第一百零一章 茫然的热情
Amid the forest, Su Qing ran while contacting the tent area several miles away.
林间，苏晴边跑边与几里外的棚区联系。
{What? Are you serious? Ah Qing’s not here, and this one’s a fake?}
{什么，你说真的？啊晴不在了，这个是假的？}
In the sensory vision, the security chief in the settlement, after hearing Su Li’s words, said in surprise.
感应画面中，棚区内安保队长听完苏黎的话后，吃惊的道。
“Yes, when I sensed something was off and contacted him outside the door through the Mental Link, he was clearly standing right behind me, but it was like throwing a stone into the sea with no response. Besides, Ah Qing never eats breakfast, especially since arriving in this world.”
“是，当我感觉不对劲，在门外用心灵链接联系他时，他明明就站在我身后，却石沉大海。而且，阿晴从来不吃早餐，过来这个世界之后，更是如此。”
{Is that all? Could it be he just stepped away…}
{仅仅只是这样吗，会不会他只离开…}
Even the security chief couldn’t finish his words.
安保队长自己都说不出话来了。
The model couldn’t be reached, yet the person stood alive right before his eyes—he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
模型联系不到，人却活生生站在眼前，他突然觉得不寒而栗。
“Though I hate to admit it, I think that person here isn’t him anymore. Their temperaments are vastly different.”
“虽然不想承认，但我觉得这里的人已经不是他了，他们的气质差别很大。”
{We’ll be right there.}
{我们这就过来。}
The settlement held a protection stake in the two brothers’ shop; their talent for material identification had brought the settlement significant income, both in terms of resources and timing.
棚区对这两兄弟的店铺入了保护股，两兄弟的材料辨别天赋为这棚区增加了不少收入，无论是材料还是时序上。
Therefore, they took this matter very seriously.
因此他们很重视这件事。
……
……
Little Liu and Teacher Chen had originally held a grudge due to a verbal conflict with the three, but now seeing that this guy actually had real skills, he felt a bit more at ease.
小刘和陈老师原本是因为与三人言语上的冲突而不待见他们，此刻发现这人还真的有两把刷子后，他稍微放心了点。
Yang Zicang borrowed the tools here and steadily infused warm red magic crystals into some ironware through the energy conversion magic array, known only to the large settlement.
杨子藏借用此地工具，将暖红的魔晶石通过只有大棚区才掌握着的能量转换魔阵，稳步注入一些铁器内。
After finishing that, he took out the materials Teacher Chen and the other had processed and performed a second refinement, separating out several impurities.
忙完这些，再将陈老师两人处理过的材料拿出来再进行二次加工，分离出了好些杂质。
Everyone saw the usefulness of these items; Su Qing and Teacher Chen both nodded, one planning to take it directly and the other intending to make one for themselves.
几人都看出了这东西的妙用，苏晴和陈老师都点点头，一个打算直接拿走，一个打算自己也搞一个。
Half an hour later, the busy group laid out the components for making the soft armor in a row. After inspecting them, Yang Zicang extended a hand to the two.
半小时后，忙活的几人将这制作软甲的部件一字排开，检查完毕后，杨子藏对着两人伸出只手。
“What?”
“什么？”
“Don’t play dumb. Even if there’s no fossil, there’s a rubbing—a counterfeit blueprint. Hand it over.”
“别装蒜了，没有化石也有拓本，也就是仿冒蓝本，拿来吧。”
Teacher Chen reluctantly pulled a soft cloth from a hidden compartment under the box.
陈老师不情愿的从箱子地下的暗格里取出张软布。
“Since we’ve got this, we need an even split. It’s expensive, jaw-droppingly expensive.”
“有这东西，咱们就要平半分了啊，很贵的，要人老命的贵。”
This was something he’d bought from the person who kept the fossil. Though it wasn’t a true blueprint, it could anchor the result of the Forgetting Engine made from these components, pushing its final form closer to that set of ancient equipment preserved in the fossil.
这是他从保存着那份化石的人手上买来的，虽然算不上蓝本，但可以锚定这些部件所制造的失念引擎结果，让其最终形态往化石所保存的那套远古装备上靠拢。
“Looks like we’re about ready. Can we start?” Little Liu asked, seeming guileless.
“准备差不多了吧，可以开始了吗？”小刘显得没啥心眼子的问道。
Over the past half hour, Yang Zicang’s actions had completely won him over.
这半小时杨子藏的所作所为已经彻底折服他了。
Yang Zicang nodded.
杨子藏点点头。
Su Qing lit a wall lamp in the room, and a mystical, chaotic aura filled the space. The elemental light of the magic crystals began to be drawn away, coalescing like a mist suspended over the magic array as a ball of radiance.
苏晴在屋子内点燃了盏壁灯，整个屋子内神秘混沌的气息弥漫开来，魔晶石的元素光线开始被抽离，如雾在法阵上悬浮成个光团。
Within the illusory glow were the images of two young men—projections of the Su brothers.
虚幻的光团内是两个年轻人的形象，它们正是苏氏两兄弟的投影。
“This is our prepared Lethe.”
“这是我们准备的忘川。”
Teacher Chen handed over the Lethe Spring contained in a large test tube. No matter how one looked at the transparent resin tube, it always showed a vision of clothes being made.
陈老师递过装在大试管内的忘川泉，不论从哪个方向看这透明树胶管，它都显现着正在制作衣服的幻象。
As Yang Zicang tossed the materials into the glow, the eyes of everyone present grew brighter and brighter.
随着杨子藏往光团内投入材料的动作，几个人的眸光越来越亮。
It truly seemed there was a sign of success.
似乎真有成功的迹象。
……
……
A team of armed individuals swiftly moved through the forest, with Su Li walking alongside them.
一队身着武器的队伍快速在林间行进，苏黎跟在他们身旁。
“Hurry, there are three more people over there, but it’s still unclear whether they’re friend or foe.”
“快，那里还有三个人，但敌友暂不明朗。”
“Will it be dangerous?”
“会有危险？”
None of these people could connect to Su Qing’s model anymore, as if he no longer existed in the world.
这些人的确都联系不到苏晴的模型了，仿佛他根本不存在于世间。
“It should be fine. Among them, one person has a quadrilateral model. He didn’t give me much trouble, and he truly didn’t recognize the fake Su Qing inside.
“应该还好，其中有个人是四边形模型，他没怎么为难我，而且他的确不认识里面的假苏晴。
“By the way, his ability is very strange—it’s a translucent monster.” Su Li added.
“对了，他的能力很奇怪，是个半透明的怪物。”苏黎补充道。
This casual remark made the group almost crash into the back of the team leader, who had suddenly stopped.
不说不要紧，一说这一堆人差点撞在突然停下来的领队背后。
“Translucent?”
“半透明？”
The team leader pondered for a moment, then wide-eyed said, “Could it be someone with a psychokinetic ability!”
领队的埋头想了想，瞪大眼道：“难道是拥有念力型能力的人！”
According to rumors circulating around the world, besides physical, sound, or psychic abilities, there seems to exist a psychokinetic type of attack.
坊间流传的消息，这世上除了物理、声音或精神力能力，似乎还存在念力型的攻击方式。
“Psychokinetic type?”
“念力型？”
The others nearby looked at Su Li and the team leader in surprise.
周围几人诧异的看向苏黎和领队。
Moreover, the bloodline sculpture for psychokinetic type is not found in the city, so no one has obtained a field capable of defending against psychokinetic attacks, making this ability nearly invincible.
而念力型的血脉雕塑并不在城市中，因此无人获得能够防御念力攻击的力场，这就让这种能力近乎于无敌。
But correspondingly, those with such an ability are very rare, and it seems one must obtain the ability through special means.
但相应的，拥有那种能力的人非常稀少，似乎要通过特殊途径才能获得能力。
As for what the specific means are, even many experts are eager to figure them out, let alone us; just being aware of this information is already impressive.
具体是什么途径，好多高手都想搞明白，更别说自己等人了，能知道这个信息都算了不起。
“Su Li, you couldn’t be mistaken. If it really is psychokinetic type, even if all of us here go together, we might fall into his hands.”
“苏黎，你不会看错，真是念力型的话，咱们这些人全都过去，可能都会栽在他手里。”
“Is it that serious?” Hearing these words, Su Li began to feel uncertain.
“这么严重吗？”听到这话，苏黎有点不确定了。
He glanced at the middle-aged man beside him, feeling bitter inside: “Brother Wang, what do we do then? Should we ask the Wuyou people for help?”
他看向身旁的中年人，心中发苦的道：“王哥，那怎么办，要求助无忧的人吗。”
“Sure, we can tell them, but we’ll get kicked out afterward. If what you said is true and he’s not a bad guy, let’s go check things out first before deciding.”
“告诉他们固然可以，但以后我们会被赶走的，按你说的他不像坏人的话，我们先去看看再说。”
At this moment, in Li Qing’s Material Workshop, the most crucial step was underway.
此刻，黎晴材料坊内已经到了最为关键的步骤。
“Will it succeed?”
“会成功吗？”
Several people watched the young man’s movements closely.
几人注视着青年的动作。
[I, the Great Quadrilateral, am attempting to create a fossil artifact for the first time.]
[我，伟大的四边形开始第一次尝试，制作化石遗物。]
As Yang Zicang, also a bit tense, placed the final piece of leather armor into the light cluster, transforming it into energy, and then added the line processed from sturdy monster tendons, the light cluster erupted in intense brilliance!
随着杨子藏自己也有点紧张的将最后的皮甲放入光团华为能量，又将结实的怪物筋加工成的线放入后，光团暴起浓烈光芒！
Poof! A murky aura scattered violently as its essence rapidly contracted, and a crystal engine dropped from the air.
噗！浑浊气息猛然扩散，其中的精华同时快速收缩，一枚水晶引擎从空中掉落。
Yang Zicang swiftly reached out, caught it in his palm, and let out a sigh of relief. He turned around, a smile spreading across his face as he extended his hand.
杨子藏迅捷的一伸手，接在掌中送了口气。他转过头，笑眯眯的伸出手。
“Not bad, take a look. Is this what you wanted?”
“还不错，你瞧瞧，是你想要的吗？”
Everyone crowded around.
几人围了上来。
“It actually worked!”
“真成了！”
“Good heavens! It’s even better than I imagined.”
“天呐！比我想的还好。”
Teacher Chen had already frozen into a petrified state as he held the Mind-Loss Engine in his hands.
陈老师摸着手上的失念引擎已经进入了石化状态。
Though it was just a three-cylinder engine, it emanated a faint fiery glow.
虽然只是三缸引擎，但却散发着淡淡的火光。
Within the translucent material, the phantom of a deep, ancient suit of armor was constantly shifting—one moment a burst of flames, the next the armor itself.
晶莹的材质里是一套深邃古老的甲胄虚影正不断变幻，一会儿是一道炸开的火焰，一会儿又是装备。
“It really succeeded! After all my research and the countless efforts poured into this Mind-Loss Engine, it truly worked!”
“真的成功了，我研究了这么久的东西，耗费了那么多心血的失念引擎，真的成功了！”
“Mm-hmm.” Yang Zicang nodded, smiling as he watched the two grip the engine excitedly in their hands.
“嗯哼。”杨子藏点点头，笑看着这两人激动的将引擎握在手中。
Through this, he also verified that the information left by Ma Chao was correct, and he had three similar formulas like this one collected—quite a treasure trove.
他也通过这验证了马超留下的信息是正确的，而他收集的类似的配方还有三种，这可是一笔大财富。
“Quick, write it down—the steps.”
“快，快记下来，步骤。”
Teacher Chen tossed the engine back to Yang Zicang, pulled out a pen from the box, and began jotting down notes as he recalled Yang Zicang’s steps and the improved material process.
陈老师将引擎丢还给杨子藏，从箱子内掏出笔来，回忆杨子藏的步骤和改进材料的过程不断书写。
Su Qing reached out toward the young man before her and said, “Can I take a look?”
苏晴对着身前青年伸手道：“我能看看吗。”
Yang Zicang handed the engine to him. Su Qing examined it carefully, as if he were the real boss here.
杨子藏将引擎递给他，眼前的苏晴就像是这里的真正老板一样，仔细看着这引擎。
Neither Zuo Feixian nor Xu Xiuchuan had expected it to actually succeed.
左非闲和徐秀川两人也没想到真能成功。
They had already started envisioning the future.
他们已经开始畅想未来。
“How do you plan to turn it into equipment?” Yang Zicang looked at Teacher Chen and the other.
“你打算怎么将它变成装备？”杨子藏看向陈老师两人。
“What else can we do? We’ll have to go to Hub Town. Brother Jiazi, how should we split this engine?”
“还能怎么办，只能去找枢纽镇了，甲子兄，这枚引擎，我们要怎么分啊。”
Teacher Chen, who had readily agreed earlier, was now the one most at a loss.
之前随口同意的陈老师，此刻反而是最犯难的人。
“What do you think?”
“你觉得呢？”
“I…” Teacher Chen was deeply troubled.
“我…”陈老师痛苦不已。
Little Liu sighed, wanting to say just give it to them. After all, what’s there to agonize over a shabby blanket? The formula was what really mattered.
小刘哀叹，他很想说送给人家得了，一个破毯子有什么好纠结的，配方才是最重要的东西。
“Sell it to me, Master Jiazi Jian.” Su Qing said, gripping the Lost Memory Engine.
“卖给我吧，甲子间大师。”苏晴握着失念引擎道。
“Master?” Teacher Chen looked at Su Qing, then back at Yang Zicang. “You know him?”
“大师？”陈老师看向苏晴，又看向杨子藏，“你认识他？”
“Just met him, actually—well, I heard of his name this morning.”
“刚刚认识，确切的说，早晨才听到其名号。”
“Where did you hear my name from?” Yang Zicang looked at him directly, puzzled.
“你从哪里听到我的名字的。”杨子藏莫名其妙的直视着他的眼睛。
“Where else? Next door at the auction house, of course.”
“还能是哪里，当然是隔壁拍卖行了。”
“Auction house?”
“拍卖行？”
Su Qing glanced at the sky outside the door through the window: “Yeah, if I’m not mistaken, your auction item should be starting soon. What, you didn’t know the auction time?”
苏晴看了眼房门外的天色：“嗯，如果没搞错的话，你的拍品应该马上就开始了。怎么，你还不知道拍卖时间？”
Yang Zicang turned his head in surprise, frowning.
杨子藏诧异扭头后，皱着眉头。
Just then, a line of light shot over.
正在这时，一道折线射来。
It was an unfamiliar Mental Link.
是个陌生的心灵链接。
[Daxinfashack leader Wang Jian wants to invest 1N in me.]
[大鑫发棚主汪建想要为我投资1N.]
A stranger being able to invest precisely meant this person was nearby.
陌生人能精确投资，这代表此人在附近啊。
“Who’s that?”
“哪位？”
{Master Jiazi, hi there, I’m the deputy head of Daxinfa. I sincerely invite you to come to our settlement and become one of us.}
{甲子间，哇你好，我是大鑫发的副棚，我诚心邀请你到我们聚集地来，成为我们的一份子。}
{I can pay you an extra five hundred years of lifespan every year.}
{我可以给你每年支付五百年的额外寿命。}
On the other end of the Mental Link, the person sitting inside the venue spoke rapidly.
心灵链接对面，坐在会场内那人快速的道。
“Hey, how did you know about me?”
“欸，你怎么知道我的？”
Yang Zicang was a bit confused, but he faintly guessed it must have something to do with that auction.
杨子藏有点茫然，不过他隐隐猜到肯定是那什么拍卖会。
{Huh? Weren’t you the one who had someone auction off your Water Well Engine there?}
{咦，不是你让人在那里拍卖你的水井引擎吗？}
“Me?”
“我？”
The Water Well Engine, and I had someone auction it off?
水井引擎，还是我叫人拍卖的？
Many unlikely conjectures immediately sprang to Yang Zicang’s mind.
杨子藏心中顿时想到许多不太可能的猜测。
Several more lines of light shot over. Although there was no connection, he could sense the visitation information they carried.
好几道折线射来，虽然没有链接，但能感知到它们蕴含的拜访信息。
[Far-reaching Dreamshack leader Zhao Qiangduo wants to invest 5R in me.]
[远大理想棚主赵钱多想要为我投资5R.]
[Light Barrier shack leader (Anonymous) wants to invest 1N in me.]
[光之屏障棚主匿名者想要为我投资1N.]
[Shack of Endless Light wants to invest 10N in me.]
[永不明想要为我投资10N.]
[The King of Compensation at Wuyou Trading Zone wants to invest 1R in me.]
[无忧商贸理赔之王想要为我投资1R.]
“This, how can there be so much!” Yang Zicang was dumbfounded.
“这，怎么这么多！”杨子藏傻眼了。
Seeing the model lines flickering out of thin air, Teacher Chen finally realized that the young man before him was likely a big shot.
见到不断从虚空闪动而出的模型线条，陈老师这才知道，眼前小伙恐怕是个大人物。
……
……
Ning Yang, Zhao Qi, and the others had been sitting on the flatbed cart for most of the day. Relying on the mutated beasts pulling the cargo beneath them, they had already traveled over twenty li from their settlement.
宁洋和赵启等人坐在板车上行走了大半天，靠着屁股下这些变异生物拉动的货车，已经远离了聚集地二十多里地。
These beasts of burden came from the interlaced new moon scenes; as long as one could afford to raise them, they were highly valuable across this land.
拉车的这几头生物来自新月级的交错幕景，只要养得起，那么它们在这片大地上价值很高。
“Chief Ning, why do you seem to be in a bad mood?” a member of the cargo fleet asked with concern.
“宁棚主，怎么看上去心情不好？”货队的人关心的问。
Ning Yang forced a smile: “We had a traitor who took the engine that was meant to be submitted for evaluation at the Autumn Order Meet. It’s been bothering me the past couple of days.”
宁洋强撑起笑容：“咱们这儿出了个叛徒，带走了准备去秋订会参与评选的引擎，这两天让人心烦。”
Ning Yang had privately suspected whether Zhao Qi had sent someone to steal the engine, but he dismissed that theory.
宁洋私底下也猜测过是不是赵启派人偷走了引擎，但否定了这个推论。
After all, when the guy left, the engine was still in his hands, and he had checked it both that evening and the next morning—there was nothing wrong with the Lost Grace Engine.
人家走的时候引擎可是在自己手里，而且晚上和早上都看过，失念引擎没有问题。
“Oh, your camp is also planning to take part in the Autumn Order Meet? What engine have you guys developed?”
“唷，你们棚区还打算参加秋订会？研究出什么引擎了？”
“Don’t make me laugh. It’s a failure, so no need to mention it.”
“见笑，已经失败的事就不提了。”
“By the way, I heard from your people that a couple of days ago, one person from the Jiazijian managed to intimidate all dozens of you. Is that true?”
“对了，刚才听你们的人说，前两天有个甲子间，一人把你们几十号人给镇住了，有这回事吗？”
“Well…” Ning Yang’s expression shifted.
“这个…”宁洋脸色变了变。
He turned his head to look at the few men he had brought along from his own group—those guys were now chatting and laughing with the cargo fleet members as if they were sworn brothers.
他转头看向队伍中自己带上的几人，那几个家伙此刻正跟货队的人有说有笑，仿佛亲兄弟似的。
These loose-lipped idiots blurt out everything.
这些不长嘴巴的东西，什么都往外讲。