C29 Key and Breathing Technique

Old Chen's face, etched with wrinkles, held a hint of reminiscence. He didn't immediately respond to Gu Xian's question, his gaze lingering on the virtual image of Yeh Ranyi before he snapped back to reality.

Gu Xian might not have been well-versed in social intricacies, but he was far from oblivious, with a keen sense of observation. He noticed something off about the way Yeh Ranyi interacted with Chen Zhuya, and vice versa.

Initially, Gu Xian had no intention of getting involved, but the sight of Old Chen's forlorn look tugged at his heartstrings, reminding him of the kindness Old Chen had shown him.

When Old Chen remained silent, Gu Xian assumed he preferred to keep his thoughts to himself, so he closed his eyes, ready to dive into the training camp. However, Old Chen stopped him with a gentle pat.

Looking up, Gu Xian saw that Old Chen had switched off the TV, and a stream of text began to appear on his wrist.

It revealed that both Chen Zhuya and Yeh Ranyi were orphans Old Chen had taken in. Chen Zhuya was the elder of the two, and they referred to each other as sisters. Ten years ago, on her eighth birthday, Yeh Ranyi vanished with her belongings and half of the family's savings.

That money was the fruit of Old Chen's labor as a mechanist and from selling clay sculptures. Back then, he wasn't the seasoned engineer he is now, and his earnings were modest. The lost savings represented a small fortune, painstakingly accumulated over many years.

Old Chen and Chen Zhuya searched for her tirelessly to no avail. When they finally saw her again, she had emerged as a child star on a Siron Planet TV show.

Chen Zhuya's resentment could have been contained if it ended there. But what truly fueled her anger was the discovery that, upon becoming a celebrity, Yeh Ranyi's public profile listed her parents as affluent intellectuals from an upper-class background. This fabricated persona in the entertainment world effectively erased Old Chen's paternal sacrifices.

Old Chen had once endured the agony of having his tongue ripped out by pirates while trying to protect Chen Zhuya. They were close to escaping when the pirates caught them, alerted by the young girl's cries.

This event led to Old Chen's discharge from the military, undoubtedly altering the course of his life.

Chen Zhuya, who had memories of Old Chen, felt a mix of guilt and gratitude towards him. Following his retirement, she, an orphan, was adopted by Old Chen and came to regard him as her father.

Now, with Ye Ran's actions, she found them intolerable.

The love she once held for Old Chen had turned into an intense loathing. In his presence, she vowed to sever all ties with Ye Ran for good.

Old Chen, however, seemed indifferent to the drama. Ye Ran had returned, hoping to sneak a visit on his eighteenth birthday to offer an explanation for his departure.

Regrettably, Old Chen fell ill and couldn't make the meeting.

The clay sculptures Gu Xian delivered were merely Old Chen's way of offering her solace.

With everything laid out, the picture was clear.

Gu Xian hadn't anticipated this twist.

He had assumed Ye Ran and Old Chen were foes and had even contemplated secretly disposing of her to aid Old Chen.

While Gu Xian wasn't fond of killing, he wasn't averse to it either.

If eliminating Ye Ran would bring Old Chen joy, he was prepared to do it.

But now, the circumstances appeared vastly different.

Gu Xian, who had spent his childhood in a training camp, had lost the only person he was close to, Old Charlie.

Unsure how to navigate these emotional waters, he had intended to offer Old Chen some comfort. Yet, after hearing the full story, he was at a loss. Struggling to find the right words, he recalled Old Charlie's advice on a universal comforting phrase and tentatively offered, "How about some hot water?"

This method of consolation was something Old Chen had never considered. He opened his mouth, as if to laugh, but fearing his gaping maw might frighten Gu Xian, he quickly closed it, allowing only a gentle smile to show through his teeth.

He gave Gu Xian a reassuring pat, and the subtitles appeared softly, "It's nothing. Time for bed."

They retired to their respective beds, and the incident didn't trouble Gu Xian further; he quickly returned to the routine of the training camp.

As soon as he walked in, Gu Xian was greeted by the sight of the little ghost sitting on the ground, his face creased with worry.

Gu Xian was taken aback; he had never seen the little ghost wear such a troubled expression before.

"What's the matter?" he couldn't help but ask.

He hoped nothing was wrong with the training camp. Although his time here had been brief, Gu Xian had grown fond of the place. It served as a sanctuary where he could flee from reality, a place that always brought him tranquility whenever he visited.

The little ghost let out a sigh and pointed to Gu Xian's neck. "The key."

"Key? Which key?" Gu Xian glanced down at his chest, finding no key in sight.

The little ghost gestured toward the grayish-white crystal hanging from the homemade chain. "The shattered key."

It finally clicked for Gu Xian. He took the crystal in hand and asked, "What about the key?"

"There's more than one," the little ghost explained. "You need to gather all the keys for the training camp."

"And if they're not all collected?" Gu Xian inquired.

"If not, the legacy of the training camp remains incomplete. Take the mechs, for instance." The little ghost pointed to the variously shaped mechs on the display rack. "Without all the keys, they can't be accessed. Some that can be are just fragments."

"That's it?" Gu Xian breathed a sigh of relief. He had feared the training camp was on the verge of ruin.

"That's it?" The little ghost, with his ulterior motives, was nearly thrown by Gu Xian's reaction.

After a brief spell of bewilderment, he decided to stick to his Plan C.

He sighed again. "I've been looking forward to seeing them. I believe they're the most magnificent mechs you'll ever lay eyes on. You'd like to see them too, right?"

Gu Xian scratched his head, content with his life as it was. "It's fine."

The little ghost's eyelids gave a twitch.

Why was this so different from what he had expected?

Regaining his composure, he pressed on, "I think you need to find the rest of the keys. But you're not strong enough yet. How about I teach you the breathing technique?"

Gu Xian shook his head. "Didn't you say that learning your breathing technique means inheriting the Eon mech civilization? No thanks, I'd rather just be a regular person."

The little imp was barely able to contain himself, itching to smack the obstinate fool into oblivion.

"No, no, that's not what I meant," he chuckled, a mischievous scheme brewing in his mind. "I've got a plethora of breathing techniques up my sleeve, not just the one. You could learn a different one."

"Really?" Gu Xian pondered before shaking his head. "No, I think I'll pass. I just want to open a mech repair shop and live a normal life. Learning that wouldn't be of any use to me."

"How can you say it's useless?" the imp protested, his anxiety rising. "You need to find the key!"

"I don't necessarily have to go looking for it. From what you've said, it doesn't seem all that crucial. If it's incomplete, so be it. It's not as if the training camp will cease to exist."

The imp paused, taken aback, then quickly caught on, his eyes darting. "How do you know the training camp won't disappear?"

"Huh?" Gu Xian was confused. "Isn't that what you just said?"

The imp sighed and hung his head. "I didn't want to worry you, but since you're onto it, I won't keep it from you. If we don't gather all the key fragments, the training camp will indeed fade away due to its incompleteness."

"Is that so?" Gu Xian's face took on a grave look.

This was his chance!

The little imp's heart swelled with glee. Seizing the moment, he wished he could paint an even grimmer picture: "Absolutely! It's not just the training camp; these mechs, and even I, will vanish forever!"

Gu Xian couldn't stay put any longer.

The imp watched him eagerly, while whispers from the mechs above filled his ears.

"Look at the little imp, all grown up," they murmured. "Such a con artist," "No shame at all," they teased.

The imp shot them a venomous glare. "Let's see you try!"

"What?" Gu Xian snapped out of his reverie.

"Never mind, let's get on with the breathing technique," the imp urged. "Once you've mastered it, you'll be able to pilot those mechs. Each one comes with its own signature skill to ensure your safety."

"They have signature skills too?"

"Exactly. Each mech model is unique, with its own strengths and ways of attacking. Take the Gold Falcon, for example; it's built for speed, and its signature skill is the 'Woodpecker,' which greatly makes up for its lack of firepower. It's incredibly effective. When I pilot that model, the 'Woodpecker' is my ace in the hole."

The little imp gestured toward the golden mech at the bottom of the display shelf, proudly introducing it to Gu Xian.

"May I give it a try?" Gu Xian inquired, a hint of hesitation in his voice.

"Absolutely!" The imp was thrilled, silently celebrating that he had hooked his fish. "The Gold Falcon isn't a high-level mech. This key fragment contains the complete Gold Falcon. You can try it out right now."

Gu Xian approached the mech, craning his neck to examine it closely.

Standing fifteen meters tall, the golden mech boasted feather-like patterns on its shoulders, arms, and knees, exuding elegance without the vicious spikes designed for lethality, nor the pronounced mechanical aesthetic of Federation mechs.

Though it was clearly a mech, it resonated with Gu Xian as if it were a living creature.

It resembled a colossal bird.

Gu Xian stepped into the cockpit.

Eon mechs typically didn't use brain control devices, but the imp had provided one to pique Gu Xian's interest.

A hissing noise suggested an invisible gas escaping from around the mech.

Gu Xian maneuvered the mech down from the display rack with the ease of descending a staircase.

The mech provided an exceptionally fluid experience, each motion precise and seemingly in sync with his spirit.

Not even Princess Eliza's Ice Queen had elicited such a connection.

Gu Xian was instantly smitten with the mech.

The large, slender mech sliced through the training camp like a golden line, leaving behind a web in the sky reluctant to fade.

The imp hadn't exaggerated; thanks to its unique design, the mech's speed was remarkable.

When Gu Xian finally stopped, he was shaking, body and soul.

This was his inaugural flight in an Eon Civilization mech, an unforgettable sensation.

"So, how was it?" the imp asked with a smug grin as Gu Xian disembarked.

"It's incredible," Gu Xian replied, pausing briefly. "Is mastering the breathing technique essential to fully harness its capabilities?"

Even now, he was playing it safe!

The imp felt a surge of annoyance. 'I might deceive you, but harm you? Never,' he thought to himself.

With a sweeping gesture, he declared, "It's not just that one—every single mecha here."

Tracing a wide arc with his hand, he encompassed every mecha that spanned the sky and stretched to the farthest edge of sight.

Gu Xian clenched his jaw, determination setting in. "Fine, I'll learn!"

The little imp burst with glee, exclaiming, "It's settled then!"