The man known as Second Brother, leader of the Treasure Hoarders, hurriedly chased after Zhiqiong. Yet, with the Wind Glider, most people flew at roughly the same speed, so the distance between them remained unchanged. Still, he wasn't worried…
Inside a cage on the ground, Clitopho watched anxiously, unable to help shouting, "Don't fly that way! That's a dead end!"
After flying for a while, Zhiqiong had already noticed it herself—the main mining tunnel leading to the lower levels was blocked by rubble. She turned her head toward Clitopho. "Why didn't you say so earlier?"
Clitopho shrugged. "Honestly, the moment you spread your Wind Glider and took off, whether I said anything or not wasn't going to change the outcome… You should've turned back."
Behind her, the Second Brother let out a smug laugh. "Stop running! Come back with us and raise Treasure Ferrets. We'll even cut you in on the loot!"
"I don't want that!"
Frustrated and angry, Zhiqiong had no choice but to keep flying forward—always forward—as her altitude dropped lower and lower. The Treasure Hoarders were already charging across the ground, closing in around the spot where she'd be forced to land…
"Never thought… I'd end up falling to a bunch of Treasure Hoarders…"
"We don't want your life. Once you train up our Treasure Ferrets and meet your quota, you can leave whenever you like. So be good and come quietly!"
"That's exactly why I'll never agree!" Zhiqiong gritted her teeth, drawing her dagger for self-defense, and shouted toward the approaching enemies, "I can't stop here—I won't stop here! You're humans too. If you've ever had a wish ignored by the Archons, an ambition dismissed, or found your every effort met with indifference… with contempt—then don't… don't stand in my way!"
"Hiss—" The Second Brother halted mid-step, frowning. "Now that's a spirited adventurer."
"So what do we do, boss? Do we still tie her up?"
Second Brother raised his hand to stop them. "Hold on. Let me test this adventurer—see if her spirit's real or just talk."
He spoke to Zhiqiong. "Listen up. I believe Mora is everything in this world. Mora can buy anything. So tell me—name one thing Mora can't buy, and if I believe you, we'll let you go."
Unsure if his words were worth trusting, Zhiqiong simply continued her earlier declaration. "Don't stand in my way. Don't stop me from challenging the limits of humankind. Don't stop me from proving mortal willpower. Don't stop me from leaving behind an eternal mark for those who come after… I can die anywhere, for any reason, but you—fellow mortals—you should never raise a hand against me!"
Second Brother was silent for a moment before turning around, sighing deeply. "Let's let her go. We are a band of Treasure Hoarders with spirit, after all."
He couldn't help reminiscing. Back in the day, he'd spent half a lifetime working his way up to become a foreman in the Chasm's mines. He'd been full of ambition then—but only a few days later, the Chasm was shut down. His job? Gone.
Life on the surface wasn't easy to adapt to, and he always felt drawn back. Eventually, he joined the Treasure Hoarders and returned here.
"Second Brother! I'm spirited too! Please, let me out!"
Second Brother shot a disdainful glance toward Clitopho. "Hmph! You spineless fool. You must be a spy from the Millelith sent to ruin me! I told you to scout ahead—you led our crew straight into a trap! I told you to guard the Treasure Ferrets—you wandered off and let them all escape! Then I send you underground to explore, and there's an earthquake that almost buries us alive!"
"Th-that last one wasn't my fault!"
"Just stay in the cage. Once we've finished our business, we'll deal with you properly!"
Clitopho wailed, then turned pleadingly to Zhiqiong. "Brave adventurer! My lady! Please, save me!"
Surprised that the Treasure Hoarders were actually swayed by her words, Zhiqiong was already racing against time to map the unstable area. She glanced briefly at Clitopho. "I know who you are—you used to sell fake medicine up in the mines, didn't you? And now you've joined the Treasure Hoarders… Even if I could save you, all I'd do is move you from this cage to a Millelith one."
"Oh come on…"
Ignoring his whining, Zhiqiong quickly finished her map of the Main Mining Area of the Chasm.
But the route to the lower levels… She looked helplessly at the pile of blocking rubble. The Chasm Exploration Team had a demolition expert once—but due to an unfortunate incident, that young girl from Mondstadt and her guardian were now confined after they'd apparently "blown up the Good Hunter's kitchen."
Clitopho had been watching her the whole time and immediately volunteered. "I've studied alchemy! I can mix explosives! I can help you blast through that rock!"
What a coincidence.
Zhiqiong blinked. She could've gone back to fetch reinforcements, but with the Treasure Hoarders nearby, she couldn't make it too obvious. "It's not that I don't want to help you—I just don't have the ability."
"I'll handle it."
Everyone turned toward the sudden voice. Victor Wang stepped out from the shadows and addressed the Treasure Hoarders. "The hat-wearers are here. You'd better scram."
"The hat-wearers?!"
"Boss, what's a hat-wearer?"
"They're the ones who eat at the official's table, idiot!"
"So what do we do?"
"…Normally, when you meet a real one, all you can do is run." The Second Brother watched Victor Wang warily.
"Well? Still not running? You planning to test me?"
Victor Wang tilted his head slightly, revealing the faint glow of his Vision. The Treasure Hoarders' faces paled, and they fled without a word.
Zhiqiong's expression shifted too. Though she had wished for someone to intervene earlier, now she realized all those things she'd said out loud—he'd probably heard them all. Worse, this man seemed to appear everywhere. She'd thought she'd finally shaken him, but apparently not… At this rate, she might start suspecting he was secretly watching every time she was alone.
She asked carefully, "You showing up here… don't tell me you've been following me the whole time?"
"No. Just a coincidence." Of course Victor Wang wouldn't admit it. He turned away, unlocking Clitopho's cage. "We're blasting through the blocked path. You said you know explosives—tell me what you need."
"Thank you, young master! First, I'll check that cannon over there."
Seeing Victor Wang had no objection, Clitopho hurried to examine the mining cannon. "Seems like someone maintained it even after the mine was sealed. The mechanism's intact, but the safety lock's engaged…"
"I saw the unlock guide earlier. I'll open it soon."
"We'll also need shells. There's a storage room nearby that should have them—"
"I've already been there. It was locked, but I found the key, opened it, and brought the shells." Victor Wang took out a crate of cannon ammunition from his Inner Space.
"Uh… well then, let me check… Hmm, the detonators are useless. The Geo catalysts inside have turned into strange blue crystals… But no problem! If you trust me, I can make a makeshift fuse using an alchemy table."
"I've got one with me." Victor Wang produced a portable alchemy table from his Inner Space.
"Uh… then I'll also need a double-condensed Prithiva Topaz Gemstone oil…"
"I've got the ingredients for that, too." Victor Wang calmly brought out the materials.
Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Clitopho muttered as he worked, "Are you… an Adeptus of Liyue?"
"Learned from them. Close enough."
Barely two minutes after Clitopho was freed, the deafening boom of an explosion echoed through the mine. The massive boulder blocking their way crumbled into fragments—then into dust.