He changed Tiwat

Fortunately, Qi Ding seemed to have regained consciousness.

Qi Ding slowly sat up, turning his neck to look around. His face still held a slightly bewildered expression, but at least he no longer gave off that strange and eerie feeling.

Han Fulai reached out and pulled Qi Ding, "Qi Ding, how are you feeling now?"

"How could I have slept in a place like this... Thank you..."

Qi Ding grasped Han Fulai's hand and stood up, though a look of confusion still lingered on his face.

"Excuse me... how do you know my name?"

Han Fulai's hand froze.

Don't you remember me?

Qi Ding hesitated and shook his head.

Han Fulai stared into Qi Ding's eyes, which were filled with confusion that didn't seem feigned. Could it be that being affected by the power beneath the Abyss of Layered Rocks would leave some aftereffects, such as amnesia?

"I am Han Fulai, a civil servant representing the 'Shenglu Hall' to investigate the Layered Rock Abyss. I am also the person entrusted by Jinwu to rescue you." Han Fulai briefly introduced himself. "Do you remember why you are here?"

"Sister Jinwu... a rescue? This is at the bottom of the giant abyss of layered rocks..."

Qi Ding's round face scrunched up as if he was trying to recall his experiences over the past few days—then he suddenly shuddered.

"Ah, I'm here to find something! I lost something here, and I... I must find it!"

"What are you looking for? Gunpowder?" Han Fulai squinted.

"No, no, it's a toy doll, about the size of my palm..."

As Qi Ding spoke, he raised his hand and began to gesture the shape of the doll.

"A grown man like him, still needs toy dolls?" Han Fulai was taken aback.

Not to mention Han Fulai, even Zhiqiong and Jiang Xue, who were not far behind him, looked at each other with strange expressions after hearing this.

Even if it's just an act of feigning amnesia, Qi Ding's excuse is far too lame.

"Why would you... bring a toy doll down into the mine?" Han Fulai continued to ask.

"Because...because I'm afraid I'll lose the doll..." Qi Ding's voice was quite urgent, as if he had lost not a toy, but a bankbook.

"You have no idea how hard it is to buy that doll. The price is outrageously high, and I'm always in the mine when the Feiyun Chamber of Commerce releases a new batch, so I can't buy any even if I want to. But last time my daughter saw another child holding one, she couldn't take her eyes off it..."

He kept rambling on, "Sigh, my daughter knows the family's situation isn't good, but she never says what she wants. But how could a father not know what his child wants? I just asked someone I know to buy one from the Feiyun Chamber of Commerce and sent it to the mine, where she kept it close to her body... but she still lost it."

What was he saying? Han Fulai frowned. Even if he was lying, this lie was rather clumsy... His statement made it sound as if he had been working underground in the mine just a few days ago, but the Layered Rock Abyss was only unsealed yesterday! Could it be that he hadn't lost his memories of the last few days, but... his memories of the last few years? Qi Ding's memories were stuck before the Layered Rock Abyss was sealed off?

Qi Ding, still unaware of his surroundings, continued with a face full of self-reproach: "Sigh... We miners don't earn much to begin with, and most of it goes to supplement our family income. We don't save much, and this doll cost us most of it... I... I'm not worried about the money; money can be earned again, but... I wrote to my daughter last time saying that Daddy had bought the toy you wanted... How can I face her now..."

He remembered that he had a daughter, and this toy doll was bought for her... Han Fulai stroked his chin.

Qi Ding's daughter, Qi Nan, passed the civil service exam and is now working in the General Affairs Department. She's clearly past the age of pestering her father for toy dolls... So, the Qi Nan that Qi Ding remembers now is still from when she was a child? Has he really lost his memory for a long time?

"...Even if I go back empty-handed, she definitely won't say anything...She never asks me for anything..."

As Qi Ding spoke, he seemed to recall his daughter's appearance, and his eyes welled up with tears.

Han Fulai patted Qi Ding's shoulder reassuringly, "I know you're anxious, but don't rush. Let's get back to the surface and talk about it..."

"No! I won't! I won't go back! I will never go back if I can't find the baby!" Qi Ding said stubbornly, seemingly arguing with someone.

“But the Abyss of Layered Rocks is so big, it’s hard to find things. How about we call more people down to help us look for them…” Han Fulai felt like he was coaxing a child.

"No way! She didn't even glance at the doll I just bought! Waaah... Just thinking about Nan Nan's disappointed eyes, how could I, how could I!"

Qi Ding actually burst into tears.

"Hey, really? Crying like that?" Han Fulai's lips twitched. He could sense that Qi Ding's mental state was unstable and his emotions were very agitated, much like the "sensitive and irritable" state that Lao He described in his diary. But seeing a man in his forties crying and making a fuss like a child, Han Fulai just found it absurd.

To be honest, he had no intention of helping Qi Ding find any dolls. Putting aside the fact that Qi Ding had taken gunpowder and gone down to the Deep Rock Abyss on his own, Jin Wu's deadline was already set, and they had to get back as soon as possible. This search and rescue team would be considered to have accomplished its mission by bringing the person back. Where would they have time to look for any dolls?

Moreover, no one knows when or where the toy doll Qi Ding mentioned was lost. Even if Han Fulai is willing to help find it, where would they even begin to look?

However, Qi Ding's crying and wailing wasn't a good idea. There were clearly still demons at the bottom of the giant abyss, and if he caused a ruckus and attracted them, it would require even more trouble.

Seeing Qi Ding's state, he couldn't calm down for a while, and his attitude was quite stubborn, clearly indicating he wouldn't listen to advice. It was unclear how long it would take to persuade him to go back.

However, bringing Qi Ding back didn't mean he had to walk back. Being carried back is still a return journey. The miners who fainted due to the effects of the "spirit stones" were also carried back, weren't they?

Han Fulai raised one palm, exerted force in his hand, and slashed at the back of Qi Ding's neck, who was still bowing his head and crying!

"Ouch!" Qi Ding almost fell over from the blow, crying out in pain, "Ouch! What are you doing?"

It wasn't as easy as in martial arts novels... He wasn't very skilled, and it seemed he hadn't used enough strength... Han Fulai grinned apologetically. But if he used too much strength, it could potentially kill someone... He turned his head and gave Jiang Xue a pleading look.

"Sigh, I'll do it." Jiang Xue shook her head, as if to say, "If you don't have the skills, don't take on the job."

He approached Qi Ding and swung his bladeless sword, still sheathed.

"What are you doing? Don't come any closer... Ah!"

Qi Ding collapsed to the ground.

Jiang Xue raised her hand and gestured to her cheek and under her ear, "Hit here, it's easier to knock her unconscious. Don't hit the back of the head, she'll die."

"Hmm... Thank you for your guidance, Senior Jiang Xue." Han Fulai carefully remembered Jiang Xue's teachings, thinking to himself that he would try it out on a few unlucky members of the treasure-hunting group someday.

"Uh... Master Han, Master Jiang, what's going on...?" Zhiqiong looked at the two of them, then at Qi Ding lying on the ground, not knowing what to say.

They were clearly there to rescue someone, so why did they knock the person they were supposed to rescue unconscious?

"You saw it too, Qi Ding has a mental problem..." Han Fulai explained.

"He's gone mad," Jiang Xue summarized succinctly.

"...Moreover, his attitude is very uncooperative, which could easily lead to accidents," Han Fulai continued to explain.

“Martial arts lunatics are troublesome; knock them out and take them back for treatment,” Jiang Xue added bluntly.

“…Alright.” Zhiqiong had no choice but to nod. Anyway, the person had already been found and knocked unconscious, so there was no point in saying anything.

"And did you notice that Qi Ding wasn't carrying any mining equipment?" Han Fulai continued. "When he went down into the mine, besides gunpowder, he should have also been carrying a headlamp and a birdcage, but those things are now gone."

Zhiqiong was taken aback. "Yes... then how did he get here?"

It's quite a long journey from the location of the "Spirit Stone" to here. According to Zhiqiong's memory, it would take at least an hour to walk here, not even taking into account the possible changes that might occur in the Layered Rock Abyss.

Qi Ding, acting crazy, without a miner's lamp or a birdcage, stumbled his way through the darkness, and along the way he might have encountered black mud and monsters... How could he have gotten here?

Before Han Fulai mentioned it, Zhiqiong hadn't thought about it in detail, but now that she sees it, Qi Ding is truly full of mysteries.

Knocking Qi Ding unconscious might be the best course of action, otherwise who knows what strange things might happen to him.

“Then we’ll have to ask them slowly when we get back to camp. After all, we’re just here to find someone.” Han Fulai shrugged and handed the “Luminolite” catalyst to Jiang Xue. “I’ll carry Qi Ding on my back, and Senior Jiang Xue will lead the way. Let’s get back to camp first.”

Chapter 141 The Haunted Rocky Abyss

Qi Ding's situation may be related to the environment of the Layered Rock Abyss. The changes in the Layered Rock Abyss are very strange. If Qi Ding continues to stay here, unknown changes may occur.

Han Fulai doesn't have enough intelligence right now, and the "Lumenite" catalyst he has is almost used up. Continuing to explore will be very time-consuming and resource-intensive. Now that the person has been found, the best option is to get back to the camp as quickly as possible.

Jiang Xue is the holder of the Eye of God, and the Lumenite catalyst can function just as well in his hands. Moreover, he is highly skilled in martial arts and moves with ghostly speed, so of course we should make the most of his advantages.

Therefore, Han Fulai decided to take on the task of carrying Qi Ding back himself, leaving the safety of the team entirely to Jiang Xue. On the return journey, aside from monsters and black mud, there shouldn't be any situations requiring him to assess the situation or use his powers; this task allocation was a good way to make the best use of everyone's abilities.

Just as Han Fulai was about to squat down and lift the unconscious Qi Ding up, Zhiqiong suddenly clapped her hands.

"Ah! I remember now, I've seen that doll Qi Ding mentioned! It might have fallen around here!"

"Hmm?" Han Fulai looked at Zhiqiong.

“It was a very old toy doll, and by today’s standards… it’s actually a bit ugly…” Zhiqiong tilted her head as she recalled, “Because his daughter grew up and stopped playing with dolls, and Qi Ding couldn’t bear to throw it away, so he carried it with him as a talisman. I once saw Qi Ding holding that doll, talking to it like it was a treasure, probably taking it out to look at it when he missed his daughter…”

“When the mine was shut down two years ago, Qi Ding left that baby behind when he left. He complained to Sister Jinwu for a long time back then, and he was crying and sobbing like today, wanting to go down and look for it. Fortunately, Sister Jinwu stopped him… I remember he was working in this mining area back then, so I think… Qi Ding, in his condition, would still come here, probably because he was worried about that baby…”

"...I see."

Han Fulai nodded slightly. This explanation could explain Qi Ding's behavior just now. He probably hadn't been able to forget the matter of losing the doll in the past few years. After being affected by the "spirit stone" or the black mud, he lost his memories of those years, but he still remembered the doll.

He recalled his first meeting with Qi Ding last night. Qi Ding was just like that clueless old man, his every other sentence revolving around his daughter. If nothing unexpected happened, the reason he had embezzled and gone to the bottom of the giant abyss... was probably also for his daughter.

"But even if his toy doll really did fall here, it would probably have disappeared long ago."

Han Fulai pointed to the distance, where there were still remnants of black mud that hadn't been cleaned up. Black mud corrodes everything; even solid rocks and minerals cannot escape its devouring power. That toy doll was probably already swallowed up by the black mud when the mine was sealed off.

Even if Qi Ding is lucky, the toy doll is still somewhere in this mining area, and they don't have time to look for it now—besides, Han Fulai isn't a traveler, so if he goes to find a toy doll and brings it back, no one will give him any raw stones.

"I know, I just... feel a little regretful that I couldn't be of any help." Zhiqiong's voice trailed off.

She knew in her heart that the reason Sister Jinwu set such a strict time limit wasn't because of Master Han and Master Jiang. With their skills, there were probably few things in the Abyss of Layered Rocks that could threaten them. Jiang Xue's instant defeat of the berserk rock dragon lizard and Han Fulai's awe-inspiring authority when intimidating the treasure-hunting group both proved this point.

Jinwu set this time limit mainly because she was worried about the safety of this new adventurer. After all, she had watched her grow up since she was a child, and Jinwu knew her somewhat reckless nature. The main reason Jinwu agreed to let her join the search and rescue team was because of Han Fulai and Jiang Xue.

As a novice adventurer, her combat strength is not much higher than that of an average person. She might be able to handle a few Hilichurls with the short sword hanging in her backpack, but she would be in grave danger if she encountered a monster like the Rock Drake.

Ultimately, she benefited from Han Fulai and Jiang Xue's presence. Sister Jinwu intended for her to experience the adventurer's life she longed for under the protection of these two heroes, and also to witness firsthand the dangers that existed after the mutation of the Lower Rock Abyss. She already understood this intention when Sister Jinwu warned her at the camp not to run around and hold the two heroes back.

But... I'm still not resigned to it.

I'm an adventurer, aren't I? I'm all grown up! Why... why do I still feel like a burden?

Zhiqiong clenched her fists.

Just then, a clear, childlike voice suddenly came from behind her—

"...Do you want to know where that doll is?"

"Who is it?" Han Fulai suddenly stood up, his eyes sharp, staring at the person behind Zhiqiong.

Jiang Xue pointed the Lumenite catalyst in his hand toward Zhiqiong, while in his other hand, the bladeless sword was already drawn.

With Jiang Xue's keen senses, nothing in the vicinity could escape his perception. He could clearly hear everything along the way, from the breathing of monsters to the footsteps of humans, and he was always the first to react.

Jiang Xue had not been able to sense the voice's presence until it spoke—this was the first time he had ever experienced something like this.

In battle, the ability to detect the enemy's movements early often determines a person's life or death.

The fact that they could approach them so silently and so close meant that this was likely a formidable enemy, one that even he might not be able to defeat.

The most troublesome thing is... Jiang Xue's eyes are fixed on Zhiqiong. The enemy may be holding a hostage.

Zhiqiong turned around in shock and saw an unfamiliar little girl, about eleven or twelve years old, with her hair in a bun and wearing glasses. She looked very well-behaved.

They had been in this mining area for a while, searched the camp, lit a campfire and had lunch, but they hadn't found anyone else there.

More importantly, how did this little girl end up in this giant abyss of rock? And why did she mention that toy?

This means that the little girl had been eavesdropping on their conversation since earlier.

Judging from the reactions of Master Han and Master Jiang, even they failed to notice the little girl's existence!

Zhiqiong's teeth suddenly chattered. She remembered that there were some strange legends circulating among the miners, such as... there were ghosts at the bottom of the Abyss!

A little girl of unknown origin, a figure that appeared like a ghost... Zhiqiong slowly moved her feet, inching away from the little girl.

The little girl seemed completely unconcerned about their reactions, and simply answered Han Fulai's question as if it were perfectly natural: "Me? My name is Qi Nan, and I am... Qi Ding's daughter."

Chapter 142 A Title Named Qi Nan

"You said... your name is Qi Nan, and you are Qi Ding's daughter?" Zhiqiong's face drained of all color.

“Yes, yes…” The little girl who called herself Qi Nan nodded vigorously and pointed to Qi Ding lying on the ground not far away. “My father is a miner in the Layered Rock Abyss. He is very important. My mother died of illness not long after I was born. He raised me by himself.”

Hearing the child's innocent voice, Zhiqiong felt a chill run down her spine and down to the back of her head.

She knew about Qi Ding's family situation, and it matched the young girl's description perfectly. She hadn't actually seen Qi Nan in person, but she knew that Qi Nan had already started working in the General Affairs Department.

So who is this little girl in front of me who calls herself Qi Nan? ...Or rather, what is she?

The little girl continued, "The mines down in the Abyss of Layered Rocks are so dark and gloomy... But when Dad thinks of me, he's not afraid of anything anymore, and he keeps working hard here, gritting his teeth."

Qi Nan's voice was cute, her expression was innocent, and what she said was completely true—but the feeling she gave off was so strange.

The words she uttered were words that should have come from a well-behaved, sensible, and considerate young girl, words that could bring tears to the eyes of an old father like Qi Ding and warm his heart.

But when this "Qi Nan" said it, it sounded like she was reading a prepared text, like the essay "My Father" that is routinely read at parent-teacher meetings.

Especially in the oppressive environment and eerie setting of the Abyss of Layered Rocks, facing an unknown "thing" face-to-face, listening to it impersonate the daughter of an acquaintance and utter these chilling lines...

Zhiqiong had to admit that if she were alone there, she would have screamed and run away.

The reason she hadn't run away was because she knew that there was a legendary powerhouse from Liyue behind her—and that powerhouse's hand was currently on her shoulder, the warm touch of his palm giving her courage from the bottom of her heart.

There's nothing to be afraid of, because Master Han is by my side.

While "Qi Nan" was talking to Zhi Qiong, Han Fulai had already walked over.