Nestled within a uniquely shaped mountain range, hundreds of miles in circumference are filled with steep cliffs and deep valleys, where ever-changing and wondrous seas of clouds linger. Though dangerous, this place is also a magnificent sight, and the most mysterious fortress of the Mohist school, the Mohist Mechanical City, is hidden among these mountains.
The Mo Family Mechanical City, built over three hundred years by successive leaders of the Mo Family, was hailed as a "paradise on earth." Constructed against a mountain, it was surrounded by unique terrain: steep cliffs and deep valleys stretching for hundreds of miles, making it difficult to traverse. Below, a turbulent river flowed, its waters riddled with hidden reefs and rocks, frequently causing ships to strike and perish. Even more peculiar was the ever-changing sea of clouds, with weather shifting between sunshine and rain, often disorienting those lost within its vast expanse. Within this labyrinthine landscape lay numerous traps and mechanisms. It was precisely because of these unique features that the Mo Family Mechanical City became the safest hiding place for anti-Qin forces from all over the land.
Amidst the mountains, two figures, one large and one small, appeared atop one of the mountains as space twisted.
Standing atop the mountain, Wang Han gazed at the parallel sea of clouds, admiring the beautiful scenery. He exclaimed, "High mountains, waterfalls, flowing water, sea of clouds, ancient pines, and red flowers—it's truly a rare and beautiful sight. The Mohists really know how to choose a place."
"Brother Wang Han, how do we get to the Mechanized City?" Guina asked Wang Han with a puzzled look.
“The Mo Family’s Mechanical City is the culmination of the Mo Family’s centuries of hard work. It’s filled with traps and mechanisms, some of which have even become one with nature over time. Moreover, it has been continuously improved by the Mo Family over the centuries. Why don’t we treat it as an adventure game? It can also hone your domineering spirit. Entering the Mechanical City will also be a process for us.” Wang Han explained with a smile, then pointed to the sea of clouds ahead and said, “We’ve entered the Mechanical City area ahead. Let’s go.”
After saying that, Wang Han took the lead and walked forward. Guina immediately followed in Wang Han's footsteps.
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"Whoosh whoosh whoosh..." In the forest of the mountains, Wang Han and Guina were walking along when suddenly more than a dozen arrows shot towards Guina.
"Clang clang clang..." Facing the incoming arrows, Kuina calmly drew her Miao sword and precisely cleaved all the arrows in two.
"These are all very ordinary traps. Hopefully, we'll encounter some more interesting ones later." Wang Han appeared beside the trap the moment it was triggered, shook his head as he watched the crossbow bolts being launched, and didn't care about these traps at all. The traps they had encountered along the way were all very ordinary. Perhaps ordinary people, or even ordinary martial artists and swordsmen, would have already died under these traps, but they were of no use to Wang Han and Kuina's strength. They only gave Kuina some experience in dealing with traps.
"Kuina, these mechanisms are meaningless, poorly made," Wang Han said listlessly as he reappeared beside Kuina.
Half an hour later, Wang Han and his companion arrived at a mountain wall. Behind the mountain wall lay one of the entrances to the Mo Family's mechanical city.
Wang Han touched the mountain wall in front of him and quickly found the mechanism to open the entrance to the Mo Family Mechanical City, and gently pressed it.
"Click-click-click..." With a slight clicking sound, a section of the mountain wall caved in, revealing a tunnel two or three meters wide. Wang Han led Guina inside immediately.
"Clang clang clang..."
The two had entered the tunnel less than a hundred meters when they stepped on the trigger device, activating the first mechanism. Suddenly, sharp spears shot out from both sides of the tunnel.
"Clang clang clang..." Before the spear could pierce through, Wang Han and Guina drew their swords and cut the spear in two.
After cutting down all the spears, Wang Han glanced at the mechanisms hidden behind the stone wall with his white eyes and said, "These mechanisms are quite interesting, unlike the crudely made ones in the forest."
Subsequently, Wang Han and his companion, either solving, dodging, or directly destroying the mechanisms they encountered, ventured deeper and deeper into the mechanical city.
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Inside the Mechanized City, a Mohist disciple hurriedly reported to a lean young man: "Leader Dao Zhi, someone has broken into the Mechanized City and has now broken through the tunnel and entered the waterway."
"How many people are on the other side?" Dao Zhi asked.
"Two people, a man in his twenties and a girl of about eleven or twelve years old."
"Alright, you all go and continue operating the mechanisms. Be ready to follow my orders at any time. The other party may be our guest." Upon hearing this, Dao Zhi gave the order and immediately headed towards the waterway. He had already received a letter from Old Man Ban and knew who the visitor was.
"This..." But when Dao Zhi arrived, he was dumbfounded. Above the waterway, a finely crafted wooden figure dressed in a black robe was flying rapidly, destroying various mechanisms and rendering them inoperable. In the waterway, the two people the Mo family disciples had mentioned were walking towards them on a piece of driftwood. Upon closer inspection, it seemed that there were six arms moving beneath the driftwood the two were standing on.
"Who comes from below?" After a moment of hesitation, Dao Zhi quickly asked the people below.
“Wang Han.” Looking at the lean, blond young man above him, Wang Han replied.
"So it's Mr. Wang Han, what a rare guest! Master Ban has already written to inform me. Please wait a moment, I'll lower the cloud boat and bring you up right away," Dao Zhi said quickly, gesturing to a Mohist disciple beside him to lower the cloud boat (which functions similarly to an elevator).
“No need,” Wang Han said from the waterway, manipulating the puppet in the water to extend its two arms for support for himself and Kuina, and then maneuvering the puppet to climb up the mountain wall.
"What an intricate mechanical puppet. But it's really embarrassing now." Dao Zhi couldn't help but admire the wooden puppet that was carrying Wang Han and Guina with its two hands and four hands and two feet with sharp claws protruding as it climbed the mountain wall. After admiring it, Dao Zhi covered his face with his hands. Master Ban had written to him with all the details, including Wang Han's words, and even told him to prepare to bring Wang Han into the Mechanical City. But now, seeing that the puppet was completely unscathed, it seemed that the puppet really treated the Mechanical City like its own backyard and entered with ease.
"Old Man Ban's letter." After climbing up the mountain wall and meeting Dao Zhi, Wang Han took out Master Ban's letter and handed it to Dao Zhi, saying, "Are the Mohist Master and Master Xu here? I have come to discuss Mohist scholarship with the Mohist Master and the art of sword forging with Master Xu."
"I am Dao Zhi. The Grand Master has gone out on important business. Master Xu is currently at the Sword Forging Pavilion." Dao Zhi took the letter and read it over. He then said politely, "Please come with me. I will arrange accommodations for you first, and then I will take you to Master Xu."
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