Robots That Were Walking Corpses

Zhu Juntang squinted comfortably. He usually got a tap on the head from his grandfather, so this gentle pat on the head felt quite nice.

Feeling encouraged and praised, Zhu Juntang continued, "I've seen a movie called 'The Gu Woman of Western Hunan: Extinction Master.' In it, the Gu woman falls in love with a scholar, but the scholar only lusts after her body. After enjoying his pleasures in her arms, he plans to abandon her. So, the Gu woman puts a Gu curse on the scholar, turning him into a walking corpse controlled by Gu worms, forever staying by her side."

The plot was rather cliché and conventional, but what did it have to do with Abbess Miejue? Liu Chang'an couldn't understand Zhu Juntang's taste and preferences in choosing movies, nor would he try to understand. He nodded, "Gu, it's not actually that mysterious. Many are just viruses or bacteria. Both of these can control some of the host's behavior, so it looks like they're acting abnormally or being manipulated." Liu Chang'an recalled the witchcraft calamity during Emperor Wu's reign to the Miao girl's love gu. In fact, the history of "gu" is almost as long as the history of human civilization. For a considerable period of time, Liu Chang'an was also attracted by its mystery. Back then, without modern scientific research and interpretation, he also found it miraculous and very interesting.

"Yes, this robot, I suspect she was originally a real person who was infected with a curse and controlled, and then my mom said she was a robot," Zhu Juntang said with certainty.

Liu Chang'an looked out the window. That was enough about the topic of Gu.

"Really!" Zhu Juntang grabbed Liu Chang'an's hand and patted her leg a few times, signaling him to turn around and listen carefully to his analysis.

"Go on," Liu Chang'an pulled his hand away, pushing her aside at the same time. "You've been infected too, stay away from me, don't let me catch it."

Zhu Juntang was startled and nervously leaned closer. "I... I really suspect that this Gu person will infect me with her Gu. My mother wants to control me using this method."

"Why would I control you?" Liu Chang'an felt that she had overestimated her importance. Using Gu to control others might be of some use, but what could she do by controlling her? She really had no self-awareness.

"It's turning me into a mindless zombie who only knows how to study," Zhu Juntang sighed.

Liu Chang'an raised his hand, and Zhu Juntang looked at him with a puzzled expression. Liu Chang'an thought for a moment, but in the end, he didn't slap her. Instead, he picked up a bottle of water and drank it.

Even if Su Nanxiu wanted to use Gu to control Zhu Juntang's studies, it's understandable, right? What else can you do when faced with someone like Zhu Juntang who's still desperately resisting studying even in college?

"Grandpa, can you help me get rid of that robot? I'll tear my little skirt and socks for you." Zhu Juntang shook Liu Chang'an's arm and acted coquettishly. Zhu Juntang didn't dare to take away the things her mother brought herself, but if Liu Chang'an did it, then it wouldn't be Zhu Juntang's business... It just so happens that Liu Chang'an and her mother are both pretty scary people. If they quarrel because of this, that would be great, then they wouldn't team up to force Zhu Juntang to study and have extra lessons in the future.

With winter break fast approaching, Zhu Juntang is feeling the pressure. What's the point of living if the entire winter break is spent studying and taking extra classes? Mie Mie can she ever be happy?

Liu Chang'an turned around and punched Zhu Juntang on the head a few times. Had her aversion to school really reached this level? Before, she'd throw a tantrum and cry her eyes out if her skirt and socks were torn, but now she'd just sell them off so easily?

Seeing Liu Chang'an's attitude, Zhu Juntang held her head and leaned to the other side, feeling utterly hopeless. She regretted coming to find this guy who had no regard for a beautiful girl.

Liu Chang'an did not believe that Su Nanxiu's robot was a witch doctor, nor was its purpose to control Zhu Juntang's studies.

But why? Liu Chang'an never understood what Su Nanxiu's robots were for.

As we all know, robots in the past basically ran pre-programmed programs. No matter how they were portrayed in movies, that was all they were, and they could not be very intelligent... It is only now that artificial intelligence has developed rapidly that AI intelligent robots have become a reality, thanks to the maturity of technologies such as high-speed computing, high-speed networks, and chip technology.

Modern robots are approaching the types depicted in older science fiction films that bring terror, disaster, and betrayal.

These robots of Su Nanxiu gave Liu Chang'an the feeling that they were not like loyal and reliable productivity tools, but more like... the image of Liu Chang'an goblin.

Liu Chang'an had no idea what role these robots would ultimately play or what kind of help they would provide to Su Nanxiu, let alone what Su Nanxiu's intention was in placing a robot next to Zhu Juntang.

Perhaps this is just a practical test of the product? If this robot can handle various tasks with ease even with a free-spirited creature like Zhu Juntang, does that mean it's powerful enough?

Such a possibility exists.

Liu Chang'an was thinking about these unimportant things, glancing at Zhu Juntang every now and then. She also glanced at Liu Chang'an from time to time. Whenever she met his gaze, she would immediately sniffle, put on an infinitely aggrieved look, and then snuggle closer to him.

Seeing that Liu Chang'an stopped pushing her, Zhu Juntang had completely scooted over to him by the time the car reached the vicinity of Xiangtan University's campus. She then wrapped her arms around Liu Chang'an's arm and began to complain about the robot's strange behavior: walking back and forth in the quiet, deserted corridor in the middle of the night, staring blankly at Zhu Juntang's back, and suddenly reciting religious books such as the Bible.

Based on Zhu Juntang's description, this thing did seem a bit strange. Liu Chang'an promised Zhu Juntang that he would ask her about it when he had the chance.

Su Nanxiu is currently in Lin'an. Before she left, she asked Liu Chang'an to look after the underground base. Now, Liu Chang'an is actually quite interested in going to check it out.

After finishing his two classes in the morning, Liu Chang'an sent Zhu Juntang, who had been following him, to go play with Bai Hui. He then went to the vicinity of Su Nanxiu's glass house.

Su Nanxiu didn't tell him whether Liu Chang'an could come and go freely when she wasn't around, but when he approached the glass house and saw the surveillance cameras tracking him and then the automatic doors opening, he knew that he probably still had access.

"Blood Ancestor, you've arrived."

Liu Chang'an saw a robot standing behind the automatic door. Although all these robots with blond hair looked the same, when he heard it call him "Blood Ancestor," Liu Chang'an recognized it as the robot that called itself "Gold Coin" when he came last time.

"I've come to take a look." Liu Chang'an nodded.

"Welcome. Your master has granted you the highest authority. You can blow this place up even if you want," Gold Coin said, standing to the side as Liu Chang'an walked in.

"Why would I blow this place up?" Liu Chang'an's feeling was right. These robots gave the impression that they had nothing to do with loyalty. Their language revealed a naked feeling: if they betrayed, it would be perfectly natural.

"Maybe you suddenly want to do this?" Gold Coin walked behind Liu Chang'an.

Liu Chang'an ignored its words and simply walked towards the base's elevator.

Gold Coin followed behind him, their gazes blankly fixed on his retreating figure.