Han Yu's eyes narrowed.

"No ground?"

'No. Only water now. The whole tunnel is filled.'

Han Yu considered that.

"What about the opening?"

'Small. Very small. Only water can pass.'

Silence followed.

Han Yu did not respond immediately.

Instead, he replayed everything in his mind.

The width of the river.

The presence of the path.

The distance traveled.

The narrowing at the end.

His thoughts moved rapidly, connecting pieces, forming possibilities.

This was not a complete route.

Not yet.

But it was close.

Very close.

Han Yu exhaled slowly.

Then, finally, he spoke.

"Return."

Chitterfang did not question the command.

he turned and began making its way back.

Han Yu remained where he was, his gaze fixed on the ground beneath him.

The aquifer was not perfect.

But perfection was not required.

Only possibility.

Han Yu did not rush.

From the moment he confirmed the existence of viable underground water routes, his approach shifted from simple observation to recording the information.

Every step he took afterward was measured with caution and supported by careful planning. If there was one thing he understood clearly, it was that a single mistake in this place would not merely cost him his life, but also erase any chance of saving the others.

Thus, he stayed. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

For an entire week, Han Yu remained within the depths of the mine, moving through tunnels and chambers with a quiet persistence that drew little attention. His identity as Ju Fan allowed him freedom, but he did not abuse it.

He kept his actions within reasonable bounds, always maintaining the image of a diligent disciple focused on his assigned task.

And in truth, that part was not false.

Studying the mine's geology was indeed his responsibility.

He simply expanded the definition of that task.

Each day, Han Yu traversed different sections, sometimes revisiting previously explored areas, sometimes venturing into newly opened tunnels. He observed not only the distribution of Violet Spirit Quartz, but also the composition of the surrounding rock, the density of mineral veins, and the subtle variations in structural integrity.

He began to notice patterns.

Certain types of rock formations were more likely to contain stable quartz deposits. Others were more prone to collapse. The presence of moisture often indicated underlying channels, but not all moisture led to viable aquifers. Some merely seeped through porous layers, offering no real passage beneath.

He memorized all of it.

Every shift in texture.

Every variation in Qi flow.

Every sign of hidden instability.

At the same time, Chitterfang continued its work.

While Han Yu remained within mapped areas, the small rat ventured where no human could. Through narrow crevices, unstable passages, and entirely unmapped tunnels, it moved freely, guided by instinct and sharpened by its bond with Han Yu.

Their coordination improved with each passing day.

Han Yu would mark potential points of interest using the talisman, and Chitterfang would investigate them from below or beyond, often discovering connections that were completely invisible from the surface.

Some tunnels, it found, were naturally connected.

Others had once been connected, but had since collapsed or been sealed off by shifting terrain. In many cases, the openings were far too small for a human to pass through, but that did not deter Chitterfang. It dug where necessary, widening narrow points just enough to slip through, mapping everything along the way.

And what it found confirmed Han Yu's suspicions.

The mine was not a collection of isolated sections.

It was a network.

A fragmented one, but a network nonetheless.

On multiple occasions, Chitterfang emerged into entirely different sections of the mine after traversing hidden paths. There, it observed the same scenes repeated in different variations.

Slaves working under curse seals. Members of the three clans overseeing operations. Occasionally, disciples of the Slaughtered Moon Divine Blood Sect monitoring from a distance.

This discovery brought a rare flicker of satisfaction to Han Yu's otherwise calm demeanor. It meant that the mine was not as compartmentalized as it appeared. And more importantly, it meant that people could be moved.

Not openly of course and neither through the main tunnels, but through the hidden paths beneath. That was IF one could navigate them properly. That realization alone expanded the scope of his plans significantly.

While Chitterfang explored, Han Yu continued his own work above.

Every two days, he would leave the mine briefly.

Only for a few hours.

Just enough to rest, to eat, and to maintain appearances.

And, of course, to report to Hong Yao.

As Ju Fan, he was technically subordinate to the Core Disciple overseeing this operation. Ignoring that hierarchy would only invite suspicion, something Han Yu could not afford.

Fortunately, Hong Yao proved to be… manageable.

The man showed little interest in the details of Han Yu's work. Most of their interactions were brief, consisting of simple exchanges regarding progress and general observations. Hong Yao listened, but rarely questioned. He did not interfere, nor did he probe deeper than necessary.

It was not negligence.

It was disinterest.

And for Han Yu, that was ideal.

Still, he did not act carelessly.

During one such meeting, Han Yu raised a request.

"I would like access to the map array," he said calmly. "For study purposes. A more detailed personal record would help in refining the puppet design."

Hong Yao barely paused before responding.

"Approved."

Simple.

Direct.

No complications.

That alone spoke volumes about Ju Fan's status as well as Hong Yao's caution.

With permission secured, Han Yu proceeded to formalize his access. He approached the left and right supervisors responsible for maintaining the array. Both were initially cautious, but the moment they learned his identity, their hesitation vanished.

A personal disciple of the Second Kidney Peak Head.

Working on improving mining efficiency.

There was no reason to deny such a request.

In fact, they were eager to assist.

After all, any increase in Violet Spirit Quartz production would benefit everyone involved.

Thus, Han Yu was granted access without difficulty.

Within a guarded tent in the camp, he connected a fresh jade slip to the access node of the map array. The process required precision, but it was not complex.