The Scent

"Steward He, then tell me all the details."

Li Gan sized up Steward He and spoke at once.

"Martial Master Li, I haven't yet had a chance to welcome you properly—"

Steward He hurriedly said.

"No need. The sooner we resolve this, the sooner the mine can resume operations."

Li Gan waved a hand.

"Yes, yes, Martial Master Li. This way, please. I'll tell you everything."

Steward He said.

He naturally wanted to get rid of the Earth Dragon Exotic Insect threat as soon as possible.

He simply hadn't been sure what this Xiantian Expert from the Divine Sword Sect was like, so he'd planned to entertain him properly first.

He hadn't expected the Xiantian Expert to be in even more of a hurry than he was.

Naturally, he was more than happy about it.

Once they were inside, Steward He brought out a newly made map and began explaining where the Earth Dragon Exotic Insect had appeared.

"Martial Master Li, look. These red markings show where the Earth Dragon Exotic Insect ate miners. These yellow markings show where it appeared and left traces, and these black markings show places where it may have left traces."

He explained everything in great detail.

Li Gan listened closely without saying a word.

By the time Steward He finished, he had a pretty good idea of the situation.

He had also forcibly committed the entire map to memory.

To make sure he hadn't missed anything, he reviewed it several times in his mind.

"Junior Brother Ling, some of your people must have come face-to-face with this Earth Dragon Exotic Insect. Is there anything you'd like to add?"

Li Gan looked at Ling Xingfeng, who had remained silent, and suddenly asked.

"Senior Brother Li, this Earth Dragon Exotic Insect is skilled at burrowing. It has dug countless tunnels through the mine, crisscrossing like a spiderweb. That lets it come and go as it pleases. It's also extremely wary. Since it first appeared, I've only seen it once. I haven't seen it at all since. It seems to have some special ability to sense threats, and it knows I could pose a threat to it. If you want to kill it, Senior Brother Li, you may only get one chance."

Ling Xingfeng thought it over before answering.

"Senior Brother Li, I can smell a very unusual odor released by that Earth Dragon Exotic Insect."

A Divine Sword Sect Inner Disciple beside them couldn't help but interject.

"Oh? Junior Brother, may I ask your name?"

Li Gan looked at the Inner Disciple and asked with a smile.

"Senior Brother Li, I'm Zhang Liao, a Named Disciple of Guiyi Peak."

The Inner Disciple answered hastily.

"Junior Brother Zhang, how can you be sure the odor you smell comes from the Earth Dragon Exotic Insect?"

Li Gan nodded, then asked.

"Everywhere that Earth Dragon Exotic Insect has been, that strange odor lingers. I asked Senior Brother Ling and the others, but they all said they couldn't smell it. So I don't know if the odor I smell is really there."

Zhang Liao hesitated before answering.

His nose had been unusually sensitive to all kinds of odors since childhood. Even among a jumble of smells, he could pick out each one.

"Then how about this, Junior Brother Zhang? Come into the mine with me."

Li Gan considered it for a moment before replying.

Then he turned to Steward He. "Steward He, prepare a few miners to come into the mine with me."

He needed the miners to lure the Earth Dragon Exotic Insect out.

"Martial Master Li, I'll have that arranged right away."

Steward He hurriedly replied.

"Senior Brother Li, what about us?"

Ling Xingfeng asked.

"You wait outside the mine."

Li Gan said.

"Uh, all right."

Ling Xingfeng nodded.

It was already mid-afternoon.

The weather wasn't great.

It was a little muggy.

At the entrance to a mine tunnel, Li Gan led Zhang Liao and three miners inside.

The three miners seemed to be holding up well; none of them looked especially frightened.

Anyone willing to go down into a mine had already prepared themselves.

Or perhaps Steward He had filled their pockets with silver.

The mine tunnel was spacious, supported by thick wooden beams to keep it from collapsing.

They'd also installed proper drainage.

Li Gan's brow furrowed.

If this mine tunnel collapsed, they'd be in trouble.

He was a Xiantian Martial Artist, but even he couldn't withstand a collapsing mine.

Even a task that seemed simple carried some risk.

A cave-in might never happen, but if it did, they could only pray for the best.

Fortunately, he had memorized the map of the entire mine.

It was extremely detailed, showing even the latest routes through the tunnels.

That meant he couldn't get lost inside.

Even if a collapse occurred, he could run to the nearest exit right away.

"Has this mine tunnel ever collapsed before?"

Li Gan suddenly asked.

"Sir, it has."

One of the miners hurriedly replied.

So it had collapsed before.

That made him even more cautious.

"Junior Brother Zhang, can you smell that odor?"

Li Gan forced himself to shake off his worries, then looked at Zhang Liao.

"No."

Zhang Liao shook his head.

"If you smell it, tell me right away."

Li Gan said.

"Understood, Senior Brother Li."

Zhang Liao nodded.

The five of them continued through the mine tunnel. It was quiet all the way, with nothing but their breathing and footsteps.

Li Gan had already concealed his presence.

Since the Earth Dragon Exotic Insect might have some special ability to sense others, the best approach was to avoid alerting it—or make it think he was an ordinary miner.

They had been walking through the mine for well over half an hour.

Suddenly, Zhang Liao stopped. He closed his eyes and sniffed, his nose twitching.

"Senior Brother Li, I—I think I can smell that odor."

"The odor?"

Li Gan tried to smell it too, but apart from the mine's usual mix of scents, he detected nothing unusual.

"Yes, it's the same odor I told you about."

Zhang Liao hurriedly replied.

"Then try following it."

Li Gan said.

He didn't activate his spiritual perception.

After comprehending sword intent, one developed a special spiritual sense that could detect traces and auras invisible to the naked eye.

He was worried his spiritual sense might alert the Earth Dragon Exotic Insect.

"Mm."

Zhang Liao nodded and started walking, sniffing as he went.

At first, he moved slowly. As the scent grew clearer to him, he picked up speed.

Li Gan told the three miners to stay close behind him.

Although he wanted to use them to draw out the Earth Dragon Exotic Insect, he would do his best to keep them safe.

They walked on like that for nearly another half hour.

Zhang Liao stopped once more and circled the area a few times. Then he told Li Gan with certainty, "Senior Brother Li, the scent is strongest around here. If it really is the Earth Dragon Exotic Insect, it must have been here recently."

Li Gan nodded and first had Zhang Liao use the map to find the nearest exit.

If Zhang Liao stayed, the Earth Dragon Exotic Insect might not dare to appear.

That left only Li Gan and the three miners.

Silence settled over them.

Only heavy breathing broke it.

It came from the three miners, betraying their nerves.

Li Gan stood still, both hands clasped around his sword, eyes closed.

He stilled his mind and breath. Though he didn't release his spiritual sense, his hearing let him listen to every movement around him.

No one knew how much time passed.

Suddenly, Li Gan faintly sensed movement underground.

It was as if a snake were slithering rapidly toward them.