Mr. Zhongli, we can't slack off anymore!

"Vice Hall Master, it's morning, time to wake up." A gentle, soothing female voice, like a spring breeze, softly brushed past the traveler's ears, piercing through the thick barrier of sleepiness.

Upon hearing the sound, the traveler reluctantly furrowed his brow, struggling between sleep and wakefulness.

Unconsciously, she buried her face deeper into that warm and soft "pillow," or more precisely, Jin Moli's breasts.

In a hazy, half-awake state, I vaguely poured out the most genuine weariness and resentment in my heart: "I don't want to live anymore... I really don't want to live anymore... I don't want to go to work... Why do I have to go to work..."

"Don't you want to live anymore?" Jin Moli seemed to be stunned for a moment by this sudden, heavy-hearted rambling, but when she heard the following "Don't want to go to work," she immediately realized that this was just an exaggerated expression of her morning grumpiness, and couldn't help but chuckle softly.

She adjusted her position where the traveler was pressing down on her, her voice carrying a coaxing gentleness, and followed the traveler's words, saying, "Since that's the case... then why don't we put down all this trouble and come back to Liyue with me? We won't have to suffer like this back home."

"Liyue..." This name was like a key spell, triggering a switch deep within the traveler's dream.

In her hazy sleep, the outline of that familiar face, which stirred her complex emotions, became clear, and her golden-amber eyes appeared.

The traveler shuddered almost instinctively, jerking free from Jin Moli's embrace, fully waking up. His eyes widened, and he blurted out, "I won't go back! I'll never go back to Liyue again!"

His tone was resolute, as if he were arguing with someone, or as if he were making a vow to himself.

*

A simple breakfast was quickly prepared in the cool morning breeze. Sino spread out a parchment map of the area, which he had drawn overnight, on a flat stone that served as a makeshift table: "These areas, outlined with dotted lines, are inferred from historical records, recent energy fluctuations, and the distribution of 'false sites,' indicating the most likely locations for unregistered settlements. Our task today is to investigate and search these areas one by one."

Although Sino did divide the vast desert into several blocks on the map with clear lines and numbered and annotated each area, for a traveler facing a landscape of endless sand dunes with almost no significant landmarks, it was difficult to even pinpoint her exact location on the map, let alone accurately head to those circled, abstract target areas.

“These two places.” Sino pointed precisely to two areas marked with striking red circles on the map: “These are the core areas where the target is most likely to be hiding or active, based on the analysis of existing intelligence. We’ll split up to increase efficiency. You go investigate these areas.”

His fingertip moved to a red circle in the northeast direction: "And I'm in charge of investigating this area in the exact opposite direction from yours." He pointed to another red circle in the southwest, his tone leaving no room for argument.

“Don’t worry.” Seemingly noticing the hesitation on the traveler’s face, Seno added, his tone unusually reassuring: “Once I’ve completed my initial survey of the area I’m responsible for, I will immediately head to your area to meet you.”

“What I’m worried about… isn’t actually that.” The traveler rubbed her temples, feeling the need to clarify some of her “common sense deficiencies” in certain areas. She carefully chose her words: “I… to be honest, in the desert, I’m a little… lost.”

In fact, it's more than just "somewhat". In the desert where there are no clear reference points and the scenery is pretty much the same everywhere you look, even with the sun's position as a reference, trying to map an abstract circle on a two-dimensional map to which sand dune to go behind in reality is like deciphering a wordless book for her.

Moreover, there are obviously no convenient and quick teleportation anchor points in that area!

“It’s alright, I’ve already considered that.” Seno’s expression remained unchanged as he pointed in a direction outside the camp: “See that sand dune in the distance that looks like a reclining camel? That’s the natural landmark of ‘Camel Hump Rock.’ Just head in that direction and keep moving in a straight line. You don’t need to find the exact point on the map; my informant will meet you at a pre-arranged location in that area. Just keep walking, and he’ll find you.”

"Excuse me... what are the obvious characteristics of your informant?" the traveler asked in a low voice, leaning closer.

You can't just ask every person you meet, "Are you an informant?"

“He…” Upon hearing this, Seno actually pondered seriously for a while before slowly speaking, describing him in his usual meticulous tone, as if analyzing a case: “He is a very reliable person, and he does things steadily. In terms of personality… he is quite outgoing and good at dealing with people. And one more thing…” He paused, seemingly feeling that this point was also quite important: “His Seven Saints Summoning Card Skill… well, he still needs more training.”

"Excuse me... is this also part of a lame joke?" The traveler's lips twitched uncontrollably a few times. He wanted to laugh but felt that the occasion was inappropriate, and his expression became somewhat distorted for a moment.

I'm asking about physical characteristics! Appearance! Height, weight, whether there are scars on the face, what color clothes the person is wearing—these are the basic elements for identifying a person! Not personality assessments or hobbies! Sergeant!

“Hmm… In terms of appearance, there’s nothing particularly striking about him.” Seno shook his head, as if “ordinary appearance” was a characteristic in itself.

“His code name is ‘Amin.’ You can use the code name to make contact when you get close to the area where you might meet,” Sino added.

"..." The traveler took the slightly cool badge, held it in his palm, and remained silent for a moment.

She always felt that Sino's rhetoric, from "card skills need training" to "code name Amin," had a strong, unique dry humor characteristic of this senior disciplinary officer.

It even made her a little suspicious: Could this so-called "secret rendezvous in separate operations" be a carefully designed, huge joke that only Sino herself finds hilarious?

*

The operation began, and the so-called "splitting into two groups" meant that, for the traveler, the immediate feeling was that he was alone in the vast desert (not counting the "life assistant" whose identity was questionable).

She became the sole representative of the pursuit team sent in this direction.

As the day drew nearer into the morning, the sun climbed to its most powerful position, pouring down its light and heat without any obstruction.

The wide-brimmed hat worn by the traveler, originally intended as a sunshade, was now burning hot under the continuous scorching sun, with the bamboo material becoming slightly hot to the touch.

The sand beneath her feet had become a giant baking pan, and she could feel the scorching heat even through the thick soles of her boots. Her steps, which started lightly, gradually became heavy and dragging, and each time she lifted her foot, it felt like she was fighting against the sand's pull and the loss of her strength.

The sweat had long since dried up, and my throat was so dry it felt like it was on fire; every breath felt like it was burning.

“Vice Hall Master, your steps are unsteady, and your face is a little pale.” Jin Moli, who had been walking beside her the whole time but whose breathing remained steady, keenly noticed her abnormality: “These sand dunes are undulating, and it’s not easy to move forward. How about… I carry you for a while?”

“Okay…” The traveler was almost instinctively about to agree to the tempting offer, and the last syllable of the word “okay” almost slipped out of her throat, but she swallowed it back with great difficulty.

As the deputy head of the Hall of Rebirth, how could I so quickly show weakness and project such a frail image, as if I needed someone to carry me? Absolutely not!

"Ahem!" She immediately straightened her slightly hunched back, put her hands on her hips in a mock-serious manner, and tried to make her voice sound confident and far-sighted: "Actually, I have a plan! It's a strategy!"

Jin Moli watched her quietly, waiting for her "profound insights".

“We’ve walked for so long, we should be very close to the target area that Sino has designated, right? Maybe it’s just behind the next dune!” She tried to encourage herself and her companions (mainly herself).

Upon hearing this, Jin Moli silently took out the sheepskin map from her bag, carefully compared it with the current angle of the sun, and observed the horizon in the distance, which was almost unchanged. Then she raised her head, looked at the traveler, and slowly said, "In my opinion... based on the map scale and our actual speed of travel, we haven't gone very far. We are probably still quite a distance away from the core area of ​​the destination marked by Lord Seno."

"You...you're not allowed to undermine me!" The traveler choked for a moment, his face instantly flushing slightly with embarrassment at being exposed: "Ahem! Anyway! This distance is enough!"

After saying that, without waiting for Jin Moli to say anything more, she immediately squatted down and gently placed her hands on the scorching sand.

Close your eyes and calm your mind.

The rock elemental power within his body flowed like a newly awakened stream, slowly pouring from his palms into the sea of ​​sand beneath him.

Gravel itself is an extension of the earth and has a natural affinity with rock elements.

The golden light, like ripples spreading from a pebble thrown into water, spread silently yet swiftly in all directions from the traveler's center. The light was not dazzling; in fact, it was imperceptible to the naked eye unless one activated elemental vision. It blended into the gaps between the grains of sand, searching for the "temperature" and "fluctuations" that belonged to life.

The traveler focused her mind, directing her perception toward the area indicated by Seno. Ripples of elemental power swept across the desolate sand dunes, over the dry riverbed, and through the weathered rocks... Finally, in a certain direction, her "tentacles" returned a clear and unique "ripple".

That was not the life fluctuation of an ordinary animal, but a stronger, more concentrated one, carrying a certain regularity and a sense of power—it was the elemental resonance unique to the holder of the Eye of God!

"Found it!" The traveler suddenly opened his eyes, a hint of joy flashing in them: "Over there, there's a holder of the Eye of God! The energy reaction is very clear!"

Although she couldn't be 100% sure whether the other party was friend or foe, based on her consistent experience, people with the Eye of God... were probably not bad people.

……

Having regained their direction, the traveler's steps became lighter again, heading towards the elemental source they sensed. Soon... the traveler was begging Jin Moli to carry them on her back...

The traveler's newly mustered energy was quickly drained by the scorching air and soft sand.

Having a strong, fit, and hardworking female subordinate...that's great!

The traveler lay on Jin Moli's not-so-broad but exceptionally stable back, feeling the rhythmic and powerful rise and fall of her back muscles as she walked, as well as the reassuring body temperature and faint fragrance emanating from her clothes. The slight shame in his heart was instantly replaced by a sense of "pragmatic" satisfaction.

……

Thanks to Jin Moli's tireless efforts, after traveling for an unknown amount of time, a small black dot, unlike the blurry one, finally appeared on the distant horizon.

As the distance closed, the black dot gradually revealed the outline of a human figure.

"It's him!" The traveler was immediately excited, finally seeing the second living person besides Jin Moli!

Perhaps it's the "Amin" that Sino mentioned?

However, at that moment, a strange feeling descended upon them.

The sky, which was originally a dazzling blue, has been covered with a layer of murky yellow.

The light dimmed rapidly, as if dusk had arrived prematurely. The wind suddenly picked up, no longer the gentle breeze that stirred up the sand, but a low, mournful wail that whipped up more dust that stung our faces.

The traveler looked up and saw a huge, yellowish-brown "cloud wall" rapidly advancing from the northeastern horizon, blotting out the sun and threatening to swallow up the sea of ​​sand and everything in it.

"Get down! Find cover! It's a sandstorm! A big one is coming!" The figure in the distance, whose outline had just become clear, waved his arms frantically in their direction with all his might. His desperate shouts were torn apart by the increasingly loud wind, but the urgency in them was still evident.