Chapter 106 – The Rogue Stone ２

Looking at the puzzled Old Dai, Zhongli was also deep in thought.

“Second, there were originally thirteen workers in my mining area, and one of them slacked off.”

“He left the work area to take a nap, and when he woke up, his companions had vanished without a trace. Those who stayed in the work area disappeared one after another, while those hiding in the rest area remained unharmed. This shows that the incident occurred in the work area.”

Zhongli looked at Old Dai before him and slowly began to explain.

“Now that you mention it, A-Hu did say she slacked off…”

“Could it be that someone entered the work area and took them away?!”

Old Dai looked at Zhongli, who was explaining, and spoke with some confusion.

“This brings me to my third point. We discovered a trail of footprints in the north, roughly the number of twelve adults.”

“And one child. The footprints of the twelve adults followed the child’s footprints, heading north. Brother Kun also confirmed this using his special methods.”

Zhongli looked at Old Dai and slowly explained.

“A child?!”

“There are very few residents nearby, so it’s impossible for a child to wander into the mining area!”

Old Dai stroked his chin with one hand, speaking in a bewildered tone.

“But the fact remains.”

“Twelve workers followed a little child and left.”

Paimon looked at the somewhat dazed Old Dai and spoke up.

“Based on our speculation, they traveled north along the road.”

“They likely left the mining area and headed toward the ruins.”

Zhongli looked at Old Dai and explained.

“North!”

“Alright, I’ll take some men and search right away.”

Old Dai looked at the group and quickly replied.

Finally, there was a clue. If there were no leads, how would he explain this to the families of those miners?

“Do you need help?”

Lumine looked at Old Dai and asked.

“We’ve already left the investigation to you. Let us brothers handle the legwork.”

“We’ll head out first. If we hurry, we might still catch up with them.”

Old Dai looked at the group and quickly replied, then prepared to take a few brothers to search.

“Wait, the incident happened six days ago.”

“Even if they were only walking, they would have traveled far by now.”

Qiu Bai called out to stop Old Dai. In six days, an ordinary person walking could travel from here to Jueyun Karst.

With such a distance, who knows where they might have gone? That’s why Qiu Bai stopped Old Dai—searching like this would be futile.

“Hmm… you’re right.”

“In that case, I’ll take the brothers to the distant households and ask around.”

Old Dai, stopped by Qiu Bai, thought for a moment and agreed.

“Leaving the mining area, there are only a few households where they could seek lodging. Leave investigating these to us.”

“Everyone, I’d like to trouble you to continue following the clues. Let’s split into two groups. If we don’t meet along the way, we’ll reunite tomorrow evening at Wangshu Inn.”

Old Dai looked at the group and slowly spoke.

“Very well, stay safe on the road.”

Qiu Bai nodded upon hearing this and smiled at Old Dai.

“Then my brothers and I will head out first!”

After saying this, Old Dai walked toward the location of the miners.

“The current situation is that we continue the investigation.”

“While Old Dai and the others go to nearby households to gather information.”

Qiu Bai stroked his chin and slowly spoke. This place was unlike the game—it was simply too vast.

Even finding the so-called Seal of Azhdaha proved to be a difficult task.

It seemed Morax had set up this seal with great care.

“Let’s call Brother Kun and head north to pursue the trail.”

“Given the current situation, the only clue we have points northward.”

Qiu Bai looked at Lumine and Paimon, as well as Zhongli beside them, and spoke slowly.

“Oh right, that little Kun guy is probably still investigating.”

“Let’s go get him.”

Paimon spread her hands upon hearing this, having nearly forgotten about Kun Jun.

“Hehe…”

“That nickname ‘Little Kun’ doesn’t quite suit you, little Paimon.”

Qiu Bai couldn’t help but chuckle when he heard Paimon referring to the current Kun Jun as “Little Kun.”

“Old Dai can call him that.”

“Why doesn’t it suit me?”

Paimon put her hands on her hips and looked at Qiu Bai, letting out a light huff.

“That’s probably because Paimon is a child.”

“Small and cute.”

Lumine also covered her mouth, looking at Paimon with a smile.

“Paimon is not a child!”

“I’m so mad!”

Paimon stomped her feet angrily and retorted, glaring at Lumine.

“I’ve decided to give Qiu Bai an unpleasant nickname!”

“I’ll call you… the Unserious One!”

Paimon put her hands on her hips, looking at the laughing Qiu Bai, and spoke angrily.

Hearing this, Qiu Bai twitched his lips—it seemed he had earned a nickname from Paimon as well.

“Unserious One?”

“Fits me quite well, actually.”

Qiu Bai looked at the angry Paimon and smiled.

“Hmm, from a universal perspective.”

“It does suit my old friend quite well.”

Zhongli crossed his arms and chuckled softly, speaking to Qiu Bai beside him.

“Is that so, Morax?”

“I didn’t expect you to think so too.”

Qiu Bai patted Zhongli’s shoulder with a smile.

“You guys!”

“You’re all bullying me, hmph!”

Seeing Qiu Bai like this, Paimon was so angry she didn’t know what to say, so she could only stomp her feet in frustration.

“Alright, Paimon, let’s go find Kun Jun.”

“Don’t be angry.”

Lumine walked over, patted Paimon’s head, and said with a smile.

“Hehe…”

“The Traveler is still the best, not like these two.”

Paimon looked at Qiu Bai and Zhongli, hands on her hips.

“Alright, Paimon, let’s get going.”

“After this is over, I’ll treat you to a meal, how about that?”

Qiu Bai looked at Paimon, who was still sulking, and smiled.

“Treat me to a meal…”

“Well, alright then, I’ll reluctantly forgive you.”

Paimon put her hands on her hips, turned her head away proudly, and spoke.

Lumine looked at Paimon somewhat speechlessly—she had surrendered to Qiu Bai so quickly.

Qiu Bai looked at Paimon like this and chuckled softly.

Then, the group walked over to where Kun Jun was.

Kun Jun stood with his back to everyone, one hand on his chin as if deep in thought.

“Little Kun, what are you still looking for here?”

“We’ve pretty much figured out the clues, time to head out!”

Paimon flew forward, hands on her hips, looking at the contemplative Kun Jun and reminded him.

“Ah, sorry, this is a personal matter.”

“I’m still looking for a type of jade called the Dragon-Suppressing Stone.”

Kun Jun snapped out of his thoughts, turned around to face the group, and said with a smile.

“Dragon-Suppressing Stone?”

Zhongli crossed his arms and murmured with a somewhat strange expression.

“It’s something I’ve never heard of.”

Lumine felt a bit confused when she heard “Dragon-Suppressing Stone”—when had such a stone existed? She had never encountered it before.

“The Dragon-Suppressing Stone is typically used in the forging industry.”

“What do you need it for?”

Zhongli waved his hand, looking at Kun Jun with a hint of confusion as he asked.