Kun Jun looked at Zhongli with a curious gaze.
"I've seen a lot, so I naturally picked up a few insights."
"Just a bit of showing off—please don't take offense, Kun."
Zhongli said slowly, looking at Kun Jun.
"No, not at all!"
"I feel like we really get along. I truly want to be friends with you."
Kun Jun quickly shook his head and smiled warmly at Zhongli.
"Dai, you should bring Mr. Zhongli along! Trust me, you won't meet many experts like him in your lifetime."
"People like him are rare."
Kun Jun turned to Old Dai and spoke earnestly.
"Haha, I also have an old friend here."
"I'm sure he'll be a great help too."
Zhongli glanced at Qiu Bai, then looked back at Kun Jun and Old Dai, speaking steadily.
"I've heard of this gentleman as well. His knowledge is said to be extremely profound."
"Good, the more the better. Everyone, follow me to the Chasm mining area. We'll be counting on you to find the brothers who went missing."
Old Dai smiled as he addressed the group.
"Strictly speaking, none of the people standing here..."
"...are ordinary humans."
Qiu Bai's mouth twitched as he muttered inwardly, feeling a bit drowsy after listening to Zhongli and Kun Jun's long conversation.
"Let's head out."
"The sooner we find Old Dai's brothers, the better."
Qiu Bai nodded and spoke to Lumine, Paimon, Zhongli, and Kun Jun.
"Right, no time to waste. Let's move!"
"The Chasm, huh?"
Paimon smiled as she looked at everyone.
The group followed Old Dai's lead, leaving Liyue Harbor behind...
"Everyone, hold onto me."
"If we walk there, it'll take at least a day or two."
As they reached the outskirts of Liyue Harbor, Qiu Bai suddenly stopped and called out to the group.
"Wow, is Qiu Bai going to use that ability again?"
"Awesome! Paimon won't have to walk!"
Paimon cheered, stomping her feet excitedly at Qiu Bai.
Lumine also smiled. The moving Statue of The Seven technique was always so handy.
"What's wrong? Why aren't we moving?"
Old Dai and Kun Jun, who were walking ahead, turned back in confusion.
"Old Dai, Kun Jun, just do as Qiu Bai says."
"Hold on tight."
Paimon turned and spoke to them confidently.
"Heh, old friend, this ability of yours..."
"Truly convenient."
Zhongli smiled and nodded at Qiu Bai.
Even Zhongli himself would normally have to fly to cover such a distance.
"Sigh, alright."
"Even if I don't get it, I'll trust you guys."
Old Dai and Kun Jun came over, each grabbing onto the corner of Qiu Bai's clothes.
"Hold your breath, Old Dai."
"You might get a little dizzy."
Qiu Bai reminded him gently.
After all, Old Dai was the only true mortal among them.
Old Dai gave Qiu Bai a puzzled look but still held his breath.
In the next instant, they all vanished from where they stood...
When they reappeared, they were already deep in the Chasm mining area, far from Liyue Harbor.
Old Dai gasped for air, staring at the vast mining site in stunned silence.
Even Kun Jun frowned slightly as he looked at Qiu Bai.
When Qiu Bai had used his divine power just now, Kun Jun had felt a strange sense of familiarity.
"My goodness, this is like having an Adeptus among us."
"To arrive here in an instant..."
Old Dai turned to look at Qiu Bai, so shocked he could barely speak.
Even more astonishing was how Zhongli, Lumine, and Paimon seemed totally unfazed, as if this was normal.
Old Dai's worldview was starting to crumble.
"Haha, Old Dai."
"There are plenty of extraordinary people out there. Don't go calling everyone an Adeptus just because you're surprised. Broaden your horizons a little."
Kun Jun chuckled as he tried to explain.
"Plenty? I've never met anyone like this."
"Someone with Mr. Qiu Bai's abilities feels just like the Adepti or the Geo Archon themselves appearing before us."
Old Dai spread his hands in disbelief as he looked at Kun Jun.
"Indeed."
"He's actually..."
Lumine was about to say more when Paimon suddenly shouted.
"Wow, this mining area is massive!"
Paimon stared around, wide-eyed. Mining equipment was scattered everywhere, and dozens of barrels of ore were stacked nearby.
"Everyone, this is the site where it happened."
"Six days ago, I took a few workers out for some errands. When I got back, I heard that twelve of the brothers who stayed behind had vanished."
Old Dai pulled himself together. After all, lives were at stake—there was no time to stay shocked.
"I searched the entire mining area with my crew but couldn't find them anywhere."
"I had no leads at all, so I asked for your help."
Old Dai explained seriously.
"Twelve miners disappeared?"
Zhongli asked, looking at Old Dai.
"Twelve? Wasn't it four?"
"Right, this isn't a game. No way just four people could dig such a massive hole."
Qiu Bai's mouth twitched. He still couldn't understand how four miners in the game managed to dig such a deep tunnel.
"Yes. We originally had over thirty people."
"The twelve who vanished were all miners working with me."
"Their families have been coming to see me these past few days. I really don't know what to tell them... It's my responsibility."
Old Dai sighed heavily.
"Most workers in this line are young and strong men."
"Could it be that the twelve miners went to dig elsewhere?"
Zhongli asked slowly, looking at the troubled Old Dai.
"Unlikely."
"There's nowhere else around here for them to go. I checked yesterday too—no signs of any new mining activity."
Old Dai quickly waved his hand, dismissing the idea.
"Hmm... You searched the entire mining area?"
Kun Jun asked, frowning.
"Every last inch, even underground. We practically dug three feet deep!"
"But twelve grown men don't just vanish into thin air."
Old Dai explained, his voice tinged with unease.
"We'll need to inspect the scene ourselves before making any conclusions."
Qiu Bai said calmly as he looked at Old Dai.
"Alright, alright. I'll wait here. Feel free to search around."
"If you find any trace of the missing brothers, please let me know right away!"
Old Dai quickly nodded.
"Twelve people disappearing like that... Strange. Could they have just run off?"
"Anyway, let's search the area and look for clues."
Paimon floated among the group, looking puzzled.
"Please leave the investigation to us."
Old Dai said quietly as he watched them head off.