act14mini

I've found some... explosive residue.

Explosives...?

Might they be evidence of Chidao engineers drilling holes into the mountain when they established the fortifications?

Hmm...

When I was interning at 'Chun-qian', we worked with Chidao engineering teams on scouting missions, assessments, and rescue operations.

They emphasize 'Precision and Control' during construction, and use standardized explosives developed by the Ministry of Works for their drilling and blasting.

But in the residue I found here, the gunpowder looks really rough.

It looks more homemade.

On my way here, I chanced upon some hunters blocking the entrance to a sand beast cave... with explosives crafted from clay.

But who would bury such explosives on this barren summit?

The wandering monk accidentally kicks a stone.

The stone rolls a ways down the slope before coming to a stop in a clear depression.

She pokes at the surrounding vegetation with her naginata, and the winding tracks are almost instantly blown away by the wind.

What's wrong, Shifu?

The tracks were made by a mobility scooter.

The old man wearily drags his feet over the steps and staggers toward the outskirts of the village.

The sun gradually tilts west, forming a resplendent sunset. The last rays of the light are just right, not too hot or cold, warming him up.

At this hour, he would normally have just finished with the day's work, or settled a village affair.

There is never enough time in the farming season, but to him, a day has never felt so long.

He walks aimlessly until his legs give in and he sits down on the ground in a daze.

Elder...?

Why... why are you here?

Weren't you supposed to...?

Here's your money, Elder.

What are you... talking about?

The exhausted Messenger sets the package on the ground. It gives off a muffled, heavy sound, the dust almost striking the old man's face.

Did you forget? You submitted an application two years ago.

The subsidy you've been waiting for, it's finally here.

I set out the instant I got your message.

Yep. After Chunfen this year, the village should have some state-of-the-art farming equipment. And every household can buy a new thing or two.

The government didn't forget about Moushan... it's just that the Catastrophe made for a pretty long delay.

Elder...?

The old man does not move from his spot, his mouth open wide. He wants to say something, but nothing comes out.

The bundle of money on the ground is incredibly heavy. The old man feels his vision blurring, as if the mountain cleared by the excavator thousands of years ago had returned, weighing on his heart.

Go, quickly...

Go and release Fang Xiaoshi.

Elder...

Fang Xiaoshi, he... he jumped off the mountain...