"We should really come up with a plan"
"Hmm yeah, how about making you as bait so Xiao and I can escape?"
"Why are you guys here with me by the way?"
"Some circumstances."
The three rebels were now hiding behind a wooden house. They couldn't change their hiding place because the hunter was nearby. So, they were in desperate need of a plan.
"Anyway back to the plan, using something as a decoy seems like a good idea," Xiao thought out loud and then noticed the female adepti beside him was staring intensely, "It's something, not someone. Calm yourself."
The atmosphere surrounding them has gotten quite tense due to that small quarrel. Hu Tao didn't like this. They were supposed to have fun after all. Thus, to lighten up the mood, she tried to joke around.
But, her different sense of humor didn't bring her the outcome she desired.
"Let's just use this." Xiao lifted a random rock and presented it to the girls. They were previously busy arguing about how weird Hu Tao's joke was, but now they have gone quiet and looked clueless.
"The plan. Don't tell me you two forgot about it already."
They immediately shook their heads. They hoped Xiao would believe their lie but this was Xiao we are talking about. He could easily see right through them. Lucky for them, he let this one slide because there was no time for punishment right now.
Following Xiao's action, Hu Tao and Ganyu started to leave their elemental traces on some rocks that they have gathered. After that, they sneaked quietly and scatter the rocks near Zhongli in an attempt to confuse him.
They observed him for a while and after they were sure he caught the bait, they dashed away from him.
Unfortunately, one simple thing was forgotten.
What was it you ask? Well, it was the volume of their voice. Their previous conversation was caught by the hunter's ears. He purposely went along with it for some time to entertain himself.
Amidst the crying of the captured rebels was Zhongli's cocky smile.
He won.