Sister Zhu was the type of girl who got straight to the point. Seeing that everything was settled, she immediately turned to fetch a contract.

Zhong Yun glanced at the document. There were no overly harsh terms; just as she had said, his freedom was unrestricted. There were only some confidentiality clauses, which was only reasonable.

So, he signed the contract without hesitation. From this moment on, he was officially a member of Sister Zhu’s studio.

With matters decided, Duan Yi was in high spirits. He realized he now had plenty of excuses to visit this studio in the future. His gaze shifted to the metal cage in the center of the workspace, and he grinned, "Has Sister Zhu finished developing the full-sensory cockpit?"

Hearing "full-sensory cockpit," Zhong Yun felt a stir in his heart. Full-sensory control referred to a method of piloting mecha where the operator controlled the machine as if it were their own limb—the entire mecha becoming an extension of the body.

Full-sensory control was the dividing line between low-grade and high-grade mecha; only five-star mecha or higher possessed such a control system.

The Kingdom of Mins was in the third phase of an intermediate civilization. Their standard-issue mecha should be four-star, and while they were capable of developing five-star units, mass production was impossible; they could only be built in the most cutting-edge laboratories. It was similar to how Dawa’s standard mecha were two-star, yet the Giant Machinery Group could still manage to tinker out some three-star units.

As for those four-star mecha, they were the last remnants painstakingly collected by the great aristocratic families over many years, only to be deployed in the final war.

Since Sister Zhu dared to work on a full-sensory cockpit, it seemed she had considerable confidence in herself.

Hearing Duan Yi’s question, Sister Zhu shook her head, knitting her brows. "It’s not that easy. Several critical hurdles remain unconquered. Little Wei and I are completely stumped right now."

"The technology for the full-sensory cockpit is only mastered by those few famous research institutes, right?" Duan Yi remarked.

He held back words he couldn't yet speak. Back then, the Kingdom of Mins had gathered so many geniuses and spent immense amounts of money and time just to finally develop the full-sensory cockpit. Although technology had advanced significantly since then, this club’s studio was, after all, amateur. Their equipment couldn't compare to those top-tier labs. Even though Sister Zhu was a mechanical genius, overcoming the full-sensory technology seemed improbable.

"Zhong Yun, have you ever worked with mechanics before?" Weiwei suddenly asked. Her azure eyes flickered, seemingly concealing something within their depths.

Suddenly, a strange feeling surged through Zhong Yun. This powerful woman, hailed as the campus belle, seemed interested in him from the very beginning. Was it merely because she recognized his capability?

This thought flashed and vanished. Zhong Yun replied, "I tinkered around a few times before, just assembling small gadgets." This wasn't false modesty; without the manual auxiliary unit and Xiao Ling, his skill level in mechanics was lower than that of a freshly graduated apprentice.

In the field of mechanics, there was design ability and hands-on ability. Generally, these two aspects were separate: one specialized in design, the other in fabrication. However, an outstanding designer needed to be intimately familiar with every mechanical component to create novel and functional machinery.

Conversely, an excellent mechanic, by mastering and dismantling, assembling, and repairing countless devices, naturally understood the structure of various machines inside and out.

Thus, these two aspects were essentially two sides of the same coin. Many design masters were simultaneously superb mechanics, and the most elite mechanics could also be brilliant designers.

Zhong Yun had little talent for design, and even less time to train his practical skills. Calling him an amateur hobbyist would be generous. But with Xiao Ling and the manual auxiliary unit, there were times he could still pass for a master.

Sensing the ambiguity in his words, Weiwei smiled faintly and said no more.

Looking at her meaningful smile, Zhong Yun felt even more certain that there was something hidden, but no matter what, he could only play dumb for now. One thing was certain, though: she wouldn't be shallow enough to fall for him at first sight.

He decided to wait; the truth would come out eventually. He lacked the energy or interest to get tangled up in these matters. He just wanted to retrieve the treasure vault quickly and go home.

This was not his home, and there was nothing worth lingering for.

Although Zhong Yun thought this way, things rarely went as one hoped. If you weren't looking for trouble, trouble would find you.

In the days that followed, apart from dedicating an hour and a half daily to helping out at Sister Zhu’s studio—where he occasionally glimpsed Weiwei—nothing much happened.

Soon, a semester slipped by. School was letting out for vacation, and Zhong Yun could finally begin the extensive exploration plan he had been plotting for so long.

First, he secured an archaeological internship certificate from his advisor, who increasingly valued him and held considerable clout in archaeological circles. Archaeology invariably involved excavating ruins and required surveying terrain.

If he rashly ventured into the mountains to explore, he might be arrested by patrol officers as a spy or smuggler. Thus, an archaeological certificate was essential. Since he hadn't graduated yet, a certificate of capability was the best he could obtain.

Then came a large assortment of archaeological equipment. Archaeology wasn't just about hauling a shovel into the deep wilderness; the modern approach required equipment measured in piles.

First, a measuring instrument was necessary, indispensable for precise positioning and recording topography. Next, a detection instrument was crucial. Archaeologists often needed to penetrate deep into dense forests where dangers like ferocious beasts or miasma were common; without this device, lives could be lost.

There was also a material analyzer, capable of examining soil composition and testing food for poison. Following that were engineering robots, used for erecting temporary shelters and for excavation once a target was identified.

And then there was a host of miscellaneous items, totaling over a dozen different pieces. A mountain mecha was also required to transport all this gear.

It turned out archaeology was a costly profession. Just purchasing the equipment could bankrupt a moderately well-off family. Moreover, archaeologists lucky enough to discover valuable artifacts were few; many spent their entire careers as mere appraisers in museums.

Zhong Yun was just a student of archaeology; no one expected him to uncover earth-shattering ruins or ancient tombs. His advisor approved the internship certificate simply to let him gain practical experience early, enabling him to apply what he had learned in class.

Only through personal experience could one grow. To facilitate this, his advisor had assigned him several internship tasks, mostly the work of geographers: surveying and collecting soil samples.

For Zhong Yun, archaeology was merely a facade; the important thing was that it granted him unrestricted access to search for the treasure vault. That was sufficient.

The day before the vacation started, Liu Ming proposed that the four of them gather to celebrate the final night of the semester. Everyone agreed, and the four headed to a restaurant.

"Third Brother." After a few rounds of drinks, Liu Ming’s face flushed with alcohol, turning crimson. "I see clearly now. Among the four of us, you will have the highest achievements. When you make it big in the future, don't forget us."

Zhong Yun raised his glass, clinked it with Liu Ming's, and downed the contents, laughing, "You’re drunk."

"Drunk?" Liu Ming hiccupped, the scent of alcohol potent enough to make someone stumble from meters away. "You say I'm drunk? What a joke. I'm famous for being able to hold a thousand cups. Another round!"

Seeing that he could still speak relatively clearly, Zhong Yun knew he wasn't completely intoxicated. He glanced questioningly at the other two beside him.

Odin and Pi Geng both offered wry smiles. Odin dipped his finger in his drink and wrote the character for 'woman' () on the table.

Zhong Yun suddenly understood—it was because of a woman. No wonder he felt Liu Ming had been acting strangely all day, relentlessly pushing alcohol on him since they arrived.

But this was normal. If one didn't experience a few heartbreaks during university, one's college life wasn't complete.

Without argument, Zhong Yun played the loyal friend, drinking glass after glass with Liu Ming until he collapsed under the table. Liu Ming lay sprawled on the tabletop, mumbling something Zhong Yun couldn't decipher even with his sharp hearing.

Although he hadn't spent much time with the other three over the past six months, they had shared a room, building some rapport. Seeing Liu Ming so distraught, Zhong Yun felt a pang of emotion, reminding him of his university days back on Earth.

"What's wrong with him?" Zhong Yun pointed at Liu Ming, who was already snoring, and asked. His own tolerance for alcohol was usually average, but as his physical conditioning improved, so did his tolerance. The drinks he had just consumed wouldn't even fill the gaps between his teeth.

Odin gently shook his head. "A while ago, Second Brother got a girlfriend, a girl from the General Language department. Later, she fell for someone else. They officially broke up yesterday..."

Another cliché heartbreak. Zhong Yun took another sip of his drink.

"Zhong Yun, what a coincidence." A soft, mellow voice suddenly sounded.

Zhong Yun turned his gaze and saw Weiwei walking over, arm-in-arm with her boyfriend, Su Qi. The man was handsome, the woman charming—a perfect couple.

"Indeed, what a coincidence," Zhong Yun replied flatly.

Su Qi's brow furrowed slightly, as if he wanted to say something but restrained himself. The pair found a corner seat. Occasionally, Weiwei would turn back and offer Zhong Yun a slight smile.

"You know each other?" Odin looked surprised. In his mind, Zhong Yun, who barely left his room, couldn't possibly be connected to the universally admired campus belle.

"A few brief encounters," Zhong Yun didn't bother explaining. Weiwei had always been elusive toward him. After focusing his mind on the archaeological equipment, he’d stopped paying attention to her. Regardless, locating the treasure vault remained the top priority; everything else could wait.

Pi Geng studied him thoughtfully, then shifted his gaze behind Su Qi, a smile bordering on mockery playing on his lips.

Zhong Yun noticed that smile. Although he hadn't interacted much with his roommates, he had a general grasp of their personalities: Liu Ming was rough on the outside but sensitive within; Odin was refined and spoke softly but was surprisingly bold, often harboring bizarre ideas. Pi Geng, usually taciturn, was somewhat cynical, a bit of a misanthrope who seemed ill-suited to his surroundings.

"You know him?"

Pi Geng turned, met Zhong Yun's gaze, and then said casually, "I've seen him a few times before." He dared not say more.

Zhong Yun, however, sensed that there must have been some past grievance between them—it was pure instinct. Ever since breaking through to the nineteenth level, his intuition had become increasingly acute.

"Third Brother," Odin suddenly said.

"Hmm?"

"Go after that Weiwei. Seeing that Su Qi looking so smug and arrogant is truly annoying," Odin winked conspiratorially at Zhong Yun.

"Do you think you're a matchmaker? You order me to pursue her?" Zhong Yun rolled his eyes at him.

Although Odin didn't know what a matchmaker was, he understood Zhong Yun's meaning. He glared, his white pupils shining brilliantly, like two hollow dots against a dark canvas. "Do you think I'm blind? Weiwei keeps sending you meaningful glances. You dare say there’s nothing between you two?"

"Buddy, you're overthinking it," Zhong Yun smiled faintly.

"Just keep pretending," Odin scoffed, glancing at him dismissively. "Boss, I bet you. Within a year, Weiwei will be crawling into your bed. Bet or not?" Zhong Yun was truly torn between laughter and tears. He realized Odin was saying this partly to comfort Pi Geng; he must have noticed Pi Geng's unusual reaction to Su Qi's arrogance.

But Weiwei crawling into his bed... Imagining her charmingly yielding beneath him, emitting soft moans that reached to the very marrow of his bones...

A certain part of Zhong Yun suddenly felt a surge of blood flow.

He composed himself, suppressing the lascivious thoughts. He felt a genuine relief—his heart, which had been still as a dead lake for almost a year, was finally returning to normal. A man of eighteen shouldn't feel nothing when looking at a beautiful woman.

That feeling had been deeply unsettling.

Did this return of male impulse mean he was close to breaking through to level twenty? Thinking of this, the joy in his heart was almost overwhelming. His progress was even faster than Xiao Ling had predicted.

Should he seriously consider Odin’s suggestion? Judging by Weiwei’s behavior, she seemed rather open-minded. It might actually be somewhat interesting.

He wouldn't be staying here long, so he couldn't bear to ruin an innocent girl. If it were just a one-night stand, he wouldn't carry any psychological burden.

The customs in the Kingdom of Mins were relatively liberal; such affairs weren't a big deal. Weiwei was beautiful and alluring, and she already had a boyfriend. After the act, putting his pants back on and walking away, incurring no responsibility—was there a more ideal situation? For a moment, Zhong Yun was intensely tempted.

Light-years away, Liu Yunqi wouldn't know if he stole a taste of pleasure. The devil inside Zhong Yun was provoked, his blood boiling with desire.

P: The immediate tasks are finally done, and my mood has adjusted. I will resume updates starting tomorrow. I haven't checked the monthly ticket rankings in days and was surprised to fall so far behind. However, that's entirely my fault. I will slowly make up for the missing word count. Please continue to support me.