The panel dismissed Butcher Li with promises to "be in touch," their politeness a stark contrast to the absurdity they had just witnessed.
The next two candidates did little to restore Ji An's faith. One demonstrated a latrine that played encouraging tunes; the other, a contraption for the automated capture of city pigeons. To Ji An's bewilderment, Master Lu and the others praised both with straight faces, declaring each a marked improvement over their predecessors before sending them on their way.
...
"Number 117, Ji An!"
Miss Zhao's voice cut through his disbelief.
Stepping forward, he presented his second, deliberately simpler creation. "Esteemed panel, this is the invention I wish to present."
It was, for all intents and purposes, a pot.
"This is an automated cooking device," he explained. "Inserting a Pyro crystal into this slot will generate and automatically regulate heat until the contents are perfectly cooked."
He had chosen this over the elemental pistol, reasoning its mundanity would better blend in after the parade of oddities. He expected it to be a competent, if underwhelming, entry.
The reaction was not what he anticipated.
The previously chatty panel fell into a profound silence. Master Lu ceased stroking his beard, rose, and picked up the pot, his aged eyes scrutinizing every seam and groove.
"Did you craft this yourself?" The old master's voice was low and intent.
"I did," Ji An replied, a thread of unease winding through him.
Master Lu's gaze was a physical weight. "Come with me."
Bewildered, Ji An looked to Miss Zhao for guidance. She offered a small, reassuring nod. "Go on."
He followed the master craftsman through a labyrinth of corridors, arriving finally at a workshop that was a testament to a lifetime of obsession. The air smelled of oil and ozone. Shelves groaned under the weight of wooden prototypes and intricate clockwork; in a corner, a disassembled Ruin Guard arm lay like a relic.
Master Lu retrieved a delicate mechanical sparrow from a shelf. A tap on its head sent it whirring to life, flitting through the air with uncanny grace before settling back into his open palm. He then deftly opened a panel on its back, removed a crystalline slate etched with glowing lines, and tossed it to Ji An.
"Replicate this circuit. Carve a new one. Make it fly, but with a different flight pattern. Tools and blanks are on the shelf."
Ji An caught the slate, his surprise immediate. The energy pathways etched upon it were unmistakably akin to the principles of his 「Ancient Machinery Mastery」. This was the lost technology of the ruins, the logic that drove automatons—not the common mechanics of Liyue. How could this man possess such knowledge?
Master Lu's expectant silence was answer enough. Wordlessly, Ji An selected a tool and set to work, his hands moving with an instinctual precision. Within minutes, he presented the newly carved circuit.
Master Lu slotted it into the sparrow. The bird took flight once more, but this time its movements were imbued with a new, almost playful vitality, dipping and weaving through the air before returning.
"Superb!" Master Lu's eyes sparkled with genuine delight. "Truly superb!"
"How did you know?" Ji An finally asked, the question bursting from him. "How did you know I could do that?"
A shrewd smile touched the old man's lips. "You thought to hide your skill behind that pedestrian cooking pot, boy. But the elegance of your circuit carving? The flawless flow of energy? You cannot hide a master's touch from these eyes."
Ji An's embarrassed smile masked a whirlwind of thoughts. This "Lu Ban" had not only recognized the technique but was practicing a form of it himself, however rudimentary it seemed compared to the true ancient arts.
"My life has been a pursuit of mechanical perfection," Lu Ban explained, his voice turning reflective. "I reached the zenith of human craftsmanship long ago. The next realm belongs to the adepti, beyond a mortal's grasp. So, I turned to the only teachers left: the ancient ruins. For decades, I have studied their silent sentinels, piecing together fragments of this glorious, lost science. I am not alone in this pursuit across Teyvat, but you..." He fixed Ji An with a piercing look. "You are the youngest I have ever seen who doesn't just study it—you command it. How?"
"Passion, I suppose," Ji An deflected, adopting a look of earnest innocence. "I've always been drawn to the ruins. Interest is the best teacher." He hesitated, choosing his next words carefully. "Master Lu, could I ask you to... keep my involvement quiet for now?"
"Hah! I knew it. Your story has more layers than a Ruin Guard's core." Lu Ban chuckled, stroking his beard. "Very well. Your secret is safe with me."
"And the position...?"
"You start tomorrow."
...
The notice went up swiftly: the position had been filled. The groans of disappointment from subsequent hopefuls were almost audible from the streets.
The Jade Chamber, however, proved impeccably efficient. By that afternoon, a messenger found Ji An with instructions to collect his payment.
"A million Mora. In advance," Ji An murmured, hefting the summons. "Ningguang doesn't do things by halves."
Later, standing on the majestic floating palace, he felt a sense of surreal accomplishment. The transaction with Miss Baishi was swift and professional. The bag of Mora she handed him was satisfyingly heavy, the coins within large and gleaming. His first thought was of the kind chef at Wanmin Restaurant—a debt of kindness he could now repay.
As he exited the grand doors, his path crossed that of two women entering. One was Baiwen, her expression fraught with apology. The other was a girl with twin tails and an air of distinctive style, her usual vibrant energy subdued.
"Director Hu, my deepest apologies for insisting," Baiwen was saying, wringing her hands slightly. "But Lady Ningguang was most specific about wishing to speak with you personally..."
The girl—Hu Tao—shook her head, a shadow of weariness in her eyes. "It's alright, Baiwen. But as I said, I'm really not in the right state to..."
Her words died in her throat.
She froze mid-step, her gaze locking onto the figure passing them.
Ji An had glanced her way, intrigued by the exchange. When her eyes met his, he instinctively looked away, but not before a warm flush crept up his neck and colored his cheeks.
-------
A/n: Hey over on my patreon there are currently two for the time being exclusive books which are
Zenless Zone Zero: Loving Daily Life Starting in New Eridu
Honkai Impact 3rd, I Can Transform into a Valkyrie!
patreon.com/deadlygoober