As Jiang Hao walked towards the mine, he couldn't shake off the feeling of Yan Hua's gaze upon him. It was too obvious for him not to notice, so he turned his head back for a glance. There, he saw Yan Hua smiling at him, as if conveying affection to someone dear.
With a slight nod, Jiang Hao entered the mine. Being under such scrutiny was unsettling, and he often felt that Senior Sister Yan Hua's thoughts were a bit twisted. Though he couldn't pinpoint it, his instincts warned him that something wasn't quite right.
Upon reaching the depths of the mine, Jiang Hao looked around and selected a spot that seemed stable, saying, "Let's start digging here today."
Nobody objected because digging in different directions could yield varying results. Sometimes, if one path didn't hold any treasures, changing direction was all it took.
As the mining began, Jiang Hao casually glanced at the four people led by Situ Jian and noticed their positioning seemed a bit unusual. They were standing beside certain captives, including the woman he had previously cut. It appeared she was one of their rescue targets.
"Wonder if they'll cause any trouble for me," Jiang Hao pondered. Outside the sect, he wasn't concerned about trouble. Currently, he had no plans of leaving, not before resolving issues with the Heavenly Joy Pavilion. So even if they wanted to find trouble with him, they couldn't reach him.
What worried him was during a commotion, that woman might instruct Situ Jian and others to kill him. That would indeed be a significant problem. Dealing with both Situ Jian and his companions, being wary of Yan Hua, and managing potential dangers from their rescuers would be too risky, revealing his strength to the Heavenly Sound Sect prematurely – a nightmare beginning.
Hence, he had to stay alert. If chaos erupted, he needed to see if Situ Jian's group intended to act against him and strike first if necessary. Using the Demonic Sound Slash to stun everyone, followed by the Primordial Heaven Blade to wipe them out swiftly was the last resort. He hoped it wouldn't come to that.
Putting thoughts aside, Jiang Hao took up his pickaxe and began mining. Time shouldn't be wasted, even though he wasn’t certain when the opposition might attack.
Meanwhile, Situ Jian used a secret method to communicate with Ren Shuang: "Junior Sister Ren, this is your final warning. I'm here to rescue, so act accordingly. If you try giving me commands or acting willful, I'll leave you behind, and you'll be stuck here your whole life. When we leave, stay silent. Once outside, do as you please, but until then, your life is in my hands. Others might indulge you, but not me. Do not anger me."
Ren Shuang, with her head down, continued her work silently, wishing for someone else to save her. Situ Jian, known for being firm and holding higher rank, wouldn't hesitate to do as he said.
At noon, Yan Hua glanced at the sky with a smile before heading toward the mine. Nobody dared to question her intent.
Inside the mine, everyone was taking a break. Situ Jian and his group sat near the entrance, Ren Shuang among them, looking tense. The nearby Qi Refining cultivators were similarly anxious, evidently aware that today was their chance to escape, a moment that could arrive at any minute.
In contrast, Shangguan Wen and his crew appeared well-prepared and relaxed.
Jiang Hao, who had been resting, suddenly sensed a faint fluctuation of spiritual energy – subtle but real.
"It's happening," he thought, tightening his grip on his crescent moon blade in preparation.
Simultaneously, a loud crash echoed from outside, causing the entire mine to shudder, with some areas collapsing. Fortunately, Jiang Hao's location was more secure, sparing them significant damage.
Jiang Hao stood, intending to leave as Yan Hua was approaching. He didn't wish to confront her here. Also, he worried about whether Situ Jian's group would take this opportunity to act against him.
Situ Jian moved swiftly, tearing a talisman and retreating with his group. "Friend Jiang, seems chaotic outside. We'll take a look. No need to see us off," he called as they vanished from the mine.
Seeing their swift departure, Jiang Hao felt momentary relief, gaining some time. Once the vibrations ceased, confusion spread among the miners. Wu Jing appeared furious that some had dared to flee, but Jiang Hao stopped him.
"Stay here with the miners. Something serious might be happening outside. I’ll take a look. Wait for my word."
Without waiting for a response, Jiang Hao disappeared from their sight. Situ Jian's group aimed to exit via a specific path he had discovered while appraising Bei Xue, which he planned to evade.
Heading to the outskirts or external paths was not an option; Yan Hua was certainly nearby. Thus, he navigated through complex mine routes that allowed flexibility in attack or retreat.
Shortly after Jiang Hao left, Yan Hua appeared before Wu Jing and the others. "Manager Yan..." Wu Jing greeted nervously. Yan Hua's gaze swept the surroundings, noting several absentees. Yet, she was unfazed by that, focusing instead on an individual who was missing.
"Where’s Jiang Hao?" she asked. "Senior Brother Jiang went to check the situation outside and asked us to wait," Wu Jing replied honestly. "I see," Yan Hua smiled faintly. "Keep waiting, and don’t leave until he returns."
"Y-Yes," Wu Jing stammered, bowing his head, intimidated by her smile.