816: Chapter 811 is a prodigy

The man's voice was somewhat dry, his body tense, as if ready to grab something and flee at any moment.

Shen Yan shook his head, motioned for the bodyguard Wang Bo beside him to step back, and took a step forward himself, maintaining a distance that was neither aggressive nor lacking in control of the situation.

"I'm not interested in that pocket watch blueprint, but I am very interested in the person who can understand it."

Shen Yan took out a business card from his pocket and handed it over with both hands. This gesture was extremely refined, instantly closing the psychological distance between the two.

"My name is Shen Yan. I am looking for an item, also a unique mechanical artifact left from that era. Perhaps we need to cooperate."

The man hesitantly took the business card and, using the dim streetlight, clearly saw the title on it. His expression changed from vigilance to surprise, and finally settled into a complex scrutiny.

"Rock Technology... That's the company that created the Chinese AI, right? I've heard of you."

The man carefully tucked the business card into his pocket and straightened his messy collar. The arrogance belonging to an intellectual returned to him.

"I am Gu Changfeng, a former professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at Jinghai University, and now... a wandering historical scavenger."

Gu Changfeng chuckled self-deprecatingly, but when he mentioned the words 'Mechanical Engineering,' his back straightened immediately.

Shen Yan's heart stirred slightly. The tycoon system certainly wouldn't let him do useless work. This chance encounter along the way had directly delivered a top-tier technical consultant.

"Professor Gu, this isn't the place to talk. There's a teahouse ahead. Why don't we sit down and discuss Alexei?"

Upon hearing the name 'Alexei,' Gu Changfeng's pupils contracted sharply, as if he had heard some unbelievable spell. His whole body froze.

"You know that madman Alexei? You know he left something behind in Luocheng?"

Gu Changfeng grabbed Shen Yan's sleeve, his strength astonishingly great. His fingernails even dug into the fabric of Shen Yan's suit.

Shen Yan didn't struggle; instead, he showed a meaningful smile. He knew the fish had taken the bait.

"Not only do I know, but I also know that thing is in Huaishu Jing Hutong, and if I don't act, it will become a pile of ruins in three days."

Gu Changfeng released his hand and gasped for breath. Rainwater streamed down his face into his collar, but he was completely oblivious, his eyes flashing with a light called 'pilgrimage.'

"Take me there... As long as I can see that copy of 'Gears and Souls' once, I'll give you my old life!"

The two did not stay long in the teahouse, merely exchanging some basic information. After learning that Shen Yan's goal was to perfect the AI emotional algorithm, Gu Changfeng's perception of the young businessman completely changed.

He originally thought Shen Yan was just another vulgar person only interested in reselling antiques, but he never expected the other party to be using wisdom from a century ago to knock on the door of the future.

"That Alexei was a genius. He was exiled to Luocheng back then and taken in by a wealthy local family. He hid in the cellar for a full ten years just to prove that machines could also generate souls."

Walking toward Huaishu Jing Hutong, Gu Changfeng chattered about that little-known history while avoiding puddles.

"Everyone in that era called him a madman, saying he was using sorcery to summon spirits into iron blocks. Eventually, the family, afraid of getting into trouble, drove him out, and his manuscript was lost thereafter."

Gu Changfeng sighed, his tone full of regret. For someone obsessed with mechanical logic like him, that wasn't just a book; it was a lost piece of the puzzle in the history of mechanical civilization.

Shen Yan listened quietly, occasionally interjecting with a few crucial questions. His gaze remained locked on the constantly flashing red dot on the system map.

The rain grew heavier. The drainage system of the old district was long overwhelmed, and the accumulated water had already reached their ankles.

Huaishu Jing Hutong was like a scar forgotten by time, winding between two areas slated for demolition. The large character 'Demolish' on the walls looked particularly glaring in the rain.

"It's here, number thirty-three."

Shen Yan stopped in front of a large gate with peeling vermilion paint. The bronze ring on the door was already covered in green rust, and the gap beneath the door was stuffed with various notices demanding payment for utilities.

Gu Changfeng stepped forward and pushed the door, but it didn't budge. It seemed to be locked from the inside, or perhaps years of dampness had completely rusted the hinges solid.

"Wang Bo."

Shen Yan called out softly. The bodyguard behind him immediately stepped forward, pulled out a specialized tool from his waist, fiddled with it a few times in the gap of the door, and with a light 'click,' the long-sealed large door creaked open with a grating sound, slowly swinging inward.

A musty, decaying odor rushed out, mixed with the smell of dust and rats, making one instinctively want to hold their breath.

The courtyard was overgrown with weeds. Waist-high wild grass covered the original pavement. The famous ancient well in the center had long run dry, its opening covered by a large stone slab.

"According to the records, the wealthy family's study should be in the West Wing, but after so many upheavals, the original layout has long changed."

Gu Changfeng held an old-fashioned flashlight and walked ahead tentatively, his expression a mix of excitement and tension.

Shen Yan looked at the system interface. The light of the red dot grew stronger, indicating the location was not in the West Wing, but at the inconspicuous cellar entrance beneath the main house.

"Professor Gu, walk this way."

Shen Yan pointed to the small door buried under a pile of debris in the corner of the main house, his tone certain.

Gu Changfeng was momentarily stunned. Although he had some doubts, the commanding aura Shen Yan had displayed throughout the journey made him instinctively choose to trust him.

The two worked together to move the several worn-out cabinets blocking the small door, revealing a pitch-black opening. A cold wind blew up from below, carrying the earthy smell unique to underground spaces.

Gu Changfeng swallowed. The beam of the flashlight shone down, revealing only moss-covered stone steps extending into the deep darkness.

"It seems this is it—Alexei's refuge."

Shen Yan descended first. His leather shoes stepped onto the slippery stone steps, making hollow echoes, as if every step trod upon the pulse of history.

The cellar was larger than expected. The surrounding walls were hung with various rusty gears and connecting rods. Although severely damaged, the precise mechanical beauty of the past was still discernible.

In the innermost corner sat a wooden table long rotted away. On the table rested a box tightly wrapped in oilcloth—precisely the coordinate point indicated by the system.

The moment Gu Changfeng saw the box, his entire body trembled as if struck by an electric current. He rushed forward, not even bothering to pick up the flashlight that had fallen to the ground.

He knelt on the ground, as if worshipping a miracle, and carefully peeled away the layers of brittle oilcloth.

When the last layer of cloth was lifted, revealing the cylindrical container made of brass, intricately carved with complex patterns, Gu Changfeng's old eyes filled with tears.

"It really is it... the cipher cylinder! This structure is on the level of Da Vinci's cipher cylinders!"