Chapter 5: The Guardian Golem

Liang Xiaoyu ran ahead, dashing toward the distance. After about ten minutes, the building’s full silhouette finally appeared before her eyes.

It was a marvel of architecture.

At its center stood a towering spire with a unique design, surrounded by a semicircular ring of annexes. The exterior walls gleamed silvery-gray, as if cast from metal, exuding an imposing presence. Beside it, a tall metal tower soared upward, with violet lightning shooting straight into the sky.

How could such an extraordinary structure remain unknown to the outside world?

Liang Xiaoyu pointed her camera at the building. “Can you see this? Who would have thought a structure like this could be built deep in the mountains? Incredible,” she said.

“And that lightning tower—does anyone know what it is?”

She watched the comments eagerly.

[Streamer, stop shaking the camera. That central building looks familiar.]
[Found it—Stark Tower! Iron Man!]
[Wow, it really looks just like Stark Tower. Can anyone explain?]
[Definitely filming a movie.]
[Don’t be silly, check online. The roads are blocked, tanks and armored vehicles have passed through, and they say helicopters can’t land.]
[I am the road. Tons of tanks rolled over me just now—it hurt!]
[Doesn’t that tower look like something from Cybertron?]
[Streamer, get closer!]

Liang Xiaoyu ran forward.

After a while, panting, she stopped in front of a square.

At its center was a massive fountain, alive with brilliant lights. The water and lights combined to form four words:

“Fantasy Park.”

Liang Xiaoyu murmured, “No wonder—only a place like this deserves to be called Fantasy Park.”

She gazed up at the grand building behind the square, unable to restrain her awe. “This is absolutely insane!”

She was about to approach the building for a closer look when she heard the roar of a car. Looking toward the sound, she saw a yellow sports car speeding toward her.

Liang Xiaoyu instinctively straightened her back, her eyes shining as she watched.

The car soon stopped beside her, and the door opened automatically.

“Please get in, miss!” a voice called from inside.

Liang Xiaoyu, delighted, climbed in.

The seatbelt fastened itself automatically.

She couldn’t help but touch everything around her.

“Please restrain yourself, miss!” came an electronic voice.

Liang Xiaoyu chuckled, “Were you the one who rescued me just now? Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I was merely fulfilling my duty.”

“Your duty is to protect me?” Liang Xiaoyu asked with a smile.

She couldn’t help but recall the movie “Bumblebee” she’d watched years ago. Having a companion like this was exhilarating.

“To protect the safety of visitors,” the electronic voice replied coldly.

“Are you really an emotionless robot?” Liang Xiaoyu said regretfully.

“No, I am an Autobot skilled in song and dance.”

No sooner had he spoken than Liang Xiaoyu heard a tragic scream.

Startled, she was then blasted by a wild piece of music: “Ceiling falling at random, darkness everywhere—whose leg is this, whose leg is this, I thought you’d just be picking your teeth slowly in front of me…”

“Stop, stop, stop!” Liang Xiaoyu hurriedly shouted.

“Now you believe me?” the Autobot’s voice sounded smug.

“Why do you like this kind of thing?” Liang Xiaoyu teased.

“Miss, you simply don’t appreciate it,” the electronic voice replied icily.

Liang Xiaoyu glanced surreptitiously at the stream comments.

She cleared her throat and grasped the steering wheel. “Let me introduce myself: I’m Liang Xiaoyu, a human.”

“Autobot—you may call me Bumblebee,” the car replied.

So it really was him!

Liang Xiaoyu grew excited.

“How did you get here? How far is Cybertron from here…” She fired off a string of questions.

“I… If I tell you, Mr. Joe will throw me out,” Bumblebee said regretfully. “We signed a confidentiality agreement.”

“Mr. Joe?” Liang Xiaoyu’s eyes lit up.

“Yes,” Bumblebee replied. “Without his orders, the Rampage Dragon and the giant python would have eaten you. You wouldn’t have escaped.”

“Is he human?” Liang Xiaoyu struggled to keep her excitement in check.

“Of course,” Bumblebee praised. “He’s the most remarkable person I’ve ever met.”

“So he’s the master here?” Liang Xiaoyu clenched her fists.

“Miss, so you’re not entirely clueless,” Bumblebee complimented.

“Are you taking me to meet him?” Liang Xiaoyu asked, almost trembling.

“Miss, your sense of direction is a bit off—we’re heading downhill. We’ve arrived!”

The car door sprang open.

Liang Xiaoyu wanted to linger inside Bumblebee, but the seat detached itself and ejected her.

“Ouch!” She landed hard on the ground.

She checked the stream, where viewers were gloating.

She looked up to see a tall wall and an iron gate before her.

Beside the gate stood a huge black figure.

King Kong!

Liang Xiaoyu’s eyes widened.

When King Kong extended his right hand toward her, she blushed with excitement.

“Legend says King Kong loves beautiful women. Is he offering his hand for me to climb onto?” she whispered.

In the stream:

[Streamer’s so full of herself.]
[Xiaoyu, our beautiful host!]
[And super rich—bringing her own airfield.]

Liang Xiaoyu huffed and decided to comply.

“If I’m so beautiful, what if he can’t bear to let me leave?” she worried.

Then—

She sat down, missing his hand and landing on the ground once more.

She turned to see King Kong had withdrawn his hand.

As she looked, he extended it toward her again.

Liang Xiaoyu was bewildered.

She looked at Bumblebee, still in car form. “What does he want?”

“What do you want, miss?” Bumblebee asked in confusion.

Roar!

King Kong roared at Liang Xiaoyu.

She felt her ears might burst.

She looked at King Kong’s outstretched hand and tried to place her own in it, but he disdainfully pulled his massive claw away.

Frustrated, Liang Xiaoyu turned to leave, but suddenly—bang!—King Kong jabbed a finger into the ground before her.

“What do you want?” Liang Xiaoyu looked up.

King Kong pointed to his chest.

Hanging there was a black sign.

Liang Xiaoyu blinked in confusion: Why show me your necklace?

“Gatekeeper, your sign is upside down,” Bumblebee called.

King Kong lowered his head, grunted, and flipped the black sign over.

Liang Xiaoyu read: “Admission ticket: ten thousand yuan?”

Beside it was a QR code.

She couldn’t help but laugh.

She glanced at the stream; the chat was filled with joy.

[Ha! He wants money!]
[Some host tried to sneak in for free and nearly got poked to death by King Kong.]
[King Kong loves beautiful women… hahahaha.]

Flushing, Liang Xiaoyu took out her phone and scanned ten thousand yuan.

The black iron gate opened automatically.

She looked back longingly, then stepped through the gate.

The moment she left, the scenery before her changed abruptly; even the air seemed less pleasant.

Suddenly, the sounds around her grew chaotic.

She glanced up—seven or eight helicopters circled overhead, and rows of military vehicles and cannons approached.

A hundred meters away, she saw a group of armed soldiers and several officers.

As soon as they saw Liang Xiaoyu emerge, they rushed toward her.

In the stream, viewers debating whether King Kong or the Transformers were stronger suddenly saw the tanks, helicopters, and armored vehicles on screen, and were stunned.

Before they could get an explanation from Liang Xiaoyu, the stream was cut off.

[There really are planes and soldiers!]
[Looks like it’s real?]
[Can anyone explain what’s happening—isn’t this a movie shoot?]
[No comment—those who know, know…]