"We'll think about it."
"Please rest assured."
Orion smiled, hoping the other person could find confidence in themselves.
"Yes, yes!"
"We're very strong."
"Trust us."
Hu Tao chimed in. After all, this was their job.
If they couldn't even enter, how could they begin?
Naturally, they wanted to convince the other party.
"You two…"
"Are you sure you want to go inside?"
Mo Ning couldn't get past them.
She asked one last time.
"Of course!"
"We've decided to go!"
The two nodded firmly.
This time, they were determined.
Mo Ning finally relented and sighed.
"Alas… Fine."
"I'll let you go."
"But it's getting late."
"You've been in the car for so long—you must be tired."
"I hope you'll rest here for the night."
"Tomorrow morning, I'll introduce you to an adventurer."
"She'll guide you into the Chasm."
Mo Ning's tone softened with her final request.
Orion and Hu Tao looked up—the sky had already turned to dusk.
Orion still had things to sort out, so he agreed.
The workers, protected by the Millelith, returned to the camp.
Dozens of Millelith soldiers stood in formation,
quietly awaiting Mo Ning's orders.
She pulled out a thick roster and flipped through it.
The roll call began.
Mo Ning called out a name,
and the Millelith below responded in turn.
"Oops~"
"Listen to that lively rhythm."
"It reminds me of the Millelith in Liyue Harbor."
"So full of life."
Hu Tao was cooking nearby.
The sound of order and discipline brought her mind back to Liyue.
"Yes~"
"It feels like I'm back in Liyue Harbor."
Orion watched the Millelith.
He too thought of Liyue.
It had only been a few days since they left,
but he hadn't felt the joy of traveling,
nor the thrill of discovering something new.
This place…
It wasn't like the journey from Mondstadt to Liyue when he first started the game.
Back then, there was surprise and anticipation.
The shift from Western fantasy to the ancient city of China had been exhilarating.
Now, it felt more like exploring Inazuma—
reaching the final island,
seeing the same view as the crane's perch.
Except this time, there was no awe.
Only a quiet, unspeakable weight.
A desolation that hung over the city.
"Lin Wu!"
"Lin Wu!"
Suddenly, their good mood was shattered by Mo Ning's voice.
She kept calling out a name—
but no one answered.
Everyone looked around,
then lowered their heads.
There was something unspoken in the air.
"Alas~ Another one…"
Mo Ning sighed.
She took out her brush and circled the name that hadn't responded.
Hundreds of names filled the roster.
Half were already marked.
She called them every time they assembled—
a ritual of concern for her comrades' safety.
But she'd faced this too many times.
Even in the past few days,
there had been a dozen such cases.
It never got easier.
"Mr. Mo!"
"Mr. Mo!"
A miner stumbled forward,
holding a broken spearhead.
He was covered in wounds—
clearly escaped from danger.
He handed the spearhead to Mo Ning.
"The one you called—Lin Wu…"
"It might've been him."
"I'm so sorry."
"I… I killed him."
Tears welled in the miner's eyes.
While mining today,
they encountered a strange group of hilichurls.
They thought they could avoid trouble—
just leave quietly.
But the hilichurls suddenly attacked.
Lin Wu stayed behind to protect them.
He held the line alone.
When they returned with help,
only his spearhead remained.
Silence fell.
Mo Ning didn't scold.
She could only sigh.
"Alas…"
"It's okay. You're safe."
"That's what matters."
She repeated the words—
not just to comfort the miner,
but to comfort herself.
After all, this was the age of reclamation.
Thousands of years had passed,
and they were still fighting in this place.
Death and injury are inevitable.
And now, another soul has joined the fallen.
Orion spoke gently:
"Lin Wu will be buried with honor."
He comforted the miner,
urging him not to blame himself.
After all, the fault wasn't his.
"Alas…"
"They were such a brave bunch."
Orion and Hu Tao both bowed their heads in respect.
They mourned the fallen Millelith.
Orion placed his right hand over his heart,
a silent gesture of tribute.
Hu Tao formed the Seal of Rebirth,
a sacred sign to guide the soul onward.
Her usual playful demeanor was gone.
In its place was solemnity.
Hu Tao often grinned at the living—
but she held deep reverence for the dead.
The situation here…
It was far worse than they'd imagined.
Even Hu Tao had to set aside her usual mischief.
"It seems~"
"This mission is more troublesome than expected."
This wasn't just a routine exorcism.
Even the outer edges of the Chasm were dangerous—
who knew what awaited deeper inside?
"Do you want to back out?"
Orion asked.
There was no shame in retreating.
Sometimes, survival was the wiser path.
Hu Tao shook her head.
"Forget it!"
"This is about the reputation of the Funeral Parlor."
"We take payment to resolve disasters—so we resolve them."
"We came here for a reason."
"Of course we'll see it through."
She smiled,
firm in her resolve.
Business was rare these days.
And when it came—
you followed through.
"Alas… You're impossible."
Orion sighed.
But he understood.
They'd made their choice.
All that remained was to support each other.
"Just be careful."
Hu Tao's voice softened.
"Otherwise, something might happen."
She worried for Orion.
After all, he didn't have a Vision.
That made him vulnerable.
The loss of Lin Wu was a fresh reminder.
She wished Orion would reconsider.
"Don't worry!"
Orion grinned.
"I've got a secret weapon too."
"I won't be a burden."
He gestured to the large pack he carried.
Inside—his weapon, his preparation.
He was ready.
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End of chapter....