Cryptic

Tracking Down Clues

 Ask Bargainer Biao about the tome

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Ning Qian has located the antique book restorer Bargainer Biao. Find him and ask about the whereabouts of the ancient tome.

Failume Heights

(Idle)

Troubled Young Man: Senior Dialyn... what are we gonna do...?

(Listen to the Troubled Young Man and Dialyn, optional)

Troubled Young Man: Oh, come on, Senior! I'm begging you here! Could we please just follow the instructions this time? *sobs* Otherwise, my paycheck's going to get docked again this month!

Dialyn: Relax! A good workplace doesn't come by itself. As for complaints about forged documents, how could we righteous customer service reps just sit back and ignore them?

Troubled Young Man: *sobs* Not again... How do I always get dragged into trouble like this with you... My mortgage isn't paid off yet... The boss is definitely gonna dock my bonus again...

Dialyn: Then how about... you be the boss instead?

Troubled Young Man: ...Wh—What?

Dialyn: I'm saying... It's about time leadership over the Customer Service Center switched hands.

Troubled Young Man: *sobs* Even now, you're still teasing me, Senior Dialyn...

Troubled Young Man: Fine, I'll do as you said and draft that mass email... If I'm going to suffer, I might as well go all out!

(Idle)

Chatty Mystic: I know all the juicy stories and legends about Yunkui Summit.

(Listen to the Story Writer and Chatty Mystic, optional)

Story Writer: ...Now that we're done talking about Yixuan Shifu, I've got something else I'm curious about! I heard she has quite an elusive disciple...

Chatty Mystic: Ah, you're talking about Senior Ye Shiyuan's younger sister — Junior Ye Shunguang, right?

Chatty Mystic: Though I haven't met this junior sister yet, I've heard a ton of stories about her from the inner disciples of Yunkui Summit.

Story Writer: Yeah, that's the one! Word from the folks over at Yunkui Summit is that... this junior sister of yours is something else, huh?

Chatty Mystic: Yup! Despite her young age, she's already mastered Yixuan Shifu's teachings. With her lively and easy-going personality, everyone at the mountain gets along well with her — uh, except for that strict Elder Lu.

Chatty Mystic: One time, Elder Lu insisted on having Yixuan Shifu publicly test her direct disciples. After several rounds of polite refusal, Yixuan Shifu finally agreed.

Chatty Mystic: Even though they knew it was just a sparring match and Yixuan Shifu would never use her full power, her disciples were still on edge. Only Junior Sister Ye remained calm, bringing a basket of sugar-frosted pastries as prize money.

Chatty Mystic: Senior Yinhu and Senior Fufu couldn't hold out for long before going down... Even Senior Brother Ye, who was playing defensively, had to admit defeat in the end.

Chatty Mystic: When it was Junior Sister Ye's turn, she flicked her wrist and the pastries from the basket went whoosh whoosh whoosh and guess what happened?!

Story Writer: What?

Chatty Mystic: Each pastry was wrapped in a layer of concentrated Sword Will, spinning in mid-air and forming a small protective sword formation.

Chatty Mystic: When Yixuan Shifu's powerful techniques struck, sparks flew everywhere... no wait, it was frosting and sword light flying everywhere!

Chatty Mystic: That scene... They say the air was filled with the caramelized aroma of osmanthus candy, and the crowd watched with absolute delight while Elder Lu's expression just kept getting darker and darker!

Story Writer: How eccentric... She really takes after Yixuan Shifu, huh!

Chatty Mystic: The two traded blows back and forth in a... uh... fragrant and dazzling display... Just as they were about to run out of pastries in the basket, Junior Ye suddenly called for a stop.

Chatty Mystic: It was said that she spoke in a sweet but hurried voice: "Shifu, Shifu, I give up, I give up! The cookies I'm baking for you in the kitchen are about to burn. If the timing's even slightly off, they won't taste right!"

Chatty Mystic: With that, she waved her hand, and all the pastries flew back into the basket. After bowing to Yixuan Shifu and Elder Lu, she scampered off toward the kitchen with the basket. Yixuan Shifu just let her go.

Chatty Mystic: I heard that after Yixuan Shifu calmed Elder Lu down, she also went to the kitchen with Senior Yinhu and the others. Junior Ye even picked out the most perfectly shaped cookie while it was still warm and popped it right into Yixuan Shifu's mouth.

Chatty Mystic: Blinking up at her Shifu, she asked: "Shifu, is it sweet enough? Is the Sword Will crispy enough?"

Chatty Mystic: Yixuan Shifu only said: "Your Sword Will is decent, but these cookies... they're just so-so!" Though rumor has it that same afternoon, she ate every last crumb of those cookies.

Story Writer: Oh wow... that one's good! Master, please tell me more about this Ye Shunguang, I'm taking notes on everything!

(Listen to Reed and the Gossiping Neighbor, optional)

Gossiping Neighbor: Your shop's got everything under the sun. Business is really booming!

Reed: It's all thanks to our neighbors looking out for each other. Life's been pretty chill here in Waifei, compared to other places. Guess we owe that to that Shifu.

Gossiping Neighbor: Are you talking about Yixuan Shifu from Yunkui Summit?

Reed: Having Yixuan Shifu around is truly a great blessing for Waifei Peninsula! Though I guess Yixuan Shifu must be away from Suibian Temple on important business lately?

Reed: So that's why I meant the other Shifu — ever since that Banyue Shifu's martial arts school opened its doors to new students, everyone's been able to pick up some proper self-defense techniques.

Reed: Whether you're a burly tough guy or a little kid, as long as you come with a genuine desire to learn, he'll teach you his skills for free.

Reed: And you know what's really cool about it? He's imparting his skills while tailoring his methods to each individual. Now that's what I call amazing!

Gossiping Neighbor: Amazing? Please, it's just a publicity stunt to cover things up.

Gossiping Neighbor: Word is that martial arts school starts hollering "HEY-HA!" "HEY-HA!" before dawn every day, even earlier than the roosters. Who knows what kind of crazy stuff they're up to in there?

Gossiping Neighbor: He's got this scary look about him that gives people the creeps. And those apprentices he trains... tsk, bet they're all brutes too.

Gossiping Neighbor: Making such a ruckus every day, they're clearly out to make everyone's life miserable. If you ask me, that so-called Shifu is just some heartless thug who only knows how to fight and kill.

Reed: Hey, that's way off base. You know what they say — tough teachers make great students.

Reed: That kid from Uncle Gau's boat congee stall — big fella, built like a young bull. Used to be all brawn and no brains, always picking fights and causing trouble.

Reed: After sending him to that martial arts school, he went from brute to gentle giant. Now he helps around with moving goods, fixing things, and setting up the stall — well-mannered and helpful. Uncle Gau's been bragging to everyone about how well he's turned out.

Gossiping Neighbor: Oh? So he actually learned a thing or two, huh?

Reed: So yeah, you get it now, with someone like that around, I've been thinking maybe I should learn a move or two when I get the chance. Forget about going in and out of Hollows though — just being able to do some heavy lifting and beat up troublemakers who come knocking would be pretty sweet!

(Listen to the Worried Young Lady and the Playful Friend, optional)

Worried Young Lady: "The path ahead is stormy, the return uncertain"... This reading sounds...

Playful Friend: Ah well, it's fortune-telling. Don't take it too seriously! Who are you getting the reading for anyway?

Playful Friend: Lemme guess, lemme guess... Is it that martial arts guy you keep mentioning? The one who lives downstairs? His name's Ning... Ning-something, right?

Worried Young Lady: Ning Qian... he suddenly told the landlord that he wouldn't renew his lease after this month. Said he had something to take care of, somewhere really, really far away...

Playful Friend: Oh~ So that's why you came to get a reading and why you're so distracted huh~

Worried Young Lady: No way! Stop teasing me... Something felt different about the way he talked that day... He even gave me his wristband: the one he really treasures, that his master gave him!

Playful Friend: Tsk tsk tsk, I get it, I get it... Something to remember him by huh?

(Interact with Scattered Files)

Scattered Files: "FINAL NOTICE: Eviction deadline. All claims to the above property are hereby void."

Scattered Files: "Vacate the premises within 3 days, or face forced eviction."

(Idle)

Arrogant Woman: Times have changed. It's about evidence now, not stories.

Bargainer Biao: Bandits! They're all bandits!

(Talk to Bargainer Biao)

"A Rough Start"

The following is recorded in the Video Archive

 A Rough Start

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Video Summary: Got the ancient texts sorted, looks like this formation is legit.

Story Description: Before the group could ask more about the ancient tome, they were driven away by Bargainer Biao, who was upset over TOPS's bullying and his own troubles.

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The atmosphere here somehow doesn't seem very friendly...

Arrogant Woman: Final warning—everything's in writing. Ownership confirmed. The property must be cleared within three days. Heh... TOPS' new business plans don't wait.

Bargainer Biao: My family's ancestral home, passed down for three generations... and now it's yours? Those documents... You fabricated them!

Arrogant Woman: Times have changed. It's all about evidence, not stories. Empty your place within three days, or we'll clear it for you.

Arrogant Woman: When we clear your place, it won't be gentle. Picture your moldy old books getting crushed by a bulldozer in the landfill—see what becomes of the things you hold dear.

Bargainer Biao: Y-You... you bunch of bandits!

The arrogant woman leaves.

Ye Shunguang: Uncle Biao? Are you... Are you alright?

Bargainer Biao: Alright? I'm doing great! Three days! They expect me to clear out decades of collection in three days!

: Sorry to bother you at a time like this...

: We have a few things we'd like to ask about.

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Uh, sorry to bother you at a time like this... but we have a few questions. Do you recall an ancient tome restoration job from the antique shop?

Bargainer Biao: Gone! It's all gone! They were after the collection, and everything's been taken!

: About what was written in the tome...

: Do you still remember?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Um... Do you remember what kind of content was recorded in that ancient tome?

Ye Shunguang: What did the person who took it look like? Did they mention where they were going?

Bargainer Biao: Enough! Can't you see I've got bigger problems? I don't care where the tome went! My ancestral home, where I kept my entire collection, is about to be demolished—I ain't got no time for your questions!

Bargainer Biao: Go away, all of you!

Ye Shunguang: S—Sorry to bother you... I'm very sorry!

 Discuss the next steps

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Bargainer Biao was too agitated and upset about being forced to relocate by TOPS to provide any useful information. Let's discuss with everyone what we should do next.

Failume Heights

(Talk to Ye Shunguang)

"Well-Prepared"

The following is recorded in the Video Archive

 Well-Prepared

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Video Summary: Got the ancient texts sorted, looks like this formation is legit.

Story Description: After hearing about (‍WiseWiseText for Wise / BelleBelleText for Belle‍)'s group's troubles, Dialyn from customer service says she has a solution. A moment later, she returns with an ancient book.

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Ning Qian: Talk about bad timing... Bargainer Biao's pretty beside himself with anger, doubt he's in the mood to answer any of our questions.

Ye Shunguang: Maybe let me try talking to him alone first to help him calm down. It might take a bit longer, so I apologize for making everyone wait.

Dialyn: Oh? Lost at another crossroads in life? What a coincidence running into you here.

: What's Dialyn doing here too?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Dialyn, what are you doing here?

Dialyn: Me? I'm, of course, here handling complaints... TOPS Cross-Department Customer Service Center at your service—specialized in dealing with the toughest, most unreasonable cases!

Dialyn: And besides, if you don't want to miss out on something interesting, you've got to keep an eye out.

Dialyn: It's tough working at Krampus — you've got to grab every scrap of credit you can to stay off the bottom of the rankings. You freelancers wouldn't get it, workplace competition is brutal!

Ye Shunguang: Oh... Sounds pretty intense...

Dialyn: Huh? What's with the long faces? What happened?

You briefly tell Dialyn about what just happened.

Dialyn: What a coincidence, huh? Your luck came through again today~ I'm here to deal with the same issue. Hmm... give me a moment. Let me think...

Banyue: Yes, you should take some time to think this through...

Dialyn: Time for an ice cream break. Wait here and don't wander off.

Banyue: Wha–?

Ning Qian: How can she be so... casual about this?

Everyone is still exchanging glances by the time Dialyn quickly returns, waving something in her hands.

Dialyn: Alright, it's done~ This "Bargainer Biao" is quite the interesting fellow. He couldn't possibly bear parting with that one-of-a-kind book, so instead, he gave Sarah a replica. Turns out his cleverness has made things quite convenient for us.

(Cryptic Ancient Tome added to the Workbench)

Cryptic Ancient Tome

A heavily worn and mysterious ancient tome with pages stuck together from moisture damage. Its edges are tattered, inner pages torn, making many crucial sections hard to decipher.

From what's just barely legible, the tome appears to document unverified legends about arrays related to absorbing miasma and suppressing evil.

: How did you manage...

: ...to get that out of him?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Uh... Dialyn, how did you manage to get that out of him?

Ye Shunguang: Yeah, Dialyn, it's like you cast a spell on him or something!

Dialyn: How did I do that? Hmm...

Dialyn: Exactly what I did, it will remain a secret. But look — I've solved this big trouble for you, got you what you wanted, and even managed to save his house in the process...

Dialyn: Counting the last time I helped you rescue people in the Hollow, and the time before that with delivering "Master Lumin," it's starting to feel like you owe me a lot of favors, don't you think?

Banyue: ...You're right. I don't know how we can repay you.

: How do you want us to repay you?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): We didn't realize how much we've been relying on you... How can we repay you?

Dialyn: Alright. Just scan here to submit a tip~

Dialyn: Pfft, I'm just kidding! You don't actually think I'd cash in on a crisis, do you? I'm not that type of person!

Dialyn: What I actually want is, whatever you're up to next, no matter how interesting or how much of a pain, count me in.

: That's it?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Huh? That's it?

Dialyn: Yep, it's that simple. You should be grateful it's me playing the good samaritan today and not Senior Zhao. Otherwise, hehe... Anyway, do we have a deal?

: Deal!

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (‍Deal.Deal.Text for Wise / Done deal!Done deal!Text for Belle‍)

Ye Shunguang: Thank you, Dialyn. You're so kind.

Dialyn: Already putting me in the "kind person" category... Thanks for the compliment.

Ye Shunguang: No... Even if you have other motives, your help before and today is genuine. Right now, we're walking the same path together—and that's good enough for me.

Dialyn: Heh... Sometimes you seem like an innocent little girl, and other times... feels like you see right through everything.

Dialyn: Alright, let's set that aside for now and figure out our next move.

Dialyn: Bargainer Biao said this tome is extraordinary. It talks about "divine purification" and some kind of ancient array that can absorb Miasma and suppress evil spirits.

Dialyn: Whether it actually worked or not... well, that's another story.

Hearing this, Xiao'Guang perks up.

Banyue: This is a matter of utmost importance. Now that we have the tome, let's head back to Suibian Temple and discuss it there.

"A Source of Pride"

The following is recorded in the Video Archive

 A Source of Pride

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Video Summary: Got the ancient texts sorted, looks like this formation is legit.

Story Description: Ye Shunguang mentions that his [sic] parents knew about arrays that could absorb Miasma and suppress evil spirits, and he [sic] reminisces about the happy days when they lived at the old mining site. In the same year his [sic] parents perished in the Miasma outbreak, Banyue entrusted Ye Shunguang and his [sic] sibling to Yunkui Summit, and it seems that was when Ye Shiyuan began having nightmares...

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Ning Qian: Senior Xiao'Guang, are you okay? Your expression just now... seemed a bit off.

Ye Shunguang: The array that absorbs Miasma and suppresses evil spirits... Actually... When my brother and I were kids, we heard bits and pieces from our parents. They... seemed to know something about it.

: Your parents...

: I hadn't really heard Senior Ye mention them before.

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): I hadn't really heard Senior Ye mention your parents before...

Banyue: ...

Ye Shunguang: Yeah... They passed away when we were very young.

: Sorry, that was heavy...

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Sorry! I didn't mean to bring up something (‍sosoText for Wise‍) heavy...

Ye Shunguang: It's alright. When you think about it, how many people in New Eridu don't carry the pain of losing someone they love?

Ye Shunguang: Besides, Mom and Dad were a source of pride for both my brother and me.

Ye Shunguang: They both knew a bit of mystic arts. They were free spirits, deeply in love, wandering from place to place in their younger years, seeing the world, enjoying the mountains and rivers...

Ye Shunguang: Later, they came to Waifei, witnessed the dangers of the Miasma, and couldn't bear to see the workers in the mines suffer... so they decided to stay and help.

Ye Shunguang: With everyone's help, they settled in the residential area near the mines. I was born sometime after that.

Ye Shunguang: I was too little to remember much... just a few scattered memories of life back then.

Ye Shunguang: But whenever I see the look on my brother's face when he talks about those days, I can tell... they must've been happy... Really, really happy.

Ye Shunguang: My brother said that before they passed, they were looking for a better way to suppress the Miasma... never expecting the outbreak ten years ago would take them so suddenly...

Ning Qian: Your parents... Did they perish in the Miasma outbreak at the old mining site ten years ago?

Ye Shunguang: Yes... It was chaos back then. I was too young to remember clearly... My brother was badly hurt and unconscious... By the time we finally woke up at the rescue, they were already gone...

Ye Shunguang: After that, we just scraped by with whatever help we could get. Kind people like Banyue Shifu would check in on us every now and then.

Ye Shunguang: Not long after, he entrusted us to the care of Yunkui Summit.

Banyue: At that time, I heard that Yunkui Summit was taking in orphans. Since I was leading a rootless life, entrusting the important task of caring for two children to Yixuan Shifu was the safer choice.

: Banyue Shifu, did you also know Xiao'Guang's parents?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Banyue Shifu, did you also know Xiao'Guang's parents?

Banyue: We had just a few brief encounters. Back then, I would sometimes help out a little in the mining area.

Ye Shunguang: I'm deeply grateful for your care, Banyue Shifu. (‍WiseWiseText for Wise / BelleBelleText for Belle‍), do you remember asking me before whether my brother had been having nightmares...

Ye Shunguang: After our parents passed and before we went to Yunkui Summit, my brother would often have nightmares of our parents being killed by a monstrous figure in the Miasma...

Ye Shunguang: After we settled at Yunkui Summit, with Shifu and the others by our side, those nightmares gradually subsided...

: Did coming to Waifei...

: ...make the nightmares come back?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Could it be that coming back to Waifei... has brought those nightmares back?

Ning Qian: Such a tragic story... In the chaos that happened all those years ago, the "truth" is impossible to unravel.

Ning Qian: It makes sense that your brother is losing sleep. It isn't just the Miasma that can lead to people's deaths...

Ye Shunguang: Huh...?

Banyue: ...

At those words, both Ye Shunguang and Banyue fall silent.

: (Break the silence)

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Uh, let's not dwell on the past. It's getting late— we should head back and discuss our next step.

Ye Shunguang: Right, right, sorry... Talking about my parents always throws me off a little. What matters now is finding my brother. Let's move.

"Pleading"

The following is recorded in the Video Archive

 Pleading

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Video Summary: The pleas of the past come rushing back. Some have never forgotten.

Story Description: Something Ning Qian said brought back Banyue's memory of Ye Shunguang's parents' final moments. They had been desperately begging him for something... It seems their deaths may be tied to Banyue.

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Xiao'Guang and the others gradually fade from view, but Banyue lingers.
"It isn't just the Miasma that can lead to people's deaths..."
Seemingly casual words, yet the cries of the past ring in his ears once more...

Ye Shunguang's Father: Please... please, our two children are still so young...

Ye Shunguang's Mother: I wish... I could see them grow up...

Ye Shunguang's Mother: And not leave them all alone...

Ye Shunguang's Father: Please... I'm begging you...

A hand reaches out from behind, pulling Banyue back from his silence into the present...

Ning Qian: ...Shifu? Aren't we going to follow them? You look like there's something on your mind...

Banyue: ...It's nothing. Let's go.

 Return to Suibian Temple to study the ancient tome

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Too many prying eyes on the street. Better head back to Suibian Temple before diving into the ancient tome.

Suibian Temple

(Interact with the Ancient Tome)

Cryptic Ancient Tome: "...Their existence transcends mortal measure, standing with the divine... or perhaps ████"

Cryptic Ancient Tome: "In ancient times, there were sages who could communicate with the divine. Observing the celestial ████ changes, they knew Miasma ████ would converge ████ during the peak of celestial ███, they built this array... gathering and purifying the Miasma, to restore the world to ███████"

Cryptic Ancient Tome: "With the array complete, tough the evil is subdued ██████, yet █████"

Cryptic Ancient Tome: "...to summon ███, ████ desire to awa███ power ████array core █ willing sacrifice as the key ████ sincerely dev████..."

Cryptic Ancient Tome: "Though we leave this method, if ████████████████ descends, the consequences are unpredictable..."

Cryptic Ancient Tome: "The vessel must be a willing █████ pure █████ body ██ bridge... ██████████ guide"

Cryptic Ancient Tome: "If ████████ divine grace ████ descends..."

"The Shadow of an Old Friend"

The following is recorded in the Video Archive

 The Shadow of an Old Friend

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Video Summary: Old faces, old places — time to face them again.

Story Description: You verify the existence of Miasma-subduing arrays in ancient texts. Because Sarah sent people to investigate the old mining site, the group decides to seek out survivors of the past Miasma outbreak at the old mining site to gather info.

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After reading the cryptic tome, everyone puts together all the information so far...

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): Aside from the sections that are too damaged to read, we can confirm now that Sarah and Senior Ye were investigating the array described in the tome.

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): This array is closely tied to the Creator that Sarah seeks. Perhaps it's a crucial step for their so-called "audience with the Creator."

: The array's purpose is to suppress Miasma...

: The Exaltists don't seem the merciful type...

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): But the array's purpose is to suppress Miasma... From what we've seen of the Exaltists, people who treat human lives like weeds, their Creator doesn't exactly seem the merciful type...

Ning Qian: Sarah sent the remnants out to search. The array might be near the old mining site. Xiao'Guang, you lived there before. Do you remember anything about it?

Ye Shunguang: I'm sorry... It's all my fault. If only I could remember more, if only I had talked with my brother more...

Banyue: Don't be too hard on yourself. I've sensed something off in the depths of the Hollow for years now. I've gone searching more than once, but always came back empty-handed.

Banyue: I'll make another trip. Just wait for my word.

Dialyn: Wait, going in aimlessly right now is like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

Dialyn: Xiao'Guang, among the old mining site survivors, is there anyone you've stayed in touch with over the years?

Ye Shunguang: So you think we should reach out to the people from back then about the array? Makes sense... I was too young to remember, but maybe someone else still does...

Ye Shunguang: Maybe I've been deliberately avoiding ties to the past... After joining Yunkui Summit and becoming the Qingming Sword's wielder, my contact with the outside world has become even more limited...

Fairy: Master, I've located the list of survivors from the old mining site. Most of them have settled in the Sailume Bay area.

: We've found some survivors...

: Maybe they have more info?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Don't worry, some survivors from the Miasma outbreak are now settled in Sailume Bay. They might have some information about the array.

Ning Qian: Sailume Bay... I'm pretty familiar with the area. It's crowded and full of all kinds of people. Asking around one by one would take forever. Why don't we split up so we can cover more ground?

Ning Qian: No time to waste - I'll go on ahead. Join me when you're all set.

Banyue: ...Sounds good to me.

Using the addresses Fairy found, everyone sets off in different directions.

Undercurrent Beneath the Rock

 Talk to Xiao'Guang and Banyue

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Arriving at Sailume Bay, both Xiao'Guang and Banyue seem lost in thought...

Sailume Bay

(Idle)

NPC 1: That must be him.

NPC 2: Looks pretty unfriendly to me...

NPC 3: Just looking at it gives me the creeps...

NPC 4: Shh... he just looked over here.

(Idle)

Dialyn: Oh? That...

(Listen to Dialyn, optional)

Naive Kid: Wow! That Iron Uncle's hands are huge, even bigger than daddy's! So cool...

Protective Mother: Don't call him uncle. I told you before: Stay away from him.

Dialyn: It seems like... you all don't really welcome that guy?

Protective Mother: ...There's nothing much to say about it. My baby... if they were still alive, they would've been seventeen this year.

Protective Mother: Saving someone... that's a kindness. Not saving someone... that's nothing strange.

Protective Mother: We were the idiots... shouldn't have put all our hopes on a metal shell.

Naive Kid: Mommy, why are you crying? Don't cry... Mommy, don't cry!

(Idle)

Weathered Elder: Everyone's got their own emotional baggage to deal with—

Enlightened Elder: The past weighs heavy... but let's focus on the present!

(Listen to the Weathered Elder and the Enlightened Elder, optional)

Weathered Elder: That hunk of metal, ain't that... the big guy that girl from back then brought home?

Enlightened Elder: The rights and wrongs of way back then... it's all ancient history now. Those he saved have made lives for themselves... and those he didn't... they're in the ground. Bringing it up now... would only stir up trouble.

Weathered Elder: That said... some wounds just won't heal. That murderous aura of his... and all those rumors... about him being a cold-blooded killer... It's no wonder everyone's on edge.

Enlightened Elder: Whether weapon or monster... the past weighs heavy... let's focus on the present!

(Idle)

Hesitant Woman: That guy... what's he doing here again?

(Listen to the Hesitant Woman and Outraged Man, optional)

Outraged Man: Pah! What's that thing doing here again?!

Hesitant Woman: Shh... keep it down! Don't let it hear us! That thing... has crazy good hearing!

Outraged Man: So what if they heard it? Ain't we telling the truth? Back at the old mining site... if only we hadn't trusted it...

Outraged Man: That family of three next door was just steps away! They screamed for help until their voices went hoarse!

Outraged Man: And that thing? It didn't even blink! That look in its eyes... cold as stone!

Hesitant Woman: *sigh* It's all in the past now. We finally found some peace here in Sailume Bay... Let's not stir up any more trouble. Better keep our distance...

(Talk to Ye Shunguang)

Ye Shunguang: Things have changed so much... Back when my brother and I had to stay here, this place was just a haphazard mess of makeshift shelters... Now it feels like a proper settlement.

Banyue: The past fades like dust...

: It's been years since you've faced the past...

: You must be feeling pretty conflicted right now...

Ye Shunguang: Yeah. Ning Qian and the others got here before us, so they must've gone down already, right? Somehow, now that I'm here, I'm feeling kinda nervous.

Ye Shunguang: Hey, doesn't that miner up ahead... look kinda familiar?

: Looks like it's that person we saved earlier...

: Let's start by asking him.

 Ask the miner you saved earlier

---

I spot the miner we saved earlier at the old mining site. Let's ask him for some info first.

Sailume Bay

(Talk to the Humble Miner)

Humble Miner: Ah, it's you guys — the ones who saved me!

: So it is you.

: Are you feeling better?

Humble Miner: Much, much better! Thanks to you and your friends! I was just thinking about how to thank you all, and here you are!

Ye Shunguang: Don't worry about it, we were simply doing what was right. We're just glad to see you're safe and sound.

Ye Shunguang: But... we're here today to ask about something, if you don't mind...

Humble Miner: Ask away! If I know anything about it, I'll tell you everything, no beating around the bush!

: (Ask about the array)

: (Ask about rumors regarding deities)

Humble Miner: Arrays? Divine... deities? Why is it always...

Humble Miner: My old man mentioned it once: over the past few decades, outsiders would show up every now and then... And some who'd just moved into the staff family quarters and kept sneaking deeper into the mining area...

Humble Miner: They were always asking the old-timers at the mine about stuff from way back when, seems like they're digging for info about some... mystical arrays or whatever?

: Did they find anything?

Humble Miner: I just remember there was this guy who spoke real nice, and a woman who was always smiling. They even helped treat my old man's illness... They were good people... Once they even said something about making progress on whatever they were doing.

Humble Miner: ...And then... well, then everything went south, didn't it? All those things they tried... probably didn't work out?

Humble Miner: If it had worked... maybe that disaster wouldn't have happened? If there really was such a deity, people wouldn't have died and families wouldn't have been torn apart...

Ye Shunguang: Besides the array, do you perhaps remember any other details around the time of the incident ten years ago? Any detail would help...

Humble Miner: Other details... there is something I remembered recently.

Humble Miner: Last time I went into the Hollow, I just wanted to check out my old place. I got stuck before I could make it there, but I did spot these really nice-lookin' white flowers blooming all over.

: Nice-looking white flowers?

: We've seen something like that before too.

Humble Miner: Yeah, folks have been saying those white flowers are a good sign that the Miasma's receding. Come to think of it, I vaguely remember seeing something similar in the mine shafts where my folks worked, back when we lived in the mining district ten years ago.

Humble Miner: The area around those white flowers was clean too, no trace of Miasma in sight. Back then, I thought it was fun to hide next to those white flowers whenever I got into trouble with my folks. It felt oddly comforting.

Humble Miner: That's pretty much all there is to it. After that, the Miasma outbreak happened, and we couldn't even go home anymore. Not many survived... Some moved far away, others relocated here, and well... as time passed, we just lost touch.

Humble Miner: Come to think of it, it's quite a coincidence. Recently, besides you... well... *sigh* You're my saviors, so I might as well be honest — someone else hasked [sic] me about that array stuff too.

Humble Miner: It was this young man, who even gave me a fat stack of hush money, telling me not to breathe a word of this to anyone else. Said something about how this info was tied to some dangerous stuff, and they couldn't let more people get caught up in it.

: Young man...

: Could it be... Senior Ye?

Ye Shunguang: ...! What did he look like? Did he have brown hair, wear glasses, and was dressed in Yunkui Summit training attire?!

Humble Miner: Huh? No, he was nothing like that... He was a tall, slim man in black clothes with black hair. There was this... certain aura about him. He spoke politely and was quite generous too. If you hadn't saved me, I would've kept my lips sealed about him.

Ye Shunguang: Ah... so it wasn't...

Banyue: Don't feel down, we still made good progress on this trip. Let's check some other places and see what we can find.

Just then, Ning Qian's somewhat anxious voice comes from not far away...

(Is Ning Qian... being held up by someone?)

(Let's go check it out now.)

 Help Ning Qian out

---

The miner recalls the array and mentions the anomaly with white flowers in the Hollow, as well as a mysterious man... Ning Qian, who arrived here first, seems to be in some trouble. Let's head downstairs to check it out.

Sailume Bay

(Idle)

Phony Fortune Teller: Fate has brought us together, my friend! Let me read your fortune!

Ning Qian: ...I've got important business to attend to...

(Talk to Ning Qian)

Ning Qian: ...I have important matters to attend to, please stop pestering me...

Phony Fortune Teller: Hey there! Don't leave, friend! I just said I see darkness clouding your vision. There's some terrible malignance locked between those brows of yours.

Phony Fortune Teller: If this Great Master's calculations are correct... you... must have lost a close family member! This weighs heavily on your heart, and if left unresolved, great misfortune may befall you! Luckily, you've met me! For just five thousand Dennies—

Ning Qian: ...Y—You...! What the hell are you talking about, get out of here!

The fortune teller looks embarrassed, but quickly locks eyes with Xiao'Guang, as if finding a new target.

Phony Fortune Teller: Uh... *cough cough* Hey there, young lady! You have a most spiritual aura! Come, let me read your fortune. We can work out a good price, it's fate that we met!

Phony Fortune Teller: Th—This... This is... terrible! A terrible omen! The stars have fallen, the moon is broken, your path is fraught with peril, barely a glimmer of light to be seen in the dark! My lady! You may face... a great calamity soon! To overcome this tribulation, you need... you need...

Banyue: What nonsense!

: This acting needs some work...

: So now you want us to pay to break the curse?

Ye Shunguang: Mister... While I'm not great at divination myself, I have a master who's an expert. Kan is in the north, Li is in the south. I'm sorry, but your compass is wrong.

Ye Shunguang: And the positions of the Dui and Xun trigrams... they're not quite right either. We've got other matters to attend to, so we'll take our leave now.

Phony Fortune Teller: Tch! Why do I keep running into tough nuts and experts these days... That guy the other day saw right through me too... Even little girls aren't so easy to fool anymore. This gig's getting harder and harder to pull off!

The fortune teller grows frustrated with embarrassment, recalling that tall, dignified young man in black from the other day...

Phony Fortune Teller: Young man! Your face speaks of noble fortune, but... hmm... I see a hint of worry between your brows! Let this Great Master read the fortune I've laid out for you—

Phony Fortune Teller: Hey, don't mess with that! Keep your hands off, hands off I say!

Ye Shiyuan: Heh... "Victory at all costs."

Ye Shiyuan: Shifu always said divination was my worst subject, too restless and unfocused to get accurate readings...

Ye Shiyuan: But this time... I choose to trust in my divination.

Ye Shiyuan: If no word comes, when that wretched creature appears... I... will give it my all...

(Why is everyone staring at Banyue Shifu...? The atmosphere's getting weirder and weirder...)

: (Suggest going back first)

Ye Shunguang: Huh? Right now...? I... I actually want to look around some more, to see if there's anyone else my brother and I used to know...

Ye Shunguang: Why don't you head back first? Don't worry, I'll be back soon.

(Xiao'Guang is so focused on finding her brother that she hasn't even noticed the strange atmosphere.)

: (Head back with Banyue Shifu first)

Banyue: ...Very well.

(Listen to Ning Qian, optional)

Ning Qian: I ran away in a huff back then, just because you made that seaweed mung bean soup too salty...

Ning Qian: After all these years, I never got a chance to taste that soup again...

 Return to Suibian Temple

---

The atmosphere around here is getting weirder — seems like quite a few residents are less than friendly towards Banyue... Better head back to Suibian Temple with him first.

Sailume Bay

(Arrive at the highlighted area)

Chattering Crowd: Look... it really is that heap of scrap...

Chattering Crowd: A-Shu must've been blind back then, bringing that thing back from the Hollow and treating it like a person...

Chattering Crowd: A-Shu treated it with such kindness... and look at how it repaid her! Just standing by and watching her die... No wonder they said it was a killing machine before. That thing's got no heart...

Chattering Crowd: Yeah... I mean, it didn't even... that Forbidden Fruit test or...

Chattering Crowd: Poor A-Shu... saved such a thing and brought it back... and now she's gone, and her only brother... no one's heard from him in years...

: Banyue Shifu...

: What on earth is this...?

Banyue: ...Years ago, I committed an unforgivable sin. The evidence is irrefutable, beyond any dispute. Their resentment... their boundless hatred... it is the karma I deserve. I must bear it.

Banyue: One day, I shall explain it all to you.

You return to Suibian Temple with Banyue...

 Check on Banyue

---

Banyue seems to have a past he'd rather not talk about... Try chatting with him — it might help lighten his mood.

Suibian Temple

(Talk to Banyue)

"The Familiar Place"

The following is recorded in the Video Archive

 The Familiar Place

---

Video Summary: Old faces, old places — time to face them again.

Story Description: After piecing their clues together, they concluded two things: the white flowers seemed to serve as omens, and an array capable of absorbing Miasma might truly exist. They decided to head to the old residential area near the old mining site to investigate.

---

---

: (Check on Banyue again)

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Banyue Shifu... about what just happened...

Banyue: My apologies... My unannounced visit disturbed others.

Banyue: The blame is mine. Please, don't let it trouble you.

Banyue: If those words can ease even a bit of their pain... then it's a burden I should bear.

: (He seems to have a past that's hard to talk about)

: (Better give him some space)

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): I understand... I won't ask further, but if you ever want to talk about it, I'll always be there to listen.

Banyue: ...Thank you.

Banyue gives you a grateful look while staying silent.
Soon, the others return. Everyone gathers to share what they've found.

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): So those white flowers we noticed last time also appeared before the Miasma outbreak back then... Xiao'Guang's intuition was right—if the white flowers are showing up again, it must be a sign of something.

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): And the array that's been repeatedly mentioned... Some of the survivors remember it. So, it seems like it really does exist.

Dialyn: Hmm, whether Sarah is after the array for "good deed for the day" or not, we need to visit the old residential area near the mining site.

Banyue: ...Agreed.

: Do you wanna head back?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Xiao'Guang, are you gonna be ok...?

Ye Shunguang: Yeah, I'll be fine. If the leads brought us there... then it's time I faced the past.

: Once everyone's prepared...

: ...we'll set out...

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Alright, once everyone's prepared, we'll set out.

 Explore the old mining site together again

---

All the clues point deep into the old mining site. Time to head over there with everyone and check it out.

Suibian Temple

Ye Shunguang: Should we head out now?

: All set, let's head out!

: Wait a little longer.

(Talk with Ye Shunguang again repeats dialogue)