Chapter 105 – The Rogue Stone

Zhongli, Lumine, and Paimon went to investigate the changing area, while Qiu Bai headed off alone elsewhere.

After walking for a while, Qiu Bai noticed footprints scattered across the ground.

“This is…”

“Among the chaotic footprints, there’s also a tiny footprint.”

Qiu Bai stroked his chin, murmuring as he examined the marks on the ground.

He crouched down and carefully observed the direction the footprints led. They headed north, and by following them, one could leave the mining site.

However, the footprints disappeared once they reached the stone steps. After all, stone isn’t like soil—it doesn’t retain traces.

“Qiu Bai, how’s it going over there?”

“Found anything?”

Paimon called out toward Qiu Bai’s location.

“I suppose I have.”

“Come take a look.”

Qiu Bai turned around to face Zhongli and the others as he spoke.

Hearing this, Zhongli, Paimon, and Lumine walked over.

“Look at these footprints.”

“Judging by the number, there are about a dozen people. And at the very front of these footprints, there’s a child’s footprint.”

Qiu Bai explained to the group before him.

“A child’s footprint?”

“How could a child lead these adults and disappear for six days?”

Zhongli stroked his chin, murmuring as he looked at the footprints on the ground.

“Is it possible they were called away by the child to help with something?”

“Otherwise, how could twelve adults leave without even changing their clothes?”

Paimon gestured with her hands as she spoke to Qiu Bai and Zhongli.

“Hmm… that possibility can’t be ruled out.”

“But what kind of help would make twelve adults willing to go on strike for days just to assist a child?”

Zhongli looked at Paimon, crossing his arms calmly as he spoke.

“Ugh…”

“I really don’t know.”

Paimon had just begun to form an idea, but Zhongli’s reasoning stumped her.

“Let’s go check on Kun Jun.”

“He might have found some clues.”

Qiu Bai smiled at the group.

“Yeah, let’s go find Little Kun.”

Paimon nodded, and then the three of them headed toward Kun Jun’s direction.

Kun Jun was staring at a piece of Cor Lapis, one hand supporting his chin as if deep in thought.

Seeing this, Qiu Bai and the others approached.

“Little Kun, what are you looking at?”

Paimon asked curiously, looking at Kun Jun’s back.

“Oh, it’s you. Perfect timing.”

Kun Jun turned around, smiling at the group.

“Found anything?”

Qiu Bai waved at Kun Jun as he spoke.

“There’s an ore here.”

“I think we might be able to gather some clues from it.”

Kun Jun explained to Qiu Bai.

“Ore?”

“Does this kind of ore have anything to do with the disappearance case?”

Paimon floated beside Lumine, her curiosity piqued.

“Well, we’ll know if we try.”

“Just a moment.”

After saying this, Kun Jun turned back to the Cor Lapis, crouched down, and placed a hand on it.

The Cor Lapis emitted a faint glow, and Kun Jun slowly closed his eyes.

“Hmm…”

Zhongli rested a hand on his chin, seemingly deep in thought as he watched Kun Jun intently caressing the stone.

“Azhdaha’s ability…”

“It’s truly remarkable—being able to extract memories from stone.”

Qiu Bai also stroked his chin, quietly observing Kun Jun.

“He seems very focused. What is he doing?”

Paimon looked at the people beside her and asked in confusion.

“I saw them… twelve adults…”

“Following a figure that looked like a little girl, they walked out of the mining area.”

Kun Jun straightened his back and stood up, placing one hand on his chin as he murmured.

“This matches the clue Qiu Bai found.”

“But there’s one thing I find strange—why would there be a little girl in the mining area?”

Paimon waved her hands in puzzlement.

“I’m not sure either…”

Kun Jun turned around and looked at the group, speaking slowly.

“And what do you mean by ‘saw’?”

Paimon stared at Kun Jun in surprise.

“Ah, just as the words imply.”

“Don’t tell anyone after hearing this! I thought it was rather strange and never dared to mention it to others.”

Kun Jun looked at the group with a somewhat odd expression.

“Actually, I can see the memories of ores.”

Kun Jun placed a hand over his chest and spoke slowly.

“Huh~?!”

Paimon pressed her small fists against her chin in disbelief.

“Not speculation, not estimation, but actually seeing?”

Zhongli crossed his arms and looked at Kun Jun, speaking slowly.

“Like just now.”

“All you need to do is place your hand on the stone?”

Paimon still seemed incredulous, but what Kun Jun had seen matched exactly what they had just speculated.

“Yes, for me, ores also have memories.”

“They occasionally record events happening around them. As long as I touch them and perceive with my heart, I can see those memories.”

Kun Jun looked at the somewhat puzzled group and explained slowly.

“That’s amazing!”

“Doesn’t that mean you know everything?”

Paimon widened her eyes and stared at Kun Jun in astonishment.

“Brother Kun, does it work with any stone?”

“Or… do you need specific stones to see memories?”

Qiu Bai looked at Kun Jun and asked slowly.

“No, it depends on the specific stone. Different ores have varying memory capacities.”

“Common ores like iron ore and white iron ore are mostly useless—their memories are very blurry.”

Kun Jun looked at everyone and explained.

“Cor Lapis and crystals have stronger memory abilities.”

“They can record more scenes and with greater clarity.”

Kun Jun paused before continuing.

“Doesn’t this indirectly imply…”

“That Zhongli has an exceptionally strong memory.”

Qiu Bai thought to himself with some amusement.

“Using stones as eyes… fascinating.”

“This ability is truly rare. Old Dai made a wise decision by inviting Brother Kun.”

Zhongli crossed his arms, looked at Kun Jun, and spoke slowly.

“Haha, I’m glad to be of help.”

“From what I saw, they should have gone along this path ahead.”

Kun Jun turned around and looked at a stone path leading north.

“Yes, Qiu Bai and I speculated about that earlier.”

“They did indeed go in that direction. Let’s tell Old Dai about the clues we found.”

Paimon nodded and said with a smile.

Then the group headed toward Old Dai.

“You’re back! How did the investigation go?”

Old Dai looked at the group and quickly asked.

“We found three clues.”

“First, twelve mining picks are missing, but none of the daily necessities were taken. This suggests the workers didn’t leave voluntarily—they were taken away.”

Zhongli looked at Old Dai and slowly began to speak.

“Taken away?! But… who would abduct workers?”

Old Dai asked, somewhat puzzled.