Chapter 6:

Our group of several dozen slaves traveled down the sloped tunnel for a couple of minutes before we hit the first fork in the tunnel. There were more old wooden supports focused around the intersection and what might have been a wooden sign at some point. But it was far too old and cracked for me to make out what it said.

Without even a discussion, our group split in half. Around one-half went right while the rest went left.

I held back and tried to watch and see if those who looked like they’d been here longer favored either side more. But it didn’t look like it so I just went right.

Then someone put a hand on my shoulder and I almost jumped out of my skin.

“Hey, are you okay?” a familiar voice asked.

I spun and saw one of the bandage guys. He had bandages wrapped around part of his head. And from what I could see, he had bandages peeking out from under his torn and dirty tunic. Behind him was another man with bandages, with his face covered partially as well and his arm in a rough-looking cloth sling. He held his pick in a single hand.

I let out a breath of relief when I recognized them. It was Shui Jianfeng and Ming Lin. Ming Lin was the one with the broken arm.

I hadn’t expected to see them down here. Even when the group of injured arrived, I hadn’t bothered to look for them. Given what I saw happened to them… I honestly assumed they were left for dead and hadn’t wanted to think about that.

It seemed either they were tougher than I thought or the bandits valued slaves enough to bother healing them up. Or special healing techniques and medicine were more common than I thought here.

“Are you okay,” Shui Jianfeng asked again, waving a hand in front of my face.

I realized I’d zoned out and shook my head to clear my mind. “Yeah, I’m fine. And I think I should be asking you that. You both look… ugh. Not great.”

Ming Lin scoffed at that and started towards the right tunnel. Shui Jianfeng and I followed to avoid being left behind by either him or the rest of the group that had already gone ahead. They’d gone far enough that we could only make out the light of their torches. But Shui Jianfeng had one of the torches as well, so we still had a closer light source.

“I’ve been better,” Shui Jianfeng said with a weak smile. “But I've been through worse too. And so has Lin. That bruise on your head looks pretty bad, though. And something tells me you aren’t used to this kind of thing.”

I reached up to touch my forehead, wincing at the pain and the bump I felt there. Hadn’t even realized that had happened. Damn that big nose bastard. “I’ll live. I hope anyway. So did they heal you guys up, or are you tougher than I thought? I’m… Not super familiar with cultivators, so I’m not really sure what’s normal.

“They gave us some healing ointment, and set our broken bones,” Shui Jianfeng said with a shrug. Or at least he tried to. Halfway through he winced in pain.

Ming Lin scoffed from up ahead, though I thought I heard him mutter something about garbage-quality ointment.

“And Lin and I are pretty tough,” Shui Jianfeng said, ignoring the muttering from ahead. “We’re Early Stage Qi-Gatherers. And while we might not be body cultivators, we’re still a lot tougher than non-cultivators.”

“Any chance you're strong enough to get us out of here?” I couldn’t help but ask. Now that I thought about it, I wasn’t much of a threat with my shackles off, but couldn’t the two of them do something in this scenario?”

“No,” Shui Jianfeng said, shaking his head sadly. The he tilted his head to show me his neck. There was a thick metal collar there and he tapped on it. I’d missed it since I didn’t have one. “Not with this in place. It disrupts any attempts to use our Qi. Our bodies are still healthier and stronger but not by that much. Not enough to break this or fight the unsuppressed guards.”

I sighed at that and nodded as we continued to move deeper into the mines. Seemed I couldn’t rely on them to save me. So I would just have to do that myself. Unless…

“So what are our chances of getting rescued from here?” I asked him quietly as we caught up with Ming Lin who caught up with the rest of the group. Sound traveled far down here, but apparently, deeper in the mines people got more chatty. Some groups ahead of us were having low muttered conversations, keeping my words unheard despite the echoing.

“I have some friends who will probably come looking after a while…” Shui Jianfeng said, equally as quietly. Our group split up roughly in half again and we continued down the tunnels. “But I’m not sure if they’ll be able to track us down. And even if they did… beating these guys would be tough.“

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“I recognize these bandits,” Shui Jianfeng said, his face twisting into a scowl. “The damned Black Hammer is a notorious outlaw with a big bounty on his head. He’s one of three lieutenants of the Black Wind Marauders. But the Black Wind himself is even worse and far stronger than any of his underlings and has a reputation for being ruthless. My friends are strong and have connections, but even they can’t handle someone like this easily.”

“And what about the authorities?” I asked with a grimace. Great, so apparently we were captured by some big-deal bandits. “Like you mentioned patrols from an imperial army when talking about the land around Everlake City. Will they do anything? Can they deal with this guy?”

“Maybe… They haven’t done much from what I’ve heard about the increase in bandit activity. Apparently, they’ve been focused on sending patrols into the Great Southern Forest to cull the spirit beasts that have been causing trouble over the last half a year. It’s probably why the Marauders and other bandits have been so bold as of late. But if they did manage to find us, they should be able to defeat the bandits as long as one of their captains was with them. I just don’t expect that to happen any time soon.”

“So… we’re on our own then?” I asked with a sigh.

“Yeah… Pretty much.”

Great… Would have loved to just be able to wait this out. But it seemed I would still have to try and save myself. Or save the three of us. Both to repay them for helping me before, but also because I doubted I could really do this alone. Even if I managed to escape these mines, I’d just be back at square one. Lost and alone in the wilderness.

So yeah, I would try to save the three of us. Which meant that I wouldn’t be able to hide the System from them. It was too flashy to hide if they were with me. But at least I felt I could trust them not to tell the bandits about it. Something I wasn’t sure about the rest of the slaves, who might sell us out to try and save themselves.

As for whether or not telling them will be an issue once we’ve escaped… Only time would tell. I would like to think not, at least not with Shui Jianfeng since he seemed like a good person. But it was hard to tell with things like this. Mainly because I’m not sure how valuable what I could do might be to others.

It might be a curiosity. Or it might make a powerful cultivator want to take me apart and figure out how it worked.

Troubling but not something I could worry about now. I would have to escape first for it to matter.

With that in mind, I resolved to reveal what I had to for us to work together. But before I could actually mention any of this, I had to wait until we were alone.

So instead I decided to ask a bit more about cultivation as our group continued to shrink. I was curious if I could learn to do it down here since I didn’t have a collar on. But Shui Jianfeng had rejected the idea. Apparently, people like the hammer guy—people at the Peak of Qi-Gathering—had spirit senses. It was also possible for weaker cultivators to have that or something similar as well. So they would likely notice me trying to cultivate long before I got any meaningful amount of power.

Not unless I was a genius.

So that plan was a bust. Which made sense, otherwise the bandits would collar even the non-cultivators.

Soon after that unfortunate revelation, our group was reduced to just six people including me. I started feeling antsy, waiting for the next fork in the road so I could bring up what I could do. Hopefully, they’d be on board with helping me with it. Though we might need to keep going deeper to make any use of it, as I hadn’t seen any signs of spirit beasts just yet.

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But before we reached the next fork something happened.

“Hey, I see something ahead,” One of the other three guys in front of us said. Then the three were already rushing off.

I was about to follow but Shui Jianfeng put a hand on my shoulder to stop me. Ming Lin also stopped and just glared at me when I gave him a questioning look. The jerk.

The three men stopped about a dozen yards ahead and there was a brief sound of excitement.

It was only then did Shui Jianfeng let go and we moved forward a bit to take a look. But the three of us stayed well out of arm’s reach as we approached. And then the three men turned to face us with cold to indifferent gazes.

I couldn’t see what they were surrounding but it was pretty obvious what it was given the excitement. And I guess Shui Jianfeng and Ming Lin didn’t want them thinking they’d have to fight to keep the stones, so we kept our distance.

Given how injured they still looked, and my own lack of combat ability without a sword, it was probably for the best.

“How many are there?” Shui Jianfeng asked. I then noticed that both he and Ming Lin had straightened up. As if to act like they weren’t injured despite the obvious bandages.

The three men stared at us in silence for a long moment before one of them spoke. He was a gaunt man with a scar across one glassy eye. “It's a small cluster. Probably enough to get three people out of here.”

And that fact that it would be them leaving here left unsaid.

Shui Jianfeng shrugged and didn’t seem worried. “A shame. But I guess me and my friends will keep on looking. Got any advice for us?”

The three men shared a look again before they moved to the side. Protecting the spirit stones but also making a way for us. The man with a glassy eye gestured down the tunnel with his head. “You should get going then. And… watch out for the moles. You should start seeing them soon. They eat the stones and when they do… They can get more difficult to deal with. Nothing like a Rank 1 spirit beast, but given your injuries…”

“Good to know, thank you,” Shui Jianfeng said, giving them an easy smile. Not at all phased by the reminder that he was in bad shape as he started ahead.

I followed, feeling tense as all three men watched us while Ming Lin brought up the rear. Which I was grateful for since I didn’t have to worry about them attacking me from behind.

When we finally made it past the men, I almost let out a sigh of relief. But held myself back from the obvious sign of weakness. Instead, I just kept my eyes forward, trusting that Ming Lin would be the one to notice first if the other guys tried anything.

After a bit more walking, we reached another fork in the tunnel. I finally snuck a quick glance back and saw no sign that we’d been followed. Only then did I let out a breath of relief.

“That was a lot more tense than I expected,” I said, wanting to break the silence.

“It's to be expected,” Shui Jianfeng said with a shrug as we stopped walking single file and walked side to side. “The spirit stones are our chance to avoid a lot more misery. It’s little wonder people would guard them jealously.”

“Yeah, makes sense,” I said before looking back again. There was still no sign of the men. The sound of pickaxes on stone had also disappeared into the distance as well. We were finally truly alone.

Which meant I could finally bring up my plan. If it could be called that.

“So…” I said as we continued to walk, still finding nothing though I thought I could hear a light scratching sound. Was that an animal? A spirit beast? If it was, it was good timing. “I might have a way to get us out of here. Maybe…”

Shui Jianfeng turned to me in surprise. “Really?”

Ming Lin just scoffed at that. “You expect us to believe that?”

I could still remember how Ming Lin had pulped several people with raw physical strength. But with his Qi suppressed and how injured he looked, I didn’t feel nearly as threatened as I did before. So I openly rolled my eyes at him and said, “Look, I get it. You don’t trust me. But just what do you think I can gain from lying about this?”

Ming Lin thankfully just scoffed and shook his head, looking away in a huff. I’m sure he would have crossed his arms if one wasn’t broken and the other occupied.

“So what’s your way out?” Shui Jianfeng asked, ignoring his friend's antics.

“Well, it's a bit complicated,” I said, wondering how I should explain it. In the end, I went for the most simplistic explanation. No need to bring up System stuff they wouldn’t understand. “To put it simply, I think I can get abilities from spirit beasts I kill. I’m not completely sure how it works, but if we run across one of those moles that guy talked about, could you let me kill it? I think as long as I get the killing blow it would work.”

The main reason I thought that was because of the guy from before… The one I killed. He’d been half-dead but because I finished him off I could harvest him. Meanwhile, all the other bodies lying around had not been available.

“That sounds impressive,” Shui Jianfeng said, nodding slowly. “I’ll keep an eye out then.”

Ming Lin, on the other hand, didn’t say anything and just continued on. Either he really didn’t believe me or just wanted to be difficult. Which was fine. He’d see the truth soon. Hopefully.

We continued on for another little while in silence before they both suddenly stopped. I did so too, but I couldn’t see or hear whatever they must have. Then both of them started forward again at a brisk pace.

I rushed to follow and soon saw what they must have. It was a soft glow of blue light from up ahead. Also as we got closer I heard… crunching? Wait, did that mean it was a mole? And it was eating the stones?

Shit.

When I was close enough to see the actual source of the light—a small patch of blue crystals sticking out of the ground with a cat-size dark shape next to it—Shui Jianfeng turned and tossed me his torch. I caught it clumsily while he rushed off. He wasn’t nearly as fast as he was before but he was still very quick despite his injuries.

But he wasn’t fast enough. By the time he reached the creature, there was one more crunch and the light was gone. Then a split second later he swung his pick like a club.

I had gotten close enough with the torch that I saw it as the pick connected with the mole. It let out a squeak of fury that was interrupted as it slammed into the wall. But despite my expectations, the thing didn’t just go splat. Instead, it bounced off the wall and flipped before landing on its feet.

Then it squeaked again and started to glow blue.

“Get ready,” Shui Jianfeng said. “I’m gonna hold it in place and you come and finish it off.”

“Alright,” I said, fumbling with the torch for a second as I wondered if I could just leave it on the ground. Then Ming Lin snatched it out of my hand with a scoff, having dropped their own pick.

“Thanks,” I muttered before I rushed over to Shui Jianfeng, pick in both hands.

The mole squeaked again, the light coming from it intensifying before it leaped at Shui Jianfeng. He was ready for it though, and smacked it aside again against the wall. This time it fell on its side and he stabbed at it with the top of his pick. The flat part pinned the thing down against the floor as it continued to squeak and try to scrabble away.

“Now! Before it burrows away!”

“Okay!” I said and reached him and brought my pick up to strike.

To my surprise, however, Shui Jianfeng grunted and winced as it squirmed despite the massive size difference. Then the thing started to literally dig through the rock. Shit.

As quickly as I could, I brought the sharp end of my pick down right on what part of its body was still exposed. I winced as I scrapped Shui Jianfeng’s pick a bit too. But I still managed to bury the tip into the mole's body.

It let out a horrid squeal of pain and thrashed around for a bit, sending out bits of stone as its surprisingly powerful claws ripped things up. But quickly its movements became sluggish and both our picks kept it pinned.

After another moment it went still.

I watched it with bated breath then sighed in relief when I saw the familiar blue halo from the System. Despite not being too big, these things could be harvested. Maybe only spirit beasts and cultivators could be harvested then. Did that mean that leopard in the forest had been a Rank 0 as well?

Something to explore more later.

“Do you see that?” I asked, curiously. I was pretty sure he couldn’t see it, but might as well confirm now.

“See what?” Shui Jianfeng said, looking down at the mole in confusion. “All I see is a dead rodent.”

“No glow?” I asked to be clear.

Shui Jianfeng looked at me confused. “Not anymore.”

“Should we be seeing something,” Ming Lin said skeptically as he came over. He had his pick tucked under his good arm and the torch in his hand.

“No, just wanted to be sure,” I said, ignoring him and focusing on the blue aura like before. Once again no command was needed and a screen appeared.

Neither of them reacted to that either so I started to read.

Defeated Enemy: Rank 0 Spirit Beast Rockclaw Mole

Available Skills to Harvest:

* Earth Sense (passive) (Rank E): Gain a sixth sense that allows you to detect vibrations and Qi through any earth.

* * Range: 1 yard.

* Rock Claws (active) (Rank E): Creates claw constructs out of any earth. Claw constructs can easily part and dig through stone. Required accessible earth to activate.

* * Cost: 5 Qi

* * Upkeep: 1 Qi per minute

* Spirit Stone Devouring (Passive) (E Rank): Gain the ability to eat low-grade spirit stones. Upon consumption, gain a boost to Dexterity, Strength, Vitality, Qi reserves, and Qi regeneration, increasing up to 2.5x based on the size and quantity of spirit stones ingested. Higher base stats will require greater spirit stone consumption to reach the maximum increase in abilities.

* * Duration: 5 Minutes

* * Warning: Repeated continuous use will put your body under great stress.

Once I was done I couldn’t help but grin. Yes, with Skills like this, then I might really be able to get us all out of here.