Thirteen

13 Friends, Getting Married

After listening to Zhao Long explain the classification of force levels, Yuchi Ankang glanced at his own hand, then at Zhu Anfu. He had a level seven force? Was that a joke? “Prince, are you sure that little push I just gave was actually level seven force? Couldn’t there be some mistake?”

“Master, I suggest you verify this at a professional force testing center.” Though Prince possessed more emotions than the average robot, he was still bound by his programming and certain problems remained unsolvable for him. Like now, he was utterly baffled—his master, who seemed so frail, possessed such formidable ability. Level seven force meant his master was anything but weak, perhaps even extraordinarily powerful.

“Right, we should get tested. Maybe this place can unlock a person’s hidden potential.” Zhao Long nodded in agreement. If Yuchi Ankang truly had such power, they wouldn’t have to worry about the two being bullied anymore. Even if others took care of them, lacking ability was deeply discouraging; neither Zhu Anfu nor Yuchi Ankang were the type to passively wait for handouts.

“Tell me, did you two eat some kind of strength pill? If you did, don’t forget to share with Zhao Long and me. I’d really like to try piloting a mech.” Wang Fei was endlessly fascinated by mechs, his interest kindled by countless novels. Now, with mechs right before him but failing to qualify, he could hardly stand it.

“……” Could it be those dates? Zhu Anfu raised an eyebrow. Weren’t dates supposed to supplement iron? Iron should convert into blood in the body, not necessarily boost strength. As for the vegetables they ate, Zhao Long and Wang Fei should’ve had them as well, but neither showed any unusual reactions, so those dishes must be normal. He’d have to look into the properties of dates. If it really was the dates, he wouldn’t mind sharing them with Wang Fei and Zhao Long—they were worth befriending. “Let’s get tested tomorrow. Prince, please make a reservation for us.”

Prince received the order and immediately sent a booking request to the force testing service department. A prompt reply came, confirming their appointment and specifying the testing time. Wang Fei explained the force testing procedure to the two, with Yuchi Ankang listening attentively. Zhu Anfu was eager to try; he wanted to know his own force level. If his surpassed Zhao Long and Wang Fei’s, it would prove the food in his space carried special attributes. Who knew—perhaps magic could be developed from it.

Wang Fei and Zhao Long decided to accompany them the next day. They had little expectation for Zhu Anfu; with his slight build…

~~~

The website manager was frustrated. Yesterday, Zhu Anfu had guests, so they couldn’t visit. Today, another request was submitted, but the two were off for force testing, with no set return time. The manager was exasperated—was it ever easy? He explained again to Zhou Qiang’s family, earning another round of scolding. Truly stuck between a rock and a hard place.

The account of the legendary author had been activated. For those who loved novels, curiosity about the greats was boundless. Despite the thousand-year gap, some of Bingwu’s works, which were pure fantasy for their era, had become reality in this age. Some even claimed Bingwu was a prophet. Her writing was exquisite and fluid, and accumulated wealth over a millennium explained her unmatched earnings. The website boasted its share of top authors, but none could rival someone with a thousand years of accumulated income. Moreover, the site maintained accounts of Bingwu and other ancient greats, placing them on a pedestal—true figures of reverence. No one expected such an account to be activated one day, leaving the novel manager’s feelings in turmoil.

Zhu Anfu had no idea someone was trying to visit his home. For the first time, he rode a futuristic bus, overwhelmed with excitement, gazing around curiously. After a while, he realized it wasn’t so different from old buses—just more user-friendly. No card-swiping needed; sit down, swipe your bracelet on the seat’s electronic panel, enter your destination, and the fare was deducted automatically. When the stop arrived, if you didn’t stand, the seat would move you straight to the door, ensuring you never missed your stop.

The force testing center wasn’t crowded. Every visitor had booked in advance—no waiting in lines. Led by the receptionist, Zhu Anfu and Yuchi Ankang were assigned separate testing rooms. The rooms were empty, but once the test began, virtual monsters would appear, their forms drawn from the subject’s deepest fears. The more dangerous ones resembled the mutated rats they’d seen a millennium ago…

When Zhu Anfu saw the mutated rat, his first reaction was to run. Damn, how could something so disgusting appear here? He ran, glancing back, until there was nowhere left to hide. Then he turned, telling himself repeatedly it was fake, fake, damn it, since it was fake, he’d kill it. Thoughts of exile and his home flashed through his mind, and he steeled himself, landing a fierce punch. Of course, this punch couldn’t kill the rat, but it was enough to measure Zhu Anfu’s potential force level.

Yuchi Ankang’s situation was similar, though he didn’t run like Zhu Anfu. Upon seeing the mutated rat, he simply threw a punch. Yuchi Ankang wasn’t measured for potential force, but for his current force. Potential force could be triggered, but even in this advanced future, the timing was unpredictable. Usually, what mattered was the force possessed at present, even if Zhu Anfu’s potential force far exceeded Yuchi Ankang’s level nine.

That’s right, Yuchi Ankang’s force was level nine—why he could so effortlessly toss Wang Fei aside. Level nine force would only earn him a lowly spot in the mech forces, but compared to others from a millennium ago, his level was extraordinary. Zhu Anfu’s potential force was level eleven; if he had mastered it, the mech forces would be fighting to recruit him.

Wang Fei and Zhao Long nearly spat blood when they saw the numbers displayed above the testing room doors. Turns out these two were the real soldiers, while they themselves were weaklings! Zhu Anfu and Yuchi Ankang hadn’t expected their levels to be so high—entirely on par with future humans, perhaps even a bit above.

Last night, the two had suspected the fruit from the space—could it be the dates? They each ate two more last night.

“You two are getting married, so we’ll give you a generous wedding gift—guaranteed to boost your force levels.” The four sat in a coffee shop, which was mostly empty. The coffee was outrageously expensive, but Zhu Anfu, wealthy as he was, didn’t mind the cost—after all, he still had a fortune in the website.

“Yuchi, what are your plans? Want to join the mech forces?” Wang Fei couldn’t let go of his mech dreams.

“I’ll consider it. There are still things to settle.” Mostly, Zhu Anfu’s money hadn’t been fully decided—he worried Zhu Anfu couldn’t handle those merchants alone.

“Wang Fei, we’re getting married. Anfu, don’t forget your promised wedding gift!” Zhao Long focused on Zhu Anfu. With potential force at level eleven, his current force couldn’t be low. Zhu Anfu and Yuchi Ankang had definitely broken through since arriving here. Zhao Long wanted to know how—they were soldiers, and good machinery was always tempting. He didn’t say it outright, but his longing for the mech forces was clear.

“Alright!”