"How have you been, Junior Brother?"
Mu Qi greeted Jiang Hao with a smile.
"Not bad, Senior Brother. What brings you to the Spirit Herb Garden?" Jiang Hao asked, knowing full well but pretending otherwise.
He refrained from mentioning anything about the mining area, hoping to avoid unnecessary trouble unless brought up by the other party.
"I'm here specifically to wait for you, Junior Brother. I need your help with something." Mu Qi got straight to the point, saying, "You might need to visit the mines for some time."
Jiang Hao feigned confusion.
Mu Qi then briefly explained the situation with the mines, followed by a couple of coughs, "This was originally my responsibility, but now I must entrust it to you. Rest assured, I will assist in taking care of the Spirit Herb Garden."
Jiang Hao nodded, aware he couldn't refuse even if he wanted to.
Mu Qi's injury meant someone had to oversee the mines. If not approached as a request, it could very well become a sect mission.
There was no need to cause trouble for himself.
Yet, Jiang Hao was curious whether Mu Qi was avoiding the mines because they were too dangerous or for another reason.
'Come to think of it, I’ve never appraised Senior Brother Mu before.'
With little hesitation, he activated his divine ability to appraise Mu Qi.
[Mu Qi: True Disciple of the Heavenly Sound Sect's Broken Hearts Cliff, late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation. Once entangled with Miao Tinglian, a Candidate Saintess of the Heavenly Saint Sect. His injury is self-inflicted for safety after obtaining an ancient legacy at the Heavenly Sound Sect mines, intending to absorb this legacy in seclusion.]
Due to an ancient legacy... entangled with a Candidate Saintess?
Doesn't that count as betrayal?
However, the reason for feigning serious injury was a fortunate one among misfortunes, at least he wasn't scared away by other sects.
If it were someone with weaker cultivation like him, the danger would have multiplied.
‘The Heavenly Saint Sect seems to have traces everywhere in the sect. I wonder if Senior Brother Mu will eventually turn traitor. If he does, he might come after me.'
Jiang Hao remained expressionless, asking softly, "When do I need to go?"
“By noon today.” Seeing that Jiang Hao did not refuse, Mu Qi’s expression eased, “As for my rewards, I’ll share some with you.”
Once Jiang Hao agreed, he headed straight towards the mine.
He left his rabbit at the Spirit Herb Garden, with Mu Qi saying he’d help watch over it.
“Not sure if the rabbit will still be around when I return.”
He worried a bit, but bringing the rabbit to the mines would likely cause trouble.
Best to go alone.
The matter of watering the Heavenly Fragrance Dao Flower would have to be entrusted to the rabbit.
The mines were located on the other side of the Heavenly Sound Sect. After receiving the task at Law Enforcement Peak, Jiang Hao took his belongings and headed to the mines.
Most miners were cultivators at the Qi Refining stage; ordinary people were rarely seen.
Unless someone’s cultivation dropped below Qi Refining, ordinary people were not allowed here.
With the physical constitution of an ordinary person, mining proved inefficient.
Looking out at the barren land outside the mines, mountains seemed to have had chunks taken out of them, riddled with many caves leading inward.
There were guards and management personnel around.
Surveying the area, Jiang Hao discovered the mines were on the edge of the sect, explaining why rescues might happen.
Before long, at the fortified entrance of the mine, Jiang Hao glanced at the defense-heavy outpost resembling a castle.
Inside, it was like a small marketplace, complete with structures.
“It seems self-sufficient.” He approached a tall building further inside.
This place served as the check-in for the mines, and the residence for managers.
"Jiang Hao, Inner Disciple from Broken Hearts Cliff, mid-stage Foundation Establishment, taking over Mu Qi’s duties?"
Inside, a middle-aged man read Jiang Hao’s details aloud.
“Yes,” Jiang Hao confirmed with a nod.
A brief observation revealed the administrator was very strong.
Stronger than both Senior Brother Mu and Liu Xingchen.
Having judged Jiang Hao’s strength, Wu Yuanwu didn’t dwell further, only said, “You’ll assist under Wei Lie’s command for now, given your cultivation level.”
A moment later, Jiang Hao was escorted outside the small marketplace by a bald man.
The bald man was blunt in speech, “In the mine, you follow our rules. I don’t care if you’re a True Disciple or an Inner Disciple. If I say east, you head east; if I say west, you head west.
Don't blame me if I'm not polite otherwise. And once here, you don’t leave freely, or else you'll face trouble.” Wei Lie warned coldly, a scar decorating his face, backed by vigorous blood qi, provided ample intimidation.
His cultivation was at the early Gold Core stage.
Even from brief contact, Jiang Hao sensed the man’s strength.
Given Wei Lie's commands, Jiang Hao had no choice but to bow his head in silence. He had mentioned not being able to leave freely was problematic.
Wei Lie didn't seem to care about Jiang Hao's attitude. With Foundation Establishment cultivation, he didn't consider Jiang Hao a threat.
Soon, including Jiang Hao, a group of five assembled near the Lawless Heaven Tower to take charge of a group of five captives.
Three men and two women.
They wore varied clothing, clearly not from the same sect.
Yet consistent across them was their fifth-layer Qi Refining cultivation.
Appearing extremely weak, they directed hate-filled and desperate gazes at Jiang Hao and the others.
Realizing they were captives, Jiang Hao mused internally.
“You demonic sect scoundrels, one day our righteous sects will wipe you out!” A fair-skinned, blue-robed fairy shouted angrily.
Slap!
Wei Lie slapped her hard in response, causing blood to spill.
He merely gestured at the prisoners, “Move!”
“Where are you taking us?” an elegant young man in Daoist robes asked.
Boom!
This time Wei Lie hit the man, making him cough up blood.
"Speak again, and you won't have to move anymore."
Gazing at these righteous sect disciples, Jiang Hao felt a myriad of emotions.
Perhaps someone might come to rescue them. If he, as a Demonic Sect disciple, were captured, how grim would it turn out?
Likely, even more tragic.