"They're not wearing Qionghua Sect uniforms, so they're likely not from the sect."
The current leader of the Qionghua Sect was Su Yao, and Yun Tianhe's mother was named Su Yu. These names were well-known to Daniel Davis. Upon hearing that the black-haired woman was called Su Xin, his curiosity was piqued—could she be connected to the Qionghua Sect?
However, upon closer inspection, Daniel noticed that Su Xin wasn't wearing Qionghua Sect attire. More importantly, the tall figure behind her lacked any signs of life and appeared to be some sort of puppet, likely mechanical in nature. That alone ruled out any connection to the Qionghua Sect, as the sect wasn't known for proficiency in mechanical arts.
"Little brother, you're quite handsome, aren't you? But unfortunately, I already have a husband," Su Xin teased Daniel as she caught him looking at her. She then introduced her "husband," the puppet named Leng Yi.
"My apologies, but if I'm not mistaken, this 'husband' of yours seems to be a puppet," Daniel said after an initial apology. He had planned to leave, but the rare chance to meet someone skilled in mechanical arts made him reconsider. In this world, it was rare to encounter someone with such expertise, and he didn't want to miss the opportunity for a conversation.
Having experience with his surgical fruit powers, Daniel had developed decent skills in mechanics, though it was more of a hobby than a focus.
"So, little brother, you know a thing or two about this, huh?" Su Xin responded with mild surprise. Over the years, many people had seen Leng Yi, but Daniel was the first to immediately identify him as a puppet upon their first meeting.
Daniel glanced at the bustling surroundings before suggesting, "How about we find somewhere quieter to talk?"
Carrying her jars of wine, Su Xin smirked. "Sure, but only if you're buying me drinks."
Daniel chuckled and agreed. "Of course, drink as much as you want—it's on me."
"What do you want to talk about?"
"How about this?"
After arranging for a private room with the innkeeper, Daniel and Su Xin went upstairs. Once seated, Daniel produced a cube from his belongings. With a light touch, the cube began to shift and transform. In moments, it had changed into a mechanical Crimson Chain Snake.
"So, you're a Yan Master too?" Su Xin exclaimed in surprise, her eyes lighting up as she watched the mechanical snake slither across the table. She set her pipe aside and picked up the mechanical snake, examining its intricate details.
"You're a Yan Master?" Daniel asked.
"Yes, I am."
Hearing the term "Yan Master," Daniel quickly connected the dots. The title referred to ancient practitioners of mechanical arts, a term that predated the Warring States period. In some ways, it was similar to the term used in the Qin's Moon world. Whether called Yan Master, wood automaton craftsman, or mechanist, the essence of their craft remained the same.
"I didn't expect such a design. Truly unexpected," Su Xin murmured, her fascination with the snake growing as she studied its mechanisms. Soon, she couldn't resist dismantling the mechanical snake to understand its inner workings.
In return, Su Xin showed Daniel one of her own creations: a mechanical mouse. The two exchanged ideas and insights on mechanical arts, with Daniel occasionally sharing concepts that left Su Xin visibly enlightened. While Su Xin's expertise in mechanical arts was much more profound than Daniel's, her creativity couldn't quite match his. Coming from a modern world, Daniel's imagination and problem-solving skills were beyond what traditional mechanists could conceive.
If someone from the modern world were to eat a Devil Fruit, the way they developed their abilities would likely leave people from the One Piece world astounded. Similarly, Daniel's ideas for mechanical designs were often unconventional and innovative.
Despite this, Su Xin's deep theoretical knowledge and energy applications in mechanics were areas where Daniel found he could learn from her. When Daniel brought out a small mechanical Vermillion Bird, Su Xin responded by showing off her mechanical eagle. Each creation had its strengths, but one feature of the mechanical eagle surpassed the Vermillion Bird: the eagle could speak.
Through their exchange, both Daniel and Su Xin felt they had gained significant insights into the field of mechanical arts. For Su Xin, the gains were even greater, as she was entirely devoted to the craft.
"Xiao Fei, you sure know how to enjoy yourself."
Their discussion was interrupted when the door suddenly opened, revealing Han Lingsha, who entered the room with a smile. Behind her were Yun Tianhe and Liu Mengli.
Daniel had already informed the innkeeper to notify his companions if they came looking for him. Naturally, the innkeeper had directed them to his room.
"What's this? It looks so fun!" Yun Tianhe exclaimed as he noticed the mechanical mouse and mechanical snake, which seemed to be staring each other down on the table.
"Your friends?" Su Xin asked, pausing her discussion with Daniel.
"Yes. This is Han Lingsha," Daniel replied, introducing his companions to Su Xin.
"Since your friends are here, let's call it a day. Will you be staying here for the next few days?" Su Xin asked. She was clearly eager to continue their discussions, given how rare it was to meet another Yan Master.
"That depends. We have some business to take care of, but we'll be here for a while. If we miss each other, you can leave a message with the innkeeper," Daniel suggested.
"Alright."
Su Xin began packing up the mechanical Vermillion Bird and the Crimson Chain Snake. During their conversation, they had agreed to exchange their creations for study, so Su Xin would take the Vermillion Bird, and Daniel would keep her mechanical eagle.
However, Yun Tianhe didn't seem pleased about losing the mechanical snake. "I really liked that one," he muttered.
"If you like it, I'll make you another one later," Daniel assured him, finally convincing Yun Tianhe to let it go.
"I didn't expect you to be a Yan Master," Han Lingsha remarked. Having spent much of her life exploring tombs, she was familiar with the term. Seeing Liu Mengli and Yun Tianhe's puzzled expressions, she took a moment to explain what a Yan Master was.
"I'm just an amateur," Daniel said modestly. "The real Yan Master here is Su Xin. Anyway, let's move on to the next topic. How do we find Huai Shuo and the others?"
Su Xin could wait for another time. This world of cultivation had plenty of resources to offer, and once the Qionghua Sect arc concluded, Daniel planned to dedicate more time to mechanical arts.
"You don't need to worry about that—I'll handle it," Han Lingsha said confidently, waving dismissively. It wasn't that she didn't want Yun Tianhe or Liu Mengli to help, but their lack of experience with the outside world would likely make them more of a hindrance than a help. Daniel was the only one who could be relied on.
"Fei, we'll head out to search for people later. Tianhe, Mengli, you two can explore the city, but don't wander off too far this time. Be back by sunset; we still need to help the Songstress after that," Han Lingsha instructed, fixing Yun Tianhe with a stern gaze.
Earlier, Han Lingsha had nearly worn herself out searching for Yun Tianhe and Liu Mengli after they wandered off. Fortunately, Liu Mengli's striking appearance had made them relatively easy to find.
"The Songstress?" Daniel asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh, right, I forgot to mention…" Han Lingsha began explaining. She had found Yun Tianhe and Liu Mengli at a pavilion, listening to a woman playing the guqin. That woman was the Songstress. After discovering the group's skills, the Songstress had asked for their help with a task: entering the Thousand Buddha Pagoda to pay respects at her late husband's tomb.
Han Lingsha recounted the Songstress's story, including her promise never to use her martial skills again. Now, her inability to enter the pagoda on her own had led her to seek help.
After Han Lingsha finished, Daniel's lips curled into a faint, mocking smile. "So even in this era, burials can be this expensive," he said sarcastically.
"Why are you laughing?" Han Lingsha asked, noticing his expression.
"It's nothing. Let's get going," Daniel replied. He knew that the so-called holy relics and sanctity of the Thousand Buddha Pagoda were of little consequence in the grand scheme of the Six Realms. The truth would reveal itself in time.
After dinner at the inn, the group headed toward the city center, where a small island in the lake housed the Thousand Buddha Pagoda. Despite its grand name, Daniel couldn't help but smirk at the pagoda's contradictory design: no external guards, yet heavily fortified within. It was far from the "open door of mercy" the Buddhist monks claimed.
Upon reaching the pagoda, Yun Tianhe glanced at the sealed entrance and said, "Lingsha, are you going to dig your way in like a mouse again?"
"Yun Tianhe!" Han Lingsha hissed, barely restraining herself from hitting him.
"There's no need for that," Daniel said calmly. Walking to a nearby window, he placed his hand on the latch. With a soft click, he unlocked it.
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