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Two paths lay before Futsu Mitama.
Either he and his group entered the abandoned mine—or they waited for the Millelith to investigate.
He weighed the options in silence, hand resting against his chin. Then he turned toward Xiangling.
"Xiangling, how about this," he said. "You and Guoba report what we found to the Millelith. We'll head inside first and take a look."
Among their current group, Xiangling and Guoba were the ones least suited for sustained combat.
Xiangling possessed solid spear technique, and her mastery over Pyro was nothing to scoff at. Guoba could also unleash flames powerful enough to scorch monsters twice his size.
Even so, together they could only hold their ground against one or two Geovishaps. Anything more, and retreat would be their only option. After all, Xiangling was a chef before she was a warrior, and Guoba… well, Guoba was Guoba.
Kuki Shinobu could fight, but she was not fond of violence. Were it not for how often people ignored a gentle explanation, she would rather resolve every conflict through discussion. But since few listened, she often had to subdue first and reason later.
Aila, on the other hand, was a natural-born fighter. With only the Perfect and Elegant Maid's Handbook, she had raised her strength to a level on par with Kujou Sara. Under Shinobu and Beidou's guidance—and spurred on by Scaramouche and the Fatui girl—her growth had only accelerated.
And as for Futsu Mitama…
He crossed blades with the Raiden Shogun every night, mastering a fighting style that was unmistakably shaped by Raiden Ei's teachings. Combined with his borrowed strand of Electro Archon Authority, he was nearly a miniature Archon in his own right—one of the few true powerhouses walking Teyvat.
Sending Xiangling and Guoba away was, in truth, a quiet act of protection.
"Alright!" Xiangling replied brightly. "I'll report everything to the Millelith. All of you, be careful in there. I'll be back quickly!"
"Guoba, come on!"
She dashed off, short legs tapping briskly against the ground.
"Rulululu—?"
Guoba lingered. He stared into the darkness of the mine as if something within tugged at a hidden memory.
"What's wrong?" Xiangling blinked at him, confused.
"Lu!"
Guoba raised his arm as if trying to communicate something. But after a moment, he scratched his head, expression clouded—whatever he'd sensed had slipped again. Finally he jogged back to Xiangling's side.
Such behavior didn't surprise her. Guoba often reacted strangely to certain people or places. When Zhongli once came to dine at Wanmin Restaurant, Guoba had hopped up to him and babbled in an indecipherable flurry. Zhongli had listened with gentle patience, smiling all the while.
He behaved similarly whenever he met the Grandmaster.
But now wasn't the time to puzzle over Guoba's quirks. Reporting to the Millelith took priority.
Soon, the pair disappeared from sight.
Futsu Mitama watched Guoba's retreating figure, thoughtful.
"What is it?" Shinobu asked. She had seen the shift in his expression. "Did you send Xiangling away because you realized something?"
"…Yes."
Futsu Mitama's gaze settled on the entrance of the mine.
"I'm almost certain there's a Primo Geovishap inside."
Guoba—Marchosius, the God of the Hearth.
He had spent all of his divine strength mending the fractured land of Liyue after the Archon War. In doing so, he had lost nearly all sentience, shrinking to a size smaller than most children. But even diminished, a god was still a god. Instinctively, he remained sensitive to danger.
The sound he made earlier—"Lu," not "Rulululu"—
That might had been a warning.
He'd forgotten the reason mid-thought, which was natural for someone whose consciousness had nearly faded away.
"Young Master, shall we go in?" Aila asked.
Primo Geovishaps were valuable. Their blood could form Bloodjade Branches, and their lairs often hid rare ores—materials worth a small fortune.
Aila's eyes sparkled. Just one word from him, and she was ready to charge inside.
"Go."
Futsu Mitama nodded. Then, more seriously:
"But we're not here to slay the Primo Geovishap. Our goal is the rare ore."
Guiyan Assembly was helping them gather forging materials—but at prices that made Futsu Mitama feel faint.
And mora… was running low.
After purchasing their house, their ten million mora had dwindled to eight million. A fortune for ordinary people, perhaps—but not for forging, maintaining equipment, and traveling across nations.
He had recently obtained a rare defensive material from Liben. Naturally, he wanted to forge armor for Aila.
And he himself lacked a suitable weapon. Against the Geovishap Hatchlings earlier, a proper blade could have ended the fight in one strike. But elemental constructs faded quickly; their sharpness dimmed the moment the Electro was consumed.
The stronger he grew, the more glaring the absence of a true weapon became.
"The mine comes first," he concluded.
"Understood."
"Understood."
Shinobu and Aila nodded. The three entered the abandoned mine, leaving behind a note for Xiangling and the Millelith.
Far in the distance, several Fatui watched through their binoculars.
"Are they mining?"
Their expressions twisted in disbelief. They had followed the group for some time—always from afar. After witnessing Futsu Mitama's strength, they knew better than to approach.
To them, he was as dangerous as a Harbinger. Perhaps even more so.
And yet…he was mining? In a remote, depleted site?
Nothing about his actions made sense.
"If he wanted ore, wouldn't he go to The Chasm?" one muttered.
"Someone like him shouldn't need to mine at all."
But one woman frowned.
"Don't underestimate him. Anyone who can defeat two Harbingers has deeper motives. We may think he's sightseeing and collecting ore, but he may have uncovered something important."
The Debt Collector clicked his tongue, impatient. "Enough guessing. Send word to Lord Childe. Let him decide."
The others nodded immediately.
Before the Millelith arrived, one Fatui operative sprinted toward Liyue Harbor, carrying the report.
Unaware of all this, Futsu Mitama's group had just encountered the first wave of Geovishap Hatchlings.
The creatures lunged from the walls of the cavern—but Aila and Shinobu made quick work of them.
"Strange," Shinobu murmured. "Where are the Geovishaps? I saw seven or eight enter earlier. The fighting should've drawn them out."
They exchanged glances.
The deeper they ventured, the more unusual things became.
Futsu Mitama summoned Musou Isshin, the blade forming cleanly within his grasp. Chakra Desiderata floated behind him, its soft violet glow casting shifting shadows over the stone walls.
They progressed deeper.
More Geovishap Hatchlings—Still no adult Geovishap.
But the minerals grew richer by the step: noctilucous jade, silver ore, crystal ore, and several rare materials even Futsu Mitama didn't recognize. They gathered everything and sent the ores through red envelopes to Sangonomiya Kokomi.
Only Kokomi—everyone else in the group was occupied. Zhongli was dining with Tartaglia. Ayaka was working. Albedo was not yet in Liyue. Miko was buried under shrine affairs. Makoto and Azhdaha couldn't exactly move freely.
[Kokomi: "S-so much?! An abandoned mine shouldn't have resources like this!"]
[Ayaka: "The red envelope function is remarkably convenient… If we raise the Group level again, I wonder what new features we'll unlock."]
[Aila: "It's far easier than using Group files. Before, Young Master and I had to upload everything manually."]
[Yae Miko: "Ores are boring. Little one, bring me Liyue-style fried tofu tonight. @Futsu Mitama"]
[Zhongli: "It seems the Group Leader has gained quite a harvest today."]
[Shinobu: "Mr. Zhongli, why does an abandoned mine contain so many high-quality ores?"]
[Kokomi: "Liyue is rich in minerals, but this seems excessive even by Liyue standards…"]
[Zhongli: "Geovishaps and their hatchlings are Geo-elemental lifeforms. Their dens naturally foster rich mineral growth."]
[Zhongli: "But this amount… is unusual. The Group Leader's luck must be exceptional today."]
[Azhdaha: "Start a live stream! Hahaha! I bet he's close to meeting that little Vishap. It's been ages—I miss the little one!"]
[Makoto: "Azhdaha calls it 'little,' but for humans, that's not small at all. Be cautious, @Futsu Mitama."]
Futsu Mitama exhaled slowly.
Azhdaha really did insist on livestreams. And then—
A low, resonant growl echoed from the depths of the mine.
A sound unmistakably belonging to a dragon-like creature.
A Primo Geovishap.