Chapter Forty-Three: Departure for the Mines

Chapter 43: Departure for the Mine

The campus singing competition was, in truth, just a stage for the arts students to show off. In his previous life, Shi Bai remembered that the biggest show-off in school had been Li Xiujie, who lorded over the stage for three years simply because he could play the guitar, charming the hearts of many girls. Yet he was a complete scoundrel, never dating anyone for more than a month before moving on—the very picture of a heartless philanderer.

Shi Bai considered that if he participated, he might be able to spare quite a few girls from heartbreak, so he readily agreed to join. However, the competition was scheduled for next Friday, more than a week away, so Shi Bai decided to take the opportunity to visit his second uncle’s mine and complete his third main quest first.

Before setting off, he notified Zhang Dachui and left him in charge of company affairs for the time being, which Zhang accepted cheerfully. Then Shi Bai requested a week’s leave from his teacher and called his second uncle.

“Hello?” came the thickly accented response from the other end.

Shi Bai smiled, “It’s me, Master of Li Jiankui.”

“Oh! It’s the young master!” His uncle’s excitement was palpable. “Are you finally coming to our mine?”

Shi Bai nodded. “Yes.”

“Great! Should we come pick you up, or will you come over yourself? We’re still in the old city.”

Shi Bai thought for a moment. “Wait for me at Baywater Manor. I need to meet someone first.”

His uncle hurriedly agreed, “Alright, I’ll head there now!”

Shi Bai had the butler, Old Li, drive him to Baywater Manor, and called Ye Rulong as well. When Ye Rulong heard that Shi Bai wanted to go monster-hunting in the mine with him, he was thrilled and immediately organized an elite squad of ten.

These ten were Ye Rulong’s personal guards, as skilled as Li Jiankui, and Ye Rulong had armed them with the latest weaponry: rifles, pistols, even grenades. Shi Bai was satisfied; Ye Rulong was an old hand who knew that dealing with monsters required explosive weapons like grenades. If need be, they could just toss grenades into the mine without ever setting foot inside.

Soon, Shi Bai’s uncle and Zhang Kangkang arrived at Baywater Manor in a luxury Benz. His uncle had even changed into a suit and donned sunglasses for the occasion.

Although he looked quite presentable, the moment he spoke, that rustic air was unmistakable, drawing hearty laughter from the Ye family. Ye Rulong had prepared four Japanese off-road vehicles, each seating five, with one reserved for supplies—food and water included.

Despite Shi Bai’s uncle insisting that such preparations were unnecessary, that the road to his mine was smooth and the journey would only take half a day, Ye Rulong insisted, and his uncle had no choice but to agree.

Once everything was ready, they set off. Although Ye Xingzu wanted to go in his father’s place, Ye Rulong was determined to take part in the adventure himself, leaving his son no room for argument.

Thus, a convoy of five vehicles set out in orderly fashion for a remote mountain village in the northwest outskirts of the old city.

Shi Bai rode in the lead Benz with his uncle, gaining the chance to glean more information about the mine’s monster. Ye Rulong, older and used to his own car, found no room in the Benz and chose to drive himself.

On the way, Shi Bai chatted with his uncle, urging him to share more about the monster. His uncle replied to every question.

“I haven’t seen it myself, only heard the workers talk. They say its eyes are like lanterns! I’ve only heard its roar—hissing and howling, like a knife scraping a water channel. It’ll chill you to the bone!”

As the car sped along the highway, scenery flashing by, Shi Bai couldn’t help but frown. It sounded terrifying. He wondered if his system would be enough to handle this challenge. After all, underground in the mine, even a slight mishap could mean being buried alive. If killing the monster triggered a collapse, it would be no laughing matter.

He suddenly asked, “You miners must use explosives, right?”

“Of course!” his uncle replied.

“Then why not just toss explosives in and blow the thing up?”

His uncle gave an awkward grin. “Well… the tunnels are all interconnected. Blow up one, and the rest go down too. The loss would outweigh the gain.”

“I see,” Shi Bai mused. The investment in the mine must be enormous—each piece of equipment costing hundreds of thousands, if not more. No way they could afford such losses.

So that meant, his uncle wanted them to use their martial arts to fight the monster by hand?

“You sly fox!” Shi Bai suddenly realized.

His uncle laughed nervously. “Well, young master, aren’t you highly skilled? We really have no other way. Besides, think about it: if that thing ever gets out, it could threaten the whole area. If you eliminate it now, you’d be doing a great service for the people.”

Shi Bai snorted. “You make it sound so noble.”

His uncle hurried to appease him. “Naturally, we won’t let your efforts go unrewarded. Once it’s done, we’ll pay you ten million as a commission.”

Shi Bai smiled. In truth, his earlier words had been a tease—he had always intended to take on the monster himself. It was a main quest, after all. But since his uncle was offering money, why refuse? Who would ever turn down extra cash, especially from a coal magnate?

So he nodded, saying nothing more.

The car continued at a brisk pace. They set out at ten in the morning, and by two in the afternoon had left the highway and entered the mountains.

The hills here were not rocky but more like mounds of earth, the soil loose and prone to erosion. Tall trees were scarce; only low grass covered the slopes. The road grew rougher, turning from asphalt to dirt, sending up clouds of dust as the convoy passed.

Occasionally, a large truck rumbled by—those were the coal haulers, his uncle explained. They were nearly at the mine.

After a while, Shi Bai felt the urge to relieve himself and asked the driver to stop. His uncle joined him, and the two headed to the roadside for a call of nature.

But fate had other plans. No sooner had Shi Bai finished than his stomach growled—nature called again, this time with greater urgency. Embarrassed to go near the convoy, he ventured deep into the grass, his uncle following in case he got lost, both squatting in the bushes in companionable silence.

Relieving themselves outdoors was nothing like the comfort of a toilet. The squatting was awkward, and the stench overwhelming—even with tissue stuffed up his nose, Shi Bai was nearly knocked out.

After five minutes of holding his breath, Shi Bai sprang up to finish, his uncle following suit. They called out to each other and prepared to return to the convoy.

But just then, a hand clamped over Shi Bai’s nose, and everything went black.