He changed Tiwat

He quickly put on a smiling face: "It's okay, I just thought the journey to the Layered Rock Abyss is quite long, so maybe I need to make some preparations in advance... Tell me what it is?"

Yan Fei nodded and said, "Well, actually, this matter isn't complicated. I'm going to the Layered Rock Abyss to execute a will. You know, I'm a legal consultant, and executing wills is part of my job..."

It is routine for lawyers to execute wills on behalf of their clients, and Han Fulai had naturally heard about such matters, especially when it comes to the division of estates. It is very common to hire a lawyer to notarize and execute the will.

—So, Yan Fei looks like she just came back from Qiaoying Manor, which must be because of the will notarization.

But whose will would require a lawyer to execute it in the Deep Rock Abyss?

This piqued Han Fulai's curiosity.

"And that client... you should have heard of him too."

Yan Fei took out an envelope.

Han Fulai took the envelope and immediately noticed the strange emblem on it—shaped like a phoenix, with a red head and red wings… According to Chinese legend, those that resemble a phoenix have five colors: those with more red are phoenixes, those with more blue are luan birds, those with more yellow are phoenix chicks, those with more purple are pheasants, and those with more white are swans.

This emblem represents the "Phoenix".

On the envelope was a line of smaller print, containing two lines of poetry:

"A divine dragon carries a map out of the Luo River, and a colorful phoenix carries a book in the blue clouds."

—This poem comes from the Chinese classic "Song of the Fisherman on Misty Waves," and in Liyue, a similar verse is inscribed in front of the cave of a certain immortal.

Upon seeing the mark and the poem, Han Fulai already knew who Yan Fei's "client" was.

"The True Lord of Minghai Qixia?"

"Yes, it's Uncle Narumi."

Yan Fei gestured for Han Fulai to open the envelope.

The envelope contained only a short note:

This Taiwei Ritual Plate is a ritual implement I recently made. I originally intended to invite my friends and Lishui and others to appreciate it together, but unexpectedly, war broke out... I am very sorry.

My friend, take a look. This object is quite interesting. If you and I were to share it, it might be able to move stars and shift constellations.

That's how things are in the world: what one person cannot do, two people can.

Living a leisurely life in the mountains, gazing at the sunset, is quite common. Being able to do something convenient for others is also a good thing.

This battle was arduous... A thousand years from now, you and I may no longer be in this mortal world. At that time, may this artifact be returned to the mountains, so that we may forever remember the friendship of kindred spirits.

After reading the letter, Han Fu roughly understood what was going on:

More than 500 years ago, Narumi Qixia Zhenjun became friends with a human sorcerer. At that time, the "Dark Calamity" broke out, and Narumi Qixia Zhenjun gave his friend a magical artifact he had made to help him fight. In the letter, Narumi Qixia Zhenjun and his friend agreed that after their deaths, this magical artifact would be sent to the mountains where they often gathered as a memento of their friendship.

The "will" that Yan Fei mentioned should refer to the search for this "Taiwei Ritual Plate".

And her purpose in going to the Abyss of Layered Rocks was also very clear—

"Are you going to the Abyss of Layered Rocks to find this magical artifact called the 'Taiwei Instrument Plate'?"

After all, the location where the "Dark Calamity" erupted in Liyue five hundred years ago was the Laminar Abyss. It's likely that Narumi Qixia's human friend took that magical artifact to the Laminar Abyss to participate in the battle.

War is dangerous and perilous, and that human sorcerer likely did not survive, so the Taiwei Instrument Plate was lost at the bottom of the giant abyss.

Yan Fei went to the Layered Rock Abyss to fulfill her Uncle Minghai's last wish and retrieve this magical artifact... If possible, perhaps she should also pay her respects to that immortal's friend?

Back then, he and Shen He went to the residence of the Minghai Qixia True Lord, who loved collecting all kinds of treasures, to retrieve the "Mingxia Floating Life Stone." And he was able to open up to Shen He thanks to the magic array in the Minghai Qixia True Lord's residence... In other words, this True Lord could be considered his half-matchmaker.

Since he had received kindness from others, helping them fulfill their last wishes was his way of doing his part, and it was only natural.

Seeing how quickly Han Fulai understood, Yan Fei naturally saved herself a lot of trouble: "Uncle Minghai's friend sacrificed himself in the war at the Layered Rock Abyss, and the Taiwei Instrument Plate was lost along with it. Because of his friend's death, Uncle Minghai never went back to that place of sorrow, and he never mentioned it again... It was an accident that I discovered this will..."

At this moment, Jiaming interjected, "It's my great-uncle... My great-uncle passed away a little over half a month ago, and Miss Yanfei was the notary of his will. That's when I met Miss Yanfei. This letter was found among his belongings..."

Yan Fei nodded: "Yes, the Ye family of Yilongbu is a very prestigious tea merchant in the area, and I have a lot of business dealings with them. The late Mr. Ye was one of my clients."

"While sorting through Mr. Ye's belongings, I found an ancient book that had been treasured for many years in his study. It told the family history of how the Ye family ancestors fought alongside immortals. This letter was also tucked inside that book, so it must have been passed down for many generations. I only learned about this story because I recognized Uncle Minghai's insignia."

“When Uncle Narumi was still alive, he was very good to me. Many of the old books in my room were given to me by him from his own collection... So I thought I should help him fulfill this wish, so I took on this ‘commission’ without permission.”

Jiaming straightened his back and said, "As a junior, I can't just stand by and do nothing about the affairs of our elders. Escorting goods is one thing, and being a bodyguard is another!"

After the two explained it to him, Han Fulai finally understood the whole story.

However, he still had a question: "What do you need me to do for you, Yanfei? If it's to show you the way, you should actually ask Miss Zhiqiong from the General Affairs Department..."

He was telling the truth. Last time he went to the Layered Rock Abyss, he was very grateful for Zhiqiong's map. Moreover, the roads under the Layered Rock Abyss had undergone strange changes, and even Zhiqiong almost couldn't figure out the path, let alone him.

Yan Fei grinned and held up two fingers: "Two things."

"Firstly, I need you to be my 'passport'. The Laminar Abyss has just opened, and you need permission from Seven Stars or Moonsea Pavilion to mine. I'm embarrassed to bother Senior Gan Yu, and I'm not very familiar with Miss Ningguang and the others... Besides, going through the procedures is quite troublesome..."

Han Fulai chuckled as he recalled the time when Mu Ning, the head steward of Cengyan, asked him for a travel permit: "Ha, that's easy, I'll go and 'scan your face' for you."

Anyway, we still need to rely on him for the "Outstanding Civil Servant Award" from Steward Mu Ning.

Yan Fei continued, "Secondly, I'd like you to be my 'mascot'."

"A mascot?" Han Fulai pointed to his nose, wondering when he had acquired this ability.

Yan Fei nodded seriously: "After all, you are the legendary 'True Lord who is good at finding people'!"

Chapter Nine: The True Lord Who is Skilled at Finding People

"A master at finding people..." Han Fulai's lips twitched, unsure how to respond.

This was the first time he had ever heard of having this "celestial title".

Jiaming nodded excitedly.

“I know, I know. When I was transporting goods, I heard Tian Tiezui mention a few excerpts, such as ‘Hero Han’s Lower Rock – while others were mining, he was digging for people.’”

He even counted them off on his fingers: "Go down the first layer of rock to save Qi Ding, go down the second layer to rescue Lao He, go down the third layer to subdue the mine thieves, go down the fourth layer to meet a beauty, go down the fifth layer to capture the foolish masses..."

"Stop, stop..." Han Fulai covered his face.

Looking back, it seems he was mostly searching for people at the bottom of the towering abyss...

So it seems quite reasonable for Yanfei to call him a "mascot"...

Moreover, after Yan Fei mentioned it, he remembered that the "Layered Rock Nail" also served as a "Wishing Stone." He might not be able to ask it for other things, but asking it to help find something under the layered rocks shouldn't be a problem, right?

Looking at it this way, it seems Yan Fei really did choose the right person!

This "immortal title" sounds like something out of a "Chatting Master" or "Rolling Down the Mountain Master," which is really embarrassing and far inferior to titles like "Han the God" or "Master of Both Spear and Sword."

"Don't mention that nickname, everything else is negotiable..."

At this moment, the Huai'an shopkeeper finally brought out the dishes Jiaming had ordered. "Guest, your order of one pot and two dishes, blanched seasonal vegetables with freshly cooked congee, is all ready!"

Jiaming put thought into the dishes he ordered, as they were mostly from his hometown. It was thanks to Chef Yanxiao's extensive travels and learning of various dishes that he was able to satisfy Jiaming's tastes.

"One cup and two dishes"—one cup is the finest Chenyu tea, a local specialty designated by Jiaming, called "Youyun Dancong." The tea is delicate and refreshing, like a gentle breeze, carrying the fragrance of the entire Chenyu Valley to your lips and teeth, as if you can still hear the tinkling of springs on the tea mountain.

The "two items" are two small snacks. One of them is "crystal shrimp," which is basically shrimp dumplings. The other is a bit special and is called "honey-glazed char siu."

This is a traditional roast meat from the Shenyu Valley region. As the name suggests, char siu is made by skewering marinated meat on a special iron fork, coating it with honey, and then roasting it over a fire. The char siu is reddish-brown and succulent, with a rich and fragrant aroma that is enough to make your mouth water just by looking at it.

Char siu is fatty and greasy, so it naturally needs to be balanced with congee. This "freshly cooked congee" is also a local specialty of Yilongbu, commonly known as "boat congee", which is the signature dish of congee boats in the Yilongbu area.

Yilongbu relies on the water for its livelihood. Some local residents run porridge shops on small boats, which are usually small restaurants located on the shore. If guests charter a small boat for a trip, they can enjoy local delicacies while taking in the beautiful scenery.

Fish slices, shredded egg, peanuts, dried scallops, pork skin... the ingredients are rich and varied. They are poured into boiling white porridge and served hot and fragrant to diners. The smell alone is enough to make your mouth water.

As for blanched vegetables, the Jiaming family motto is "If you feel dizzy or hot, brew some herbal tea first; when cooking, you must have some green vegetables." Fresh green vegetables blanched in chicken broth are sweet and delicious, a perfect combination of meat and vegetables, with everything you could want.

After indulging in these delicacies, savoring a sip of fine tea is truly a heavenly experience.

Having enjoyed the blissful experience of being a god, the "Master of Finding People" happily decided to accompany them on another trip to the Layered Rock Abyss.

On the afternoon of July 14, three months later, Han Fulai once again visited the Layered Rock Abyss.

This journey was much faster than when Han Fulai drove himself. What was originally expected to take two to three days was completed in just over a day – thanks, of course, to the skill of the driver, Jiaming.

In Jiaming's words, "Waterways, mountain roads, and land routes—what kind of roads haven't I traveled on when I'm escorting goods? Don't worry, the title of 'Gold Medal Escort' isn't just for show."

So Han Fulai and Yan Fei got to experience a "wilderness race"...

And crucially, this coachman was not only fast but also steady. Despite the carriage moving like a whirlwind, it didn't even step on a single pothole along the way, clearly due to Jiaming's amazing reaction speed and horsemanship.

Jiaming said that Wenzai was the real hero - because the lion beast is born with the ability to ride the wind, the so-called "awakened beast moves with sharpness", which protected them and ensured a smooth journey.

After getting approval from Steward Mu Ning through facial recognition, Han Fulai took Yan Fei and Jia Ming to the exploration team's camp in the mining area, intending to ask Sister Jin Wu to equip everyone with "Lumenite".

It's unclear whether the black mud at the bottom of the Layered Rock Abyss has been completely eliminated. This stuff not only served as a miner's lamp at the bottom of the Abyss but also acted as a talisman. Furthermore, since both Yan Fei and Jia Ming are holders of the Eye of God, activating the light energy of the "Luminous Stone" with elemental power would be no problem for them.

As soon as the group entered the camp, they heard someone call out their names with great surprise: "It's Young Master Han! And Yan Fei! Oh, and there's a young man with an adorable pet!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a small white sprite fluttering over – it was Paimon.

And Paimon, being here, naturally attracts many travelers.

A moment later, the blond traveler also emerged from the camp.

They had been in Liyue for a month and had experienced a lot during that time. Meeting Han Fulai here was like "meeting an old friend in a foreign land," so they were naturally very happy.

After exchanging updates, Han Fulai gained a general understanding of Yingmei's experiences in Liyue.

She and Paimon went to the Jade Pavilion with the letter of introduction from Han Fulai. They also treated Ningguang to the "Frosting Slime" that they found particularly "crispy," and Ningguang gave them a warm welcome. She even specially issued them a pass to the Layered Rock Abyss.

Before heading to Layer Rock, Yingmei, with the spirit of not letting go of any clues, made many friends in Liyue Harbor to inquire about her brother's whereabouts—that's how Yanfei, the Liyue gossipmonger with a particularly wide network of connections, got to know them.

Then they became familiar with Xiangling from Wanmintang, as well as the "alleyway poets" who went to Wanmintang for meals and social gatherings. They also obtained a lot of clues from these friends that might be related to his brother—mainly from various ancient books that Xingqiu found out about the various secret places that travelers in the past might have visited.

During this time, she not only explored Liyue Harbor and Qingce Village, but also visited Luhua Pool, Guili Plain, Jueyun Karst, Hulao Mountain, Cuijue Slope... She even visited the "Dragon Tree" that is said to have sealed the Dragon King. She did find a lot of treasures, but she did not find any traces left by her brother.

So about ten days ago, she and Paimon decided to try their luck in the Deep Rock Abyss again. Basically, they followed the route Han Fulai had taken at the bottom of the Deep Rock Abyss, using the map they got from Jinwu—but unfortunately, apart from monsters and dead Hilichurls, there was no trace of the "Cult of the Abyss".

Meanwhile, Ying accepted a commission from Hydif, a scholar from the Order of the Church, to help him collect mushrooms and search for traces of ancient creatures at the bottom of the Rocky Abyss, and has already earned more than two million Mora...

Yanfei had heard that Ying was very skilled at treasure hunting, so she explained her purpose to her and casually inquired whether she had discovered any hidden treasures beneath the Abyss of Layered Rocks. Unexpectedly—

“Yes!” Paimon said smugly, raising his nose. “Ying and I just found out about a treasure secret yesterday—a treasure left behind by the Thousand Rocks Army five hundred years ago!”

Chapter Ten: The Treasure of the Thousand Rock Army

"A treasure left behind by the Thousand Rock Army five hundred years ago?"

Upon hearing Paimon's words, Yan Fei's face lit up with joy, and she couldn't help but turn around and glance at Han Fulai: "I told you you were the 'mascot,' didn't I? This is truly a case of finding something without even looking for it."

Han Fulai could only smile helplessly upon hearing this, which greatly intrigued Ying and Paimeng, who repeatedly asked what the "mascot" was all about.

The human friend of Minghai Qixia Zhenjun came to the Layered Rock Abyss with the Thousand Rock Army to fight against the "Dark Calamity" five hundred years ago, and then disappeared without a trace, along with the magical artifact. The only clue that Yanfei and the others have is that "the item was lost in the Layered Rock Abyss".

The Abyss of Layered Rocks covers such a vast area that finding an artifact lost for five hundred years is like finding a needle in a haystack. So much so that Yan Fei even believed in "metaphysics" and specifically sought out Han Fulai, the "True Lord who is good at finding people," to be her "mascot"...

Unexpectedly, this "mascot" was really effective; as soon as they arrived at the Layered Rock Abyss, clues came to them automatically.

Lost magical artifacts of immortals are, of course, treasures in the eyes of humans.

"Five hundred years ago", "Qianyan Army", "secret treasure"... the time, people, and even the items all match up, so it is very likely that the legend of the secret treasure points to the "Taiwei Yipan".

Yanfei hurriedly inquired about the secret treasure of Yingna.

If Ying has any flaws, it's probably that she's a bit greedy and will never let any treasure chest in sight pass by... But if you ask what her strengths are, it's that she values ​​friends much more than money.

Since it was Yanfei's request, Ying naturally didn't keep it to herself and immediately led everyone into the camp.

Many miners who weren't on shift that day were resting in the exploration team. The people gathered in the open space chatting and laughing were all familiar faces—such as the "mining superstar" Lao Tu, his comedic partner Ahao, the Mondstadt bard Talesin, and the alchemist Kritov, among others.

After a long separation, the group of miners were overjoyed to see Han Fulai and showered him with greetings and inquiries.

Talesin was the most enthusiastic among them. If he hadn't been hired by Haidif to stay in the Abyss of the Rocks, he would have gone back to participate in the "Badminton Festival" this year—after all, he was quite confident in his newly written "Abyss of the Rocks Bard Epic".

Upon hearing that Han Fulai had visited Mondstadt, Talesin immediately began asking him who the "Poet Laureate" for this year's festival was... As the saying goes, there is no first place in literature, and Talesin was full of doubt after hearing that Han Fulai was the "Poet Laureate," and insisted that he perform a piece.

Han Fulai didn't refuse and directly borrowed his seven-stringed zither, then recited a selection of Shakespearean poems on the spot... Talesin was speechless.

While Han Fulai was surrounded by the miners, Ying pulled an inconspicuous young miner out of the crowd.

This miner's name is Awang. His family has been miners for generations, and he has lived in the mine since he was a child. Like Jinwu and Zhiqiong, he can be considered a "local" of the Layered Rock Abyss. He is honest and simple, and usually doesn't talk much. His presence in the mine has always been very faint.

Originally, he was one of the foreman Yuehui's men, in charge of mining operations in the shallow area of ​​the Layered Rock Abyss. However, since Deputy Chief Han had cleared up the hidden dangers in the deeper layers of the Layered Rock, Qixing believed that the underground mining area of ​​the Layered Rock could be gradually opened up, and the tasks of the exploration team naturally became more demanding. Therefore, Awang, this "skilled worker," was also transferred to the exploration team.

Yinghui's interaction with Awang mainly stemmed from witnessing Awang's strange behavior the previous day—they saw Awang secretly kowtowing to a pile of stones before going down into the mine, muttering incantations as if performing some kind of ritual.

So the two of them went over to take a look, and then they heard A-Wang chanting "Qianyan bless, Qianyan bless" to the pile of stones... The two of them became curious and grabbed A-Wang for a "interrogation", and then they heard a legend about the "Qianyan Army Treasure".

Surrounded by a group of strangers, A-Wang was startled. Fortunately, Yan Fei and Jia Ming were both quick-witted and explained the situation in no time.

Hearing that they were also there to ask about the "Thousand Rock Army's Secret Treasure," Awang started talking non-stop.

"This is a legend that all of us children who grew up on the edge of the Great Rock Abyss know, and it's been passed down for almost five hundred years..."