70: Chapter 70 Spying from the Shadows!

Zheng Jing carried his mining tools and backpack, walking slowly toward the camp, and from a distance, he saw blue smoke rising.

Getting closer, he saw that it was Guo Jianjun and Boss Zhao, who had arrived back at the camp a step earlier.

Putting his tools and backpack into the vehicle, Zheng Jing asked with a smile: "Brother Jun, Boss Zhao, why did you two finish work so early today?"

Guo Jianjun pointed to the four aluminum lunch boxes placed in the campfire: "It's my turn to cook today, and plus, the border area is far from here. I was afraid of delaying things and having trouble on the way back, so I just came back early."

Boss Zhao, who was on the side, nodded: "I originally planned to dig a bit longer, but then I saw Old Guo packing up his tools to come back. Thinking that staying there alone wouldn't be much fun, I just decided to come back with him."

Guo Jianjun scoffed: "I think you were afraid of running into Boss Zhou and his group; you can't fight off a crowd, right?"

Boss Zhao gave a cold smile, cracked his knuckles, which made a crisp popping sound, and said disdainfully: "Them? A bunch of motley fools, they're not even enough for me to fight. If it weren't for Kuizi being in the wrong last time, would I have been so easy to talk to?"

Hearing Boss Zhao say this, Zheng Jing couldn't help but look at him a few more times, asking suspiciously: "It's true that you have a sturdy build, but I heard that Boss Zhou has a full six or seven people on his side. Can you really fight that many people by yourself? You're bragging, aren't you?"

Boss Zhao chuckled without saying anything, but Guo Jianjun, who was on the side, said seriously: "He isn't completely bragging. Old Zhao really does know some martial arts."

Zheng Jing was quite shocked after hearing this: "What? Boss Zhao, you actually know martial arts?"

Being looked at with admiration by Zheng Jing, Boss Zhao scratched his head embarrassedly: "I bragged a little. I definitely couldn't fight six or seven people, but two or three ordinary people really can't get close to me."

"Damn, that's still awesome! Can you teach me?"

Almost every man in the world harbors a dream of martial arts in their heart.

Zheng Jing knew that real martial arts did exist in the world, just not as mystical as portrayed in movies and television shows.

Now, with a capable person who knew martial arts hidden right beside him, his curiosity and longing welled up instantly.

Seeing Zheng Jing's serious expression, Boss Zhao blurted out the classic line from Stephen Chow: "You want to learn?"

Zheng Jing nodded vigorously: "To maintain the martial arts world, brother!"

Boss Zhao rolled his eyes at him: "Read fewer martial arts novels. There's no such thing as a 'martial arts world'; it's just a few moves for self-defense."

"That's still badass, brother!" Zheng Jing said with envious eyes.

Estimating that the rice was almost cooked, Guo Jianjun took a stick and pulled out the aluminum lunch boxes one by one, casually saying: "Don't bother learning, Zheng Jing. I wanted to learn a few moves from Old Zhao before, but I couldn't handle it after two days. That kind of hardship is simply not meant for people to endure."

Boss Zhao nodded: "Practicing martial arts is indeed very hard; it requires the most perseverance."

Zheng Jing asked in confusion: "I don't understand martial arts, but I've heard a saying: 'Skill comes from diligence and is wasted in play.' I'm not doubting you, but I've never seen you practice. Wouldn't you get rusty?"

Boss Zhao looked bewildered: "I practice every day."

Seeing Zheng Jing's confused expression, Guo Jianjun chimed in from the side: "His way of mining and working is completely different from ours. We all try to do things in the easiest way possible, but he specifically chooses the most strenuous methods. Every time he swings a pickaxe or moves a stone, he deliberately lowers his waist and plants his stance, which is equivalent to constantly polishing his foundation for generating power."

"So you can practice like that? No wonder!" Zheng Jing realized suddenly, then said admiringly: "That's awesome, Old Zhao. Others are exhausted to death after a day of Gold Panning, but you actually add extra training for yourself!"

"Hehehe..."

As the group was chatting, Zhao the Second also dragged his feet back, his face full of exhaustion.

"Let's go wash up and get ready to eat first. If it gets any later, it won't be safe once it's dark, and the creek water will be cold."

Guo Jianjun picked up the washbasin, towel, and soap, and led the way toward the small creek.

The others followed closely behind.

Standing by the creek, Zheng Jing rinsed the dust off his body, scrubbed the clothes he had soaked in the water yesterday until they were clean, and fished them out to hang on the branches on the bank to dry.

Then, he took off his dirty, mud-stained clothes, pressed them into the creek water to soak, leaving them to be washed tomorrow.

The group finished washing up, changed into clean clothes, and returned to the camp to sit around the stone stove, getting ready to eat dinner.

None of them had encountered any game or wild vegetables today, so dinner was just a box of white rice, two jars of preserved mustard greens, and one salted duck egg.

Guo Jianjun also took some seaweed and dried shrimp from the vehicle and cooked a pot of seaweed soup without eggs.

No one was picky, and they weren't in a position to be picky either.

Out here in the wilderness, being able to eat a hot meal and drink hot soup to replenish salt was already very satisfying.

After finishing dinner and cleaning up the tableware, the group boiled a pot of hot tea as usual, chatting while they drank.

This seemed to have become a daily routine, along with taking stock of the day's Gold Panning harvest.

Guo Jianjun took out the small iron can containing silver scraps and gave it a gentle shake; a crisp "clinking" sound immediately came from inside the can.

"My luck was pretty good today. As soon as I arrived, I dug up a silver nugget, and the subsequent harvest was continuous. A rough estimate is that I earned about 730 yuan today; it's my second-highest earning day this year!"

"Whoa, Brother Jun is awesome!" Zheng Jing took the opportunity to show support, giving Guo Jianjun a well-deserved boost in morale.

It would have been fine if Zheng Jing hadn't spoken, but as soon as he did, Guo Jianjun stared straight at him, making him feel completely uncomfortable.

Zheng Jing subconsciously touched his face: "Brother Jun, you know me; I've never been interested in men."

"Screw you, get lost!" Guo Jianjun scolded with a laugh, then said seriously: "I wanted to say that it seems like ever since you arrived, all of our luck has improved significantly."

Boss Zhao nodded repeatedly in agreement: "Old Guo is right. Although my harvest today isn't as good as yours, it's still over 600; it's definitely a high-income day."

Zheng Jing waved his hands quickly, looking humble: "Don't praise me like that. This is all because of your own keen eyes, hard work, and good luck; it has absolutely nothing to do with me."

Zhao the Second took a sip of tea and said slowly: "Jingzi, you really seem to have the constitution of a lucky koi. It's been so long since I struck gold, yet yesterday I actually dug up a decent-sized gold nugget!"

Clearly, he also believed that Zheng Jing had brought good luck to everyone.

As he finished speaking, everyone's gaze naturally turned toward him, asking how his harvest was today.

Zhao the Second helplessly spread his hands and shook his head with a bitter smile: "Don't even mention today. I was completely empty-handed. I worked all day and didn't see any goods."

Guo Jianjun smiled and comforted him: "It's fine. You just dug up a big haul yesterday and earned two or three thousand; it makes sense that you should take a break today."

Zhao the Second smiled slightly and shrugged: "Don't worry, I understand this Gold Panning business. You have to keep a level head; you can't rush it."

"That's the logic."

The group nodded in agreement, then their gazes all turned toward Zheng Jing.

Zheng Jing sighed, pretending to be disappointed: "It's embarrassing to say, but I'm the same as the Second today. Empty-handed; I didn't even find a single hair."

Upon hearing this, Boss Zhao laughed out loud immediately: "Yo, your newbie luck protection period has finally expired!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, he immediately realized it was inappropriate. Did he seem a bit like he was gloating over others' misfortune?

So, he quickly wiped the smile off his face and comforted him: "But don't take it to heart. Gold Panning is always hit-or-miss, and returning empty-handed is a common occurrence; you don't need to worry too much."

Guo Jianjun also nodded and offered words of comfort, telling Zheng Jing not to be anxious.

On the surface, Zheng Jing feigned some regret, but inwardly, he was secretly chuckling.

He had dug up a decent-sized piece of gold today relying on the system, and his income was clearly the highest among everyone, yet to avoid unnecessary conflicts, he still had to pretend here...

No one noticed that while they were chatting, in the dark and deep forest on the outskirts of the camp, a pair of extremely wild and sharp eyes were lurking, staring intently at the group by the campfire.

The night wind blew through the forest, silent and noiseless.

Tonight is destined to be a sleepless night!