Where every man is eager to make a display before a beauty, the renown of Magistrate An's adopted daughter had already swept across Feiyu County. Those who had seen her were deeply captivated and amazed by her beauty, while those who had not could scarcely believe the tales they heard, for her loveliness was utterly unlike that of the women of Shuangcheng Kingdom, which prided itself on conservatism and gentle grace across the continent. Yet, Cheng Susu shattered those constraints, striking the gazes of men with a chilling, potent sexiness that profoundly shocked them, leaving those who heard the accounts too staggered to fully credit the astonishment of those who had witnessed her.

Whether from a multitude of worries weighing on her heart, Cheng Susu now seemed even more withdrawn than before. Her mature, endlessly alluring face was cold and distant, which stirred immense pity in the hearts of the men who saw her; yet, her ripe, seductive figure utterly ignited the flames of desire hidden deep within them. This intense contrast of cold and hot stimulated them so fiercely that any man with shallow resolve was on the verge of ejaculation right then and there!

A single, gentle word from her moved the entire assembly. Upon hearing that the beauty intended to test their insight, the hall immediately erupted in a cacophony of bold pronouncements. The Inspector, leveraging his superior official status, silenced the crowd and spoke first: "Surely this must be the legendary Flying Immortal Miss? To be graced by your presence is an honor beyond measure. The gossip on the streets paints your miracle in such fantastical terms, but now that I behold you, I realize their words fell short. Flying Immortal Miss, your beauty has reached a realm that no mere language can capture; any adjective would be sacrilege to your presence!"

I secretly clenched my fists from the sidelines. So, the Flying Immortal Miss was Cheng Susu. The person Zhang Wenbing and Niu Pang had been vying for was her. It seemed I had more than a few rivals, and they were all formidable. This Inspector, in his forties, surprisingly had a mouthful of glib rhetoric. Since Cheng Susu currently remembered none of her past, I could not allow her to be deceived by any of these people; I would risk my very life to protect her safety.

The Inspector’s speech had undoubtedly elevated Cheng Susu to the heavens, but who knew that she was entirely unimpressed? Cheng Susu replied coolly, "Thank you for your excessive praise, Inspector. This humble girl is unworthy of such accolades."

Zhang Wenbing grew somewhat annoyed. This old official, relying on his high rank and authority, was spouting nonsense here. The question was about the origin and function of the Divine Egg, and he was completely dodging the subject. Before the Inspector could reply to Cheng Susu, Zhang Wenbing immediately cut in: "Cousin Flying Immortal (though Cheng Susu was actually eight or nine years his senior, since Xiao Xue contributed her blood to transform the physique of the women, their ages could no longer be accurately calculated; to the eye, their skin was as fresh as clear water, surpassing even the twelve or thirteen-year-old Linglong), this junior dares to unravel the mystery of this Divine Egg."

The County Magistrate's wife, standing nearby, noticed Cheng Susu’s bewildered expression and explained to her, "Flying Immortal, this is Wenbing, my husband’s nephew. He specifically rushed over from the provincial capital to see you. Today you two are formally acquainted; you must be close like family from now on."

Cheng Susu calmly inquired, "Cousin, please proceed. Your younger sister listens with respect."

Zhang Wenbing shot a triumphant glance at Niu Pang beside him, then took two steps forward and bowed deeply to Cheng Susu. His gaze looked as if he wanted to devour the pair of soft mounds on her chest, and his hands seemed to ache to grip her delicate waist. He declared, "This junior believes this Divine Egg was unintentionally dropped by a celestial divine bird. Why do I say this? Naturally, I have ample reason. First, this object is supremely mysterious; even combing through every ancient text reveals no mention of such a material. Its hardness and specific gravity surpass that of iron, and judging by the sound when struck, its brittleness is even greater than iron. Thus, this is absolutely not an earthly object. As for its enormous size, the divine bird must have been capable of covering heaven and earth with its wings, making a large egg perfectly normal." Second, according to reliable villagers, this object descended from the sky, enveloped in fire, striking the ground with enough force to create a pit five meters deep, and then it... "

Zhang Wenbing had intended to say it cracked open to reveal a great beauty, but recalling her father’s righteous declaration that his cousin absolutely did not emerge from the egg, he immediately changed tack: "...and then your father expended immense effort to transport it back to the county yamen. We all know that fire-capable objects are generally things like straw, wood, or silk, but everyone here can touch this giant egg, or even try to burn it with a torch; it simply won't ignite. Therefore, I conclude the flames the villagers saw must have been the power of the Fire God. Hence, this is a Fire Bird Divine Egg!"

"Ahem, ahem!" I choked on my own saliva, coughing uncontrollably. All eyes turned toward me, forcing me to shrink further into the dark corner. This Zhang Wenbing should be writing web novels; 'Fire Bird Divine Egg'? Why not call it a 'Fire Chicken Egg'? The escape pod caught fire in the air due to intense friction with the atmosphere. If a torch could ignite it, that would truly be divine.

"I object," Niu Pang burst out before Zhang Wenbing could finish speaking. He, of course, remembered to offer his respects to Cheng Susu first. Cheng Susu returned a slight bow, her chest trembling, releasing a delicate fragrance that momentarily stunned Niu Pang into forgetting what he was about to say.

Magistrate An coughed twice, reminding Niu Pang to mind his decorum. Niu Pang snapped back to reality and addressed Zhang Wenbing: "Brother Zhang is mistaken. Our dynasty now advocates for new science. As a scholar, how can you spread such superstitious nonsense? Not only might you mislead Flying Immortal Miss’s thoughts, but you violate imperial decree, for which you could be charged!"

Zhang Wenbing was completely unfazed by Niu Pang, coldly sneering, "Today we are here only to observe and discuss. Brother Niu, if you have no unique insights, you should hurry home to bed, lest my cousin find you laughable."

Niu Pang stiffened his neck: "Who says I have no view of my own? Examining ancient texts, this must surely be a meteorite. The Record of Omissions mentions that eight hundred years ago, a massive stone fell from heaven. The description of the descent of that giant stone in the text is indistinguishable from the Divine Egg. This is a natural phenomenon from the heavens, nothing strange about it."

Zhang Wenbing countered, "You call it a stone, but have you ever seen a stone identical to this one? Is there truly only one of any kind of stone in the world...?"

The two argued incessantly, neither noticing that the silent Elder Ma Da had approached the Divine Egg unnoticed at some point. He felt it over, tapped it a few times, then put his ear close to the shell to listen intently. He even took a torch from a nearby yamen runner and applied it to the shell. Finally, he said calmly, "This is not stone; it should be an unknown metal, much like the iron implements we widely use today, only its properties differ greatly from iron. It is precisely these differing properties that make it so exceptionally hard."

Niu Pang was a figure of some standing in Feiyu County. He dared not offend the officials from the provincial capital, but he held no regard for this unnamed merchant from Shuangcheng. He shot Ma Da a sidelong glance: "Being old and having a long beard does not guarantee broad knowledge. Shuangcheng Kingdom has stood for a thousand years; has anyone there ever seen this metal? I am certain it is a stone, and furthermore, a sky-fallen stone."

Ma Da smiled: "I do not object to your assertion that it is an object from beyond the heavens, but can the heavens produce nothing besides stone?"

Niu Pang was momentarily speechless. Since he admitted that stones existed from beyond the heavens, he could not deny that other things might exist there as well. The Inspector’s eyes darted shrewdly: "This old fellow suspects this object is the work of Jin Nation spies. For, looking across the land, only the Jin Nation truly understands smelting techniques, and only they possess rich mineral ores. Therefore, upon returning to court, I must report to the Emperor to have this Divine Egg escorted to the capital as soon as possible!"

Magistrate An's face darkened; he knew this meant trouble, but he could not openly object to the Inspector’s reasoning. However, this meant the rare treasure would vanish from his grasp, causing him no small measure of disappointment.

Ma Da chuckled upon hearing the Inspector’s words: "Judging by the sound it makes when struck, there is definitely a hollow space inside. If it could conceal a person, that is entirely possible. Claiming it a spy might also be plausible. If such an unknown danger were brought into Shuangcheng and mismanagement allowed a spy to emerge and harm His Majesty, could the Inspector bear that responsibility? Moreover, transporting it to Shuangcheng would drain the people’s resources and cost a fortune. I wonder if His Majesty would permit you to do so."

The Inspector's complexion was little better than Magistrate An's. He could ignore the drain on resources, but if a spy truly emerged and injured the Emperor, he would be an accessory. After hearing this, he bowed gratefully to Ma Da: "Thanks to Brother Ma's reminder, otherwise this junior would have rashly committed a grave offense without realizing it. I will report this matter to the Emperor, explaining the potential danger, and let His Majesty decide."

Seeing this collection of people making such a fuss over an escape pod, I finally couldn't contain my laughter. Zhang Wenbing, clearly seeing me as an insignificant nobody, roared in anger: "Who is laughing here? Drag him out and give him twenty strokes to uphold the county discipline!"

But Ma Da stopped Zhang Wenbing: "Wait. Does this friend perhaps possess superior insight?"

I immediately regretted letting out that laugh. If I couldn't offer some explanation, that Zhang Wenbing might actually have me flogged twenty times. I glanced at the expectant Cheng Susu beside me, stepped forward two paces, and said, "Gentlemen, this humble junior is not talented, but I once studied an ancient, arcane book with my master in the mountains. My master claimed this book had never been shown to the world and was a marvel descended from heaven. The book contained a passage describing this very object, which I still recall."

Everyone asked in unison, "Oh? Then hurry and tell us!"

I continued, "The true name of this object is an Escape Pod. It is used as an emergency refuge during cosmic voyages. However, this Escape Pod is designed quite ingeniously; it can also function as a Space Shuttle. When it traverses the atmosphere, its wings and tail retract, causing its shape to resemble a giant egg. This is done to avoid the intense heat caused by atmospheric friction. The reason everyone discussed it being engulfed in flames upon descent is precisely because of the violent friction with the atmosphere. It is possible that the high temperatures damaged this machine, causing its wings and tail to fail to deploy normally after passing through the atmosphere, resulting in it plunging headfirst into the earth, creating a deep pit."

I had overheard Cheng Susu muttering by the window that she often forgot things. It was possible that the failure of the Escape Pod's deployment caused the impact of the hard landing to injure her brain. This compounded her previous condition, not only causing her to forget the past but also making it likely she would forget things she currently remembered in the future.

The crowd was utterly baffled by the new terminology I had conjured. Zhang Wenbing opened his mouth to retort but found no words. Niu Pang, seeing Cheng Susu watching me with a gentle smile, immediately directed a look of deep malice my way. Ma Da, however, wore a smile and said, "This friend’s explanation is certainly novel, but I have many points of confusion. What is a 'Space Shuttle'? What is meant by the 'atmosphere'? And what are 'wings'?"

I knew they would be clueless and ask. I had already prepared my reply: "Elder Ma, these terms were only seen in my master's ancient book. As for detailed explanations, I cannot fully articulate them at this moment."

Someone asked, "Since you say it is a refuge, it must hold people inside. Since you know so much, can you open it for us to see?"

"This..." I glanced at Cheng Susu and hesitated. Of course, I knew how to open the Escape Pod’s hatch; the fact that Cheng Susu escaped from it meant the door mechanism was operational. But if I opened it now, everyone would surely link Cheng Susu with the Divine Egg, spies, and similar notions. What was to be done?

Ma Da noticed my slight hesitation after glancing at Cheng Susu and seemed to want to bolster my confidence. He said, "Young friend, proceed without worry. If anyone speaks slanderously against others, I will support the wronged party."

I could not fathom Ma Da being a mere merchant; the aura he projected was too much like a commanding general. Analyzing his words, it was possible this fellow was a high official traveling incognito—perhaps even a prince or imperial relative. If so, I had no reason to fear anyone harming Cheng Susu.

Truthfully, I was also anxious to examine the Escape Pod. If it were viewed as a treasure in the county yamen today, it might be locked away under heavy guard tomorrow, making it impossible for me to get near it. With no sign of how to repair the main drive shaft of the vessel, fixing the Escape Pod might simplify my search for my wife.

Seeing me standing still, Magistrate An grew impatient. Curiosity affected everyone. It was only now that he recognized me as the one who suggested the method for digging out the Divine Egg from the pit and successfully transporting it back that day. "It is you! I knew you were resourceful. Hurry and open it so everyone can witness it."

I acknowledged the order: "As Magistrate An commands, this humble man will attempt it. The method of opening was mentioned in my master's ancient book, but whether it will succeed, I cannot say."

I secretly glanced at Cheng Susu. A slight smile touched her lips. She must be laughing at my nonsense here. It seemed she hadn't forgotten everything, but given her current predicament, opening the Escape Pod was absolutely out of the question, or the tale of her hatching from the egg would be solidified. Even if she weren't mistaken for an anomaly, she would certainly be smeared as a spy.

I stepped forward two paces. Fortunately, the Escape Pod was right-side up. I knew there was no need to search for the needle-point-sized automatic sensor opening system, as people were currently packed three deep around it. If the automatic sensor worked, the hatch would have opened long ago. After a quick search, I found the slightly recessed manual control point. I pressed down hard on the indentation and pushed up forcefully. A sophisticated control panel appeared before my eyes, faintly glowing with a pure white luminescence that looked both eerie and beautiful in the darkness, greatly astonishing these relatively uninitiated Gemini inhabitants.

I knew the Escape Pod was set to require no initial password, but the current environment was complex. If everyone learned how to open it, that would be quite troublesome. Since the others couldn't understand or hear the Mandarin prompts, before opening it, I set up three layers of security for the Escape Pod: palm print verification, retinal scan, and password verification. Continuous prompts sounded, causing the onlookers to gasp, with some even reaching for their blades, preparing to seize someone.

The others couldn't understand the Mandarin password setting prompts, but Cheng Susu could! I stole a moment to look at her standing far off to the side. She looked thoughtful, seemingly struggling to recall something.

Finally, having completed setting up the opening sequence, I murmured to myself, "I have a clue; it is indeed just as my master’s book described." Seeing that no one doubted my pretense, I then entered the password I had set, verified my palm print and retina, and with a faint whirring sound, the smooth, seamless eggshell suddenly split open on one side, revealing a hatch. As the hatch lowered, it formed a ladder for ascending into the Escape Pod.

Though inwardly excited, I dared not act rashly in public. I turned back to Magistrate An: "Reporting to Magistrate An, this junior has opened the hatch. Please enter to inspect."

The Escape Pod had emitted some unintelligible sounds earlier, and now a large opening had appeared in the seamless shell, looking like a giant mouth waiting to swallow someone. Although Magistrate An was burning with curiosity, he quickly pulled his head back after peering into the inky blackness inside.

"Zhao Qian," he said, "since you understand so much, you should be the first to enter and inspect on behalf of this county. If there are no spies, you can report back, and then I and the esteemed gentlemen can view it. If there is a spy inside, shout for Head Constable Sun to capture him immediately."

This suited my intentions perfectly. If there were any important items inside, I could hide them first before they were discovered and confiscated. "Complying with Magistrate An's order, this humble man will investigate immediately."

Someone handed me a torch. I held it up to the doorway and activated the Escape Pod's emergency lighting. A beam of white light poured out, startling the crowd into stepping back several paces again. I stuck the torch into the ground by the entrance, adopted a dignified posture, and stepped inside the Escape Pod.

This Escape Pod contained far more than my own vessel: food, medicine, freshwater dispensers, sleeping berths, and even a toilet and a small shower system. From a hidden compartment beneath the pilot's seat, I found two laser pistols—intended for the pilot and co-pilot. Now, they belonged to me.

Tucking the two weapons into my tunic, I finally felt a measure of relief. In this world, being without self-defense weapons, especially without superpowers, was unimaginable. That military knife, while sharp, would be difficult for me to use to kill someone with my current strength. But these two laser guns—pull the trigger and they emit a high-temperature laser beam capable of taking a life—were essential defensive tools.

I tried to activate the Escape Pod's main system, but there was no response. I opened the mechanical compartment beneath the pilot's seat; it was pitch black inside, but a scent of burning char rushed into the cockpit. It was easy to imagine that the Gemini atmosphere was too dense, and the sustained high temperatures had completely fried the wiring inside the Escape Pod. To repair it, I estimated it would take at least a week.

After thinking it over, I closed all the accessible hatches, leaving only the central small area of about five square meters—the crew seating area. If those fellows came in, they wouldn't find much. I would repair the Escape Pod's electrical system later when I had the chance, and then use it to travel to that accursed wormhole.

The people outside grew impatient. Head Constable Sun called out loudly, "Zhao Qian! What is the situation inside? Do you need help coming out?"

I rushed back out: "The inspection is complete. There should be no one inside; some doors are sealed, and I couldn't open them."

Upon hearing that the interior was safe, a horde of people who could no longer suppress their curiosity rushed in, sweeping me along with them. However, after a look around, the crowd realized that aside from the light source shining down from above, there was nothing new or strange to be seen.

Ignoring the others tapping and fiddling inside, I squeezed through the crowd and descended from the Escape Pod. Everyone was jammed at the hatch, waiting for those inside to emerge so they could take their turn looking. Thus, no one saw Cheng Susu quietly beckon me with a gesture. I stealthily followed her to the back courtyard. The County Magistrate's wife was also staring intently at the Escape Pod hatch, so absorbed that she failed to notice her goddaughter was gone.

Cheng Susu led the way, pausing and walking intermittently. Soon, she entered a sitting room. I followed, pushing inside immediately. The first thing I saw upon entering was Ah San and Ah Si, the two who had beaten me yesterday, already in the room. Before they could clearly see who I was, I reached into my coat and gripped a laser pistol.

Before I could even steady myself, Ah San and Ah Si recognized me in the lamplight. They roared, "It’s you! How dare you barge into the County Magistrate’s sitting room? Who will save you this time!"

They lunged forward, but I swiftly drew the laser pistol and aimed it at them: "Stop right there! If you take another step, I’ll take your lives with one shot!" To ensure they believed the power of the weapon in my hand, I fired at an unknown animal-fat candle nearby. Poof! A flash of white light, and the candlestick was severed along with the candle. The room darkened slightly, and Ah San and Ah Si froze in shock. "Wh-what kind of weapon is that?" they exclaimed.

Cheng Susu commanded Ah San and Ah Si, "You two go outside. I have something to ask Zhao Qian."

Ah San and Ah Si obeyed immediately, bowing to Cheng Susu before exiting the sitting room. Cheng Susu said, "Sit down." She glanced at the laser pistol in my hand: "You found this inside the Escape Pod, didn't you?"

I turned the laser pistol around, pointing the muzzle away from her, and offered it to her: "I found two in total. I give this one to you for protection. If anyone dares to harm you, feel free to shoot them dead!"

"Including you?" Cheng Susu did not reach for it, merely asking coolly. "These two laser guns are superweapons to the people of this world. With them, you could dominate the land. Why would you give one away so freely? Can you truly bear to part with it?"

It seemed Cheng Susu hadn't remembered a thing. I forced a bitter smile. "If you believe I mean you harm, then go ahead and shoot me. What use is dominating the world if I've lost the one I love? Even if I were granted the universe, I wouldn't feel an ounce of joy. Take this. While drinking in the side hall earlier, I heard the horse bandits are running rampant. In case you encounter danger and I'm not around, you'll have this for self-defense."

Cheng Susu arched a delicate eyebrow, her confusion palpable. "Why are you showing such concern for me? I... I don't even know you."

I placed the laser pistol beside her. "You don't know me, but I know you. I realize nothing I say now will convince you. I will be staying in Feiyu County Town for a while. If you remember anything, call me... The mobile phone! How could I forget the phone!"

"What did you say?" Cheng Susu asked, startled by my sudden jump, clearly perplexed.

My pockets were a mess of assorted junk. At that moment, I couldn't afford to care; I dumped everything onto the table. Sure enough, I fumbled out my mobile phone. Damn it! Has my mind been affected too? Yi Xiaorou explicitly told me the phone system had been updated; even without satellite connection, they could communicate individually within a certain range. I could contact the other women through my phone!

Cheng Susu watched me frantically rummaging through the pile of things, not answering her questions, so she could only stand aside and watch coolly. I powered up the phone and initiated the search system. After several cycles, the results were deeply disappointing. Whether the other seven women had their phones turned off, or if the phone was damaged during the wormhole transit, I couldn't find a single signal.

As I was busy fiddling with the device, Cheng Susu finally couldn't restrain herself. "I have one of these things too. Can you tell me what it's used for?"

I replied casually, "No way. You've forgotten what a mobile phone is? Yet yesterday, I saw you had quite a wealth of knowledge in your head."

Cheng Susu looked downcast. "I don't know either. Sometimes I wake up and can't recall so many things. My head often hurts. I hit the ground hard when my escape pod crash-landed. Although the pod's shock absorption system was excellent, the altitude was too great. I was knocked unconscious for a long time before waking up."

I tried to comfort her. "Don't worry. If I determine it’s safe for you to stay here, I’ll go find Qingqing. With her medical skills, she can surely help you recover your memory. Then you'll remember who I am."

Cheng Susu asked tentatively, "Zhao Qian, did we really know each other before?"

I looked up. "Susu, I know you won't believe me now, no matter what I say. Right, don't you also have a phone? Take it out—it has my picture on it, and... and some videos. I believe once you see them, you’ll know I’m not lying."

Finally, I had found something that could prove my identity. With the photos and those explicit videos on Cheng Susu's phone, there was no way she wouldn't believe me.

Cheng Susu called for Chuntian to fetch her phone from the room. Soon, Chuntian came back breathlessly holding the device. Cheng Susu took it and handed it to me. "How do I use it? I've forgotten."

When I took the phone, I saw it was already on. Why hadn't I picked up any signal searching for her phone just now? Could the energy within the wormhole have interfered with the phone's transmission system? Damn, this damn wormhole.

I selected a few very ordinary photos of the two of us and showed them to Cheng Susu. "Look, I wasn't lying to you, was I? If you weren't my wife, why would I be holding you so intimately?"

Cheng Susu stared, dumbfounded. This 'unfamiliar' man was holding her from behind, and that disobedient hand was resting on her breast! Yet, in the photo, she looked so happy and content. This phone had been right next to her all along; he couldn't have fabricated this. Could it be...

Cheng Susu wasn't afraid of Chuntian overhearing their conversation behind her, but she feared her seeing the photos on the phone. She snatched the phone back and clutched it tightly. "Alright, maybe everything you said is true. But the person I am now, and the person you are now, are strangers to each other. I want you to help me get my memories back. Can you do that?"

I nodded. "Of course I can. But even if you don't remember who I am, it doesn't matter, because I have already decided that you will get to know me anew. In the end, you, Cheng Susu, will only ever be Zhao Qian's woman."

Cheng Susu said very coolly, "Can we discuss this later? You keep bringing up the emotional matters between us, and it scares me. Because I don't know who you are, and I don't even know who I am. How can I trust any feeling between us?"

Her words struck a blow to my surging emotions. I silently put the phone and the other items back into my pocket. At this point, even showing Cheng Susu those explicit videos would be useless; it would only increase her revulsion. Nothing could be rushed. Her asking me to help her recover her memory today was a significant step forward. Forcing things would only backfire.

Seeing my silence, Cheng Susu continued, "When I saw you piloting the escape pod, I knew there must be some connection between us, and we speak the same language. Here, the only people I can trust are you and Chuntian. I hope you won't disappoint me. I hate those lecherous men outside; you're not the same type as them, are you?"

What else could I say? I nodded. "Helping you recover your memory is my undeniable duty. But it's too late tonight; let's start tomorrow."

Cheng Susu said, "It’s inconvenient for you to stay at the County Yamen's backyard. Where do you live? Tomorrow, Chuntian and I will sneak out to find you."

I told Cheng Susu the address of the place I had rented, then took my leave from the living room. Since Cheng Susu was deeply wary of me now, my staying would be pointless. As for how to restore her memory, I had absolutely no clue; I could only take things one step at a time.

The hatch of the escape pod was still open, but there were few visitors left inside; most people had returned to the side hall to continue drinking. I checked inside and saw no damage, so I returned to the hall to listen to their discussions.

At the banquet, several wealthy merchants from Feiyu County were discussing the economic issues of the Twin Cities State. I listened for a couple of sentences and couldn't help but let out a wry chuckle. A country that doesn't even have its own currency—what the hell is there to discuss? If the other side suddenly cuts off the iron coins, or secretly mints a massive quantity of iron coins and floods the market, wouldn't the economy collapse?

"Young friend Zhao Qian, your knowledge is truly admirable. Come, let me offer you a toast," said Mada, sitting next to me, suddenly raising his cup.

"Uncle Ma, you flatter me. Your humble nephew just idly flipped through some of my master's ancient books while bored in the mountains. Having luckily accomplished one small thing hardly bears mentioning."

Mada drank his glass in one gulp, then gestured for me to finish mine. Because of Cheng Susu's attitude toward me earlier, my mood was somewhat dampened, so I finished a large cup of wine as well.

Mada said, "We are all friends when traveling. If you don't mind, Young friend Zhao Qian, we can become sworn friends spanning generations. Don't call me Uncle; let's treat each other as equals, how about that?"

I never cared much for such titles, so I readily agreed. "If Big Brother Ma is willing to humble himself to this degree, your little brother is honored to accept."

Mada laughed heartily. "Good, good! Then it's settled. You call me Big Brother Ma, and I'll call you Young Brother Zhao."

I usually couldn't stand those officials and merchants, and especially disliked the smug Zhang Wenbing and the fat guy, Niu Pang. Only this Mada made me feel a sense of familiarity. I rose and personally refilled his wine cup. "Come, Big Brother Ma, let me offer you a return toast."

Mada cheerfully agreed. After setting down his empty cup, he asked, "Young Brother Zhao, may I ask who your master is?"

This was something I couldn't be vague about. "I won't hide it from Big Brother Ma, my master is an eccentric man. He took me in when I was little, and I didn't even know his name until I descended the mountain. Moreover, to sever any lingering attachment I had to the comfort of the mountains, the old man actually sent me out of the mountain ranges blindfolded. To this day, I don't even know where he is located. I feel genuinely ashamed."

Mada didn't seem concerned. He laughed. "Some reclusive masters dislike having their disciples publicize their names; that's not uncommon. Speaking of which, you dismissed their discussion just now with such disdain. Does Young Brother Zhao perhaps have some profound insights?"

I told him truthfully, "Big Brother Ma, I can't claim to have profound insights. Furthermore, I haven't been down the mountain long and know very little about the affairs of the Twin Cities State. However, the Twin Cities State lacking its own circulating currency is like letting someone hold its neck. If the Jin Kingdom wants our economy to collapse, it will collapse."

Mada's expression turned very serious. "What do you mean by that, Young Brother Zhao? Could you elaborate?"

"Let's talk about the current situation first. Currently, the quantity of iron coins circulating in the Twin Cities State is too small, and the variety is monotonous. The value represented by a single iron coin is too high, which is inconvenient for everyday small transactions and minor settlements. Because the value is high and circulation is narrow, ordinary people rarely hoard this currency, leading to a backlog of physical goods in their hands and preventing the market from becoming properly active."

Mada sighed. "It's not that the Twin Cities State doesn't want to increase the quantity and variety of currency, but this batch of currency was cast for us by the Jin Kingdom over fifty years ago. Now, the Jin Kingdom uses its metallurgical technology to coerce the Twin Cities State, demanding territory in exchange for iron tools. Under these circumstances, it is impossible for them to cast more iron coins for us."

I countered, "Big Brother Ma, precisely because the metallurgical and casting technology is controlled by the Jin Kingdom, the circulation of this iron currency in the Twin Cities State poses a grave danger."

Mada looked puzzled. "Oh? What danger is there?"

"The logic is simple: there are no technical hurdles in casting these iron coins, especially since they are wholly manufactured by the Jin Kingdom. If the Jin Kingdom secretly casts countless iron coins, and then uses these privately minted coins to purchase goods in the Twin Cities State, if the value of the goods they purchase exceeds the actual worth of that small iron coin, the economic achievements of the Twin Cities State will eventually be plundered by them. The Twin Cities State will exchange everything they eat and use for a pile of scrap iron, and the common people holding this scrap iron will find it useless because the actual intrinsic value contained in one iron coin will no longer correspond to the commodity it purchased."

Mada considered this for a moment, and his face changed drastically. "Young Brother Zhao is absolutely right! For hundreds of years, we've relied on the Jin Kingdom to cast our coins, and we never considered that something might go wrong. If the Jin people fail in their coercion this time, no one can guarantee they won't resort to this. By then, they will plunder all the wealth of my Twin Cities State with a pile of scrap iron! We must guard against this!"

I said, "Big Brother Ma, let's just drink our own wine. This matter... hehe, it's the Emperor's business. We know the logic, but how to guard against it? Even if the Emperor understands this logic, he'll be worried."

Mada anxiously asked, "Indeed, Young Brother Zhao, do you have any good ideas?"

I topped up both wine glasses. "What good ideas could there be? Unless we abandon the current monetary system, this incident is unavoidable if the Jin people have a flash of insight. Of course, we can also imagine that the Jin people will never actually do this."

Mada grew agitated. "Impossible! The Jin people are set on demanding three prefectures and twenty-three counties from the Twin Cities State this time! They threatened that if we refuse, the Twin Cities State would face eternal damnation. Hearing what Young Brother Zhao just said, I realize this very scenario might be what they mean by 'eternal damnation'! The craftsmen of the Twin Cities State are currently researching iron smelting technology, but we know nothing about this industry. Furthermore, although the Twin Cities State has deep mountains and valleys, there are no iron ore deposits needed for smelting. Alas, it’s truly agonizing!"

I took a sip of the Drunken Immortal wine. "Actually, iron coins aren't the only currency that can be utilized. Any item that is scarce in quantity and possesses intrinsic value can serve as commodity money. If a country has a stable economic foundation and a rich treasury, it can also issue tokens—using something inherently worthless to replace physical currency in circulation. However, the quantity of tokens issued must be based on the physical reserves held by the nation. If too many tokens are issued, the final result might be the same as discussed earlier: ruining one's own national economic system."

Mada listened and nodded repeatedly. "Good, good, this idea is excellent, though some areas need further refinement."

I patted Mada's shoulder. "Big Brother Ma, I'm really just speaking casually. Implementing such a system would face enormous resistance and require meticulous planning. I can see you aren't just a merchant; you must be a high-ranking official of the Twin Cities State. Please don't act rashly on impulse to reform the currency. Moving one piece affects a thousand; without comprehensive preparation, this endeavor cannot succeed."

Mada didn't seem bothered by my seeing through his identity. He raised his glass. "Young Brother Zhao is correct. Hearing your words is better than studying for ten years. I wonder if Young Brother Zhao has any desire to serve in the imperial court? I guarantee you a high position if I recommend you, where you can fully deploy your talents."

I drained my cup. "Big Brother Ma, it's not that your younger brother is unappreciative, but I have pressing duties since leaving the mountain. I must find my eight lost good friends. So far, I've only found one, and this one has amnesia for certain reasons. She doesn't remember who I am now. Though I wish to contribute to the court, I am not my own master."

Mada patted my shoulder. "That's fine, that's fine. Tell me who you are looking for, and give me their portraits. It will be much easier for me to find them."

A bright idea sparked in my mind—yes, having the imperial court's help would be much faster than me searching blindly alone! "Big Brother Ma, I'll trouble you then. When do you plan to leave Feiyu County? I want to go back and prepare the portraits of the other seven to give to you."

Mada said, "I have important matters and cannot stay long. How about this: bring me the portraits of your friends by noon tomorrow, and I will depart for the capital that afternoon. I specifically came this time to see the legendary Sky-Fallen Divine Egg, and I never expected to meet Young Brother Zhao Qian by chance. This is truly a great fortune for the nation. I hope that after Young Brother Zhao completes his mission, he will come to the Twin Cities to offer his help."

I thought to myself, once I gather the eight women, it will be time to leave the planet of the Twins. But if I can get home, why wouldn't I help the Twin Cities State? I replied, "Big Brother Ma, once I find my eight friends, I will certainly bring about great changes in the Twin Cities State."

"Good!" Mada clapped his hand into mine. "It's a deal."