What I Want to Protect!

"You... this... you really earned this by working?"

Grandpa Qin Dashan's face was full of astonishment.

Then, as if he had thought of something, his expression suddenly turned grave. "Child, you mustn't do anything foolish to degrade yourself just so we can have a full meal!"

Though Qin Dashan looked utterly destitute now, from the things Qin Yao's original parents had occasionally discussed while they were alive, he knew that the old man had once been a martial artist who had entered the Martial Path!

If not for that family mission thirty years ago, which had dealt a devastating blow to his dantian and reduced all his cultivation to nothing...

Old Master Qin, even if he had not been taken into the main family as an Elder, should at least have become a pillar of the family.

Therefore, Qin Dashan was no sheltered fool. He knew something of certain people's unusual perversions.

And his grandson happened to be fresh-faced and handsome, with the scholarly air of a refined young man who diligently studied poetry and books.

In the eyes of some people, that was no less alluring than young, beautiful girls!

As a transmigrator who had endured all manner of "information bombardment" on Blue Star, Qin Yao naturally had no trouble understanding what Old Master Qin meant by those "foolish things to degrade yourself."

"Eugh... I can't stand it. I'm straight—straight as steel!!"

Goosebumps rose all over Qin Yao as he hurriedly said, "Grandpa, what are you thinking? Am I that kind of person?"

"I genuinely think I'm quite suited to mining. The moment I got started, I was digging more easily than many old mine slaves who'd been at it for one or two years!

"Most importantly, I've only worked for one full day, yet my body is already much stronger than when I used to study!

"If you don't believe me, look!"

As he spoke, Qin Yao directly took off his prison uniform.

At once, a top-tier lean-muscular physique made its dazzling debut.

Every inch of muscle was as sharply defined as if carved by knife and chisel, compact and powerful!

"Oh my! This..."

Grandpa Qin Dashan was greatly shocked.

Just now, Qin Yao had been wearing a loose prison uniform, so nothing had shown.

But now that he had removed his clothes and the old man looked closely, he realized that his precious grandson had not only grown far more robust—he had even become two inches taller!

"Such an enormous change... Could it be that your Martial Vein has awakened again?!"

Qin Dashan suddenly thought of a possibility.

He grabbed Qin Yao's arm and skillfully pressed along his acupoints and meridians.

"No. I've merely become stronger from physical labor. Maybe I'm a 'chosen miner,' naturally talented in this area?"

Qin Yao said with a hint of self-mockery.

"Indeed, your Martial Vein has not awakened."

The light in Old Master Qin's eyes dimmed somewhat.

He sighed inwardly. Alas, this old man is being too greedy!

Martial Veins are things one is born with. At the latest, they can be detected by the age of ten.

I've never heard of anyone testing negative at ten, only to suddenly awaken at fifteen or sixteen...

So a smile returned to the old man's face. "Heh heh, blame this old fool for saying such discouraging things."

Qin Dashan squeezed Qin Yao's arm, his eyes full of admiration. "Good, very good!

"With a physique like yours, Grandpa won't worry so much when you work.

"But child, remember never to push yourself too hard. Keep a low profile in all things. Only those who do not show the mountain or reveal the water can better protect themselves in this place.

"Sometimes... the human heart is darker than the black iron ore you dig!"

Qin Yao deeply agreed with his grandfather's earnest advice.

Wasn't Wang Ji, who took money without doing the job, like that? Zhang Er, who had stuck out his foot to trip him? Zhao Jian, who had deliberately cheated him out of food?

"Alright, child. The Northern Territory is cold. Hurry and put your clothes on."

"Mm, alright."

As Qin Yao dressed, he said, "Grandpa, you and Lanlan should hurry and eat the pancake."

"No!"

Old Master Qin sternly pushed it back. "You should eat this pancake yourself. You have to do hard labor at the mine!"

"This old man and Lan'er can split the porridge. That'll be enough to keep us going."

"Oh, Grandpa! Stop passing it back and forth!"

Qin Yao deliberately put on an impatient tone. "At Iron Mountain Mining Area, I stuff myself full at every meal. Otherwise, how could I build all this 'muscle' in such a short time?

"Even if your grandson really is a 'chosen miner,' I have to fill my stomach first before I can turn that energy into strength!

"To be honest, I brought this remaining pancake back specifically for you and Little Sis to eat.

"This is only the beginning.

"From now on, as long as nothing unusual happens, I can bring food back for you and Lan'er every night!

"But we have no other choice right now, so I can only bring back these Coarse Pancakes. I just hope you and Little Sis won't dislike them."

"Heh, what are you saying? This pancake looks filling enough. Why would this old man dislike it?"

Qin Dashan beamed. "If anyone should dislike something, it should be the pancake disliking my mouthful of old teeth. Can I even bite through it? Hahahaha..."

Old Master Qin was in such high spirits that he was even in the mood to joke.

"Good! My grandson has made something of himself!"

With that, Qin Dashan turned around and lovingly rubbed Qin Lan's head. "Then today, the two of us will bask in your brother's good fortune and enjoy a fine meal!"

"Wow~ Okay, okay!"

The little girl clapped and bounced with excitement.

Old Master Qin hurriedly covered Lan'er's mouth. "Shh, shh, shh. Keep it down.

"In a place like this, standing out too much can easily bring disaster upon you!"

"Okay, okay, I know, Grandpa..."

The little girl bit into the dry, coarse pancake, then shook her head and tugged with all her might, unable to pull it free. Her adorably foolish appearance was too amusing to behold.

"Yao'er, you should have a couple bites too."

Old Master Qin forcefully broke off half the pancake and handed it to Qin Yao.

"No, no."

Qin Yao repeatedly refused, even pointing at his throat. "My dinner is still up to here. If I eat any more, I'll be so stuffed I throw up!"

"You brat, how could it be that exaggerated?"

Grandpa scolded him with a laugh.

At that moment, little sister Qin Lan finally pulled free the bite of pancake she had been gnawing on.

But because she had used too much force, the instant the pancake came free, inertia sent the back of her head crashing straight into the wall.

Bang!

"Ow~" Qin Lan rubbed her head adorably.

"Pfft, hahahahaha..." Grandfather and grandson both laughed until they could not close their mouths.

"Lanlan, it's too hard to eat dry. Soak it in the porridge."

"Mm-hm~"

The little girl obediently did as she was told.

For Qin Lan, who had not eaten a full meal in a very, very long time, a Coarse Pancake soaked in thin porridge was already a sumptuous delicacy.

As she chewed, a satisfied smile could not help but bloom at the corner of her lips.

Qin Yao had not seen such a smile on his sister's face in a very, very long time.

And he had not seen this kind of relieved relaxation appear on his grandfather's weathered face in a very, very long time either...

But Qin Yao knew that his grandfather's present "relief" was only temporary.

Knowing the old man's temperament, once today had passed, he would certainly wear himself out again, planning for the long-term future of his grandson!

Qin Yao secretly made up his mind: I must become stronger, so I can make Grandpa stop worrying and let my little sister laugh to her heart's content...