Chapter 00207: Eating One's Words
# Eating One's Words
Chapter 207
Novel: AFK Game: Portal to Another World
Chapter 207: Eating One's Words
I often see in the news how, due to a technological blockade from some country, our nation is unable to manufacture certain equipment.
Then, after our scientific researchers fearlessly endure hardships and diligently study the problem, they finally break the blockade and successfully turn the product into something dirt cheap.
There are always those apologists who say that such-and-such technology is the result of a hundred years of research by others, that China can't catch up, and that it's a pearl of their industry.
But looking at it now, not many of those so-called pearls of industry are left...
"Due to historical reasons, the number of mages in our country is extremely small, and even fewer understand magitech. The precision of our instruments could never be improved, and it's only in recent years that things have slowly gotten better."
Speaking of this, Qian Sen suddenly looked at Lei Lei:
"We have another plan for our instrument research. Our country may have few mages, but we have many cultivators. So, one plan is based on immortal arts. Lei Lei, if you have time, you could come take a look and offer some opinions."
Good grief, you really use whoever you can get your hands on, don't you?
"Didn't you say our country has many cultivators? Is there a need to forcibly recruit people like this?"
"There are many, but not that many in my jurisdiction. Nearby, there's only the Li family..."
Hearing this, Lei Lei sneered and interjected:
"The Li family? I know them. A junior martial brother from my Lei family's main lineage went to celebrate the old master of the Li family's birthday not long ago. But aside from the old master, who has some skill, the rest of the Li family are all figures not worth mentioning."
It was clear that Lei Lei looked down on the Li family very much:
"I heard that during Old Master Li's birthday banquet not long ago, an enemy came knocking on their door. In the end, they had to rely on Section Nine and outsiders to resolve it. The news has already spread throughout our circles. The Li family has completely lost their last shred of dignity this time."
Qian Sen shrugged and said to Li Chengxi:
"See? That's how it is."
"It can't be that bad, can it? Are people with my surname that lame?"
They all had the surname Li.
As the saying goes, all people with the same surname were one family five hundred years ago.
Being this lame, even Li Chengxi felt a little embarrassed.
He had said this purely on a whim, but when Lei Lei heard it, she thought, that's right.
Li Chengxi's surname is Li, and the Li family's surname is also Li.
And geographically speaking, they weren't too far apart.
Could there be some kind of kinship between them?
Back in the day, the Li family was famous for a time.
The family was filled with masters as numerous as clouds; a stomp of their foot would make the entire cultivation world tremble.
Is it possible that Li Chengxi is from a branch of the Li family?
The main family has declined, but a branch family preserved its strength and went into hiding?
The more Lei Lei thought about it, the more she felt it was possible.
After all, this would explain why Li Chengxi exuded so much spiritual energy.
He might have been trained since childhood.
But then Lei Lei remembered that Li Chengxi had once asked if he himself could cultivate.
Someone trained from childhood shouldn't have asked such a question...
Could it be that he was pretending?
Or perhaps, Li Chengxi himself doesn't even know his own family background?
Emmmm...
Lei Lei suddenly fell into deep thought, once again battling wits with the air.
It would be very difficult to confirm this.
If he really was from a branch family, it would probably be hard to find Li Chengxi even by going through the Li family's genealogy record, let alone an outsider trying to investigate.
After all, judging from his name alone, Li Chengxi had no connection to the Li family; it clearly didn't follow the generational naming conventions of the genealogy record.
This feels like a direction for investigation.
I'll call my senior martial brothers and sisters later to ask if they have any good ideas.
Thinking of this, Lei Lei said impassively:
"We generally don't refuse requests from Section Nine, but I am still in the midst of my cultivation and don't have the authority to make decisions."
Although she was very grateful to Qian Sen for helping her out of awkward situations several times, Lei Lei wasn't very willing to get involved with Section Nine.
To a cultivator like Lei Lei, Section Nine was the government.
If you read wuxia novels, how many great heroes are willing to get mixed up with the hounds of the imperial court?
It wasn't hostility.
After all, things were different now.
For cultivators to survive, they couldn't do without the order maintained and conveniences provided by Section Nine.
But there was no need to be too close; a relationship where they each minded their own business was best.
Qian Sen had long expected Lei Lei to say this.
He replied nonchalantly:
"The location will likely be in a sparsely populated area on the outskirts of the city. For ease of transport, we'll probably choose a scenic area with few people. Of course, we won't let you make the trip for nothing. We'll reimburse all expenses within the scenic area. Mr. Li, you all can just treat it as a small trip out."
The moment Lei Lei heard this, her mind immediately started racing.
If she didn't go, then Audel and Li Chengxi would go by themselves.
Not only would they be in a place she couldn't monitor, but she might also miss some crucial information because of it.
She had been paying attention to Li Chengxi for so long; she couldn't let a transmigrator pick the peach first.
So she immediately said:
"I need my master's permission to cooperate with Section Nine."
Qian Sen was just waiting for Lei Lei to say this:
"Rest assured, we will contact your master."
See? This Lei Lei definitely has feelings for Li Chengxi.
She's afraid some sparks might fly if Audel and Li Chengxi go out to have fun alone.
Just a moment ago it was only a guess, but now Qian Sen felt he was definitely right.
He understood at once.
Only Li Chengxi himself was a little baffled.
What were they even talking about?
How did it turn into a scenic area?
The National Day long holiday is in two days.
Could a scenic area possibly have few people?
–‐‐——–‐‐——
Although he was a bit confused, he still had to seize the opportunity for an all-expenses-paid trip.
Li Chengxi had wanted to go travelling for a long time, but he was too lazy to go by himself, and he also had to mind the store, so it had always remained just an idea.
This time, with a chance to eat, drink, and have fun on the public dime, he had no reason to refuse.
After getting an affirmative reply, Qian Sen left.
He had only come to take a look.
Lei Lei didn't stay long either.
She still had a big pile of homework waiting for her.
After seeing the two of them off, only Li Chengxi and Audel were left in the convenience store.
"Those instruments he mentioned, do you understand them?"
"Since the core is made with magitech, there should be no problem. I have published some papers on this subject, so I have done some research."
Audel's main fields of research were alchemy and materials science.
She wasn't an expert in magitech machinery—the kind of technology used to create golems—but she wasn't completely ignorant either.
"Anyway, as long as you know what you're doing. I'll just treat it as a trip."
Li Chengxi returned to his seat behind the cashier counter, stretched, and said:
"Oh, right, why did you bring a magic bag this time?"
"Plastic bags aren't very convenient. I put my change of clothes and toiletries in here."
The last time Audel came was too rushed.
She had thought the Demon God was debauched and unrestrained, and had even planned on not wearing any clothes at all, so naturally she didn't bring things like a magic bag.
This time, she was told several days in advance, so she naturally had time to prepare thoroughly.
It felt pretty much like taking a long trip with a suitcase.
And speaking of the magic bag, Audel unzipped it, reached inside, rummaged around for a bit, and took out a very old-looking piece of parchment, placing it on the cashier counter.
Li Chengxi took one look and thought, holy shit, could this be the legendary magic scroll?
These past few days, while shooting the breeze with a few of the old bros in the forum's chatroom, Li Chengxi had heard that magic scrolls were extremely precious.
High-level magic scrolls were even said to have a value far exceeding that of magic potions.
Then he heard Audel say:
"This is the most detailed world map I could find. Dem... ah, Brother Li, didn't you want to see it?"
Oh, so it's not a magic scroll?