Chapter 55: Where Does the Road Lead

After the two women finished their baths, Lu Yu was the last to enter the bathroom. He soaked comfortably in the hot water and had just dried his hair when he stepped out and froze.

At that moment, only a small bedside lamp illuminated the bedroom, casting a halo of soft orange light. The night was tranquil; though it was a full moon, a thin layer of clouds veiled the sky, blurring its brightness.

In the hazy moonlight, Shi Zixuan and Qin Xiaomian sat side by side, carefully adorned. Both wore long, plain white dresses with an ancient elegance, sitting quietly and serenely opposite each other on a rattan bench by the window. Their hair was tied with silk ribbons, the smooth, waterfall-like tresses gently cascading down, their demeanor gentle and content. Their brows were delicately arched, their eyes limpid as water, with star-like pupils half-closed in a lazy repose. Their slender, jade-like hands loosely embraced their knees, making their already delicate figures appear all the more fragile and endearing. Beneath their simple white garments, two pairs of bare feet—soft and lustrous—were adorned at the ankles with ancient, mysterious, exquisitely crafted little bells.

A gentle evening breeze drifted through, lightly stirring their hair and fluttering the ribbons of their dresses. The bright moonlight poured over them like water, cloaking the two in a faint, cool radiance, making them seem pure as ice and jade. Bathed in the moonlight, they looked as if they might soar away on the wind.

No wonder so many have said, “To behold beauty beneath the moon is to witness another world.” In that moment, Lu Yu fully understood the ethereal charm of such a sight.

“The moon rises bright and fair, the beauty sits in silence. Graceful and slender she rests, my heart quietly troubled.
The moon rises white and clear, the beauty sits alone. Gentle and at peace she seems, my heart restless and worried.
The moon rises to shine, the beauty sits radiant. Soft and elegant she appears, my heart grieves in silence.”

Under the moon, beauty seems draped in a fine veil—half mysterious, half tranquil, neither near nor far, like the gentle intoxication of wine or the allure of half-bloomed flowers, tugging at the deepest strings within.

Lu Yu gazed from afar, wanting to etch this exquisite scene forever in his memory.

...

At dawn, the forested mountains lay shrouded in mist, filled with cheerful birdsong. The three slept until they naturally woke, savoring the comfort and warmth of the moment before finally rising when their stomachs began to rumble.

The two women, of course, took much longer to get ready. Lu Yu quickly finished washing up and went out to fetch breakfast from the hotel restaurant. When he returned to the suite, he found the women still picking out their clothes for the day.

Lu Yu, fond of their pure and elegant appearance from the night before, mentioned it to them. The two shot him a playful glare before they began to smooth out the white dresses that had been so carelessly crumpled the previous night.

After a leisurely breakfast and another careful round of makeup, the two women finally joined Lu Yu as they left the hotel, heading for the nearby Qingcheng Mountain Scenic Area.

...

Anyone who has read even a little xianxia fiction knows that Qingcheng Mountain is the sacred ground of the Complete Perfection Dragon Gate Sect. It is one of the Ten Great Grotto-Heavens, one of the Four Taoist Sacred Mountains, and one of the Five Immortal Mountains. Since ancient times, it has been said, “Qingcheng—most serene under heaven.”

The peaks rise and fall in waves, covered in lush, verdant forest. Evergreen throughout the seasons, shrouded in mist, with endless steps and winding paths leading into tranquility.

Lu Yu took in the splendid scenery, accompanying the two women as they strolled and climbed the mountain at leisure. Occasionally, he helped them take photos, sometimes together, sometimes separately, but his mind was occupied by other thoughts.

...

Since acquiring the technological data, Lu Yu had been pondering what to do next, how to chart the road ahead. The information contained every aspect of another civilization’s technological development, offering what seemed like countless options to choose from.

Yet Lu Yu remained acutely aware that things were not so simple. If only it were that easy.

...

The currently unlocked elementary technology files truly contained innumerable so-called “black technologies.” Even if the two systems were incompatible and could not be used directly, these resources still allowed Lu Yu to create limitless possibilities in the future.

But, surveying the development of that other civilization, every advanced technology or black-tech invention was built upon a corresponding industrial system and foundation. Even they could not conjure technologies or products vastly superior to their existing industrial base out of nothing. Cutting-edge theories might be generations ahead, but actually producing such products always came down to the industrial system and foundational industries.

Lu Yu reflected that the development of technology on Blue Star followed the same pattern. Theories could outpace reality, but products never leap too far beyond the industrial base.

So, faced with the entirety of Blue Star’s industrial system and foundational industries, what could he really do?

...

The records of the other civilization’s developmental process were already lost, giving Lu Yu no valuable reference—only a mountain of technical data. Trying to piece together the trajectory and evolution of technology from this data was a daunting, nearly hopeless task.

Now, Lu Yu felt like a child suddenly handed many answers, but forced to work out all the proofs for himself. Even if he knew the principles and methods for making a black-tech product, he would have to assemble every component from scratch, and each part represented a miniature industrial system. Any small error could render a part defective, making the whole product impossible to complete.

To put it plainly, behind every part lay one or more industrial chains. When all the parts were considered together, the industrial chains involved were staggeringly vast.

So, it wasn’t that Lu Yu didn’t want to create jaw-dropping black-tech products—it was that, faced with such immense industrial chains and systems, there was very little an ordinary person like him could actually accomplish. He was, after all, not the leader of Blue Star.

...

As these thoughts occupied his mind, Lu Yu frowned, considering where to begin to stimulate and guide technological progress on Blue Star.

Reviewing the history of technological development on his world, he finally realized that to have an impact on the existing industrial system, he had to start with basic industries.

Foundational industries determine the ultimate ceiling of technology. And what determines foundational industries? What influences them?

The answer lay in basic and new materials. Basic materials need no explanation; new materials are those with exceptional structural or functional properties—such as advanced ceramics, metallic glasses, graphene, and so on.

Improvements in basic materials can elevate the overall level of existing industrial chains, while new materials are decisive in the rise of new industrial sectors.

...

Having sorted out these questions, Lu Yu felt a surge of relief. At least now he had a clear goal and knew where to begin.

Lu Yu decided that upon returning home, he would begin studying materials science and establish an institute dedicated to researching basic and new materials.

Of course, he never intended to do the research alone. The advancement or creation of a material requires immense effort—far more than one person’s energy could ever provide. Instead, he would find suitable “assistants,” guiding them subtly or offering veiled hints. He believed these people would achieve remarkable results.

The credit for any research would be theirs; as for making a little money from patents, he’d bear that burden himself—never too weary for it.

As for following the trope of novels where the protagonist single-handedly produces countless breakthroughs, Lu Yu had only one thought:

What kind of madness would drive someone to do that? Wouldn’t that be the same as plastering a sign on his forehead saying, “Something’s wrong with me—come and get me”? And not just quietly, but parading it for all to see, almost afraid no one would trouble him.

Lu Yu had nothing but disdain for such an idea. Compared to being a living target, wasn’t being the mastermind behind the scenes far more satisfying? Let others have the fame, while he quietly made money to climb the technological ladder—wasn’t that the sweet spot?

...

Lost in these plans, Lu Yu continued to accompany the two women on their sightseeing. Over two days, they climbed both the front and back mountains, only returning home to Shudu on Sunday evening.

After two days of hiking, all three were tired. After dinner, none of them exercised; they simply rested on the sofa with drinks before heading upstairs to bathe and sleep.

Lying in bed, Lu Yu played with his phone and suddenly realized he hadn’t returned to his place near Shuyin University for quite a while. He decided he’d spend a few days there this week. Thinking of that home reminded him of Zhang Kexin and Qianqian.

Browsing online news and information for a bit, sleepiness soon overcame him. He tossed his phone aside and drifted off.

...

When he woke, Shi Zixuan and Qin Xiaomian had already gone out. Lu Yu got up, washed, and ordered breakfast on his phone.

He fetched a laptop from the study and began researching basic and new materials on the sofa in the living room. After all, there were far too many types of basic and new materials; he had to first choose a direction and an application field.

For example, some materials were used in the military—would a commercial research institute like the one he planned be able to touch those? Or take graphene, a new material whose current problem is the prohibitively high cost of production, making it commercially unviable.

Lu Yu could, in theory, solve this problem, but was this something he dared to publicize right now? The implications for batteries and energy alone would be enough to make him lose sleep and quake with fear.

Did anyone really think the energy giants of the world were all gentle pacifists? Did they believe the new world of democracy, freedom, and human rights was real? What a joke!

The “Beacon Nation” had started several wars over energy, not to mention that the applications for graphene were so broad and disruptive they’d overturn entire industries. If Lu Yu were to bring forth such a revolution, would he have taken enough “date pills” for protection? Even at home, there would be many who’d rather he never saw another sunrise.

...

Right now, Lu Yu was just the small owner of a cosmetics company. At best, the company’s products sold well, but that was all. In the fast-moving consumer goods market, he could jump around a bit without attracting much attention or opposition.

Who gave him the courage to try commercializing graphene on a large scale? Who gave him the nerve to try taking such a massive slice of the pie? Even Liang Jingru wouldn’t dare!

Therefore, choosing the field of application for a material was of utmost importance—it was best to start with established commercial sectors, and to proceed from the simple to the complex.

...