Chapter 75

Leaving the marsh, Lin Yiming and his companions hadn't walked for long when the sky turned dark.

"Alright, let's stop here and find a place to rest for the night. We can continue our journey tomorrow," Lin Yiming stopped and said. When he was at Yuanyang Mountain, Sun Pingyang had told him that it was best not to travel at night in unfamiliar places.

"Rest here? Old Lin, are you saying we're going to stay here tonight?" Zhu Lubin pointed exaggeratedly at the surroundings and shouted, "So, Old Lin, you want us to camp out? There's not even a cave here. Camping outside is very dangerous. If we fall asleep and get attacked by wild beasts, we'll be in trouble. We might die without even knowing how."

"Then we'll light torches," Lin Yiming frowned but still answered Zhu Lubin.

"Light torches? What if that attracts others who might attack us in the dark? Wouldn't that be even more dangerous?" Zhu Lubin shrank his neck and said, "I, Fat Master, still want to live a few more years."

"This won't do, that won't do. What do you suggest we do?" Lin Yiming's frown deepened. Zhu Lubin, the fat man, had a point.

"Of course there's a way. Watch Fat Master," Zhu Lubin flicked his long hair, still covered in mud from the marsh, and gave Lin Yiming a smug smile. He walked around and stopped under the tallest tree, then jumped up.

To Lin Yiming's surprise, Zhu Lubin's fat body was surprisingly agile. In no time, he had climbed to the top of the tree.

Even from below, it was hard to see Zhu Lubin clearly, indicating how tall the tree was. Lin Yiming wondered what Zhu Lubin was doing up there.

As he watched, Zhu Lubin quickly climbed onto a branch, grabbed a branch, and started weaving something quickly.

In a short while, a large, nest-like structure appeared at the top of the tree.

Then, Zhu Lubin wove three more similar nests. He then waved at the group from the top of the tree, "Come up quickly. We'll sleep in Fat Master's bird houses tonight."

Lin Yiming quickly climbed up and chose one of the bird houses Zhu Lubin had mentioned, lying down inside. He had expected it to be uncomfortable, but to his surprise, it was very comfortable, like lying on a bed.

Sticking his head out, Lin Yiming gave Zhu Lubin a thumbs up and praised, "Fatso, I didn't know you had this skill. I'm really impressed. Now I believe that black net was made by you."

Lin Yiming sincerely praised him. Such craftsmanship was not something just anyone could achieve.

Hearing Lin Yiming's praise, Zhu Lubin's large head popped out, and he said proudly, "Of course, who do you think Fat Master is? You doubted that the net was made by me. Look at Fat Master's dexterous hands."

Zhu Lubin extended his fat, thick fingers and fiddled with them in the moonlight, "Look, these hands are so long and delicate. I'm not boasting, but with these hands, Fat Master can make the prostitutes in the brothel reach their peak!"

"Spit..."

Lin Yiming's face turned red, and he spat out. He didn't know Zhu Lubin would boast like this. He wondered if he should call him Kato Bin.

"Old Lin, what's that look on your face!" Zhu Lubin, seeing Lin Yiming's expression, called out angrily, "Old Lin, don't doubt me. Fat Master may not be good at other things, but these hands are very powerful. Just..."

"Alright, stop, I know. Your hands are very powerful, more powerful than Kato Hawk," Lin Yiming quickly interrupted Zhu Lubin.

"Kato Hawk? Is he a great mechanism master? I've never heard of him," Zhu Lubin looked at Lin Yiming in confusion. Kato Hawk? What a strange name.

"Yes, Kato Hawk is a great mechanism master. He can create many small, exquisite mechanisms that can make people tremble," Lin Yiming wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and thought to himself, I'm not lying. They are indeed small and exquisite.

"Making people tremble, that's not very exquisite," Zhu Lubin's face showed deep disdain, "I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm sure Fat Master can do it. Do you know Fat Master's dream?"

"What dream?" Lin Yiming, hearing Zhu Lubin's deep question, became interested.

"Fat Master's dream is to sleep in a big bed every day. When I'm hungry, I snap my fingers, and beautiful mechanical women bring me all kinds of food. When I want to bathe, beautiful mechanical women heat the water and scrub my back. When I want to go out, beautiful mechanical women carry me out. I want..."

Zhu Lubin talked endlessly about his dream. After a long time, he finally stopped and asked Lin Yiming, "Old Lin, do you understand my dream? Do you think it can come true?"

Looking at Zhu Lubin's face full of expectation, Lin Yiming couldn't bear to disappoint him. He nodded and said firmly, "I believe you can!"

"Only Old Lin has such good judgment! Old Lin, rest assured, you're my Old Lin. When that day comes, I'll give you the same beautiful mechanical women," Zhu Lubin continued to indulge in self-admiration.

"I won't count on that," Lin Yiming muttered to himself. Zhu Lubin's dream was too great. Those weren't just mechanical women; they were robots.

Even in the Earth of his past life, where technology had advanced to a high level, it hadn't reached the level of Zhu Lubin's dream. Zhu Lubin's dream was beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Seeing the still self-admiring fat man, Lin Yiming didn't want to hear more of Zhu Lubin's self-praise. He interrupted him seriously, "Fatso, I've noticed you're very smart. Since you're so smart, why don't you spend more time practicing martial arts? After all, your own strength is the most important."

"Yes, one's own strength is the most important," Zhu Lubin nodded in agreement, making Lin Yiming happy. However, Zhu Lubin's next words almost made Lin Yiming fall out of the nest.

"The problem is, being strong doesn't necessarily mean being strong in martial arts," Zhu Lubin said seriously, "Why should I practice martial arts? Many things can be achieved without martial arts. Using other means can be more efficient and still defeat others, even in secret. Why should I work hard to practice martial arts when I can achieve the same with mechanism skills?"

After saying this, Zhu Lubin seemed to remember something. He looked at Lin Yiming expectantly and asked, "Old Lin, you've heard my dream, but you haven't told me yours."

"My dream?" Lin Yiming looked into the distance and said solemnly, "My dream is simple. I want to become stronger to protect myself, my friends, my family, and my village. I want my sister to live a good life, and I want everyone in the village to live a good life."

After he finished speaking, Zhu Lubin's face showed a complex expression. After a long pause, he said, "A simple dream. But Old Lin, it's clear that you and your family, and the people in your village, are very close."

"Of course. I've grown up with my sister, and the people in the village have always taken care of us. I remember all the kindness they've shown us," Lin Yiming smiled and then changed the subject, "Why do I get the feeling that your relationship with your family isn't good?"

"Ah... My relationship with my family is a long story," Zhu Lubin fell silent, lost in thought. After a long time, he slowly spoke.

"My family is considered a large clan in our area. In our town, our clan, along with two other clans, is known as one of the three major clans in the town," Zhu Lubin's voice lost its usual playfulness and became more serious.

"For a hundred years, our three clans have always wanted to eliminate the other two and become the strongest clan in the town. But none of them succeeded. Until a genius appeared in our clan."

Zhu Lubin paused for a moment before continuing, "That guy didn't seem particularly strong at first. He looked like an ordinary guy, but later, he must have had some extraordinary encounter. He suddenly became very powerful. He led our clan to defeat the other two clans and became the strongest clan in the town."

"Oh? Isn't that good? You should be happy," Lin Yiming looked at Zhu Lubin strangely and said, "Or do you have a conflict with him?"

"We do have a conflict. Before he became strong, I used to bully him, but that's not the main issue!" Zhu Lubin's face turned red, and he hesitated before explaining, "I'm not happy with him because I think he's too selfish. After he became a genius and led our clan to defeat the other two clans, he basically had the final say in the family. On the surface, he always acts like he's doing everything for the clan, but he's the most selfish."

Zhu Lubin became angrier as he spoke, and his voice grew louder, "Everyone in the clan knows that the martial arts he practices are not the clan's martial arts. His martial arts are much stronger than the clan's. If he really cared about the clan, why didn't he share his martial arts?

And I once saw him take cultivation pills that were different from the clan's. If he really cared about the clan, why didn't he share the formula? He's a selfish person, pretending to be great. Apart from defeating the other two clans, I haven't seen him contribute any treasures to the clan. Even the benefits from defeating the other two clans were all taken by him. Instead, all the clan's resources were poured into him.