Unexpectedly Ambitious

Name: Chu Mu.

Skill: Basic Blade Technique (Just Beginning) 45/100

Spirit Radiance Value: 9.3%

"What a waste!"

Staring at the figures on the Light Screen Panel, Chu Mu couldn't help feeling a toothache coming on.

His blade technique proficiency had naturally increased little by little through the spare time he had spent practicing over the past few days.

As for his "Spirit Radiance Value"...

He had painstakingly saved it up for several days and hadn't been willing to use even a little of it! But yesterday, he still couldn't resist the temptation of Real Skill. On a wild impulse, he had thought of trying "Spirit Radiance Blessing" to see whether he could secretly learn some Real Skill from his Squad Leader.

After all, under "Spirit Radiance Blessing," his intelligence would leap forward. Both his learning ability and his thinking ability would undergo an exponential transformation.

But in the end, he had still overestimated "Spirit Radiance Blessing." Admittedly, under its effects, his learning and thinking abilities had leaped forward, but no matter how great the leap was, he could only see what his eyes could see.

This fist was swung like this, that kick was delivered like that. Combined together, they seemed to form a set of martial arts.

But in truth, the essence lay within. He could see the muscles tremble, and the changes in force were also clearly internal. It was far from being as simple as the external punches and kicks.

He had understood what he saw, but it was useless. After all, he didn't have X-ray vision and couldn't see the changes inside the body.

As for that set of martial arts, he had practiced it at home for several hours last night. He had barely slept all night, yet the more he practiced, the more awkward and uncomfortable it became. Clearly, that had a great deal to do with the missing internal changes in force.

He had failed to learn it secretly, while the "Spirit Radiance Value" he had accumulated over several days had been completely wasted. It was like trying to steal a chicken only to lose the rice used to bait it—he had suffered a crushing loss!

"Changes in the force or some other transformation within the body..."

Chu Mu pondered in silence. With the memories of having read countless novels in his previous life, he naturally had countless guesses.

Inner Force... vital blood... astral energy...

Those things had all been written to death in the novels of his previous life! "The human body has limits, and forces act upon each other. It's impossible to smash a tree with one punch and come away unscathed."

"So Real Skill can improve—or perhaps temper—the body?"

Chu Mu pursed his lips and watched Li Gang practicing his punches. The longing in his heart grew even stronger.

"Boom!"

A sudden, earth-shaking crash instantly dragged Chu Mu back from his fantasies. Looking toward the source of the sound, he saw that at the place where the great fire had just gone out, the rocks suspended on the mountainside had collapsed under the effects of thermal expansion and contraction, cascading downward like a landslide!

Several Forced Laborers were still working below, clearly visible in the danger zone.

"Run!"

Chu Mu's shout had barely begun when it was drowned out by an even more terrifying roar. Broken stones flew in all directions and dust billowed into the air. The several Forced Laborers had already vanished into the rolling cloud of dirt.

The step he had taken forward slowly came to a halt. Chu Mu stared blankly at the rising dust, at a loss for what to do.

"What are you standing there for?"

"You lot, come with me!"

Only when Li Gang's shout rang out did Chu Mu return to his senses. After hesitating for a moment, he finally hurried after Li Gang toward the collapsed section of the mine.

"Dad! Dad!"

"My dad's still alive! He's still alive!"

"Someone come quick! Save my dad, save my dad!"

"Save my dad!"

The dust was still flying when a young man came sprinting in and plunged into it. A moment later, a shrill wail came from within the dust.

"He's beyond saving!"

The dust dispersed, and Chu Mu's group arrived at the accident site. Before Chu Mu could see clearly, Li Gang's certain voice had already sounded.

Looking around, he saw rocks piled everywhere, with large patches of blood visible around them. Chu Mu even saw a severed hand lying nearby, fresh blood still gushing from the jagged edge.

The young man knelt before the pile of stones. In front of him lay an old Forced Laborer, half his body buried. The bloodstained rocks made it easy to imagine the condition of the body beneath them.

As for the old man... his breath was already as faint as a thread, and glaringly bloody froth still flowed from his mouth.

"Save my dad, sir! Hurry and save my dad!"

Faced with such a bloody scene, Chu Mu hadn't even reacted before his legs seemed to be seized. The pleading voice was still trembling.

Chu Mu turned his neck with difficulty. A face filled with despair and pleading entered his field of vision.

At that moment, Chu Mu was truly at a loss.

"Dig him out first."

"Everyone over there, come help."

Fortunately, Li Gang had already begun issuing orders in an orderly fashion.

Chu Mu swallowed, his mind utterly muddled.

In an age of peace and prosperity, when had he ever witnessed such a bloody sight?

He stood there in a daze for quite some time before finally coming around a little. He helped the young man, who was still kneeling before him, to his feet and opened his mouth, wanting to offer some comfort. Yet when the words reached his lips, he didn't know what to say.

Meanwhile, the collapsed area was already surrounded by busy Forced Laborers. Some cleared the rubble, some carried it away, and others shouted instructions. Everything was surprisingly orderly.

"Chu Mu, go to town and bring Doctor Li from Mingxin Hall."

"Oh, all right, all right!"

Li Gang's voice had rung out for quite a while before Chu Mu belatedly responded. He immediately turned around and ran off at full speed.

The Jia Number One Mining Area was right next to Nanshan Town, so the distance wasn't far. Before long, Chu Mu had rushed onto the main street.

"Doctor Li, someone's been injured at the mine. Please hurry and take a look."

Chu Mu charged straight into the Medicine Hall, still gasping for breath. His hurried voice rang out inside.

Old Li furrowed his brows and glanced at Chu Mu. He then called out a few instructions to the pharmacy assistant, picked up his medicine chest, and walked toward Chu Mu.

"We're leaving just like that?"

Chu Mu was somewhat dumbfounded.

"Let's go!"

Old Li shook his head. As he walked toward the door, his voice sounded again, carrying a hint of heaviness.

"How many died this time?"

"Th... two..."

After saying that, Chu Mu shook his head again. "It's still unclear."

Then, as if he had realized something, Chu Mu looked at Old Li, whose brows were furrowed. "Do accidents happen often at the mine?"

"If you don't treat people as human beings, how could accidents not happen?"

Old Li sneered. "A mine with several thousand people can't even bear to hire a dedicated doctor. They have to pocket every bit of petty cash, and whenever something happens, they still have to come to town and call me."

"For minor injuries and aches, there's no need for me to go. For serious wounds and illnesses, by the time I get there, it's already too late!"

Chu Mu fell silent. He really couldn't respond to such words. Old Li's medical skill was superb, and he was even an honored guest at the County Magistrate's residence. It was said that the Prefect had once sent someone specifically to invite him to treat an illness. Even the Vice Battalion Commander of the Patrol Inspectorate treated Old Li with the utmost courtesy.

Old Li could complain, but Chu Mu didn't dare.

He was only a minor Patrol Inspector. One careless word could easily bring disaster.