Wanna Date?

Once winter settled in, Haizhou could finally be described as having pleasant weather. The murderous sun had temporarily banked its raging fires, its downward rays growing cool and aloof. Though dampness lingered, the suffocating, deadly heat waves had receded. Before the next onslaught of bone-chilling, needle-sharp damp cold arrived, all of Haizhou enjoyed a brief, gentle respite that could be counted in days. Snakes, bugs, rats, and ants in the wilderness crept out in a rush, scurrying all over the place. Just on the drive out, several had already been crushed beneath the tires. *Splat.* Another one. Amid the crisp, skin-crawling squelch, Lou Feng’s expression twitched once more. In that momentary lapse of focus, a dollop of bird droppings plummeted from the sky. Ever since he had accidentally struck and killed a crow, his SUV seemed to have become the target of a coordinated aerial assault by every crow in the region, driving Lou Feng half out of his mind with irritation. "Auntie, would you quit laughing and do something useful?" Lou Feng rolled his eyes, glancing at the figure sprawled across the back seat playing on a handheld console. Lou Yanyue yawned nonchalantly. "What? You want your aunt to go out and wipe down your car? You’re getting bolder by the day, nephew!" *Smack!* Another glob of bird droppings. Lou Feng was on the verge of losing it. "What kind of godforsaken dump did that Ji bastard pick? How is it crawling with so much damn filth?" Lou Feng watched the wipers smear the bird dung into a smooth, even film across the windshield, feeling his blood pressure spike through the roof. He had no idea what was actually going on, but it had to be Ji Jue’s fault! What else could it be? Could it possibly just be his own bad luck? *Smack!* Buy one, get one free. Before Lou Feng completely broke down, the girl howling with laughter in the back seat finally had her fill of the show. Wiping tears of amusement from her eyes, she flicked her fingers. Instantly, through a crack in the rolled-down window, an electric arc darted out like a serpent, gliding swiftly upward. In the blink of an eye, it surged into the sky, scattered the flock of crows that had been clinging to them like shadows, and burst. Flying birds wobbled and fluttered in dizzy terror, fleeing every which way. The SUV plodded forward along the muddy road. Soon enough, an endless line of vehicles came into view... Lou Feng was dumbfounded. Unbelievable! A traffic jam out in the wilderness? Out in the middle of nowhere, the road skirting the mud pit was completely choked off. Ahead, an oversized truck mired in the mud groaned in futile agony under the pull of a steel tow cable. Trapped in the middle, driver after driver leaned on their horns and unleashed a barrage of foul language. As everyone knew, driving outside the city meant paying zero heed to traffic laws or basic manners. When people gripped the steering wheel out here, all they cared about was slamming the pedal to the floor with raw guts and surviving through sheer obstinance. To say nothing of the absurdly loud air horns fitted to every variety of modified rig, repeatedly startling flocks of marsh birds and prompting them to rain down even more droppings. More and more vehicles continued to converge in an endless stream. The vast majority were delivery trucks bearing a familiar logo. Cigarette-puffing drivers stomped the gas while spewing curses, while others squeezed into narrow side paths inch by inch, displaying a magnificent disregard for anyone else’s survival. Cramming in, shoving hard, diving into any gap that opened... "Don't you dare push—push your mother! I'll—" Infuriated, Lou Feng rolled down his window and unleashed a blistering volley of curses at the driver cutting in front of him. Saliva flew from both sides until the offending driver ran out of breath and was forced to retreat with a parched mouth. Lou Feng, on the other hand, was brimming with energy, ready to take on ten more. Radiating the aura of an invincible brawler, he swept an arrogant glare across the road. Other drivers who had been itching to cut in instinctively tapped their brakes. Normally, when someone got humiliated like that, they would yank whatever weapons they kept in their trunk to settle who was tougher. But one look at the SUV’s armor plating and the Xinquan access permit tucked against the windshield cooled the fighting spirit of anyone with half a brain. Mud hens and clay dogs—utterly pathetic! Lou Feng snorted, rolled up the window, and only then noticed his aunt in the back seat holding up her phone, its camera blinking with a red recording light. The corner of his eye twitched furiously. "Hey, what are you doing..." "Not bad, kid!" Lou Yanyue beamed, slapping him on the shoulder. "Next time the bureau holds a budget meeting, you're coming with me! If anyone dares make trouble, just open your mouth. Your aunt’s got your back!" Lou Feng was about to speak when he saw his aunt’s smile turn increasingly dangerous. "Little boy, you wouldn't want this clip showing up on Fourth Brother and Fourth Sister-in-law’s phones, would you?" Lou Feng’s entire world crumbled. *Why the hell did I bring you along?!* *No, why the hell did I even leave the house today?!* Who could have guessed that while sitting peacefully in his family workshop, singing songs and enjoying hot pot, he would suddenly get afflicted by Ji Jue out of nowhere? The moment he opened his eyes that morning, he had received an invitation from Ji Jue, claiming there was a good thing to share and urging him to hurry over. Setting aside the fact that it sounded like a murder victim's opening lines, what possible good thing would that bastard Ji Jue ever share with him? Absurd! He had planned to ignore it, but Ji Jue launched a relentless barrage of calls and messages, swearing up and down that he would definitely regret not coming. It drove Lou Feng insane. The dog called every five minutes, and even blocking his number did no good! Only when Ji Jue sent over a precious video clip involving a manure truck was their long-forgotten brotherhood finally rekindled. Cursing all the way, Lou Feng had set off with a profound sense of duty! As for Lou Yanyue... she had recently killed a few too many wanted criminals by mistake and had been placed on mandatory administrative leave. Dying of boredom at home, she had tagged along to join the fun. Or rather, she had been dumped onto Lou Feng. There was no helping it. Having a maniac at home who woke up every morning wondering which fugitive she could hunt for kicks was more than anyone could endure. On top of that, despite her high seniority in the family, she had a reckless, carefree personality, acting without a second thought and causing chaos the moment anyone looked away. She could play a video game and end up arranging an offline brawl in Zhongshan Park. The family was genuinely terrified of her. Combined with Lou Feng’s recently declining manners and his increasing habit of cursing out other people's mothers... packing the two of them together and shipping them off like secondhand goods was the obvious choice. That was the price of foul language! Though only a few months had passed, the sights along the road left Lou Feng with a bizarre sense of disorientation, wondering where on earth he had ended up. Everywhere he looked, delivery trucks darted around in packs like wild dogs, accompanied by Haian tricycles modified beyond Ji Jue’s own recognition, newly erected wind turbine towers, battery swap stations, and even towns that didn't appear on any map. "That bastard really managed to stir up something, didn't he?" Lou Feng snorted, suppressing a rising pang of jealousy. *Keep stirring, keep stirring, stir until the Haizhou wilderness has no peace. Meanwhile, I'll quietly hone my alchemy and take your head at Tianshu sooner or later!* In truth, even someone as biased as Lou Feng had to admit that the bastard Ji Jue had done an impressive job. After all, his family held a stake in Courier Logistics, gifted back when Ji Jue had been rounding up investors. From an investment perspective, compared to other projects, the profit was practically negligible and currently demanded continuous capital injections. Yet his third uncle, Lou Guan, who oversaw the Lou family's business ventures, had praised it repeatedly. Money in an account was just numbers, but this was tangible influence. Improving stability and order in Haizhou benefited everyone. If someone was capable of doing it, doing it well, and willing to bring everyone along for the ride, why not? Along the way, he had already spotted the embryonic outlines of several towns. Clusters of settlements had sprung up around two large storage warehouses and key road intersections, along with a noticeable increase in gas stations. The closer they got to Xinquan, the more bustling it became. Small and large factory buildings began to appear, their environmentally ruinous chimneys chugging thick smoke. Wastewater was discharged directly on-site amid roaring machinery and an endless stream of shouting drivers. All kinds of workshops sprouted like bamboo shoots after rain, handling everything from plastics to metal parts processing. Some relied on orders from Haian, while others capitalized on the convenience of Courier Logistics to churn out pins, buttons, and cheap trinkets for export in staggering volumes. Radiating cheap goods across Haizhou was no longer enough; exports to Yunzhou and Longyuan had already begun. Items wholesaled for a cent or two were turned around and shipped out for a buck or two. Middlemen were never in short supply. By the time the goods reached city street stalls or ten-dollar store shelves, prices might have multiplied tenfold or more, yet they remained undeniably cheap. As for quality... what quality did anyone expect for that kind of money? Major exports went even farther, bound for the Thousand Islands or the Mid-Continent. Ever since Chen Xingzhou started up shipyards and shipping lines, orders had never ceased. Downpours had fallen, and after being violently plowed through several times by Ji Jue, the entire wilderness, injected with brand-new rules, seemed to have embarked on a course of wild growth. People rolled up their sleeves and got to work. Just get it done—even if it failed, the worst that could happen was going back to scavenging trash. Anything was better than picking through scrap. More and more people rolled up their sleeves, creating a vibrant, fiercely competitive spectacle that hit the senses head-on. Every day brought new changes. Shacks and unauthorized structures rose like a forest, continuously expanding outward. In the past, Haian had to venture deep into settlements to recruit workers; now, people hoping to tighten screws in the factories were vetted and picked through. Despite the harsh rules, applicants still flocked in droves. Sign the contract, and meals were guaranteed for the next ten years. Communal bunks were plentiful, while skilled workers and certificate holders received private rooms and could even bring their families. Everyone knew how to work an abacus and do the math. Who couldn't see where life was better? Without anyone sabotaging them or getting in the way, people flooded in immediately. And Xinquan itself had transformed entirely. For a moment, as he drove onto the main thoroughfare, Lou Feng almost thought he had entered a city—in fact, it felt even more absurd than one. While it couldn't match a city's density or polish, falling short of even suburban standards, the sheer chaos of things being built was overwhelming. An elevated highway was even under construction, designed not only for vehicular traffic on top but with a light rail running underneath. Street-level tracks were also being planned and laid out. Bizarre walking machines traversed streets and alleys, handling everything from smart traffic control to public security under the watchful gaze of dense camera clusters. Oddly enough, the tops of these strange contraptions were all adorned with a pair of pointy horns resembling cat ears. "Auntie, wait for me a second." Lou Feng slammed on the brakes, hopped out of the car, and blocked a security-patrol machine... To put it plainly, it looked like a refrigerator with stubby little legs and arms. Sporting two cat ears on top and trailing a charging cable behind, its front display screen flickered with emoticons. Sensing Lou Feng blocking its path, the screen flashed a prominent symbol: [?] "What in the hell..." Lou Feng frowned, looking it up and down. He circled the security-type street cat several times, tugged its tail, and tapped on its casing, ignoring its repeated warnings. This was too absurd. Leaving the internal structure aside, as a craftsman, he couldn't possibly fail to recognize an alchemical creation... Why would a device entirely constructed of mechanical parts and powered by electricity possess such a mature and complete Spirit of Creation? Spirits of Creation weren't inherently rare. The union of matter and spiritus occurred naturally. Over time, as objects aged and saw extensive use, developing a faint trace of sentience was entirely normal—to say nothing of all those bizarre antiques or cursed items that brought misfortune. The vast majority possessed minuscule intellects no greater than insects, devoid of likes, dislikes, or actual thought, and would naturally dissipate if left alone. Those capable of thinking like a dog or cat were already exceedingly rare. One that could match President the border collie was like a village scholar who had graduated from Tianmen with consecutive master's and doctoral degrees. The odds of that were low enough to be disregarded entirely. Such a find could only be stumbled upon, never sought. Yet the most crucial detail was—had this thing even left the factory a year ago? Judging by the wear and tear, it had been in service for a month or two at most! Natural formation was an absolute pipe dream, but if it had been artificially catalyzed... Lou Feng felt a chill run down his spine. *Has that bastard Ji Jue reached this level of spiritus refinement?! Fuck, why is he still grinding so hard? Wait, wasn't his Heart Pivot and Aether supposed to be his weak points?!* *And what's the point?* There was no cost-effectiveness in this! A complete Spirit of Creation like this, if applied to an alchemical creation, could fetch an astronomical price. Even if he wanted to show off, there was no reason to deploy them all over Xinquan. Yes, throughout the streets and alleys of Xinquan, from these walking patrol cats to the riot-suppression support cats following patrol squads, all the way to the colossal concrete-pouring cats on construction sites, every single one of them was an alchemical creation! Was he out of his mind? Lou Feng was already breaking into a cold sweat. "Bro, that guy looks weird," a puzzled voice spoke up nearby. "Normal. He's from out of town—a bumpkin who's never seen anything." A sour-faced boy glanced his way, casually pushing a wheelchair as he walked. His voice drifted back from a distance: "When you see someone like that, don't stare. What if he goes crazy and bites you?" *Why, you little—* Lou Feng clenched his fists. Inside the car, Lou Yanyue was doubled over with laughter. If the blocked cars behind him hadn't been blaring their horns frantically, Lou Feng would have tracked down that brat and had words with him. Dammit, he had been plagued by bad luck ever since hitting the road. He hadn't even met the guy yet, and his belly was already swollen with rage. That Ji bastard was an absolute jinx to him! What a curse! Especially when he finally saw that doggish, grinning face, Lou Feng could barely stop his hands from firing off an instant strike. But before his hands could rise, a nimble figure hopped out of the car behind him, stepped past him, and strode straight up to Ji Jue. "Yo!" Lou Yanyue smiled. "Ji Jue, right? You're a bit more handsome than that nephew of mine made you sound." "..." Lou Feng’s face turned green, especially when he saw that bastard Ji Jue clasping his aunt’s hand, shaking it back and forth without letting go. It was happening—his worst fear coming true. He had rushed all the way here just to give the guy an upgrade in family seniority! Strictly speaking... Ji Jue didn't even have to make a move. Lou Yanyue was far more direct than him. "Got a girlfriend?" Lou Yanyue looked up, appraising the man before her. Young, good-looking, refined, reliable, solid character, abundant capability, and a bright future... By every measure, a blue-chip stock among blue-chip stocks! Miss this chance, and where else could she find another? "Wanna date, little brother?" She gripped Ji Jue’s hand without letting go, smiling cheerfully. "Uh..." Ji Jue froze, his breath catching for a split second. Looking at the girl before him, he felt an electric jolt course through his entire body, his heart fluttering wildly, his breath growing rapid... How could it not? He was holding onto a live wire! The moment they met, they had literally sparked! Under Lou Feng’s resentful glare, the shameless Ji Jue held tight to his aunt’s hand, but Ji Jue was on the verge of being electrocuted numb, his hair practically standing on end! "Sorry, I don't really have plans for that right now." His expression twitched as he finally managed to yank his hand back, half his body completely tingling. Girls these days were getting crazier by the dozen! "We can get engaged first!" Lou Yanyue laughed heartily, resting her hands on her hips while wearing the face of a high school student. "It's rare for me to find someone pleasing to the eye. I don't mind. "My dad dotes on me the most. Anything the Lou family has, take whatever you want, and you won't even have to marry into our family. "Marrying me is way more cost-effective than shaking down that kid Lou Feng!" "Holy crap, that makes a lot of sense," Ji Jue remarked, looking as if struck by sudden enlightenment. Lou Yanyue smiled, nudging his chest with her elbow. "Don't let my youthful looks fool you; I've got plenty of assets. Besides, I'm not bad-looking, am I?" "Ummm..." Ji Jue studied that slightly youthful face and had to nod. "True enough." "We can just date for now. Feelings are something that might grow over time. If they don't, you can always keep someone on the side; I won't mind." Lou Yanyue had already casually sidled up, slinging an arm over his shoulder. "Instead of letting my family saddle me with some deadweight and spending my life holding my nose, I'd rather team up with a brother. We're all bros here; everything's negotiable!" Ji Jue couldn't help nodding repeatedly. "You make a ton of sense." "Hey!" Flames nearly shot from Lou Feng’s eyes, his fists tightening. "Ji, that's just about enough out of you!" What did he mean, enough out of him? Ji Jue felt utterly helpless. *Your aunt is the one hitting on me the second we met!* Lou Yanyue patted her chest generously. "Any other requirements? Lay them out!" "Well, if I had to say... what about education?" Ji Jue stroked his chin, pondering for a moment. "Asking for a doctorate might be a bit harsh. A master's degree, then, preferably in engineering or materials science... If the major is relevant enough, a bachelor's is acceptable, but are you considering grad school?" Dead silence. Lou Yanyue stared, completely dumbfounded. In the silence, Lou Feng couldn't hold back any longer, turning his head away with a sharp *pfft*... Sorry, his aunt was a junior high dropout! In the eyes of a grinding fanatic like Ji Jue, how was she any different from a caveman? "You little punk..." Lou Yanyue grinned, taking no offense, and punched him twice. Ji Jue also extended a hand, formally shaking hers. "Just a joke. Nice to meet you, Miss Lou. I'm Ji Jue." "Not bad. No wonder you've got so many girls swooning over you. Quite a few in the Chaocheng Security Bureau have their eyes on you, so you'd better watch out." Within a few sentences, they were getting along swimmingly, already agreeing on dinner that evening. She was infinitely more straightforward than Lou Feng—not only easygoing, but possessing a broad perspective. Walking the world came down to finding like-minded spirits. So long as no one treated her like a fragile little girl and spoke plainly as equals, everything was simple. Finding each other kindred spirits, they exchanged phone numbers and messaging accounts. Only then did Ji Jue finally remember to look at the stray... er, Lou Feng, who had been left ignored on the side. Lou Feng glared back at him sideways, looking thoroughly cold. *Remember me now? Huh?! Too late!* "Well, well, isn't this the Golden Ribbon Craftsman of the Year, Mr. Ji?" Lou Feng sneered sarcastically. "Summoning a nobody like me all this way to your doorstep—what's the big occasion? What fancy toy are you itching to show off?" The corner of Ji Jue’s eye twitched as he let out a silent sigh. *Couldn't you and your aunt swap genders...* Lou Yanyue was far more direct. She delivered a swift punch to her nephew’s gut. "Speak properly!" Lou Feng’s face turned instantly green. That familiar punch of familial affection had bruised him from childhood to adulthood. Now that her elbow was bending outward toward an outsider, she hit even harder! He felt completely superfluous. *Should I just leave?* "Ahem, enough small talk. Please, come on in. Leaving guests standing at the door is no way to behave. I recently scavenged a good batch of tea from the Church of Chongguang; everyone can have a taste." Having enjoyed his share of the spectacle, Ji Jue hastily steered the topic away. He genuinely feared Young Master Lou would blow his top and self-destruct on him. Hadn't he dragged the guy over by hook and by crook precisely to find a sucker to foot the bill? What would happen if the whole plan went up in smoke? "What tea? My family owns several tea plantations; do I look like I'm lacking a sip of your tea?" Lou Feng grew increasingly wary and on guard. The more generous and enthusiastic Ji Jue acted, the deeper his schemes ran—one couldn't be too careful. "Cut the crap and state your business!" Lou Yanyue stayed out of it, watching the two squabble with a grin. This trip was definitely worth it! "Fine, follow me—" Ji Jue led the way, waving them over as he called open the elevator. As fellow craftsmen, there was no need to put on elaborate theatrics. They knew each other inside and out; skipping the pleasantries was better than anything. The elevator began a straight descent. The numbers ticked downward. "Oh, so you're taking us on a tour of your sweatshop?" Lou Feng sneered. "You haven't gone mad capturing people and decided to target your own peers, have you? Security Bureau personnel are standing right here, kid, so watch yourself." Whispers about what lay beneath Haian had already spread far and wide; everyone had heard something. It was hard to tell whether his words were mockery or a warning. Why was this guy always so strange? So twisted. Ji Jue had to resist the urge to roll his eyes. The elevator descended further and further. No screams or wails could be heard, nor was there any stench of blood or decay in the air. If anything, there was only the smell of machine oil and the low hum of operating machinery. *Ding—* The doors parted, revealing a colossal underground plaza beyond. Looking upward, steel frameworks interlocked with one another as countless machines moved along tracks, operating non-stop. A towering lightwell stretched like a launch gantry straight into the deepest dark. Under the maintenance of the air purification system, there was no trace of stuffiness; instead, waves of cool air washed over them. What truly overwhelmed the senses, however, was a stifling wave of heat so thick it choked the breath, accompanied by a crystalline radiance that seemed to carpet the entire ground! Spiritus crystals! Atop intricate ritual diagrams, spiritus crystals stood tall from the floor by the thousands and tens of thousands, ranging from half a meter to over a dozen meters in height, varying in thickness and shape. *Hiss...* Lou Feng drew in a sharp breath of cold air, his scalp tingling, entirely stunned. It wasn't that he had never seen them before; rather, because he had, he understood all too well the staggering investment required to build such a magnificent spectacle... *Fuck, a columnar spiritus computation array spanning kilometers!* *Has he lost his mind?!* Producing spiritus crystals and selling related equipment was the Lou family’s own trade. How could he not know the horrifying cost behind this? Immediately after, chills ran across his skin. A mere one or two of these crystals would suffice for an ordinary workshop. Aside from channeling spiritus and catalyzing intellect, these crystals were designed to serve as vessels for souls! The good news was that Ji Jue had pulled back from the brink and wasn't running an underground death camp. The bad news was that he seemed to have started playing with a Ten-Thousand-Soul Banner... What the hell was this bastard planning? Lou Feng tensed up, thoroughly alarmed, terrified that Ji Jue’s next words would be: *Fellow Daoist, please enter the banner to aid me!* Ji Jue strolled calmly ahead, threading through the crystal columns, gesturing for them to follow. "Isis." "I am here, sir." Amid shimmering silver radiance, a faint silhouette emerged within the reflections of the crystals, seemingly omnipresent. "Release containment, externalize spiritus." "Understood. Releasing containment layer. Countdown: three, two, one—" Amid the soft countdown, a sound like a surging tide arose. As vast quantities of quicksilver flowed away, the containment of solid alchemy dissolved. Threads of illusory light surfaced from the once-dormant spiritus crystals. Drop by drop, spark by spark. Every speck of light seemed like a reflection born of a soul, the embryonic form of a Spirit of Creation—yet now, as countless motes of radiance ascended from the crystal forest, circulating and manifesting openly, what met Lou Feng’s eyes was an infinite, overwhelming sea of light. As all the artificial lights extinguished, a brilliant, dazzling sea of stars poured forth from the deepest dark of the earth, blanketing everything. What he felt was the subtle consciousness surging within countless currents of spiritus; what he heard was a magnificent chorus woven from endless, gentle whispers. "This is..." Immersed in an ocean of countless Spirits of Creation, Lou Feng trembled, nearly suffocating. "What is this?" "This is the wonderful thing I went through so much trouble to drag you to Xinquan for." Ji Jue smiled, spreading his arms wide. "Allow me to introduce to you both the masterpiece completed under my direction—a magnificent creation forged from every Spirit of Creation you see before you. "A super-giant intellect complex. "—The Lord of the Flies."