Power Through Both Arms

The former young dandies nearby had never seen such a bloody scene. They immediately shrank back in panic. Just as someone was about to scream, Xu Yunfan raised his Iron Pickaxe. Under the dim torchlight, the blood splashed across his face made him look like an evil ghost.

"Make another sound, and I'll kill you too!"

Cui Ye hurriedly covered his mouth, staring at Xu Yunfan in terror. The remaining three or four fled from the cave as though running for their lives.

Smelling the stench of urine in the air, Xu Yunfan frowned. Suppressing the discomfort in his heart, he bent down and quickly took the food and two bags of water from Jiang Yu.

He had to find somewhere to bury this guy. The overseers patrolled at irregular times. Once they discovered Jiang Yu had been murdered, they would naturally question people. If Cui Ye reported him then, he would be in an extremely passive position.

As for whether Cui Ye and the others would take the initiative to report him to the overseers—

Xu Yunfan was not worried in the least. If these descendants of convicted officials wanted to report someone to the overseers, they had better be prepared to die.

As descendants of convicted officials exiled here, death was only a matter of sooner or later.

The mines had their own set of rules. Overseers could question you, but you could not take the initiative to question an overseer.

Those sent down here were basically people guilty of heinous crimes. How could they allow you to speak? The Mining Supervision Office had its own system of operation.

Most of those who could enter the mines were high-ranking nobles and officials. If they made even the slightest promise to those overseers, they could stir people's hearts.

How could the Mining Supervision Office allow that?

He licked his lips, took out his waterskin and gulped down a mouthful, then quickly calmed himself. Dragging Jiang Yu behind him, he headed deeper into several neighboring mine tunnels.

Only after a long while did the few who had fled in blind panic realize what had happened. Someone panted heavily, his bloodshot eyes filled with gloom.

"That bastard—what gives him the right? With that scrawny body of his, it's not like we can't beat him!"

The others gradually came back to their senses as well, both ashamed and furious.

Xu Yunfan looked thinner and weaker than all of them, yet they had been cowed by the viciousness of that single pickaxe strike and had not dared step forward.

"Fuck his mother!"

Cui Ye cursed furiously. Just as he raised his Iron Pickaxe to go back, someone beside him grabbed him.

"Wait. We need to think this through. If he makes a desperate last stand and any of us gets injured, we won't live long."

The living conditions beneath the mines were exceptionally harsh. Once one had a wound, there was basically no chance of it healing; it could only keep rotting.

As for expecting the overseers to save you, perhaps they would simply whip you to death on the spot.

"Why don't we speak to the overseers? That slave dared commit insubordination and kill his own master. He has no regard for law or order—this is a disaster that reaches the heavens!"

Someone said bitterly.

One of them sneered and dropped onto the ground.

"We're descendants of convicted officials. You want to go talk to the overseers?"

Hearing this, that person could only give up resentfully.

Cui Ye's gaze was cold as he gripped his Iron Pickaxe tightly.

"The four of us can't beat one man?"

He turned to look at them.

"I'll take the lead. Are you still too scared?"

Having been humiliated so publicly by Xu Yunfan, he was unwilling to accept it and naturally would not let the matter rest. Whenever he thought of Xu Yunfan's face, alongside the fear that surged in his heart came immense resentment.

"Let's go! I won't be satisfied until I drink his blood and eat his flesh!"

The others no longer hesitated. They all tightened their grips on their Iron Pickaxes and headed back the way they had come.

Dragging Jiang Yu's corpse into the deepest part of this utterly silent mine tunnel,

Xu Yunfan caught his breath and ate half a flatbread with water, recovering some strength.

He raised his Iron Pickaxe again and swung without the slightest hesitation. With one strike, he chiseled a huge gap into the ore beneath him. At the same time, the force of the impact rebounded, sending the Iron Pickaxe high into the air. His waist and abdomen tightened slightly, his shoulders and arms swaying faintly.

The Iron Pickaxe traced an arc through the air before crashing heavily onto the iron ore at his feet.

Using the force in succession allowed him to achieve the greatest efficiency with the least exertion.

In less than the time it took to drink a cup of tea, he had dug a small pit.

Xu Yunfan stopped, pleasantly surprised for no apparent reason. Every time he swung the Iron Pickaxe, he could borrow quite a bit of force from the recoil, even feeling a slight sense of ease.

Even beginner-level mining was this powerful. He wondered what level he could reach after advancing further with five hundred proficiency points.

After burying Jiang Yu's corpse and covering it until no trace remained, Xu Yunfan was about to leave when his steps suddenly halted. He turned to see a pair of eyes hidden in the darkness, quietly watching him.

Those eyes...

Xu Yunfan's heart stirred, and he stepped closer.

When he made out the other man's sharply defined face in the darkness, Xu Yunfan's expression changed slightly.

"Yan King?!"

Yan King Li Haomiao of the Great Zhou Royal Clan.

In the memories of the original owner of this body, there were memories of Yan King Li Haomiao. The last time he had seen him was at a banquet in Jiang Manor hosted by Jiang Yu's father—Grand Secretary Jiang, Left Vice Minister Jiang Ming.

The foremost martial arts prodigy of the Great Zhou Royal Clan, a True Inheritance Disciple of the Dao Sect, a talent in governance, brimming with classical learning, erudite enough to fill five carts, kind-hearted, generous, and ever ready to do good...

At the time, he bore every one of these titles. Tall and upright like a towering pine, with sword-like brows and starry eyes that carried an innate heroic spirit, every gesture radiated an irresistible charm. His handsomeness was simply flawless.

Especially those eyes—exceptionally clear, unforgettable after a single glance.

Now, this Yan King had lost three of his limbs. His sole remaining left arm was intact, yet a scar ran from his wrist all the way to his elbow; his hand tendon had clearly been severed.

Three hideous scars had also been carved across his face with a knife.

If not for those eyes, Xu Yunfan truly would not have recognized him.

He sighed. "I never expected the Yan King to be down in these mines too. The Empress was truly ruthless."

Though he did not know what exactly had happened in Jade Capital back then, for even the Yan King to be reduced to this state, it was undoubtedly the Empress's doing. Otherwise, how could an imperial kinsman have nearly been carved into a human stick and thrown into the mines to fend for himself?

However, Xu Yunfan guessed that after the Great Zhou Empress ascended the throne, she naturally had to purge the court and cultivate forces loyal to herself. Otherwise, how could a woman alone possibly sit securely upon the realm?

As a legitimate member of the Li bloodline, Li Haomiao had naturally been among the purge targets. He had heard that the charge was colluding with the neighboring Great Qian Dynasty with the intent to betray the country, and that his legs and one arm had been cut off.

"Bewitching Woman..."

Li Haomiao's eyes shifted. Leaning against the wall, he glanced at where Jiang Yu had been buried, then moved his gaze to Xu Yunfan.

"Power Through Both Arms, your waist and stance roll like waves. Every strike lands true, swift, and powerful. You have a good foundation."

As he spoke, Li Haomiao slightly raised his chin, his severely chapped lips moving.

"The son of Left Vice Minister Jiang Ming—what happened to him?"

"Oh, he was too tired from mining just now and wanted to find a place to rest. But he slipped and smashed his neck on a sharp piece of ore. He died. I was just burying his body for him."

Seeing that Xu Yunfan's expression did not change, Li Haomiao's lips twitched. His gaze then shifted to the small portion of flatbread peeking out from Xu Yunfan's clothes.

Seeing this, Xu Yunfan silently shoved the flatbread farther into his clothes, hiding it from view.

"..."

For a moment, silence filled the mine tunnel. Xu Yunfan wore a slightly embarrassed smile.

"Yan King, if there's nothing else, I'll be leaving first."