Meeting Ranran Again: Golden Boy and Jade Maiden, Fine Clothes and Furious Horses, Arriving Together

The Western Vein Mountain Region contains 369 mines, 41 of which are in operation. This particular mine is called "Jade Pillar Mountain." It is a low-lying mountain, but its roots extend deep into the ground, creating a labyrinthine network of passageways.

It contains countless precious gems.

There are 174 Wooden Lodge in front of the mine. Five people live in each hut, forming a team, and make a living by mining jade to pay off their debts.

The jade in Jade City has practical uses, not just as ornaments. Although the jade miners have a very low social status, their role is extremely important. Due to the harsh environment and the scarcity of manpower, the Common Citizen and Jade Citizen of Jade City —forced by the need to make a living—would also go into the mountains to mine jade.

However, the monthly reward was only "one tael" of silver. If one was lucky enough to find rare jade in a month, one could receive two taels of silver, plus room and board, and all the money earned could be saved. Wang Shan was in dire need of money to pass the "official examination" and needed to report to the "official examination". So he came to the mine to mine jade.

Liang Huohuo, a Common Citizen, had no means of making a living. Through an introduction, he came here to seek his fortune. He only needed to mine for thirty-six years to obtain the status of a "Jade Citizen" in Jade City. If he could save up enough money, he could rent a small house and start a business, which would bring him great joy.

Li Xian slept quite soundly. The next day at dawn, Zhang Cun got up and struck a gong to wake everyone up and get ready. The sky was dark and deathly still. After everyone was fully prepared, they set off to carve jade from the vein.

Before descending into the mine, one must wear the "Heavenly Crafted Wonders; Five-Life Mask." The mask fits the face perfectly, protects against dirt and dust, and contains threads that connect the five masks. No loud noise is allowed inside the mine, so the Five-Life Mask has no mouth, thus preventing sound from escaping. The sound is transmitted only through the threads to the masks worn by the other members.

Along the way, we saw various soldiers traveling together, all heading into the mountain mine. Two soldiers guarded the mine entrance: Zhang Cun and Li Xian.

Yue Luofan, Liang Huohuo, and Wang Shan showed their Mining Token, and then they could proceed along the path into the vein.

The tunnel was pitch black, concealing hidden currents. Zhang Cun spoke, and his words traveled through interconnected "thin threads" to Li Xian.

The voice was muffled in Yue Luofan's, Liang Huohuo's, and Wang Shan's ears; their timbre was indistinguishable, and they couldn't tell who was speaking to them at first glance.

Zhang Cun introduced himself and then pointed out Li Xian's name. He told him that the mine was dangerous, with hidden currents and that he had to be extremely careful. If he lost his footing and fell, he might be swept into the vast ocean and would hardly survive.

Li Xian had exceptional eyesight; though the cave was pitch black, he could see the details clearly. Walking and traveling were no problem, and he curiously surveyed the place, thinking to himself, "I've worked as a handyman, been Flower Thief, ventured into deep lakes, and even entered strange forests. This time, by sheer chance, I've stumbled into a mine and become a jade miner. It's certainly a unique experience. But the environment here is harsh and dark; it would be best to escape as soon as possible."

Working together, the group traveled for four or five miles before a fork in the road appeared ahead.

The Jade Pillar Mountain mine passages are not "narrow." The tunnels are wide enough for one person to walk through, and these numerous mine passages are naturally formed. There are many similar mines, with low-lying surfaces but hidden wonders within. To date, less than 1100 have been explored, making it a rare and magnificent sight. Yet, it is deeply hidden underground and difficult to appreciate with the naked eye.

Those who are in it do not want to experience it.

They passed several jade mining teams, each heading down a different path. Zhang Cun told them that countless "miners" lost their way every year, most of whom had died. They needed to stay close and not get separated. He also mentioned the dangers of the cave and the many strange events that had occurred there over the years.

Upon hearing this strange tale, Li Xian became cautious, thinking, "While my eyes and ears are important, my life is even more crucial. As a newcomer to the mine, I must be extremely careful. I must quickly familiarize myself with the mine's geology so I can descend into it with ease."

He plucked a strand of hair and planted it beside the fork in the road, intending it to serve as his eyes and ears. Suddenly, a strange sensation arose as the hair's "earth-sensing" properties manifested. The sensation penetrated from the surface to the depths of the earth, acting not only as his eyes and ears but also as his senses, the earth's essence, and its vital energy—he vaguely sensed that beneath the hair lay three unique mineral jades.

Li Xian gently stepped on the jade, a sense of wonder washing over him, "Outside Jade City, I often buy jade ornaments to give to Sister Liuli and Madam Wen to curry favor. But the jade I obtain, though exquisite in appearance, is of little use. The jade from Jade City, however, seems to possess unique abilities, concealing profound mysteries."

Having just arrived, he should not stand out. Although he knew there was jade in the ground, he remained silent. He continued to follow the group deeper into the area, walking for more than ten miles until they were deep inside the vein. The surroundings were cold and damp, with water droplets dripping from the ceiling. It had rained heavily a while ago, and the rainwater had seeped into this place.

Zhang Cun summoned Li Xian and demonstrated the "Jade-Chiseling Hoe Method" in front of him, showing him how to wield the hoe and how to apply skillful force.

This method is not difficult; it's like chopping wood or cutting down trees. Li Xian learned it after just one look. He wielded his hoe and vigorously chiseled the mountain wall, stirring up dust and rubble. After practicing a few more times, he became Proficiency. It was very efficient. After doing this several times, he dug out a piece of mountain jade. This jade was uncarved and unadorned; it was a rough jade, but its color and quality were quite good, and it would be of great use in the future.

Li Xian said, "Brother Zhang, does this mean we've unearthed a precious jade?"

Zhang Cun laughed and said, "Of course. Digging for jade isn't actually difficult, it's just tiring and dangerous, and if you're not careful, you could even lose your life. Otherwise, I don't know how many people would be eager to dig for it." Li Xian said, "Compared to other jobs for paying off debts, is the job of a jade miner considered above average?"

Zhang Cun waved his hand and said, "Above average? It should be below average. You should also go through the process of being assigned a job by the judge to repay the debt. Among the ship's laborers, courtesans, and jade miners—the jade miner is the most tiring and worst job."

Li Xian asked, "Once the primary duty for debt repayment is determined, it cannot be changed? Is the only way to repay the debt through jade mining?"

Zhang Cun said, "It's possible to change jobs, but it would require spending money to smooth things over. We're already in debt, how can we afford to do that? Even if we had the money, then—" He shook his hoe and said self-deprecatingly, "After working as a jade miner for so long, I've figured out the ropes. Even if it's tiring and hard, the debt will decrease day by day. If I were to switch to another job, I wouldn't understand the ropes. And with the interest compounding, wouldn't things get really bad?"

Zhang Cun advised, "Therefore, we should just stick to mining jade."

The group rounded a treacherous bend; to their left lay a deep abyss, a single misstep plunging them into its depths. They clung tightly to the wall, the footholds extremely narrow. After rounding the bend, Zhang Cun said, "Brothers, let's go back to the old spot and try to dig up some rare jade."

He seemed to have been here several times before. He knew the area very well. He navigated the winding paths in the dark, then waded across a cold, dark river, and arrived at a wider area. Here, light rippled, and the stone walls were inlaid with tiny gems.

Li Xian thought to himself, "This Jade City is truly blessed by nature. I wonder how long it will take to mine all these precious jades." Then he suddenly thought, "If all the jades are mined out, the name 'Jade City Jade City ' will probably lose its true meaning."

Zhang Cun made a gesture, and the crowd dispersed in all directions, each chiseling a spot. Li Xian used the "Jade-Chiseling Hoe Method," striking, digging, and chiseling with the hoe, producing a "clinking" sound. He focused on observation and silently dug.

In one day, a total of thirty jade stones were unearthed.

It is encased in a stone membrane, but the edges of the jade are faintly visible, allowing one to discern what kind of jade is inside. The interior shimmers or glows red.

The jade pieces had a green or yellow sheen. Zhang Cun frowned, clearly displeased, and muttered, "This is bad, this is bad. We haven't found any rare jade again. The month is almost over, are we going to have worked for nothing?" He sighed softly, his face full of worry, and led his team out of the mountains.

He went to bed at dawn and left at dusk. It was almost dark. Li Xian was full of energy and didn't feel tired. But he couldn't help but frown. If this continued every day, decades would pass, and it would be hard to know whether the sky in Jade City was clear or blue.

He was determined that the ordinary path was not feasible.

Simple dishes are cooked in the Wooden Lodge cabin.

Hot steamed buns and salted vegetable leaves— Li Xian had a large appetite. He took a few buns and ate them with the vegetable leaves, enjoying them immensely. He secretly observed everyone's expressions and demeanor.

Li Xian suddenly noticed Zhang Cun and a man walking towards the shadows. A thought struck him; he quickly swallowed a steamed bun and stuffed some vegetable leaves into his mouth. He stealthily approached. Although martial arts were difficult to use, how could he possibly conceal the Perfect Aspect and Double-Pupil Aspect —innate characteristics? Relying on his light and agile body and keen eyesight, he could follow them without revealing his presence. When he was close enough, he plucked a strand of hair and used a palm strike to send it even closer, extending his senses. Then, he returned to his wooden dwelling as if nothing had happened.

It was only through this eavesdropping that they learned—

The place where jade was mined during the day was originally called "Fish Courtyard Forest". Deep in the vein, there were countless passages and mining sites of all sizes. Zhang Cun paid a price to buy the "Fish Courtyard Forest" route from a jade miner named "Jiang Huchen".

Although Jiang Huchen was a jade miner, his brother Jiang Longsheng was a Mud Body figure. Jiang Huchen didn't need to mine the jade, yet he could reap the benefits by selling information about "rare jade varieties" and enjoying considerable profits.

To avoid paying interest on their loans that month, jade miners humbled themselves, desperately seeking information about rare jade varieties. Just over ten days prior, the "Fish Courtyard Forest" had indeed yielded a "rare jade variety."

Once Zhang Cun obtained the route, he focused intently on one spot, digging back and forth for more than ten days. He found plenty of ordinary jade, but never any rare jade. With the end of the month approaching, he became anxious and helpless, so he came to inquire whether there was anything fishy about the matter of "Jiang Huchen" and Fish Courtyard Forest.

Zhang Cun's debt interest amounted to four hundred taels of silver. If it couldn't be waived, he would have wasted a month's work, so he anxiously inquired. Jiang Huchen, confident and fearless, claimed that the inability to unearth rare jade was due to Zhang Cun's bad luck, and that Fish Courtyard Forest had indeed produced rare jade. Zhang Cun had no choice but to leave.

Li Xian, having observed and heard the intricacies of the matter, gradually came to understand. "Although Zhang Cun is older than me, he is too honest. How could it be that repaying the debt to Jade City will be smooth sailing? This matter confirms my suspicions; the news represents the opportunity."

"Simply digging for minerals will only lead to death in the mine."

He fiddled with the ring on his thumb, pondering, "My ability to sense even a hair's breadth would certainly be very useful in finding precious jade. However—this matter should not be revealed. If it is, given Jade City's virtue, he will surely forbid me from leaving the jade veins again, forcing me to search for rare jade varieties for them day and night."

That night, he secretly observed Jiang Huchen's residence. He saw that Jiang Huchen lived alone in a two-story wooden house, which was elegantly decorated and had a large bed. He knew that Jiang Huchen must be very knowledgeable and perceptive when it came to information. So he secretly planted a hair in his hair to listen for information at all times.

Li Xian's "Five Organs Purge-Turbidity Revive-Yang Scripture; Strong-Organ Chapter" has been Perfection. His senses are keen, and his hearing and vision are clear.

With a focused mind, one can eavesdrop on even the slightest sounds from within. Conversations, gestures, and expressions—none of these can be avoided.

However, only four hairs can be planted at Hair Falling, Roots Taking Hold. If the limit is exceeded, the first hairs planted will wither. Li Xian pondered for a moment, feeling that the earth's veins were ever-changing and might hide dangers and twists, so he kept three hairs and would slowly decide how to plant them.

The next day, Zhang Cun led his team back into the vein, arriving at the same spot as the previous day. He gave the signal, and everyone scattered to dig. The sound of hoes striking each other echoed, and although they unearthed many precious stones, they still couldn't find the true gem. Zhang Cun sighed silently, knowing that this matter was highly dependent on luck, and he also had a feeling that Jiang Huchen was playing tricks. But he had no evidence and was helpless, so he swallowed his anger and turned to carefully observe Li Xian.

Seeing that he was both strong and skillful, he had already carved out seven pieces of jade. His jade carving skills even surpassed those of Zhang Cun. Zhang Cun was delighted to have such a capable person to help him and treated him even better.

After digging for two hours straight, everyone was exhausted and rested against a huge rock, taking out their water bags and dry rations to eat and drink. Li Xian, though full of energy, pretended to be tired, brushing the dust off his body. He took the opportunity to talk with Zhang Cun, Liang Huohuo, Wang Shan, Yue Fanluo, asking about the affairs of Jade City.

Although Jade City's territory is not as vast as that of major cities like White Emperor City Imperial Capital, it is still immense and expansive, comprising 360 wards, a number derived from the concept of "completeness and Perfection." It stretches from "God-Casting Mountain" in the east to "Iron Sea Mountain" in the west. It is surrounded by mountains on three sides and faces the sea on one side. The terrain is higher in the east and lower in the west.

The number of mountains is not exact, but it ranges from several thousand to tens of thousands of interconnected peaks and valleys. Despite the treacherous terrain, the passage of goods is not hindered. Every strategically important location is fortified with heavily guarded passes.

Jade Gate Pass, Return Pass, Exile Hero Pass, and Wandering Road Pass are among the many famous Great Wu in Dawu, renowned far and wide. Several large-scale battles have taken place here, all of which resulted in great victories for Jade City, with Yucheng capturing prisoners.

It is impregnable; neither external attacks nor internal escapes offer any hope.

Wang Shan and Liang Huohuo had no debts and were free to leave the mining area and enter the city during their free time each day. However, Jade Pillar Mountain was dozens of miles away from the "West Gate" of Jade City, and traveling back and forth was extremely exhausting.

Although Wang Shan was a "Jade Citizen," he came from a poor family, knew nothing of martial arts, and was merely an ordinary Clay Embryo. He often stayed at the wooden house, waiting for the "Fang Examination" several months later, hoping to raise enough money, register his name, and do his best to change his fate.

Li Xian suddenly remembered his "younger brother" from the past. Back then, they were barely clothed, and with winter approaching, their lives were hanging by a thread. To find a way out, the two brothers took risks, and now they have both achieved some success.

Li Xian thought to himself, "I wonder how my brother is doing. With the full assistance of a renowned teacher, he should be doing much better than me." He drank a lot of water, rested for a while, and waited for the dust and fog to dissipate before rousing himself to continue digging for the precious jade.

The cave was pitch black. Li Xian secretly observed his surroundings and, seeing that no one was paying attention, he twisted a strand of hair and planted it in the ground. Then he closed his eyes and focused his mind, sensing the earth through the hair. Within a radius of a hundred feet, the locations where the jade stones were hidden were all reflected in his mind.

This time, Li Xian focused intently on sensing, and his perception and investigation became even more comprehensive. He wondered, "These many jade stones are strangely shaped and contain different properties. Although their shapes are different, they seem to have some similarities in the Unseen way?"

When he first entered the mine, he didn't know how to identify the jade. But he intuitively felt that there were no rare jade varieties around. So he pulled out a hair and walked to a distance to reactivate his senses.

They went to two places in succession, but found no trace of rare jade. Li Xian knew that although the jade mines here were abundant, they did not contain rare jade. However, he did not tell anyone and silently dug, waiting to leave the vein with the team at 7 p. m.

When they emerged from the cave, it was pitch black; another day had passed. Zhang Cun his mask and sighed, "We do this every day, entering the cave before dawn and emerging after dark. Come to think of it, it's been a long time since we've seen sunlight."

After a quick shower, they collected their food and returned to their wooden dwelling to rest.

Four days passed in this manner.

Li Xian never stopped observing, gradually figuring out the relationships among the jade miners and gaining an understanding of the topography and terrain of the Jade Pillar Mountain jade vein.

This place has 174 wooden houses, accommodating nearly a thousand people, among whom four "factions" have formed. These are formed by several jade mining teams and occupy areas with abundant jade resources.

Fights frequently break out beneath the mines, but never result in fatalities. Zhang Cun and Li Xian's group is not part of any major faction and operates independently. Therefore, they never set foot in the rich mining areas and instead wander elsewhere.

After figuring out the situation, Li Xian began to look for opportunities. He first took out three strands of hair and planted them in the residences of the leaders of the jade miners' forces, keeping a close watch on the situation.

They are Jiang Huchen, Qiu Lie, and Biao De. Jiang Huchen is a local of Jade City. Qiu Lie has been in Jade Pillar Mountain for twenty years. Biao De is cunning and, although he has only been in Jade City for a year, he is very good at opportunism and has a good relationship with the soldiers. He often sends gifts to curry favor and also plans to find out about Jade City.

These three men, though different in temperament, were all ruthless. Even here, they lived quite comfortably, each owning a solitary wooden house. Li Xian inquired about their whereabouts every night and learned that the three often frolicked with beautiful women, engaging in all sorts of amusing games.

And so on.

Although Li Xian was inconspicuous and had no presence whatsoever, he had taken in all the circumstances. He pondered, "Only by remaining in the shadows can I ensure that I can seize the opportunity immediately."

Having experienced many things, I have become increasingly calm and composed. I silently observe various disputes. Along the way, I gradually perceive the commonalities of jade.

Li Xian had already unearthed hundreds of jade stones. He took out a strand of hair and planted it on the jade. The Hair Falling, Roots Taking Hold, and the root system spread into the jade. He could then perceive the "nature of the jade" in detail. Although he did not know the name of the jade, he was already familiar with its nature.

He discovered that ordinary jade, no matter how its appearance changes, only possesses "sixty-four" types of "jade properties," subtly aligning with the "sixty-four hexagrams." Li Xian, Proficiency the Five-Elements Esoteric Escape, thus delved into the sixty-four hexagrams. Discovering this principle further fueled his boundless interest.

He had subtly inquired of Zhang Cun whether he knew the purpose of jade. Zhang Cun had been digging for jade for a long time, yet he knew nothing about this. Seeing that Zhang Cun was out of touch with the world, Li Xian did not press him further. Instead, he studied the properties of jade and began to speculate on its uses.

A single piece of jade can contain several different qualities. Such jade is considered a common type. The purer the quality, the rarer the jade. A month passed in the blink of an eye. Li Xian had no time to practice martial arts, so he could only circulate his internal energy at night, silently read the Medical Heart Scripture, and strengthen his heart.

Its strength has also been growing slowly.

Li Xian hadn't seen the sun for a long time, and hadn't been promoted in a month, yet he remained neither frustrated nor anxious. He was both preparing for the future and exploring the joys of jade, seeking the pleasures of its changing nature.

However, though the days were dark and gloomy, the daily pulse was filled with many strange and unusual events.

Li Xian, Zhang Cun, Liang Huohuo, Wang Shan, Yue Luofan all entered the Jade Vein. Li Xian was calm and decisive, and after a month of contact, he vaguely became the leader of the five. Although Zhang Chun was a martial artist, he was honest and his strength was enough to enter the First Realm.

Some time ago, Li Xian "used his spiritual senses" to discover a peculiar place hidden in the earth. On this day, he led everyone to explore the area. Upon arriving at the place, they dug together and found a stone nearly as tall as a person.

Li Xian smashed it open with a hoe, and countless milky-white spiders emerged from within, each possessing potent venom.

Li Xian immediately led his men to flee, thus avoiding being affected.

The jade veins not only contain jade, but also strange beasts and treasures, which may be hidden in the rocks or dwell deep in the caves.

That day.

The opportunity that Li Xian had been waiting for finally arrived. That night, Biao De dressed in brocade clothes, meticulously groomed himself, and specially ate a bowl of nourishing soup made with dried meat. He then waited quietly in his room.

Li Xian had figured out the routines of Jiang Huchen, Biao De, and Qiu Lie. Each of them had several lovers. Knowing that Biao De was about to have a major battle, he initially didn't want to observe, but then he thought, "When my wife and I are like this, I always take this opportunity to learn many things that are difficult to learn on ordinary days. My wife will surely teach me; at this time, she is at her most gentle and charming. Sometimes, secrets and important news are whispered in bed."

He focused his attention and observed through the strands of hair. A short while later, there was a knock on Biao De's door. Biao De hurriedly went to open it, and there stood a pretty woman outside. She was dressed in a red and green silk skirt, with a beautiful face and a calm expression.

After a brief conversation, the woman in the silk skirt was about to leave when Biao De took out a jade necklace and gave it to her. The woman's expression softened considerably, and she reluctantly entered the room. Biao De immediately closed the door.

In the candlelight, the two flirted and teased each other before engaging in joyful revelry. Li Xian observed intently, having already given up hope.

After the storm passed, the two leaned on each other. Biao De said, "Cui'er, what exactly did you mean by the chance to turn things around?"

Na Cui'er said, "If it weren't for the fact that you always give me jade necklaces, and you're so-so in that aspect, I wouldn't be hanging around with you. Fine, I really like this jade necklace, so I'll tell you about it."

Biao De said, "Of course, I made this jade necklace myself under the guise of a gift for you."

Na Cui'er said, "In three days, the young master and young lady of my household, as well as a very distinguished guest of extremely high status, will come here to view the jade. This matter was decided on short notice and we did not inform them beforehand. If you can prepare in advance and happen to meet them, then we'll see how you handle it. If you can win their favor..."

"Hehe, that's several times better than what you're doing as a jade miner. With a debt like yours, as long as someone of standing and influence is willing to vouch for you, you can immediately regain your freedom."

Biao De exclaimed excitedly, "Cui'er, thank you so much!" Cui'er replied, "Oh? Since you're thanking me, what should I do?" Biao De immediately went to drink another bowl of the Ten-Whip Tonic Soup.

Upon hearing this, Li Xian understood the situation. Cui'er was a maidservant of a prominent family in Jade City. Several years ago, Biao De had tried to seduce her, hoping to curry favor with that family, but he hadn't had the chance for a long time.

The powerful family to which Cui'er belonged had distinguished guests visiting some time ago. They verbally agreed to view the jade in three days. This was not a secret, but Cui'er overheard it and relayed the news.

Li Xian pondered, "This is also a good opportunity for me. Although it may not solve my current predicament, it will allow me to make contact with my tribe and understand the situation in the city."

He immediately pretended to relieve himself and left the wooden house. He went to the outside of Biao De's house and sneaked in. The two were having a good time and didn't know someone had entered the house. Li Xian saw clothes scattered on the ground, stole a handkerchief and a box of rouge, and then quietly sneaked back into the wooden house.

--

Quietly observing through a strand of hair. The two quarreled until late at night, and then Cui'er dressed and hurriedly left. She didn't know what to do with her handkerchief...

The rouge was gone. Biao De was in high spirits, Intent-Qi and in a great mood.

Two more days passed.

That night, Li Xian took out a handkerchief and rouge, dipped her hand in the rouge, and wrote on the handkerchief, "Plans have changed, delayed by one day." Taking advantage of Biao De's inattention, she delivered it to his home.

Biao De found the handkerchief and saw the writing on it. He didn't suspect anything, thinking that Cui'er was thoughtful, so he leisurely waited another day.

Li Xian interfered, preventing himself from entering the jade vein that day, and instead borrowed money from Zhang Cun to bribe the soldiers.

We waited on the road to Jade Pillar Mountain, observing from afar. Soon, we saw a group of people approaching, dressed in fine clothes, riding spirited horses, exuding Intent-Qi and appearing like Celestial Person.

The most conspicuous among them were a man and a woman in the center. The two walked side by side, a handsome couple, seemingly under the spotlight of heaven and earth. Li Xian's pupils contracted and her brows furrowed. The woman was her sworn enemy; she was none other than the Jade Maiden of Profound Dao Mountain.

The man beside him was none other than Jin Tong Taishu Chunfeng, courtesy name Ji Yuan.