Chapter 109 – Kun Jun's Gift

Zhongli observed Kun Jun in this state, stroking his chin as if deep in thought.

“While this is intriguing, do not forget to remain vigilant.”

“Twelve grown adults, faces dull and expressionless, following a child day and night, traversing mountains and valleys… This matter is far from simple.”

After a long pause, Zhongli crossed his arms and calmly reminded them.

“Oh, right! That’s true.”

“Mr. Zhongli is truly cautious.”

Kun Jun looked at Zhongli and quickly nodded in agreement.

“Additionally, that scholar earlier was attacked by a young Geovishap.”

“But such monsters shouldn’t possess such aggressive tendencies.”

Zhongli paused, speaking with a hint of peculiarity.

“Many clues along the way seem to be connected in some unseen manner…”

“The workers headed toward Nantianmen the day before yesterday. From here, the path passes through a treacherous mountain trail.”

After speaking, Zhongli turned his gaze to Qiu Bai beside him.

“Tsk, even you have grown lazy.”

“Alright, everyone hold onto me. Nantianmen, right?”

Qiu Bai had been idly observing the situation, never expecting to be drawn into it himself. He looked at Zhongli with a hint of exasperation.

“Heh, why use a slow method when there’s a quicker way available?”

Zhongli crossed his arms, smiling as he observed Qiu Bai’s reaction.

“I left markers nearby earlier.”

“If Old Dai catches up, he can follow the signs to find us.”

Then Zhongli slowly turned to face Kun Jun and the others, explaining further.

“As expected of Zhongli!”

“Then let’s set off!”

Paimon clapped her hands and turned her gaze toward Qiu Bai.

“Heh, alright, hold onto me.”

“I’ll take you there now.”

Qiu Bai smiled faintly and addressed the group.

Once everyone had grasped the hem of Qiu Bai’s clothing, the world seemed to spin around them, and in an instant, they arrived at Nantianmen.

Upon landing, the group immediately scanned their surroundings, searching for anything unusual.

“Hey, hey, look at the ground.”

“Is this the person we’re looking for?”

Paimon flew around briefly before focusing her attention on a person lying on the ground.

The group hurried over.

“There’s a basket fallen beside him… He is indeed a miner.”

Kun Jun stepped forward to examine the man and reported to the others behind him.

“Hey, hey, can you hear me?”

Paimon tried to wake the miner, but it had no effect.

“Judging by his condition.”

“He likely collapsed here from sheer exhaustion.”

Zhongli’s gaze fell upon the miner on the ground as he spoke slowly.

“Should we wake him?”

Paimon looked at Qiu Bai and Zhongli and asked.

“I can still… still dig…”

The miner on the ground seemed to struggle to rise.

But utterly exhausted, how could he possibly stand?

“Huh? He’s mumbling something…”

Paimon looked at the miner on the ground, somewhat puzzled.

“Such persistence is truly abnormal.”

“There’s a campsite nearby. Let’s take him there to settle him first, then decide what to do.”

Zhongli observed the miner on the ground and spoke calmly.

Subsequently, the group helped the miner into a nearby campsite.

“So, how is he? He’s not dead, is he?”

Paimon looked at the miner on the ground, speaking with a hint of fear.

“He is merely overworked and has fallen into a coma.”

“Fortunately, his life is not in danger.”

Zhongli looked at the group and spoke slowly.

“No, it’s not just exhaustion.”

“There’s something else controlling his consciousness.”

Qiu Bai walked over to the miner, crouched down, and said with surprise.

“I just heard him muttering about digging something up.”

“Could he have been forcibly controlled to be used as labor?”

Paimon waved her hand in confusion, looking at Qiu Bai.

“I don’t know, but the urgent matter now is to sever the connection controlling the miner.”

Qiu Bai frowned slightly, white Divine Power glowing in his hand as he slowly reached toward the miner’s forehead.

Qiu Bai closed his eyes for a moment. After a while, the murmuring miner stopped and lay on the ground, falling asleep.

“That should do it.”

Qiu Bai slowly stood up, addressing the group.

“Hehe, as expected of Qiu Bai.”

“That miner should be fine now, right?”

She had witnessed the power of this white light on the Jade Chamber last time—it could even resurrect fallen Millelith soldiers and heal Lumine’s wounds.

“Everyone, I’ve seen the memories in the ore fragments from his pocket.”

“These fragments were brought out by this person from the mining area, confirming he is indeed one of the twelve miners we’re looking for.”

Kun Jun also slowly stood up, speaking to Qiu Bai and the others.

“Then it’s even more interesting that he collapsed here.”

“Unless something happened that forced them to abandon him.”

Zhongli stroked his chin, speaking thoughtfully.

“Ah, right! Seeing these fragments reminded me.”

“I also have something to give you all.”

Kun Jun looked at the group with a smile.

“What, what? A gift?”

Paimon immediately leaned in upon hearing about a gift.

“Give to us? Why?”

Zhongli turned to look at Kun Jun, somewhat puzzled.

“To be honest, before meeting up with Old Dai, I was often confused.”

“Investigating this case with you all has made my thoughts much clearer.”

Kun Jun stroked his chin as if recalling something.

“I’ve been secretly grateful that Old Dai also enlisted your help.”

“Without you, I alone probably wouldn’t have been able to uncover so many clues.”

Kun Jun looked at the group, speaking slowly.

“These are crystals I picked up at the market. Don’t think they’re just ordinary crystals—they’re of exceptionally rare quality! One for each of you, as a keepsake.”

As he spoke, Kun Jun took out four crystals from his pocket. Their surfaces were incredibly smooth, gleaming under the sunlight, with colors that shifted constantly.

“Such beautiful crystals, and the colors change too!”

“Looking from this angle, then that angle… each view feels different.”

Paimon leaned in, staring at the crystal in amazement.

“They look very valuable…”

“Are you sure you can give this to me?”

Lumine looked at Kun Jun, one hand over her chest, and asked.

“Don’t be polite, take it.”

Kun Jun looked at Lumine with a smile.

“This one is for Mr. Qiu Bai.”

Kun Jun held the crystal, looking at Qiu Bai with a smile.

“Hehe, thank you, Brother Kun.”

“I’ll definitely take good care of this.”

Qiu Bai looked at Kun Jun with a light laugh, then took the crystal and began toying with it in his hand.

“This one is for Mr. Zhongli.”

Kun Jun looked at Qiu Bai, who had accepted the gift, and nodded with a smile before turning his gaze to Zhongli.

“Hmm…”

Zhongli stared at the crystal in Kun Jun’s hand and remained silent for a moment.

“Huh? Wh-what’s wrong? Don’t you like it?”

Kun Jun gave Zhongli a puzzled look, thinking he might not like the crystal.