17: Chapter 17 Burying the Soul

The Man in Bamboo Hat breathed weakly, a self-deprecating smile hanging on his face, his voice as faint as a candle in the wind, threatening to extinguish at any moment.

"In this vast world of mountains and rivers, I am but a solitary traveler."

"When the yellow sands cover my bones, I fear that not even the wind in this world will remember that a nobody once passed through."

"I never needed future generations to remember me; the world is vast and eternal, and you and I are but dust."

He paused, his unfocused gaze sweeping toward Yun Song, as if a glimmer of light had suddenly coalesced within a dead, silent deep pool.

"Lang Xiao is dead, and I have no more attachments. Whether this Martial Skill is passed on or not, it no longer matters to me."

After speaking, he looked down at his lower body submerged in the water. The rippling waves reflected limbs that had been eroded by potent poison, leaving them deformed and blackened. A look of extreme complexity flashed in his eyes.

When he looked up again, his gaze revealed a faint yet resolute expectation.

"Enough; our meeting is fate. I will pass the Martial Skill to you, but you must do me a favor."

"Ah!"

Yun Song let out a low cry, his pupils suddenly contracting, his face full of surprise.

The voice under the bamboo hat was firm and gentle, slowly saying: "Do not worry, this matter poses no danger. You are young, yet able to think so thoroughly; that is rare."

Yun Song put away his astonishment, his expression becoming more solemn. "I do not blindly agree to things I am unsure of. Senior, please speak freely; as long as it is within my capabilities, I will do my utmost."

"I have seen too many braggarts,"

The Man in Bamboo Hat revealed a trace of relief in his eyes. "Although there is calculation in your eyes, you are surely reliable in your actions, which suits my taste."

He fumbled in the murky water, and wisps of dark, blood-colored spiritual energy seeped into the ripples.

A moment later, a wet, cold-shining token was steadily held in his palm.

"This is my identity token. I have saved up some contribution points, and I give them to you as well."

"The Martial Skill Secret Manual is in the wooden chest under the bed in my Grass Hut. It is the one on the east side; there is a big tree in front of the house, and a stone table set under the tree."

He gasped as he urged, his voice so weak it was almost breathless. "The path of martial arts is never smooth; one must endure the hardships that ordinary people cannot."

"In the depths of winter, one must forge their muscles and bones in the ice and snow; in the scorching summer, one must train tirelessly under the blazing sun. Only by enduring this boring hardship can one truly comprehend the true meaning of the Martial Dao."

Yun Song took the token with both hands and said in a deep voice, "Senior, rest assured, Junior will definitely keep your teachings in mind!"

The Man in Bamboo Hat slowly closed his eyes and said softly, "After I die, you only need to find a quiet place to bury my corpse, and that will be a huge favor to me."

As soon as his voice fell, a sweetness rose in his throat, and he suddenly spat out a mouthful of thick black blood, which splashed onto the water, creating a dark, bloody ripple.

His body instantly fell backward like rotting wood, and the bamboo hat tilted to one side, revealing a face as dark as ink, with purple, chapped lips.

Only his brows remained slightly furrowed, as if still retaining a bit of unwillingness and unfinished regret.

Yun Song's gaze returned to the token in his palm, and he saw the six characters "Tianhua Sect Laborer Miner" engraved on the front, with "Wang Zihao" signed in the lower right corner.

He put the token into his pocket and bent down to lift the corpse, but the body was as heavy as iron and did not move an inch.

"So heavy! As expected, one cannot just pick up freebies!"

Yun Song muttered in a low voice, then stared at the deceased and said word by word:

"Senior, rest easy. The token is in my hands, and I will definitely fulfill your request; I will never break my promise!"

But with his current skinny physique, how could he move this heavy corpse?

He paced back and forth on the bank in anxiety, then suddenly slapped his forehead, a flash of brilliance bursting in his eyes.

"I have it!"

A spark of inspiration burst into his mind, and he turned and sprinted toward the square where the manager of The Mine was located.

The wind whistled in his ears, and his clothes flapped loudly.

"The manager must be at the task delivery point right now!"

A moment later, on the square.

Yun Song was panting, beads of sweat the size of beans rolling down his cheeks, and his soaked clothes clung tightly to his back.

He caught sight of the manager in the center of the square, who was resting with his eyes closed, and without stopping, he rushed over immediately.

The sudden commotion startled the manager, who opened his eyes abruptly, a trace of impatience between his brows.

"Why are you so panicked? You have disturbed my peace!"

"Thump!"

Yun Song knelt heavily on the gravel ground, his forehead almost touching the ground, his voice filled with irrepressible urgency.

"Old Immortal Master! Junior encountered a Senior at the Riverside who has already passed away! Before passing, he entrusted me with his funeral arrangements, but I truly cannot move his corpse... so I have come to ask for your help!"

"Get up. You are exactly like your father. Your father was the same back then; when the Mine Cave collapsed, he risked his life and managed to carry an injured Miner out."

The manager's expression was indifferent, and he stood up, slowly straightening his robes.

"All matters within The Mine are under my jurisdiction; lead me there quickly."