Chapter 11: Victory of the Weak over the Strong

Zhuang Yun took a deep breath, steadying her breathing as her focus gradually sharpened. She stepped forward with calm confidence, every movement exuding composure.

"Lol! The Blue Whale mech’s disposable player actually has some professional integrity," murmurs rippled through the audience seats, some even bursting into laughter, clearly skeptical of Zhuang Yun’s “Lingkong” mech.

“Is this... Tai Chi?”

“Look at his ID: ‘One Watermelon Cut in Two.’ What’s this? You take one half, I take the other? That’s real Tai Chi. Martial arts have fallen so far, yet someone still masters this?”

“Could the pilot be a retired elder? Why not enjoy leisure in the park instead of showing up at the Black Factory for trouble?”

“Seventy is the prime age for striving!”

…

As the Thunder Shadow Blade on the Blue Whale mech’s edge neared Zhuang Yun, she used her opponent’s own force to launch a counterattack. Her movements flowed naturally, like water, evading the blade while guiding the opponent’s momentum off course.

Outsiders saw her actions as gentle and weak, but in truth, Zhuang Yun deftly turned the opponent’s assault to her advantage with a technique of subtle leverage.

Reynolds, inside the Blue Whale mech, grew irritated; his attacks intensified.

Zhuang Yun sensed his panic—“Here’s the chance!”

She lunged at the Blue Whale mech, using Lingkong’s agility to engage in close-quarters combat, like a swallow weaving through steel gaps, seeking openings to strike back.

Just as the Thunder Shadow Blade aimed to pierce her, Lingkong’s cannon aligned with the Blue Whale mech’s energy core.

Three consecutive shots shattered the core in an instant; the Blue Whale mech’s eyes dimmed simultaneously.

A clear announcement echoed over the arena’s loudspeaker:

“Congratulations to ‘One Watermelon Cut in Two’ for winning this match.”

“Congratulations to ‘One Watermelon Cut in Two’ on advancing to Division D.”

On the Black Factory forum:

“Is this... a disposable player’s comeback?”

The post instantly caused a stir, drawing countless players from various chat groups into the discussion.

“No way, isn’t that the newbie from the beginner’s village? How did they suddenly get so strong?”

“Could they be cheating? Never seen a ‘Lingkong’ mech win before, especially against a Blue Whale mech.”

At this moment, Leck’s face was nearly split by a grin. Everyone had bet on the Blue Whale mech, but he’d accidentally placed a bet on Lingkong. Initially, he was furious, but with Lingkong’s victory, he had made a huge profit!

“‘One Watermelon Cut in Two,’ I’m with you from now on!”

Suddenly, Leck received a message from Jiang Mingxu: “The person’s found, come quickly.”

***

Meanwhile, Reynolds inside the Blue Whale mech was still clueless about what had happened. He had actually lost to a Lingkong? What an unbearable humiliation!

After the match, Reynolds tried to add ‘One Watermelon Cut in Two’ as a friend, but the player had already logged off.

“Since they’ve reached Division D, they’ll definitely be back. ‘One Watermelon Cut in Two,’ I won’t forget you,” Reynolds vowed bitterly.

On Zhuang Yun’s side, she had just redeemed five hundred thousand star coins, and with her recent winnings, almost two million in total.

“Got rich overnight!” she thought, delighting inwardly.

“Hello, after inspection, your ‘Lingkong’ mech is deemed irreparable. According to regulations, you must compensate at full price,” the clerk at the exchange counter said gently.

“No way! I haven’t even had time to enjoy this money!” Zhuang Yun said helplessly.

She paid the fee, yet her balance didn’t increase—it actually went down. Looking at her remaining 765 star coins on the light-brain interface, her mood sank deeply.

Karma always comes full circle; gambling without divination is forbidden—the ancestors are watching from above...

Adhering to thrift and diligence, Zhuang Yun tucked the ruined Lingkong into her spatial pouch, hoping to bring it back for repairs.

She sought out her senior brother, who was still exhilarated from the intense match, feverishly taking notes.

Seeing Zhuang Yun, he couldn’t hide his excitement as he shared, “Master, that person who won against the odds was truly formidable.”

“However, his moves seem somewhat familiar.”

Her eldest senior brother looked at Zhuang Yun thoughtfully and said, “Master, could that person have been you?”

Zhuang Yun remained weighed down by the night’s exhausting ordeal. “Let’s go home and talk later.”

As the two stepped out of the Black Factory gates, dawn was breaking, painting the sky with pale light.

Zhuang Yun told her eldest senior brother to return first and instructed him to keep this matter secret from their master. She herself headed to the mech repair shop, hoping to enlist Lin Yiwen’s help.

On the deserted street, Zhuang Yun immediately spotted Lin Yiwen opening the door, preparing to start his day. He flinched slightly at her sudden appearance.

“Lin Yiwen, I need to trouble you with something,” Zhuang Yun said awkwardly, not wanting Zhuang Qi to find out about repairing Black Factory mechs just yet.

Lin Yiwen glanced at the severely damaged mech Zhuang Yun brought—it was practically scrap metal.

“Is there still hope?” Zhuang Yun approached, eyes filled with expectation.

The two stood close; the morning light caressed Zhuang Yun’s face, outlining her soft features and casting a faint golden glow on her delicate skin.

Her eyelashes fluttered gently in the light like butterfly wings unfolding, her bun hairstyle lending her an extra touch of charm.

Lin Yiwen’s pale cheeks flushed instantly. Not wanting to crush her hopes, he steadied himself and said, “It can be saved.”

Repairing every component wouldn’t be difficult for him, though it would be somewhat troublesome. Troublesome or not, he was willing.

With that, Lin Yiwen set to work.

Zhuang Yun, who hadn’t slept all night, found a recliner and lay down for a brief rest.

Her serene face, bathed in soft sunlight, looked especially peaceful, her breathing light and shallow, as if even the dust in the air had stilled.

Lin Yiwen’s movements slowed unconsciously, and a faint, almost imperceptible tenderness flickered in his gaze.

Suddenly, a phone call shattered the quiet moment.

“Master! The little junior brother is missing!”

“What?!”

“This morning, he said he was going to clean the ancestral tomb but hasn’t been seen since. We thought he was with you.”

“We searched the entire mountain but couldn’t find him,” the second senior sister’s voice trembled.

“Don’t worry. Nanhua Mountain has no star beasts. Besides, I set up a Five Elements sealing formation. Ordinary people can’t find him...” Zhuang Yun reassured them, but immediately recalled two figures spying on her on the mountain earlier.

“Oh no, he might have accidentally broken my formation’s core, causing it to fail,” Zhuang Yun thought grimly.

“Don’t panic. Wait for me at the temple. I know where to look,” she said, ending the video call on her light-brain.

“Lin Yiwen, can this mech be activated for emergency use?” Zhuang Yun asked anxiously.

Lin Yiwen had overheard the call. “Yes, it can.” Most mech technicians couldn’t manage it, but he could.

Without hesitation, he accelerated his work and installed his personal energy core.

Zhuang Yun sat cross-legged, taking out a compass engraved with a delicate Bagua diagram, and gently shook a copper bell inscribed with intricate runes.

Each chime seemed to momentarily freeze the surrounding air, as if even the breeze stopped.

Muttering an incantation, “Seek!” Zhuang Yun whispered.

The compass needle trembled violently before settling firmly, locking onto the target’s location.

“Found it!”

Zhuang Yun calculated quickly, “He’s safe.”

Rising, she saw Lin Yiwen had finished. After thanking him, she turned to leave.

“I’ll go with you,” Lin Yiwen said, looking at her.

“But...” Zhuang Yun hesitated to refuse. She was swift with her lightness skills; Lin Yiwen might slow her down.

“I’ll carry you. I have a flying device,” Lin Yiwen insisted, worried she’d be too slow on foot.

Zhuang Yun blinked in surprise, staring at Lin Yiwen.

Astounded: A secret wealthy heir experiencing life by working under a Taoist?