The moment Qi Ze left, Yan Junyu received an email from him. Upon opening it, he found a long list of renowned mecha manufacturing masters in the Empire. Of course, this list had a notable feature: none of the masters surnamed Mu, and each had written articles criticizing the Mu family's monopoly.
Yan Junyu quickly understood the implications and immediately forwarded the list to Xu Qi, instructing him to pass it to the royal family and the Upper House to prevent any leaks.
After hanging up, Xu Qi sighed, "What a kid, he sent it out last night! Did you tell him? Otherwise, how could he have moved so fast!"
"It was me," Yan Junyu didn't hide it. Although he felt guilty towards Mu Ran, he didn't regret it. This matter was detrimental to the Mu family but was a great boon for Huaxia. Extreme imbalance of power would eventually lead to the collapse of the political system; without a political system, what could be said of a country?
Xu Qi looked around, ensuring no one was nearby, and then gave a thumbs-up, teasingly saying, "I have to praise you for a job well done. Your judgment is good; Qi Ze is made of great stuff. I've never seen a more shrewd and bold young man. How old is he this year? Seventeen or eighteen? He's overturned the Mu family; I'm impressed. I heard he applied to the Imperial Academy's mecha manufacturing department and passed all Ss? Unfortunately, if he weren't carbon-based, he might have surpassed Mu Ran. The Mu family might be in trouble, but as long as Mu Ran breaks through to 3S and successfully manufactures a superpowered mecha, the Mu family won't truly decline. This time, he must have realized the situation and might bear a grudge against you. Don't argue with him to avoid trouble when you need his help."
Yan Junyu shook his head with a bitter smile, "I never intended to completely fall out with him; we've grown up together."
Xu Qi patted his shoulder and continued, "Mu Ran is proud and won't do anything to Qi Ze. At most, he'll have the Mu family's mecha masters boycott him, making it impossible for him to complete his studies. As for Mu Yun, that's another story; full of scheming, if he can't kill Qi Ze, I bet he can't sleep at night. Watch Qi Ze closely when he's at school; don't let anyone harm him."
As Xu Qi finished, he saw the top trending news on the star network: a video posted by Qi Ze. With unparalleled confidence, he declared to the entire Empire that if he were murdered, the culprit would undoubtedly be the Mu family. The Mu family loved putting on a show, seizing the Empire's resources for their own use while projecting a facade of concern for the nation. They also frequently engaged in charitable activities, polishing their image. Now, Qi Ze reached out, tore off their façade, and trampled it underfoot.
They couldn't do anything but put on a façade of tolerance and magnanimity, which could drive anyone mad. Xu Qi found it amusing, laughing heartily, "I like this kid; he's damn charismatic! I've suffered under the Mu family for years. Every procurement season, I'd negotiate fiercely, and they'd charge exorbitantly for even a screw. When mechas broke, they wouldn't promptly repair them; they'd just stockpile them in warehouses until their mecha masters returned from vacation and then slowly fix them. Seeing their attitude always made my liver ache; I felt like grabbing a particle gun and taking them all out. Now, they won't be so arrogant. I must call the old man immediately and ask him to cultivate a team of mecha masters for the Yan family."
Yan Junyu couldn't laugh; he was concerned for Qi Ze. Although Mu Ran was his friend, he was somewhat aware of the Mu family's methods. To be frank, they were indeed dirty, filthier than any other large family, especially the Mu family patriarch, who appeared friendly but used ruthless tactics. He had twice forced the emperor to resign because the latter wanted to push the Anti-Monopoly Bill.
He fabricated numerous scandals, utterly tarnishing the royal family's image and causing the Anti-Monopoly Bill to be stillborn. However, as the saying goes, "what goes around comes around." Whatever grand victory the Mu family achieved in the past would now face a strong counterattack. The dictionary had already been sent out by Qi Ze; no matter how skilled Mu Yun was, he could do nothing to stop it. Who could have guessed that a small exam paper would become the fuse that triggered the Mu family's downfall?
Yan Junyu shook his head, sighing, "Qi Ze is too troublesome; I've taken on a great hassle." Though he said this, his tone lacked any vexation.
Xu Qi called the old man, reporting the situation. The old man was relaxed and even a bit delighted, chuckling, "Okay, I understand. As for Junyu, I want to talk to him."
Yan Junyu immediately approached Xu Qi, saluting.
"Enough with the sour face; I'm doing this for you," the old man rubbed his bald head, "Your little friend sent the dictionary to all the nation's mecha masters except Master Yan Zhongkui of our Yan family. It was deliberate, wasn't it? The little guy has quite the temper."
"Second Uncle has already broken off with the family, right?" Yan Junyu frowned.
"Yes, superficially, otherwise, the Yan family wouldn't be able to cultivate its own mecha masters behind the Mu family's back, right? Our warriors can't fight without mechas, so the Yan family can't lose the Mu family's support," the old man smiled, "Can my affection for my own grandson be surpassed by a stranger? I know you're straightforward; once you decide on something, you never look back. If I didn't discipline you, would I wait for the Mu family to take action? Here, send the little friend Qi Ze's communication number to Grandfather. Grandfather will personally apologize to him and beg for a dictionary for your Second Uncle. Your Second Uncle just called, blaming me for offending Qi Ze. I'm a dying man; this old face doesn't matter. I just want to pave the way for you so that you won't be constrained by the Mu family in the future. Junyu, don't blame Grandfather. Sitting in my position, many things need to be considered thoroughly, not simply black and white."
Yan Junyu was silent for a while before saying, "Apologizing to Qi Ze won't work; you should buy it instead. He's black-hearted; be prepared to bleed financially."
The old man was taken aback, then laughed even more heartily, "There are no eternal enemies, only eternal interests, right? Good kid, I like you! Where did you come from? Your nature and tactics don't resemble an orphan; you're like the carefully cultivated heir of a great family. I'll sincerely apologize first; if that doesn't work, I'll buy it. Protect him well and don't let the Mu family exploit any loopholes." He hung up immediately after saying this.
Yan Junyu stared at the dark screen, first shaking his head with a smile, then rubbing his forehead, laughing continuously. He had worried about Qi Ze for nothing; he could handle such big issues, like an omnipotent little monster.
A subordinate soon called, asking when to pick someone up.
"No need; he's fine," Yan Junyu replied in good spirits.
Xu Qi raised his eyebrows, "Oh, are you planning to secretly send Qi Ze out of the Empire? You're quite concerned about him."
Yan Junyu was honest, "I feel very close to him; I feel it's my responsibility to take care of him. Uncle Xu, I didn't expect he doesn't need me at all."
Xu Qi laughed, "Don't be discouraged; that kid was triggered. Didn't he say he wouldn't let you off? You'll have plenty of opportunities to interact with him in the future. You should thank the old man; by coincidence, he gave you a god-level assist."
"What god-level assist? Qi Ze not being angry with me would be lucky," Yan Junyu shook his head with a bitter smile.
Xu Qi comforted him, "Don't worry. Although I just met Qi Ze, it's not hard to see that he's a straightforward person; he remembers who was good to him and who wasn't, and he'll repay or compensate in kind. Such people are the hardest and easiest to get along with; don't play games with him, just be good to him wholeheartedly. The old man may have treated him coldly, but he didn't intend to completely alienate him. He told me to use your Second Uncle's connections to promote him into the entertainment industry as compensation. Of course, we overestimated ourselves; he's incredibly skilled. Passing forty-six subjects with all Ss; I wonder what kind of brain he has."
Xu Qi marveled, then opened his smart-brain to check the star network. The royal family and the Upper and Lower Houses had swiftly controlled public opinion, but the entire nation knew the truth. Many people stood up to condemn Qi Ze on behalf of the Mu family.
Xu Qi became increasingly angry, snorting, "There are still a bunch of fools defending the Mu family; are their brains flooded? If we compare all the Empire's citizens to eggs, then the Mu family is the basket holding the eggs. If the basket flips, all the eggs are lost; that terrible scene is what I can't even imagine, and they found it good and safe. A few years ago, when the emperor proposed the Anti-Monopoly Bill, there were already Federation people contacting Mu Yun; he was about to betray the country then. If not for the royal family's proactive retreat, the Empire might now be a vassal state of the Federation. We would be their slaves, and the Mu family would remain high and mighty. Such scum was considered the Empire's savior by the people?"
Xu Qi lit a cigarette and spoke solemnly, "To be blunt, although Master Mu Feixing made outstanding contributions to the Empire, his descendants are no good. They've long squandered the family's reputation. The old man arranged your marriage with Mu Ran; he felt more disgusted than eating a cockroach, but what could he do; his life was in their hands, and he had to comply. Now, once your Second Uncle masters those source codes, we can manufacture mechas ourselves. I hope Mu Ran doesn't advance; depending on him, Mu Yun will eventually rise again."
As he spoke, Xu Qi saw a long article exposing the Mu family's true face, analyzing the various disadvantages and hazards of the Mu family's monopoly on the mecha manufacturing industry. He quickly logged in with a minor account and gave a hundred likes. What the public needed to understand was such information, not to be blinded by the Mu family's dazzling halo.
After this long article, many renowned commentators also published articles on the same theme, dragging the once lofty Mu family down from its pedestal. The royal family and parliament made no official statements, allowing and even promoting the development of the situation. Initially, the Mu family's minions would contact moderators to delete the articles or complain to the government, but gradually, they seemed to have received orders from the Mu family's upper echelons and ceased their futile struggles.
Yan Junyu witnessed the process of the Mu family being pushed down by the masses and how this behemoth tumbled from the clouds to the dust. Qi Ze's destructive power, at this moment, was evident. He rubbed his face, deeply feeling powerless. In the same situation, he only thought of taking the boy away, never dreaming of counterattacking. The Mu family's power left a profound impression on him, making him subconsciously believe he had no ability to resist.
But Qi Ze was different; no matter how powerful the enemy, he would only charge forward. Having lived for more than thirty years, he wasn't even as good as a half-grown child; Yan Junyu was both frustrated and proud. He shook his head with a bitter smile, intending to send Qi Ze a message to be careful about his safety recently, when the old man's call came again.
"Hahaha, you don't know; that kid is really charismatic!" the old man was flushed with joy, "I apologized to him for ten minutes, and he just sat there on the sofa, crossing his legs," the old man imitated the boy's posture, "staring at me with a half-smile. I was covered in goosebumps, thinking this was a kid from which great family, with such airs. My mouth was dry before he slowly asked if I was done talking. When he was about to hang up, I quickly shouted to him that I was willing to pay for the dictionary; his thin eyebrows immediately rose, a look of mischief. Sure enough, he asked for fifty billion, non-negotiable. I gritted my teeth and agreed, and his attitude softened."
The old man rubbed his head, sighing, "In the end, just before hanging up, he suddenly said he accepted my apology because the fifty billion was enough to show my sincerity. Good kid, he understands clearly; he knows that our Yan family can obtain the dictionary from others, compensating for the previous mistake. At eighteen, he's so perceptive, bold, and daring. Saying he's an orphan, I wouldn't believe it even if I were killed. If this kid were my real grandson, why would I bother cultivating you, a blockhead?"
Yan Junyu was in no way upset by the criticism. He was relieved, saying, "Grandfather, you've worked hard. I'll explain to Qi Ze myself another day."
"It's your own matter; you take care of it. It's not that Grandfather wants to interfere in your life; before, I was constrained by others, with no choice," the old man waved his hand, "I've lived for a few hundred years, and my judgment of people is still there. Qi Ze knew my identity but could treat me neither too humble nor too arrogant, being firm when necessary and mild when appropriate, perfectly grasping the degree; such a person can't possibly come from an orphanage. His background is probably not simple; be careful when you interact with him."
"I understand," Yan Junyu nodded in agreement. Before today, he never expected Grandfather to admire Qi Ze so much. However, thinking about it, it wasn't surprising. His nature was too rigid, lacking adaptability, which was always his grandfather's least satisfied point. In contrast, Qi Ze was the opposite; he could endure humiliation and seize opportunities to climb up the ladder. When to do what and which path to take, he knew better than anyone.
The old man seemed to sense his grandson's change and smiled with satisfaction. Just as they hung up, Mu Ran called, asking, "Was it you who leaked the news that the Mu family would investigate Qi Ze? Otherwise, how could he have prepared in advance? Junyu, you've disappointed me! Do you know what this will do to the Mu family?"
The remaining guilt in Yan Junyu's heart vanished because of this question. He replied in the same cold tone, "Was it me who made the Mu family use ancient characters as source codes? Was it me who had you falsely accuse Qi Ze? What happened today originated from your technology's flaws. Flawed technology will be breached sooner or later, which you could have foreseen. Moreover, I don't think this is a bad thing. The most powerful armed force should belong to the nation and the people, not a single family."
Mu Ran fell silent for a moment before laughing lowly, "Even you think the Mu family was wrong? Fine, I won't argue with you. The situation is irreversible; I only hope the Yan family doesn't kick us when we're down. Tell that student Qi that even if he enters the mecha manufacturing department, it's useless if no one serves as his mentor. The Mu family may decline, but there's me. I'll see who dares to oppose me."
Yan Junyu didn't know why, but he felt like laughing. He shook his head, "Do as you wish; I don't think Qi Ze cares who you are or your so-called threats."
Mu Ran's composure finally collapsed, revealing a trace of ferocity. The veins on his cheeks bulged, seemingly gnashing his teeth, then he cut off the communication. A loud bang echoed in the room; his smart-brain was smashed to pieces on the ground. Mu Yun heard the noise and came in, his face equally sullen.
"Did he say that?"
"Yes. I didn't expect him to betray me."
"What's unexpected about that; in this world, only you won't betray yourself," Mu Yun sat on the sofa, slowly pouring two glasses of wine, "Come, have a drink with me. After drinking, continue working at the research institute. The future of the Mu family now rests on you."
Mu Ran brushed his messy hair, his tone extremely dejected, "I was so close to success. I've already broken down the source code invented by the Great Ancestor into radicals or simple strokes. Even if the dictionary falls into outsiders' hands, no one will understand the Mu family's source codes."
That was what he couldn't let go of; he was once only a step away from success but stumbled at the finish line. Now, even if he immediately deployed the new source codes he invented, it would be useless. That dictionary was like a decoder; with the tens of millions of fighter mechas sold by the Mu family as a reference, reverse-engineering the new codes would be a breeze, unless he completely abandoned the psychic operating system invented by his ancestors and switched to an entirely new system.
But Mu Ran knew he wasn't a genius to invent a new operating system. From now on, the Mu family could only abandon the fighter mecha industry and focus on the development of superpowered mechas. Fortunately, besides the source codes, the core technologies of superpowered mechas also included energy conversion, psychic conduction, and metal processing. If one didn't obtain the Great Ancestor's left information, one would never figure it out in a lifetime.
The Federation experimented for hundreds of years and now only made four, and their performance was far inferior to the Mu family's mechas; they could only be considered high-quality imitations. How could the Mu family, which had stood for so many years, be overthrown by a mere ant? Thinking about this, Mu Ran finally calmed down.
"Got it? If you have, work seriously and quickly understand the information your Great Ancestor left you," Mu Yun had high expectations of this kid and was unhappy to see him troubled by such trivial matters. He said coldly, "I'll find a way to deal with that Qi Ze. He shouldn't be an obstacle or a demon in your heart. I know you're frustrated now, and I'm frustrated too. If I weren't indecisive and had always disagreed with your plan to improve the source codes, the Mu family wouldn't have suffered such a heavy blow today. But you need to understand that on the road to success, one will always encounter various difficulties; this is a test from God. If you overcome them, you can reach the top. If you're defeated, you can only fall into the abyss. You should look forward, not pay attention to the passersby or the ants underfoot."
Who the passersby were and who the ants were, Mu Ran knew very well. He nodded obediently, "I understand. I won't let you down or disappoint the Great Ancestor. It wasn't that you were indecisive; I couldn't persist in my own convictions. If I had been more resolute, you would have followed through."
Mu Yun rubbed his son's head, looking gratified. He put down his wine glass, left the room, and finally instructed, "The Mu family's monopoly status is already doomed to be broken. If we persist, we'll only face suppression from all sides, so I don't intend to completely fall out with the royal family and the six families. You shouldn't be alienated from Yan Junyu because of this. As for your marriage, I think that old fox Yan Hongyuan will pretend to be ignorant, dragging it out and not hurrying to help you."
Mu Ran's eyes flashed, and he sneered, "It's better not to do it; I have no feelings for Yan Junyu."
"Is that so?" Mu Yun looked at him deeply, sighing, "Feelings are secondary; what's most important is that your genetic compatibility level is very high, 99%, a number I've never seen. If you use your two genes to synthesize an embryo, you might give birth to a super-genius like your Great Ancestor. The foundation of the Mu family is always the next generation; you need to remember this. In our Mu family, marriage isn't born out of love but is a combination of interests; you must always remain clear-headed."
Mu Ran blushed slightly, saying hurriedly, "I remember, Father. When he comes back, I'll find a way to ease the relationship with him."
Mu Yun was finally satisfied and spoke in a softer tone, "The Mu family now needs the Yan family's support more than ever. No matter how angry you are, you have to bear it. Don't take action against Qi Ze; avoid being caught. I'll handle him; a carbon-based life can die from a minor illness, unrelated to our Mu family. Of course, I won't move on him now; at least wait until the storm calms down. A person against the Mu family, who knows where he got the courage."