Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Fuel-Powered Car
Pan Shi Sports School was located at the foot of Pan Shi Mountain in the North District. It covered several thousand acres and was adjacent to the City Guard Camp. The school had three campuses: the Beginner Area, the Middle Stage Area, and the High Stage Area. Xiaozhuo was in the Beginner Area, and since the school didn’t allow outsiders, Luo Kai and Old Fu wandered around the vicinity.
The North District was completely different from the other city districts. It had almost no skyscrapers or factories, consisting entirely of standalone private mansions. The streets were clean, the trees were dense, and the atmosphere was elegant. Wealthy merchants and nobles lived here, so security was extremely tight. Every street had a reinforced concrete sentry post, and guards patrolled around the clock.
The feeling of being constantly watched was very uncomfortable. Luo Kai and Old Fu returned to the school and waited at the main gate for classes to end. His gaze was drawn to a nearby parking lot, which was packed with vehicles. Among them, several small cars were particularly eye-catching. They didn’t have the large boilers characteristic of steam-powered cars and looked no different from the gasoline cars of his previous life.
Luo Kai couldn’t help but be a little surprised. "Are those gasoline cars?"
Old Fu glanced toward the parking lot and nodded. "Yes, they are."
"If gasoline exists, why haven’t I seen anyone using it?" Luo Kai was deeply puzzled. ’After all, petroleum far surpasses coal in both energy conversion efficiency and convenience. It was the advent of gasoline that allowed human civilization to fully enter the industrial age.’
Old Fu explained, "Gasoline is great, of course, but it’s incredibly expensive. The Xingma Kingdom doesn’t produce this resource; we rely entirely on limited imports. Most of it goes to the military, so it’s impossible for it to become widespread. I’d estimate there are no more than ten gasoline-powered cars in all of Longyang City, and even fewer other types of gasoline-powered machines."
"Oh." Luo Kai nodded. He remembered the locations of some major oil fields, but the world had changed so drastically that his knowledge was completely useless.
Soon, school let out. A large crowd of young men and women surged through the gates, their lively chatter filling the air. A wave of youthful energy washed over Luo Kai, and he couldn’t help but feel as if he had returned to his own school days, even though his current body wasn’t much older than these students.
Xiaozhuo walked out of the school gates in a snow-white training uniform, a wooden spear in hand. With her slender figure, she looked a bit like a pretty warrior girl. Upon seeing Luo Kai, her face flushed with excitement, and she shouted from afar, "Big Brother!"
Xiaozhuo had completely recovered from the trauma of her kidnapping and reverted to her cheerful, charming self. As usual, she tugged on the corner of Luo Kai’s shirt, chattering excitedly about her day at school. Today they had learned spear throwing, a primitive hunting skill that was now making a comeback.
Spear throwing was, of course, far inferior to weapons like bows or firearms, but its advantage was that the materials were easy to find. Furthermore, its destructive power depended not on mechanical force, but on the thrower’s own Power and skill. At short to medium range, the lethality of a powerful spear thrower was no less than that of a firearm.
Luo Kai was very interested in this and was listening intently. But Xiaozhuo suddenly changed the subject, covering her nose. "Big Brother, why are you still wearing these clothes? The smell of blood will never wash out. And you need a haircut! Your hair is almost down to your chest!"
Luo Kai had never paid much attention to such things, and no one had ever mentioned them to him before. He looked down. He was still wearing the same overcoat, riddled with holes. His pants were worn and frayed. His hair was indeed getting long; in the past, whenever it grew out, he would just hack off a chunk with a knife. There was no style to speak of. With his disheveled hair, ragged clothes, and general untidiness, he really did look rather sloppy. Blushing slightly, he said, "I forgot."
"Come on! I’ll take you to buy some new clothes and get a haircut." Xiaozhuo patted her chest proudly, then grabbed Luo Kai and led him toward a small gasoline car in the lot.
Two bodyguards, a man and a woman, stood by the car. The man was Black, tall and powerful, with a fierce expression. The woman was petite and delicate, looking more like a student than a bodyguard. They were both elites Zang Haisheng had selected from the Merchant Guard Team, proficient in combat Body Techniques, and their Spear Technique was also superb.
Both had undergone rigorous training. Seeing their young mistress acting so intimately with this young man, they were deeply curious about their apparent new colleague, but they knew better than to ask questions.
Old Fu smiled and instructed the two bodyguards, "Take good care of the Young Miss." Then he turned to Luo Kai. "Well, young man, I’ll be going now."
"Yeah, see you."
The gasoline car started up, pulling away smoothly. The ride was extremely stable, about as comfortable as the cars from his previous life, and it lacked the signature noise and sooty smell of a steam-powered vehicle.
The male bodyguard, Ramu, sat in the driver’s seat. The female bodyguard, Zang Die, was responsible for handling Xiaozhuo’s daily needs.
The gasoline car pulled up to the entrance of a luxurious shopping mall, where a doorman was already waiting. He attentively guided them toward the apparel section.
An hour later, Luo Kai was in a completely new outfit: a thick leather jacket, a pair of fleece-lined slim-fit jeans, and a pair of shiny leather shoes. Though his hair was still long and untamed, the new clothes gave him a roguishly stylish air. The sloppy young man had transformed into a dashingly handsome one.
Xiaozhuo’s eyes were practically sparkling. She exclaimed in admiration, "Big Brother, you’re so handsome!"
Luo Kai tugged uncomfortably at his new pants, muttering to himself, ’If I get into a fight wearing these, they’ll definitely rip.’
As they were checking out, he happened to glance at the bill and was stunned. He quickly asked, "This outfit costs twelve thousand?!"
Xiaozhuo nonchalantly tossed the receipt into a trash can and clapped her hands. "And that was with a thirty percent discount."
Luo Kai winced at the cost. ’It’s just clothes! Such an insane luxury!’
A sly smile appeared on Xiaozhuo’s face. She cleared her throat and said, "Big Brother, that was all from my allowance. You have to pay me back."
Luo Kai lightly rapped her on the head. "You little spendthrift! Don’t you go wasting money like that in the future!"
Xiaozhuo clutched her head and giggled. "It wasn’t my money I spent. It was your salary advance."
...
Luo Kai’s life returned to a state of calm, but the nation’s political situation grew increasingly dire. The Xingma Kingdom and the Nanzhao Kingdom had engaged in several major clashes along the border, resulting in heavy losses for both sides. The conflict only ceased after the Dongyuan Upper Country issued a decree of mediation, at which point the two nations entered a standoff.
The Dragon Shark Pirates were officially garrisoned in Longyang County, renamed the Dragon Shark Camp, and incorporated into the ranks of the Longyang Prefecture Army. The first contingent of three thousand soldiers was stationed at Tiger Head Slope, thirty li away. Soldiers from the Dragon Shark Camp frequently came to Longyang City in large groups to carouse and spend their money. These men were savage and brutal, committing arson, murder, and robbery in broad daylight. The Security Department, which was in charge of maintaining order, was furious but dared not intervene. For a time, the people of Longyang City were plunged into misery.
Luo Kai remained unaware of all this. He spent his days sleeping in his rented room, resting and gathering his strength. The only times he went out were to visit Xiaozhuo at Pan Shi Sports School. Perhaps due to his improved living conditions, his recovery was much faster this time. Within a month, he was back in peak physical condition.
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