Chapter 117: Even an Ingenious Girl Can Be Hurt

"Ah… sorry, I didn't see any blood and thought it was fine… so it's a mechanical automaton after all."

The shattered girl's body kept crackling outward, "Sizzle—", "The motion core is broken, I can't move."

"Huh, her mechanical body is exactly the same as the senior's!"

Inside the Security Bureau of New Aelidou, Zhu Yuan widened his eyes in amazement.

"Indeed, the jade automaton body is very useful—apparently that's a consensus in every world," Qing Yi remarked, eyeing the girl on the holo‑screen with curiosity. "The craftsmanship looks roughly the same, but her endurance seems a bit superior."

"Senior, although Xianzhou's technology is indeed advanced, don't underestimate Wista Academy's techniques," Seth said with a smirk.

"Heh, if the body is damaged like that, my power can probably only last five minutes."

Qing Yi gave a slight smile, and in full view she plucked the two twin ponytails from her head, waving them in her hand: "That's why my hair was made into a backup power source for emergencies."

Seeing the senior Qing Yi with two dark holes where her hair had been, Seth's whole demeanor faltered: "Senior… so your twin ponytails can…"

"Just a trivial trick, no need to make a fuss," Qing Yi said, reattaching the two detachable ponytails.

"But I'm quite curious about the personality consciousness inside her body—could it be the same as yours?"

Although senior Qing Yi gets along freely with them, the personality is a simulated one forged and trained from ancient texts of an old civilization; strictly speaking, it's an AI.

If this girl's automaton possesses more advanced technology, then next time the senior upgrades, the Security Bureau can give the Academy more precise feedback.

The mechanical girl forced herself to look up at Su Shang: "You're with the Cloud Cavalry? Very well, take me to the Earth Balance Office."

"Ah…," Su Shang said awkwardly, turning to the two behind her: "Luochan, the gourd is clogged, sorry, we might have to delay again. This girl is an automaton judge of the Ten Kings Office; as a Cloud Rider, I must prioritize her orders."

Luochan stepped forward: "I have some knowledge of medicine; may I try to heal the girl's wounds?"

"Uh, you don't know, she's an automaton. Let's just take her to the Earth Balance Office, okay?"

"Never mind, Miss Su Shang, leave it to me." Luochan lifted his left hand; the pendant hanging from it dripped continuous life force, and a burst of green luminescence instantly enveloped the automaton.

"It shouldn't hurt, but you'll feel something odd… maybe a sourness, maybe numbness. Can you stay still?"

This really isn't the same person, is it?! How could such a coincidence exist in the world?

Watching Luochan heal others, Su Shang felt a strange sensation crawl up her spine, like a long centipede waving countless slender legs.

Back in the northern desert, a Luochan once healed herself—same face, same technique, same posture… even the same lines!! Could a counterpart be linked with a version of oneself from another world?

Such a situation can no longer be explained by a simple 'coincidence', right?

"What's wrong? Looking at your expression… did something else come to mind?" Youlan Dail discovered Su Shang's oddity.

"Hmm, it's all in the past now, nothing much left…" Su Shang inhaled deeply, slowly lowering her head.

"Useless, I am a construct of mechanical craft, not flesh and blood—"

"Be it mechanical or flesh… as long as the lady doesn't mind my methods…"

Before Luochan finished speaking, the pendant's light flared, and Xue Yi suddenly found the malfunction in her own frame miraculously repaired. The usually detached Xue Yi couldn't help but gasp, "…Amazing."

"Y‑You—how did you do that? This isn't medicine at all, is it?" Su Shang's eyes widened likewise.

Dan Heng, aware of that power, stared solemnly and murmured softly, "Abundance…"

Jingling Court, 12th Squad Quarters – Deputy Officer's Room.

"Oh? Even machinery can be repaired? The principle of that power is marvelous."

This green luminescent substance is also worth studying; on a human body it can regenerate muscle, and on machinery it can be used for repair.

"If only we could obtain a bit of it."

Nie Jianli sat before a screen, his fingers rapidly tapping the keyboard as he recorded something, eagerly observing Xue Yi's bodily changes and documenting every scene.

Honestly, regenerating muscle is nothing—if he wishes, he can heal flesh in ten different ways, but 'healing' machinery is a challenging notion. As the director of the Second Generation Technology Development Bureau, he doesn't dislike this new experiment.

"Yin Meng, record the results of the thirty‑second experiment."

Nie Jianli looked up, his eyes bright as he stared at the ceiling of the quarters, where countless cables and pipes tangled together; one end linked to Yin Meng's damaged body, the other to an array of large machines lined up against the wall.

He pressed the red switch beside the keyboard, a "crackle" sound echoing, and a faint current coursed through Yin Meng's whole body, making her eyes snap open.

"Yes, Lord Nie Jianli."

"Hmm… it seems the repair material for machinery needs a different substrate next time. Retrieve all previous experimental data and compile it into a table, quickly."

"Very well, no need to return to the Earth Balance Office; the mission continues." The girl displayed a satisfied smile.

"According to Ten Kings Office regulations, as a judge I have no external ties. But you helped me escape, so I advise you: leave while you can."

The girl instructed the few, "I came here to root out the source and capture the wanted—Star Core Hunter. This person's swordsmanship is extraordinary, wielding a divine weapon, extremely dangerous."

"…!" Dan Heng's whole body shivered; she must have been talking about the Blade!

"If I hadn't encountered some strange incident, my lifespan might have been cut short." Xue Yi sighed deeply.

"A strange… incident?" Dan Heng cast a puzzled glance.

Xue Yi glanced at Dan Heng, seemed hesitant, but after a quick assessment turned to the group and said, "Follow me."

Dan Heng, Su Shang, and Luochan exchanged glances and, in unspoken agreement, followed.

In the distance, countless massive branches and vines erupted from the ground, wrapping around a lighthouse‑like structure. Upon closer inspection, the very tops of the trees seemed to blaze with fierce flames.