't you understand human language?"
Luo Wen wasn't angry. Instead, he continued, "I've heard that Master Lu has created a machine that can be driven by internal force, and I greatly admire that. I'm very interested in this machine and would like to ask Master Lu for some guidance."
There was a moment of silence inside.
"You know about mechanisms?" The voice carried a hint of doubt.
"I don't understand, but I have some ideas I'd like to discuss with Master Lu."
"Hmph, if you don't understand, don't waste my time!" The voice turned irritable again. "Get out of here, get out of my way!"
Rowan didn't leave. Instead, he took a piece of paper from his pocket and slipped it through the crack in the door.
"These are my thoughts; please take a look, Master Lu. If you are interested, you are welcome to come to Qingfeng Lane to find me anytime."
After saying that, he turned and left.
He knew that forcing his way in was unwise. Since Lu Fang didn't want to see him, he would try another method. The piece of paper he had just slipped in contained a simple sketch, drawn from his memory.
That was a simplified design drawing of a car.
Although it was only a very rough sketch, a craftsman skilled in mechanics should have been able to discern its intricacies. If Ru Fang truly had a fervent interest in machinery, he wouldn't have remained indifferent to this drawing.
Luo Wen returned to his residence to continue resting and recuperating.
Lin Feng and Zhao Xue arrived in the evening.
"Brother Luo! You're back!" Lin Feng rushed towards Luo Wen as if he were seeing a long-lost relative. "You've been gone for over ten days without a word! We were so worried!"
"Mr. Luo, are you feeling better?" Zhao Xue also came forward, her eyes filled with concern.
"Much better," Rowan smiled. "I'm sorry to have worried you."
"Where have you been all this time?" Lin Feng asked curiously. "What have you been doing?"
“Go to the mountains to recuperate,” Rowan said. “You’re fine now.”
Lin Feng wanted to press further, but Zhao Xue stopped him with a look. She knew that if Luo Wen didn't want to talk about it, asking would be pointless.
"By the way, Brother Luo," Lin Feng changed the subject, "I heard you went to see that old man Lu today?"
"The news travels fast enough," Rowan laughed. "How did you know?"
"Everyone on Blacksmith Street is talking about it," Lin Feng said, "saying that a young man went to see Old Man Lu, but was scolded and kicked out. I knew it was you as soon as I heard that."
“I wasn’t yelled at,” Rowan corrected, “I left on my own.”
"Isn't it all the same?" Lin Feng chuckled. "That old man's awful temper is notorious throughout Tianqi City. He dislikes everyone, and even when the emperor sent someone to invite him, he wouldn't give him any face. You're lucky you came back unscathed."
"Why is he so bad-tempered?" Rowan asked.
“I heard he suffered some kind of trauma when he was young,” Lin Feng said. “I don’t know the specifics. Anyway, that’s just how the old man is—reclusive, eccentric, and unapproachable. But the things he makes are truly amazing. I’ve seen those machines powered by internal energy once; they were truly incredible.”
"You've seen it? What kind?"
"It's a small doll, about this tall," Lin Feng gestured, indicating it was about a foot tall. "As long as you input a little internal energy into it, it can walk, wave its arms, and even spin around on its own. It's practically alive!"
Rowan nodded, his anticipation growing stronger.
The person who could create such a machine is definitely not an ordinary craftsman. If we could get his help, perhaps we could really bring about some changes to Earth.
After chatting for a while, Lin Feng and Zhao Xue said goodbye and left.
Before leaving, Lin Feng suddenly remembered something and said, "By the way, Brother Luo, we're going on a mission outside the city tomorrow. Would you like to come along?"
"What mission?"
"It's just a regular patrol mission," Lin Feng said. "There have been far fewer evil spirits lately, so the missions have been much easier. Tomorrow we'll take a trip to a few villages in the east of the city to see if there's anything unusual. If you're free, you can come along for a stroll."
Luo Wen thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.
(End of this chapter)