163: Chapter 163 Negotiating Cooperation, Initial Agreement Formed

The night wind blew across the observation deck, lifting a strand of silver hair from Aelia's temple.

The residual warmth from dancing still lingered on her fingertips, and her cuffs were stained with a bit of fruit wine, like a mark left behind by the dance they just shared.

Chen Wuwang stood by the railing. He no longer looked at the distant lights, but turned around and leaned against a stone pillar, his tone as flat as if he were chatting about the weather:

"Tonight's dance was beautiful, but I'm more interested in knowing if we can walk further together tomorrow."

Aelia's footsteps paused slightly. She glanced at him sideways, the corners of her lips curling up:

"You really don't waste a single moment. We just finished drinking, your feet haven't even left the ground yet, and you're already starting to talk business?"

"It's not business," he shook his head. "It's a way out. You walk the Star Path, and I guard the Eastern Desolation. But there is always Wasteland at the end of the Star Path, and one can look at the stars even from the Wasteland. I want to build a bridge—using my things to exchange for your data."

She let out a soft laugh, picked up the unfinished cup of hot tea beside her, and blew on it. "When you say 'my things,' do you mean mechas? Blueprints? Or that tune those boys hammered out of scrap metal last night?"

"The design blueprints for the latest generation of light combat mechas," he said directly. "An upgraded configuration of the Po Xu Series, specifically optimized for structural load-bearing and spiritual energy conduction paths for Cultivators from the Foundation Establishment to the Golden Core Stage. I can give you the complete data package on the condition that you open your Level 3 and above technology databases for three years of access."

Aelia raised an eyebrow, and her smile faded. "Design blueprints? You only have five mechas, you haven't even set up a mass production line, and even your power modules are still being held up by temporary shunts. Who would believe you when you call this the 'latest generation'?"

"I don't need others to believe me," his voice remained steady. "I only need you to know that it can punch through a triple-layered defense array of the Early Stage Golden Core, can soak in Zerg acid for forty-five minutes without the shell disintegrating, and can be piloted by a Qi Refining Level 9 operator to complete tactical evasions. Your people can verify these statistics."

She stared at him for a few seconds and suddenly sneered. "Fine. Then I want a physical sample, all System test records, and I need to install tracking beacons in every mecha—otherwise, how do I know you won't sell the technology to the next high bidder?"

Chen Wuwang didn't move; he only raised his right hand and made a phantom swipe in the air.

A semi-transparent light screen appeared, displaying a cross-section of the mecha's core compartment.

"Beacons can be installed," he said.

"But they can only monitor location and basic energy consumption in non-combat states; signals will be automatically shielded in combat mode."

"As for the sample—I can provide a disassembled prototype, excluding the main control chip, the spiritual energy furnace core, and the weapon interface protocols."

"You really know how to haggle," she narrowed her eyes. "Remove the beacon restrictions, or... you have to help me secure the exclusive supply contract for the Northern Border Starport. Seven families are fighting for a share there; I want you to use your mecha's combat power to suppress the field for me."

"Northern Border Starport?" He scoffed. "That place doesn't even have a stable jump point; even your Angel Race isn't willing to station troops there. What you want isn't a contract, but cannon fodder to clear the path for you."

"Talking to smart people really saves effort." She leaned back against the railing, finally turning serious. "But don't forget, without our intelligence network and star map support, your mechas won't even fly out of the Eastern Desolation's atmosphere. You've risen now, but you're not yet qualified to be picky."

The two stared at each other for a moment, neither backing down.

The wind carried the residual drumbeats from the square up to them. In the distance, the boys were still laughing and playing; someone sang a version of "March of the Po Xu" that was out of tune and was pushed by a companion to shut up.

Chen Wuwang suddenly said in a low voice, "I know what you're afraid of."

Aelia's gaze sharpened.

"You're afraid I'll use this as a springboard to cast you aside and expand on my own in the future." He stared at her. "But you must understand, without a stable supply chain, my mechas cannot leave the Eastern Desolation."

"Parts rely on manual polishing, energy relies on forced extraction from Spiritual Veins, and even bearings require me to draw the blueprints for craftsmen to carve out bit by bit."

"I've lasted this long because no one dares to move against me. But if external technical support is cut off, I'll have to dismantle the mechas to burn for warmth in three months."

She didn't speak, her fingers merely rubbing the edge of her earring gently.

"So this isn't about who is using whom," he continued. "It's you helping me survive, and me helping you open a new market. What you get is the first mechanized force capable of fighting in low-spiritual environments, and what I get is the key to survival. Let's not pretend to be generous; we're both doing this to live."

After a long silence, Aelia sighed. "I can give you partial data interface access first—everything below Level 3 fully open, with thresholds set for Level 3 and above. Your engineering team is limited to fifty inquiries per month, with every operation logged. You also have to deliver a complete, operational mecha for a trial run first; it can't be a disassembled one. it must be able to fly, fight, and recover data."

"Deal," he nodded. "But there's an additional clause—all trial records must be shared with our engineering team. I need to know where the problems are, otherwise the next improvement will just be like a blind man feeling an elephant."

"You really won't yield an inch." She smiled, this time with a hint of helplessness. "Fine. I'll add one more: if the trial meets the standards within three months, both parties will sign a formal agreement. I get the right of first refusal for procurement, and profit sharing will be seventy-thirty—seventy for you, thirty for me."

"Profit sharing?" He raised an eyebrow. "We haven't even started making money, and you're already thinking about splitting the accounts?"

"I'm a merchant," she spread her hands. "If we don't talk about profit, what should we talk about? Friendship? That dance last night was already worth the price."

He looked at her and suddenly smiled as well. "Before we close the deal, let's have some tea."

As he spoke, he raised his hand and handed his cup of tea over.

Aelia was stunned for a moment, then took it, blew on it, and took a sip. The tea was still warm, carrying the astringent fragrance of wild mountain tea mixed with a hint of the sweetness from Spiritual Dew.

"This tea..." she said softly, "tastes better than the one just now."

"It's the same tea." He leaned against the railing, his gaze returning to the lights down the mountain. "It's just that drinking it now, my heart isn't so guarded."

She didn't respond, just sat quietly, her fingertips still resting on the rim of the cup.

After a while, she asked softly, "Tell me... do we count as friends?"

He was silent for a few breaths before answering bluntly, "No. We are collaborators, people who need each other. Friends don't discuss profit percentages at the dinner table, nor do they watch to see if the other is hiding a knife."

"But you remembered what I said three years ago." She looked at him. "Even the angle of the light source was changed."

"That's a detail," he said. "Anyone who is attentive will notice details. Whether it's a friend or an enemy, I only want to know—who you are, what you want, and if you can keep your word."

She looked down at the starlight reflected in the cup and said after a long time, "What if one day I find out you've lied to me?"

"Then you can walk away at any time." He looked at her. "Just as I will immediately cut all interfaces the moment I find you tampering. What maintains the bond between us isn't trust, but rules. If you think it's fair, continue; if you feel slighted, we part ways."

She smiled, a very light but genuine smile this time. "You really are a difficult person to deal with."

"Which survivor isn't difficult?" He shrugged. "Since you're already here, don't be so tense. Go back and tell your people to take off their armor and have a drink with the kids of our tribe. The fruit wine they brew is strong; if they drink too much, they'll start singing, and they sing even worse than A Qi."

She finally burst out laughing. "Alright."

The two stood side by side, no longer speaking.

The lights down the mountain remained bright. Patrolling youths walked past with short bows on their backs, and the mechas stood silently like night watchmen.

The wind ruffled their clothes, and the scent of tea was faint.

Aelia gently stroked her earring, her gaze thoughtful.

Chen Wuwang stood tall, the blue light of his Mechanical Prosthetic Eye flashing slightly. The tea in his hand was not yet finished, and his expression was calm with a rare hint of relaxation.