Chapter 271: Lightning Rod
Now that he had obtained the tungsten ore, it was time to turn it into electrifiable tungsten filament.
She didn’t know how to make tungsten filament, but she knew the first step was to crush it into fine powder, smelt it into high-purity refined tungsten, and then use crafting methods to turn the refined tungsten into electrifiable tungsten filament.
“Prince, do you know anywhere with someone who can turn it into thin tungsten filament?” Looking at the sky, dark clouds covered it densely, with lightning flashing and thunder rumbling in the distance!
It might rain soon. She glanced at her small generator; for now, she still had to seek help from the God of War Prince.
“This thing might have a solution from one person. Senior Brother is taking you there now—it’s on the mountain peak. A madman lives on the mountain peak. Because it’s close to the mine tunnel, he often chisels and picks up all sorts of random stones from the mountain to smelt back home!”
Then makes them into things.
Besides smelting stones, he also researches and tests some other bizarre things!
“Madman?”
Feng Qingcheng fell into recollection, a trace of sorrow in his eyes: “Yes, a stubborn weirdo. He was originally a high-ranking military official in the Imperial Court!”
“Because of a command error two years ago that caused over ten thousand Feng Lan cavalry casualties, he was demoted. After that, he became deranged, abandoned his wife and child, and came to live alone on this mountain…”
“Guilt-ridden, he says it’s all his fault, he’s sorry to the Feng Lan Kingdom, sorry to those departed souls, sorry to their families. He swore to create the world’s most powerful weapon to kill enemies and seek retribution!”
“I see…”
It’s all the fault of war!
Traumatized! Stuck in a rut!
“Actually, his original ideas were at odds with everyone else’s too. The things he proposed were utterly absurd, sheer nonsense, hard for the Imperial Court officials to accept!”
“Even in office, he had little chance for promotion. When sent to battle, he made a command error, so…”
That said, he recalled that some ideas he had proposed in the Imperial Court were somewhat similar to Junior Brother’s ideas about electricity!
Those smelting factories were for iron and copper, and far away too. Probably a wasted trip even to get electrifiable tungsten filament made!
So, he brought her here; it might help her!
They couldn’t ride in the horse carriage to the mountain peak, so they parked the horse carriage near the mine field first and hiked up a small mountain path.
Having just gone down the mine shaft and now climbing the mountain, Bu Wei carefully held her small generator’s belongings. Li Xi’er followed him and Bu Wei, and after nearly half an hour, she was somewhat out of breath.
While catching their breath, they heard explosion-like sounds from the mountain peak, startling her. Looking at the lightning streaks in the sky, it was probably thunder!
After resting a bit and climbing for about another quarter of an hour, they arrived at the place he mentioned.
This was an open flat area on the mountain peak with a broad view. The ground was all rock. On the open space were strange equipment pieces: a pole with a cloth bag shape, pull ropes—seemingly for collecting wind to measure wind direction or something.
And things for making stuff, spiral-like ironware equipment, some like pot lids. Those equipment pieces seemed to have been blasted over!
His gaze swept around. Not far away was a small cliff face, perfectly sheltered below from wind and rain. Under the cliff face, the ground had only a simple straw mat laid out!
There was also a battered iron pot set up—this was probably where he cooked daily.
“Who goes there?”
Suddenly, a man with disheveled, exploded hair and clothing torn to shreds spoke up!
Looking toward the voice, that man stood against the wind on the cliff edge—one more step forward and he’d fall. In the darkness, he stared coldly at them!
Under the night, gale winds, lightning, and thunder, his charred face was especially eerie!
“Commander He, long time no see!”
Feng Qingcheng said calmly.
The man was shocked in his eyes, “It’s you?” Suddenly, as if remembering something, he raised his tattered sleeve and wildly danced it toward the sky with a shrill laugh: “Hahaha!”
After his weird laughter ended, he bellowed a few lines in a rough voice. Li Xi’er wondered, “Is he singing?”
“Legion song!”
“Oh!”
At that moment, the man started weeping again, “Heavens, are you deliberately punishing me? Then kill me!” He suddenly turned and went mad toward them,
“You’ve got the wrong person—leave quickly. You’re not welcome here!”
“Come on, I’m right here—shoot at my chest!”
No sooner had he spoken than a lightning bolt streaked across the sky. The thunderclap seemed to understand him, striking the ground right by his feet. The small saplings on the ground were scorched; he panicked and jumped away!
“You, are you mad or something!”
Li Xi’er angrily cursed him out! She’d seen people who didn’t fear death, but never one begging to be struck by lightning!
“Brat, you don’t understand, so don’t spout nonsense!”
“If you’re not afraid of death, why dodge?”
“Just stand there and see if it won’t hit you!”
Commander He was at a loss for words.
“If you’re scared of death, just say so—nothing shameful about it. Who isn’t afraid of death! I’m afraid of death too, but death has to be worth it, or what’s the point of coming to this world for nothing!”
“What do you know?” He didn’t really want to die; this lightning always picked this spot to strike. Some of his equipment had to be placed in these open high places to be useful. Every time he repaired and tidied them up, seeing some results, it blasted them again!
It exhausted him mentally—this was clearly out to destroy him!
“Commander He, we came to you today to ask for your help!” Feng Qingcheng said!
“Heh, so it’s the God of War. The God of War Prince jests—I am useless, can’t help with anything!”
This person had recognized him long ago! There was anger in his heart!
“Hurry and leave!”
He turned away, ignoring them!
“Prince, what Commander He—this guy’s just a madman. Wasted our trip. Look at his pathetic state—how can he help with anything?” Li Xi’er said with contempt and disdain!
Commander He hadn’t expected to meet someone even more infuriating than himself. Was he here specially to rile him up?
“You…!”
“You what? Can’t even handle a little lightning, acting suicidal—pfft! Who you trying to scare!”
Li Xi’er continued!
“Look at this coward—asking him for help? He’d just make things worse! Better off with me!”
“Nonsense, rambling—this young friend, seeing how young you are, if you’re trying to goad me, you’ve got the wrong guy!” Commander He sneered.
“Pah! You worthy?” Li Xi’er looked at him scornfully!
“Shut up!” Commander He bellowed, then suddenly calmed down, saying flatly,
“Oh? You’re all fired up—show me your strength then!”
“Thunder Needle!”
“What?” Commander He shuddered all over, “Thunder Needle?”
“This place is high ground. You set up all your belongings here—in rainy weather, if it doesn’t strike here, where would it?”
“By your logic, heaven striking here isn’t some deliberate arrangement against me? It’s… because this spot is geographically high and prone to lightning strikes?”
“Of course. You study this stuff, so you should sense it. It’s just… your heart’s always filled with guilt, thinking it’s your retribution! Heaven deliberately punishing you!”
