Xu Polu immediately ordered his personal guards to see to it.
A moment later, a brawny middle-aged man was brought in.
His face was dark, his palms rough; one look was enough to tell that he had spent years doing hard labor.
Only, his gaze was somewhat unfocused and his complexion bluish. He had clearly been corroded by deathly energy as well, though far less severely than Old Qian.
At the sight of Lu Chen, Zhang Tiezhu froze for a moment before promptly dropping to his knees. "This commoner Zhang Tiezhu pays his respects to my lord."
Lu Chen raised a hand in a gesture to help him up. "Get up and speak."
Zhang Tiezhu rose to his feet and stood with his hands at his sides, not daring to look up.
Lu Chen looked at him and got straight to the point. "How many years have you mined at Blackstone Market?"
"Twenty-three years, my lord," Zhang Tiezhu replied. "This commoner went down into the mines at thirteen. Later, I became a foreman, overseeing more than thirty men."
"Then are you familiar with the terrain around Blackstone Market?"
Zhang Tiezhu nodded. "I am. Within three hundred li of Blackstone Market, this commoner has been to every place with mines."
Lu Chen stared into his eyes. "Deep within the mist, there is a great mountain, and at its foot is a cave. Do you know of it?"
Zhang Tiezhu shuddered from head to toe, his expression changing drastically.
He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
Seeing his hesitation, Lu Chen said flatly, "Speak without fear. No matter what you say, I will ensure you come to no harm."
Zhang Tiezhu was silent for a long while before he finally spoke in a hoarse voice. "Th-that place... we call it...