36: Chapter 36 A Glimmer of Hope (Part Two)

Steward Wu's expression was cold and somber as he slowly retracted the Divine Sense he had extended toward the eight people, inwardly musing: "Yuwen Jinran, if not for the constraints of your status as an Inner Sect Disciple, I would surely end your brother's life today."

"Forget it. Sacrificing one insignificant Mortal to significantly increase the Spirit Stone yield of the mine vein—this deal is a guaranteed profit no matter how you calculate it."

"Yuwen Jinran, if we meet again in the future, I must properly discipline and warn him; I absolutely cannot allow him to act so recklessly."

Thinking this, he slowly closed his eyes again, wanting to put the matter of the Mine Cave out of his mind.

Yet, for some unknown reason, a trace of reluctance arose in his heart.

The earnest and persistent expression of the young man buried by the Ore, back when he had pleaded with him to help bury the man in the bamboo hat, remained deeply etched in his mind even now.

He was kind-hearted, possessing much of the character his father had shown in his younger years.

He occasionally released his Divine Sense to probe the Mine Cave, but every inspection revealed only a deathly silence, without the slightest movement.

Several hours later, layers upon layers of giant rocks kept Yun Song firmly trapped beneath them.

The surroundings were terrifyingly quiet, without even a single sound. It was as if the whole world had forgotten this place, leaving only boundless darkness spreading out.

In the darkness, Yun Song's fingers moved slightly.

Immediately after, an extremely weak groan squeezed out from his cracked lips.

His consciousness was waking from its coma, and he slowly opened his eyes, but there was nothing before him except darkness.

The remaining medicinal power of the Soul-Confusing Powder was still swirling in his mind, making his thoughts feel like rusty old gears—slow and strenuous to turn.

The surroundings were pitch black, thick as ink; he could not see his own hand in front of his face. He could not see himself, but the suffocating pressure weighing on his entire body clearly told him he was pinned tightly by giant rocks and unable to move.

He tried to move slightly, and a piercing pain immediately surged up, as if countless fine needles were stabbing into his body at once.

The dried blood on his feet had crusted over his wounds, hard and stiff like a layer of shackles.

His whole body was pressed tightly by the stones, leaving almost no room to move.

In such a desperate situation, it seemed there was no other way but to wait for death.

Yet, the instinct to survive was like a small flame, burning in the darkness, giving him a bit of strength.

Even though every inch of his skin ached and every breath he took brought piercing pain, he gritted his teeth, endured the agony that could drive a person mad, and struggled with all his might to twist his body, wanting to shift the stones pressing down on him just a little.

There was only one thought in his mind: "I cannot die!"

His fingernails scraped against the stones, making a harsh sound, and blood flowed down his fingertips, but he did not notice it at all. He just kept struggling, desperate to fight for a chance to survive.

Just as Yun Song was struggling desperately in the darkness, fighting hard against the god of death, Steward Wu was dozing with his eyes closed on a wooden chair at the Mining Site.

He inadvertently swept the Mine Cave with his Divine Sense again, and his heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason.

The image of Yun Song trapped under the rubble, struggling, suddenly appeared in his mind.

Steward Wu frowned, a look of conflict appearing on his face.

Yun Song's appearance was like a hook, tugging at the rare bit of compassion in his heart.

Finally, Steward Wu slowly opened his eyes, his gaze full of reluctance.

He gazed toward the direction of the Mine Cave, as if he could see Yun Song's struggling figure in the darkness.

He did not want a vibrant life to be lost just like that because of him.

An inexplicable sense of duty welled up, pushing him to stand up. He straightened his clothes and walked quickly toward the direction of the Mine Cave.