I Can Strengthen Infinitely-Chapter 142 - 122: Gold Mine

Yunmeng Stream is considered a relatively deep area within Meteor Mountain.

This place showcases the original landscape, with ancient trees thriving densely, their branches like a cover that obscures the sky, each standing over ten meters tall, incredibly awe-inspiring.

Meanwhile, the venomous insects and wild beasts are not few.

Rare birds are seen everywhere on the treetops, using their beaks to groom their feathers or searching for lice on their mates.

Large centipedes crawl on the ground, but it doesn’t take long before they get rolled into the mouth by a big frog lying in the dark, the size of a basin.

It can be said here is a place completely uninhabitable for common people.

Crack!

A dry tree branch snapped under Qin Yuesheng’s foot.

"How far is it to Yunmeng Stream?" Qin Yuesheng asked Zhao Ding, who led the way ahead.

"Almost there, you only need to pass that ridge ahead, and it’s Yunmeng Stream." Zhao Ding slapped a spider off his shoulder, responding.

"So I come to originally live in such a place, no wonder he’s been doing evil for so long without anyone being able to find him. This barren mountain has bad water; even the bandits of Meteor Mountain usually wouldn’t come here." Qin Yuesheng thought to himself.

The Meteor Mountain may be large, but not every place is suitable to set up camp; naturally, there exist harsh terrains where even the bandits wouldn’t want to approach, Yunmeng Stream being one.

"Roar!"

Suddenly, a wolf sprang out of the shrubbery, biting directly toward Qin Yuesheng.

Qin Yuesheng swung his knife, and before the wolf could get close to him, it was already slashed into two halves.

On the way, they encountered quite a few attacks like this one, but none posed a threat to Qin Yuesheng.

After advancing several hundred steps, indeed passing the ridge Zhao Ding mentioned, the scenery before Qin Yuesheng immediately transformed; the dense forest had reached its end, and beyond the ridge was a slowly flowing clear stream.

The stream flowed from upstream, with several deer and beasts drinking at the streamside.

"This is Yunmeng Stream. I truly don’t know where I come to live; I can’t guide you." Zhao Ding said earnestly.

Qin Yuesheng nodded: "I believe you."

"So can I now leave..."

Bang!

Before Zhao Ding could finish, Qin Yuesheng promptly knocked him out, stripped off his clothes, tied him up, and then hoisted him to the highest point of a big tree.

"After I find I come to, I’ll come back to let you go." Qin Yuesheng left a remark and began running upstream along Yunmeng Stream.

Zhao Ding, an outer forging muscle hammering specialist, had skin and flesh that could deflect swords and knives; the forest’s beasts and venomous insects were powerless against him.

...

The brook in the forest, with its scenic beauty.

But Qin Yuesheng’s attention wasn’t focused on this. After sprinting upstream for a while, a very rudimentary wooden cabin immediately caught his attention.

It’s impossible for ordinary people to build a wooden cabin in a place like Yunmeng Stream; considering the information Zhao Ding mentioned, the cabin’s owner is likely I come to.

Qin Yuesheng walked directly towards the cabin, simultaneously focusing his Spirit on listening for sounds around him. With Qin Yuesheng’s Spirit reaching 100.0, he keenly perceived every rustle.

Upon arriving outside the cabin, a large amount of dried meat was strung on grass ropes, hanging under the eaves, alongside vegetables like radishes and bamboo shoots, giving off a somewhat rustic farmer’s flavor.

It’s hard to imagine a flower thief living in such a place.

Just as Qin Yuesheng reached out to push open the door, suddenly the sound of something tearing through the air came from behind. He swiftly turned and chopped, hitting that object.

Clang!

Sparks splattered; it was a cross-shaped dart!

"I come to?" Qin Yuesheng shouted towards the surroundings.

From behind a nearby tree, a one-eyed man slowly emerged, glaring fiercely at Qin Yuesheng: "This place doesn’t welcome guests."

"I’m not here to be a guest." Qin Yuesheng scrutinized the man; this person didn’t match the physique described by the information given to him in the Common People’s District as ’I come to.’ 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

The one-eyed man drew twin swords from the sheath at his waist, charging swiftly at Qin Yuesheng without uttering a word.

Qin Yuesheng saw this person’s fast pace; he seemed skillful.

But currently, for him, anyone not reaching the Inner Power Realm Martial Artist...

Is just an ant.

The one-eyed man simultaneously launched his twin swords, all deadly moves.

Qin Yuesheng swept horizontally with his blade, emitting blade energy like a flood, with awe-inspiring momentum.

The one-eyed man could hardly withstand Qin Yuesheng’s force, instantly feeling his arms tremble, unable to control himself, he stumbled back several steps.

"Where is Wo Lai Ye?" Qin Yuesheng stepped forward and demanded.

But this man was like a beast, knowing full well his strength was inferior to Qin Yuesheng, yet he still kept slashing with his twin swords. Qin Yuesheng frowned, swung his blade continuously, and instantly severed the one-eyed man’s arms, leaving him incapable of further attacks.

The outcome was already decided. The one-eyed man suddenly bit down hard inside his mouth, causing blood to spurt out nonstop. Immediately, he was completely incapacitated.

Qin Yuesheng reached out to his nose, only to find there was no breath left.

"What’s wrong with him? I just asked a question, did he really have to commit suicide?" Qin Yuesheng looked puzzled.

This person’s stubbornness was unbelievable, as fierce as one could imagine.

With no other option, Qin Yuesheng had to enter the house to see if he could find any clues related to Wo Lai Ye.

The wooden house was dim, but since it was still daytime, he could see inside.

Upon entering, he saw the room was filled with tools like hoes and pickaxes, items commonly found in a mine.

A strong, earthy smell permeated the air, as if someone had unearthed buried damp soil.

Following this scent, Qin Yuesheng discovered a large hole at the source, deep and dark, unsure where it led.

There were clear signs of soil transportation near the hole; someone evidently had moved the earth elsewhere.

"What is Wo Lai Ye up to?" Qin Yuesheng wondered. He then took out a torch and threw it into the hole.

It fell over two yards deep before landing with a thud. Due to the height, the torch extinguished as soon as it hit the ground.

However, the brief flash of light was enough for Qin Yuesheng to glimpse what was below—it seemed to be a mine tunnel.

Qin Yuesheng jumped down.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Upon entering, he heard the sound of metal striking not far away in a mine tunnel.

Qin Yuesheng quickly headed in that direction.

Within the mine tunnel, faint firelight cast shadows onto the smooth rock walls. As Qin Yuesheng rounded the first corner, three emaciated men came into view.

The men were unkempt, holding pickaxes and continuously striking the rock wall. On the ground lay several baskets filled with various-sized ores.

Under the firelight, these ores faintly emanated a golden glow—perhaps gold ore!

Crash!

Seeing Qin Yuesheng, the men immediately dropped their pickaxes in shock, lips trembling, unable to utter a word.

"Who are you? Do you know Wo Lai Ye?" Qin Yuesheng proactively asked.

"Help, save us, take us out of here!"

The three men finally reacted, ignoring the scattered stones on the ground, kneeling and begging anxiously.

Qin Yuesheng asked, "Calm down, tell me what’s going on here. Why are you mining for gold?"

One man, overjoyed and in tears, recounted his ordeal.

It turned out, Liu Xian, the magistrate of Yangzhou Prefecture, had an illegitimate son. Due to Liu Xian’s wife’s domineering nature, he couldn’t bring the son home and had him raised in a local official’s household.

Though Liu Xian couldn’t officially acknowledge the son, he adored him greatly.

This pampering led the son to become fearless and indulgent.

A month ago, Liu Xian’s guests included a geologist who discovered a massive gold mine beneath Cyan Yang City’s Meteor Mountain—a fortune surpassing kingdoms.

Despite Liu Zhizhang’s debauchery, his competence was exemplary. By sixteen, he had established a formidable civilian gang through sheer ability.

Given the son’s identity was known to few besides Liu Xian, Liu Xian tasked him with secretly mining the Meteor Mountain gold.

The emaciated miners were abducted by Liu Zhizhang from nearby villages around Meteor Mountain.

The one-eyed man who just attacked Qin Yuesheng was a thug from Liu Zhizhang’s gang, overseeing operations as a ’redvisor.’

From the miners, Qin Yuesheng learned this site wasn’t the main vein of gold but a minor offshoot still rich in gold.

Liu Zhizhang, naturally amorous, indulged nightly without restraint; using ’Wo Lai Ye’ as his alias within Cyan Yang City.

"Secretly mining gold, Liu Xian’s ambitions aren’t small," Qin Yuesheng mused.

Throughout history, wealth begets soldiers, soldiers grant power, power leads to a throne.

Once discovered, Liu Xian’s schemes would spell disaster, his entire clan endangered.

"Do you know where Liu Zhizhang is?" Qin Yuesheng asked.

"Not sure. He roves freely, occasionally visiting. I’ve only seen him once or twice monthly," replied the miner.

"Alright, I’ll get you out first. Once outside, you must keep this secret, lest your lives are in danger."