Chapter 42: Divine Mechanism—The Hand of Luo

“Heh heh, Zhou Yan, don’t you think I’m amazing?” Luo Ke paid no mind to Zhou Yan’s restrained emotion, her entire focus intent on receiving praise.

Zhou Yan was silent for a few seconds, rubbed his face, then sincerely exclaimed, “You’re incredible, Xiao Ke. You’re practically a genius.”

Beside them, Luo Xuan finally composed herself after the shock. She pointed at the mechanical hand and, looking at her younger sister with gravity, asked, “Xiao Ke, did you really make this all by yourself?”

“Who else?” Luo Ke replied smugly. “Sis, don’t forget, I’m a top student. For a divine machine of such simple function, all it takes is referencing a few schematics, ordering some custom parts, and laying out a basic transmission circuit. That’s all.”

Luo Xuan said nothing more, but a rare, contented smile appeared on her face.

She knew her sister had been fascinated by machines since childhood and possessed remarkable talent in the field, but she’d never expected that talent to reach such heights.

If Luo Xuan was considered a prodigy in swordsmanship, then her sister, at seventeen—hardly an adult—had single-handedly built an apparatus like this. Her mechanical genius was surely no less impressive.

“Divine machine?” Zhou Yan stared intently at the metal arm before him, curiously repeating the term Luo Xuan and Luo Ke had mentioned several times.

He asked, “Why do you call this mechanical hand a ‘divine machine’? Isn’t something like ‘prosthetic’ a bit more conventional?”

Upon hearing his question, Luo Xuan shook her head. She extended her finger and pointed to the back of the mechanical hand.

Following her gesture, Zhou Yan saw a unique symbol engraved there, resembling a divine dragon with wings.

“Bearing the Yinglong insignia means the core of this machine employs a ‘Divine Machine Circuit’ authorized by the Yinglong Palace, instead of ordinary electrical mechanics. All devices of this kind are collectively known as ‘divine machines,’” Luo Xuan explained calmly.

“So that’s how it is... I understand now.” Zhou Yan nodded thoughtfully.

Until now, he’d simply believed that this world, compared to Earth, was only distinguished by the presence of this concept called ‘martial arts.’ He hadn’t realized there was something called ‘divine machinery,’ a notion apart from standard technology.

When he first learned Luo Ke was in the ‘Divine Machinery Department,’ he’d thought the term was just the local way of referring to mechanical engineering...

It seems there’s still much I need to learn about this world...

Zhou Yan pondered quietly.

Luo Ke, meanwhile, was far too eager to dwell on such thoughts. She impatiently pulled Zhou Yan up and picked up the mechanical hand. “Zhou Yan, come try it out! See if it works.”

Obediently, Zhou Yan stood, his gaze lingering on Luo Ke’s excited face, and raised his left arm as she instructed.

He watched as Luo Ke pressed a spot on the inside of the mechanical arm. In the next instant, the previously closed device expanded outward by a segment.

Luo Ke then gripped Zhou Yan’s left arm, aligned it carefully, and fitted the mechanical hand in place. Pressing the button again, the extended forearm of the device slowly contracted, locking perfectly onto his limb.

It was as if his left forearm and hand had transformed into a mechanical construct.

Luo Ke grinned, rapping her knuckles against the equipped hand and listening to the crisp ring of metal. She asked enthusiastically, “Zhou Yan, how does it feel?”

Zhou Yan nodded, lifting his arm before his eyes, rotating elbow and wrist alike. Gazing at the hand he’d regained, he couldn’t help but smile.

This looks so much more pleasing...

Luo Ke tilted her head. “Zhou Yan, don’t just look at it—try moving the hand!”

Move it?

Zhou Yan’s eyes flickered. Staring at the mechanical palm, he asked in a low voice, “Xiao Ke, do you mean... this ‘hand’ is more than just decoration?”

Luo Ke nodded vigorously, as if it were only natural. “Of course it’s not just decoration! If a divine mechanical arm couldn’t move, it’d be no different from an ordinary bracer.”

With that, she pressed her fingers to the inside of Zhou Yan’s forearm. “Here, tense this spot.”

Zhou Yan complied.

Instantly, his eyes widened.

As he tensed his forearm, the metal hand shifted from an open palm to a clenched fist!

Moreover, as he varied the tension, he could see the fist clenching tighter or looser in response.

“This... this is incredible...” Zhou Yan gazed in awe, murmuring to himself.

He couldn’t help but raise the mechanical hand to his face, repeatedly tensing his forearm muscles, marveling at the black-and-gray palm as it gripped and released. The more he looked, the more he liked it.

Though it was merely a cold metal hand, and though he couldn’t feel the true sensation of grasping, for someone who’d nearly resigned himself to disability, this sudden gift was a profound joy.

On the other hand, Luo Ke seemed dissatisfied. Pinching her chin, she shook her head ruefully. “It’s a pity my current knowledge only allows for this level of fist clenching. It’s not as dexterous as a real hand...

“And, since funds were tight, the prototype isn’t fully refined. You’ll need me to maintain it, oil it, and so on—remember to come to me for upkeep.

“The grip strength of this Luo Hand is over fifty kilograms—while not as strong as your right hand, it’s enough for daily life...

“Also, the grip function consumes electricity. Zhou Yan, remember to remove it and charge it at night. The charging port’s on the side of the hand, here...”

She rambled on, then snapped her fingers and patted Zhou Yan’s shoulder. “Heh heh, anyway, Zhou Yan, this is just the prototype. Make do for now. When I get to university and learn more advanced divine machinery, I’ll upgrade this Luo Hand for you.”

“By then, I’ll definitely build you an amazing hand—one as skillful as the real thing.”

Her smile was radiant, her tone brimming with confidence.

Zhou Yan looked at the spirited Luo Ke and said seriously, “Thank you, Xiao Ke. I’m already overjoyed with this.”

“Ehehe~” Luo Ke, hearing the gratitude in his voice, grinned and gave him a playful punch. “Just make sure you work hard and pay me back. I emptied my savings on this, you know.”

“Of course!” he replied earnestly. “I’ll work hard to pay you back.”

Watching the two exchange smiles, Luo Xuan’s sword-bright eyes flickered.

She stepped forward, patted Zhou Yan on the shoulder, and declared, “Alright, time for sword practice.”

Her tone was a little cold.

Luo Ke shivered.

She stuck out her tongue at her sister. “Come on, Sis, can’t you show a little warmth?”

Luo Xuan ignored her, simply pulling Zhou Yan away and leaving a single remark behind:

“Luo Ke, it’s your turn to do the dishes tonight.”

“Oh, come on!” Luo Ke shouted in protest.