After receiving the basalt pillar, Futsu Mitama naturally turned the conversation toward the question lingering in his mind. "Liben, how did you end up near the South Gate in the first place?"
By logic alone, the merchant's presence here made no sense. Liben was the sort who favored bustling cities—Liyue Harbor, Mondstadt—places with people, business, and safety. South Gate had patrols and nearby villages, sure, but it was not somewhere a lone, untrained merchant should be wandering.
Kuki Shinobu had even mentioned earlier that Treasure Hoarders frequently appeared around these parts. For someone like Liben, coming here was no different from courting disaster.
"Ahh…I really couldn't help it this time." Liben scratched his head with a sheepish look. "You know how Ningguang is planning to expand the Jade Chamber, right? That kind of project is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! If I managed to find rare materials or a valuable antique, I could use it to negotiate with her. She only has to give me a few bits of information, and I'd never have to worry about food or housing again."
His sigh deepened. "I heard there were precious materials around the South Gate and Tianqiu Valley, so I thought I'd try my luck—"
As he spoke, helplessness crept into his expression. As a businessman, he naturally chased after possibilities—but fate clearly hadn't favored him today.
There were mines near South Gate and Tianqiu Valley, yes. But those mines were long abandoned—and now occupied by Geovishap Hatchlings and even full-grown Geovishaps. So instead of stumbling upon treasure, Liben had nearly become the newest corpse in the wilderness.
If Futsu Mitama's group hadn't arrived when they did, he would surely have met a miserable end far from civilization.
"I understand." Futsu Mitama's gaze drifted toward the basalt pillar, thinking of how valuable such a material would be to the Jade Chamber. He had even been about to offer returning it.
But Liben immediately waved his hands. "No, no, Benefactor. I also have my pride. Money can be earned slowly. But some debts must be repaid at once."
His tone hardened slightly. "You saved my life. That's worth far more than any deal I could make with Ningguang. Take the basalt pillar. Don't even think of giving it back."
Seeing the merchant's resolve, Futsu Mitama no longer insisted. With a flick of his wrist, he stowed away the basalt pillar and continued:
"By the way, Liben—earlier you mentioned something. The Geovishap Hatchlings and Geovishaps clashed with a Hilichurl tribe. Where exactly did that happen? Can you show us?"
To attack passersby was one thing—but to actively provoke Hilichurl tribes? And in coordinated groups? Something unusual had clearly caused the Geovishaps to become restless.
Perhaps investigating the site would reveal something unexpected.
"It's southward, near Tianqiu Valley." Liben pointed the way. "You'll also run into Slime groups on the road. And that abandoned mine I mentioned? The Geovishaps seem to be guarding it. If you're looking for ore, you might be in for quite the haul—noctilucous jade, iron chunks, silver ore, all sorts of things they're drawn to."
His expression grew helplessly envious. With strength, one could inspect danger at their leisure, gather materials, and seize opportunity at will. Unlike him—who carried only goods, couldn't fight, and could only flee in terror.
"Thank you, Liben." Futsu Mitama pointed back along the path they'd come. "Take that route. It's safer and leads over a ridge to the main road. Once you see the Millelith, you'll be fine."
Liben nodded. He had no intention of tagging along; with his strength, he'd only become a burden if trouble arose. Returning to Liyue Harbor was his smartest option.
The two sides parted ways—Futsu Mitama's group toward the abandoned mine, Liben toward safety.
Yet halfway back, Liben suddenly paused.
"Wait. How did my Benefactor know my name?"
He scratched his head, baffled. Had he introduced himself? Or had they met in some previous transaction he'd forgotten?
"Strange." In the end, he simply dismissed the thought and continued walking.
Futsu Mitama and the others proceeded down the indicated path. Before long, they encountered groups of wild Hydro and Dendro Slimes.
Xiangling's eyes sparkled. "Ingredients!"
She dashed forward, spear in hand. Kuki Shinobu and Ella followed, and the forest soon rang with bursts of elemental energy. Within moments, the Slimes lay defeated.
"These are excellent! Fresh and high quality!" Xiangling inspected the Slime condensates with satisfaction. With Jueyun Chilis, Sweet Flowers, and fresh Slime material gathered, she could finally attempt her new spicy Slime dish.
Many had resisted Slime dishes at first, but once the flavor hit—most gave in. Some even questioned why no spicy variants existed yet—especially in spice-loving Liyue.
"Well then," Xiangling chirped, "let's keep moving!"
They pressed ahead—and soon the remnants of a Hilichurl tribe came into view.
But this tribe was—ruined. Hilichurl Fighters, Archers, Shamans, Berserkers—fallen everywhere, bodies torn apart. Nearby lay the corpses of Geovishap Hatchlings and even full-grown Vishaps.
Liben had not exaggerated. A colossal battle had taken place.
"This was a large tribe." Kuki Shinobu surveyed the scene with a measured gaze. "If they weren't attacking humans, the Millelith would normally leave such a group alone. Little to gain from provoking them."
She shook her head lightly. "To think the Geovishaps would choose to provoke them"
Hilichurl tribes seldom attacked unless manipulated by Abyssal forces. Left to themselves, they lived primitively—but not aggressively. Yet here, they had been utterly overwhelmed.
A thunderous roar suddenly rolled across the valley.
"That's a Mitachurl," Aila said immediately. "He's still fighting."
Xiangling's curiosity flared. "Should we go take a look?"
No one objected.
They arrived to see a massive Mitachurl locked in fierce combat with several Geovishaps. A dozen Hatchlings circled, waiting for openings. The Mitachurl, wreathed in a Geo shield, threw a heavy punch. A Vishap—surging with Electro energy—met the blow head-on. Another, infused with Hydro, lashed its spiked tail. Others followed, each wielding a different element.
The Mitachurl roared and resisted, but he was alone against many. After a prolonged struggle, his Geo shield finally shattered. In that instant, Hatchlings swarmed him, and the combined onslaught tore him down.
The sight was brutal—but none among Futsu Mitama's group were strangers to carnage. Even Xiangling, gentle as she looked, had certainly slain more creatures than she could count.
"I wonder what they're after," Futsu Mitama murmured. "Hunting Hilichurls, attacking travelers—there must be a reason."
"We'll find it if we watch." Shinobu narrowed her eyes. "Monsters act with purpose. They're not Rifthounds—those destroy without reason."
She paused. "Hm? They're moving."
Two Geovishaps and several Hatchlings began marching toward the ruined tribe.
"No—look closely," Ella whispered. "They're gathering bodies."
Indeed. The Hatchlings dragged smaller corpses—Hilichurls and dead Hatchlings alike. The Geovishaps heaved the larger ones—the Berserkers, and even the fallen Mitachurl.
All of them were carrying their spoils toward a single direction.
"That way is…Tianqiu Valley?" Xiangling gulped. "We're not actually going to run into the legendary Primo Geovishap, are we—?"
She'd heard the stories. A Primo Geovishap—one worthy of legend—was said to rival a hill in size. The biggest ingredient she'd ever handled was the Snowboar King. Compared to a Primo Geovishap…that seemed almost cute.
"Let's follow them," Futsu Mitama said. "We'll understand once we see."
Quietly, they trailed the procession until they reached an abandoned mine—strewn with ore: iron chunks, silver, even noctilucous jade. But the materials were secondary. What mattered was that the Geovishaps, carrying corpses, marched straight into the abandoned mine.
Futsu Mitama's brow furrowed. So this was the mine Liben mentioned. And the monsters weren't just wandering aimlessly—they were transporting corpses deliberately. A number of troubling possibilities flickered in his mind:
Were they feeding something within?
Were they being controlled?
Were they luring others in?
Too many possibilities—and too little clarity. In the end, Futsu Mitama found himself facing only two paths:
Enter the abandoned mine.
Or—
Report everything to the Millelith.