Deus Ex Machina: Chapter 17

Chapter 17

“Then…” Shi Yixi was troubled. What should he do with a weak little girl who had no money and no home?

“What’s your name?” The girl asked. “My name is Dalia.”

She had long, light blonde hair styled into twin tails, though it had been pulled loose, giving her an unhealthy appearance against her pale skin. Even her blue eyes had a grayish tinge.

“My name is Shi Yixi,” he said. “Well, you can come with me for now. You’re hurt.”

Dalia nodded.

Shi Yixi took Dalia back and temporarily settled her in his room. He didn’t dare make any decisions on his own, so he quickly went to find Yang Jin.

After searching for a long time without finding Yang Jin, he ran into Bai Yunci. He didn’t dare get too close. Bai Yunci glanced at his face and asked, “Looking for Yang Jin?”

“Hmm.” Shi Yixi nodded.

“He’s sleeping in my room,” Bai Yunci pointed.

Shi Yixi kept his gaze on Bai Yunci.

“You don’t need to be afraid,” Bai Yunci said. “I’m not lying. What do you need him for?”

“I saved a girl,” Shi Yixi said. “She’s injured.”

“Is it serious?” Bai Yunci asked. “I’ll take a look.”

Shi Yixi thought that since Yang Jin was sleeping, it might be better to have Bai Yunci check on the girl. After all, Bai Yunci was a doctor. He had completely forgotten that Bai Yunci had almost maimed him just moments ago.

But Bai Yunci seemed to have forgotten that incident as well and followed Shi Yixi.

Dalia was curled up on Shi Yixi’s bed. When she saw a stranger coming in, she looked at Shi Yixi for help. He said, “He’s a doctor, don’t be afraid.”

Bai Yunci thought to himself that this stoic kid was surprisingly good with girls. After examining Dalia, he found that her injuries were mostly bruises and asked, “How old are you?”

“Fif… fifteen years old,” Dalia answered timidly.

Bai Yunci tilted his head, scrutinizing Dalia. She was indeed quite small with a doll-like face, but her body was well-developed for her age. He suddenly understood why Shi Yixi had brought her back for no apparent reason.

“What are you planning to do?” Bai Yunci asked Shi Yixi.

“What?” Shi Yixi responded, confused.

Bai Yunci gestured with his chin. “Her.”

“Tell Teacher Yang when he wakes up,” Shi Yixi said. “I don’t know what to do either. Dalia has no money and no home… I’ll let Teacher Yang decide.”

Bai Yunci smiled wryly. “You really do listen to him for everything.”

Yang Jin woke up in the evening and went to have dinner. At the table, he saw a girl sitting obediently beside Shi Yixi. No one else seemed to mind; even Ying Si was leisurely playing with a handheld game console he had made himself.

“Aren’t you going to introduce her?” Yang Jin asked.

“Her name is Dalia, she… she…” Shi Yixi began.

“Xixi saved me,” Dalia interjected. “And he let me stay for dinner.” In just one afternoon, she had already become familiar enough to call Shi Yixi by a nickname.

Yang Jin looked at Shi Yixi, as if asking for an explanation.

“She said she has nowhere to go,” Shi Yixi answered honestly.

Feng Mang said, “It’s just dinner, and staying a few days isn’t a problem. There’s plenty of space here. Many workers bring their kids to the factory; I always welcome them.”

Yang Jin found Feng Mang’s overly accommodating nature hard to bear and pulled out a chair to sit down. He felt like things were spiraling out of his control. He had planned to get some useful equipment and then quickly investigate the Sanctum. Why had it turned into this cozy family dinner scene?

Out of habit, he scrutinized the stranger. Dalia, feeling uncomfortable under his gaze, secretly moved a little closer to Shi Yixi.

They usually ate quickly, without much conversation. After dinner, Ying Si and Feng Mang went back to the lab. Before leaving, Feng Mang prepared a room for Dalia.

Everyone seemed indifferent to the little girl, except for Yang Jin. However, Dalia didn’t give Yang Jin any chance to approach her alone; she clung to Shi Yixi like a fledgling. Shi Yixi had no defenses or suspicions about her.

Who would be wary of a weak, pitiful, and helpless girl? Besides, this was Feng Mang’s territory. Anyone daring to act out would be instantly incinerated and sent to Mercury to fill the craters.

Shi Yixi had asked Dalia about her background. Dalia said she had come to the space factory with her parents, who were ordinary workers. They had lived here for many years. When she was ten, her parents took a short leave to visit Earth, but they never returned.

Thus, she inexplicably became an orphan.

“Why did they bully you?” Shi Yixi asked, referring to the incident when he met Dalia.

Dalia replied, “Because I’m different from them… those boys probably just like to bully people who are different from them.”

Shi Yixi assumed she was referring to her appearance and didn’t ask further.

Feng Mang and Ying Si worked efficiently. After finalizing the modification plans, they quickly produced the first prototype. Not only did they make a weapon for Yang Jin, but they also improved Bai Yunci’s scalpel, making the blade denser and more durable, with an extendable blue light blade nearly a meter long.

There were various other new gadgets. Once finished, they planned to test everything on Mercury, a process that would take about half a day. Bai Yunci insisted on going with them.

This left only Yang Jin, Shi Yixi, and Dalia.

Dalia usually played with Shi Yixi, but after the others left, she seemed listless and went back to sleep. Shi Yixi thought nothing of it and returned to his room. However, Yang Jin stayed behind, hiding in the shadows.

About an hour later, Dalia came out of her room. She looked around before leaving, walking with steady steps. Yang Jin noticed she was heading towards Feng Mang’s factory warehouse and silently followed her.

Dalia navigated the warehouse expertly. Besides the weapons components produced by the factory, there was an open area where Feng Mang’s spaceship was docked. Dalia approached the spaceship, lingering near the fuel storage area. She was cautious, making sure no one was around before slowly reaching out her hand.

“Xiao Meimei ¹, what are you doing?” Yang Jin asked, sounding like a rogue.

Dalia was startled, immediately withdrawing her hand, and said fearfully, “N-nothing.”

“Then why are you here?” Yang Jin said, raising his chin and strolling over slowly, “Sightseeing?”

“I… I was just passing by.” Dalia was very scared, her whole body trembling.

“Oh, really.” Yang Jin had already walked to within a meter or two of Dalia. He stretched lazily, but in the blink of an eye, his fist was flying towards Dalia.

Instinctively, Dalia caught Yang Jin’s fist with both hands.

A weak, underage girl managed to catch Yang Jin’s punch without being crushed, only stepping back a few steps.

This was no ordinary person.

Yang Jin chuckled, “Quite strong, little sister. How about we play a bit?”

Realizing she couldn’t hide anymore, Dalia’s expression changed instantly. She cried, “I’m not a bad person. I didn’t mean to deceive anyone… I just want to go home.”

“So what?” Yang Jin was unmoved by tears.

“I just need a little fuel, just a little.” Dalia’s eyes were red and swollen from crying. “I found an old spaceship in the waste recycling area. I think it can still be used… but fuel is too expensive, and I can’t afford it… I just want to go home. I miss my mom and dad.”

“Is that so?” Yang Jin said, “Then take me to see your spaceship.” He didn’t believe such a thing existed.

Dalia nodded, “It’s by Warehouse No. 7.”

“Lead the way,” Yang Jin said, nodding his chin.

He assumed Warehouse No. 7 was in Feng Mang’s area, but Dalia was referring to a public warehouse on the edge of the space factory. It was far from the center, and besides large work machines, few people ever went there. The place reeked of decay.

“Where’s Warehouse No. 7?” Yang Jin asked, following Dalia.

“It’s just ahead.” Dalia pointed.

Just as they were about to turn a corner, Dalia suddenly spun around and delivered a flying kick. Using the force from the kick to Yang Jin, she leaped back and disappeared around the corner. Yang Jin rushed after her, but Dalia’s figure was gone. His heart sank as he held his breath, carefully observing his surroundings.

This girl’s strength and speed clearly indicated to Yang Jin that she was no ordinary person.

People don’t just disappear into thin air, Yang Jin knew she must be hiding somewhere. This place was densely packed with containers and large warehouses, perfect for ambush and concealment.

Coincidentally, Yang Jin himself was an expert in such things.

He closed his eyes, standing still. The next second, his eyes snapped open, and he punched through the warehouse door, pulling out the person hiding behind it.

“Ah!” Dalia screamed, her expression turning fierce. She had immense strength and broke free from Yang Jin’s grasp. “I don’t want to kill you.”

Yang Jin sneered, “Thanks, but did you ask if I wanted that?”

This time, Dalia didn’t choose to run but instead engaged Yang Jin head-on. Both were unarmed, and Dalia’s speed was impressive, with every move targeting vital points. She was small and agile, and though Yang Jin initially tried to overpower her with sheer strength, their clashing fists left his hand bones aching.

“Xiao Meimei, don’t hold back if you still have strength left,” Yang Jin said.

Dalia ripped off a piece of the metal door with her bare hands, rolled it into a makeshift weapon, and said fiercely, “I’m not holding back.”

“Brutal Lolita, not cute at all,” Yang Jin remarked lightly, then took the initiative to attack.

They clashed fiercely, sparks flying. Yang Jin didn’t like fighting women, but he made exceptions for women with immense strength. Back in the day, even Yelena, who could tear apart a tank, gave him a run for his money when he fought her seriously. Now, this Dalia reminded him of the terror of being dominated. Were the warriors of their race this ferocious, even as little girls?

If so, he wouldn’t hold back.

He hurled Dalia onto a container, leaving a human-shaped dent in the smooth metal. Dalia wiped her mouth and dashed forward, landing a blow to Yang Jin’s abdomen, making him feel like his insides were churning, almost causing him to vomit blood.

“Not much after all,” Dalia taunted.

“Yeah, yeah,” Fan Fan suddenly appeared, chiming in mockingly, “Yang Jin, you’re such a weak chicken!”

“Shut up!” Yang Jin roared in anger.

By evening, Feng Mang, Ying Si, and Bai Yunci returned to the space base with their experimental results, finding the lab empty except for Shi Yixi.

“Why are you the only one here?” Ying Si asked.

“I don’t know,” Shi Yixi replied. “How about you guys?”

“Pretty good,” Ying Si said with a very pleased smile.

Just as they were chatting, the door was violently kicked open. Standing there was a menacing figure, exuding a murderous aura.

“Yang Jin?” Bai Yunci, who was closest to him, couldn’t believe his eyes. They had only been gone for a short while, but Yang Jin looked like he had just come off a battlefield.

Looking further down, he saw that Dalia was also in a sorry state, her face bruised and swollen, with one of her braids gripped tightly in Yang Jin’s hand. She bared her teeth, trying to break free like a wildcat resisting capture, her nails leaving deep scratches on Yang Jin’s arm.

“You two…” Feng Mang asked in shock, “What on earth…”

Ying Si couldn’t help but laugh as he saw Yang Jin’s handsome face covered in bruises.

Yang Jin mercilessly threw Dalia onto the ground. “Let her explain.”

Dalia started to cry, “I just want to go home, that’s all, boohoo…”

Feng Mang squatted down, wiping Dalia’s face, and asked Yang Jin, “Why are you bullying a little girl?”

“Little girl?” Yang Jin said. “She has the strength to snap my neck, and you call her a little girl? You’re really fearless.” He stepped forward and grabbed Dalia by the hair, showing no pity, and said impatiently, “Stop acting. I don’t have the patience for your performance. Get to the point.”

Dalia, furious at Yang Jin’s behavior, swung her fist towards his face. But Yang Jin was ready, twisting her arm so that her fist hit the ground instead.

The impact left a deep crater in the floor.

Everyone was stunned.

“See that?” Yang Jin shrugged. “That kind of strength is highly valued in Qianfan. So, are you going to reintroduce yourself? Someone with latent genetic potential wouldn’t go unrecognized by Nufeng Academy, nor would they be off the records. So, where does your potential come from? What’s your real purpose in approaching us?”

“Approach you?” Dalia sneered. “How could I have known that someone from your group would pass through that alley?”

Yang Jin frowned and looked at Shi Yixi, who still had a dazed expression, presumably still processing what had happened ten minutes ago.

“I’ve made it clear,” Dalia said. “I don’t know why I’m like this. My parents disappeared without a trace after returning to Earth. I just want to go back. I don’t care who you are or what you’re up to. It was only after coming here that I found out about your spaceship and started to consider… I just want to go home!” She paused, tears welling up again. With teary eyes, she looked at Shi Yixi, stumbled over to him, took his hand, and said, “Xixi, can you take me home?”

“I…” Overwhelmed by the flood of information, Shi Yixi’s brain nearly shut down.

Yang Jin’s patience finally reached its limit. He grabbed the back of Dalia’s collar with one finger and threw her in front of Bai Yunci. “Lao Bai, since she doesn’t know anything herself, help us figure out what’s really going on.”

Bai Yunci, with rare excitement in his eyes, smiled. “Willing to serve.”

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Translator Notes

1. Little sister[↩]