Chapter 91: “Machine Spirit”?
Yu Sheng realized his initial judgment had been off.
Although Irene indeed didn’t take up much space, things still got cramped after boarding—not because of the people, but because of the car itself.
That made Xu Jiali managing to wedge himself behind the steering wheel all the more astonishing.
How could a towering man, nearly two meters tall, choose such a tiny car!
Yu Sheng and Miss Foxy were squeezed into the backseat (the passenger seat was stacked with two large cardboard boxes, leaving no space for anyone else). As the engine began sputtering at the front of the vehicle and the car finally rolled out of the block, Yu Sheng couldn’t help but ask Xu Jiali, who was driving, “You doing a side gig after work?”
“Sure am,” Xu Jiali replied cheerfully. “If I’m not on a mission, I like to drive around the city after work—and make a little pocket change while I’m at it.”
Yu Sheng looked bewildered. He glanced at the sputtering old car, then at the hulking man crammed in the front seat. This was a veteran Deep Diver from the Special Affairs Bureau, moonlighting as a rideshare driver—and with a car that might be just as old as himself. Was life for Special Affairs Bureau Operatives this tough?
The more he thought about it, the more it didn’t add up. But he couldn’t bring himself to ask directly, leaving him awkwardly stewing in his thoughts.
Thankfully, someone present didn’t share his hesitation—in front of acquaintances, the little doll had no need to “pretend.”
Irene’s eyes gleamed to life. She squirmed from Miss Foxy’s arms to the center of the backseat, leaned forward, and asked, “This car is really… ‘unique’ — doesn’t the Special Affairs Bureau pay you folks?”
“It’s not that,” Xu Jiali chuckled, shaking his head. “I just have a bond with this car. It was the first one I bought after joining the Bureau. It was second-hand even then, but I’ve driven it all these years. I just can’t bear to replace it.”
As he spoke, he patted the gearshift beside him and turned his head slightly. “And don’t be fooled by how old it looks. This old buddy of mine’s never once let me down. Not a single breakdown in all these years—right, old pal?”
The moment his words ended, Yu Sheng heard a deep, powerful rumble from the engine, followed by two quick, cheerful honks from the horn.
It all happened so fast that he didn’t even realize something was wrong at first.
It took a few seconds before he grasped the abnormality: Xu Jiali hadn’t moved his hands or touched the horn—the car had responded on its own to his words!
“Did your car… just reply to you?” Yu Sheng sat up straight, eyes wide with disbelief.
Instantly, wild scenarios filled his mind: a rundown exterior hiding a cybernetic core, secretly modified by elite agents; its rattling noises just simulated by artificial intelligence; the whole thing capable of lifting off into the sky at a moment’s notice, sprouting missile pods from all four wheels, launching exhaust pipes like rockets…
But Xu Jiali only gave a casual smile and said, “It’s nothing. Just the Machine Spirit.”
Yu Sheng: “…?”
This was more outrageous than any of his guesses.
Xu Jiali continued, “Lots of folks at the Bureau envy me for it. High-tech gear is easy to get with enough funding, but a Machine Spirit? That’s rare luck. Out of the whole squad, only a few pieces of gear have one. When they’re not on missions, they get treated like sacred treasures. Our Captain even tried to buy this car off me several times. He only gave up after my old buddy here got mad and chased him around the parking lot for three laps. You all went quiet—why’s that?”
Yu Sheng was still stunned.
But judging from Xu Jiali’s tone, it seemed like he genuinely considered this common knowledge—at least, within the Special Affairs Bureau.
So Yu Sheng did his best to hide his shock and offered a somewhat awkward compliment: “…That’s… pretty incredible.”
“Isn’t it? A bunch of people at the Bureau are following my lead now—refusing to replace their old phones or cars, hoping they’ll eventually awaken a Machine Spirit like I did.”
Yu Sheng: “…”
As if a Machine Spirit was something you could cultivate just by using an object long enough!
Xu Jiali, focused on driving, didn’t notice the increasingly strained expression on Yu Sheng’s face. After a brief silence, he casually asked, “You’re heading out this late? Doesn’t look like there’s a night market or a shopping district near that address… Late-night stroll?”
While talking, he glanced at the little doll seated between Yu Sheng and Miss Foxy through the rearview mirror. “And the Doll Lady’s tagging along too—that’s a creative way to get out the Door.”
Yu Sheng was just about to respond when Irene piped up first: “We’re heading out for work!”
Then she glanced at Yu Sheng with a bit of hesitation. “…We can say that out loud, right?”
Yu Sheng didn’t mind. “Go ahead. It’s not a secret mission, and he’s official too.”
“Work, huh?” Xu Jiali picked up on that instantly. After a short pause, his tone turned serious. “Need any help?”
“No need,” Yu Sheng waved his hand. “It’s nothing major.”
Xu Jiali hummed in acknowledgment, but a few seconds later, he couldn’t help adding, “It is legal, right? No offense for asking…”
“It was Little Red Riding Hood who introduced them,” said Xu Jiali.
“Then it should be fine. The Fairy Tale Organization has a good reputation—always plays by the rules,” Xu Jiali finally relaxed, though he still gave a few more warnings. “I heard about you founding the Hotel, so let me just say this—Borderland is a chaotic place. No matter how many eyes the Special Affairs Bureau has here, there are always shadows they can’t reach. Be careful not to get tricked. Stay vigilant against temptations. If anyone or anything seems off, don’t hesitate—just report it immediately. Reporting is a virtue.”
Yu Sheng wasn’t sure if it was just his imagination, but when Xu Jiali said “reporting is a virtue,” his tone carried an odd sense of solemnity.
“Relax, we get it,” Irene waved impatiently. “Anyway, can you speed up a bit? Feels like this thing’s dragging its wheels…”
“It really does seem nervous today. Can’t run freely,” Xu Jiali scratched his head. “It even stalled once when I was near your street just now. That’s not normal.”
Yu Sheng felt someone tug at his sleeve. He turned and found Miss Foxy staring intently at him.
“Benefactor, do you want me to tie one of my tails to the back of the car and push it?”
Yu Sheng rejected the Demon Fox Maiden’s suggestion without even thinking.
What a joke. In the dead of night, a subsonic Xiali car rocket-boosted by a fox tail zipping through the streets? They’d be better off launching Foxy herself with a rocket—at least that’d be so ridiculous, fewer people might believe it. But if the authorities in Borderland caught wind of the car, Xu Jiali might as well kiss his license goodbye…
Regardless, even though it took nearly a quarter longer than a regular ride, Yu Sheng and the others still arrived safely near the location shared by Little Red Riding Hood.
Yu Sheng glanced out the window. The streetlights ahead were sparse, and a massive structure loomed faintly at the end of the road.
“We’ll get off here. Hard to turn around on that little path ahead.”
“Alright,” Xu Jiali waved them off. “Take your stuff. And if anything happens—call me.”
They stepped out.
On the dimly lit street, Xu Jiali watched two figures disappear into the distance (Irene was too small and got blocked from view by Miss Foxy). Only after a while did he exhale, releasing the steering wheel and leaning back in a seat that always felt a bit cramped.
The car started on its own and slowly rolled to a spot at the roadside, idling gently with a soft, purring hum.
Xu Jiali gave a glance at the dashboard, a wry smile tugging at his lips. “Scared you good, huh, old buddy?”
The engine grumbled in response.
Xu Jiali stretched—a motion almost too large for the tight driver’s space—and placed a hand on the steering wheel.
“Say no more. You’ve earned it today. Fill ‘er up—Ninety-Seven grade.”
…
Yu Sheng glanced back.
In the distance, faint lights flickered, turning before vanishing around the bend on the far side of the street.
Irene’s voice echoed in his mind: “You think that was just a coincidence?”
“Doesn’t matter.” Yu Sheng waved dismissively.
“Doesn’t matter?”
“Whatever car we ride, it’s all the same. Let’s see if Li Lin also just coincidentally ends up driving near our place again. Hopefully his car’s a bit bigger next time,” Yu Sheng chuckled, “If we bump into them often enough, maybe I won’t need to pay the fare—pretty sure their Bureau reimburses for this kind of thing.”
“…Your attitude’s… something else,” Irene remarked, genuinely impressed.
Yu Sheng didn’t respond. He just reached out to pat Irene’s head, then looked up.
Beneath a dim streetlamp stood a petite girl clad in a deep crimson coat. Bathed in the faint glow, she had clearly been waiting for quite some time.