Chang Lili pouted nonchalantly: "I don't want to lose an arm or a leg."
Zhou Lue was taken aback. Chang Lili realized she had misspoke and felt she shouldn't have brought it up. But before she could apologize or offer words of comfort, Zhou Lue wiped away his disappointed expression and leaned in again.
"What's wrong with having an extra skill? Besides, don't you really want to become fellow disciples with Meng Yuxiu?"
Chang Lili, flipping through the pages of her book, asked helplessly, "Has Meng Yuxiu acknowledged you as his master?"
This really hit Zhou Lue where it hurt. He sighed, grabbed a stool and sat down, saying with some grievance, "He'll admit it sooner or later." After thinking for a moment, he felt a tightness in his chest and kept saying, "I just don't understand. I'm the number one martial arts master in the world. In the past, there were people who wanted to become my disciples, and they could line up for blocks. How come you young people are all so clueless?"
Chang Lili shook her head, her eyes fixed on the book, and muttered, "We're not martial arts fanatics, why do we have to become your apprentice? If you were a master of mechanical arts, I would beg you to be my apprentice."
Zhou Lue continued his tireless rambling, but Chang Lili was so engrossed in her book that she didn't hear what he was muttering about.
Zhang Ziqing also came in to look up books, and Jiang Yingxue was naturally there with him.
As soon as Jiang Yingxue entered, she stared at Chang Lili with hostility for a while. When she saw Zhang Ziqing looking for books near Chang Lili, she quickly moved over and stood between Zhang Ziqing and Chang Lili, afraid that the two would get too close.
Zhang Ziqing's eyes were only on the book from beginning to end, as if he couldn't see the two people.
Jiang Yingxue was busy, and Chang Lili only glanced at her indifferently. She couldn't help but sigh in her heart that it was probably a case of unrequited love. Although this girl was willful and capricious, Chang Lili actually saw a bit of Lu Ming's shadow in her.
She looked away, but then wondered what Zhang Ziqing was reading. He was currently focused on researching how to make mechanical legs move as nimbly as real hands and feet.
So, which related book is he reading now?
Thinking of this, Chang Lili couldn't help but glance at Zhang Ziqing, or more accurately, at the book in Zhang Ziqing's hand. But Jiang Yingxue, who was in the middle, was not happy. She looked at Chang Lili warily and even stepped aside to block Zhang Ziqing.
Chang Lili raised an eyebrow slightly and disdainfully withdrew her gaze. She was too lazy to have any conflict with Jiang Yingxue. She turned her head and pretended to focus on the book in her hand, but her eyes kept glancing at Zhang Ziqing out of the corner of her eye.
Zhang Ziqing seemed to have found what he was looking for. He hurriedly put the book on the bookshelf and strode out of the room.
Seeing this, Jiang Yingxue quickly stuffed the book she had grabbed back and hurriedly followed her out.
After the two left, Chang Lili quickly put down the book in her hand and took out the book that Zhang Ziqing had put back, which she had just written down, to read.
The illustrations in the book were of mechanical figures, very simple-looking mechanical figures, but not very refined.
But Chang Lili was already quite surprised. She never expected that there would actually be a book recording the construction of mechanical figures. The book she found in the mechanical array did not record these things.
She quickly began to read it, her expression focused and eager for knowledge.
Zhou Lue watched the three of them, finding it as amusing as a theatrical performance. He had been holding back his laughter, but now he burst out laughing and said, "You girls are so scheming. What are you doing? Do you really have feelings for Zhang Ziqing?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Zhou Lue's expression turned horrified. He thought of his poor disciple Meng Yuxiu, whose wife, whom he hadn't even gotten his hands on yet, had already taken a fancy to another man.
Chang Lili looked at Zhou Lue with a horrified expression and said, "What nonsense are you talking about? If Miss Jiang hears you say that, it'll be another fierce battle!"
Zhou Lue wiped away imaginary tears and said sadly, "Are you going to abandon my poor disciple? But there's nothing I can do. Feelings are uncontrollable. I can only wish you well. But what are you afraid of? If you like someone, be brave and pursue them! You have to overcome all obstacles!"
Chang Lili stared at Zhou Lue, dumbfounded, and after a long while said, "I just want to know how he created your legs. Can you be any more absurd?"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Lue's expression turned somewhat disappointed: "Huh? How do you plan to create my legs?"
Chang Lili ignored him and began to carefully study the book.
Although it's about making mechanical robots, it's only a general introduction. The mechanical robots made according to the methods in the book can only serve tea and water at most, and have no combat ability at all. Moreover, they are very crude.
It is evident that Zhang Ziqing made many improvements afterward, but he was still not satisfied with them.
Chang Lili put down her book, feeling a certain admiration for Zhang Ziqing. She couldn't help but put down her hand, pick up another book, and stroll outside.
Zhang Ziqing had already honed his legs to perfection, but looking at them from left to right, he found that they were still not flexible enough. For the first time, a faint look of annoyance appeared on Zhang Ziqing's usually indifferent and aloof face, and his beautiful hands furrowed slightly.
Jiang Yingxue, who had been watching him closely, noticed his subtle expressions and moved closer to him, saying, "Don't be in such a hurry. So many people in this world want to create mechanical dolls that look like real people, but they can't succeed. It won't be easy for you to be the first to do so, but I believe that it's only a matter of time before you create such a mechanical doll."
Chang Lili stood in front of the wooden house, pretending to be nonchalant, but she listened carefully. She was a little puzzled. What did it mean to "create a precedent"? Wasn't Chan'er in the trap formation a precedent that had already been created?
She acted on impulse, and without thinking, she lifted her foot and walked over.
Jiang Yingxue noticed her coming out and immediately looked at her warily. Seeing her walk straight towards Zhang Ziqing, she blocked her way with a fierce look in her eyes, a complete change from her previous docile demeanor.
"What are you going to do?" she demanded aggressively.
Chang Lili said with a bright smile, "I want to see what you're doing?"
"What's so interesting about it? Besides, can you even understand it? Don't disturb our research on mechanical arts!" Jiang Yingxue's face showed disgust.
Chang Lili smiled instead of getting angry, but there was a hint of coldness in her smile: "What? Miss, does your wrist still hurt? Do you want me to massage it for you?"
As she spoke, she raised her right hand, opened it, and then clenched it into a fist, repeating this action over and over.
Jiang Yingxue's imposing manner vanished instantly, and she said with a flushed face, "You're bullying me! I'll get my revenge on you sooner or later!"
The production process was not going smoothly, and Zhang Ziqing was already annoyed. Hearing the two arguing, he became even more impatient. His brows furrowed even more, and he said in a youthful but clear voice, "Stop arguing, Jiang Yingxue. If she wants to see you, let her see you. Why do you have to go against her at every turn?"
Chang Lili was somewhat surprised, thinking to herself that the young master of the Zhang family was really a good person. She had thought that people raised in this way would mostly not be kind to others.
The thought had barely crossed her mind when she heard Zhang Ziqing's cold, even disdainful voice: "If someone didn't get in based on merit, even if she looked, she might not understand it."
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