Deus Ex Machina: Chapter 28

Chapter 28

“My home?” Shi Yixi reminisced, “Just an ordinary house with my mom and dad. For over ten years, we’ve lived the same routine, and that’s it.”

“Pretty uneventful,” Yang Jin remarked.

“Probably,” Shi Yixi continued. “Both my parents have regular jobs. Mom cooks really well, but she’s a bit fierce, especially with Dad. Whenever she gets angry, Dad doesn’t dare raise his voice. He waits until she’s calmed down a bit, then he’ll go comfort her.”

“Your dad must really love your mom,” Yang Jin said. “Do you miss home?”

“I didn’t before, but now, a little,” Shi Yixi admitted. “Plus, I never told them what I’m doing. I don’t know if they’ve heard about the Qianfan explosion. What if they think I’m dead? I’m really scared they’ll be heartbroken. If only I had a younger sibling.”

“Why are you suddenly thinking about all this?” Yang Jin asked. “You never used to dwell on these things, and you didn’t talk this much either.”

“I…” Shi Yixi said, “I don’t know why I’ve changed like this.”

Yang Jin replied, “Maybe you’re slowly becoming a whole new you.”

“Is that a bad thing?” Shi Yixi asked innocently.

“There’s nothing bad about it. People are always changing,” Yang Jin said. “In different stages of life, we meet different people and experience different things. These bring changes. You might find that what seemed right at eighteen doesn’t feel the same at twenty-eight. Your changes are just happening faster and more intensely. To give you an example, most people just grow up—from kids to adults. But maybe you’re undergoing a transformation. Before you know it, the caterpillar emerges from the cocoon as…”

“A moth?” Shi Yixi asked earnestly.

“…” Yang Jin was speechless. “Why do you have to ruin the mood?”

“I don’t know,” Shi Yixi replied, then fell silent, bowing his head. Yang Jin noticed that since Shi Yixi started changing, even his inner world seemed to open up just a crack, allowing a rush of emotions to flood in, eager to teach this seemingly newly awakened boy. Before, Shi Yixi didn’t know the meaning of “awkward,” but once he did, he often found himself trapped in that feeling due to his clumsy expressions.

Yang Jin’s tone softened. “It’s a butterfly.”

Shi Yixi muttered, “What if it doesn’t turn out that good? What if I just become dumber?”

“But so far, it seems like everything’s moving in a positive direction,” Yang Jin reassured him. “Don’t overthink things. Think back—did you ever have this many thoughts before?”

Shi Yixi shook his head. “I never cried or laughed much as a kid. I didn’t feel much about anything. I couldn’t understand others, and others couldn’t understand me… Even now, I still don’t really get it, but I feel like I’m starting to, little by little. I’m learning to try.”

“Don’t rush,” Yang Jin said. “Take your time.”

Feng Mang and Dalia headed to the Wu Zhishen Martial Arts Hall on 13th Street in the North District.

Aurora’s weather was excellent, basking in abundant sunlight every day. Feng Mang found it glaring, so he wore his sunglasses and carried his cane when he went out. Dalia, like a well-behaved daughter, held onto Feng Mang’s arm, making him look even more like a blind man.

A very stylish blind man in a tailcoat.

Although North District 13th Street wasn’t a slum, it wasn’t affluent either. The area was home to average lower-middle-class office workers. A martial arts dojo in such a place was clearly out of place. In this era, no one is interested in outdated hand-to-hand combat—technology can replace everything, including the most mundane of human physical abilities.

Only those with a passion for retro trends would come here for fun. Of course, there were also busy parents who sent their preschool-aged children here under the guise of strengthening their bodies, but in reality, they just wanted someone to look after them.

After all, machines were notoriously unreliable when it came to taking care of little kids.

As soon as they entered, Feng Mang and Dalia were greeted by the noisy shouts of a group of rowdy children. Soon, a teacher-like figure gathered them together to start practicing punches.

“This is the first time I’ve seen a martial arts dojo,” Dalia said. “It’s so shabby.”

“Same here…” Feng Mang replied. “Is there any problem that can’t be solved with weapons? Why resort to fists?”

Dalia said, “You’re supposed to be blind right now. Please stick to your character.”

Feng Mang was at a loss for words.

After explaining their purpose, they met the legendary He Xun in a cramped reception room.

He Xun wasn’t short, but he was very thin—almost sickly so, which made him appear slightly hunched. Despite being in his early forties, his temples were already flecked with white hair, and no matter how relaxed he tried to appear, he couldn’t hide his exhaustion. Although he was the owner of the martial arts dojo, he looked even more nervous and uneasy than Feng Mang and Dalia, who were the guests.

Feng Mang wondered if there was a mistake. The Qianfan was filled with the most elite group of people; even retired heroes shouldn’t be so down-and-out, right?

“Um…” He Xun nervously pushed a cup of water forward. “Please have some water.” He looked up and noticed that Feng Mang was still wearing sunglasses indoors and had a cane by his side. Realizing something, he awkwardly asked, “Are you having some difficulty?”

“No need, thank you,” Feng Mang politely declined, knowing what He Xun was referring to, but he didn’t elaborate further. Clearing his throat, he continued, “I don’t know much about martial arts or boxing, but my sister really likes it. I’ve hired private coaches for her before, but she didn’t like any of them and kept insisting on going to a martial arts dojo. As you might know, nowadays, finding a martial arts dojo is harder than finding a starship. It took a lot of effort to find you. So, what do you think…?”

“Girls don’t come here often,” He Xun smiled, “but if she’s genuinely interested, she can give it a try.”

Feng Mang asked, “How do you calculate the fees here?”

“Uh… there’s no charge for trying it out,” He Xun said sincerely. “If she feels it’s good and wants to learn here, we can discuss the tuition fees then.”

“How long is the trial period?” Feng Mang asked.

He Xun replied, “As long as the young lady likes.”

Feng Mang finally understood why this martial arts dojo was struggling so much. It was the first time he’d seen someone run a business so whimsically, with no regard for basic principles.

“Can I bring my sister in for a look around?” Feng Mang asked. “Let her see for herself.”

“Of course,” He Xun stood up and even thoughtfully helped Feng Mang with his cane. Feng Mang didn’t really want to keep pretending to be blind, but Dalia smiled and told He Xun, “Thank you, Uncle. My brother has trouble seeing but always tries to act tough.”

“It’s alright,” He Xun squatted down slightly and gently said to Dalia, “Your brother treats you so well; you must take good care of him too.”

Dalia beamed even brighter. “I will!”

What else could Feng Mang do? He could only continue to play the role of the blind man.

Exiting the office, they immediately came upon the training room of the martial arts dojo next door. The space wasn’t large and was divided into inner and outer sections. He Xun explained that this was because sometimes they needed to separate the classes offered.

There weren’t many people today—just a bunch of rowdy kids earnestly stretching their arms and legs. They were curious about the strangers, sneaking glances while practicing.

“Alright, everyone, take a break,” a woman came out, clapping her hands. As soon as she spoke, the kids cheered and scattered.

The woman approached slowly with a smile, and He Xun introduced her, “This is my wife, Meng Die.”

“What a unique name,” Feng Mang commented, having no other way to compliment Meng Die’s appearance, so he focused on her name instead. Meng Die was petite, and the passage of time had left visible marks on her—wrinkles around her eyes were clear evidence. This was the toll life took on a woman in her forties. Had she been able to maintain herself like those wealthy ladies, she might have preserved her youthful beauty.

Feng Mang could tell that even though Meng Die had aged, she must have been a great beauty in her youth.

The saying that a flower planted in cow dung remains timelessly true.

He Xun briefly introduced them to each other and gave a quick overview of the situation. Unlike He Xun’s gentle and accommodating demeanor, Meng Die had a certain hardness in her eyes. Although she was polite, there was a strong sense of distance in her manner.

“Come here, little girl.” Meng Die crouched slightly and extended her hand. “Give me a punch right here.”

Hearing this, Feng Mang immediately grew anxious. He feared that if Dalia really threw a full-strength punch, it would cause a scene of utter chaos.

“Heh!” Dalia gritted her teeth and threw a small punch at Meng Die’s rough palm, producing a dull thud. Meng Die smiled and said, “A girl’s strength is usually less than a boy’s, but that’s okay. Here, you can learn some skill-based techniques.”

“Quickly thank Auntie Meng,” Feng Mang breathed a sigh of relief.

Dalia said, “Thank you, Xiao Die-jiejie ¹.”

“…” Feng Mang was speechless.

He Xun said to Dalia, “Come by whenever you have time. The martial arts dojo is open during the day, and we… cough, cough…” Before he could finish his sentence, he began to cough violently. Meng Die looked at him with concern and said, “It’s time for your medication.”

“Mr. He, are you in poor health?” Feng Mang asked. “Do you need to see a doctor? I know many famous doctors.”

“It’s an old problem. I’ve been in poor health as I’ve gotten older,” He Xun replied with a smile. “Thank you. So… shall we continue our conversation another time?”

“Oh…” Realizing that they were being shown the door, Feng Mang had nothing more to say. Dalia tugged at his arm and said, “Let’s go. Next time, I’ll come by myself.”

Feng Mang laughed, “How can I let you do that?”

What appeared to outsiders as a perfect sibling relationship wasn’t even a genuine partnership.

After leaving the martial arts dojo, Feng Mang felt a bit more at ease, no longer needing to pretend to be blind. His steps even seemed lighter.

“I think we might have been off track from the start,” Feng Mang said. “No matter how you look at it, He Xun doesn’t seem like someone who retired from Qianfan. He doesn’t have the qualities of a hero—not handsome, and even a bit sleazy. How could someone like that possibly live up to the title of Wu Shen ²?”

Dalia said, “You really love judging people, don’t you?”

The streets in the northern district were bustling, with many small vendors lining the sidewalks. Dalia seemed very interested in these stalls, constantly glancing around and trying several times to stay and browse.

“Do you like these?” Feng Mang asked.

“They’re okay,” Dalia replied nonchalantly. “Just children’s toys.”

“But aren’t you just a child yourself?” Feng Mang laughed. “You’re even younger than Ying Si, still a little girl.”

Dalia said, “You’re so gross! I suggest you talk like a normal person.”

“Young lady, don’t refuse someone’s kindness.” Feng Mang led Dalia to a stall selling handmade trinkets, all made from cheap synthetic materials. Feng Mang looked down and selected a cute Shiba Inu hair clip, then bent down to ask Dalia, “Do you like this?”

“I don’t like it,” Dalia said. “You’re so boring for liking these childish things. Take it off.”

“Come on, just try it,” Feng Mang insisted, fastening the Shiba Inu hair clip into Dalia’s hair. “It’s really cute.”

Dalia snapped, “Where is it cute?”

“It really is cute!” The stall owner chimed in with a smile. “The hair clip and you are both adorable.”

Feng Mang laughed, “Then let’s buy it.” He quickly paid the stall owner and pulled Dalia along. Dalia’s expression was awkward, and she tried to remove the hair clip but lacked the strength, making her effort seem half-hearted.

“Stop pulling at it,” Feng Mang said, adjusting her hair. “You’ll mess it up.”

Dalia said, “I think Ying Si will laugh at me.”

“He’s just a clueless kid,” Feng Mang said. “Isn’t it normal for him to say things that sound righteous but are actually just talk?”

“Hmph.”

They reached the end of the street, where there was a small alley with a tiny stall in the corner. The stall displayed some grass-weaved animal trinkets, and an elderly woman was huddled behind it.

Dalia stopped to look.

“Let’s go. Why are you stopping?” Feng Mang urged. He glanced at the items on the stall and asked, “Do you like these? There are better ones over there. Should I buy them for you?”

“I don’t want those,” Dalia said, extending her hand. “Give me some money.”

Feng Mang fished into his pocket. He wasn’t used to carrying cash. After buying the hair clip for Dalia, he had only ten dollars left. He felt that taking out this ten dollars made him look quite stingy and lacking in style.

Dalia asked the elderly woman for the price and bought a small grass rabbit for two dollars. The old woman, with her dark, wrinkled hands, trembled as she gave Dalia the change. Dalia thanked her and walked away with her little rabbit.

“I said,” Feng Mang said, following her, “did you want to help that old lady? Why didn’t you buy everything?”

“Why does it concern you?” Dalia retorted.

“If you wanted to, you could have just asked,” Feng Mang said. “I could even give her a card. It’s nothing to me.”

“Why are you so nosy?” Dalia said. “I just wanted to buy a little trinket. Is that not okay?”

Feng Mang joked, “You’re a little witch, not an angel. Contradictory kindness doesn’t suit you.”

“Crazy blind man!” Dalia exclaimed. “Just because you have money doesn’t mean you can buy whatever you want. But does that mean ordinary people have no dignity? Do they need charity from rich people like you? You want to be a hero who does great things, but have you ever thought that maybe the world doesn’t have that many grand missions waiting for you? Can you only see stories of heroic battles? No. Living independently and working hard is impressive in its own way, not any less than someone like Yang Jin! You all come from privileged backgrounds, but sometimes you’re even less admirable than ordinary people.”

“I…” Feng Mang was at a loss for words.

“So stop asking me these weird questions, okay?” Dalia said. “It’s more effective for you to spend money on charity than to try to save the world.”

“I’ve done that…” Feng Mang began.

Dalia felt like she was about to explode from anger: “Just go away!”

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Translator Notes

1. Jiejie – older sister. Term for an older woman. Doesn’t have to be a biological sister[↩]
2. Martial God[↩]