Ming Zhi Tian said, "I have a slight understanding. You've spent all your days with so much wood, you've practically become a piece of wood yourself. But have you ever regretted it? In the end, you're just wood, and you haven't gained anything, have you?"
An Bo Zi shook his head and smiled, "Young man, you are still too young. You don't understand. These are not just pieces of wood; they are my life's work, fifty years of my life's work! In fact, what you see here is only the surface. You haven't seen my true heart's labor yet. Come, I'll take you somewhere."
Ming Zhi Tian followed An Bo Zi to a place in the back mountain. The little lion Buck trailed along. There were no mountains there, only barren land. It used to have mountains, hence the name "back mountain," but even after they disappeared, it was still called the back mountain.
Arriving at the back mountain, which appeared ordinary, An Bo Zi lifted the barren soil, revealing a disguised piece of wood. It was hard to notice anything in the soil unless one looked very closely.
Moving the wood aside, there was a passage underneath. An Bo Zi led Ming Zhi Tian down. After a short while, they passed several bends and emerged from another passage to discover a hidden paradise.
The expanse was clear and unobstructed, featuring mountains, water, trees, and a house.
Approaching the house, An Bo Zi pointed and said, "My fifty years of labor are all in this house."
Ming Zhi Tian pushed open the door. Besides piles of wood much larger than those seen in the small sheds in Wang An City, there was a desk covered with densely packed diagrams of various shapes. In the center was a long, cylindrical object, seemingly a type of aircraft.
Beside it stood a large wooden cylinder, looking majestic and powerful.
Ming Zhi Tian walked over, intending to touch it. An Bo Zi quickly stopped him, "You are not allowed to touch this!"
Ming Zhi Tian frowned slightly, "What's wrong? Are you afraid it will explode?"
An Bo Zi hurriedly checked the wooden cylinder for damage and righted it. "This is what I call fifty years of my heart's work."
Ming Zhi Tian looked surprised, "A mere wooden cylinder took you fifty years to dedicate?"
An Bo Zi shot him a glare, "I say you have no eye for quality, young man. This is the first wooden rocket I, An Bo Zi, have ever researched. It is named the Chang Long Rocket!"
Ming Zhi Tian burst into laughter, "Rocket? You? A wooden rocket? Old eccentric, your brain must be malfunctioning! Making a rocket out of wood, even if you manage to get it to fly, wood is still just wood. It will either explode mid-flight or spontaneously combust."
Ming Zhi Tian turned to leave, "Anyone riding in it will die. One trip on your rocket straight to heaven. You're truly a genius."
An Bo Zi quickly blocked him, "Wait, young man, listen to me. It's not finished yet, but soon, you'll be the first to witness it. When it's done, not only will it be able to cross the Northern Horn Desert, but it can even surpass the celestial sphere and reach the Wan Heng Universe!"
Ming Zhi Tian pushed him away, "When that time comes? Which time? The Year of the Monkey or the Moon River? You can keep your research."
"No, no! I don't need to research anymore. I can build it, I just need a few parts, and I need money. Can you help me?" An Bo Zi hurried after him.
Ming Zhi Tian stopped, not because of An Bo Zi's rambling, but because there were mountains here, not just a few, but many, enough for him to train for a year.
An Bo Zi, mistaking his pause for willingness to fund, beamed, "Oh, I don't even know your name yet, young master. Which great family do you belong to? Are you from the Five Families of Southern Ling or the Twelve Families of Northern Ling?"
Ming Zhi Tian, seeing an opportunity, decided to stay, "My name is Bai Tian Ming. You don't need to know anything else. I can sponsor your rocket project, but on two conditions."
An Bo Zi's interest piqued, "A benefactor! What are the two conditions? I agree to them all!"