Even so, the miners were still willing to work themselves to the bone.
They were all collateral members of cultivation clans with no aptitude for cultivation. Their status was lowly, and they had no path to immortality.
By coming here to work as miners, they would receive some compensation from the River-Facing Sect after completing their term, even if it might not be enough to set them on the path of cultivation.
At the very least, the various rewards they earned would be enough to raise their status when they returned to the mortal world.
So Shen Mo and the others only had to ensure the miners' safety. They had no need to worry about anyone running away.
After all, they had come of their own free will, not as forced laborers.
After showing their faces briefly in front of the miners, they dismissed everyone and sent them back to work in the tunnels.
The three of them then moved into the cave abode reserved for those guarding the mining area.
The cave abode was vast, covering more than ten mu.
Its surroundings were pleasant, and it was beautifully furnished. In fact, it was no less impressive than an Inner Sect disciple's cave abode.
The only flaw was that it had no spiritual vein to sustain it, so they couldn't spend all day in an environment brimming with spiritual energy.
Clearly, cultivating here would be less effective than in an Inner Sect cave abode.
"For the next two months, this will be where we rest and stand guard."
"Let's cook first. We've been on the road for ages, and everyone's hungry."
After looking around, Guo Zhao spoke up.
Though they were Qi Gathering cultivators, they still hadn't reached the point where they could abstain from food and drink entirely.
After the long journey, they were all ravenous.
The cave abode was equipped with a kitchen.
There was a large supply of ingredients inside, not leftovers from the disciples who had guarded the area before them.
Someone came by every few days to deliver fresh ingredients.
Shen Mo volunteered to cook and prepared a lavish meal.
Besides the stir-fried dishes, he remembered that he still had several jin of Two-Headed Silver-Ringed Python meat in his Qiankun Pouch, so he used some barbecue seasoning to make a grilled feast.
"Junior Brother Shen, the aroma of your barbecue is truly mouthwatering."
When the grilled python meat was brought to the table, Guo Zhao couldn't help exclaiming.
"It really is quite good." Chen Mengze nodded in agreement.
"It's absolutely delicious. We ought to raise a cup to it!"
The group soon dug in, and once they tasted the grilled meat, they ate with even greater relish.
Guo Zhao took several jars of wine from his Qiankun Pouch and offered them to Shen Mo and Chen Mengze.
"I'll pass. I'm on night patrol in the mining area tonight."
Chen Mengze didn't accept the wine.
Shen Mo, however, took it without hesitation.
"Gulp!"
He downed a large mouthful, feeling wonderfully refreshed.
The wine Guo Zhao had brought out was fragrant. It went down without any harsh burn; instead, it had a mellow, unusual sweetness.
The flavor lingered endlessly.
[You drank a mouthful of Green Mystic Spirit Wine. Your cultivation has increased.]
A message suddenly appeared on the information panel, leaving Shen Mo a little startled.
Could this wine actually improve his cultivation?
"Senior Brother Guo, is this spirit wine?"
"Exactly." Guo Zhao nodded. "It's brewed from top-grade Green Mystic Spirit Rice. The process is complicated, so it's quite valuable."
"Not only does it taste delicious, it can also improve your cultivation."
As expected of someone from a powerful Aristocratic Clan. He had such fine things at his disposal.
Only then did Shen Mo realize how precious the wine was.
He stopped gulping it down and began savoring it instead.
He let the Green Mystic Spirit Wine swirl over his tongue, appreciating its flavor.
After a few rounds, the more Shen Mo drank, the brighter his eyes grew.
He could increase his cultivation just by drinking. Wasn't that much more enjoyable than taking pills?
Shen Mo felt a quiet envy.
Once he joined the Inner Sect and had a cave abode of his own, he'd have to grow some spirit fruits and rice, then brew spirit wine and spirit tea for everyday use.
He thought this to himself.
"You two go ahead. I've eaten my fill."
After finishing her meal, Chen Mengze said, "I'll go on patrol."
With that, she picked up the sword resting on the stone table and left the Guardian Cave Abode.
Once she was gone, Guo Zhao finally seemed to relax.
He grabbed two jars of wine, moved closer, and began asking Shen Mo the questions he'd been wanting to ask for some time.
"Junior Brother Shen, are you close to Junior Sister Chen?"
"We're fairly close, I suppose." Shen Mo thought it over and answered honestly. "We grew up together, so you could say we were childhood friends."
"Senior Sister Chen's father treats me like his own nephew. He even once considered matching me with Senior Sister Chen."
At the mention of matching them, Guo Zhao's expression changed at once. He seemed a little tense.
"But I don't have any romantic feelings for Senior Sister Chen, and she feels the same way about me."
Shen Mo's next words made him breathe a sigh of relief.
"That's good, that's good!"
Guo Zhao was overjoyed. He slapped Shen Mo on the shoulder, unable to hide his delight.
Senior Brother Guo seemed a little straightforward. Every feeling showed plainly on his face.
Shen Mo thought this to himself.
He couldn't tell whether Guo Zhao was simply flustered because he cared so much, or whether he was truly that guileless.
"Junior Brother Shen, I'll be honest with you."
After hesitating for a moment, Guo Zhao gritted his teeth and got straight to the point. "There's something you don't know. I secretly admire and have feelings for Junior Sister Chen."
Shen Mo was speechless.
With how nervous you're acting, even a blind man could see it.
He made the remark silently, but kept up an astonished expression.
"Really?"
"Since you're close to Senior Sister Chen, but don't have romantic feelings for her, I hope you'll help me, Junior Brother Shen."
"If I succeed in becoming her cultivation partner, I'll remain true to her and never leave her."
"Help you? What should I do?"
"To be honest, I specifically sought out this assignment guarding the mining area so I could spend time alone with Junior Sister Chen, create opportunities, and grow closer to her. I didn't expect her to bring you along."
"Don't worry, Senior Brother Guo. I won't get in your way during this time. I'll just stay in my room practicing alchemy and artifact forging."
He stated his position plainly.
Chen Mengze hadn't even discussed it with him before dragging him along as a shield.
Shen Mo didn't think he was obligated to play the hapless decoy and draw everyone's ire, as Chen Mengze had planned.
He was more likely to offend Senior Brother Guo, who came from a powerful background.
"Good, good."
Seeing that Shen Mo was so accommodating, Guo Zhao was overjoyed again. "Don't worry, Brother Shen. If I succeed, I'll repay you handsomely."
In just a few short sentences, Guo Zhao had become much friendlier than before. He'd even changed his form of address from "Junior Brother Shen" to "Brother Shen."
A handsome reward?
Shen Mo's interest was piqued. "What kind of reward did you have in mind, Senior Brother Guo?"
"As long as Brother Shen is willing to help, I'll give you a Profound-grade, low-tier Dragon Sparrow Sword that I forged myself."
A Profound-grade, low-tier flying sword?
Shen Mo's heart leapt with joy.
That was a generous reward. In the marketplace, a Profound-grade, low-tier weapon would cost at least eighty Spirit Stones.
It certainly deserved to be called a handsome reward.
As expected of a young master from an Aristocratic Clan. He was indeed generous.
But Shen Mo's attention soon shifted elsewhere. "You forged it yourself? I didn't know you knew artifact forging, Senior Brother Guo."
Before you continue