Courtyard House: Time Traveler Not Yet a Ghost

Kobayashi Masao and the others had stopped what they were doing and were standing respectfully a short distance away, waiting. When they saw He Damin appear, the three of them immediately knelt down with a thud, their foreheads touching the ground.

"Master," Masao Kobayashi reported in his still-stiff but slightly more fluent Mandarin, "the first wire drawing tower has been completed. It is undergoing final adjustments and is expected to be able to draw glass wire samples in three days." His voice carried a hint of nervousness and obsequiousness.

He Damin nodded slightly, his tone calm: "Very good. Continue. Don't make any mistakes."

"Hi!" the three of them replied quickly, bowing their heads even lower.

He Damin stopped looking at them and turned to gaze at the twenty enormous gold bricks in the distance. In the soft light of the small world, the gold bricks radiated a heavy, reassuring glow. That gold was the foundation of his standing in Hong Kong, the lever he used to influence the world's economy.

But he knew in his heart that true power was never just gold. Gold is inanimate, while technology is alive. It was knowledge, and creations far ahead of this era, that were his true trump cards for the future, his greatest reliance for navigating this turbulent world and protecting himself and those around him.

The photonic computer inside the flying saucer, the loyal and efficient robots, and the twelve incredibly powerful mechs... these are the assets he will have to secure his future and even change the world order.

But now is not the time to use them.

He needs to wait.

When the Japanese have solidified their industrial base, when they have developed their factories, equipment, and technology to a sufficiently "plump" level; when he has fully mastered piloting those mechs, become familiar with the function of every button, and can unleash the full power of the mechs; when he has thoroughly studied all the data stored in the photonic computer and turned those advanced technologies into his own; when the world has gradually become accustomed to his existence and forgotten his past "shocking" actions.

Then he will go to Tokyo.

We must take back everything that was stolen, with interest. We must not only reclaim the antiques, paintings, gold, and jade, but also the advanced technologies and industrial capabilities they developed using the resources they plundered.

He Damin took a deep breath, suppressed the turbulent emotions in his heart, and with a thought, left the small world and returned to his study.

The sky outside the window had darkened, the night like a vast black velvet blanket gently covering the entire Hong Kong. The lights of Victoria Harbour had begun to illuminate, twinkling like stars scattered across the sky, stretching from nearby to the distant horizon, dazzling and radiant. The faint sound of waves could be heard in the distance, accompanied by the occasional cries of seagulls returning home. The air was filled with the damp scent of the sea and the unique hustle and bustle of the city, yet strangely, it also carried a sense of tranquility.

He stood by the window, quietly gazing at the dazzling night sky, his eyes deep and penetrating, as if he could see through the glittering facade to the undercurrents hidden beneath.

He heard soft footsteps behind him, very light, but he still heard them. Chen Xueru pushed open the door and came in, her face showing a hint of fatigue, but her eyes were full of excitement and a sense of accomplishment. She took off her high heels, stepped barefoot on the carpet, walked to his side, and naturally leaned on his shoulder, like a little bird returning to its nest.

"Brother Damin, I'm back," she said softly, her voice tinged with a hint of coquetry. "I went to the bank today and looked at the accounts. That old man Lawrence, though slippery, is actually quite reliable. He arranged everything very well, and the shareholders were fairly polite to me; they didn't give me any trouble." She paused, her tone becoming even more excited. "I also met with several managers from Yong'an Bank, and they all expressed their willingness to cooperate with the unified management of Global Bank, which will make fund transfers much easier in the future."

He Damin reached out and gently put his arm around her waist, feeling the softness of her body and her slight trembling—a result of a mixture of excitement and exhaustion.

"You've worked hard," he said softly, his tone filled with concern.

Chen Xueru shook her head, buried her face in his shoulder, took a deep breath, and inhaled his familiar, reassuring scent. "It wasn't hard work. I found it... quite interesting. I always thought banking was something far removed from my life, but now that I'm doing it myself, I realize there's a lot more to it than meets the eye." She looked up at him, her bright eyes sparkling. "And you? How was your research in your 'little world' today? Did you find anything interesting?"

He Damin was silent for a moment, then turned his head and looked at the curiosity and concern in her eyes.

"Very interesting," he said, a mysterious smile playing on his lips. "I've discovered something... very interesting."

Chen Xueru was very clever. Seeing that he was unwilling to say more, she did not press him for details. Instead, she leaned closer to his shoulder, feeling the warmth of his chest and the strong heartbeat.

Outside the window, the night in Victoria Harbour grew darker, but the lights grew brighter, illuminating the entire harbor as if it were daytime. The sea breeze, carrying the coolness of the night, gently stirred the curtains.

He Damin gazed at the dazzling light, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

You little devils, wait a little longer.

Once I've thoroughly researched these cutting-edge technologies, and once you've further developed your industries...

I've come to find you.

At that time, everything, including principal and interest, will be recovered.

Let's calculate it together. As night deepened, He Damin gently embraced Chen Xueru. The neon lights outside the window reflected in his eyes, gleaming with unwavering determination.

······

On Victoria Peak in the early morning, a thin mist, like the hazy vapor atop freshly brewed Longjing tea, gently draped the verdant hillside. The air carried the fresh scent of grass and trees, and a subtle dampness; inhaling it felt cool and refreshing. In the distance, Victoria Harbour was still shrouded in a veil of mist, with only a few faint silhouettes of ships and the indistinct outlines of lights on the opposite shore visible, like a half-finished ink painting.

He Damin stood before the huge floor-to-ceiling window in his study, a cup of warm Longjing tea in his hand. The cup was an elegant white porcelain, smooth to the touch. The tea leaves unfurled in the water, releasing a delicate fragrance, and wisps of steam rose, blurring the glass before him. His gaze, however, pierced through the mist, landing on the gradually clearing Victoria Harbour in the distance. Half a year had passed, from that humid afternoon in early summer last year to this cool morning. Time was like fine sand slipping through his fingers; the more he tried to hold on, the faster it flowed, silently passing by.

The sunlight outside the window finally struggled to break through the thin mist, becoming brilliant, its golden rays reflecting off the glass in dazzling spots. The sea breeze still carried a salty, damp scent, occasionally mingling with the distant whistles of ferries, drifting slowly up the mountain. Everything seemed the same as it had been six months ago, but He Damin knew in his heart that some things had quietly changed without him even noticing.

I heard soft footsteps behind me, almost inaudible on the thick carpeted floor.

He Damin didn't turn around, but the corners of his mouth were already slightly raised. The footsteps were different from those of half a year ago—lighter, more steady, each step carrying a unique rhythm, as if afraid of disturbing something, or as if the wind was blowing under his feet, yet the landing was exceptionally solid, like stepping on clouds, or like stepping on solid ground.

"Awake?" His voice was calm, slightly hoarse from just waking up.

"Mmm." Chen Xueru walked to his side, naturally extending her arm to rest on his shoulder. She carried a faint fragrance, similar to orchids but even fresher, a scent naturally emanating from her body after being nourished by spiritual energy. "Last night, while meditating until midnight, I felt the energy in my dantian grow stronger, warm and comforting, like holding a small sun inside."

He Damin turned around and looked at her carefully.

Morning light streamed softly through the glass window, bathing her face. Her features remained gentle, but her eyes were brighter than they had been six months ago, as if tiny stars were swirling and twinkling within them. Her skin had also become smoother and more delicate; up close, one could hardly see any pores, and it shimmered with a faint, healthy glow in the light—the result of spiritual nourishment, a unique radiance of a cultivator.

"It's not just gotten stronger." He Damin reached out, his index and middle fingers pressed together, gently touching her lower abdomen, specifically her dantian. A warm sensation spread from his fingertips; he could clearly feel a condensed energy there, no longer the scattered, weak feeling of six months ago, but rather a refined and full one. "First level of Qi Refining, done."

Chen Xueru was slightly taken aback, and then her bright eyes instantly lit up with a look of surprise, like a child who had received a long-awaited candy.

"Really?" Her voice trembled slightly.

"Really." He Damin nodded firmly, a smile playing on his lips. "In just six months, you went from an ordinary person who knew nothing about cultivation to successfully establishing your foundation, and then to the first level of Qi Refining. That's not fast, but your foundation is very solid, without any instability. The road ahead will be much easier."

Chen Xueru lowered her head, looking at her hands. These hands, which six months ago were only used for holding pens, using an abacus, and organizing documents, now allowed her to feel the gentle, flowing energy within her body, like a docile little snake coursing through her meridians. She gently clenched her fist, feeling a power she had never experienced before. An indescribable feeling welled up within her—a mix of excitement, reassurance, and a curiosity and anticipation for the unknown. Six months ago, she was an ordinary person, knowing nothing of cultivation, preoccupied with bank affairs every day. Six months later, she had officially embarked on this mysterious and powerful path.

"Then, will I be able to fly around like you in the future?" She looked up, her eyes filled with childlike curiosity and longing, her voice brimming with anticipation.

He Damin was amused by her and reached out to ruffle her hair, which was soft and smooth.

"It's still a long way off. Refining Qi to the first level is just the beginning, like learning to walk. You're a long way from being able to fly with Qi. But..." He paused, his tone becoming serious, "At least for now, ordinary petty thieves or street thugs can't hurt you. If you encounter danger, you can protect yourself."

Chen Xueru smiled too, the surprise on her face still lingering. She reached out and hugged He Damin's waist tightly, pressing her cheek against his chest, listening to his steady and powerful heartbeat.

"That's good," she said softly, her voice filled with relief.