"There are monsters over here!" Baiwen pointed nervously toward the Hilichurls rushing in from the flank.
"Don't worry—Raincutter."
"Guoba, fire!"
The Bubblegum Squad, along with over a dozen internal staff and secretaries from the Jade Chamber, and several dozen Millelith guards, had reverse-teleported through the portal back to the Fatui camp at Qingxu Pool.
Though the Fatui stationed here had already been defeated, the return trip was anything but smooth.
Due to the slower pace of the civilians—especially the more delicate secretaries—it felt like they hadn't moved at all after walking for a full hour. Yet abandoning them wasn't an option. Even in just that short time, they'd already encountered several waves of Fatui patrols.
Tall, well-equipped with elemental weapons, the Fatui were already beyond what these weakened Millelith could handle—especially these elite units.
Yes, there were differences even among the Fatui.
Those with more training and combat experience were obviously stronger, even with identical gear.
These Fatui—stationed in pairs to guard the camp's access routes—clearly had some skill. The first group they encountered, a Hydro and Cryo Fatui Skirmisher duo, launched a coordinated attack trying to freeze the most powerful members of the Bubblegum Squad. Unfortunately for them, they were defeated before they could understand why enemies had suddenly appeared behind them.
Thus, the Bubblegum Squad found themselves serving as the escort detail for this large group from the Jade Chamber.
"Thanks so much! Not much farther ahead is the main road from Liyue Harbor to The Chasm—it should be safe from here, we can take a breather."
"Uh… barely had to fight at all in the last hour. For us, walking is resting," Xingqiu said with a heroic flair, sheathing his blade while explaining to Baiwen.
"Ahaha… i-is that so?"
Victor Wang mentally pulled up a map of Liyue. Judging by their current pace, it would take them another four hours to walk back to Liyue Harbor… By then, the sky would be dark. He could only sigh helplessly.
After a stretch of steep stone stairs, they came upon a Y-shaped junction. Merging into the main road Baiwen had mentioned earlier, the right path led back to Liyue Harbor, while the left cut through a tunnel carved into the mountains—leading to The Chasm.
Leading the group, Victor Wang looked left—and encountered a surprise.
There, in the tunnel, was a Fatui Agent. Apparently stationed as a guard, the moment he saw Victor Wang, he twirled his dagger and charged forward. "You're not going anywhere!"
However, the moment he emerged from the tunnel and saw the huge group trailing behind Victor Wang, his expression shifted. He slammed on the brakes, threw himself into reverse, and even activated invisibility.
"Trying to escape?"
Thousand Winds triggered—revealing the Agent instantly. He was yanked back by a powerful Palm Vortex and promptly pummeled.
Baixiao muttered, "…The Chasm's only been abandoned for less than two years, and these guys have already occupied the access routes. I'll have to bring this up with Lady Ningguang."
Baiwen looked deeply embarrassed after just claiming the road would be safer. "Ugh… Yeah, even if this path isn't in use right now, it's still public property! Stupid Fatui… made me look bad…"
Victor Wang took the opportunity to ask, "By the way, why was The Chasm sealed off in the first place?"
In the game, some said it was because miners dug up something strange in The Chasm, causing those exposed to fall into a coma. On the surface, it sounded similar to the effect of the constellation fragment from Leonard in Unreconciled Stars.
But things definitely weren't that simple. If that were the case, just send Vision bearers to clean it up. Why abandon it for two whole years?
That place was Liyue's largest mining zone.
Digging deeper, The Chasm had been a critical battleground in Liyue's resistance during the calamity caused by Khaenri'ah five hundred years ago.
Deeper still, it housed relics of an even older civilization—older than Khaenri'ah itself. There was even a pool that could banish Hilichurls and their curses entirely. Not to mention a Nail of the Heavens.
And even further back, according to Records of Jueyun, Volume VI, a star once fell from the sky when Morax was still young, smashing open what became The Chasm. From within grew endless jade and ore, birthing Liyue's millennia-old mining legacy.
It didn't end there. After the Archon War began, tragedy and sin stifled the breath of mountain and river. That celestial star, disturbed, returned to the sky… coming and going…
The more you think about it, the more outrageous it becomes. The Chasm might hold even more secrets than Enkanomiya.
"Ohhh, here we go again." Hu Tao shrugged.
"Here we go what?" Xiangling didn't get it.
"Victor's 'question-literature' is kicking in. His condition triggers when he finds something interesting—he just starts asking questions."
"That's not a bad thing though, right? It's good to ask questions."
"Heh, just you wait. He's got tons of questions!"
Hearing them talk, Victor Wang just curled his lips slightly.
It's because the game gives the Traveler so few chances to ask questions that everything ends up feeling so vague. Otherwise, by the time you reach Zhongli, you'd probably have unraveled all the truths already. When I finally get the chance to ask Zhongli questions, I'll ask a hundred!
Baixiao gave the official answer: "A year and a half ago, an unknown incident occurred in The Chasm's mines. The Qixing ordered it shut down."
Because of that one line—"an unknown incident"—the Blackcliff Forge has been shut down since. Countless miners lost their jobs and became unemployed.
People like Boss Stone, Xingxi, and Ninth Uncle Chang were all affected by it.
It was also during that time that the Fatui approached the Qixing. The Fatui vanguard volunteered to enter The Chasm and investigate the 'dark calamity' from 500 years ago. They shared their findings with Liyue, and in turn, Liyue provided logistical support.
Back then, relations with the Fatui weren't as strained. Through that cooperation, The Fair Lady brokered a few trade deals beneficial to both sides. When the Fatui departed, even the locals offered them blessings.
Now the Ninth Company and Ekaterina were about to pay for Childe's rampage in Liyue Harbor…
Victor Wang suddenly thought of those Fatui agents deep within The Chasm. Whatever they were like elsewhere, their exploration of The Chasm truly seemed—as they said—"free of hidden agendas or schemes."
That happened after Lumine returned from Inazuma, which meant… there was still time to save them. But…
"See, Hu Tao? Victor's not asking anything now."
Noticing Victor deep in thought, Baixiao didn't think too much of it. Xiangling tugged at Hu Tao's sleeve, insisting that her "question-literature" claim had been proven wrong.
"Tsk~ That's strange. Something's off with him."
Victor was still considering—If I wanted to rescue the Fatui in The Chasm right now, how would I do it?
Go to the Qixing? No way. They were deadlocked with the Fatui now. Yujing Terrace had already issued emergency orders canceling all contracts with Snezhnaya and shutting down their supply stations.
If he went alone… there'd be Black Mud, Black Serpent Guards, Abyss Heralds, sixty-four possibly uncooperative Fatui agents… plus the massively expanded, labyrinthine terrain of The Chasm—all critical challenges. At the very least, he'd need Geo power first.
And with The Chasm off-limits, sneaking in to mine might be doable—but any contact with the Fatui would definitely be noticed by Yelan...
After thinking it through, the best option was probably to tell Childe.
Funny, really. Those Fatui in The Chasm were originally under Pulcinella, but it was The Fair Lady who sent them in—and they were now endangered by Childe himself, who might not even know about it.
Pulcinella would abandon "low-value assets" for greater gains. The Fair Lady had either forgotten them over the past two years—or was just as heartless. Childe, ironically, was probably their best shot at survival.
The Ninth Company had someone named Anton—same name as Childe's little brother. Whether they were the same person was unclear, but outside combat and missions, Childe was one of the more reasonable Harbingers.
Knowing him, he probably wouldn't ignore it.
First, I'll find a way to tell him. If he doesn't act… then I'll do it myself once I have Geo. Yeah—that's the plan.
Victor Wang resolved himself. When he snapped back to reality, he found Hu Tao walking backward in front of him.
He played along. "Wah! W-what are you doing?"
"I see your three souls have flown and your seven spirits scattered. A calamity looms, I fear."
"Really? What should I do, Master Hu?"
"Sigh! This cure I normally keep secret… Only the legendary 'Qingxin-Fried Slime Condensate' can save you. The bitterness of Qingxin jolts the spirits, while the Slime Condensate rebinds the souls!"
Hu Tao smirked inwardly. Such clumsy acting couldn't possibly fool her. So, she leaned into it—if he wanted to play, she'd play all the way.
Chongyun stifled a laugh. Hu Tao was pulling another prank—but Victor might actually not fear that dish at all.
"Seems we'll need Xiangling's help," Victor Wang nodded solemnly.
"Exactly! We'll need Xiangling's help," Hu Tao nodded again.
"Why do you have so much hatred toward Qingxin-Fried Slime Condensate?! I don't get it…" Xiangling finally realized her dish was being used as part of some ridiculous prank.
Suddenly, she felt a tap on her back. Turning around, there was no one nearby.
"…What the?" As soon as she turned back, something tapped her again.
"Ahhh! There-there-there's something behind me!"
Chongyun sighed. "See? Hu Tao's grinning over there."
"B-b-but she's so far away! How did she do that?!"
"That's… trade secret~"