Chapter 23: A Shocking Arrival-O cara levou a gente para um ponto turístico onde dá para cultivar imortalidade e fazer arqueologia!(Aquele que segura a pena)

Ying Zheng descended the viewing platform step by step, his black dragon-patterned boots striking the loess with a dull, rhythmic thud. Zhao Gao hurried to keep pace with the Emperor, while Meng Yi kept his hand firmly on the hilt of his sword, his eyes filled with a mixture of vigilance and profound shock.

As the Emperor’s palm finally rested against the turmeric-yellow body of the vehicle, everyone held their breath. The vibrant color shimmered like molten gold in the sunlight, standing in stark contrast to the grim, black-armored guards surrounding them.

Ying Zheng’s slender fingers traced the curves of the car body, pausing briefly at the door handle. This was the very "divine object that travels a thousand miles a day" seen in the video from yesterday!

"This object..." the Emperor’s voice carried a rare hint of agitation, "truly requires neither ox nor horse?"

Sunlight danced across the yellow exterior, casting a warm golden glow onto Ying Zheng’s dark sleeves. He leaned down to inspect the treads of the tires, then tapped his finger against the glass window; every detail confirmed what they had seen in the video. It was more real than any immortal artifact, more staggering than any legend. Two thousand years of time seemed to be condensed within this golden, steel shell.

Meng Yi suddenly noticed that the fingertips with which the Emperor touched the car were trembling slightly. The yellow lacquer reflected the Emperor’s deep, piercing gaze, as if time and space had overlapped in that very moment.

"Would Your Majesty care to board and experience it? Feel the marvel of this horse-less movement for yourself," Jiang Ye stepped forward and opened the door.

Meng Yi immediately stepped forward. "Your Majesty, I beg to test it first!" He stared intently at the steel monster. Such a thing must not be tested by the Emperor first; should anything go wrong, the Great Qin would fall into chaos.

Zhao Gao scrambled over as well, a fawning smile on his face. "I, Gao, am willing to brave the danger for Your Majesty."

Jiang Ye and his companions were not surprised by the wariness of Meng Yi and Zhao Gao. It was to be expected. They had assumed Ying Zheng would let Zhao Gao or Meng Yi go first, given the historical records of the Emperor’s intense paranoia due to assassination attempts by remnants of the conquered states.

However...

"No need." Ying Zheng raised a hand to stop them, his dark sleeves rustling in the wind. He gazed into the interior with burning intensity. "I shall test it myself."

These three short words caused both Meng Yi and Zhao Gao to change color. But what shocked them even more was the next sentence.

"Since you are descendants of future generations," Ying Zheng stepped into the vehicle, the jade beads of his crown clinking with a crisp, clear sound, "I trust you."

This declaration stunned not only Meng Yi and Zhao Gao, but also Jiang Ye and his group. After the initial shock came joy and a sense of inexplicable pride. They looked at Ying Zheng with eyes that shimmered with emotion.

Meng Yi regained his composure and followed closely with a stride. "I shall accompany you to protect Your Majesty!"

"I, too, shall accompany you," Zhao Gao insisted, refusing to be left behind.

Upon boarding, the three men immediately noticed the driver in the pilot's seat. Meng Yi instinctively drew his bronze sword to protect the Emperor, the sharp blade pointing directly at the driver's seat. There sat a man in strange, exotic clothing, perfectly silent!

"Misunderstanding, a misunderstanding!" Jiang Ye rushed onto the vehicle and hurriedly pressed down on Meng Yi’s sword hand. "This is our driver, Master Wang, responsible for operating the vehicle!"

This was the NPC prop provided by the system. The NPC Driver Wang turned his head, revealing a mechanical, honest smile. He wore a dark blue uniform with a shining metal badge pinned to his chest, looking vastly different from the people of Qin.

Ying Zheng raised a hand to signal Meng Yi to sheathe his sword, though his gaze remained fixed on the driver. "Is this 'driver' also a person from the future?"

"Indeed," Jiang Ye nodded. It wasn't a man of Qin, and as for whether he was a modern human, only the system knew.

With Meng Yi present, Ying Zheng was not concerned about any danger from this individual. He withdrew his gaze from the driver, immediately captivated by the interior. The soft touch of the leather seats made his fingertips pause—this was something no animal hide could ever match.

Meng Yi kept a watchful eye on his surroundings, especially the unfamiliar "driver," but soon his attention was drawn to the complex dashboard in front of the driver's seat. The jumping needles and flashing indicator lights appeared as mysterious as the stars to him.

"What is this?" Ying Zheng suddenly pointed to the air conditioning vent above.

"Your Majesty, this is a mechanism for adjusting the temperature," Jiang Ye said, turning on the air conditioning. A cool breeze immediately began to blow.

Zhao Gao started in surprise but quickly regained his composure. "This wind is remarkably cool."

Ying Zheng reached out thoughtfully to feel the airflow, then tapped the window glass again. "Clearer than glass." His gaze swept over the seatbelts, sun visors, and other items, asking the purpose of each one he saw.

Two minutes had already passed; they could delay no longer.

"Your Majesty, gentlemen, please be seated. The vehicle is about to move," Jiang Ye reminded them. He was still used to calling them "gentlemen," as he was not yet accustomed to using their official titles.

Once the three were seated, Jiang Ye instructed the driver to start the vehicle.

With a low roar of the engine, the Coaster started smoothly. The tires rolled over the packed loess, carving a fluid arc across the training grounds.

"Your Majesty, the vehicle's speed is now forty-five miles per hour," Jiang Ye said, glancing at the dashboard. Outside the window, the scenery began to recede at a steady pace.

Ying Zheng’s eyes narrowed. This speed was already comparable to the fastest gallop of the best chariots in the palace, yet he felt no jolts whatsoever.

"This speed is merely a low gear. On a wide, open road, it can reach one hundred and twenty miles per hour," Jiang Ye explained.

"It can increase its speed by nearly threefold?" Meng Yi stared in disbelief at the scenery flying past the window.

Jiang Ye nodded. "That's right."

That would mean it could take them from Xianyang to Handan in just over four hours. This completely overturned everything he knew about "speed"!

Ying Zheng suddenly reached out to grasp the seat in front of him. "Faster." He wanted to verify with his own eyes just how fast this steel machine could go.

Jiang Ye shook his head. "Your Majesty, the site is limited; I cannot demonstrate it here. If there is a smooth, wide road, I shall show you next time."

Although the training ground was large, it lacked the length to fully demonstrate the vehicle's speed. Though Ying Zheng felt a pang of regret, he did not force the issue. Seeing even a fraction of its power was already astounding enough.

The scenery outside the window blurred into streaks of color. Ying Zheng’s fingers tapped unconsciously against his knee. If this steel mount could be used for the relay system, urgent dispatches from the frontiers could reach Xianyang in a single day, and no movement in the lands of the six former states would escape his control. The Emperor’s eyes grew increasingly profound, as if he could already see a web of imperial control woven by steel carriages.

Meng Yi’s thoughts flew to the northern frontier. If this object were used to transport troops, an army of three hundred thousand could assemble at the border in ten days; if used to transport grain, there would be no need to fear losses on the road. He rubbed his rough palms against the leather seat, envisioning the Xiongnu cavalry left in the dust. If his brother had the help of such a divine object, he would surely be able to wipe out the Xiongnu.

Zhao Gao huddled in his seat, his small eyes darting back and forth rapidly. This object could not only carry people and cargo, but more importantly, if the Emperor possessed such an immortal artifact, the Great Qin would rise to even greater heights. Upon returning, he must ensure that Prince Huhai established a deep and favorable relationship with these descendants of the future.

The three men, each harboring their own secret thoughts, reached a miraculous consensus within the steel carriage: This object belonged to the Great Qin!