Chapter 104

In the dense forest, lush vegetation grew in every corner, and the continuous chirping of insects and birds echoed throughout. On a rugged mountain path, a man dressed as a hunter, carrying a bow, was panting heavily as he led three people along the path.

"Big brother, are you tired?" Klee asked, holding a small red lizard in her hand as she looked at the hunter, Alan, who was breathing heavily.

"Not... too bad... ha... ha..." Alan replied, leaning on his knees, sweat dripping down his face.

Noelle, concerned, said, "Mr. Alan, we're almost at our destination. How about we rest here for a while?"

Looking up at the three who didn't seem tired at all, Alan shook his head, flinging away the sweat on his face. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his breathing. However, the thick forest was not only hot but also very humid, turning it into a kind of natural sauna.

Feeling slightly dizzy, Alan finally exhaled and said, "Alright then, I'll take a break here."

"Okay, then let's rest for a while," Noelle nodded.

"No, it's getting late. The destination is just ahead, in that valley," Alan said, pointing towards a distant area where a vast low-lying forest could be seen. He sat down, leaning against a tree branch. "With your abilities, I'm not much use anyway. I'd only slow you down. I think my task of leading the way is done. You can continue to the breeding grounds yourselves."

"Mr. Alan, will it be safe for you to stay here alone?" Noelle asked, worried.

Alan laughed lightly, explaining, "This is a breeding area specially set up by Springvale, so there's no real danger."

"I see," Noelle nodded in slight relief, recalling that she hadn't sensed any monsters along the way. "Mr. Alan, we'll go ahead and capture the boars, then come back to meet you. If there's any danger, just shout my name, and I'll come running."

Holding Klee's hand, Noelle turned to follow the path ahead, glancing back at Alan one last time. Hiroshi silently walked beside them, his eyes fixed on a blue panel that no one else could see, scrolling with text.

Scratching his chin, Hiroshi pondered the private message he'd just exchanged with Venti. He had intended to ask Venti about the mysteries of Teyvat, though he hadn't expected much. But after Venti had evaded the question repeatedly, he'd left Hiroshi with one cryptic line: "Hiroshi, this isn't something you can pursue at the moment. Grow stronger, stronger than the Seven Archons, and only then will you find the answers you're seeking. And I believe you have that potential."

Running a hand through his hair, Hiroshi was absorbed in his own thoughts. The more he learned about Teyvat, the more he realized how deep the mysteries ran—far deeper than he had imagined from his prior knowledge of the game. He thought about the God of Contracts and the Archon Wars, the myriad hints and clues that painted a much more complex world.

"Hey, watch out!" a sudden voice broke his reverie.

Klee and Noelle, walking behind Hiroshi, saw a small white hand suddenly pull Hiroshi into the bushes.

They rushed over to where Hiroshi had disappeared, pushing aside the thick underbrush. Hiroshi found himself staring at a blue-haired girl, who pressed a finger to her lips. Her golden eyes were full of seriousness.

It was Xiangling.

Seeing her familiar face, Hiroshi couldn't help but smile. This was the girl who had journeyed with him across much of Teyvat in the game.

Xiangling gestured for Hiroshi to follow her, pointing ahead. "Shh, be careful. Don't startle them."

Hiroshi quietly moved closer to Xiangling and saw a group of wild boars foraging. There were large boars and tiny boarlets frolicking around them.

Xiangling carefully withdrew into the bushes, signaling Klee and Noelle to keep quiet.

"Shh, shh, be quiet!" she urged.

Seeing Xiangling so tense and serious, Noelle and Klee slowed their steps.

Noelle crouched beside Hiroshi and whispered, "Master Hiroshi, are you alright?"

Hiroshi smiled and shook his head, patting Noelle reassuringly. "Don't worry, Noelle. Your master wouldn't get hurt by something like this."

Klee, crouching next to Xiangling, stared with sparkling eyes at the plush bear hanging from Xiangling's waist. "Big sister, your friend is so cute, just like Klee's Dodoco."

Xiangling smiled at the bright-eyed little girl. "This is my good friend, Guoba. I'm Xiangling, a chef from Liyue. I've heard a lot about the ingredients in Mondstadt, and I wanted to explore."

"Sister Xiangling, you're from Liyue!" Klee said excitedly. "Is Liyue a fun place? Are there lots of places to go on adventures?"

"Shh, shh, quieter," Xiangling hushed Klee, glancing nervously back at the boars. She relaxed a bit after confirming they hadn't been scared off. "I'm hunting. I'm on a journey to find rare and unique ingredients from all over."

"But... you can't hunt here," Klee said, tilting her head, confused. "This place is part of Springvale's boar breeding area, and hunting is not allowed."

"What?!" Xiangling exclaimed, standing up abruptly, eyes wide in shock. She watched as the startled boars quickly ran away, sighing regretfully. "Oh, come on, really?!"