[Name: Chu Mu.]
[Skill:
Basic Blade Technique (Beginner's Practice) 45/100]
[Spiritual Radiance Value: 9.3%]
'What a waste!'
Looking at the values on his Light Curtain Panel, Chu Mu couldn't help but wince.
The Blade Technique Skill Level, of course, had slowly increased from the practice he'd squeezed in over the past few days.
As for the "Spiritual Radiance Value"...
He had painstakingly saved it up for days, unwilling to use even a single drop!
But yesterday, he couldn't resist the temptation of True Martial Arts. He'd had a wild idea to try using a Spiritual Radiance Blessing, hoping he could secretly learn some True Martial Arts from his team leader.
After all, under a Spiritual Radiance Blessing, his intellect would soar. Both his learning and thinking abilities would undergo an exponential leap.
In the end, however, he had overestimated the Spiritual Radiance Blessing. True, his learning and thinking abilities had soared, but no matter how much they improved, he could only perceive what his eyes could see.
This punch was thrown like this, that kick was delivered like that. Put together, it seemed to be a set of martial arts techniques.
But the true essence was internal. He could see the twitching of muscles, but the changes in Power were clearly happening inside, not in the simple, external motions of fists and feet.
He understood what he was seeing, but it was useless. He didn't have X-ray vision; he couldn't see the changes happening inside the body.
He had practiced that set of techniques at home for several hours last night, barely sleeping a wink. But the more he practiced, the more awkward and uncomfortable it felt. It was clearly related to those missing internal Power changes.
Not only had he failed to learn the technique, but the Spiritual Radiance Value he had saved for days was completely wasted. It was a classic case of trying to steal a chicken only to lose the rice for bait. A huge loss!
'It must involve some kind of internal Power or transformation within the body...'
Chu Mu pondered this, drawing on his memories from a past life of reading countless web novels. Naturally, he had countless theories.
Inner Strength... Qi Blood... Gang Qi...
'Those things were written to death in the novels from my past life!'
'The human body has limits, and every action has an equal and opposite reaction. You can't just shatter a tree with one punch and come out unscathed.'
'So True Martial Arts must enhance, or rather, temper the body?'
Chu Mu pursed his lips. Watching Li Gang practice his punches, he felt a growing sense of longing.
BOOM!
A sudden, deafening crash yanked Chu Mu from his fantasies back to reality. He looked toward the sound. Near the recently extinguished fire, overhanging rocks had collapsed from the heat change, sending a cascade of stone pouring downward like a landslide!
And directly below, several workers on Forced Labor were clearly visible, still busy with their tasks.
"Run!"
The moment Chu Mu's shout rang out, it was drowned out by an even more terrifying roar. Rubble flew and dust billowed. The workers had already vanished into the rolling cloud of earth and dust.
His forward momentum slowed to a halt. Chu Mu stared blankly at the rising dust cloud, momentarily at a complete loss.
"What are you standing there gawking for!"
"You few, with me!"
It wasn't until Li Gang's yell echoed that Chu Mu snapped back to his senses. He hesitated for a moment, but ultimately hurried to follow Li Gang toward the collapsed section of the mine.
"Dad! Dad!"
"My dad's still alive! He's still alive!"
"Someone, help! Save my dad! Please, save my dad!"
"Save my dad!"
While the dust was still settling, a young man came sprinting and plunged right into it. A moment later, a mournful wail came from within the cloud.
"It's hopeless!"
The dust cleared as Chu Mu's group arrived at the scene of the accident. Before Chu Mu could even get a clear look, Li Gang's firm voice rang out.
He looked over and saw a pile of rocks surrounded by large patches of blood. Chu Mu even saw a severed hand lying nearby, blood still pulsing from the stump.
The young man knelt before the rock pile, where an old worker was half-buried. The stones were stained red, making it easy to imagine the state of the body trapped beneath.
As for the old man... his breathing was faint, and a shocking amount of blood was trickling from his mouth.
"Save my dad, Lord Official! Please, save my dad!"
The scene was so gruesome that before Chu Mu could even react, he felt someone grab his legs. A pleading, trembling voice followed.
Chu Mu stiffly turned his neck, his eyes meeting a face filled with pleading and despair.
At that moment, Chu Mu was truly at a loss for what to do.
"Let's dig him out first."
"You lot over there, come and help."
Fortunately, Li Gang was already at his side, calmly giving orders.
Chu Mu swallowed hard, his mind reeling.
Coming from a world of peace and prosperity, when had he ever witnessed such a bloody scene?
He stood there stunned for a long while before he seemed to come back to his senses. He helped the young man, who was still kneeling before him, to his feet. He opened his mouth, wanting to offer some comfort, but the words wouldn't come.
Before them, the collapsed area was now swarming with busy workers. Some cleared rubble, others carried away stones, and their shouts filled the air. Everything was proceeding in a surprisingly orderly fashion.
"Chu Mu, go to town and fetch Doctor Li from Mingxin Hall."
"Oh, right, right."
It took a few moments after Li Gang spoke for Chu Mu to respond with dawning comprehension. He quickly turned and bolted.
Zone A1 Mine Area was right next to Nanshan Town, so it wasn't far. Before long, Chu Mu had rushed onto the main street.
"Doctor Li, there's been an accident at the mine! You have to come quick!"
Chu Mu burst into the Medicine Hall, still out of breath. His urgent voice echoed through the shop.
Elder Li frowned and glanced at Chu Mu. He then said a few words to his apprentice, picked up his medical kit, and walked toward Chu Mu.
Chu Mu was a bit stunned. 'We're leaving already?'
"Let's go."
Elder Li shook his head and started for the door. As he walked, his voice, tinged with a hint of resignation, sounded again.
"How many died this time?"
"Three... no, two..."
After saying that, Chu Mu shook his head again. "It's not clear yet."
Then, as if realizing something, Chu Mu looked at the frowning Elder Li. "Do accidents happen often at the mine?"
"When you don't treat people like people, how can accidents not happen!"
Elder Li scoffed. "A mine with thousands of workers, and they're too cheap to hire a dedicated doctor. They have to pocket even that little bit of money. When something happens, they have to run to town to fetch me."
"For minor scrapes and aches, they don't need me. For major injuries, by the time I get there, it's already too late!"
Chu Mu was speechless. He couldn't possibly respond to that. This Elder Li was a highly skilled doctor, an honored guest at the County Magistrate's residence. It was said that even the Prefect had once sent someone to fetch him for a consultation. Even the Vice Thousand Households of the Inspection Office was always polite to him.
He could afford to complain, but Chu Mu didn't dare.
For a lowly Inspector, a slip of the tongue could easily lead to disaster.