The Unbearable Wrong

"Jiang Chen, Jiang Chen, Jiang Chen…"

"Zhang Dazhuang, Zhang Dazhuang, Zhang Dazhuang…"

As night fell, a massive red planet dominated the sky, casting an eerie glow that highlighted Jiang Chen's bewildered expression. He leaned against the mecha, banging his head rhythmically against the metal surface while repeating these two names.

His mind was still foggy, but with each repetition, fragments of memories started to surface.

He felt he was Jiang Chen. When he first awoke, that's what he thought. In Jiang Chen's memories, he lived on a place called Earth, a world with technology far less advanced than the colossal mecha before him—a level of tech straight out of science fiction.

Yet, the memories of Jiang Chen were strange. He knew everything about Earth as if he had grown up there, but he couldn't recall any details about his family, experiences, or identity.

On the other hand, Jiang Chen's recollections about Zhang Dazhuang and this world were clearer.

This was a realm of mortals practicing cultivation and ascending to immortality. Flying swords, magical artifacts, fox demons, and ghosts all existed, just as in the myths of Earth. The greatest dream of the common folk was to join a sect and walk the path of cultivation.

Zhang Dazhuang, who had lost his parents at a young age and faced a troubled fate, had a chance to change his life. But he failed—not due to lack of talent but because he was exploited by a woman who ultimately ruined his future, leaving him without hope of recovery.

When Zhang Dazhuang's talent for cultivation was revealed, everyone in the village showered him with favors and money. But when he returned in despair, the villagers' attitude shifted abruptly, and they demanded repayment. No one cared about his emotional and professional suffering.

Things didn't stop there. Just last night, the wealthiest man in the village, Sai Dafu, seized the opportunity to force Zhang Dazhuang into marrying his daughter. Suddenly, a blinding light descended from the sky, knocking Zhang Dazhuang unconscious and severely injuring Sai Dafu. In this ancient world of cultivation, the common people's fear and reverence for deities and demons were beyond imagination. They believed Zhang Dazhuang had brought misfortune, so they abandoned their demands for repayment and called for a grand sacrifice to appease the great demon.

In short, Zhang Dazhuang's life was nothing short of tragic—horrific, unbearable, beyond comprehension.

Now, three completely different worlds—ordinary Earth, the ancient realm of cultivation, and futuristic mecha—had converged in one place. Jiang Chen didn't understand why or how he was connected to it all, but his entanglement with Zhang Dazhuang's misfortune was making him furious.

"D*mn it, Zhang Dazhuang is such a useless fool. I can't let this little wench get away with it. I refuse to swallow this humiliation!" Jiang Chen spat angrily.

"Dazhuang ge... Dazhuang ge... I brought you two big chicken legs. Please eat them!"

At that moment, a sickly sweet voice pierced through the darkness. It was none other than the plump Sai Xishi, making a dramatic entrance.

Jiang Chen jumped in alarm and scrambled to escape. But Sai Xishi, with her hefty build, rolled towards him like a mountain, quickly closing in.

Jiang Chen forced a smile and said, "Two chicken legs aren't enough to fill your gaps. You might as well keep them for yourself."

"I've already eaten. Here, let me feed you," Sai Xishi insisted, advancing towards him.

Jiang Chen tried to back away but soon realized he was no match for her strength. Her 250-pound frame pushed him back, and she was about to sit on him.

Sweat broke out on Jiang Chen's forehead. What on earth does she want in this pitch-black night?

Without further thought, Jiang Chen agilely climbed up the mecha's torn head, reaching the top with remarkable speed.

Sai Xishi followed, and to Jiang Chen's surprise, despite her enormous size, she climbed with surprising agility. Clearly, she had some training. In a world where everyone aspired to cultivation, even the common folk practiced basic exercises.

Sai Xishi's attempt to climb the mecha was an uncomfortable sight. Jiang Chen, unable to endure it, shouted, "Stop climbing! If you don't, I swear I'll electrocute you!"

Sai Xishi responded with a pout, "Dazhuang ge, I really like you."

Jiang Chen retorted, "You like me? I don't even know you. There are plenty of handsome men in the world. Go find someone who actually likes you and stop wasting your time here."

Sai Xishi looked even more dejected. "No one likes me."

Jiang Chen was exasperated. "If no one likes you, why are you clinging to me? What did I ever do to deserve this?"

"I don't care. I'm sticking with you tonight."

Sai Xishi, incredibly persistent, resumed her climb.

"D*mn it, this is outrageous! How dare you torment a handsome man like this!" Jiang Chen fumed, his teeth grinding. He started searching for wires on the mecha, but as he moved, he stepped on a precarious spot on the mecha's forehead, causing him to slide down.

"Bang!"

As the current disappeared, the villagers who had been shocked by the massive power were thrown out of the pit. Jiang Chen was surprised to find that, despite the high voltage, they weren't dead. Their resilience was remarkable, with strange protective dark light swirling around them.

Jiang Chen smirked. "So, I told you only I could perform the ritual. Do you believe me now?"

The village shaman, weak and barely recovering, reluctantly acknowledged Jiang Chen's claim. He raised his hands, hoarsely announcing, "Prepare the offerings and select an auspicious time. Zhang Dazhuang will preside over the ritual."

At this announcement, the crowd erupted in shock. The shaman had always been the one to lead such ceremonies, but with Zhang Dazhuang taking over, it marked a significant change, distinguishing him from the ordinary villagers.

Just then, Sai Xishi, who was below, witnessed the scene and let out a terrified scream, "Ahhhh… Dazhuang ge has been eaten by the great demon! Dazhuang ge has been eaten by the great demon!"

As she screamed, Sai Xishi fled in panic, proving that her love wasn't as valuable as her own life.

Inside the mecha, Jiang Chen, during his descent, had inadvertently cut his hand on something, and the pain made him grit his teeth. The area was pitch black, almost impossible to see anything, except for a large screen about fifty inches wide that was still lit.

"Remaining emergency power 9%, Remaining emergency power 9%, Remaining emergency power 9%…"

This was the only message displayed on the screen, and to Jiang Chen's surprise, the text was in the same language as Earth's!

"Could it be that this mecha is from Earth? But that doesn't make sense—Earth's technology is nowhere near this advanced!" Jiang Chen was puzzled as he moved closer to the screen. Through the light of the display, he noticed a space seat.

With a tentative attitude, Jiang Chen carefully sat down. The space seat was surprisingly comfortable, and a faint electric current flowed through his body. At the same time, the panoramic helmet slowly descended over his head, and light entered his eyes.

"Pupil recognition failed. Unauthorized access for non-mecha pilots."

A cold, mechanical female voice announced.

Jiang Chen was a bit frustrated and tried to interact with the screen, but the machine's voice immediately responded:

"Fingerprint recognition failed. Unauthorized access for non-mecha pilots."

"D*mn it!" Jiang Chen cursed in frustration, intending to remove the helmet, but as soon as his hand touched the helmet, a different prompt sounded:

"Headquarters authorization obtained. Access granted."

"Wait, what? Just as I got here, I'm already authorized?" Jiang Chen's hand, which was about to remove the helmet, suddenly stopped. Before he could figure out what was happening, a large amount of mecha information started appearing both on the panoramic helmet and the screen in front of him:

Planetary-class Mecha Tiger Vengeance, ID 071. Interstellar navigation system 100% damaged, Quantum communication system 100% damaged, Nuclear power system 100% damaged, Command control system 98% offline, Available weapon 1, Command cabin emergency power remaining 9%…

Seeing these reports, Jiang Chen was mentally prepared. The mecha was in bad shape, with only the head intact. But when the prompt asked if he wanted to start controlling the mecha, Jiang Chen pressed the button.

"Please enter the quantum password. Waiting for headquarters confirmation. The entire process may take three minutes…"

Hearing this, Jiang Chen was once again bewildered. Access required biometric identification, and control required a password and headquarters confirmation—too complicated. How was he supposed to know the password?

"This piece of junk is completely wrecked. If I can't control it, then so be it," Jiang Chen grumbled, about to remove the helmet again. But the prompt sounded once more:

"Headquarters authorization obtained. Control access granted. Do you wish to update mecha pilot life information?"

Surprised by another unexpected authorization, Jiang Chen realized that the so-called headquarters authorization seemed to be linked to his hand. But his fingerprint recognition had clearly failed.

Jiang Chen clicked "Yes."

The helmet's light illuminated his eyes again, and the machine's voice announced: "Commencing update of mecha pilot life information. Pupil input beginning… Pupil input complete…"

In front of him, a screen displayed a handprint area, and Jiang Chen pressed his hands onto it.

The machine voice continued: "Fingerprint input beginning… Fingerprint input complete… Please enter your name, soldier ID, and quantum control password for headquarters review."

Jiang Chen entered the name Zhang Dazhuang and a random string of numbers, then clicked "Submit for review." Before he even placed his hand back on the helmet, the prompt sounded:

"Headquarters review complete. Mecha pilot information updated. Control access granted for Mecha Tiger Vengeance."

Almost instantly after entering the control interface, a flood of mecha control information surged into Jiang Chen's mind. The head of the mecha was designed as the core command system, and although the command cabin was highly automated, only one person was needed to control it.

Just as Jiang Chen was getting accustomed to the control information, another alert sounded: "Danger! Danger! Mecha has crash-landed. Please evacuate immediately! Evacuate immediately!"

Jiang Chen ignored the alert, sitting dazedly in the space seat. He soon realized: it was his blood. When it came into contact with the verification points, it triggered headquarters authorization. His fingerprint and eye recognition were incorrect, but his blood's life information passed through seamlessly.

"What's going on? Did I somehow pilot this mecha here? But that doesn't add up—mecha pilots should use the mecha's controls, yet my blood can directly authorize me. Could I be someone important?" Jiang Chen was excited, trying to recall any remarkable past achievements. However, he quickly felt disheartened; his mind only held fragmented memories of Earth and Zhang Dazhuang's tragic history, and nothing more.

After fiddling around for a while longer, Jiang Chen finally gave up, opening the cabin door and climbing out.

The mecha was beyond repair. The control system had alerted him to evacuate, rendering it useless. If the mecha had been intact, he might have taken it for a spin and shown off, perhaps even taking revenge on that manipulative woman. But now, Jiang Chen was left feeling frustrated.