Chapter 19: Casting Nets Deep Underground |
Before long, all twenty-three laborers, including Li Shun, were escorted into the floating residence of the Marquis of Changle.
The Marquis sat high at the front of the hall, her figure obscured behind layers of beaded curtains.
Gazing at the group of gaunt, skeletal laborers before her, her expression remained indifferent as she lightly clapped her hands.
Immediately, dish after dish of exquisite delicacies was carried in by maids, flowing in like an endless stream.
“Eat,” her cool voice drifted out faintly from behind the curtain.
At first, the group was intimidated by the Marquis’s invisible aura of nobility and authority, remaining silent and frozen in place. But in the end, they could not resist the temptation of the unparalleled feast before them. After a brief moment of hesitation, they all began to devour the food ravenously.
‘Looks like this is a last meal before execution,’ Li Shun muttered inwardly, though his mouth kept moving just the same.
Unlike the ordinary fare sold on the streets, the dishes bestowed by the Marquis of Changle were not only perfect in color, aroma, and taste, but once swallowed, they transformed into threads of warm energy that spread through his limbs and bones. It felt as though his entire body was soaking in a gentle, comforting spring, leaving him utterly at ease.
This strange warmth even gave rise to the faint illusion that he had grown younger from a single meal.
‘It’s not an illusion, but…’
‘Their aged appearances have truly receded. A life-extending substance?’
Li Shun quickly stuffed a few more mouthfuls into his mouth.
‘Even with the Marquis’s power, this meal must have come at no small cost. But why bring a group of laborers like us here?’
Just as his thoughts drifted, a sudden chill crept up his spine. He sensed a gaze from behind the beaded curtain, sharp and tangible, falling squarely upon him.
His heart jolted, but his reaction was swift.
The majority of his consciousness instantly retreated into the Fangcun space, leaving only a small portion behind to mechanically control his body and continue eating.
Moments later, that oppressive gaze finally withdrew.
‘This woman’s perception… truly terrifying. Or perhaps all powerful figures in Great Qian possess abilities to perceive fluctuations of thought?’
Though he had no idea what level the Marquis of Changle had reached, it did not stop Li Shun from growing more vigilant.
From now on, whenever facing someone of such unfathomable strength, he had to hide his mind within Fangcun at the very first moment.
Otherwise, the many secrets he carried might be exposed.
After the meal, several maids silently approached, each presenting a set of crimson gauze garments as light as mist.
“Put them on.”
None of the laborers dared disobey. They hurriedly draped the red garments over themselves in a flurry of movement.
‘This clothing… although it feels weightless when worn, there’s a gentle warmth circulating within it on its own.’
Feeling his body gradually grow warmer, Li Shun pondered silently.
Once everything had been arranged, the massive gates of the Marquis of Changle’s floating residence slowly opened with a deep, resounding rumble.
Led out in single file by the maids, the laborers stepped out trembling. But the moment they raised their heads and looked around, all of them froze in shock.
At some unknown time, the flying estate had already left Lengshan County without a sound. What now lay before them was a pitch-black mine shaft, hidden deep within a range of cold, desolate mountains.
“Everyone, you’ve enjoyed fine delicacies and donned Langhuan’s blazing robes. Now, it is time for you to serve the Marquis.”
The leading maid swept her gaze across the group and spoke clearly.
“Your task this time is to venture into the mine before you and search for traces of Lengshan Grass…”
She continued explaining in a calm, measured tone.
At the mention of entering the mine, the laborers’ faces turned deathly pale. Yet when they heard that their task was merely to search for Lengshan Grass, they couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief.
After all, they had spent nearly their entire lives dealing with it. They were intimately familiar with its presence.
Only Li Shun understood that this mission was far from simple.
‘Even I can keep over a hundred stalks of Lengshan Grass in reserve. Would the dignified Marquis of Changle truly lack such a thing? Clearly, something else lies hidden within this underground mine, something closely tied to the distribution of Lengshan Grass.’
Li Shun’s thoughts grew clear and focused.
“You may rest assured. What you have just consumed will sustain you for two months without hunger or thirst. In addition, the Marquis has arranged for each of you to be accompanied by a personal music attendant. With them by your side, your safety will be guaranteed.”
As soon as the leading maid finished speaking, a group of attendants dressed in snow-white garments stepped forward, their figures graceful and ethereal as they silently took their places beside the laborers.
These men, who had gone most of their lives without contact with women, instantly stared wide-eyed. Their gazes clung to the beauties beside them, unable to pull away.
“Enough. Begin your task.”
“If your performance satisfies the Marquis, then perhaps in her good mood, she may even grant these attendants to you as a reward.”
Her words were like fuel poured onto fire. The aging men instantly became flushed with excitement, as if invigorated by fresh blood.
The dark entrance of the mine no longer seemed ominous. Instead, it appeared like a grand path leading toward wealth and glory.
Without needing further urging, they surged forward, scrambling into the depths.
Yet what none of them could perceive was that as they advanced through the pitch-black tunnels, faint red traces were silently left behind along their path, as thin as strands of silk. These traces seemed to originate from the Langhuan blazing robes they wore.
As the laborers ventured deeper and gradually spread out, these countless red strands intertwined and extended beneath the earth, forming a vast and eerie blood-colored web that slowly unfolded across the labyrinthine depths of Lengshan.
At the same time, within the grand hall of the floating estate, a miniature version of that crimson web hovered before the Marquis of Changle.
The threads within the formation wriggled like living things, stretching and expanding.
From time to time, at the far ends of certain strands, faint silver-white points of light would suddenly flicker into existence.
These were signals sent by the attendants, marking the discovery of a stalk of Lengshan Grass.
The Marquis of Changle’s flawless face remained utterly calm as she silently watched the web continue spreading deeper underground.
…
Ten days later. March 13th.
Deep within the mine.
“Why have you stopped again?” one of the attendants asked, her delicate brows knitting slightly.
Li Shun bent over, forcing a bitter smile.
“Miss, please don’t blame me. I’m getting old, and my back isn’t what it used to be. These narrow tunnels force me to stay hunched over the whole time. At first, I could endure it, but after so long, I truly can’t hold on anymore.”
Leaning against the cold, damp stone wall, he rubbed his lower back as he continued defensively,
“Besides, wasn’t our task to search for Lengshan Grass? Over these past days, we’ve already found and marked five or six stalks. That’s not exactly slow progress, is it?”
“But you’ve only been wandering around the outer layers of the mine. You haven’t gone deeper at all,” the attendant said with clear dissatisfaction.
At her words, a faint glimmer flickered through Li Shun’s eyes, though his expression showed only confusion.
“Miss, what do you mean by that? Isn’t our task simply to search for Lengshan Grass? Why would we need to go deeper underground?”
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