Volume One: The Lonely Beta Test Chapter Nineteen: Lu and Guan—True Friends

“Since you’ve become my apprentice, it’s time for me to assign your first initiation task,” Lin Feng said solemnly.

Lu Dash was equally earnest, bowing with both hands. “I await your instructions, Master!”

Lin Feng spread out the blueprint once more. “This is called a catapult. It’s designed to hurl stones and other heavy objects, allowing one to attack people or structures from a distance. For the rescue of my parents, I believe this invention will be of immense use. Your mission is to lead the local craftsmen and construct it!”

“Your disciple will not fail your trust!” Lu Dash agreed at once, then turned to another craftsman nearby. “Brother Guan Ironhammer, many of the components shown here are made of iron. I’m skilled with wood, but as for forging, I’ll need your help.”

“No worries, Brother Lu, I’ll give it my all!”

Just now, Lu Dash’s predicament had kept him from asking the other craftsman’s name. But now, with Lu Dash voicing it, it turned out one was named Lu, the other Guan—a pair of good friends, indeed.

“What the Immortal has drawn must be wondrous,” Guan Ironhammer remarked, looking at Lin Feng. “But how does this device actually hurl heavy objects? Could you enlighten us, so we might better understand its secrets and thus build it more effectively?”

Lin Feng knew that explaining the principles of levers and such would be lost on them for the moment. Instead, he signaled to Lu Dash to put away the blueprint, then bent down to pick up a large and a small stone, placing them on the table. “Dash, fetch me a small stick, about a foot long.”

“No need, Master, I have one right here.” Lu Dash drew out the pipe from his belt and handed it over.

Lin Feng took it and examined it. The pipe, made of bamboo, was smooth as chestnut, the nodes almost worn down, capped at each end with brass. It was finely crafted and still faintly smelled of tobacco—it was unmistakably a smoking pipe.

“Dash, is this for smoking?” Lin Feng asked in surprise.

He distinctly remembered that tobacco smoking only began to spread among the Chinese in the mid-Ming dynasty. How could a pipe exist now, at the end of the Han? Could the history books have got it wrong?

“Master, I admit the thing is my plaything—but I have no idea how it’s used for smoking. What is smoking, anyway?” Lu Dash had possessed the pipe for some time, thinking it merely a curiosity. Now that Lin Feng mentioned its use, he grew intrigued.

Lin Zhen and the others were also quite interested in this “smoking” that Lin Feng mentioned, listening intently for his explanation.

Seeing that Lu Dash didn’t recognize a pipe for what it was, Lin Feng grew all the more interested. “I’ll explain smoking to you later. For now, tell me, how did you come by this item?”

“Master, I got it last year while repairing someone’s boat. I found it aboard; the owner said he’d fished it out at sea. He saw I liked it and gave it to me, so I didn’t charge for the repairs. But lately pirates have been rife in those waters, and it’s not easy to go back.”

Though Lin Feng hadn’t immediately answered about smoking, Lu Dash patiently recounted the story.

“Pirates—again with the pirates,” Lin Feng mused. “If Lu Dash and the others don’t know about smoking, then perhaps the history books weren’t wrong after all. Given the current state of navigation, it’s unlikely anyone from the Americas would have come to Han waters, and if the pipe had drifted all the way here, it would have rotted long ago. If all other explanations fail, only one remains: it came here the same way I did—through time.”

The thought brought to mind his own arrival in that very sea, making him even more eager to investigate. His interest in the local pirates, once mere loathing, now grew keen. Once his parents were rescued, he’d recruit troops and set out as quickly as possible.

Noticing Lin Feng’s silence after seeing the pipe, Lu Dash assumed his master was simply fond of such things. “If you like it, Master, I’ll give it to you. But those pirates are vicious—don’t risk yourself for it.”

Lin Feng set the pipe down. “No, it’s just that mention of the pirates reminded me of our family still in danger.”

At this, Lin Zhen’s hatred flared up as well. “Don’t worry, Immortal. Once we’ve rescued your brother and sister-in-law, we’ll go deal with those pirates and avenge the Lin family’s men!”

“That’s right! Once we build this marvelous weapon, we’ll have those beasts running scared!” Lu and Guan said in unison, a testament to their camaraderie.

“They won’t escape us. For now, let’s focus on the task at hand. Allow me to demonstrate with these objects on the table.”

Lin Feng placed the larger stone at the table’s center as a pivot, rested the pipe across it, and set the smaller stone on the far end. “See, the pipe and the large stone represent the catapult, and the small stone is our projectile.”

He gestured as he explained, the three watching with rapt attention—especially Lu Dash, whose heavy chin nearly rested on the stone table, eyes wide and unblinking, lest he miss a detail. He seemed to forget the world around him.

Lin Feng was delighted by his focus. “Dash, step back a bit. When I launch this stone, you might get hurt.”

Lu Dash didn’t budge. “No worries, I want a close look. My skin is thick and tough—a pebble like that can’t hurt me.”

Lin Zhen and Guan nodded, plainly siding with Lu Dash.

Lin Feng shook his head—he could do nothing with such childlike enthusiasm for mechanics. “Very well, but don’t blame me if you get hurt.”

“Go on, Master! Show us!” Lu Dash kept his eyes fixed, not even glancing at Lin Feng.

With a crisp “pop,” the stone shot out. Lu Dash cried out, clutching his forehead and tumbling to the ground like a startled toad.

Guan Ironhammer rushed over, kneeling to help. “Brother Lu!”

“Master Lu, are you badly hurt?” Lin Zhen asked anxiously.

Lu Dash held his forehead, gritting his teeth, his face flushed as he held his breath—plainly in real pain.

“I did warn you,” Lin Feng said. “If it hurts, let it out—it’ll feel better.”

He’d tried to avoid hitting Lu Dash, but the man had moved with the demonstration, and the pebble had struck him square on.

After five or six breaths, Lu Dash finally exhaled, still clutching his head. “Master, I underestimated this contraption. It really packs a punch. Good thing my forehead’s hard enough.”

Seeing he could speak, Lin Feng relaxed.

Guan Ironhammer pried Lu Dash’s hand away. “What a big bump! It’s purple, too!” He prodded it gently. “Does it hurt?”

“Aaaah!” Lu Dash cried out again, though this time with a hint of exaggeration. “Get your stinking hand off! If you had a lump like this, I’d like to see how you’d feel!”

“Er… hahaha…” Lin Feng couldn’t help laughing at Lu Dash’s aggrieved expression, and the others joined in, roaring with mirth.

After a moment, Lu Dash, helped by Guan Ironhammer, managed to sit up. “You guys…”

Guan Ironhammer helped him to a chair. “You’ll be fine. We’ll put some ointment on it, and the swelling will be gone tomorrow. Who’d have thought a stick and two stones could be so powerful? If we build the actual catapult, hurling stones weighing dozens of pounds, it could crush a man to pulp!”

“Exactly! If those scoundrels see one of their own flattened by it, they’ll all surrender in terror!” Lu Dash said excitedly. “Master, I understand the principle now. Let’s get to work!”

Lin Feng pressed his hands down, signaling them to sit. “No rush. I don’t intend to use this weapon for throwing stones.”

“Not stones? Then what?” Guan Ironhammer asked, puzzled. To his mind, only stones were hard enough—unless perhaps iron, but who would waste that?

Lin Zhen lowered his head, thinking, then said, “Immortal, do you mean to use—”

“No, but that’s a heavenly secret and cannot be divulged!” Lin Feng hastily interrupted, squinting with deliberate mystery.

He knew Lin Zhen had guessed his intent, but until the crucial moment, he didn’t want others to know. To keep this as their secret weapon, secrecy was paramount.

Lin Zhen, quick as ever, immediately caught on. “If it’s a heavenly secret, how could mere mortals guess? Pardon my rashness, Immortal!” With that, he knelt and bowed.

Lu Dash and Guan were not slow either; seeing Lin Zhen kneel, they followed suit. “We dare not guess, Immortal! Please rest assured!”

Lin Zhen’s show of repentance was precisely to prompt this vow from the others—to ensure the secret would be kept.

For this, Lin Feng was deeply grateful. “Thank you all for your understanding. Please, rise!”

He helped each of them up, then said, “Now, let’s work together on how best to build it.”

The four tidied the table, spread out the blueprint again, and launched into a spirited discussion. Each contributed ideas, sometimes arguing heatedly, and at last, their plan was finalized.

By this time, the other craftsmen had arrived. Lin Feng gave a brief speech, handed the blueprint to Lu Dash for safekeeping, and put him in charge of assigning tasks—leaving himself as a hands-off supervisor.