Beginning with the Ubume Bird-Chapter 510 - 6 Steam and Magic (Part 1)

Suddenly, Chang said, "Watch your head."

Cha Xiaodao’s expression shifted as she saw Chang clench his legs together and forcefully pull out a black steam valve.

In an instant, a massive amount of steam poured down from above their heads, filling most of the workshop and engulfing them both.

Chang took a deep breath, looked down at Cha, and said, "Pass me the crude oil pipe. Be careful, it might be hot."

"You mean this thing?"

Cha Xiaodao pointed to the black pipe on top of the spindle-shaped container beside her.

"That’s the one, pull it out and give it to me."

Cha Xiaodao pulled the pipe out with one hand and tossed it to Chang, who caught it and, without hesitation, plunged it into the device in front of him.

"Is this thing still burning oil?"

Cha Xiaodao asked casually.

"No, the crude oil is being used as a coolant. Normally, the large tri-orb devices are equipped with temperature sensors that trigger an alarm. Once the temperature of the tri-orb device drops to a certain level, it will automatically close. I think they must have improperly connected it to some high-power machinery, which caused this. I’ll open the water inlet later to lower the temperature. They just need to add a set of liquid cooling machines later on."

"Ah... ah."

Putting on a metal single-lens frame, Chang looked down at Cha Xiaodao with a smile and said, "Don’t worry, I’m very good at this."

After speaking, he glanced at the continuously spinning dials next to him and then leapt down.

"Leave the rest to me."

Chang pressed down on a lever with both hands with great effort; gears turned, and the entire tri-orb device began to shake even more violently.

An anxious St. Yves quietly asked Robert standing beside him, "What is he doing?"

"He... he seems to have modified a small-scale cracking system to absorb heat through the crude oil cracking..."

"Will it work?"

After pondering for a while, Robert slowly nodded, "In theory, it should work. This way, they only need to dismantle one air pump, and they won’t have to take apart many parts to shut down the tri-orb device."

"Then why didn’t you think of that?"

St. Yves said coolly.

Robert opened his mouth, but in truth, he had entertained similar ideas, perhaps not as streamlined or effective as Chang’s approach, but with a similar thought process. He didn’t dare to take the risk. In the eyes of businessmen like St. Yves, it seemed like Chang hadn’t done much, but Robert was watching with anxiety.

Modifying the water outlet and the radiator increased the chances of the tri-orb device exploding, and a single misstep during the cracking process could also lead to an explosion.

Precision, meticulousness, obsession, boundless creativity. One had to have confidence in their understanding of machinery bordering on arrogance to actually put ideas into action.

"Chang, he is indeed a genius."

Robert replied somewhat disheartenedly.

"Is that so..."

St. Yves showed no emotion.

After a tense and busy quarter-hour, as a large amount of hot asphalt-like substance was discharged, the entire tri-orb device finally came to a stop.

Under the complex gazes of everyone in the workshop, Chang came down from the ascending work platform, chatting with Cha Xiaodao about something.

St. Yves approached with a beaming smile, satisfactorily saying to Chang, "For a Chinese person, Chang, you are quite clever."

Looking up at the enormous machine, Chang saluted St. Yves, "Yes, sir, thank you, sir."

Cha Xiaodao stared at the tri-orb device, dormant like a prehistoric behemoth, and unconsciously furrowed her brow.

The crisis now at an end, St. Yves granted both Chang and Cha Xiaodao a three-day leave. As the two were leaving, Chang called out to Cha Xiaodao.

"Cha."

Cha Xiaodao turned around, and Chang walked up to her, extending his hand, "My name is Chang Yu, what’s yours?"

"Cha Xiaodao."

"Are you planning to leave the city? To go down the mountain?"

Cha Xiaodao nodded.

"Let’s go together. I also need to go out of the city to take care of some matters. If you’re not too busy, I can invite you for a cup of tea."

Chang’s attitude was sincere. For some reason, he felt a unique charisma emanating from Cha Xiaodao—confidence, composure, and the ability to remain unaffected by honor or disgrace. Furthermore, like him, Cha Xiaodao was a Chinese person drifting in a foreign land, which made Chang even more excited.

"Hmm, would the evening be alright? I need to meet a friend."

"Oh, but in the evening I..."

Chang showed a look of regret.

Cha Xiaodao looked at Chang and, as if possessed by a sudden impulse, said, "How about you come with me to meet my friend? It will be just a tea, and I’ll treat."

————————————————

In the impoverished area beneath San Francisco.

An old man holding a pipe brewed a cup of soy sauce-colored strong tea for Li Yan, who didn’t mind and gently sipped it.

They had already communicated through Qigong about Cha Xiaodao’s experience. Chang’s appearance greatly surprised Li Yan. It went without saying how rare expertise in Magic Motion Technology was; Li Yan, who initially had only 50% proficiency in Magic Motion Technology, had transformed the Dodge Tomahawk into a legendary vehicle. Of course, this was closely related to the precious components of the Black Star chariot, but the power of Magic Motion Technology was evident as well.

This piqued Li Yan’s intense interest in this Chinese mechanical genius named Chang.

Originally, Li Yan had planned that after meeting with Cha Xiaodao today, he would get the permit in the evening to enter the Black Rose Theatre, investigate the secrets of Giant Lake, and handle the elusive Terrifying Mermaid incident, while Cha Xiaodao was responsible for gold mining, as well as solving the mystery of the madman at the stock exchange.

But the appearance of Chang disrupted Li Yan’s plans, as he wanted to meet this Chinese mechanical genius first.

Thinking of these things, he unconsciously glanced at the table beside him, where three men with secretive expressions sat. Upon noticing Li Yan looking over, they averted their gaze guiltily and left soon after settling the bill.

Li Yan spat out a tea leaf and shook his head to himself.

"Is it him?"

The ones who left the teahouse whispered to each other.

"Definitely no mistake, the man who’s been accompanying Zhen Lian. This morning, Zhen Lian took him to Hesheng, and after they left, Liang Hui reneged on his word."

"Does that old guy not realize who he is betraying? The Taiping Heavenly Father!"

"We’ve looked into this guy. He’s a martial outlaw and may know Qigong, able to heal diseases and rejuvenate the elderly. Zhen Lian got him from that onion trader, Mr. Wu."

"We need to capture him alive."

By this time, Cha Xiaodao had arrived.

"Dayan."

"Xiaodao."

After exchanging glances, Li Yan sized up the young man named Chang Yu.

Like all young Chinese who had been exposed to advanced Western technology, Chang Yu had short hair and was clean-shaven. He wasn’t tall, his lips were tightly sealed, and his face was resolute, with a determination shining in his eyes.

"Li Yan."

"Chang Yu."

The two shook hands before taking their seats.

"I’m from Shanghai, a colleague of Cha’s. I maintain machines for Enfield. You can call me Chang."

Li Yan nodded: "I make a living at the church. I’m from the same town as Xiaodao."

Just as Chang was about to say something, a horde of thugs with unfriendly expressions surged from outside the teahouse. Dressed in jackets or robes, with bulging waists, they surrounded the entire shop.

A man in a black robe and a white scarf, looking like a priest, stepped out of the crowd and walked straight toward Li Yan: "Sir, I believe you need to come with us."