Immortals and Demons Forever

Chapter 18: Arrival at the Mine

Guo Yan looked at Su Mu as if he were a lunatic! Someone actually can’t wait to go to that godforsaken place? That’s just crazy! “Did you bring everything?” “What things?” “Don’t play dumb with me—it’s a gift, a present for Boss Song.” Guo Yan pulled a small box out of his pocket; when he opened it, a bronze-colored ring was inside. Guo Yan said with a pained expression, “This is a Source Art Ring. It took me a lot of effort to get it. There’s a rune on the bottom of the ring; infusing it with a small amount of Source Power activates it, allowing it to release a protective shield that no one below the rank of Yuan Tu can break—though it can only be used three times.” “That’s actually a pretty nice item. Are you just giving it away like that?” “What else could I do? When you’re on someone else’s turf, you’ve got to show some respect—otherwise, they’ll make you pay. Even though we’re both from the same sect, they’ve been there for years and have become the local big shots. Even if they’re recalled, they’re still deeply reluctant to leave. Oh, right—where’s your gift? Let’s see what you’ve got.” “I didn’t prepare anything.” “Don’t lie to me. Ask these guys over here—everyone’s prepared something. It’s an unwritten rule. If your gift isn’t good enough, they might not appreciate it! Anyway, every time someone goes there, Boss Song always picks out one or two unlucky souls to assert his authority, so the quality of the gift is really important. I know you’re definitely going all out, little brother.” Su Mu knew it was no use trying to explain, so he decided to just go along with it. “All right, since you’ve already shown me yours, I can’t be too stingy. Here’s my gift.” Su Mu said, holding up a wooden stick. Guo Yan hurriedly took it and examined it closely. He’d thought this stick was like his Source Art Finger Ring—containing some kind of supernatural power—but after looking at it for a long time, it turned out to be just an ordinary stick. It was practically free—just peel the bark off a random tree and give it a quick polish, and there you go. “Brother Mu, are you pulling my leg?” “Not at all. I’m being completely serious. This is the gift I prepared. As for the secrets behind it, well, that’s something best kept between us.” Su Mu gave a mysterious smile. Guo Yan was completely baffled; no matter how hard he racked his brain, he couldn’t see anything unusual about this wooden stick. After waiting a while, the others arrived. A few of them looked familiar to Su Mu, though he couldn’t recall their names. The Elder in charge soon arrived as well, gave a few instructions to everyone in person, and then they all got into the car and set off. The young people didn’t say much, and Su Mu wasn’t one to make casual acquaintances either; he sat with his arms crossed, closing his eyes to rest. The beast-drawn carriage traveled a long distance—a full few hours—with the ride alternating between smooth and bumpy stretches along the way. Just past 4:00 p. m. , they finally arrived at their destination. The group got off the vehicle. On a hilltop about a kilometer outside the mine entrance was a camp where the miners lived. When work was particularly busy, they would sleep right inside the mine. There were tents, mud-brick huts, and nicer little stone houses; naturally, those of higher status lived in the better accommodations. The group first reported to the camp. They wouldn’t be working in the mine today; instead, they would receive a brief orientation, and work would officially begin tomorrow. “Thank God—that month was a real ordeal. My life depends entirely on this ring!” Guo Yan muttered under his breath; it was clear he was extremely nervous. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Su Mu put on a nonchalant air, and as soon as they entered the camp, someone came out to greet them. They were led to a rather large, dilapidated hut with very sparse furnishings. Once they were inside, the man left. As soon as they stepped inside, the group couldn’t help but grumble. “What’s there to unpack? As long as we can sleep on a hard cot, that’s good enough.” “Man, this smell is unbearable—it’s so musty!” “What are we supposed to do when it rains hard? There are holes everywhere and drafts coming in from all sides—is this even a place for people to live? It’s practically a doghouse!” “I’d say it’s not even fit for a dog. Are the newcomers even human?!” Su Mu said nothing; he found a bunk by the window and brushed off the dust and grime. Guo Yan, on the other hand, got along with everyone. He said earnestly, “Stop complaining, everyone. It’s obviously on purpose. The guy coming over later is a brother from Boss Song’s crew—his name is Tang Kuan. You have to call him ‘Brother Kuan’; we don’t use titles like ‘senior brother’ here. Remember to give him your gift. “As long as Boss Song sees that someone’s gift is decent, he’ll arrange a better place for them to stay. That means we’ve safely passed the first test since arriving here.” Some people weren’t quite familiar with these rules yet and hurriedly asked Guo Yan for clarification; he answered every question honestly and was quite loyal. The group decided not to bother cleaning up—after all, they weren’t staying here tonight, so why waste the effort? Su Mu, on the other hand, tidied up quite thoroughly—after all, since they’d come to a place like this, getting a little dirty wouldn’t hurt. Before long, a tall, burly man approached. According to Guo Yan, this man had been with the sect for four years. When Su Mu looked at him, he didn’t seem to be in his early twenties—he appeared slightly more mature. Staying in a place like this for too long really takes its toll on a person.