novelraw Chapter 829 829: A Major Collaboration
Chapter 829 829: A Major Collaboration
The following two days passed in a flurry of activity that Han Yu had not anticipated would be so… exhausting.
Not physically, but mentally.
From the moment Han Yu had agreed to collaborate, Elder Jurhanzi transformed into an entirely different person. The previously composed and somewhat reserved elder now behaved like a man who had discovered a long-lost treasure.
He spoke faster.
He walked faster.
He thought even faster.
Han Yu quickly realized why the man was the head of the Research Division.
"Your force modulation is good, but it is still too linear," Jurhanzi said while pacing around the prototype puppet. "You need a layered response system. Something like cascading thresholds. If one fails, the next compensates. Also, the vibration feedback loop, good idea, but crude. We can refine it. Maybe embed a secondary sensing filament into the tools themselves…"
Han Yu listened carefully.
He did not interrupt.
He absorbed everything.
Within ten minutes, Jurhanzi had already outlined multiple improvements. By the end of the first hour, Han Yu had a list long enough to keep him occupied for over a week.
Yet, instead of feeling burdened, Han Yu felt… invigorated.
This was knowledge.
Pure, unfiltered knowledge.
And more importantly, it was coming from someone who had spent centuries, perhaps over a millenium, refining his craft.
On the other side stood High Elder Hagun.
If Jurhanzi was a blazing flame of enthusiasm, Hagun was a silent glacier.
He observed.
He listened.
He rarely spoke.
When he did, his words were few but carried weight.
"You will report to Elder Jurhanzi," Hagun said calmly. "All expenditures will be approved through me."
That was all.
No unnecessary elaboration.
No wasted breath.
Yet the implications were immense.
A direct reporting line.
A dedicated budget.
And then came the part that truly surprised Han Yu.
"You will be granted full access to the Puppet Peak's libraries."
For the first time in the entire discussion, Han Yu's composure almost slipped.
Full access.
That was not a minor privilege.
Even as a personal disciple of the Second Kidney Peak Head, his access was not absolute. Each peak guarded its knowledge jealously, especially specialized knowledge like puppet crafting.
But now…
The Puppet Peak itself was opening its vault to him.
This meant access to restricted manuals.
Advanced formation schematics.
Experimental research records.
And perhaps…
Solutions.
Han Yu's mind immediately turned toward the slave seals.
If there was anywhere in the sect that might contain knowledge on how to dismantle or manipulate such complex bindings, it would be here.
"I understand," Han Yu replied simply.
Inside, however, his thoughts were already racing.
Hagun gave a short nod.
"Make use of it."
With that, the High Elder turned and left without another word.
His departure was as quiet as his presence.
Once he was gone, Jurhanzi seemed to relax even further.
"Good, good," the elder said, rubbing his hands together. "Now we can really get to work."
And work they did.
For two days straight, Han Yu remained at the Puppet Peak, refining details, discussing designs, and restructuring the prototype's framework. Jurhanzi's ideas came in waves, each one building upon the last.
Han Yu did not reject them outright.
He analyzed them.
Filtered them.
Integrated what was useful.
Discarded what was impractical.
It was a collaboration in the truest sense.
By the end of the second day, the foundation for mass production had been laid.
Not finalized, but stable.
It was enough.
And yet, despite the progress, Han Yu knew he could not stay any longer.
There was something more important.
The mine.
The true purpose behind all of this.
And more importantly…
His people.
"I will take my leave for now," Han Yu said. "I have not reported to my master yet." He added.
Jurhanzi looked slightly disappointed but did not stop him.
"Fine, fine. But don't take too long. We have a lot to do."
"I understand."
With that, Han Yu left the Puppet Peak.
His steps were swift.
His mind focused.
By the time he reached the Second Kidney Peak, the sun had already begun to dip, casting long shadows across the sect.
He headed straight toward the Peak Head's residence.
But the moment he approached, he felt something.
A presence.
Not just one.
Two.
One was familiar.
Cold.
Deep.
Like an endless frozen sea.
The Peak Head.
The other…
Sharp.
Condensed.
Like a blade hidden within cloth.
Han Yu's eyes narrowed slightly.
He did not need to knock.
CREAK
The door opened on its own.
"Enter."
The Peak Head's voice echoed calmly.
Han Yu stepped inside.
And then he saw him.
For a fraction of a second, time seemed to slow.
His heartbeat did not change.
His expression did not shift.
His breathing remained steady.
But within him…
A storm erupted.
The thought alone was enough.
But seeing the man in person again…
That was something else entirely.
Han Yu recognized him instantly.
There was no mistaking it.
The face.
The aura.
And most of all…
The memory.
The inheritance ground.
The barrier.
The helplessness.
And the blood.
He remembered everything.
He remembered watching.
Powerless.
As his sect members were slaughtered.
And among those responsible…
This man stood prominently.
The one with the metal wings.
The one who had flown like a predator among prey.
The one who had killed without hesitation.
Han Yu felt a surge of anger rise within him.
Cold.
Controlled.
But absolute.
Yet outwardly…
Nothing changed.
His face remained as indifferent as ever.
His eyes as calm as a still lake.
He bowed slightly.
The Peak Head spoke.
"This is Hong Yao."
Han Yu listened.
"Core Disciple of the sect. Personal disciple of High Elder Zhongli."
At the mention of that name, Han Yu raised a brow ever so slightly.
High Elder Zhongli.
One of the top five.
A confidant of the Patriarch.
A figure of immense power and influence.
This only made Hong Yao's presence more significant.
Han Yu looked at him again.
Carefully.
Measured.
Hong Yao stood tall, his posture relaxed but alert. His gaze was sharp, carrying the confidence of someone who had never truly been threatened.