Cracking the Maze

Bai Ye hopped down from Yelan's arms.

He looked around.

There were high walls several meters tall, with only a single path forward.

Bai Ye frowned.

Then, he once again channeled his Anemo Genshin Eye, and his body rapidly leaped into the air.

Once he was above the height of the surrounding walls, Bai Ye immediately felt immense pressure.

However, this single glance allowed him to see what lay beyond the walls.

A maze, A maze constructed from these walls, stretching out of sight.

It was winding and twisting, with countless paths, an unknown number of forks, and dead ends.

"How is it?"

Yelan asked Bai Ye.

Bai Ye immediately relayed what he had seen to Yelan.

"This..."

Yelan pondered.

Just then, the Fatui from before also appeared in mid-air, then fell down like dumplings, with a series of splashes.

The Debt Collector landed on his feet, while the Handgunner landed on his back. The Wrist Blade Bai Ye had inserted almost came loose. Bai Ye flinched; if it had come out, the man would likely have been dead. The other Fatui were slightly better off than these two unlucky individuals, but not by much.

"This method of teleportation is truly crude," Bai Ye commented.

"Yes, the Adeptus who designed this mechanism, whether intentionally or not, causes those who arrive to be in a brief state of disorientation, unable to resist. Everyone who enters is forced to fall."

Yelan nodded.

"Thanks for that. You saved me from taking that fall."

Yelan waved her hand. "It's nothing. Hurry and find a way for us to get out of here. Otherwise, are we just going to painstakingly search our way out of this maze?"

She looked ahead, frowning slightly.

If Bai Ye couldn't think of a good solution, they would have to resort to the most basic method.

"Mhm, I understand."

Bai Ye walked to the edge of the wall, wanting to see how this mechanism was designed.

At the same time, he communicated with his teacher in his mind.

When they were about to enter, his teacher had said the mechanism looked familiar.

"Teacher, teacher, have you encountered this mechanism before?"

After a moment of silence, Hagintos's voice echoed in Bai Ye's mind.

"Hmm... I'm not sure. I can't recall. It just feels familiar instinctively, but I can't remember the specifics of why."

His teacher's tone was a little dejected.

This wouldn't do.

So Bai Ye quickly said, "Perhaps, Teacher, you only encountered this mechanism once, so it's normal that you can't remember."

"No, it's not like that. I'm certain I've seen this kind of mechanism more than once. It's familiar, very familiar. At least, at least I feel like I've been inside this kind of mechanism before. It should have been made by the same person."

Bai Ye placed his hand on the wall, Simultaneously guiding his teacher's remnant soul.

He could allow his teacher to temporarily share his senses.

Upon touching the wall, Hagintos's tone became more resolute.

"The Adeptus who created this mechanism and I must have fought before."

"I'm sure of it! It's just that I can't quite recall it right now."

"Oh, I only have a residual impression. It seems this mechanism has no other dangers, only that the walls are made of extremely sturdy material that cannot be broken. We can only walk out. I can't recall anything else..."

This was truly not good news.

Bai Ye thought to himself after hearing this.

This was a mechanism created by an Adeptus.

His teacher said they had fought before, which meant there had at least been a conflict.

No, I need to be even more secretive around the Adepti.

But right now, the most important thing is figuring out how to get out.

"So, did you win, Teacher?"

Yelan's tone instantly became confident as she said this.

"I won, I should have won. At least my Art of Automata is the most powerful in my remaining consciousness. No one else's Art of Automata can compare to mine."

"Then how did you break this maze, Teacher?"

"Hmm... let me think..."

Hagintos began to ponder.

Bai Ye also started thinking.

The two of them rapidly reviewed the Art of Automata they knew in their minds.

Clever tricks, brute force, evasion...

After considering all sorts of approaches, "I've got it!"

"I've got it!"

Bai Ye and Hagintos said at the same time.

Before, Bai Ye had been muttering to himself, but this last sentence was shouted out loud.

"You've figured out how to break this mechanism?"

Yelan walked over at this moment.

She had been watching Bai Ye closely just now, seeing him lost in thought by the wall, and felt quite worried.

Several times she had wanted to tell Bai Ye that if it didn't work out, he shouldn't bother trying to break the mechanism and just charge through.

After all, her running speed was fast enough, and trying a few more times wouldn't be a big deal.

But now that Bai Ye said he had figured it out, It was even more cause for celebration.

"Yes, I've found a way to leave."

Bai Ye said with a smile.

At the same time, in his heart, he said to his teacher:

"Teacher, I'll need your help next."

"Mhm, mhm."

Hagintos was very happy.

At least she could still help her disciple.

Yelan inquired, "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"You?"

Bai Ye thought for a moment, then pointed to the Fatui behind them:

"Let's strip their clothes!"

They would need a lot of threads next, and fortunately, there were these Fatui around. Otherwise, they would have had to strip Bai Ye and Yelan's clothes.

The Fatui, who were still watching the show from behind, widened their eyes at this moment.

Mirror Maiden, in particular, clutched her chest tightly.

"There's an old saying in Liyue, 'A scholar can be killed but not disgraced'!"

The Debt Collector shouted loudly.

However, Bai Ye and Yelan didn't care about the Fatui's feelings at all.

Most of the Fatui's clothes were stripped off.

The men were left with just their pants, And Mirror Maiden was directly modified into a swimsuit version.

"What do we do next?"

Looking at the clothes that had been turned into threads, Yelan asked Bai Ye.

"Of course, we'll probe our way out bit by bit."

Bai Ye replied to Yelan.

At the same time, He began to dismantle his Handheld Crossbow.

"What are you doing?"

Yelan asked curiously.

"I'm modifying these handheld crossbows into mobile robots. They'll go ahead and test the situation on the path ahead."

Bai Ye disassembled six handheld crossbows and reassembled them into over a dozen mobile contraptions.

Finally, with a bit of Art of Automata and Adeptal Arts, over a dozen scouting robots were complete.

He then attached silk threads to the back of these robots, allowing for easy operation and retrieval.

If I don't know how to navigate this maze, then I'll just traverse every single path!

With so many Fatui clothes turned into silk threads, and the ability to recall them when hitting a dead end, Bai Ye estimated it would be enough to explore most of the maze.

"You even know Adeptal Arts?"

Yelan asked Bai Ye.

"A little bit,"

Bai Ye said nonchalantly.

While not many people in Liyue Harbor knew Adeptal Arts, there were still some.

Yelan knowing about it wasn't a big deal.

He placed all the robots on the ground.

"Go!"

He stomped on the ground and softly shouted in a clear voice.

The robots, with their threads trailing behind, rushed forward.

Now, it would require the cooperation of two people.

Operating the robots while monitoring their movements and deciding whether to extend the exploration range would be too much for one person's mental capacity, but with his teacher present, it would be much simpler with two people working together.

After a while, Bai Ye pointed ahead.

"Let's go. We're heading out."

He had already found a general path.

Bai Ye walked forward.

Without a second thought, Yelan followed him.

After some time, the two arrived at the exit of the maze.

Seeing the light ahead, Bai Ye breathed a sigh of relief.

Finally, they could get out.

And it wasn't just a simple exit.

Bai Ye had a feeling that

once he stepped out, he would gain control of this maze map.