Chapter 74: Mechanical Beast

Last night, before going to bed, Wang Keyue gathered the members of the Red Class and the remaining Orange One and Orange Three—a total of seven women—for a small meeting. She took out the newly purchased basic nano constant-temperature protective suits and taught the group how to put them on, demonstrating their invulnerability to knives and arrows. The girls were so astonished they were left speechless. What kind of magical clothing was this, that even sharp blades left no mark on its surface?

Once they put on the suits, they were even more amazed—this clothing was so soft and warm. In the crisp autumn evening, when they would normally need to add padded jackets, they felt perfectly comfortable wearing only this one outer garment. The girls were overjoyed; from now on, there would be no need to don heavy winter clothing for training and patrols. Such simple, light attire made movement much easier.

The next morning, the entire demeanor of Wang Keyue’s guard team seemed renewed, as if they were completely transformed.

After packing their things, the group set off. Following the previous night’s events, nearly all the refugees—except a few who were stubborn or held themselves above the rest—agreed to join the Wang family’s team, signing or pressing their thumbprints onto the indenture contracts drafted by Red One.

Wang Keyue didn’t care whether these contracts had any legal efficacy; her aim was simply to keep these people in line.

“Host, five miles behind, a group is rapidly approaching!” Suddenly, the 9538 system’s alert sounded in Wang Keyue’s mind. She frowned, sensing trouble.

“9538, check how many are coming. Who are they?” she asked.

“Around fifty or sixty, all on horseback. For now, I can’t identify them,” replied 9538.

No matter who they were, such a large mounted group rushing in their direction could hardly mean anything good. If it was just chance, that would be one thing, but she feared they were here to cause trouble.

Wang Keyue couldn’t help but recall the small band of Qianghu people she had encountered before. Could she really be so unlucky again? Never mind—worrying was useless! Facing the crowd, all eyes fixed on her, she spoke: “Listen, I come from the School of Mo, City of Mechanisms, skilled in crafts and inventions.”

With a wave of her hand, Wang Keyue produced a minibus from her spatial storage, placing it on the open ground.

The crowd was still processing her words when the sudden appearance of this enormous object startled them into silence.

Cries of fear and alarm rose instantly.

“Silence!” Even Red One was uneasy inside, not understanding how her mistress possessed such supernatural abilities—but whatever her mistress did, it was her duty to follow. With a sharp shout at the panicking crowd, Red One brought order back at once.

Wang Keyue shot her an approving glance. This girl had courage and composure in a crisis—truly someone useful.

“Ahem! This is a mechanical beast, painstakingly crafted by my school, capable of carrying dozens and traveling a thousand miles a day. Now, everyone, pack up and get in quickly!” Wang Keyue urged Red One and Cheng One to organize the boarding.

At first, the people were wary, reluctant to enter the belly of this thing, feeling as if they were feeding themselves to a monster. But then, seeing the bold Wang family members climb in one after another, unharmed and even waving cheerfully from inside, their fears began to subside.

With the first to try, came the second, the third… In less than five minutes, everyone was on board.

Each person had their own seat—soft and warm, filling them with an unprecedented sense of security.

Wang Keyue opened the driver’s door and leaped into the seat.

“Host! They’re almost here,” 9538 warned.

A faint, confident smile played on Wang Keyue’s lips. “Just in time. Let’s see whether their prized horses are more formidable, or my mechanical beast.”

With that, she started the vehicle. Its best feature was its green energy—solar powered, with ongoing charging capabilities, ensuring continuous operation even through the night.

“Oh my! It’s moving! The monster is moving!” People inside soon realized they were on the move, many crying out in surprise.

Curious children, full of mischief, stuck their heads out the windows.

“Xiaolu Number One, close all the windows and make sure the children are safe,” Wang Keyue ordered, somewhat helplessly.

At once, a mechanical warning sounded inside the cabin: “Warning, warning! All guardians, please keep your children away from the windows—do not stick heads or hands outside!”

While the voice was mechanical, in the ears of these people it was awe-inspiring. At once, every adult and child sat up straight, perfectly still and silent as mice.

They watched in amazement as the windows slowly rose and closed, marveling at the ingenious design.

The vehicle had gone less than a hundred meters when the thunder of hooves and frantic neighing erupted behind them, yellow dust billowing so thickly the pursuers’ faces could not be seen. But with her eagle-eyed ability, Wang Keyue could distinguish their features and clothing through the dust: familiar gray-black wolfskin jackets and wild, filthy dreadlocks—it was the Qianghu people.

Whether they were connected with the Batu group from before, she could not say. But as soon as everyone inside the vehicle realized the fierce Qianghu were in hot pursuit, fear gripped them all; not a smile remained. Cold sweat broke out on every back.

No wonder Wang Keyue had proclaimed her origins and produced this miraculous mechanical beast—she had done it to save them. If not for her invention, they would already be meat for the Qianghu.

Shaken, the group patted the soft seats beneath them, seeking comfort and reassurance from the touch, barely able to steady their nerves.