Chapter 80: The Novice Driver (Thanks to Quantum Information Entity and Ren Yige for your support!)

Press your finger on the button to turn on the switch, and there are two pedals beneath your feet. The left one is the accelerator, which moves you forward; the right is the brake, which stops you. Whether you press the left or the right, you should start gently and gradually apply more pressure. Try slowly pressing the left pedal... Remember, while moving forward, your eyes must always focus on the road ahead," Wang Keyue explained simply. She did not expect this single lesson to enable the young man to fully master the art of driving; everything would require practice over time.

Zhou Mingkai silently recited Wang Keyue’s instructions in his mind, then followed them step by step. As the car started, it moved forward slowly.

His eyes grew ever brighter, as if the direction he was heading toward was a gateway to a new world, and something seemed to surge forth from his mind, unstoppable.

The official road along the way was not smooth, somewhat bumpy, so Wang Keyue instructed Zhou Mingkai to keep the speed between thirty and forty miles per hour.

At first, Zhou Mingkai was quite nervous. His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, not daring to relax for an instant, and his back was straight as a rod.

As time passed—five minutes, ten minutes, twenty minutes—Wang Keyue noticed the boy’s condition improving. As night began to fall, she turned on the car’s headlights.

Zhou Mingkai felt as if his vision flickered; a moment ago, he could barely see the road, but in the next instant, a beam of light seemed to illuminate the path ahead as if it were daytime.

"Master, this... this light is...?" Zhou Mingkai was puzzled and couldn’t help but ask.

"Yes, the eyes of the mechanical beast," Wang Keyue replied, unable to explain the principle of electric lamps, and so gave this explanation.

It was a clever answer—everyone understood when you mentioned eyes. In the tales and novels, monsters’ eyes always shone with light.

Even ordinary pets, like dogs and cats at home, have eyes that glow faintly green at night.

Zhou Mingkai understood instantly, nodding repeatedly.

“How much further is it to the destination, Little Road?” Wang Keyue asked.

“Master, we are twenty-five minutes from Wealth Manor,” replied Little Road, the mechanical voice echoing.

“Ah!” Zhou Mingkai was startled by the mechanical voice, jerking the car into a serpentine twist across the bumpy road, causing chaos within the vehicle.

Those who had been sleeping were all suddenly awakened by the jolt.

“All right, relax a bit. Let me introduce you to the name of this mechanical beast—Little Road. In future training, if you don’t understand something, just ask Little Road!” Wang Keyue said, then summoned Little Road once more.

“Little Road, this is Qing Si, your other driver from now on. Make each other’s acquaintance!” she instructed.

“Yes, Master. Qing Si, hello, I am Little Road. Pleased to meet you,” Little Road’s voice remained mechanical as ever.

“Ah, um... Little Road, hello, I... I... I am Qing Si, ve... very glad to meet... you,” Qing Si stammered through the short greeting.

“Little Road, activate automatic driving mode and head directly to Wealth Manor.” As the sky darkened, it had become increasingly difficult for the novice driver. Wang Keyue dared not entrust the lives of everyone in the carriage to him, so for the final stretch, she decided it would be safer to let Little Road drive automatically.

“Yes, Master.” No sooner had Little Road spoken than Zhou Mingkai noticed the steering wheel was no longer under his control.

“Master, what’s happening?” Zhou Mingkai turned to Wang Keyue with confused eyes.

“The road ahead is getting darker and more dangerous. In the future, when you encounter such situations, just summon Little Road and let it activate automatic driving mode,” Wang Keyue explained.

Zhou Mingkai pondered for a moment—ah, so it meant letting the mechanical beast run on its own! This mechanical beast was truly clever!

Wang Keyue sent Zhou Mingkai back to the carriage to rest, while she herself relaxed nearby.

With Xiaobao’s intelligence assisting, Little Road handled the remaining journey smoothly.

Before long, Xiaobao’s voice sounded in her mind, waking her, “Xiaoyue, wake up, wake up, we’ve arrived at Wealth Manor!”

Wang Keyue opened her eyes, rubbing her numb neck.

Outside the window, the bright headlights shone upon the vermilion gate. Above the gate, the golden characters “Wealth Manor” glittered brilliantly under the light.

Listening intently, she heard a cacophony from within the manor. Before she could react, the vermilion gate swung open with a bang.

A crowd poured out, some holding broadswords and spears, others wielding hoes, axes, and sickles. Though fear was etched upon their faces and their bodies trembled, they stubbornly refused to retreat. This determined posture, their willingness to defend to the death, inspired Wang Keyue with deep respect.

Looking closer, she recognized the leader—it was none other than her favored apprentice, Wen Dali!