Chapter 189: Chapter 189: Bald, Pale-Faced Scholar! Primordial Qi Unity Late Stage!

The miners in the back, seeing that it was only a mole rat, all breathed a sigh of relief and started laughing at the miner who had collapsed on the ground.

Squeak, squeak, squeak—

Squeak, squeak, squeak—

Just then, more than a dozen mole rats suddenly darted out from the darkness.

"Huh, these mole rats used to be more timid than Old Wang. What’s going on tonight, why are so many coming out at once?"

Pa—

As they spoke, someone raised an iron pick and brought it down hard, smacking a particularly fat-looking mole rat right on the spot.

"Heh, looks like we’ve got some snacks to go with our wine."

Soon after, several workers joined in the mole rat hunt.

Even Old Wang, who had been so scared he collapsed, was now clutching his iron pick, ready to catch himself a snack.

"What are you doing instead of mining? Slacking off, are you?"

The commotion drew over two constables in Flying Fish Suits.

"Sirs, here you go."

The miner held up two fat mole rats.

"Mole rats?" The constable froze for a moment, then a smile broke out on his face. "Smart lads."

The mole rats in this mine feed on salt rocks, resulting in exceptionally tender meat. Braised or deep-fried, they’re a real delicacy.

These mole rats even have a fancy name: salt-meat rats.

Salt-meat rats are timid by nature, rarely seen. A mole rat the size of a palm could easily sell for thirty or fifty coins at a restaurant.

Those two the miner just handed over were big enough to fetch nearly two taels of silver.

"Not bad, not bad." The two constables raised their chins and walked away.

"Tch!" Once those two were out of sight, the miner spat on the ground, clearly annoyed.

They’d spent all day mining for just twenty coins’ wages, and the one chance to get lucky was gone in a blink.

"Forget it, Uncle Wang, you can have this one." A miner with a sooty face, skin pitch-black, but a voice still somewhat childish, spoke up.

"Xiaozheng, this is your first time in the mines. Do you know how much this rat is worth?" Old Wang couldn’t help but ask.

The miner named Xiaozheng nodded. "I know, Uncle Wang."

"Then why—"

"Uncle Wang, I’m all alone. As long as I’m full, what do I need silver for?"

"Don’t you want a wife?"

A wife?

At those words, a flash of hatred flickered deep in Xiaozheng’s eyes.

With a life hanging by a thread every day, where was he going to end up squandering it on a good girl?

"Old Wang, I’ll give you one too."

Luckily, each of them had caught two or three rats. Share a few around, and everyone could get a tael or two—several days’ wages in just one night.

While they were dividing up, more mole rats came rushing and scrambling from deep within the mine, as if fleeing from something terrifying.

...

Morning.

Jingyan County, temporary residence.

After a night’s rest, Chu Ming felt much better physically.

Stepping outside, Shen Yu was practicing martial arts under Meng Zhen’s guidance.

"You’re up?" Shen Yu stopped his movements, pointing at a stone table nearby. "Breakfast’s over there."

"Oh, by the way, Lord Shao already left."

Shao Pengshu, due to his position, had taken his people back to Baiyuan County early this morning.

"Alright."

After washing up, Chu Ming sat down at the stone table for breakfast, watching Shen Yu train.

The Cultivation Technique he’d deduced was simple enough to perform; with Meng Zhen’s guidance, Shen Yu was progressing fast.

But that "fast" was all relative.

While eating, Chu Ming considered the uses for that Azure Ancient Juice drop.

He himself didn’t need Azure Ancient Juice that badly. Even if he took it, it would only have about as much effect as Centennial Black Ginseng—a bit of a waste.

Little Shan was frail, not fit for martial arts. She needed a treasure like Azure Ancient Juice to improve her physique—she was his first choice.

Shen Yu had helped him; his talent for martial arts was average, but he was willing to put in the work. With time, he’d definitely be able to condense his Qi and Blood.

Feng Yuan also helped him; his martial arts aptitude was similar to Shen Yu’s, but since Feng Yuan was still middle-aged, his priority was lowest.

Shame there’s only one drop...

As he was thinking, Chu Ming’s eyes flashed suddenly.

[Sword Gourd Spirit] sensed a unique aura entering the residence, quiet as a whisper—it hadn’t been noticed by the guards Lv Wen had stationed.

"That aura...a Primordial Qi Warrior..."

The aura of a Primordial Qi Warrior was distinct from that of a Martial Artist. This person emanated the same kind of presence as someone from the Divine Mystery Bureau.

He must have been sent by the Divine Mystery Bureau to protect him.

A few moments later, a figure calmly walked toward his courtyard. None of the servants or maids around seemed to notice this living, breathing person passing by.

What a skill! Chu Ming thought with admiration.

When the man walked up to the courtyard gate, Meng Zhen seemed to sense something and turned around.

What they saw was a gentle-looking young man in white robes, appearing quietly before their eyes.

So pale, really so pale—even Chu Ming was impressed.

The newcomer was at most twenty, dressed like a pale-faced scholar, his eyes bright as a spring well.

But...Why’s he bald?

A bald, pale-faced scholar. That was Chu Ming’s first impression of the man.

"You must be Chu Chief Clerk?" The bald, pale-faced scholar spoke steadily, his gaze fixed on Chu Ming.

His voice startled Shen Yu, who’d been immersed in his training. "Who are you?"

Meng Zhen took a defensive stance; Ye Hong, responsible for Shen Yu’s safety, stepped out of the house, weapon in hand.

"My name is Jin Yu. On my master’s orders, I’m here to protect Chu Chief Clerk when he enters the mine."

This was Bai You’s student from the Divine Mystery Bureau, sent to protect Chu Ming.

"Protect Chu Ming?" Shen Yu looked Jin Yu up and down, puzzled. "Who is your master?"

Jin Yu looked as frail as a scholar, maybe weaker than a porter, probably couldn’t even outmuscle Shen Yu himself.

Protect Chu Ming?

Meng Zhen also stared at Jin Yu, clearly unconvinced.

"Who my master is, Chief Historian Shen doesn’t need to know."

Jin Yu’s tone was calm, not outright rude, but Shen Yu could hear the hidden implication.

This pale, bald guy was looking down on him.

"Do you have any idea what’s under the mine?"

Shen Yu wanted to scare Jin Yu off.

But Jin Yu was as unfazed as ever: "Evil."

Huh?

That reply changed Shen Yu’s expression in an instant.

He knew there were Evil things in the salt mine, yet was still brazen enough to claim he’d protect Chu Ming?

Either his brain was broken, or he was—

"Golden Divine Envoy, please come inside."

Chu Ming cut Shen Yu off, making an inviting gesture.

Shen Yu didn’t know who Jin Yu was, but he did.

"No need. I’ll only keep you safe for two trips into the mine. After that, my task is finished." Jin Yu stood under the arch, still speaking with that same even voice. "When do we go?"

Evidently, protecting Chu Ming wasn’t Jin Yu’s real priority; he was just completing his master’s mission.

Chu Ming paused, keeping his face neutral, and said: "Let’s go now."

The Divine Mystery Bureau’s Primordial Qi Warriors all had a habit of acting enigmatic.

Like Bai You at the Black Tower that night; his disciple was the same.

Since Jin Yu put it that way, there was no need to waste words.

These past few days, besides traveling, he’d spent half his time on inferring Qi Blood Techniques and the other half on Primordial Qi Cultivation.

Primordial Qi Cultivation had four realms: Primordial Qi Introduction, Primordial Qi Unity, Primordial Qi Liquid, and Primordial Qi Lake.

Last night, he’d just deduced his Primordial Qi Technique up to the late stage of Primordial Qi Unity. With that, he drew the white Primordial Qi he’d condensed in Book collection Lake these days into his Primordial Qi Mansion, and broke through to late Primordial Qi Unity in one go.

His proficiency in the "Ten Rings of Primordial Qi" had also reached a high level; right now, he could barely use up to the seventh ring.