Chapter 241 - A New Journey
"Automata... Scripture?" Xue Qiming smacked his lips thoughtfully. "Is it about mechanisms?"
Rao Shuang cast an almost imperceptible glance at Tang Jinnian but remained silent.
Tang Jinnian nodded calmly as he flipped through the pages. "Indeed, it’s a treatise on mechanisms. This book contains methods for crafting various puppets, from large creations like birds and beasts to small ones like fish and insects. Everything is recorded within."
Ye Beizhi and the others listened quietly to Tang Jinnian without stepping forward to look at the book in his hands, they all understood the unspoken rules of the jianghu. They knew better than to overstep boundaries since Tang Jinnian had openly displayed the Automata Scripture.
Only Xue Niang seemed unconcerned about such matters. She climbed onto a stool and peered over Tang Jinnian’s shoulder to look at the book, her eyes shining brightly as she occasionally let out an exclamation of surprise.
"This, this is that big bird from the other day!" Xue Niang pointed to the page Tang Jinnian had just turned to.
Tang Jinnian’s expression darkened. Remembering something unpleasant, he shot a fierce glare at Xue Qiming.
Xue Qiming awkwardly rubbed his nose, picked Xue Niang up, and said, "What’s so interesting about a bigger bird? It was nothing much."
At this moment, Tang Jinnian continued, "The final section of this book records the creation of puppets forged with a Transcendence Stone as the core. It is said that once completed, these puppets can speak, move independently, and are indistinguishable from real people...
"But no one has ever seen one, so whether it’s true remains unknown. Originally, I sought out the Transcendence Stone to test it myself, but... alas." As he spoke, Tang Jinnian glanced at Baili Gucheng with a somewhat resentful expression.
Baili Gucheng gritted his teeth and was about to bow deeply, but Tang Jinnian quickly stepped aside. "Don’t bother with that. I’ll remember this favor well, Impending Sword. You owe me big."