10: Four-Star Craftsman

Shen Xiaochuan released his hand, pulling back the fingers he had placed on the young girl's chin. She immediately lowered her head, her purple eyes hiding in the shadows.

He stood up and said to Chen Yan, "Clear out a room in the Blacksmith Shop for her to stay in."

"Lord God, she hasn't spoken a word yet."

"She will speak. People naturally talk when they're hungry and look for fire when they're cold."

He walked over to the captives, where the Dwarven Elder was sitting with his hands on his knees, his back slightly hunched.

"What do you usually eat?"

The Elder looked up, his voice raspy: "Miners eat rye cakes, and their families get half a portion."

"And now?"

"We're out of food; it ran out three days ago."

Shen Xiaochuan nodded and raised his hand: "Open the stores and bring two hundred catties of wind wolf meat. Distribute it to the women and children first."

Chen Yan hesitated slightly: "Lord God, our own food supplies aren't plentiful either."

"If we're frugal, it can last five days. If they run away, there'll be no one to mine. If the meat is gone, we can hunt more, but if the mine is lost, we'll have to go to war again."

After the meat was delivered, the Believers began cutting and distributing it. The others stared at the food, unable to stop themselves from swallowing, but only the white-haired girl remained motionless.

A Little Girl took a piece of meat, and just as she took a bite, she suddenly burst into tears. Her mother hurriedly covered her mouth.

Shen Xiaochuan sat down by the fire, picked up a piece of roasted meat, and ate slowly.

Half an hour later, he saw the young girl stand up. She walked to where the meat was being distributed, took the smallest piece, and bowed her head to eat it. Her movements were gentle and slow, as if she were afraid of being noticed.

He called Chen Yan over: "Take note, from today on, each person gets one catty of meat per day, with the elderly and children prioritized. For that white-haired one, add an extra half catty."

"Yes."

"Send two more people to guard the mine entrance. One thousand people will be stationed there, five hundred will mine, and five hundred will transport the ore. Tomorrow, a cart of crystal ore must be transported back to the camp."

"Understood."

After dark, the captives huddled together to sleep. Shen Xiaochuan ordered fires to be lit around them and arranged for people to take turns standing guard.

The next morning, as soon as he stepped out of his tent, Chen Yan walked over quickly.

"Lord God, she's awake and looking at the mine tunnel blueprints."

"Which 'she'?" Shen Xiaochuan didn't react for a moment.

"The white-haired one—Lolia," Chen Yan explained quickly.

When Shen Xiaochuan reached the Blacksmith Shop, the girl was squatting on the ground, using a piece of charcoal to draw on a stone slab. The lines were neat and the structure was clear; it was a design for a twin-shaft mining machine.

"You know how to build this?" he asked as he approached.

She didn't answer, but pointed her finger at a connection in the bottom right corner of the blueprint and drew a circle.

Shen Xiaochuan thought for a moment: "Is it prone to breaking here?"

She nodded.

"Is there a way to fix it?"

She stood up, walked to the corner to pick up a scrap iron bar, bent it into a U-shape, inserted it into a crack in the ground, and then jammed it tight with gravel.

"You mean reinforcing it with a mortise and tenon?" Shen Xiaochuan understood.

She nodded.

A System prompt appeared:

[Four-star potential talent discovered]

[Talent: Grade B 【Craftsman's Resonance】 (Can perceive mechanical structural weaknesses and optimize designs)]

[Loyalty: 30]

Shen Xiaochuan looked at her and said seriously, "As long as you're willing to work, there will be plenty of food. Not just food—I can give you tools, Materials, and safety."

Lolia stared at him for a long time, hesitation flashing in her eyes. Finally, she spoke, her voice very soft: "I want three high-grade steel files, two alloy shafts, and a lamp that won't go out."

"I'll give them all to you; they'll be delivered today."

"And... I don't want to live in the Blacksmith Shop." She paused.

"Where do you want to live?"

"The small hut next to the mine entrance, where I can see where the wind blows in." She voiced her thoughts.

"Fine. From now on, you are the Mining Area Technical Officer, reporting directly to me. Chen Yan will assist you," Shen Xiaochuan decided immediately.

Lolia didn't speak again, but her shoulders relaxed slightly, as if she had set down some heavy burden.

At noon, the Materials were delivered. She immediately set to work modifying an old mining machine. Three hours later, the machine started up, and its efficiency had doubled.

System notification:

[Loyalty increased to 65]

In the evening, all the dwarves were gathered at the mining area square. Shen Xiaochuan stood on a high platform.

"From today on, you are not captives; you are workers. Complete your tasks and you'll have food and a bed. If you're injured, you'll be treated, and your families will be cared for. Those who don't want to work can leave now."

"Lolia is your new Technical Officer. Whatever she says to change on the machines, you change it. Those who disobey will have their food stopped for three days."

He jumped off the platform and asked the Dwarven Elder, "What lies ahead?"

He led the Elder to a secluded spot and asked in a low voice.

The old man hesitated for a moment: "Thirty miles to the east, there is a Green Flame Altar left behind by the evil god Aminos."

"What can be gained from an offering?"

"Power. Some have tried; sacrificing living beings can make one stronger. But one might also go mad and turn into a monster."

"Have you seen anyone else go there?"

"Three years ago, an outside tribe killed ten captives to light the altar. The green flames burned all night, and the next day they were all dead, their corpses as dry as withered trees."

"Did anyone come back alive?"

"No."

Shen Xiaochuan was silent for a few seconds: "I see."

He returned to the camp and opened the Faith Mall.

[Consumed 2,000 faith points to summon 2,000 basic Believers]

After the newcomers arrived, he dispatched a thousand people to guard the mining area and established a complete transport line.

Early on the third day, he took Lolia and Chen Yan and led five hundred people to continue heading east.

After walking all morning, the terrain gradually leveled out. A bluestone road appeared ahead, stretching straight toward a distant mountain valley.

"This road wasn't formed naturally," Chen Yan said.

"It was built by people."

Shen Xiaochuan said, "They used weather-resistant stone."

Lolia walked in the middle of the group, her steps slightly slow. She had modified three machines in a row last night and hadn't slept at all; there were dark circles under her eyes.

"If you're tired, say so."

Seeing her struggling to walk, Shen Xiaochuan looked back and reminded her, "I can have someone carry you."

Lolia shook her head, her voice soft but clear: "I can walk."

After walking a bit further in the afternoon, a circular high platform appeared at the end of the road. Eight stone pillars stood around it, their tops burning with ghostly blue flames.

A giant monument stood in the center of the altar, its surface covered in cracks, yet a few words could still be made out—

"Sacrificial Rite of Aminos."

Shen Xiaochuan raised his hand: "Stop."

The team lined up thirty paces away.

He squinted his eyes; the green flames burned steadily, unmoved by the wind. Dark red traces remained at the base of the monument, looking like dried blood.

"Chen Yan, release a Scouting Spirit."

Shen Xiaochuan sensed something unusual and ordered an investigation.

"Yes."

Chen Yan released a speck of faint light.

Shen Xiaochuan took five steps forward.

The ground vibrated slightly.

He immediately retreated.

"There's a problem."

"Lord God! Behind the stone pillar on the left!"

Chen Yan suddenly barked in a low voice, his expression changing abruptly.

"What?"

Shen Xiaochuan Turn your head quickly.

A figure stepped out.

It was nearly three meters tall, its entire body covered in black armor plates, holding a spiked halberd. Its face was hidden by a mask, revealing only a pair of crimson eyes.

The System gave no reaction.

No combat power assessment, no identity information—nothing at all.

"It's not an ordinary guard."

Shen Xiaochuan said in a low voice, "Don't move."

The guard stood still, neither attacking nor approaching, just watching them.

Five seconds later, it raised its left hand and pointed toward the stone monument in the center of the altar.

Then it slowly lowered it.

"It's warning us not to approach,"

Chen Yan said.

"Or it might be luring us in,"

Shen Xiaochuan said, "Lolia, retreat to the back of the line."

She didn't move.

"I said, get back."

She shook her head: "I want to see its feet."

"What?"

She stepped forward two paces, squatted down, and stared intently at the guard's feet.

"The soles of its boots... have slag on them, the same as what we found in the Level 2 Mineral Vein."

Shen Xiaochuan's heart jolted.

What did this mean?

Had this guard been to their mining area?

Or... was there a passage between the mining area and the altar?

He suddenly remembered Lolia's words from last night.

"You said you wanted to live in the small hut next to the mine entrance because you could see where the mountain wind blows in."

She nodded.

"Where does the mountain wind come from?"

"There's a cave in the northern ridge; the wind blows in, carrying dust."

"Does that cave lead here?"

She shook her head: "I haven't walked it. But the smell of the wind is the same."

Shen Xiaochuan stared at the guard.

If it could move freely back and forth, it meant the two places were connected. If it appeared here now, did it mean their mining area had already been exposed?

"Chen Yan, send word back immediately to strengthen the mining area's defenses. Everyone enter Level 1 Alert. Have the two thousand new Believers guard the perimeter." Realizing the gravity of the situation, Shen Xiaochuan immediately gave the order.

"Yes!"

Chen Yan turned and left.

He turned to Lolia: "Do you trust me?"

She looked at him for a long time and finally nodded.

"Good. Next, listen to me. We retreat, but we don't run. Back away slowly and maintain formation."

The team retreated slowly.

The guard remained standing, not pursuing them.

When they had retreated twenty paces, Lolia suddenly stumbled and fell to one knee.

Shen Xiaochuan grabbed her: "What's wrong?"

"Dizzy... my heart is beating too fast."

She grabbed his arm; her hand was cold.

He felt her forehead; it was burning hot.

"Hold on, we're leaving right now."

He hoisted her onto his back, his pace quickening but steady, whispering words of comfort as he walked.

He carried her forward at a fast pace. Chen Yan led the rear guard, keeping a constant eye on the direction of the altar.

After the sun went down, he ordered the camp to be set up.

The doctor came to check on Lolia, his brow furrowed: "Her temperature is 41 degrees, heart rate 180 per minute. There are abnormal energy fluctuations in her body."

Shen Xiaochuan sat by her side, watching her tightly closed eyes.

Her lips trembled slightly, as if she were whispering.

He leaned in close.

He heard two words.

"Don't go."