freenovelworld Chapter 42 Engineering Department
Chapter 42 Engineering Department
"I'm sorry, everyone, the general just asked me to bring you some news."
Upon hearing that it was news from Jingyuan, March 7th immediately became alert.
"Huh? Are you suggesting we go help with something again?"
"I'm sorry, but the sudden revival of Jianmu has caused some unexpected problems at the Construction Bureau. We need everyone to go to the Construction Bureau to help resolve these issues."
"I knew it!" March 7 said with a hint of complaint.
"I'm truly sorry!" Yunqi apologized again. "Due to the recent star core eruption, the entire Yunqi army on the Immortal Ship has been dealing with the disaster and its aftermath, resulting in a severe shortage of manpower. Moreover, it is said that the General and the Grand Diviner are currently gathering manpower to prepare for a major battle, so..."
"I was just venting, I really didn't mean anything by it! I feel really bad that you're apologizing like this!"
Seeing Yunqi apologize repeatedly, March 7th's resentment dissipated, but Xing clearly wouldn't miss any opportunity to tease March 7th.
"They've already apologized, shouldn't you say something?"
"No, no, this was originally a unilateral request from our side, so it's understandable that you have grievances."
Before March 7th could say anything, Yunqi hurriedly mediated, but it was clear that this Yunqi did not understand the train crew's usual interactions, which led to some misunderstanding.
However, this banter didn't last long, and under Tingyun's leadership, the group embarked on the starship heading to the Bureau of Works.
Upon arriving at the Workshop, the group saw the Workshop's tightly closed gates and Workshop members arguing fiercely with the Cloud Cavalry.
Out of kindness, the group stepped forward and inquired.
"Hello, we were invited by General Jingyuan to help. May I ask what happened here?"
The member glanced at the group of people who had come forward, and the hope in his eyes instantly turned into disappointment.
"Hello, my name is Awei. Just now, because of the rebirth of Jianmu, the entire Gongzao Division was affected. My master and I rushed out, but when we were almost at the exit, my master said that the Creation Furnace was not turned off, so he immediately turned back and left me alone. Although you all claim to be invited by General Jingyuan to help, your attire makes you seem like tourists here?"
“Of course we are here to help on behalf of General Jingyuan. You can confirm this with Miss Tingyun next to you,” Walter explained.
Ah Wei turned to look at Ting Yun, who tactfully stepped forward to explain.
“That’s right. Didn’t I borrow a Di Ting from your Construction Department before? That Di Ting was given to them for use.”
"Since Miss Tingyun has given her guarantee, then I'll accept it." Awei reluctantly accepted this explanation. "Back to the topic, because Jianmu revived too quickly, the entire Gongzao Division didn't have time to react before it fell. There should be quite a few out-of-control mechanical puppets wandering inside now. As for the Cloud Cavalry, I believe you've all seen it. The Cloud Cavalry present here are only enough to maintain order on site and establish a basic defensive line. We simply can't spare any manpower to go inside and support my master."
“In that case, let us go in and help. We’re here on the General’s orders to resolve the issues with the Construction Bureau,” Tingyun suggested. “Could the Cloud Cavalry over there let us through?”
The Yunqi Army soldiers standing at the door had naturally overheard the conversation between the train crew and Tingyun and Awei. Just as Tingyun and the others had said, the Yunqi Army had already notified this side that they had sent people to provide support. However, he never expected that the people who came would not be from the Yunqi Army.
It seems that the Cloud Cavalry is indeed short-handed. The Cloud Cavalryman thought helplessly. Seeing the group walking over with the key to the gate of the Works and Construction Bureau, the Cloud Cavalryman naturally stopped blocking them and made way for the train crew to open the gate and enter the Works and Construction Bureau.
Upon entering the Works Department, the group found themselves in an empty place. In the cold and gloomy environment, March 7th couldn't help but shiver.
"Strange, why is this place so eerie!"
"Could it be the legendary haunted house?" Xing joked.
"What are you thinking? It doesn't make sense no matter how you look at it!"
"Alright, you two, stop fooling around. We need to get down to business."
They hadn't gone far when they heard a man speaking in a strange accent emerge from a side path.
"The Workshop is a crucial and important location. Thieves, retreat! Retreat quickly! Retreat quickly! Ah ah ah!"
Immediately afterwards, the mechanical puppets beside the man emerged from the shadows and attacked the group, but these mechanical puppets were clearly no match for them, and were quickly dealt with.
"Dense Cloud Golden Toad! Lantern Dragon Fish!... What's wrong with you! Get up quickly! I raised and cared for you like my own flesh and blood..." Looking at the motionless mechanical puppets lying on the ground, the man was filled with sorrow. "If you're going to do something, then do it! Why did you smash these little things that accompanied me to pieces? Give me back what you owe me!"
March 7th sighed helplessly, saying, "You insisted on going yourself! We came to rescue people, and you just started hitting us without saying a word..."
Xingye then asked, "Are you Awei's master?"
"Hmph! Not bad!" The man said with a hint of pride, arms crossed. "I am the master of the Ah Wei you mentioned, the one known as 'Master Gongshu, the number one master of melting gold and iron'!"
"This master seems to have a rather simple personality..." March 7th whispered.
"Actually, we came here on the behalf of General Jingyuan. He said there was a problem here and the Yunqi Army couldn't spare the manpower to help, so they asked us to come here to help. Please, Master Gongshu, show us the way."
"Oh? You're someone sent by the general? It's all a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding! Oh well, those little gadgets, they're broken, so be it!" Master Gongshu's attitude immediately changed upon hearing that the person who came was sent by Jingyuan. "Now this workshop has been occupied by a wood spirit of unknown origin! Even the workshop's most precious treasure, the Creation Furnace, has been stolen by that wood demon."
"That monster is terrifying! It can even make all the magical artifacts in the workshop suddenly seem to possess a will and revolve around it. Anyone who goes up there will likely die in vain! But after much thought, I can't just leave like this. After all, that furnace is sealed..."
Master Gongshu was talking too much, and Xing was getting a little impatient.
"Save some time. Where to go? Who to fight?"
"Haha, I know what I'm doing. Since this is a distinguished guest invited by General Jing, he must be able to easily resolve the crisis in the Ministry of Works. Come, please come this way!"
Master Gongshu, speaking in that strange accent, led everyone to an object entangled with Jianmu wood.
"Look, here's an unfinished mechanism in the Craftsmanship Department: the 'Mirror-Changing Screen.' It's thanks to my disciples bringing this thing out and testing it that the apprentices were able to escape when the wood spirit invaded the Craftsmanship Department."
Master Gongshu turned around and continued to explain to the crowd: "You saw the Jade Realm Gate when you came here, right? This Mirror-Changing Screen has the same effect as the Jade Realm Gate. It can connect two spatial coordinates in a way that outsiders can't understand."
"Then wouldn't that mean you can teleport?" Xing asked, giving an example.
"Indeed. Apart from the short teleportation distance and excessive energy consumption, this treasure can completely replace the Star Raft!"
"Isn't that completely impossible? Why not just anchor it in the new territory..." March 7th complained.
Tingyun said with a mix of relief and sarcasm, "Thank you to the craftsmen of the Construction Bureau for being lenient. It's fortunate that there are these shortcomings, so that the Tianbo Bureau can save face."
"Originally, I could have used this thing to get everyone to the other side to retrieve it. But before I knew it, the painted screen got tangled in the branches of that wood spirit! Ah!"
Master Gongshu struck a pose, raising an eyebrow, as if to signal you to continue asking questions.
Xing also cooperated by asking, "Then Master Gongshu must have a solution, right?"
"Hmm, good question, you're a quick learner! Our Crafts and Manufacturing Division possesses power comparable to that of creation itself. Hmph, a mere wood spirit is nothing to us! Come, let me show you a great treasure."
As he spoke, Master Gongshu hurriedly set up the instruments and equipment.
"When the wood spirits invaded, this was the first thing that came to my mind. This is the mechanism codenamed 'Flowing Light in the Box.' Originally commissioned by the Cloud Cavalry, this weapon is incredibly powerful, except..."
Walter noticed that Master Gongshu was somewhat embarrassed, and then continued his conversation.
"The distance is too short, and the energy consumption is too high?"
Master Gongshu naturally ended the conversation.
"The properties of things are conserved; everything has its strengths and weaknesses. Sigh, but it's more than enough to deal with this blind wood spirit that's wandered into the Craftsmanship Department. Then, light it. Fire overcomes wood, and we'll be unstoppable!"
Following Master Gongshu's instructions, the group effortlessly burned all the branches on the painted screen, and the previously closed screen was reopened.
Seeing how easily everyone solved the problem, Master Gongshu couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
"Not bad, not bad. The master leads you through the door, but the cultivation is up to you. You are all much more capable than my useless disciples."
Suddenly, the entire industrial company began to shake again.
"What's going on? Is the cave about to collapse?"
Before Master Gongshu could finish speaking, the tremors stopped again.
"Phew, it's alright now. It seems this treasure really came in the right place. That wood spirit must be in pain and feeling uncomfortable, hahaha." Master Gongshu laughed proudly. "Alright, let's not delay. Let's cross the Mirroring Screen and get it on the other side now! I'm afraid the branches will grow back if we wait too long."
Afterwards, with the help of the Mirror-Changing Screen and the Flowing Light in the Box, the group arrived at the bottom of the Creation Furnace.
The Creation Furnace was now entangled by the roots of the Jianmu tree, and held high in the air.
“Look at the root system of the Jianmu tree!” March 7th shouted.
Master Gongshu explained with a solemn expression, "It's entangled in the Creation Furnace, the most precious treasure of the Craftsmanship Department! Little one, come and help this old man! Let's work together to cut it off and prevent it from penetrating the furnace!"
As he spoke, Master Gongshu took out the shimmering instruments from the box and began to set them up. But before Master Gongshu could put the instruments on the ground, the huge flower bud on the platform in front of the Creation Furnace reacted.
Walter immediately sensed something was wrong and warned, "Watch out! This thing is changing..."
Before Walter could finish speaking, the entire space shook violently again, and then the flower bud suddenly opened.
Emerging from within was a deer whose body was predominantly blue, with some branches growing from its antlers.
It's obvious that this deer was created by Jianmu to protect itself.
The battle began at that moment.