Old Grudges and New Hatreds!

"Buzz!"

After the skill "Disguise" advanced to the "Beginner Realm," Qin Yao, a straight-as-steel man, suddenly found his mind filled with all sorts of makeup techniques.

In the past, he could not even name two lipstick shades; now, just one glance at flowers and grass was enough for him to imagine what effect they would have if ground into juice and applied to his face!

Though he was still far from the exaggerated realm of "changing one's entire head."

If he were in a dimly lit place and viewed from two or three steps away...

Even people like Little Liuzi, whom he had interacted with constantly these past days, would absolutely fail to recognize him after he dressed himself up!

As the two major skills, "Lockpicking" and "Disguise," advanced one after the other, Qin Yao's number of "Available Points" also rose with the tide, reaching nine.

"I wonder when these 'Points' will come in handy?"

Qin Yao yawned and rubbed his eyes. "I'll grind for another hour, then sleep."

Early the next morning.

Before setting out, Qin Yao specifically told Old Master Qin about several items needed for lockpicking, as well as a few kinds of locks, asking the old man to buy them for him.

Even old, secondhand castoffs would be fine!

As long as they could be used to hone his "Lockpicking" skill.

Otherwise, relying solely on fiddling with door bolts to raise the level of "Lockpicking" was simply crawling along at a turtle's pace.

Besides that, Qin Yao also asked his grandfather to get him some pot soot, flowers, wall powder, animal fur, and the like.

These were for disguising himself and raising the proficiency of "Disguise."

Before he left, Qin Yao deliberately reminded him, "Grandpa, you have to buy these things separately from different households. Don't buy them all together, or it'll easily arouse suspicion.

"Especially those tools that can pick locks."

Old Master Qin waved his hand carelessly. "Got it, don't worry! You brat are pretty cautious. Not bad."

How could I not be cautious? Privately unlocking shackles is a grave crime no different from a prison break!

Qin Yao thought to himself, If anyone notices and comes searching the place, not only will all my plans go down the drain, I might even lose my life...

Before long, Qin Yao followed the crowd back to the mines.

Eating, mining; acting, growing...

For the other mine slaves, it was a dull life that never changed.

But for Qin Yao, thanks to the Grind Emperor System, every day was full of flavor.

Every change in the data on his attribute panel was a gratifying mark of growth to him!

"Skill "Mining": Mastery Realm (12527/20000)"

"Skill "Mining": Mastery Realm (14829/20000)"

"Skill "Acting": Beginner Realm (427/500)"

"Skill "Acting": Beginner Realm (453/500)"

"Skill "Eating": Minor Mastery Realm (256/1000)"

"Skill "Eating": Minor Mastery Realm (287/1000)"

Time flew like a white colt flashing past a crack; in the blink of an eye, night was beginning to fall.

Once again, beneath the envious and jealous gazes of countless mine slaves, Qin Yao set off down the road back to the village with six flatbreads tucked in his arms.

Yet today, the western side of Tang Family Village was somewhat livelier than usual.

Following the stream of people into the village, Qin Yao caught a vague glimpse by moonlight of a broad, burly man in the open space ahead, snatching something from the arms of another person whose back was to him.

As the man snatched, he cursed, "You old dog, if you don't let go, believe it or not, I'll beat you to death?!"

The neighbors could not help discussing it—"Niu Shiyang is bullying people again."

"That bastard relied on the 'merit' of giving his own younger sister to Steward Wang as a concubine half a month ago to become Lord Wang Ji's lackey."

"These days, he's been throwing his weight around in the west of the village, bullying men and women alike!"

"Yeah..."

"Whose unlucky soul is it this time?"

"Don't know. It's too dark to see clearly."

"I could only tell from the sound of that person's voice that they should be quite old."

"The person was just walking along the road when Niu Shiyang suddenly jumped out and blocked him!

"He falsely accused him of stealing his money, then started grabbing at him."

"Ah, he's a pitiful man too, ending up with a living demon like Niu Shiyang!"

"Shh, keep it down. Watch out you don't bring disaster upon yourself."

Afraid of Niu Shiyang's retaliation, the neighboring residents deliberately lowered their voices whenever they discussed the matter.

But ever since Qin Yao's constitution had improved, his sight, hearing, and other senses had all grown increasingly sharp.

He truly caught every single word of their conversation.

At that moment.

The pitiful man being robbed clutched his money pouch tightly, squatting on the ground as he shouted, "Someone, help! Robbery!"

"Rob your mother's foot! You clearly stole my money pouch, and I caught you red-handed. What are you pretending to be a pitiful victim for?"

As Niu Shiyang bellowed at the top of his lungs, he rained punches and kicks on the man. "Let go! I said let go!"

"That voice..."

Qin Yao's heart suddenly skipped a beat.

Though it was late at night, and the old man had his back to him, making his features impossible to see clearly—

That voice sounded awfully familiar!

Could it be Grandpa?!

Qin Yao immediately grew tense.

At that moment, with a command from Team Leader Yang, the ropes binding the mine slaves together were untied.

The next instant, Qin Yao shot out of the line with a whoosh.

The iron shackles on his feet kept him from moving like the wind.

He could only take quick, tiny steps as he hurried toward the two men.

As he drew closer, he abruptly discovered that the old man being robbed was truly his grandfather, Qin Dashan!

As for the Niu Shiyang the neighbors had mentioned, Qin Yao knew him as well.

Thinking back to when he had first awakened in the mine's "single-room shack," there had been two lackeys following Manager Wang Ji...

One of them was the broad, fat fellow before him!

Qin Yao remembered that when this bastard had slammed the door and left, he had even muttered, "Too bad that kid's little sister is so skinny, and way too young.

"Otherwise, hehe..."

Old grudges and fresh hatred entwined, and Qin Yao's fury instantly flared to the heavens!

"Stop!!"

He roared.

"Huh? Which bastard is tired of living and dares meddle in my business?!"

Niu Shiyang froze.

Ever since he had latched onto Wang Ji, the manager of Ding Mine Pit, as a "distant relative," aside from the overseers who escorted mine slaves past this place every night, there truly wasn't anyone Niu Shiyang had feared in this slum-like West Village.

When Qin Yao came closer still, Niu Shiyang recognized him too.

"Well, well? Isn't this the 'Jieyuan Scholar' who was demoted to a mine slave just two days ago?"

Mockery immediately piled across Niu Shiyang's fleshy face. "What? This old man is your grandfather?

"Oh, so he's the one who handed over his coffin money... Ahem, forget it. I've got nothing to say to you!"

Originally, Niu Shiyang had wanted to reveal that "Old Master Qin had offered all his coffin money to Lord Wang Ji, only for it to be utterly useless," in order to mock Qin Yao.

But on second thought, if he truly made the matter public, he might well damage his boss's reputation.

Taking money but refusing to do the job?

If Wang Ji, the manager of Ding Mine Pit, gained that reputation, then when the families of other mine slaves wanted to send him gifts in the future, they would likely have to weigh whether it was worth it.

For that very reason, Niu Shiyang stopped the words at the edge of his lips.

Instead, he snarled viciously at Qin Yao, "If you know what's good for you, make this old dog hand over the money he stole from me!

"Otherwise, I've got plenty of ways to make sure you can't swallow it or carry it away!"