The encounter that Maria's group had left Zhao Lun quite surprised. He hadn't expected them to run into enemies right after stepping out, and these enemies even drove them back.
They had only just arrived here and had no enemies. If there were any, they would be Mu Lan's enemies, and this time, Maria had been caught up in the chaos as well.
What reassured Zhao Lun was that none of them had been harmed, though they had been ridiculed.
"Where's Mu Lan?" Zhao Lun asked her.
"Mu Lan sister has gone back to the kitchen!"
Maria hadn't seen Mu Lan's home, and her mood was somewhat downcast.
"Did she go to practice again?"
"Nico and Monica went too!"
Zhao Lun nodded, already knowing the reason.
"Alright, don't be sad. Let me show you something fun."
Zhao Lun opened a video, and after the familiar opening line, energetic music started playing. Then, a series of luxurious cars appeared, all projected in front of them.
The dazzling spectacle immediately captured Maria's attention.
"'Intelligent Highway,' what is this?"
"A racing anime?"
It looked like a racing anime, but the images were so realistic, almost like real objects, and its allure far surpassed that of an anime.
Maria was immediately captivated, no longer upset, her large eyes fixated on the projection, reluctant to look away.
"Well, it's kind of like an anime. Let's see what the cars are like inside?"
"If you like it, I can make you one later."
Zhao Lun said this casually.
"Really?" Maria forgot about her earlier displeasure and continued watching.
This was the same anime from Zhao Lun's world, but it had been greatly enhanced by the lightbrain's supplementary simulations, transforming it into something quite different. The car designs that once were mere fantasies were now realizable, and the most important elements had already been accomplished. Showing Maria this anime was just to make her happy.
The cars inside were incredible, with transformations, in-vehicle systems… They were even cooler than Nico and Monica's battle vehicles, almost like black technology—mesmerizing and captivating.
Maria, thinking about how to design future cars, was so caught up in it that she forgot about everything else.
Seeing her happy, Zhao Lun smiled and decided not to disturb her. He left her to watch and went back to the special laboratory set up in the mansion.
"Athena, pull up Maria's travel records."
When Maria went out, she was followed by bodyguards and monitored by SkyEye 1. Fortunately, she had notified him promptly after encountering danger.
This time, Athena hadn't alerted him, which meant Maria hadn't encountered any real danger.
Athena quickly retrieved the video, and Zhao Lun watched it, leaving it on for a long time. After a while, he closed the video, silent for a moment before deciding not to intervene and leaving the matter to Mu Lan.
"The world is full of dangers. I hope Mu Lan can handle this. Otherwise..."
Zhao Lun, who was fiercely protective of his family, made a silent vow.
"Hmph, I'm going to find out just how many secrets this Fragrance Mountain city holds."
He opened SkyEye 1, connected with the lightbrain, and began meticulously examining the area. Any strange fluctuations or abnormalities would be marked.
The world was full of mysteries, and Zhao Lun knew that sometimes answers didn't come immediately. So, he instructed Athena to continue monitoring and recording the city.
By noon, while Maria was having lunch, she told Nico and Monica about her encounter that morning and also mentioned the new anime Zhao Lun had shown her.
"Heart Anime? Let's watch it too."
All the things Zhao Lun brought from his world were amazing, and both of them couldn't resist wanting to see it for themselves.
"Go ahead."
Zhao Lun didn't stop them, letting them make their own decision.
The entertainment news was so overwhelming that it was inconvenient for them to go outside. It was better for them to stay home and lay low for now.
That evening, after several hours of monitoring Fragrance Mountain, Zhao Lun finally discovered a few traces.
"Hmm? Haha! Finally found some anomalies!"
Zhao Lun yawned, his eyelids heavy as he forced himself to focus. Once he saw something satisfactory, his spirit perked up, and he immediately relaxed.
"Athena, turn on the switch and let some hot spring water flow."
His successful findings revived his spirits, but now he was feeling sleepy again.
The search of the entire Fragrance Mountain city had left Zhao Lun exhausted.
"Ready, sir."
Athena prepared everything swiftly.
"Mm."
Zhao Lun, squinting his eyes, shuffled to the bathroom, excited to soak in the warm water.
"Ah, this feels great."
Lying in the hot water, Zhao Lun rested his head against the edge of the tub, the warmth soothing him to the point where he didn't want to get up. Soon, he was nearly asleep.
The sound of water flowing caught his attention, and he lazily glanced at the source.
It was Monica.
"It's Monica. Aren't you going to rest?"
She was wearing a thin, light sleepwear, walking towards Zhao Lun with a cat-like stride.
Zhao Lun, too lazy to move, muttered in a half-hearted response before closing his eyes again, too tired to even appreciate the beautiful scenery around him.
"If the boss hasn't rested well, how can I rest well as his assistant?"
"..." Zhao Lun was nearly asleep.
"Get up, boss."
"..." Zhao Lun remained motionless.
"You've been in the water for too long. It's not good for you."
With a sigh, Zhao Lun muttered a reluctant "Mm" but didn't move.
Monica got up, reached out, and pulled him up, wiping him dry before carrying him off.
The gentle assistant, who had become a tough girl after gaining strength.
"..." Zhao Lun drifted off to sleep.
Monica did a good job, carefully placing Zhao Lun on the bed.
Zhao Lun remained unaffected, slipping into a dreamless sleep.
The soft light filtering through the window woke him up.
"Athena, what time is it?"
Unable to sleep but unwilling to get up, Zhao Lun just stayed lounging on the comfortable bed.
"Good morning, sir. It's 4:36 AM in Fragrance Mountain."
Athena cheerfully replied, her voice becoming even more pleasant.
"Mm, turn off the air conditioning and open the window."
The cool breeze from outside gently blew in as the window opened.
"Mm, the air's nice."
The scent of fragrant wood carried by the breeze made Zhao Lun think of the origin of this mountain's name.
The two winds that blew through rejuvenated Zhao Lun's spirit. He immediately got up, quickly put on his clothes, and set off along the smooth road toward the mountain's peak.
At the summit, mist hovered, threads of it drifting in the air.