章 8: Chapter 3 The Wishing Wall
Wu Xiaode only felt a pain in his brain as if it were being pricked by needles.
Fortunately, the pain appeared only for a moment before vanishing without a trace.
Sure enough, there were some new pieces of knowledge in his mind, all related to mechanical design in the field of engineering.
"So, that's how it is,"
Wu Xiaode pondered in silence.
At the time in the Death Demon Cave, the Heroic Spirits recognized him, and the Book of the Dead gained power, helping him escape from danger.
Now that Xia Huilan had recognized him, he had gained her knowledge.
So when he received recognition and praise from others, the Book of the Dead could obtain benefits from them!
While Wu Xiaode was silently pondering this, Xia Huilan seemed to have made some decision.
"Little Wu, come with me," she called.
The two passed through the alley and entered a residential building for the employees, ascending to the fifth floor.
Xia Huilan took out her key, opened the door, and led Wu Xiaode inside.
"Make yourself comfortable, I'm going to get something for you," Xia Huilan said.
"Sister Lan, don't be so formal, I earn my own money now, I can't keep taking things from you," Wu Xiaode hastily refused.
"It's not money."
Xia Huilan took out a small USB drive from the cabinet and placed it solemnly in front of Wu Xiaode.
"What is this?" Wu Xiaode asked curiously.
"I work in a design institute, and I can access some things that you ordinary people can't. This is something I designed, and now I'm giving it to you," Xia Huilan said.
"No, Sister Lan, this is your stuff, why give it to me?" Wu Xiaode said, declining the offer.
Xia Huilan looked at him deeply and said seriously, "Your parents died in that accident early on, leaving you without any inheritance, which is why you've had such a hard life—"
Wu Xiaode interrupted her, "There's no need to bring up the past, Sister Lan, I'm doing quite well."
"I know you've always liked to fight, but you've finished your college entrance exams and you're about to start university. I still want to say, don't get into fights anymore; fighting can easily ruin your life," Xia Huilan said.
"Don't worry, Sister Lan, actually, who wants to cause trouble? I don't either," Wu Xiaode sighed.
If someone had been there to care for him, how could others dare to bully him?
After his parents died, he was left alone in the world; if he didn't fight back, he would have forever been bullied.
He was destined to be a person who couldn't tolerate being bullied.
In junior high school, if those boys who liked to bully others dared to provoke him, he definitely wouldn't react on the spot.
But afterwards, once they were not paying attention, he would act.
During school cultural performances,
a tall boy got a face full of filth thrown at him from behind just before he went on stage.
Or take descending the stairs for example.
Almost every boy who had bullied Wu Xiaode ended up rolling down the stairs, then got beaten while pinned to the ground.
A group of boys blocked Wu Xiaode after school.
Wu Xiaode went straight to the dean's office or even to the principal's office.
If really in trouble, he called the police.
Later, those boys enlisted some local thugs to rough Wu Xiaode up pretty badly.
Wu Xiaode remained silent for a day.
The next day, he spent the afternoon in a bookstore.
He read criminal law.
And various true crime records.
On the third day, he took the last bit of money he had and went to school.
He purposely let those thugs see the money.
Of course, the thugs wouldn't let it pass.
However, according to the book—
"Robbery is a crime of action; the criminal law does not stipulate a limit on the amount or circumstances for robbery. As long as the perpetrator carries out the act of robbing public or private property by violence, threats, or other means on the scene, whether or not they have stolen any money or goods, and regardless of the actual amount stolen, they have committed robbery in principle."
Robbery is a serious crime, with a minimum sentence of three years.
This time, the amount involved in the case was not small.
Of course, the police took it seriously, and the matter was soon resolved.
The thugs confessed to the involvement of several students who liked to bully others, saying it was their instigation.
What followed was a mess, and even the school was penalized.
But for Wu Xiaode—
He was safe.
Having experienced such things often, he had gained a certain reputation. Of course, it also diverted his attention, and his academic performance suffered.
However, Sister Lan was an academic whiz, always occupied with her studies, unaware of these matters.
She spoke with good intentions.
Wu Xiaode naturally agreed with a smile.
"You're about to go to college; the designs in this USB drive are the knowledge I've accumulated. I'll leave it all to you. Even if you don't study mechanical design in the future, you can sell it for a good sum," Xia Huilan said.
Wu Xiaode realized something and quickly asked, "Sister Lan, is this your research achievement?"
Xia Huilan nodded her head.
"You're giving up even your achievements? What are you planning to do?" Wu Xiaode inquired.
"I'm planning to resign and live my life back in the countryside," Xia Huilan answered.
"Isn't the company job quite good? I heard you were about to get promoted," Wu Xiaode said.
"Promotion... What would that change? I've lived too hard, and now is the time to let go and live a peaceful life in the countryside," Xia Huilan sighed.
As her words ended, the floating black Book of the Dead slowly opened in midair, again revealing lines of ice crystal script:
"Special Prompt:"
"Xia Huilan's fate was predetermined, but you altered her encounters, prompting her to reevaluate her own life."
"Her fate is about to change."
"Many ensuing chain events will now fall into a state of uncertainty."
The Book of the Dead shuddered violently.
The ice crystal script on the pages paused and then transformed into blazing Fiery Flames, appearing as if some power had been activated.
The flames reformed into a new set of prompt runes:
"In a dire situation, you glimpsed a thread of survival, intertwining your own thread of fate with other beings, beginning to influence the vast world and all its creatures, making everything indefinable."
"The Power of Destiny within this book is starting to manifest."
"Would you like to activate this kind of power?"
Is that even a question?
In his mind, Wu Xiaode silently commanded, "Activate!"
As soon as the word fell, another line of ice crystal script swiftly appeared before his eyes:
"Your will has been executed as requested."
"In one hour, the Book of the Dead will activate a deeper level of power:"
"Wishing Wall."
...
Wu Xiaode returned to his own home.
He turned on the computer, plugged in the USB drive, and read the data inside.
A dense array of mechanical creation design blueprints appeared on the screen, easily numbering in the hundreds of pages.
There were also some personal insights and notes from Xia Huilan.
Having just received her "Model 92025 High-level Humanoid Combat Machine Curved Bearing Design Pattern·Modified," Wu Xiaode naturally understood these blueprints.
"This is quite advanced stuff, has our technology really developed to this level?"
Wu Xiaode found it hard to believe.
The content on the blueprints was revolutionary, completely beyond his usual understanding.
If one were to explain these mechanical design creations with a more common term, they could be described using a concept from anime.
Mobile Battle Armor.
So, we've been able to make Mobile Battle Armor all along!
But there was a problem.
Why had Mobile Battle Armor never appeared in the world?
What were the governments of various countries hiding?
Wu Xiaode immediately realized the importance of this knowledge.
He couldn't help but recall the scene just now.
When parting, Xia Huilan had spoken some rather veiled words.
"Little Wu, remember to prepare some extra rice and oil, and store some drinking water. Also keep some medicine, like for fever, colds, stopping bleeding, anti-diarrhea, as these are all useful in daily life."
"If one day I call you, you must come to find me in the countryside."
...Could it be that war was about to break out?
Or was there something else?
Xia Huilan hadn't answered him on the spot, merely saying that everything was speculation.
Wu Xiaode shook his head, closed his eyes, and once again recalled all the mechanical knowledge—
For some reason, the knowledge he had just obtained seemed to be etched firmly in his memory, as if it had always been part of him.
If there were any parts he forgot, the Book of the Dead would automatically open itself, displaying the relevant content.
Data storage function?
—That's quite possible.
In that case...
Wu Xiaode pulled out the USB drive and burned it with the stove in the kitchen. Then he chopped it up into sludge and flushed it down the drain.
Alright, let this knowledge rot in my brain.
After everything was done, he subconsciously looked at the Black Book suspended in midair.
An hour was almost up.
Indeed, as he watched the Book of the Dead, the pages automatically flipped open, suddenly turning into a mist that completely enveloped him.
Wu Xiaode looked around blankly.
All around, boundless fog stretched for miles, engulfing everything within sight without end.
All was silent, like a realm of death.
"Is anyone there? What place is this?" Wu Xiaode shouted.
From within the endless fog, a series of whispering female voices began to arise.
Wu Xiaode thought he could see many vague figures, but if he tried to look carefully, the shadows disappeared.
He subconsciously understood something.
A mysterious ritual was starting, and he absolutely could not interrupt it.
The Book of the Dead gradually appeared before him, emitting rays of Ice Frost and Fiery Flame.
Under this glorious radiance, a chorus of female voices began to sing ethereally:
"Heaven shall tilt, its darkness most fierce."
"Friend, please, over and again, tirelessly, without hesitation, save yourself from peril, for only if you live does hope remain;"
"Friend, ignite the furious fire within your heart amidst these tumultuous waves of darkness;"
"This crimson heart fire shall erase the blood and tears, the regrets of all beings;"
"This blazing inferno shall light your path ahead, exposing all evil with nowhere to hide;"
"Friend, you who wields the Book of the Dead in the darkness, bearing the light, please strive with all your might to reach the end of destiny, ascend to the highest seat, and become the lord of myriads Heroic Spirits;"
"Friend, we come from a place of quiet and tranquility far away, here to bestow our blessings upon you."
"May you forever be valiant in battle."
The voices gradually faded away, and everything returned to the quietude.
Wu Xiaode wiped the corner of his eye, feeling somewhat bewildered.
Tears?
He didn't understand a word of what they sang, yet he wept for it?
At that moment, an ancient and tattered wall appeared out of nowhere, standing amidst the limitless fog.
The wall was plastered with colorful notes.
Wu Xiaode swore those notes were filled with writing, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't make out the words on them.
Suddenly, a note quietly fell from the wall, wafting into his hand.
Looking at the note, Wu Xiaode saw that it read:
"It's such a shame, a descendant of mine has fallen to such a state, on the verge of death."
"If someone could take on this karma in their stead and save my descendant from this dire peril, I would offer a generous reward."
All was very quiet around him.
Looking at the note, Wu Xiaode saw a few lines of small characters quietly emerge on the Book of the Dead:
"Do you accept this commission?"
"If you accept, you will immediately learn the relevant details."
"Note: This is the most suitable commission available now; others are either too far away, or you lack the strength."
"If you miss this commission, you will not have any other way to obtain Soul Power for a day."
What more is there to say?
If nothing unexpected happens, in seven days, I will find myself right in the mouth of a giant, and then—
Crunch!
The giant just needs to close its mouth, and I would die.
Now I can only take a gamble and seek life amidst death!
"I accept this commission,"
Wu Xiaode said.
The note instantly disintegrated from his hand, splitting in two.
One half became a light yellow badge, engraved with a lifelike Flying Dragon; the other half transformed into a sprinkle of light that circled around him before entirely entering his brow.
Image after image flashed through Wu Xiaode's mind.
"Who would've thought... the commission would be something like this..."
He murmured softly.
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