Chapter Fourteen: The IOU

The radio continued with the next segment: “An anonymous captain of the Embroidered Uniform Guard has stated that this is very likely a terrorist attack targeting a key imperial production facility. Starting from 6 PM today, the San Francisco Police Department will set up checkpoints from Tin Hau Temple Street to the Golden Gate Bridge area. The police have publicly solicited clues from all city residents, including nationals, citizens, naturalized persons, and foreigners, urging active reporting and disclosure. Anyone whose tip is verified will receive a hefty reward of 5,000 taels...”

The voice from the radio roused Shang Luo. As he opened his eyes, he found himself slumped over his workbench. The scattered parts of a scribe’s clock lay messily by his side, with a small copper hammer still clutched in his hand. Everything seemed as before, yet subtly different. The little hammer now bore a faint reddish hue, something he hadn’t noticed before.

The music box rested on the table, fully restored to its original condition.

“Huh? What’s going on? I remember before... hmm?? No, wait, why am I here? Wasn’t I inside the Imperial City?”

“You’re awake?” A familiar voice whispered beside his ear, sounding even more tangible than before. “Ah, what a pity. If you’d woken a bit later, I was about to call the authorities. No, the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Five thousand taels—enough to buy several direct tickets from Constantinople to Nanjing.”

“Then why don’t you leave?”

“Our deal isn’t finished yet,” Apollonia replied. “You’ve helped me so much; I can’t just vanish now.”

“You’re... back to normal?”

“Internally, it’s still a mess, but at least you plugged the breach and bandaged me up. I’m mostly fine now; the internal injuries will heal slowly. But compared to me, your current situation looks grim.”

“Hmm? What’s wrong?”

Apollonia recounted the situation:

“The entire workshop exploded?!”

“Yes. Not just the one you were in—the whole artisan district was pierced by a backlash of electric currents. Every electrical device was fried, from the cheap bulbs to welding machines worth who knows how much. The news reported direct economic losses of up to 2.7 million taels.”

Shang Luo instinctively glanced out the window. It was afternoon outside, and nothing seemed different from any other day. Yet he realized his life might be about to take an irrevocable turn starting today. Was it truly worth it?

It was worth it! For the foundation pill, everything was worth it.

“Why don’t you try a divination? Use that deck of cards,” Apollonia suggested.

“No need. I’ve filed a work report; they must know it was me. They might be here any moment!”

[Sorry.]

Apollonia switched back to “broadcast mode,” as if to sound more formal.

[This is my fault... I never expected this to happen. I’ve prepared the formula for the foundation pill and can give it to you anytime. But I advise you to relocate quickly. Run!]

“Run? I won’t run, but I do need to lay low. Immortal cultivation defies the heavens; it’s too noisy here... I must find a place to refine pills, somewhere hidden and undetectable by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.” He grabbed paper and pen, left a note, and prepared to slip away.

---

“When I succeed in establishing my foundation, I will definitely come back to repay the money!”

[You still plan to repay? I don’t even know how long it’ll take you to pay back 2.7 million taels... To be honest, part of that amount is on me. But I suggest you move quickly now, or you’ll be refining pills in the imperial prison. The Embroidered Uniform Guard is already en route.]

...

With a loud bang, the door was thrown open. It slammed against the wall, the bell stuck in the gap.

“Embroidered Uniform Guard conducting an investigation! Everyone stay where you are!”

The guards swiftly took control of every corner of the clock shop, each pointing their fingers into empty air. Wherever no one stood, they pointed there. Every inch of the room was locked under their watchful gaze, with no exceptions—even three of them focused simultaneously on the teapot. Each wore an expression of utmost vigilance, as if some deadly threat might suddenly emerge from within the room, especially from the teapot.

“Where is he?” Lu Huaiyang entered the shop, still clad in his flying fish suit.

“Reporting, Captain. The man has vanished, but the fuel residue remains at a high concentration!”

Lu Huaiyang surveyed the room with his enhanced vision. Everything was as usual. A kettle of boiling water sat on the stove.

He approached the stove and reached out to turn off the fire.

“He got a head start. Good. Seems my calculations were correct—the problem lies with him. He hasn’t gone far and can’t go far. The fuel gap can’t be patched; if we follow the trail of the fuel, we can track him down.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Catch him quickly. He has no idea how dangerous what he’s handling is. Clean up and restore the place to its original state.”

“Yes, Captain. Shall we seal the premises?”

“No need,” Lu Huaiyang waved his hand. “Print a ‘closed for business’ notice and place it behind the display window. Lock the door and leave everything else untouched.”

“Master!” Suddenly, Wen Yuan hurried in from outside. “Master, there’s new information.”

He whispered a few words into Lu Huaiyang’s ear.

“What? The fuel residue is gone?”

“Yes. The intelligence clearly stated that after the sacred machine was damaged, it kept leaking fuel, but now...”

“A misstep. We were a step too slow,” Lu Huaiyang’s expression darkened. “If we had detected it in time the first time, maybe we could have saved him. Now... his chances look grim. No one has returned after being taken by the sacred machine. Wen Yuan, help me open a line—call... hm?”

Suddenly, his eyes caught a note on Shang Luo’s desk.

No guard had looked there upon entering; Shang Luo, the resident, was not considered an enemy, so no one had paid attention to his spot. Only now did Lu Huaiyang see the note.

He stepped forward, picked it up, and scanned it.

“A promissory note? ‘I, Shang Luo, hereby owe the imperial court 2.7 million taels, hereby recognized...’”

Lu Huaiyang read the note aloud.

He was stunned. “Thinking about repaying at a time like this—that’s an interesting kid. But the repayment isn’t my concern. What I need to investigate is the spiritual energy on you. Wen Yuan!”

“Here!” Wen Yuan, standing at the door, rushed in and took the note from Lu Huaiyang.

“Master, did he run?”

“He ran, but not completely.” Lu Huaiyang shook his head. “He’s carrying a waist token. You know what to do, right?”

“Yes.” Wen Yuan stepped closer, extending both hands.

“Keep this quiet.” Lu Huaiyang removed the jade token from his own waist. Electric sparks flickered at his fingertips before vanishing into the token. “Take this, say nothing. Be careful—walls have ears.”

Wen Yuan accepted the token, momentarily stunned, then nodded sharply.

“Can you sense it? Good.” Lu Huaiyang patted his shoulder. “Where is he headed?”

“Due north by slightly south?”

“East or west?”

“East.”

“Then he should be heading towards Las Vegas—makes sense, he wouldn’t go anywhere else with that treasure in hand. Wen Yuan, this is your case. Get in the car and pursue him immediately. Don’t lose the token.”