"There's actually a mine entrance up on that cliff? I can't believe you spotted it…"
"I just have sharp eyes, that's all."
"What a shame." Victor Wang looked up—the passage leading to the Serpent's Cave was suspended high above. The plank path that once wound along the mountain had long since crumbled and broken apart, making it completely impassable. "It's a shame we can't reach it."
"There is a way up."
Zhiqiong unfolded her notebook map and gestured as she compared their location. "I've temporarily named this area the 'Temporary Main Mining Route.' There are multiple tunnels here. Aside from the main path, three other directions had plank roads and suspension bridges built. Look—they form the shape of the character '口.' From what I've seen, the other two sides' plank roads are still intact. If we go around, we can reach that cave."
"It really does connect… But that's a long detour. How about I just carry you up there?"
Her hand froze over her notes—the excitement from her map being useful quickly cooled. Still, she smiled politely at Victor Wang. "I'd rather walk. I'm here to draw the map anyway. I promise, every step I take and every minute I spend won't be wasted."
Victor Wang realized he'd misspoken, though his suggestion had also been a subtle test—learning about Zhiqiong firsthand was better than relying on secondhand reports. He nodded. "You're right. I'll walk with you, then."
"There's no need for that. Honestly, Sister Jinwu's just worrying too much…"
Zhiqiong sighed lightly, her steps forward filled with a trace of hesitation. After walking for a while, she finally spoke what was on her mind.
"I know the mines well. As for the unfamiliar things down here, our elders always judge danger based on experience, then use the results to prove their experience right. That's arrogance.
"It's like… hmm, like Lumine. If she'd listened to the adventurers at the foot of Dragonspine warning her about the dangers and stopped there, how many wonderful adventures would she have missed?
"But I'm not blaming you. It's just that, rather than always being protected by others, I'd rather experience a real journey with my own hands.
"Besides, no one can protect anyone forever. As long as we're adventurers, there'll come a day we face danger alone, right?"
Victor Wang hesitated—her words were painfully realistic. "Lumine could take on those adventures because she's strong enough to handle them."
"I know."
Having long accepted that truth, Zhiqiong's tone remained calm—completely unshaken. In fact, she countered with her own examples.
"Even without a Vision, mortals like us can still accomplish great things. Leonard, who traveled across all of Teyvat and invented the Wind Glider. Stanley, who truly crossed the Mare Jivari as a mortal. And Roald, who despite his memory loss, still journeyed through nations, explored ruins, and left behind travelogues and research notes. They're all our role models."
"Leonard, Stanley, and Roald, huh?"
Hearing those names, Victor Wang thought for a moment—and suddenly found a little more confidence to persuade her later.
But this wasn't the right moment. He stepped back a few paces to widen the distance and said, "Sorry for interrupting your real journey. I'll switch to stealth mode now. Just think of this as traveling alone."
Zhiqiong blinked, confused. She took a few hesitant steps forward—Victor Wang didn't move. She walked farther—he stayed put. She went even farther—and he was gone.
Taking a deep breath, she stopped paying attention to his presence and continued toward her goal alone.
Having grown up in the mines, once a miner herself, then a cartographer and adventurer constantly on the move—her body was strong and well-trained.
Even when ambushed by Geo Slimes born of concentrated elemental energy—several of them crashing into her—she managed to outmaneuver and escape them.
Even when she had to climb over piles of damp debris, hiding splinters and rusted nails, she passed through unscathed.
Even when she crossed shaky suspension bridges that creaked and swayed beneath her feet, or scaled steep slopes again and again, she only—
Clatter!
Her foot slipped; a stone tumbled downward. Her left hand followed, grasping air, and she slid down the rock face.
With a massive adventurer's pack on her back—too bulky to climb with in front, too awkward to spread her wings behind—she couldn't open her Wing Glider mid-climb. A fall from here would be dangerous.
Dangling in midair, she felt the slick layer of moss left by the damp air beneath her fingers. Carefully, she reached up for another handhold—and, narrowly avoiding disaster, pulled herself up.
Scanning the area, she saw no sign of Victor Wang. Staring at the underground river below, she muttered softly, "I've never hated underground water so much before…"
He'd said he'd go invisible—and he really meant it. Even in such a dangerous situation, he hadn't shown himself to help. His change in attitude left her faintly annoyed, though only slightly. Mostly, it was the stubborn urge of "See? I can handle this myself."
That close call shook her a little—but only because she wanted to prove herself.
No, that's not right. Why am I being so stubborn? I'm me. I don't do things for others to see… But then she second-guessed herself. That's not entirely true. Everything I do is for the unseen gods—and for mortals like me, who were never seen by the gods. She sighed softly and muttered, "At least… not for you."
Still, knowing someone might be secretly watching her—that stage-lit feeling of being followed by a spotlight—how could she shake it off? Everything she said, she half-hoped Victor Wang could hear, to show she didn't care; and half-hoped he couldn't, to prove she truly didn't.
She exhaled, tangled in her own thoughts, and even considered calling him out—to have him just openly walk beside her again.
But that would mean admitting defeat!
So what exactly was she competing over?!
"You don't need anyone's protection. You can explore The Chasm alone. Come on!"
Slapping her cheeks lightly, she stepped toward the cave entrance that was now close at hand. Passing through the narrow, timber-reinforced tunnel, a strange violet glow spread before her eyes.
Victor Wang appeared behind her, warning firmly, "Don't go any farther. I've encountered this kind of ominous energy with Lumine before—it causes irreversible damage to ordinary people."
The purplish-black sludge ahead was undoubtedly power from the Abyss. In the original course of events, it was this very corruption that first and then again tainted Zhiqiong.