On the second day of Yuan Chu’s disappearance, Fei Xiu originally wanted to find someone to investigate her identity, but after much thought, he gave up.
Her situation was too bizarre, beyond scientific explanation, and revealing it to others might cause unnecessary trouble.
At the moment, there was nothing he could do except wait for her to appear on her own. This feeling of uncertainty made him restless, so he increased his workload and training, exhausting himself daily.
Anyway, with Unit One around, he had no worries.
“Unit One, as a butler, you’re a bit incompetent.” After finishing work, Fei Xiu sat on the sofa, speaking casually.
Yuan Chu, watching the person drinking the soup she had made while enjoying her massage service, replied, “…Could you tell me where exactly I was incompetent?”
“She was able to enter my manor freely and then suddenly disappear from it, yet you didn’t notice anything unusual?”
Yuan Chu responded, “…I am just an assistant robot, not the manor’s surveillance system.”
“Didn’t you design the manor’s surveillance system?” Fei Xiu quibbled.
“But the control permissions are in the hands of the master.” Yuan Chu replied calmly.
Fei Xiu: …
Unable to win an argument with his robot, he continued drinking his soup.
“Hm, this soup tastes pretty good. Has your cooking improved again?”
“Thank you for the compliment, Master. The ingredients, cooking time, and heat are the same as before. There has been no improvement.”
“Really…” Fei Xiu remembered that Yuan Chu had made this soup for him before, and it did taste about the same.
Thinking of this, he suddenly realized how much that girl resembled his robot, not just in habits, but also in various skills…
Fei Xiu paused while drinking, his gaze landing on his robot.
The same cooking skills, the same proficiency in mechanical engineering, the same way of speaking, the same gestures…
Fei Xiu’s hand trembled, spilling a few drops of soup onto his clothes.
“Master, are you alright?” Yuan Chu grabbed a towel and helped him wipe the soup off his hand and clothes.
Fei Xiu stared at her intently, his mind in turmoil. The thought seemed absurd, but he couldn’t shake the idea that he might be confusing his robot with that girl.
Although he kept dismissing the notion, the more he thought about it, the more he wavered.
Yuan Chu never deliberately hid anything, many of her actions overlapped with that of a robot. If one paid attention, they could spot many inconsistencies.
When both of them were present, it didn’t seem strange, but after one disappeared, that subtle sense of connection began to emerge.
“Master, I’ll go brew you a cup of tea.” Yuan Chu said, taking the bowl from Fei Xiu’s hands and heading toward the kitchen.
Fei Xiu moved his lips, suddenly calling out, “Yuan Chu.”
Yuan Chu turned around and asked, “Master, do you have any orders?”
Fei Xiu hesitated for a moment, then, with a blank expression, said, “I just called you Yuan Chu”
Caught off guard, Yuan Chu the robot froze: …
“It really is you!” Fei Xiu sprang to his feet, rushing to the robot and grabbing her arms, lifting her up. He stared at her, filled with uncertainty.
“You’re a robot???”
Yuan Chu replied, “Clearly…”
“No.” Fei Xiu scrutinized her from all angles.
“What I mean is, how can a robot turn into a human? What exactly are you?”
He had seen androids before, but there was no way he couldn’t tell the difference between a real person and an android.
Yuan Chu’s body temperature, heartbeat, and pulse were all real, she was undeniably human.
After a moment of silence, Yuan Chu replied, “My true form is a robot, but I have the ability to transform into a human.”
“What kind of miraculous ability is this? Some kind of unknown black technology?” Fei Xiu’s scientifically wired brain refused to activate any fantasy elements.
“You could say that.” When science reaches its peak, it eventually leads to anti-matter consciousness, and the ultimate existence of the Tao is indeed consciousness.
“Transform for me, let me see.” Fei Xiu’s expression remained calm, but his worldview was under unprecedented strain.
“Alright, Master.” Yuan Chu didn’t hesitate.
Her blue electronic eyes flickered a few times before going dark.
In the next second, a figure slowly formed in the air, countless stars coalescing until finally solidifying into a completely naked girl.
Fei Xiu’s grip faltered, and the robot he had lifted fell straight down. At the last second, he hooked her back up with his leg and set her down steadily beside him.
Without the robot in the way, the girl's delicate, curvaceous body was fully exposed before his eyes.
The shock in Fei Xiu’s heart was indescribable. His burning gaze lingered on the girl’s beautiful figure. Slowly, he reached out, lifting a strand of her hair.
The soft locks slipped through his fingers, and her skin was smooth and radiant, like a perfect piece of warm jade, flawless in every way.
He glanced at the girl, then at the robot beside him, which seemed to have crashed. For a moment, he had no idea how to react.
Yuan Chu quietly observed the situation. Though the energy around them was somewhat unsettled, their connection hadn’t been severed, so she was able to relax.
It was clear that Fei Xiu didn’t mind the human form of Yuan Chu at all.
“Master.” Yuan Chu stood completely naked, straight and proper, calling out to him softly.
The feeling was entirely different from when she was in her robot form, the sensory impact was epic.
Fei Xiu quickly averted his gaze, his heart racing, and his mind in turmoil.
His woman was a robot. No, his robot was a woman! No, no, why had his robot turned into a woman? Had the world gone mad? How could something so unscientific be happening???
"Unit One—no, Yuan Chu." Fei Xiu tried to calm himself.
"Be honest, are you really a robot developed by Kaimer Corporation?" Was this black-tech company aiming for the stars???
“Yes.” She said, confirming that the robot she inhabited did indeed come from Kaimer Corporation.
“All the robots they developed that are like you, do they all have the ability to turn into humans?”
“No, I’m the only one.”
Fei Xiu breathed a sigh of relief. In his eyes, this type of robot no longer qualified as just a robot, but rather as a unique form of intelligent life.
If such robots could be mass-produced, wouldn't that lead to world domination?
His robot was merely a household assistant; if there were military-grade robots like this, human history would have to be rewritten.
Kaimer Corporation probably collapsed back then because they developed this kind of miraculous intelligent life form, right?
Fei Xiu, a staunch believer in scientific reasoning, used his own logic to rationalize Yuan Chu’s existence.
"You said the robot is your true form, so what happens if the main body gets damaged..." A troubling thought occurred to him, his robot had nearly been blown to bits not long ago.
“As long as the core is intact, I’ll be fine." Yuan Chu answered without hesitation.
Seeing the complete trust in her eyes, Fei Xiu’s heart trembled.
He took off his coat and wrapped it around her naked body, pulling her into his arms.
Yuan Chu was one of a kind, and she was entirely his. With that certainty, everything else ceased to matter.
“I am your master, and I will protect you.” Fei Xiu recalled Yuan Chu’s resilience while surviving in the junkyard, her meticulous care for him, her selfless teaching, and the life-saving loyalty she had shown...
Every bit of her dedication was enough for him to reciprocate with equal emotion and trust.
Once his thoughts settled, Fei Xiu no longer dwelled on the matter.
Instead, he began to study the differences between the human Yuan Chu and the robot Unit One with great curiosity.
He couldn’t comprehend how a flesh-and-blood human could merge with a robot. In what form did she truly exist?
Fei Xiu began exploring Yuan Chu’s body, and the firm, full sensation under his hands soon redirected his intellectual curiosity into practical experimentation.
For the next two hours, he fully embraced the philosophy that practice brings the truest results...
When a satisfied Fei Xiu emerged from the shower, Yuan Chu had already returned to her robot form, meticulously cleaning up the traces of their intense battle.
Fei Xiu’s eyes followed the robot’s movements, his gaze hiding a tenderness that even he hadn’t realized.
“Stop tidying up, leave the rest to the cleaning bots.” Fei Xiu called out to his robot.
The robot waved a pair of underwear in her hand, “Your underwear can't be handled by the cleaning bots; they'll treat it as trash.”
Fei Xiu: “…You’ve been washing my underwear for me?”
“Of course.”
Fei Xiu rubbed his nose, suddenly feeling a bit like a jerk for making his woman do everything.
“Just leave it for now. Come here, I’ll buy you something.” Fei Xiu sat on the carpet, opened an online store, and began browsing for clothes and other items for Yuan Chu.
Yuan Chu slid over, settling beside him.
Naturally, Fei Xiu raised his arm and wrapped it around her cold metallic body.
Pointing to the screen, he said, “Pick whatever you like.”
Yuan Chu’s blue electronic eyes flickered, and the pages on the screen scrolled accordingly. In no time, the shopping cart was filled with items, totaling less than 3,000 credits.
“Is that enough?” Fei Xiu patted her back.
“Don’t save money for me, buy whatever you want.”
“Master, I should remind you that your account has long been overdrawn. Right now, you're spending my money.”
Fei Xiu: ... Suddenly, he realized he was the one being supported.
“I don’t change into my human form often, so I don’t need many things.” Yuan Chu added.
“You don’t change often? Why?” Fei Xiu, now thoroughly hooked, felt a chill at the thought.
“During the day, I stay in robot form. I only change at night if necessary.”
“Necessary? Oh, it’s very necessary!”
Fei Xiu looked at her seriously, “I can’t sleep alone at night.”
“Alright, I’ll accompany you at night.”
This man, who fell asleep like a log the moment his head hit the pillow and even had someone else bathe him, had the nerve to say he couldn’t sleep alone?
However, kind-hearted Yuan Chu didn’t expose his lie.
Fei Xiu was satisfied and gave a kiss on her metallic head.
After discovering the true identity of his robot, Fei Xiu's life became much more fulfilling.
During the day, he worked like a dog, and at night, he slept like a pig.
Every morning started with an hour of intense exercise, followed by a break for food and massage, improving both his mental and physical condition in all aspects.
Fei Xiu was brimming with energy, as if he had been given a second life.
One month later, while busy in his workshop, Fei Xiu received another distress signal.
These signals came in every once in a while. Transport convoys nearby were often attacked by mutant mechanical beasts.
Sometimes Fei Xiu could rush in to help in time, but other times, he could only clean up the aftermath.
The mutant mechanical beasts seemed to be becoming more active, and Fei Xiu had a feeling that the virus was brewing something big.
Upon receiving the distress signal, Fei Xiu immediately set off for the rescue site.
However, because it was a bit far, by the time he arrived, the battle was already over.
The transport team had suffered heavy casualties, and the supplies had been completely stolen.
Fei Xiu's face was grim as he reported the situation to Xinlan, asking them to send personnel to handle it.
When he got home, Yuan Chu came to greet him, helping him hang up his coat and handing him a cup of hot tea.
"The Xinlan forces and guards are too few. They simply can’t adequately protect the transport routes."
Fei Xiu's estate wasn’t far from several transport routes, so he often received distress signals from those under attack.
"Master, it's not your duty to rescue them."
"I know, I’m retired." Fei Xiu lowered his eyes, his gaze dark.
"This has nothing to do with retirement." Yuan Chu continued.
"Every time, you bear the cost and effort for the rescue, and the losses you incur are unsustainable in the long run."
Fei Xiu raised his head.
"What are you suggesting?"
"I’m suggesting that you change from offering free rescues to paid ones." Yuan Chu proposed.
"Post escort missions online, allowing others to place orders in advance. This way, you can arrive at the transport routes ahead of time and escort them to their destination."
Fei Xiu’s eyes lit up.
"By doing this, not only can you earn some commission, but you also won’t have to worry about being too late for rescues."
They had modified more than thirty mechanical beasts with considerable combat power.
With Fei Xiu’s command, handling ordinary escort missions would be no problem at all.
"Great idea!" As a former soldier, Fei Xiu had never considered becoming a mercenary. His rescues had always been done casually.
With Yuan Chu’s suggestion, he suddenly felt enlightened.
By posting hireable missions, he could maximize his usefulness.
Although he could no longer participate in large-scale battles, he could at least ensure the safety of the transport routes near him.
It wasn’t about glory, only responsibility.
That night, Fei Xiu posted an ad on Xinlan’s online platform, taking on escort missions for several routes to and from Xinlan.
"Yuan Chu, what do you think my hire fee should be set at?" Fei Xiu asked.
Yuan Chu calculated for a moment.
"Start at 30,000. If there are any additional requests, charge accordingly."
"That low?" Fei Xiu, a former major general, was surprised to be asking for only 30,000. He pointed to a few of the top-ranked mercenaries.
"Look at them, each mission brings in over a million."
"In the mercenary world, you're still a newcomer without a reputation. Don’t aim too high too soon." Yuan Chu explained.
"Complete a few missions, build a name for yourself, and your price will increase dramatically."
Fei Xiu wrestled with his thoughts for a while before finally setting the low price. He had no complaints about rescuing people for free, but charging a fee made it hard for him to tolerate being undervalued.
However, Yuan Chu had a point, he was a newcomer to the mercenary scene. Since others didn’t know his true strength, they were naturally unwilling to pay a high price.
After the mission was posted, Fei Xiu waited patiently for two days before finally receiving his first contract. The client had no idea who he really was, hiring him merely as a precaution.
On the winding road, four transport trucks slowly approached.
Small shuttles had limited cargo capacity, so for heavy goods, specialized trucks had to be used, unless a company was willing to pay a premium for large freighters.
Doing that once or twice might be fine, but using that method for every trip would push costs too high.
Xinlan was located in a remote area, with a long stretch of unprotected land along the way. Mutant mechanical beasts loved to ambush convoys in such places.
"Mr. Qian, where’s the mercenary team you hired?" A man in his forties with a buzz cut asked the bearded man beside him, who was wearing a combat suit.
The bearded man checked the coordinates and replied, "They should be just up ahead."
The buzz-cut man leaned back in his seat, looking unimpressed.
"I don’t think it was necessary to hire a mercenary team at all. The bodyguards we hired are top-notch. If even they can’t handle the situation, what use is a newbie team that only costs 30,000?"
"The mercenary is familiar with the route. That’s what I value." The bearded man replied, staring ahead.
"Besides, it's only 30,000. Even if it’s a waste, it's no big deal."
"Alright, you’re the boss." Th buzz-cut man chuckled.
Just then, the bearded man pointed outside, "Look, there's someone over there."
The buzz-cut man looked up and saw a tall man standing by the side of the wide road. He wore a combat suit and sunglasses, one foot resting on a rock, elbow propped on his knee, looking incredibly relaxed.
"Just one guy? Weren’t we told there’d be a whole mercenary team?" The buzz-cut man glanced around but saw nothing but sand.
The bearded man frowned and had the driver pull up in front of the man, asking, "Mercenary 2333?"
This code name had been chosen by Yuan Chu, saying that 2333 had an approachable vibe. Fei Xiu hadn’t objected.
"That’s me." As Fei Xiu confirmed his identity with the bearded man, he discreetly scanned the convoy from front to back, assessing the situation with his eyes hidden behind the sunglasses.
"Where’s your team?"
"They're in hiding for now. If any danger arises, they’ll emerge immediately. Don’t worry," Fei Xiu replied calmly.
The buzz-cut man looked displeased.
"You’d better not be lying to us. If we find out you falsified your information, we’ll report you."
"Rest assured, I run an honest business. No tricks."
Ignoring the scrutinizing glances from the convoy, Fei Xiu effortlessly leaped onto one of the trucks and said, "Let’s go. There are still over a hundred kilometers to Xinlan."
The bearded man didn’t say anything more and signaled the driver to continue.
The buzz-cut man muttered, "Looks like we wasted that 30,000…"
Ignorant humans, they had no idea of a major general's true strength.
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Fei Xiu: Hiring a major general for just 30,000? That’s practically a steal! You’ll all be remembered in history for getting me at that price!
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