Outside the Makeshift Interrogation Area
The group watched in silence as the first two Fatui soldiers were escorted out, their faces set in grim, unyielding masks. Then, the third prisoner was brought in.
Lu Xian scratched the back of his head, unable to hold back. "Master, what's Mr. Ji An's plan? Does he really know anything about interrogation? Honest opinion—we're all out of our depth here. Shouldn't we leave this to the Millelith?"
Master Lu Ban didn't fully understand Ji An's approach either, but he recognized the young man's quiet confidence. This was not someone who acted without reason. "Enough," Lu Ban said, fixing his disciple with a stern look. "Be patient and wait."
Lu Xian, to be charitable, was forthright—he spoke his mind without filter. he lacked subtlety.
Muttering an "Oh," Lu Xian still wore a skeptical expression. "I just think we're wasting time—"
Suddenly, a cold, prickling sensation crept up his neck. He turned stiffly to find Director Hu Tao smiling brightly at him. Her expression was friendly, even cheerful, so why did it feel like a winter breeze had just swept through him?
Xiangling, meanwhile, seemed to have unshakeable faith in Ji An. "If Ji An's handling it, I'm sure he'll succeed!"
Her eyes suddenly sparkled. "Look, he's coming out now!"
All eyes turned as Ji An emerged. He met their gazes and gave a single, firm nod. "I have the information."
A slight, knowing smile touched Master Lu lips. Lu Xian's jaw went slack in disbelief.
...
Ji An gathered the team and relayed what he'd learned.
"According to the Electro Cicin Mage, their primary objective here stems from the incident where Childe was severely injured."
"Childe?" Xiangling thought for a moment before her face lit up with recognition. "Oh! You mean that young man from the Snezhnayan delegation?"
"You know Childe?" Ji An asked, surprised.
Xiangling nodded, then shook her head emphatically. "Not me! Guoba does! That guy is an absolute martial arts lunatic!"
She puffed out her cheeks indignantly. "One day, he saw Guoba out for a walk and blocked his path, saying something like, 'A worthy opponent! You seem in fine form. Shall we spar?'"
"I mean, how could Guoba possibly fight him?!"
Listening to Xiangling's complaint, Ji An glanced at the gentle, round-faced Guoba. "Indeed," he agreed with a nod. Apart from his pyro abilities, Guoba was essentially a very fluffy, very ordinary-looking panda.
This Tartaglia has no honor, Ji An thought. First he ambushes me, and now he's trying to pick fights with pandas?
He continued, "After that incident, orders came directly from Snezhnaya for the Fatui to dedicate significant resources to identifying the perpetrator. Despite their efforts, they hit a dead end. Later, they caught wind of the Jade Chamber's investigation into the phenomena. Through their own channels, they pinpointed Tianqiu Valley as the site and moved to intercept us."
Master Lu Ban snorted in contempt. "Typical. They only know how to skulk and scheme." He turned to Ji An. "Since they arrived first, did they find anything?"
"They did," Ji An confirmed. He led them to an inconspicuous pile of rubble to the left of the ruin's entrance. Preferring not to reveal his own capabilities, he initially glanced toward Xiangling. "Xiang—" He caught sight of Hu Tao's subtly clenched fists and quickly amended, "Director Hu Tao, would you mind clearing these stones?"
Hu Tao set to work with surprising efficiency. Once the rubble was cleared, a broken stone stele was revealed, half-buried in the earth.
Xiangling leaned in curiously. "Oh! There's writing on it."
Hu Tao pinched her chin, studying the strange, archaic script that was utterly foreign to Ji An.
Master Lu Ban stepped closer, gave the inscription a cursory glance, and shook his head. "It's ancient script, likely a dead dialect. We'd need to consult scholars in Liyue Harbor for a proper translation."
"Well now, let's have a look."
To everyone's astonishment, Hu Tao stepped forward. She pinched her chin thoughtfully and then, clear as day, began to read the inscription aloud:
"Hmm… Xun xian zong xi Tianqiu, gu gong xu xi chuang pu. Hui Ruotuo xi rui hou, hen fan you xi zuo tu."
She shook her head dismissively. "Mediocre. The author's technique is lacking. Too rigid and academic. Not nearly as catchy as my own work."
"You… write poetry?" Ji An's jaw nearly dropped. Her ability to read the ancient text was shocking enough, but learning she was a poet sent his mental image of her into a tailspin.
"Huh? You didn't know?" Xiangling looked at Ji An as if he'd missed the most obvious thing in the world. "Hu Tao's famous as the 'Back-Alley Dark Poet'! Her 'Hilichurl Ballad' is recited by kids all over, from Liyue Harbor to Qingce Village!"
"Hehe, just a little hobby, really. Nothing to make a fuss about," Hu Tao said, puffing out her chest. Her proud, beaming smile utterly belied her modest words.
Master Lu Ban stroked his beard, a look of genuine admiration on his face. "I had heard rumors that Director Hu could recite classical texts upside-down by the age of three and had devoured the great libraries. It seems the tales were true."
"You flatter me," Hu Tao replied, though her grin widened.
Hearing this, an idea sparked in Ji An's mind. He turned to her. "Hu Tao, have you ever come across the name 'Sal Vindagnyr'?"
"Sal Vindagnyr…" Hu Tao's brow furrowed in intense concentration. After a long moment, she slumped her shoulders in defeat. "No… I haven't. I'm sorry, Xiao An." She looked up at him with large, apologetic eyes.
"There are always scholars from Sumeru loitering around the docks. When we get back, I could go… persuade them to help you?"
You were going to say 'drag them here,' weren't you?! I'm sure of it!
Ji An broke into a mental sweat. "No, no, that won't be necessary. I can approach them politely myself when we return."
Master Lu Ban chuckled. "Once this mission is concluded, you'll have earned the Jade Chamber's favor. I doubt any scholar would refuse a request from one of its associates."
...
With the brief distraction over, the group's focus returned to the ruin.
"According to the Fatui agent," Ji An explained, "the key to opening the ruin's entrance is concealed within this inscription."
"Is it hidden in the poem?" Xiangling asked, tilting her head. "But it's so cryptic. What does it even mean?"
Master Lu Ban provided a rough interpretation. "In essence, the poet speaks of following immortal traces to Tianqiu Valley, beholding the ruined palaces, mourning the lost glory of the settlement that once stood here, and being filled with sorrow and regret."
Ji An's frown deepened. "But what about the third line?" The first part was somewhat comprehensible, but the third line was an enigma.
"Hui Azhdaha xi rui hou…" Master Lu pondered aloud. "The character '徽' can imply a bond or restraint—a shackle, perhaps. '睿后' undoubtedly refers to a wise and virtuous sovereign. It suggests that a being named Ruotuo was sealed away by such a ruler."
"In all of Liyue's history, only one figure is worthy of the title 'Sagely Ruler'—Rex Lapis himself," Master Lu continued, his voice growing solemn. "But who, or what, was this 'Azhdaha,' that it warranted the Geo Archon's personal intervention?"
Hu Tao's eyes suddenly lit up. "Ah! Could it be related to the 'Dragon calamity'?"
The others looked puzzled, but Master Lu Ban nodded slowly. "According to local legends, Tianqiu Valley was laid waste by a 'Dragon calamity' unleashed by a herd of Geovishaps. If the legend holds, perhaps this 'Azhdaha' was one of the great beasts responsible."
A sudden realization struck Ji An. He crouched down beside the stele, extended a finger, and carefully traced the engraved characters for 'Azhdaha' in a slow, clockwise circle.
As his finger lifted, the characters began to emit a soft, pulsing white light.
"A light-guiding mechanism?!"
The exclamation burst from Ji An and Master Lu Ban's lips in perfect, astonished unison.
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A/n: Hey over on my patreon there are currently two for the time being exclusive books which are
Honkai Impact 3rd, I Can Transform into a Valkyrie!
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