CIATB Chapter 112 Big Black!
Chapter 112 Big Black!
Three hundred meters underground, the heat had not completely dissipated.
Zhang Yan sat cross-legged at the feet of the black mecha that had just surrendered, holding a copy of "Mozi: The Will of Heaven" in his hands, reading it with great interest.
The "Xingtian-01" next to him was as obedient as a quail, kneeling on one knee, its left hand, which was still connected to half of the hydraulic pipe, was even thoughtfully raised to serve as a temporary reading light stand for Zhang Yan.
"Tsk tsk, our ancestors' methods were truly unconventional."
Zhang Yan turned the page and couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement.
I originally thought this was just a technical manual on how to build killing machines, since the Mo family's mechanical arts were always associated with crossbows and siege warfare in later legends.
But this original manuscript completely overturned his understanding.
The book doesn't mention how to kill anyone; instead, it devotes most of the book to the cycle of "qi" and "fire."
The so-called "universal love" is interpreted in this chapter as a logic of energy distribution—the conservation of energy in all things, reducing the surplus and supplementing the deficiency.
And that "non-aggression" is absolutely brilliant.
It doesn't mean you should just stand there and not fight back. Rather, it means using an extremely high-intensity defensive force field and energy backlash to leave your opponent with nothing to fight back against, forcing them to back down.
The most outrageous part is the diagrams of the power core on the last few pages.
The principle behind that thing isn't a steam engine at all, but rather a device that utilizes special underground minerals and geothermal high-pressure environments to create a continuous thermal energy reaction.
In layman's terms: a simplified version of cold fusion.
Although its efficiency cannot compare to that of modern nuclear power plants, it was a game-changer in the Ming Dynasty hundreds of years ago.
【Ding! 】
[The host has successfully deciphered the "Mozi: The Will of Heaven (Authentic Version)" and filled a gap in the historical technology tree.]
[Task settlement in progress...]
[Congratulations, host, you have received an extra reward: Mo Family Mechanical Arts (Grandmaster Level).]
My mind went blank for a second.
Countless complex geometric shapes, leverage structures, and energy flow formulas flooded in like a tide.
Originally, Zhang Yan had to rely on the system's scanning and analysis to see this mecha, but now, with just a glance, this thing looks as simple as if it were assembled from Lego bricks.
He knows exactly where the design is redundant, where the structure is fragile, and where he can fit another missile launcher.
"Since you're with me, don't use your old name anymore."
Zhang Yan closed the book, patted the mecha's thick thigh, and said, "The name Xing Tian is too ominous and unlucky."
"We are legitimate business people, and we believe in making money through harmony."
The mecha's pair of eerie blue electronic eyes flickered, as if waiting for new instructions.
"From now on, you'll be called... Big Black."
Zhang Yan casually picked out a name.
If the Mohist master who created this thing hundreds of years ago knew that his painstakingly crafted sect's divine weapon had been given the name "watchdog," he would probably be so angry that he would lift the lid off his coffin.
The mecha clearly lacked any aesthetic sense, its electronic voice obediently replying, "Command received."
"Codename Reset: Big Black"
"You need to work on your brain."
Zhang Yan took out his phone and connected to the mecha's underlying control system.
Fingers flew across the screen.
Remove all "Active Annihilation" commands and replace them with "Passive Defense" and "Guard".
While we're at it, we'll also lock down that extreme program that keeps self-destructing.
"Alright."
Zhang Yan stood up, stretched, his bones cracking, and said, "You stay here and keep an eye on that stove, make sure it doesn't explode again."
"When I have some free time, I'll come down and give you a full-body massage, and set your broken arms and legs back together."
Big Black lowered its enormous head slightly, making a gesture of accepting orders.
Zhang Yan tucked the ancient book into his coat and turned to walk towards the elevator.
As the elevator doors closed, he looked at the underground armory outside, a scene brimming with violent aesthetics, and a smile crept onto his lips.
This gigolo job is really delicious.
Not only did they get a free hot spring resort, they also managed to acquire a Gundam as a subordinate.
If those bosses who are still arguing heatedly over a few million dollars worth of business knew this, they'd probably have a heart attack on the spot.
……
On the ground, the victory celebration was drawing to a close.
Most of the guests were slightly tipsy, gathering in twos and threes on the terrace to chat or soaking their feet in the hot spring pool.
Nie Qingcheng was not among the crowd.
She was alone in the backstage dressing room, clutching her phone so tightly the screen was almost shattered.
Every few seconds, she would look up at the doorway.
That bastard said he was going to the toilet, and he's been gone for an hour!
Did I fall into a pit?
Or... has something really happened down there?
Although the holographic code had reassured her, as time went on, that unease began to grow wildly again.
After all, 300 meters underground is a forbidden zone for humans.
Just as Nie Qingcheng was about to ask the security captain to take people down to look for her, the door to the rest room was pushed open.
"Squeak—"
Nie Qingcheng turned around abruptly.
Zhang Yan was leaning against the door, holding the expensive suit jacket in his hand. His white shirt had turned gray, with black machine oil stains all over the sleeves, and there was a streak of ash on his face.
They looked no different from miners who had just crawled out of a coal mine.
But the smile on his face was so bright it was almost irritating.
"Honey, is there any food left?"
Zhang Yan rubbed his stomach, looking completely innocent. "I'm so tired, I'm starving."
Seeing his disheveled appearance, Nie Qingcheng, who had prepared a lot of cursing words, suddenly found them all stuck in her throat.
Her eyes reddened, and all thoughts of being a female CEO and maintaining a cold, aloof persona vanished into thin air.
She rushed over in her high heels and threw herself into Zhang Yan's arms.
"So you finally decided to come back!"
Nie Qingcheng's voice was choked with sobs. She wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, not minding that he was dirty, and buried her face directly in his shirt that smelled of engine oil.
"If you don't come up here, I'm going to dig this ground up!"
Zhang Yan was knocked back half a step by her, and quickly raised his hands, not daring to touch her haute couture dress worth hundreds of thousands of yuan.
"No, no, no, you're covered in oil. It's a dress worth tens of thousands of dollars. It would be such a waste to get it dirty."
"So what if it's dirty!"
Nie Qingcheng raised her head, her alluring peach blossom eyes misty with tears, glaring fiercely at him. "Is the dress more important than you?"
"Besides, I have money! I can afford to pay it back!"
That's an arrogant statement.
Zhang Yan smiled, feeling a warm glow in his heart.
He didn't care about whether it was oily or not, he wrapped his arms around Nie Qingcheng's slender waist and kissed her forehead.
"Alright, alright, Mr. Nie is very generous."
"But can we close the door first? There are still waiters outside. If they see President Nie acting like a timid wife, the stock price will fluctuate again tomorrow."
Nie Qingcheng blushed, realizing that she had just lost her composure.