When Dreams Shine into Reality

If apples were the most delicious poison to Adam and Eve, then the optical computer and mecha were Mu Fan's dream kingdom, a place he yearned for. In his deep sleep at night, he fantasized about piloting a steel monster that belonged to a man, fantasizing about owning an optical computer that could communicate with others. But upon waking, looking at the tattered blanket covering him and feeling his empty stomach, he was pulled back to reality.

But today! Mu Fan, who never slept in, was covered by a tattered blanket, leaning in the corner, sleeping soundly! He only woke up when the dazzling sunlight shone on his face!

With a start, Mu Fan looked to his right. The black egg lay there quietly.

"It's not a dream!" Mu Fan recalled that he had communicated a lot with the black egg last night. When he learned that his long-cherished wish could be realized, he felt his heart was about to jump out. So, while Black was talking about the required components, he was drooling and looking forward to the future, and thus fell asleep. He didn't know when Black stopped talking.

"Black!"

"Host." A familiar voice came from inside the black egg.

"Call me Mu Fan from now on! You are my friend from now on!"

"Okay, Mu Fan." Black paused, seemingly accepting the new definition, and also seemingly savoring the concept of the word 'friend'.

Mu Fan used a shell to scoop out some slightly cleaner settled rainwater from the nearby water collection trough, washed his face, and said to Black, "Which component do you need most now? I'll go find it first!"

"Optical computer," Black replied quickly.

"What? Optical computer? Aren't you an optical computer?" Mu Fan's head ached. The lowest level optical computer required 50,000 Star Coins. Where would he get the money?

"Correction, I am a superbrain artificial intelligence, codenamed Black, not an optical computer. I can exist in any carrier. I need an optical computer to access the current interstellar network, thereby updating and storing the database, and transforming the current form of existence."

"Optical computer, optical computer. Okay, I'll go earn money!" Mu Fan gritted his teeth after hearing Black's reply.

"Black, I'll have to inconvenience you." After saying that, without waiting for Black's opinion, he moved a pile of miscellaneous scrap materials and piled them on top.

"Black will enter the dormant self-check and correction program. Please, Mu Fan, wake me up after obtaining an optical computer." The electronic voice came from the scrap pile, but it lacked the emotional feeling. Black had already entered self-check.

The sky was rarely colorful, still gray and hazy. Small transport ships could be seen coming and going in the air from time to time. Hovercars occasionally whizzed past on the urban highway that spanned the suburbs.

It was 30 kilometers from the factory to the city district. The journey from barrenness to dilapidation to bustling to prosperity formed a stark contrast. Mu Fan ran for over an hour, and his breathing showed no signs of disorder upon entering the city.

Mu Fan's goal this time was very clear: first, to ask Old Man Bard, the owner of Bard's General Store in District 22. He used to help out at the store frequently. Old Man Bard was very kind and often gave Mu Fan some rice balls to eat, and also gave him some compensation. This time, Mu Fan wasn't going to work, but wanted to ask the old man for some advice. He needed money.

District 22 wasn't large, but it was unusually lively. When Mu Fan walked, others automatically kept a meter away from him. His tattered appearance clearly marked him as a poor person from outside the city. Those in the city who considered themselves noble would be afraid of being ridiculed if they got too close.

Hua Li Food City. As he passed the entrance, Mu Fan swallowed his saliva. Walking further ahead, Xiu Zhe Equipment Shop. He heard it was one of the best outdoor equipment shops in District 22. Looking at the well-made daggers and combat suits hanging in the display window, he showed an envious look, and his fists tightened again.

Turning right at the intersection ahead, and after passing a grocery store, he finally arrived at Old Man Bard's general store.

"Old Man Bard," seeing Old Man Bard sitting behind the counter leisurely smoking cheap tobacco, Mu Fan greeted him politely.

"Oh, isn't this our little Mu Fan~ You have time to see this old man now, you haven't been here for over a month." Bard saw it was Mu Fan, smacked his cigarette holder, and said cheerfully.

"Yes, I was working outside the city before, so I didn't have time to come to the city. I came this time to ask for your advice," Mu Fan nodded and replied.

"What is it, little Mu Fan? Come in and sit down first. I, Old Man Bard, will tell you everything I know." Bard genuinely liked this sensible and diligent boy from the bottom of his heart.

"Old Man Bard, I want to know how to earn money the fastest?" Mu Fan looked at the old man in front of him with clear eyes.

"Earn money? How much money do you need? Why are you suddenly asking this?" Old Man Bard was very surprised. He knew Mu Fan's situation. The money he earned from working was barely enough to fill his stomach, and then this boy would occasionally buy some books, making his life even tighter. But even so, he had never seen Mu Fan ask about ways to earn money quickly.

"Did you encounter difficulties? How much money do you need? I, Old Man Bard, have some savings." Bard genuinely liked this child and wanted to help him as much as he could.

"Thank you, Old Man Bard. This time is a little different. I need an optical computer, so I have to earn money. I can't take your money. I came to ask for your advice," Mu Fan politely refused Bard's kindness.

"Hmm..." Bard exhaled a smoke ring. "Little Mu Fan, you've worked for me many times before. There's a way to earn more money. I know you're very strong, but I still hope you'll consider it."

"What method?"

"Martial arts hall, sparring partner!" Bard looked at Mu Fan seriously. "To put it more bluntly, it's going to be a sandbag! The longer you can last, the higher your income will be! However, I must remind you to pay attention to your safety. It's inevitable that some people there will hit hard, and I don't want anything to happen to you."

"Thank you, Old Man Bard." Mu Fan's eyes lit up, and he bowed deeply to the old man.

"Don't thank me. If you can't hold on, come find me." Bard waved his hand.

"Okay, then I'll go," Mu Fan said, raising his head and turning to walk away with large strides.

"Hey, you brat, you're going the wrong way, the wrong way!"

Mu Fan stumbled, turned 180 degrees, scratched his head, and chuckled.

In the northwest corner of District 22, sits a massive 5-story building. A uniquely designed wooden plaque hangs at the entrance – Starfall Martial Arts Hall. In the interstellar era, humans need to drive and control various machines, especially with the emergence of mechs, which further increased the requirements for human physical fitness. Martial arts halls, as comprehensive training facilities combining martial arts and combat techniques, have become popular again with the development of science.

The parking spaces at the entrance were full of hovercars, ranging from civilian cars costing over a hundred thousand Star Coins to high-end cars costing over a million. Four burly men in black martial arts uniforms stood at the entrance, adding a bit of imposing presence to the building.

"Hey kid, what are you doing? If you have nothing to do, get lost." A big man saw Mu Fan walking straight towards him and said fiercely. Looking at the pervasive smell of engine oil on him, he couldn't possibly be a normal customer.

"Starfall Martial Arts Hall? Do you need sparring partners?" Mu Fan stared at the burly man in front of him without fear.

"You? Haha, a sandbag? We do! Follow me," he said, then turned and walked towards the lobby.

Mu Fan followed the burly man, entering this consumption area for the rich for the first time. As soon as he entered, he saw at a glance that on both sides of the grand lobby were powerful characters and paintings! Looking forward, behind the steel-based glass was an incredibly vast training ground. There were strength testing machines over two people tall, and rows of equipment for physical training. It was still morning, and there weren't many people on the field.

"Stop looking, this is the ordinary training ground. The martial arts hall instructors aren't here. You sandbags are on the second and third floors." The man in the black uniform looked at the taciturn kid and teased him. Country bumpkins who haven't been to a martial arts hall before will be shocked at first glance. Does this silly kid think being a sandbag is that easy? Recently, a young master came, rumored to be from the central area of Luoqie Star, and he hits particularly hard. He has already crippled three sandbags.

"Thank you!"

"The person I'm taking you to see is a middle-level manager of our martial arts hall. Kid, let me remind you first, it's common for sandbags to be crippled. If you sign the contract, you can't leave." The man in the black uniform looked at the polite kid in surprise and put away his teasing tone. The hover elevator dinged, indicating it had reached the fourth floor. "We're here. My name is Man Kun. Good luck."

**********

(ps: The title was too long and had to be shortened. Three chapters are dedicated to the Alliance Leader Bai Yiduo!

Thanks to book friend Liang Gong Xiaoyue for the reward)