Galactic Vendetta

Episode 3: Cheng's Woodcarving

David Wood passed through Fallen Street without stopping. Despite its name, Fallen Street wasn't a single thoroughfare but rather two intersecting streets with countless narrow alleys crisscrossing between them. To a newcomer, the area might feel like a maze, with its labyrinthine passages and dead ends.

Fallen Street had two main exits: one led to the broken wall that separated it from the prestigious Zor Academy of Mechs, while the other opened onto a bustling main road. The street's vibrancy stemmed from its convenient shortcut, saving nearly half the walking distance compared to going through the academy's main gate. Over time, this convenience had fostered the peculiar prosperity of Fallen Street.

...

After navigating through the chaotic alleys of Fallen Street, David emerged onto a broader avenue. This main road ran parallel to the grand entrance of Zor Academy of Mechs, separated by less than two kilometers. About three kilometers away from the academy's gate lay a famous pedestrian street, renowned throughout the Zor star system.

Though less than a kilometer in length, this pedestrian street was lined with luxury shops from nearly every corner of the human alliance. Real estate here was astronomically expensive, and the phrase "every inch of land is worth its weight in gold" was no exaggeration.

Despite the late hour—nine o'clock at night—the street was still teeming with people. At the entrance's parking lot, hover cars and shuttle vehicles moved like flies, their blue-and-orange tail flames lighting up the night sky.

“Cheng's Woodcarving”

Less than two hundred meters into the pedestrian street, David spotted his destination among the dense array of shops.

This shop was a stark contrast to its flashy neighbors, occupying no more than thirty square meters. Instead of a glitzy holographic sign, the shop had an old-fashioned wooden signboard with the words "Handcrafted Woodcarving" engraved in large characters. The engraving was simple yet elegant, with a flowing, free-spirited style that seemed to breathe life into the words themselves.

David couldn't help but pause to admire the sign every time he visited. Despite its small size, the shop had a rich history, dating back to the era of Earth's mother planet. It had survived the Great Interstellar Migration and the rise of mechanical civilization, making it a symbol of luxury. The value of even a single handcrafted piece from this shop could easily cover a year’s living expenses for an ordinary person.

"David, you're here!" A graceful young girl greeted him as he entered. She was about his age, wearing a pristine white dress that exuded elegance. Her face was pale and delicate, with a slight blush of shyness, and she had an air of quiet serenity about her.

"Yeah," David replied curtly, not bothering to look at her. His eyes were already focused on the items inside the shop.

The shop's front area had several wooden display shelves, where various woodcarvings were casually arranged. At the far end, an elderly man, tall and thin with snow-white hair, was absorbed in his work at a small desk. He was carving a half-meter-tall figure of a warrior clad in ancient armor, holding a large blade with fierce determination in his eyes.

David knew this figure represented Guan Yu, a legendary Chinese warrior from Earth, revered as a symbol of martial valor. Seeing the old man so engrossed in his work, David didn't interrupt. Instead, he began to inspect the other carvings on display, though his primary concern was whether any of his own pieces had been sold. To his relief, only three of his carvings remained unsold, indicating that business had been good recently.

David felt a surge of satisfaction, knowing that good sales meant more opportunities for him to create.

"Here, have some tea." The girl's gentle voice interrupted his thoughts as a pleasant fragrance filled the air. Whether it was the tea or her subtle perfume, David couldn't tell and didn't care to.

"Thanks," David said, taking the cup and downing it in one gulp before handing the empty porcelain cup back to her.

For David, tea was nothing more than a way to quench his thirst. He didn't notice the faint disappointment on the girl's face. Unbeknownst to him, the tea leaves she had used were part of her private stash, so precious that even her grandfather rarely got to enjoy them.

David's attention returned to the woodcarvings, studying the techniques used in their creation. Time passed unnoticed as he became engrossed in the intricate details, unaware that another customer had entered the shop.

"How much for this piece?" The customer's voice snapped David out of his reverie. Instinctively, he took a step back, maintaining a safe distance from the stranger.

"Mr. Wang, this is a half-length woodcarving of General Hawk, made from rare Moiré Star rosewood. Due to the material and craftsmanship, it's quite expensive—80,000 Zor credits," the girl explained softly, her voice as soothing as ever.

David glanced at the man beside him, curious about the potential buyer. The General Hawk carving was one of his own creations, marked at a high price. It had been sitting unsold for over two months, as few people in the Zor star system knew of General Hawk's legacy.

The customer was a well-dressed man in his forties, with an imposing presence and a natural air of authority.

"Hmm, Moiré Star rosewood and excellent craftsmanship. I can understand the price, but why isn't there a signature from Master Cheng?" The customer was evidently knowledgeable, closely inspecting the carving.

In the world of handcrafted woodcarving, artists typically signed their work, especially pieces sold at a prestigious shop like this one.

"It's been a long time, Mr. Wang. How have you been?" The elderly man looked up from his work, greeting the customer with a smile before nodding at David.

"Well enough. But it seems like you, Master Cheng, are as sharp as ever. This carving technique is more fluid and powerful than I remember. It's impressive that you've continued to improve even at your age," the customer, Mr. Wang, replied warmly. Clearly, he and the old man were old acquaintances.

"I'm flattered, but this General Hawk carving isn't my work," the elderly man said with a modest chuckle.

"Oh? Could it be the work of Master Rodin? No, that can't be right. If it were, it would certainly bear his signature..." Mr. Wang mused, his surprise evident.

"Haha, you're overestimating us. Our humble shop wouldn't dare display Master Rodin's work. The artist you're looking for is much closer," the elderly man said, smiling widely.

"Closer?" Mr. Wang's gaze shifted first to the girl and then, more hesitantly, to David.

"Yes, him," the elderly man confirmed.

"Him?! So young?" Mr. Wang's voice was filled with disbelief.

"I didn't believe it at first either, but it’s true," the elderly man admitted with a sigh.

"Impressive. Congratulations, Master Cheng, on fostering such a talented artist," Mr. Wang said, now looking at David with a newfound respect.

"Actually, he isn't my apprentice," the elderly man corrected with a rueful smile.

"Not your apprentice?" Mr. Wang was even more surprised.

"It's a long story. Mr. Wang, as an old customer, I'll offer you a 30% discount on this General Hawk carving," the elderly man said, changing the subject.

"Thank you, Master Cheng," Mr. Wang replied, understanding that the old man didn't wish to discuss David further. After a few more pleasantries, Mr. Wang paid for the carving, which was then carefully packed into a spatial button for easy transport.

David listened to their conversation but didn't dwell on it. Although he was aware of his exceptional talent in woodcarving, he had never considered it his life's passion. His real dream was to pilot a mech on the battlefield against alien invaders.

Compared to the delicate wood he worked with, David was far more drawn to cold, unyielding metal. The touch of metal excited him in ways that were difficult to describe, filling him with a deep sense of satisfaction and joy.

The elderly man, aware of David's reticence, inspected David's carvings, transferred a commission to his account, and then returned to his work. David, in turn, picked up a piece of black wood and left the shop without another word. The two seemed to share a mutual understanding, needing little conversation.

As David exited the shop, the girl still held a cup of hot tea, watching him leave with unspoken words on her lips. She opened her mouth but ultimately said nothing.

When David disappeared into the crowd, the elderly man paused his work, staring at the direction David had gone, leaving the shop in a heavy silence.

"Cheryl, he didn't drink it, so why not give it to your grandfather? No need to waste good tea," the elderly man sighed.

"Grandfather..." the girl lowered her head, a deep blush spreading from her cheeks to her ears and neck, her fair skin turning a fiery red.

"Cheryl, David isn't the type to be interested in a gentle, soft-spoken girl like you," the elderly man said softly, standing up and gently stroking her hair with affection.

"Why not?" Cheryl suddenly looked up, her tearful eyes searching her grandfather's face for an answer.

Here’s the English version of the provided text:

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"David Wood's sculpting techniques are powerful and commanding, smooth, grand, and natural. From his carving style, one can see that the kind of woman he might be attracted to would be a heroic and spirited lady rather than a gentle and demure housewife..." The old man paused and sighed, "I've always pursued that grand and commanding carving style, but I am a person who adapts to circumstances, lacking ambition and content to remain in this confined space. This is also why I cannot surpass Master Rodin. It's a pity, a pity. If David had a different aspiration, this shop might have had a successor. Alas..."

The small shop fell into a quiet silence. The old man appeared dejected, while Cheryl's face reflected a mix of emotions, as if she was deep in thought.

David Wood, of course, was unaware of the events unfolding in the shop. Since Ironhead's death, there have been few things in this world capable of stirring David's emotions, aside from mechas.

David's first encounter with mechas dates back to when he was five years old. He had found a comic about mechas from Ironhead, and from that moment, he became deeply intrigued. From his earliest memories at five, David spent almost all his time focused on mechas. To gain a direct understanding of them, by the age of eleven, he even re-measured an ancient mecha model using a caliper...

For an eleven-year-old to re-measure an ancient mecha model was an enormous and complex task. After all, caliper measurement is not like holographic scanning; it requires complete manual work. Even measuring a single screw is an intricate process.

...

When David arrived home, it was already ten past ten, with only twenty minutes left before bedtime. David's daily routine was incredibly stable, unchanged for ten years.

After tidying up his room and doing some stretching exercises to relax his muscles and nerves, David went to bed.

There was nothing else of note that night.

In the morning at five o'clock, David got up. In less than five minutes, he completed all his washing and grooming. Ten minutes later, he was outside a makeshift house located five hundred meters away.

Outside the house, piles of discarded items emitted a pungent odor, almost completely obscuring the small house. The house's door was metal, and David pulled it open, hearing the metallic scrape as he pushed it open.

Inside was a lamentably small makeshift house. Despite the sturdy and heavy door, once opened, it revealed only a bed with hardly any space to stand. In stark contrast to the mecha's luxury, this place seemed almost like a miserable shack.