"…"
"…"
With Zhui Yun no longer at the table, Long Hua occupies the opposite side, and faces Tian Cheng.
To the side, there is a power outlet—that Tian Cheng is currently plugging a white cord into to recharge her batteries. This cord extends out from her wrist, and should anyone see it, they would probably raise an eye—in response to how unnatural the sight is.
"Out of curiosity, what do you think of that imp?"
Interested in how Tian Cheng views those that they are spending their time with today, Long Hua asks her about her impressions of these individuals.
"Although she hates master, master doesn't seem to hate her."
"Because she's just a brat."
"According to my database, individuals of her age tend to act rebellious towards those that they look up to."
Towards this mechanical remark, Long Hua raises an eye, and replies—
"Look up to? As far back as I can remember, I don't think she's ever looked up to me."
"I do deem her as someone that could threaten master's life. If master wishes for it, I shall look for an opportunity to remove her."
(Saying something like that with such a serious tone while having her eyes closed is just sca—… No, terrifying is more like it.)
Clearing his throat, Long Hua shakes his head towards Tian Cheng's offer.
"No need."
"…I see."
"Wait, what are you frowning for?"
Noticing the subtle frown that had appeared for but a brief instance on Tian Cheng's face, Long Hua can't help but feel like this doll would readily commit a serious crime when he isn't looking. Towards his question—
"Error. Do you wish to restart?"
"Again?"
Recalling what had happened back at the Mirrored Moon Café's garage, Long Hua feels a headache beginning to well up.
(If I recall wasn't her model discontinued due to a buggy AI? Is this it? Is that AI based off a serial killer?)
Thinking of this, Long Hua takes a sip out of his glass of mixed fruit juice.
"Erro—"
"Moving on, what of Jing and Yao Yao?"
"Ever since Lady Jing had returned to the car, she seems like something is bothering her. I cannot say much more about her other than this."
"Something is bothering her? What makes you think that?"
"Her face wasn't completely relaxed. It's barely noticeable, but she was frowning with her brows pressed together."
Taking a bite out of his ice cream, Long Hua asks—
"Oh? And the other one?"
"Judging by Lady Nian's above average heartbeats when discussing matters related to New Moon Village, she seems anxious about anything related to this topic. Perhaps, it would be best to not talk about the matter too much—as it would only serve to ruin her mood? Although, due to her special constitution, her heartbeats at the time may have been considered her norm? It would require further observations to be certain."
Being given this lengthy response that can only be described as machine-like, Long Hua heaves a subtle sigh, and remarks—
"This only answers their mental and health conditions. What of your impressions of them as people?"
"It is still too early to say—as I have yet to know them well. Would it be fine for me to ask master a question as well?"
"Speak your mind; no need to be so formal about it. If possible… I would like to hear you be less mechanical with your speech and tone."
Responding to Long Hua's remark with a nod, Tian Cheng asks—
"Master mentioned how people say—that there is no relationship thicker than blood. Is this true?"
"Blood relationships are valued highly—because the concept called family exists in human society. So, it should be true."
"Allow me to rephrase the question. Does master—as an individual, personally, think that is true?"
"You really are just…"
Recalling the story that Jing Yao had told him—the story regarding a married couple bringing their daughter in for a cure to "Sinner's Branding," Long Hua raises a sigh.
(Right… Family and blood really doesn't matter all that much in this world, or in the cultivation world…)
Should a bar code like tattoo appear on the body of a child, the parents of the child tend to always sell them off to the government, for living conditions outside of the first and second ward—isn't something that most are able to stomach.
"I suppose, blood really doesn't count for much depending on the situation, and…"
"And?"
As an occasionally stern figure flashes in Long Hua's mind, a light smile appears on his face, as he raises his head to the ceiling.
"The person I respect the most isn't related to me by blood, but I still consider them a father figure. He is the person who I aspire to be like. Where he is, is where home for me is, I guess?"
"…"
Hearing this, Tian Cheng turns mute, seemingly attempting to process these words. Although it is subtle, she is pressing her brows together before gradually beginning to relax them. Eventually, she asks—
"And who is this individual?"
"My shizun, but I can't remember his face. All I know is, they really cared for me."
Looking towards Tian Cheng, Long Hua is reminded of his shizun's words once more—regarding the difficulties involved with keeping a pet.
"When you asked me to register a name, his words came to mind. "Foolish disciple, what have you brought back this time? If you truly intend to take this weak creature in, are you prepared to care for it for life? Shizun can only protect you temporarily; there will eventually come a day in which you would have to fend for yourself. While fending for yourself, do you think you'd have the leisure to care for someone else?" I don't know when he said these words to me, but I still remember them so clearly to this day."
Hearing this, Tian Cheng turns silent again.
"Hm?"
Noticing Tian Cheng's closed eyes to be trembling as if in fear of something, Long Hua frowns, but before he can ask about it—
"…Error. Do you wish to restart?"
"…?"
Unsure as to what could have promoted this response, Long Hua pinches the bridge of his nose.
"I'm not even sure what it is that I am asking of you anymore by bringing his words up…"
Removing his hand away from his nose, Long Hua can only sigh, as he chooses to drop the subject completely.
Finishing his ice cream, Long Hua remarks—
"Actually, with you asking questions that lead to me answering in such a way… It's as if you're attempting to… To search for the meaning of life through me."
"A machine is a machine. Life for me may end at the press of a switch. But…"
Tilting her head, Tian Cheng seems confused about how she should continue.
Rather than saying that she is attempting to search for the meaning of life, Tian Cheng finds it more appropriate to think that she is looking for something—something that could make her feel a sense of supposed completion.
"So even machines of your caliber can be confused?"
Towards Tian Cheng's display of confusion, Long Hua smiles with amusement, and responding to his teasing smile, the former replies with—
"Error. Do you wish to restart?"
"…"
Lightly biting the lollipop in her mouth, Jing Yin stares intently at the monitor in front of her, as she sits behind a complicated computer station.
(These readings… When was the last time that I tuned her personally?)
Displayed on the monitor screen is a humanoid outline, and to the side of this outline is a list of biometric data.
"It's been 15 minutes. Any changes so far?"
"Feels way better than what those guys at Rime Tech are capable of already."
Lying flat on the surface of a white bed that is made entirely out of cold steel is Qing Yue, who had numerous wires stuck onto her body with tape.
All these wires are collectively bundled together into a box the size of an overfilled wallet.
On the opposite side of the wire box is a single cord that runs to the specialized computer station that Jing Yin is sitting in front of.
The two are currently in a lab that belongs to Rime Tech, one of the Guilds that are in a cooperative relationship with the Long Yue family.
Mounted onto the ceiling of this spacious white room are 18 lightbulbs.
Square-shaped panels divide the walls of this room, while the floor is layered over by panels of polished white marble.
"Sounds like it's not perfect then."
The specialized instrument used for the tune-up process resembles a piano in form, with what seems to be a volume control knob positioned to the right side.
Turning the knob by 135 degrees, Jing Yin hovers both hands over the keyboard, and begins to adjust Qing Yue's body conditions once more.
With each press of the piano keys, a current of electricity would traverse through the wires, and onto Qing Yue's body causing gradual changes to occur to her biometric readings.
The entirety of this tune-up session takes less than five minutes to complete, but an additional 15 minutes is spent on waiting for the adjustments to take effect.
"Well?"
Disconnecting herself from the wires, Qing Yue leaps off the metal bed.
"Much better."
Performing a few basic stretches, Qing Yue smiles with satisfaction.
"Jing Yin, you think you could maybe just stay here?"
As Jing Yin walks over, Qing Yue looks up at her with a pleading gaze.
"I doubt that's possible. Being a project leader means carrying a lot of baggage."
"Those idiots at Rime Tech just aren't good enough. Back in the Long Yue family estate, tune-ups are a weekly thing. Here, I feel like I need a tune-up every three days."
Hearing this, Jing Yin frowns, as she thinks back to Qing Yue's biometric readings just now.
(We had a deal with the military—where we would eventually modify a few of their common soldiers into Moon Guards. The modification process is easy enough, but the maintenance portion of the work… Looks like our associates could still use some improvements.)
The reason why the Long Yue family decided to work with Rime Tech is because they would eventually need more manpower to maintain the Moon Guards that are scheduled to be integrated into the military. But if Rime Tech isn't able to perform the tune-up work that is required, then—
"Hmm, that is a bit concerning. I'll ask Madame Nian and see if she's willing to send a few people over to train them a bit more."
"Oh? That would work as well. In fact, she should have done that in the beginning."
"In any case, go get yourself dressed for the upcoming operation."
"Got it. By the way, how many others are accompanying me in this operation?"
"Ten other Moon Guards along with 50 military dolls of the latest generation. There're also some heavy machineries being brought in, but unless those are deemed necessary, they won't be used. Around 30 additional Moon Guards are on standby."
"Mother is really going all out."
"Naturally. Alright, off you go. I still need to make a call to Dainsfield."
"Dainsfield?"
"Rime Tech alone isn't enough to maintain all the Moon Guards that are to be born in the future."
...…
By the time Nian Yao Yao had finished her shopping trip, the sun had already set—making it the perfect time to have dinner.
Glancing around the vicinity a bit, Long Hua remarks—
"I'm surprised you didn't book the entire building."
Shrugging her shoulders, Nian Yao Yao answers—
"Our group isn't even that big, so I didn't see the need to do so."
Despite the large surplus of extra tables and chairs, the 99th floor of this hotel—that Nian Yao Yao will be staying at for the duration of her time here in GC012, is completely devoid of other guests.
Boiling in the center of the group's round table is a hotpot, and surrounding it are plates of uncooked seafood, meat, vegetables, and noodles.
To the side of the table is a cart that holds a large rice cooker with a small tower of bowls.
On the cart's second layer are vintage bottles of wine, along with a phone—for the sole purpose of making additional orders to the hotel's service center.
Aside from the back walls of this floor being wood, everything to the front and sides of the vicinity are made up of reinforced glass—giving guests a great view of the illuminated cityscape.
To provide adequate support for the 100th floor that is above this one, 12 pillars are scattered throughout the vicinity's areas.
"Why am I the only one dressed up for this occasion?"
Wearing a one-piece black dress that stretches to her ankles, and leaves her shoulders bare, Jing Yao can't help but feel odd at this gathering.
Towards this remark, Nian Yao Yao replies—
"What? Doesn't my attire count for something?"
"It just doesn't feel right."
Saying this, Jing Yao looks to Long Hua, Tian Cheng, and Zhui Yun in turn.
"I'm personally not a fan of fancy suits."
"What purpose is there to dress up a machine?"
"Aren't I still technically a guard on duty? A dress would make it difficult to move around."
Hearing their individual reasonings for their attire, Jing Yao couldn't do anything but sigh.
"Before I forget, here's that gift that I promised you."
Casually, Nian Yao Yao tosses an object over to Long Hua.
"Hm?"
Catching it with his right hand, it turns out to be a black leather belt that is bound together by a rubber band.
Getting out of his seat, Long Hua takes the rubber band off—immediately, the belt straightens itself out.
Other than its buckle, there was another object protruding from within the belt itself.
"…"
Gripping the white handle that is wrapped in gold accents, Long Hua draws the weapon—that is a single-handed sword that measures at three feet in length, with the width of its blade being one and a half fingers.
This weapon is what is commonly referred to as a soft sword. However, judging by the faint aura that emanates from it, it's clearly not crafted from ordinary steel, nor is it something that can be forged through the smithing techniques of this world.
Etched onto the sword's blade are two characters—
(Bái Zhé, this is clearly a magic treasure, but compared to Kun—this sword has yet to reach the Foundation Establishment realm.)
Sheathing the sword, Long Hua wraps the belt around his waist before taking a seat, and asks Nian Yao Yao—
"Where did you get this?"
"A month ago, one of the squads that I sent out for a task ran into an Immortal. That sword belongs to that Immortal."
"Did they manage to kill that Immortal?"
"How else do you think they managed to get that sword? After they brought the body back, the medical staff discovered something interesting. All the corpses of the Immortals that we've dealt with in the past have been left out to rot for at least eight hours. This one was received an hour after death."
A guess as to what that interesting discovery had been immediately appears in Long Hua's mind, as he tosses three strips of meat into the hotpot using his chopsticks.
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