The Wretch Who Waited Two Bitter Months

"Th-This... this is a Cultivation Method? The Mighty Bull Cultivation Method?"

Zhang Ming nodded.

"The Mighty Bull Cultivation Method. It's the Cultivation Method I practice. Take it back and train properly. This method is far stronger than the one you're currently cultivating."

"Young Master, but... but... if you teach me a Cultivation Method like this, won't it cause trouble?"

Zhang Ming picked up a piece of Demonic Beast Meat. Its effect was several times stronger than the meat soup; it was quite good even for him.

One or two pieces might not have much effect, but if one ate five or ten jin of Demonic Beast Meat, it could equal several days of cultivation.

"You mean the Mighty Bull Martial Arts School?"

"Don't worry. There won't be any trouble, because they'll soon shut their mouths."

Now that his cultivation had advanced to the Postnatal Martial Artist realm, his combat strength was terrifying. It would not be an exaggeration to call him invincible in Yang City.

With such strength, and the deeply rooted Zhang Family of Yang City behind him, a family that had operated there for years—

If he did not turn Yang City into "Zhang City," he would write his name backward.

"Really? Young Master, do you really mean it?"

"Rest easy. Cultivate properly."

"Eat more Demonic Beast Meat and properly switch to the [Mighty Bull Cultivation Method]. Once you grow stronger, you'll be able to play a greater role in the future and help me more."

"Good, good, good! I'll work hard. I won't let you down, Young Master."

Zhang Ming smiled but said nothing.

Giving Lin De Demonic Beast Meat and giving him the [Mighty Bull Cultivation Method] had long been Zhang Ming's decision.

Even if the Mine Cave Beast incident had never happened, it had already been part of his plan.

After all, Zhang Ming could use money and favors to keep a handful of ordinary Armored Soldiers under his wing and maintain their loyalty.

But Lin De was a household servant who had followed Zhang Ming since childhood.

Because of the changes Zhang Ming had brought about since childhood, the Zhang Family had taken the initiative to educate its servants, helping them understand reason and gain wisdom, intending for them to become the foundational backbone of the family's future rapid expansion.

The benefits of this needed no elaboration. The Zhang Family had been able to expand and swell so quickly without falling into chaos largely because of the efforts of these foundations.

Therefore, Lin De's horizons and knowledge were not something those Armored Soldiers could compare to.

Though he appeared incomparably loyal on the surface—

Who knew whether there might be some problem behind the scenes?

Rather than carrying out all sorts of tests and trials—

It was better to directly bind him with benefits and a bright martial future visible to the naked eye. Together, the two would guarantee his loyalty.

Simple, convenient, direct, and efficient!

(This handling was fine, because the protagonist had enlightened Lin De.

Why enlighten him?

Because of a transmigrator's pride—he believed that his future territory would surely become unimaginably vast, so naturally he had to cultivate his own forces from a young age.

Besides, what mature modern transmigrator would believe in loyalty without entangled interests?

With so many messy stories online these days, twists upon twists upon twists, only a supreme genius would believe in pure loyalty.)

"Oh, right. There's something I forgot to tell you."

"Tomorrow, I'm planning to return to Yang City to handle some matters. I'm leaving the Mine to you."

"Continue trading with them. If anything changes, have them come find me."

"Yes, Young Master. Leave the Mine to me. I won't disappoint you."

Having just felt the heaven-like favor and trust of his Young Master, Lin De's heart was now filled with fervor.

"Mhm. I'm at ease leaving it to you. There are still over ten jin of Demonic Beast Meat here. Take it all with you later and cultivate properly."

"When I return from Yang City, I hope you'll have successfully switched Cultivation Methods and made tremendous progress. There are many places where I'll need you in the future."

There was no need to doubt the might of the [Mighty Bull Cultivation Method]. Even though the version given to Lin De only reached the Warrior level—

As long as he successfully switched over, possessing several thousand jin of brute strength would be nothing difficult.

With armor and sharp weapons, he might not be unable to fight an ordinary Postnatal Martial Artist.

Then, he would be worth using.

"Good! Don't worry, Young Master!"

Old He was a middle-aged man. Like Zhang Ming, he was a disciple of the Mighty Bull Martial Arts School.

But compared with Zhang Ming, the Young Master of the Zhang Family, Old He was merely a nobody at the Martial Arts Hall—an inconspicuous little follower by the side of Niu Kangshao, the hall master's son.

Ever since receiving Boss Niu Kangshao's orders more than three months ago, Old He had hidden among the Mine's laborers.

He had been prepared to send a Pigeon Message to Boss the moment Zhang Ming left the Mine.

But this wait had lasted more than three months.

Zhang Ming had not come during the first month.

After a month, Zhang Ming had come, but he had never left. Only now, two months later, did Old He discover that Zhang Ming seemed to be leaving.

Just as he was about to use the Pigeon Message he had rehearsed countless times to notify Boss...

"Eh! Why am I hesitating?"

Watching Zhang Ming's figure gradually disappear down the small path at the Mine entrance, Old He somehow found himself hesitating.

"Zhang Ming... he... he... he's a good man."

Compared to the month before Zhang Ming came, the Mine had become as different as heaven and earth during these two months.

The Overseers and Armored Soldiers who casually bullied and beat the miners were gone.

The food had improved, and they could even have meat now and then.

Their daily rest time had grown longer. They no longer had to get up early to work after being beaten and cursed awake by the Overseers.

They had even been issued several brand-new sets of clothes over these two months.

There was also pay, compensation money, and other things they had never even imagined before.

On top of that, Zhang Ming would occasionally chat with these "lowly miners," lending them a hand and helping them. It moved every miner deeply, including Old He himself.

For the first time, they felt the regard of an important person, as if they were no longer humble, unknown nobodies.

They were real people, with dignity and self-respect.

"I... I... I..."

Looking at the Carrier Pigeon in its cage, Old He hesitated.

"He's a good man."

"But..."

"I'm sorry. My mother is in Yang City. If I don't send it, they'll kill my mother. They'll kill my mother!"

Watching the white Carrier Pigeon fly toward the horizon, Old He's eyes somehow grew wet.

"My lord, in my next life, I'll repay you even if I must serve as an ox or horse..."

(A newly joined ordinary miner would not come into contact with core secrets such as forging Armor and Weapons and Strong Crossbows.)

In a small town outside Qingmang Mountain.

Completely unbeknownst to Zhang Ming, a group of people had been "eating dirt" outside Qingmang Mountain for the past two months—two whole months.

"Damn Brat! You holed up at home for over a month, then holed up in the Mountain Mine for another two months. Did you learn how to turtle up the moment you were born?"

Niu Kangshao cursed, venting his fury over the anxious wait of the past two months.

"Boss, why don't we just gather the experts from the Gang and Martial Arts Hall and charge into the Mine?"

Slap.

Niu Kangshao struck his Underling across the face.

"Idiot! If I could do that, I'd have done it long ago. You want to gather hundreds of men and storm the Mine? Do you think the Government Office is just sitting around eating for free?"

"Boss, Boss, I-I-I was only trying to think of a solution."

The Underling covered his face, looking utterly aggrieved.

Niu Kangshao took a deep breath and forced down the irritation in his heart.

"Wait. I refuse to believe he won't come out."

"How long can a pampered young master stay in a godforsaken place like the Mine, where there's nothing to be had?"

Just then, Niu Kangshao, unable to suppress the agitation in his heart no matter how hard he tried, suddenly saw a Carrier Pigeon descend from the sky.

He reached out and caught it. When he saw the letter attached to the pigeon, Niu Kangshao was overjoyed.

"Good, good, good! That Brat has finally come out!"

"Boys, move out! Once we finish him, we can go home."

"Damn it, not a single Brothel in this lousy town had any good goods. Once we get back to Yang City, I'll take you all to have a proper taste of the good stuff!"

"Woohoo! Boss is mighty!"