117: Chapter 89, I Have a Hand Fetish!

117: Chapter 89, I Have a Hand Fetish!

Imperial First Military Academy, Mechanical Engineering Major.

Tang Fei followed behind Phoenix, entering a tall, luxurious building with an oval shape that exuded a dreamlike technological feel.

Tang Fei looked at the teaching building, its style completely different from that of the Ancient Martial Arts Academy, and curiously asked, “Is the Mechanical Department this wealthy?”

“Of course,” Phoenix nodded and said, “Haven’t I told you?

A mechanic is one of the most sought-after jobs on New Star.

From galactic juggernauts to smart home appliances, as well as the flying cars, drones, flying saucers, intelligent robots, and so on that we see everywhere, which of these doesn’t need a mechanic’s design and development?

Which doesn’t need their repair and transformation?”

“If you could become an Advanced Mechanic, whether you start your own business or become a Chief Technical Officer in a large conglomerate, you’ll start with at least a million-star currency salary per year…

Xiu Xue is already a university literature professor, and her salary is only a third of that of an Advanced Mechanic…”

“That impressive?” Tang Fei recalled the voluptuous woman with an alluring demeanor, she was actually a literature professor?

Hmm, Phoenix was right there, he couldn’t think about that…

“So, it’s not too late for you to regret your choice,” said Phoenix.

“If you major in Mechanical Engineering, with your talent, you may have a chance to become an Advanced Mechanic after a few years of hard work…

If you major in Ancient Martial Arts, it’s quite easy to hit the ceiling…”

Although Martial Arts are popular in the galaxy, the ones who truly reach the top are the elite talents cultivated by major families and the occasional genius in Martial Arts who emerges from the masses.

This requires family inheritance, mentorship, medical supplements, and secret books of cultivation…

Simply relying on personal effort is very hard to reach the peak.

“I’ve already made up my mind,” said Tang Fei.

Last night, he practiced “Netherworld Scroll” all evening and had just grasped a bit of it; how could he easily give up now?

Besides, being a mechanic was about making money; was he the type of person who lacked money?

Not to mention the revenue from the Yan family’s assets, even the Luminous Pearl given to him by Shen Boyu was enough for him and Little Fatty to eat for a lifetime…

What he lacked was life itself.

Above New Star, dangers lurked at every corner.

Although there were no acid rains, no mutant beasts, no man-eating flora, and silent marshes swallowing people whole…

But, there were people, hordes of them.

Human hearts were much more fearsome than wild beasts.

“Huh, why does that phrase sound so familiar?”

These people wore suits, donned ties, drove flying cars, drank fine tea or wine, but when they stabbed you, they wouldn’t even blink an eye.

All the while, softly inquiring if you are in pain and asking if you’d like help to stop the bleeding…

Compared to that, Tang Fei actually preferred dealing with predators.

Because when he saw them, all he needed to do was wield his sword and kill.

When facing these people, he first had to try hard to discern who was good and who was evil…

So tiring!

Therefore, Tang Fei wanted to major in Ancient Martial Arts; he had to work hard to strengthen and enlarge himself.

He had only one life, and one careless moment could lead to his death.

He needed to sharpen his knife even quicker and be stronger than others.

Phoenix looked at Tang Fei’s determined expression and said, “Then let’s go in.”

The two of them used facial recognition to enter the building, took the elevator, and felt as if their entire bodies were about to take flight.

In the blink of an eye, the elevator stopped at the one hundred and ninth floor.

Tang Fei exited the elevator and glanced outside, finding themselves amongst the clouds.

It was so unsafe, anyone with a fear of heights would probably wet themselves right there.

At the elevator entrance stood a young woman wearing glasses; she looked at Phoenix and said, “New Star Xiu Xue, I am Director Lu’s assistant, Tian Tian.

Director Lu asked me to receive you for the evaluation.”

“Thank you, Senior Tian Tian,” Phoenix smiled and politely thanked Tian Tian.

“How did Xiu Xue know I’m your senior?” Tian Tian asked as she clacked her high heels on the floor, leading the way and couldn’t help but inquire.

“I’m aware that it’s traditional in the Mechanical Department for students to stay on as teaching assistants or assistants, because this involves…

focuses on very profound specialized knowledge, something which an ordinary clerk recruited from society would find very difficult to handle.”

“Also, I’ve heard the name Senior Tian Tian before…

Genius girl of the Mechanical Department, achieved the ‘Lu Ban Award’ in your first year, and during your university period, you designed works that won the ‘Heavenly Craftsmanship Award’ four times.

Countless enterprises, including military departments, extended olive branches to you…

and yet, unexpectedly you chose to stay at school to be an assistant for Director Lu…”

“Senior Tian Tian, you are so knowledgeable, I admire that,” Xiu Xue complimented.

Tian Tian just smiled and did not speak any further.

She led Tang Fei and Phoenix into a spacious, workshop-like room filled with various mechanical equipment and design models.

A skinny, short old lady was directing students with their design plans and hand model making; her gaze fell first on Tang Fei when she saw Phoenix’s group arrive.

After all, New Star Xiu Xue was a well-known figure at the school, and they were already familiar.

She’d mentioned bringing someone today for an evaluation, so it had to be this male student.

“Director, Tang Fei is here,” said Tian Tian, walking to Lu Wenjing and speaking softly.

Lu Wenjing looked at Tang Fei and said, “Stretch your hands out.”

So, Tang Fei extended his hands.

Palm up, he presented his slender hands to Lu Wenjing.

Although he didn’t know what this was all about.

Lu Wenjing examined carefully and said, “Turn them over.”

Tang Fei flipped his hands, revealing the backs to her.

Lu Wenjing nodded and said, “Good, you’ve passed the evaluation.”

“?” Tang Fei.

“?” Phoenix said.

Only Tian Tian wore a smile, seemingly unsurprised by such a result.

“Director, does this mean I’ve passed the assessment?” Phoenix asked, her face filled with astonishment.

“I’m a hand control,” Lu Wenjing declared.

“With such beautiful hands, it would be a waste not to learn mechanics.”

“…”

This reason was beyond dispute…

“Do I not need to do any other assessments?” Phoenix inquired.

She worried that such a trivial assessment might make Tang Fei feel that the school didn’t value him enough.

He was even more concerned that Lu Wenjing might have accepted him just to save face, but wouldn’t actually teach him anything worthwhile…

“Do I still need to do other assessments?” The old lady readjusted her black-framed glasses on her nose, thought for a moment, and said, “Oh, you mentioned he can make little birds…

Let’s see him make a little bird then.”

“I can only make wooden little birds,” Tang Fei said.

“Then make a wooden little bird,” Lu Wenjing stated.

“Set up a workbench for him.”

Tian Tian took Tang Fei to an empty workbench and said, “There are all kinds of tools available here; Tang Fei, you can use whatever you need.

If you require something else, just tell me, and I’ll prepare it for you.”

“That’s enough,” Tang Fei said.

In the past, he had only needed a few pieces of wood and a Dog Leg Knife to make an airplane, but now, there were at least thirty to fifty types of tools on the table, far more than he ever needed…

“Let’s begin then,” Lu Wenjing said.

“Do we need to time it?” Tang Fei asked.

“No need.

It ends whenever you finish,” Lu Wenjing checked her watch and said, “Of course, it’s best not to delay my lunch.”

“…”

This old lady…

is kind of cool.

Tang Fei sat down at the workbench, selected the wood pieces he needed, and began to work with a carving knife.

His movements while carving were swift, rhythmic, flowing like water; there was hardly any pause.

Moreover, the angle and strength of each cut were incredibly precise and balanced, always achieving the desired shape of the wood with the least amount of cuts and effort.

Tian Tian’s eyes revealed astonishment—true expertise was evident from the very start.

This boy had indeed put in the hard work.

Leaving other things aside, his hand skills alone were on par with very few others.

Mechanical engineering requires both creativity and practical experience.

Being able to perfectly realize the ideas from his own mind was an essential skill for a mechanic.

Lu Wenjing, standing aside, nodded in approval.

Initially, she thought he was just a “crafts enthusiast”—if he liked it, he’d learn; if not, he’d leave it.

She never forced any student.

It turned out she had stumbled upon a treasure…

In just a short time, a wooden little bird was assembled.

“Can it fly?” Lu Wenjing asked.

“It should…

be able to,” Tang Fei said uncertainly.

He wasn’t sure—he could say “yes” in front, but he hesitated at the end…

But since Phoenix had boasted about it for him, if he said it couldn’t fly, wouldn’t that be embarrassing for Phoenix?

Sure enough, Phoenix understood Tang Fei’s thoughts and gave him a reassuring smile, signaling that she wouldn’t mind.

“Then give it a try,” Lu Wenjing said.

So, Tang Fei went to an open space in the hall, twisted the wooden spring at the back of the little bird, and it started chirping.

Lu Wenjing watched as the bird’s beak moved, and she praised, “That’s quite interesting, the tail and the bird’s tongue are linked to form a whole.

When the tail moves, the bird naturally sings…”

When Tang Fei felt that the spring was wound enough, he suddenly launched the little bird into the air.

Creaking and squeaking…

The little bird flapped its wooden wings, climbing higher step by step.

One meter, two meters, three meters…

At about ten meters high, the tail caught fire, and with a snap, it fell to the ground and shattered.

“That’s a pity,” Lu Wenjing said with some regret.

Then she comforted Tang Fei, “It’s already very impressive.

You can start attending classes in the Mechanical Department tomorrow.”

“Thank you, Director,” Tang Fei said happily.

Lu Wenjing then turned to Tian Tian and instructed, “Help him with any paperwork he needs to complete.”

“Yes, Director.”

Lu Wenjing glanced at Phoenix, waved her hand, and said, “I have things to do, I’m off.”

With that, she walked away without looking back.

Tian Tian looked at Tang Fei and said with a smile, “Congratulations, Tang Fei, on joining our Mechanical Department.

You’re my junior now.”

“Hello, senior.

I’ll be counting on your guidance,” Tang Fei immediately seized the opportunity, climbing up the proverbial steps.

“Come on, I’ll take you to complete the procedures.

You can start attending classes tomorrow.”

“Thank you, senior,” Tang Fei expressed his gratitude.

Once Tang Fei and the others had left, a girl with a mechanical arm walked over, picked up the wreckage of the wooden little bird from the ground, opened its shell, and after seeing the drive mechanism inside, her expression turned grim and startled.

He had returned!