Kun Jun looked at Zhongli with a hint of curiosity.
"After seeing enough, one gains some insight."
"Just showing off a little Brother Kun, I hope you don't mind."
Zhongli explained slowly to Kun Jun.
"No, no, not at all!"
"I feel like we really get along, I genuinely want to be friends with you."
Kun Jun quickly shook his head and smiled warmly at Zhongli.
"Old Dai, bring Mr. Zhongli along too! Trust me, he's definitely someone with a sharp eye."
"You won't meet many people like him in your whole life."
Kun Jun turned to Old Dai beside him and said earnestly.
"Heh, I also have an old friend."
"I believe he'll be of great help as well."
Zhongli glanced at Qiu Bai, then looked back at Kun Jun and Old Dai, speaking calmly.
"I've heard of this gentleman too, his knowledge is said to be vast and profound."
"Very well, the more help, the better. Everyone, please follow me to the Chasm's mining zone. We'll need your help to find the brothers who've gone missing."
Old Dai said with a smile as he looked at the group.
"By common rational standards..."
"No one standing here is exactly normal."
Qiu Bai twitched the corner of his mouth and muttered in his heart.
After listening to Zhongli and Kun Jun conversation for so long, he was starting to get sleepy.
"Let's get going then."
"The sooner we find Old Dai's men, the better."
Qiu Bai nodded and spoke to Lumine, Paimon, Zhongli, and Kun Jun.
"Yes, no time to waste let's head out now."
"The Chasm's mining zone, huh?"
Paimon grinned as she looked at everyone.
Then the group followed Old Dai lead and walked out of Liyue Harbor.
"Everyone, hold onto me."
"If we walk there like this, it'll take at least a day or two."
Qiu Bai stopped just outside Liyue and spoke to the others ahead of him.
"Wow! Is Qiu Bai using that ability again?"
"That's great Paimon doesn't have to walk!"
Paimon happily stomped her feet and said to Qiu Bai.
Lumine also smiled at him, the moving Statues of the Seven were really handy.
"What's going on? Why did we stop?"
Old Dai and Kun Jun, walking ahead, turned around, looking puzzled at Qiu Bai.
"Old Dai, Kun Jun, just do as Qiu Bai says."
"Hold on to him."
Paimon turned around and said to Old Dai and Kun Jun.
"Hehe, old friend, this ability of yours…"
"It's incredibly convenient."
Zhongli also looked at Qiu Bai and nodded with a smile.
Even for him, traveling this way would normally require a bit of flying.
"Sigh, alright then."
"I don't understand it, but I'll listen to you."
Old Dai and Kun Jun walked over, and everyone grabbed onto the edge of Qiu Bai's clothing.
"Hold your breath, Old Dai."
"You might get a little dizzy."
Qiu Bai looked at Old Dai and reminded him kindly.
After all, the only one here who could still be considered an ordinary mortal was Old Dai.
Old Dai looked at Qiu Bai with some confusion, but he still held his breath.
In the blink of an eye, the group vanished from where they stood.
When they reappeared, they were already far from Liyue Harbor, right in the middle of the Chasm's mining zone.
Old Dai immediately gasped for air, stunned as he stared at the expansive mining area before him.
Even Kun Jun frowned slightly as he looked at Qiu Bai.
When Qiu Bai used his divine power just now, Kun Jun had a momentary feeling that this man seemed oddly familiar.
"Heavens… this is practically like a living adeptus."
"We actually arrived here in an instant."
Old Dai turned to Qiu Bai, so shocked that he was left speechless.
And seeing Zhongli, Lumine, and Paimon by Qiu Bai's side acting completely unphased.
Old Dai felt like his entire worldview was collapsing.
"Hehe, Old Dai there are many capable and extraordinary people in this world."
"Don't go calling everyone an adeptus, you need to broaden your horizons."
Kun Jun chuckled lightly as he explained to the astonished Old Dai.
"Many? Well, I sure haven't seen any."
"Someone like Mr. Qiu Bai, his abilities are just like a divine manifestation of the Geo Lord or an adeptus himself!"
Old Dai looked at Kun Jun beside him and spread his hands in amazement.
"It's true."
"He actually—"
Lumine was just about to say something when Paimon suddenly shouted:
"Wow! This mining zone is huge!"
Paimon looked around in shock. The entire area was filled with mining machines, and there were dozens of barrels of ores neatly placed all around.
"Everyone, this is where it happened."
"Six days ago, I took a few of my workers out on an errand. When I came back, I was told that the twelve brothers who stayed behind had vanished."
Old Dai reined in his amazement. Human lives were at stake, there was no time to remain in awe.
"I've led people to search every corner of the mining area, but we found nothing."
"With no other leads, that's why I asked for your help."
Old Dai looked at the group in front of him and began to explain.
"So, twelve miners have gone missing without a trace?"
Zhongli looked at Old Dai and asked calmly.
"Twelve? Wasn't it just four?"
"Ah, right... this isn't a game. No way just four people could dig such a massive tunnel."
Qiu Bai mouth twitched slightly. He still didn't understand how in the game, just four miners managed to dig a hole that deep.
"Yes, we originally had over thirty people. The twelve who disappeared were all miners working under me."
"Their families have been coming to me these past few days, asking for answers but I don't know what to say. After all, I hold some responsibility in this."
Old Dai sighed and spoke slowly.
"This line of work mostly attracts strong young men."
"Is it possible the twelve miners just went off to dig somewhere else?"
Zhongli asked, looking thoughtfully at the weary Old Dai.
"Doesn't seem likely."
"There aren't any other places around here to settle down, and I came by yesterday I didn't see any new mining tunnels being worked on."
Old Dai quickly shook his head and dismissed the idea.
"Hmm... This mine is huge. Are you sure you searched everywhere?"
Kun Jun looked at Old Dai with some doubt.
"Not a single inch was missed. We even searched underground, it's like we were digging three feet deep ourselves."
"But twelve grown men can't just vanish into thin air, right?"
Old Dai responded with a puzzled look. After all, if this had happened to anyone else, they'd feel the same unease.
"Only by inspecting the site can we draw any conclusions."
Qiu Bai looked at Old Dai and said calmly.
"Right, right. I'll wait here then, feel free to search however you like."
"If you find any clues about the missing brothers, you must let me know!"
Old Dai nodded quickly and said to Qiu Bai.
"Twelve grown men, gone without a trace... It's strange. Could it be they just ran off on their own?"
"Anyway, let's look around nearby for now and try to gather clues."
Paimon floated between Qiu Bai and the others, speaking with doubt in her voice.
"I'll leave the investigation to you all."
Old Dai spoke quietly as he watched the group walk away.
(T/N: Like the story fellow daoist? Read 20 chapters ahead on my P@treon [p@treon.com/DaoistRongyi] Thanks for your support! 😊)