Sudden Change

Chapter 29: Sudden Change "Officer, how about we build a fire? That way, we little ones passing by can warm ourselves a bit."

Chu Mu was pacing around when an old forced laborer cautiously approached and pleaded.

"All right."

Chu Mu glanced at the old man before pointing toward the tree where he usually sat.

"I've got some firewood piled over there. Bring it here and light it."

"Thank you, officer! Thank you, officer!"

The old forced laborer bowed and nodded hurriedly, as though Chu Mu had done him some tremendous favor.

Chu Mu waved his hand and said no more.

Within the limits of what was permitted, he did not mind making things a little easier for these forced laborers.

Of course, that only applied within those limits. He would do no more than that.

As for using this uniform to throw his weight around among these wretched people and seek a sense of existence—a vulgar thing like that was something he truly could not bring himself to do.

"I wonder if they can survive this winter."

Chu Mu gazed at the few forced laborers bustling about. If he remembered correctly, the ones under his charge had all been conscripted at the end of summer. According to the usual half-year term of forced labor, they would be able to return home in peace as long as they endured this winter.

If nothing unexpected happened, they would not need to perform forced labor again for the next two years and could live out their modest, comfortable lives.

"Let's hope so..."

Chu Mu let out a long breath, swept his gaze around the mine already blanketed in white snow, then silently returned to sit before the fire.

The old forced laborer who had just arrived seemed to have added a few more logs to the fire. The flames roared and waves of heat rose, dispelling the chill completely in an instant.

Chu Mu shifted his body, found a comfortable position to lean back in, took the book from inside his robes, and began studying it page by page.

The entire morning passed along with it.

At mealtime, several forced laborers gathered around the fire and wolfed down the frozen, rock-hard wotou.

Compared with the forced laborers' unchanging food, the patrol inspectors' meals were naturally much richer.

Five dishes and a soup, unlimited servings until one was full, all for just three copper coins—it was practically being given away for free.

"Mu Ge'er, how come you're eating so much?"

Chu Mu shoveled food into his mouth as Xu Yuan beside him could not help muttering.

"It's not that much."

Chu Mu glanced at the food before him. After practicing martial arts for so long, his appetite seemed to be growing larger and larger.

But eating more also meant growing faster.

In just over a month, he had plainly grown a whole circle sturdier. The original owner's former frail appearance was almost a thing of the past.

"By the way, come eat at my house tonight. I've got something to discuss with you."

Chu Mu shoveled in another mouthful and suddenly looked up.

"Sure, but what is it?"

"Be my sparring partner!"

Chu Mu swallowed his food. "Help me practice martial arts!"

Xu Yuan hurriedly explained, "But I've never practiced martial arts..."

"It's fine."

Chu Mu waved his hand. "Who doesn't know how to hit someone with a stick?"

"All right."

Xu Yuan answered, yet even while eating, he continued looking around restlessly.

Chu Mu was somewhat helpless. "Eat your food. What are you looking around for?"

Xu Yuan pointed hurriedly outside the dining hall. "No, Mu Ge'er, look! Someone's died again!"

"Someone died?"

Chu Mu froze. Following Xu Yuan's pointing finger, he saw several bodies wrapped in straw mats piled together, a jarring sight.

"Something probably went wrong somewhere again."

Chu Mu glanced over before turning his eyes back and continuing to shovel in his food.

Accidents resulting in deaths happened at this mine every few days. It was really nothing unusual.

"I'm going to take a look."

Unable to restrain his curiosity, Xu Yuan tossed out those words and jogged away.

Before long, Xu Yuan came running back, panting hard. He leaned mysteriously toward Chu Mu. "Mu Ge'er, they froze to death! Frost has grown all over their bodies!"

Chu Mu's heart tightened. He subconsciously looked toward the entrance again, only to see that another straw mat had been laid over the piled corpses.

"That can't be, can it?"

Chu Mu frowned, clearly both startled and suspicious.

The heavy snow had only arrived a day or two ago. How could forced laborers have frozen to death so quickly?

Xu Yuan hurriedly explained, "I definitely didn't see wrong. They really had frost growing on them..."

"I'll go take a look..."

Chu Mu rose to his feet. He had only just set down his bowl and chopsticks when urgent shouts rang out from outside the dining hall.

"Everyone from Third Squad and Fourth Squad, come out!"

"Hurry up and assemble!"

"What happened?"

"Why won't they let us eat?"

"I just got my food! I haven't even taken a bite!"

With those shouts, the entire dining hall instantly descended into a noisy uproar.

Chu Mu paused slightly, but did not stop his stride. After calling out to Xu Yuan, he hurried toward the dining hall's entrance.

"Both Hundred Household officers are here!"

As soon as they reached the entrance, Xu Yuan immediately moved close to Chu Mu and spoke.

Chu Mu glanced at the two Hundred Household officers standing outside and shouting, confusion showing on his face.

The Patrol Inspectorate had only two positions for Hundred Households in total, so naturally there were only two Hundred Household officers.

As far as he knew, the two officers also had different duties. One was responsible for the mine, while the other guarded the town.

They were rarely seen even one at a time, yet today both had appeared together? If it had been Squad Leaders or squad leaders, the various patrol inspectors would surely have peppered them with questions. But with both Hundred Household officers gathered here, clearly few dared to joke around.

Everyone obediently gathered and assembled in front of the dining hall. Then, under the lead of one of the Hundred Household officers, they headed down the mountain.

When they reached the foot of the mountain, dozens of patrol inspectors were waiting there as well. Seeing the troop approach, a squad leader at the front went over to exchange a few words with the Hundred Household officer, then led the dozens of patrol inspectors into the formation.

This change made the already murmuring troop even noisier. Everyone asked around in all directions, clearly at a loss.

"Mu Ge'er, why do I feel like something's wrong? We're heading outside the town!"

"What are we going there to do?"

"I don't know."

Chu Mu shook his head. Then, as though he had thought of something, he turned to Xu Yuan. "Don't wander off. Remember to stay with me!"

"Don't worry, Mu Ge'er."

Xu Yuan was clearly nervous as well. Unlike his usual lively self, he stuck tightly to Chu Mu's side.

When the troop left Nanshan Town, the noisy formation abruptly fell silent. Chu Mu gazed into the distance and saw, at the crossroads ahead, a conspicuous figure in ornate armor and a cloak surrounded by several mounted riders.

That figure was clearly the reason the troop had suddenly gone quiet.

To ordinary patrol inspectors, a Hundred Household officer was already high above them. As for the Thousand Household officer who served as Qinghe County's County Commandant, he was naturally the unquestioned heaven above all patrol inspectors.

The figure before them was evidently Qinghe County's County Commandant, the Thousand Household officer of the Patrol Inspectorate, Li Jinghong.

"Tell the brothers the news so they can be prepared as well."

"Set out!"

The Hundred Household officer leading the troop, He Ping, had just jogged over to Li Jinghong when Li Jinghong casually waved his hand. He lightly tugged the reins and rode past He Ping.

"This subordinate obeys!"

He Ping clasped his fists and answered. Then he turned to face the patrol inspectors and gave the order. The troop set out once more.

But this time, as the Thousand Household officer's command spread through the ranks, the renewed uproar also carried the reason for this commotion into the ears of every patrol inspector.