"Does the quest description not explicitly ask for Xien Stone?" Bai Xifeng countered, her tone innocent yet pointed.
"It does, indeed. However, why did you not bring back the refined ore directly from the mine itself, as is the standard procedure?" Yi Shanyuan pressed further, his eyes narrowing as he tried to discern the motive behind her unusual delivery.
"Well, I certainly intended to do exactly that. However, as I approached the area, I sensed an ominous shift in the atmosphere, a heavy, prickly feeling that something terrible was about to happen. Trusting my gut, I chose not to set foot inside the cave." Bai Xifeng explained in a calm, steady voice that betrayed no hint of deception. "I decided to take a rest nearby instead. Shortly after that, word reached me that a disaster had struck and the entire cave system had vanished into the earth. If I had not trusted my basic instincts, I might have perished right alongside that mine."
