Xiang Fan's home was located in a remote courtyard at the foot of the sect's mountain. It was so quiet that one could hear the slightest rustle of grass. The yard was overgrown with weeds, practically a haven for wild rabbits. The walls sagged, as if the next gust of wind could completely blow them down. The wooden hut, with a few tiles still hanging crookedly from the eaves, gave off an air of abandonment.

Lu Qingli followed Xiang Fan into the courtyard, her eyes scanning the area calmly, revealing no discomfort or contempt. Her gentle smile was like a natural protective barrier, separating her from the simple surroundings without alienating them.

"Sister, this place is a bit messy. I'm really sorry." Xiang Fan said softly while scratching his head, his face full of embarrassment. He wished there was a crack in the ground for him to crawl into, especially when he saw Lu Qingli's skirt almost being scratched by the weeds in the yard. He wanted to rush over and pull out a few to prove that he was not a lazy person.

Lu Qingli smiled gently and said softly, "It doesn't matter. I lived in a similar place when I was a child." Her tone was as gentle as a spring breeze. She was neither perfunctory nor condescending. It seemed as if she was conveying a kind of comfort to Fan, "You don't need to feel embarrassed about this."

Xiang Fan was stunned for a moment, then quickly lowered his head. He felt that his senior sister's attitude was too unreal, and even began to wonder if she was holding back a smile. But when he glanced back, he saw that Lu Qingli's smile was still gentle and natural, as if she really didn't care at all.

With a flash of light, Lu Qingli pulled the old mech from her storage bag. Its massive bulk almost filled the entire courtyard, dwarfing even the surrounding weeds. The moment Xiang Fan laid eyes on the mech, stars twinkled in his eyes. He couldn't help but lean forward, carefully reaching out his hand and touching the mech's mottled exterior, his movements as gentle as if he were handling a rare treasure.

Lu Qingli stood aside, watching him quietly, and couldn't help but raise the corners of her mouth slightly: "It seems that you really like mechas."

When Xiang Fan heard this, he immediately withdrew his hand as if he had done something wrong, lowered his head and stammered, "Yes... yes, I think they are very... interesting."

"Interesting?" Lu Qingli chuckled, a hint of approval in her tone. "Mechas are indeed amazing. They not only carry human wisdom, but also break through the traditional boundaries of cultivation. I think your interest is very unique and meaningful."

Xiang Fan's heart, bubbling with sweetness, felt like a honeypot had been overturned. He scratched his head and said, "It's not that special, it's just... I just find it interesting." But even after he finished speaking, he could hear the hypocrisy in his words. Clearly, his interest in mechas was more than just "interesting."

"It's interesting, that's enough." Lu Qingli smiled faintly, with encouragement in her eyes. "Interest is the best teacher. Since you like it, study it carefully. Maybe one day, it will bring you unexpected gains."

Xiang Fan's face turned red again, but this time, he did not lower his head. Instead, he mustered up the courage to nod: "Yes! Thank you, senior sister!" Although his voice was not loud, it revealed a kind of certainty.

Lu Qingli looked at him and shook her head slightly, as if she found his restraint somewhat amusing, but she didn't say much. However, a hint of expectation flashed in her gentle eyes.

Xiang Fan stood in the courtyard, stroking the old, decommissioned mech. His eyes looked like he'd discovered a treasure, his smile almost reaching his ears. His fingers slid along the mech's cracked shell, as if he were caressing some rare treasure, his eyes gleaming as if he'd hidden thousands of low-grade spirit stones.

At this moment, the gate creaked open, and Xiang Su walked in, carrying his prey on his back. He immediately saw the huge beast in the middle of the yard, and his steps suddenly stopped. His eyes were complicated, as if to say, "Is my son addicted to scavenging?"

"Fan'er, where did this mecha come from?" Xiang Su put down the prey on his shoulder, walked forward with a frown, looked at the mecha, and glanced at his son, as if wondering if he had done something outrageous.

Xiang Fan quickly waved his hand and said sincerely, "Dad, don't worry! This was given to me by the elder from the Mecha Class. It's already scrapped, and it would cost Spirit Stones to send it to the scrap yard. The elder saw that I liked it, so he let me take it back!"

Xiang Su finally breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this. He took a few more glances at the behemoth, thinking: Even though it's a little broken, it still looks quite impressive in the yard. He nodded, a hint of satisfaction in his tone: "Scrapped things are really not worth much. But this thing looks very decent when displayed, and it's quite impressive."

Xiang Fan couldn't help but smile when he heard this, but his eyes didn't leave the mecha. He looked at the shattered core module and silently vowed in his heart: No matter what, I must make it stand up again!

Xiang Su suddenly put on a serious expression and patted the mecha's shell. "Fan'er, you can play with it, but don't get too involved. This thing isn't some virtual toy from the Spirit Realm battlefield. If something goes wrong, it won't be fixed by just patching it up."

After saying that, he knocked on the mecha's leg again, making a hollow "dong dong" sound. "The psychic circuits of this mecha are probably broken a long time ago. It might explode if you're not careful. If you really want to tinker with it, remember to be careful. Don't take this broken piece of junk for granted."

Xiang Fan nodded quickly, saying seriously, "Dad, don't worry, I'll definitely be careful. I just want to try and see if I can get it moving again."

Xiang Su listened, nodded with satisfaction, and patted his son on the shoulder: "Okay, then go play. Remember, come inside to eat before dark, and don't mess around all day long."

This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading!