Chapter 105: Bandit Stone [1]

Zhongli, Lumine, and Paimon went to investigate the area where the clothes were changed, while Qiu Bai walked off in a different direction alone.

After walking for a while, Qiu Bai came upon a patch of footprints scattered on the ground.

"These are..."

"Among the scattered footprints, there's even a small child's footprint."

Qiu Bai murmured to himself as he looked down at the ground, rubbing his chin.

He crouched down to carefully examine the direction the footprints led.

They trailed northward, if one kept heading in that direction they'd leave the mining area.

However, the footprints disappeared once they reached the stone steps. After all, unlike dirt, stone doesn't retain footprints.

"Qiu Bai, how's it going on your end?"

"Find anything?"

Paimon called out toward Qiu Bai location.

"You could say that."

"Come take a look."

Qiu Bai turned around and spoke to Zhongli and the others.

Hearing this, Zhongli, Paimon and Lumine walked over to join him.

"Look at these footprints."

"Judging from the number, there are about a dozen people and at the very front of them... there's a child's footprint."

Qiu Bai pointed out to the group.

"A child's footprint?"

"How could a child lead a group of adults and have them all go missing for six days?"

Zhongli rubbed his chin, murmuring as he observed the prints on the ground.

"Could it be that the child asked them for help?"

"Otherwise, why would twelve grown adults follow without even having time to change their clothes?"

Paimon waved 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 willingly stop working for days just to assist a child?"

Zhongli responded calmly, arms folded across his chest as he pondered the scenario.

"Uhh..."

"Yeah... That part I really don't know."

Just as Paimon was starting to get somewhere with her theory, Zhongli logic shut her down.

"Let's go check in with Kun Jun."

"Maybe he's found some clues."

Qiu Bai smiled at the group and suggested.

"Yeah, let's go find Little Kun."

Paimon nodded, and the three of them headed off in Kun Jun direction.

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

Seeing this, the three approached quietly.

"Little Kun, what are you looking at?"

Paimon asked curiously as she looked at Kun Jun back.

"Oh, it's you guys. You've come at the perfect time."

Kun Jun turned around and smiled at the group in front of him.

"Did you find anything?"

Qiu Bai waved his hand as he asked.

"There's a piece of ore here."

"I think... it might give us some clues."

Kun Jun explained, looking at Qiu Bai.

"Ore?"

"What does this kind of ore have to do with the missing persons case?"

Paimon asked curiously while floating beside Lumine.

"We'll only know if we try."

"Give me a moment."

Kun Jun turned back around, crouched down, and gently placed a hand on the Cor Lapis.

The Cor Lapis glowed faintly, and Kun Jun slowly closed his eyes.

"Hmm..."

Zhongli rested a hand on his chin, appearing to be deep in thought as he watched Kun Jun focus on the stone.

"Rex Lapis' ability..."

"It really is something else to extract memories from stone."

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

"He seems really focused. What's he doing exactly?"

Paimon asked the group in confusion.

"I saw it... twelve adults..."

"Following the figure of what looked like a little girl, walking out of the mining area."

Kun Jun stood up, stretching his back and murmuring while rubbing his chin.

"That matches the clue Qiu Bai found."

"But what I find strange is, 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 to face them, speaking slowly.

"Also, what do you mean by 'saw'?"

Paimon asked, surprised.

"Ah, I mean it quite literally."

"But don't tell anyone, okay? I've always thought this was a little weird, so I never dared to talk about it."

Kun Jun looked at them with a slightly awkward expression.

"Actually, I can see the memories of ore."

He placed a hand over his chest and spoke slowly.

"Eh~?!"

Paimon pressed her tiny fists to her chin in shock, speaking in disbelief.

"Not speculation, not estimation—but you actually saw it?" 

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

"Just like earlier." 

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

Paimon still found it hard to believe, but what Kun Jun had seen perfectly matched their previous deduction. 

"Yes. To me, ores have memories." 

"Sometimes, they record the events that happen around them. As long as I touch them and focus my senses, I can see those memories." 

Kun Jun slowly explained to the puzzled group. 

"That's amazing!" 

"Then doesn't that mean you basically know everything?" 

Paimon stared wide-eyed at Kun Jun in awe. 

"Brother Kun, does it work with any kind of stone?" 

"Or do you need specific types to see the memories?" 

Qiu Bai asked slowly, looking at Kun Jun. 

"No, it depends on the specific stone. Different ores have varying capacities for memory." 

"Common ores like Iron or White Iron aren't very useful, they retain memories very poorly." 

Kun Jun explained as he looked at everyone. 

"Cor Lapis and crystals have much stronger memory retention." 

"They record more scenes, and with better clarity." 

Kun Jun added after a pause. 

"Doesn't this also indirectly prove..." 

"That Zhongli has an insanely good memory?" 

Qiu Bai thought to himself with amusement. 

"To use stone as eyes... how interesting." 

"This ability is truly rare. It was wise of Old Dai to bring you in, Brother Kun." 

Zhongli said slowly, arms still crossed, as he looked at Kun Jun. 

"Haha, I'm just glad I can help." 

"From what I saw, they most likely went along that path." 

Kun Jun turned and looked toward a stone-paved road leading north. 

"Yeah, Qiu Bai and we had already speculated that." 

"They definitely went that way. Let's report everything we found to Old Dai." 

Paimon nodded and smiled. 

The group then walked in the direction of Old Dai. 

"You're back. How did the investigation go?" 

Old Dai quickly asked as he saw them return. 

"We found three clues." 

"First, twelve pickaxes are missing, but not a single personal item was taken. That suggests the workers didn't leave of their own volition—they were taken." 

Zhongli calmly explained to Old Dai. 

"Taken?! But... who would kidnap a bunch of workers?" 

Old Dai asked in confusion.

(T/N: Like the story fellow daoist? Read 20 chapters ahead on my P@treon [p@treon.com/DaoistRongyi] Thanks for your support! 😊)