The Chasm—Liyue's lifeline of ore and the age-old resting place of solid rock.
Although it might sound a little disrespectful, Victor Wang suddenly found himself wanting to compare it to Watatsumi Island.
First, the two were roughly the same size.
Indeed, the Chasm lived up to its name. As a mining pit, its vastness surpassed that of Mondstadt, Liyue Harbor, and even Inazuma City combined—large enough to rival the entire Watatsumi Island.
Second, both shared a spiral-shaped terrain.
Watatsumi's spiral was beautiful, dreamlike, and mesmerizing—something that made one want to take a second look. The Chasm's spiral, however, was grand, majestic, and overwhelming. Standing at its edge, that sheer sense of weight could make even the faint-hearted hesitate to step forward.
Third, both locations had extraordinary geological features.
Watatsumi's pinkish-purple hues were of unknown origin, whereas the Chasm's reddish-violet soil came from prolonged elemental reactions deep underground. From that soil, a substance known as "Glazed Crystal Sand" could be extracted—the key ingredient behind Liyue's valuable porcelain.
Fourth, both hid vast spaces and deep secrets beneath their surfaces.
"Please stop! The Chasm is a restricted area—no unauthorized travelers beyond this point!" The shout of a Millelith guard interrupted Victor Wang's comparison.
"Oh, oh, I'm actually… here, take a look at this."
"This is from Lady Keqing…" The guard examined the document carefully, then lowered his voice upon confirming that no one else was nearby. "Understood. Please, go ahead."
That made Victor Wang feel a bit uneasy himself. He quickly slipped past the checkpoint.
After passing through the Chasm's spiraling outer ridge, the light above dimmed. The once-bustling path, now abandoned for two years, stretched before him—scattered with broken supply crates along the roadside. Behind the debris stood the crimson-stained branches of Sandbearer Trees, their colors dyed by the earth. Beyond them soared a brown-feathered eagle, and further still, towering across the valley, was what appeared to be a battleship piercing the clouds.
A battleship?
Victor Wang narrowed his eyes. The sudden shift in brightness and the distance had blurred his vision, but after a closer look, he realized it wasn't a ship at all—it was a colossal rock formation, naturally sculpted by the Chasm's spiral ridges to resemble a warship.
Aside from these sights, seven golden streams of light arced visibly across the mountain, each extending from different directions down into the Chasm's depths. Together, they sealed the main shaft—locking away both the great mine entrance and the secrets beneath.
To reach the underground area, one first had to break that seal. And to break the seal… Victor Wang approached a nearby camp.
"Excuse me, are you Muning?"
"I am. And you are?"
Muning studied the unfamiliar face before him, pondering for a moment—until the man handed him a letter.
After checking it carefully, Muning nodded. "I see. The expedition team's current location might not recognize permission from the Yuheng Star herself, so I'll write you another pass. Show them this, and they'll understand you can be trusted."
"Alright."
Accepting the note from Muning, Victor Wang felt a heaviness settle in his chest. Soon, he would meet Zhiqiong.
There was an old saying: "A clay pot breaks beside the well; a general dies upon the battlefield."
Just like Gendou Ringo—or rather, Momoyo. Though his intervention had saved her from losing an eye, as a member of the Shuumatsuban, danger would always follow her. No one could guarantee she'd remain safe forever.
Zhiqiong was the same. Spirited and free, she was too daring, too devoted to adventure—her yearning to be recognized by the gods too fierce.
That wasn't wrong, of course. Ordinary people envying or even resenting Vision holders was natural. More than anything, she only wanted to understand the gods' measure of mortal will—to achieve something extraordinary with mortal strength, to defy the gods, and to inspire others after her.
And she had once called him senpai—showered him with compliments. He had to save her.
But Zhiqiong… how can I save you?
Someone willing to risk her life to prove her will—how could anyone stop her?
All he could do was ensure she didn't die here, in the Chasm. But even if she left the Chasm, there would still be other "abysses" waiting—different names, same peril.
Before he knew it, Victor Wang had arrived at the expedition camp.
"Muning's pass… you're joining us at this point? My name's Zhiqiong. How should I address you?"
"I'm Victor, an adventurer."
"Victor, nice to meet you! Welcome to the Chasm Expedition Team! Let me introduce everyone: this is Khedive, a special scholar from Sumeru; this is Sister Jinwu, our safety technician; and this is Taliesin, a bard from Mondstadt who… for some reason insists on joining us underground."
After greeting each member in turn, Zhiqiong added cheerfully, "Lastly, I'm the scout for this expedition—responsible for mapping and leading the way! Also an adventurer myself! Haha, you can probably tell by my clothes, right? But you… uh, you really don't look like an adventurer at all. Anyway, let's work hard together!"
…
"The camp at the entrance to the Chasm… found it!" Paimon spun in the air excitedly. "Hello, are you Muning?"
"Yes, that's me. And this is… wait—aren't you the great hero who saved Liyue! For you to visit the Chasm yourself, there must be something important!"
"Well, we do have business here."
"Then you must have Lady Keqing's permission, correct?"
Paimon and Lumine exchanged puzzled glances. They had no idea why this man was so fixated on permissions—but, truth be told, they didn't have one.
Paimon hesitated. "Uh… about that…"
Lumine said plainly, "We don't."
"Oh! My apologies, my apologies… perhaps you're carrying a letter from Lady Ningguang, the Tianquan Star? That would carry even more weight. May I see it?"
Paimon chuckled awkwardly.
Lumine replied, "We don't have that either."
"The Tianshu Star rarely appears in public but is kind and farsighted, deeply concerned for the nation's safety. Surely, he granted you permission to enter?"
Paimon: "…"
Lumine: "…"
"Well then, I suppose not… How about Miss Ganyu? She assists the Qixing, and her decisions always align with theirs. Surely you have her authorization?"
Lumine couldn't help but ask, "Would it still count if I go ask her now?"
Muning sighed helplessly. He had tried every angle, yet they deflected each one. All he could do was keep playing along. "Ah, what unfortunate timing. The Chasm isn't exactly open to visitors right now. The General Affairs Bureau is still resolving major safety concerns. If you're merely a messenger sent by merchants to push for the reopening of the mines, I'd advise you to return and read the report I submitted to the Ministry of Civil Affairs first."
Paimon groaned, tugging at her hair. "Ugh, what's this guy saying? I don't understand a single word!"
"Don't worry," Lumine comforted her softly before turning to Muning. "You're Muning, right?"
"I am."
"Then… you still owe Sister Lan some wine money, don't forget."
Muning's expression froze. "That's what this is about? Hmph… fine, I understand now. You adventurers from the Guild never speak plainly. Go ahead—what do you want to ask? I'll answer whatever I can."