Chapter 930: Don't Stare at Me
Cai Xinzhi quickly got to work designing and building the model.
It didn't take long for him to craft a model of a river-sea vessel, originally designed to be 70 meters long. Miniaturized at a 200:1 scale, the resulting model still stretched several tens of centimeters.
With a model of this size, integrating various mechanisms was remarkably easy.
Miniature electric motors were installed in the hull, along with several small rechargeable batteries. Solar panels were mounted on its deck, ensuring that whenever sunlight struck, they could charge the batteries in the hull.
A week later, a delivery truck pulled up to Li Daoxuan's villa, handing over the massive, half-meter-long ship model to him—
Shi Kefa, carrying his official imperial appointment documents and accompanied by a group of loyal retainers, emerged from the gates of Thirty-Two Middle School, his luggage already packed.
He turned, bowing deeply towards the school.
He had acquired an immense wealth of knowledge here, much of it profoundly practical and valuable for governance, bolstering his confidence in his own capabilities. He was certain he could put it to good use in his new post, guarding Anqing Prefecture and Chizhou Prefecture.
He had barely taken two steps when he spotted Gao Yiye waiting for him, the Heavenly Lord's avatar standing silently by her side.
Li Daoxuan nodded. "Hmm," he instructed, "do not attempt to traverse Henan on your own; it's far too perilous. First, take the train. At Hedong Circuit, transfer to a solar bus that will take you to Xiaolangdi, where you will meet Bai Yuan. I've arranged a vessel there to transport you to Anqing Prefecture."
Shi Kefa expressed his gratitude: "Many thanks for the Heavenly Lord's gracious care."
Li Daoxuan waved his hand. "Go forth!" he urged. "Manage your jurisdiction well and bring prosperity to the local populace."
With a profound bow, Shi Kefa, brimming with confidence, set off on his journey.
The route he was to take was the Xihe Railway. This ultra-long-distance train, connecting Xi'an to Hedong City, ran only once a day; missing it meant no other chance.
Arriving at the train station precisely on schedule, he purchased a ticket for a first-class carriage.
First-class carriages were prohibitively expensive. Though Shi Kefa wasn't short on funds, he could only justify buying a single ticket for himself. He couldn't quite justify the expense for his numerous household guards, who were relegated to the standard carriage behind, while he rode alone in first-class.
Just like a modern-day small business owner on a business trip, flying business class themselves but booking an economy ticket for their secretary.
He had a bit of money, but wasn't wealthy enough to spend it without a thought.
The moment he stepped into the carriage, a sense of unease settled over him.
The first-class carriage, to his surprise, was occupied by an enigmatic martial artist. He wore heroic garb identical to that of the Heavenly Lord, yet his figure was far more corpulent than the Heavenly Lord's slender avatar, making it clear he was not the deity himself.
Furthermore, this individual wore a peculiar, wide-brimmed straw hat and a black cloth concealing his face, giving him an odd appearance.
But this, of course, wasn't the most outrageous detail.
What was truly outrageous was that this martial artist was accompanied by numerous bodyguards, so many that they occupied more than half the seats in the entire first-class carriage.
Shi Kefa couldn't help but utter a soft, "Aha!" as he thought, *This person is truly extraordinary! I am a legitimate imperial official, and I can't even afford first-class tickets for my own household guards. Yet this wandering martial artist has an entire carriage filled with his retinue, having bought so many first-class tickets? What kind of family does he come from? Are they mining magnates?*
He fixed his gaze on the martial artist.
The martial artist, however, was visibly unnerved by the scrutiny. He turned to face Shi Kefa, and in a hoarse, deliberately lowered voice, demanded, "Why are you staring at me? Hey, hey! Why are you staring at me? Is something amiss with me?"
A tremor of panic laced his words, betraying the telltale guilt of someone caught in a misdeed.
Shi Kefa, who had served as Xi'an's Judicial Commissioner, overseeing criminal law and specializing in prosecuting criminals and delinquents, only needed to hear a single sentence. He instinctively knew: this martial artist was problematic, deeply problematic.
He cleared his throat with a sharp "Ahem!" then abruptly raised his voice. "This official can tell at a glance that you are engaging in nefarious deeds. Such audacity! This is a place protected by the Heavenly Lord. Confess truthfully: what wrongdoings have you committed?"
The martial artist was thrown into a panic. "I am not, I did not!" he exclaimed. "Do not slander me!"
Shi Kefa took a swift, decisive step forward.
The martial artist, who had been ensconced in a sumptuous seat, was startled by Shi Kefa's advance. He executed a dramatic, tactical lean backward, saved from toppling onto the floor only by the sturdy backrest.
All the guards in the carriage rose simultaneously, poised to defend their master.
Shi Kefa felt no fear towards the throng in the carriage. In the Heavenly Lord's domain, principle held more sway than brute force, and no one dared to cause trouble. Why should he cower before a mere carriage full of ruffians?
With another resounding "thump," he took a step forward, his footfall echoing powerfully. "To have encountered me, Shi Kefa, is a stroke of grave misfortune for you," he declared. "Truthfully confess your crimes, and your penalty might be mitigated. Otherwise, you will face relentless and severe punishment."
"I am not, I did not!" the martial artist roared back. "I haven't done anything wrong!"
Shi Kefa pressed, "Then why do you seem so guilty?"
The martial artist retorted forcefully, "I have no guilt whatsoever, none at all!"
Shi Kefa shot back, "You are absolutely guilty!"
The martial artist's sweat poured down, soaking his face covering, yet he stubbornly maintained his innocence. "I... I am not!" he stammered. "You have no evidence, you're making baseless accusations! In the Heavenly Lord's domain, slandering others is also a crime. I... I'm not afraid of you!"
This point indeed struck a chord. Shi Kefa merely suspected, but without evidence, he was powerless to act. In areas governed by the Great Ming Code, criminals were generally dealt with under the principle of 'guilty until proven innocent.' However, in the Heavenly Lord's domain, cases had to be handled according to the overarching principle of 'innocent until proven guilty.'
Several seconds later, Shi Kefa snorted. "Very well," he conceded, "this official currently has no evidence, so I cannot apprehend you. However, throughout this journey, I will keep a close eye on you. Should you harbor any ill intent, you had best abandon them immediately."
The martial artist, exasperated, burst out, "Stop staring at me! Look at the scenery, the scenery is so breathtaking! What's the point of constantly watching me?"
"Of course, this official will enjoy the scenery," Shi Kefa replied. "But suspects must also be observed. I must manage both tasks effectively, with unwavering resolve."
The martial artist groaned, "Don't misapply the Heavenly Lord's sayings in such peculiar contexts!"
He truly wanted to curse! But he had to endure, and furthermore, keep his devoted retainers in check. Engaging in conflict with Shi Kefa would only draw more attention, making his identity easier to compromise.
He must remain discreet! Discretion was the path to power. Although he was still merely a princely heir, he was certain to inherit the throne one day, and there was no harm in beginning his studies in the art of rulership early.
The martial artist quietly stifled his frustration.
Shi Kefa retrieved a treatise on governance. He read, yet periodically cast glances at the martial artist, watching him, simply watching...
The great train chugged to life with a resounding roar!
Leaving Gao Family Village proper, it rumbled onward towards Hedong Circuit.
Shi Kefa was astonished to discover that the moment the train began to move, the martial artist immediately transformed into the demeanor of a child. He pressed himself against the window, exclaiming excitedly, "Such beautiful mountains! Wow, such green water... that tree has grown so strangely."
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