Chapter 65 The mine, as it lit up, gradually took over his territory...

In an instant, the room fell silent.

Jin Shiyu dared not breathe. He was afraid that Jin Suiqing would come and get his dirty and disheveled clothes on him. He was also afraid that his words just now would have offended the person who was looking after him. Jin Shiyu was also afraid that if Jin Suiqing left, he would be all alone in this empty and dark cabin again.

After a long silence, Kim Shi-ok held his breath in distress, breathing slowly with his mouth open, a suppressed groan escaping his throat.

He heard Jin Suiqing say, "Jin Shiyu, what you said is truly heartbreaking."

Kim Shi-ok closed his eyes and waited for her to slam the door and leave.

He heard Jin Suiqing slam the copper basin on the table and walk towards him with heavy, hurried steps. He was very annoyed. Jin Suiqing spoke angrily, saying, "If you feel unwell, you feel unwell. Why are you being so stubborn? When I was sick and felt unwell before, I vomited all over myself. When you took care of me, Jin Shiyu, did you find it disgusting?"

Her memory was awakened, and Kim Si-ok remembered.

He disliked it; in fact, he did.

Kim Si-ok is extremely clean, not even wanting to keep any body hair, so how could she tolerate the filth of sticky, foul-smelling liquid?

He would be even more disgusted if his sister were lying there like that.

Hidden concern masqueraded as disgust as she silently cleaned up her sister, then held her in her arms and coaxed her to sleep. Once she was asleep, Jin Shiyu saw that her clothes were covered in her sister's vomit, but she simply washed them with a cold face, changed into clean clothes, and returned to Jin Suiqing's side.

Because she is sick, she needs someone by her side.

He remembered, but he still worried that it would dirty the gold-flecked azure.

Jin Suiqing didn't care what he was thinking. She helped him up, put his arm on her shoulder, and said angrily, "You're sick now and can't be left alone. If I leave, can you even get up from the ground? What's with the stubbornness? What's wrong with admitting your faults? Do you think I'll eat you up?"

Jin Shiyu was stunned by her scolding and unconsciously put all his strength on her. Jin Suiqing stumbled and almost fell, and said with difficulty, "Don't... don't put all your weight on me, I can't hold on."

Jin Shiyu hurriedly straightened his back, and Jin Suiqing seemed to be supporting him, but in reality, he was walking on his own.

Relying on her memory, Jin Suiqing pulled the person to the bedside in the darkness and reached for the light, but Jin Shiyu said, "Don't turn it on."

"How can I change your clothes if you don't turn it on?" Jin Suiqing snorted, turned on the light, turned her head and saw Jin Shiyu curl up in a panic and close his eyes. She guessed that he felt embarrassed, looked him up and down and said casually, "What's dirty about him?"

Jin Shiyu slowly opened his eyes. Jin Suiqing, to take care of him, only turned on a night lamp. Under the dim light, the warm orange-yellow light illuminated the girl's profile.

In the dimly lit room, only she shone, just as in his sixteen years of impenetrable darkness, only Jin Suiqing shone.

As it kept shining, it gradually occupied its own space.

Jin Suiqing smiled, her eyes crinkling. "Jin Shiyu isn't dirty at all."

"I...am I not dirty?" Jin Shiyu's curled-up body gradually relaxed, and he hesitated, "Suiqing doesn't think I'm dirty?"

Jin Suiqing placed the lamp by the bedside and turned to find clean clothes for Jin Shiyu. She said nonchalantly, "What's dirty? Only the hem is a little stained. Take it to the laundry room, and it'll be washed in a bit."

Jin Suiqing, carrying clean clothes, turned and walked towards the bed. "Besides, if the clothes are dirty, just change into clean ones, right? If you still feel dirty, just take a shower. It's not a big deal. Jin Shiyu, what are you worrying about?"

Jin Shiyu stared at Jin Suiqing, his face pale, his eyes watery from seasickness, making his amber pupils appear even brighter, his mouth slightly open with a trace of moisture at the corner of his lips, making him look rather silly.

Yes, what exactly is he struggling with?

Jin Suiqing placed the clean clothes on his bedside table, crossed her arms, and said with a mischievous smile, "Now..."

"Take it off."

Kim Shi-ok: "Take it off?"

Jin Suiqing raised an eyebrow. "Take off your clothes?"

Jin Shiyu hesitated, "I...I'll take off my clothes, won't Suiqing avoid me?"

Jin Suiqing, the entertainer, originally wanted to say, "Jin Shiyu, what part of your body haven't I seen?" But then she thought it would be too indecent, so she changed her question and asked, "Can you take it off yourself? Do you need my help?"

Jin Shiyu's eyes darted away, and his mouth was clearly dry and bitter. He hurriedly swallowed, but choked by the rapid breath. Jin Suiqing was so frightened that she dared not tease him anymore. "I'll go out first. Call me when you're done changing."

Before leaving, Jin Suiqing took out a calming incense stick from her bosom, lit one by his bedside, and explained, "This incense is for calming the mind. After you change your clothes, if you don't want to sleep, I'll accompany you to the deck for some fresh air; if you want to sleep, then continue to rest."

*

With the silver moon high in the sky, Jin Suiqing tiptoed out of the room and gave Ye Zhufeng, who was waiting not far away, an OK sign.

She hopped a few steps to Ye Zhufeng's side. Ye Zhufeng glanced at the door and asked, "Sound asleep?"

Jin Suiqing said, "He was exhausted on the ship and was still not used to being on board. He was forced to drink two cups of wine at the banquet in the palace and vomited twice when he got back. It was easy to get him to sleep, but I lit an incense stick before he left and he couldn't wake up."

Upon hearing this, Ye Zhufeng looked at Jin Suiqing with a half-smile, making Jin Suiqing feel uneasy. "What's wrong with me? Why are you staring at me?"

Ye Zhufeng feigned a sigh: "It just reminds me of that lover who secretly cheats on their partner after putting them to sleep in the middle of the night..."

"How dare you talk like that?" Jin Suiqing feigned anger, bumping into Ye Zhufeng. Because of her small size, she stumbled and fell. She quickly grabbed Ye Zhufeng's arm. "Stop talking nonsense. Are you ready?"

Ye Zhufeng patted his chest and said, "It's all taken care of, don't worry. We've even prepared the sulfur-burning machine for the entire round trip of the supply machine."

In the steampunk world of low magic and light martial arts, as Ye Zhufeng carried Jin Suiqing across the palace walls, he couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow, light-footed martial arts are really useful! Ye Zi, do you think you can carry me and make me fly on bamboo like in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon?"

“Dream on,” Ye Zhufeng jumped down from the wall and placed Jin Suiqing on the ground. “Newton here is just weakened, not non-existent.”

Jin Suiqing muttered again, "Then tell me, if I start practicing diligently now, can I also learn to fly across rooftops like this in the future?"

Ye Zhufeng led her through a bamboo forest, released Jin Suiqing, and emerged alone from a sparse, overgrown grove of trees, returning after a short while carrying a wooden box.

Ye Zhufeng: "Let's talk about it after you can get up on time early."

Jin Suiqing rolled her eyes at her and stepped forward to inspect the wooden box. The box was about half a person's height, and the outer wooden box had been soaked in alum to greatly improve its flame retardancy. Ye Zhufeng opened the box, took out the Sparrow, and handed it to Jin Suiqing.

Jin Suiqing examined it closely and said with disdain, "It's still the old model. I've modified several of them in my workshop, and they've already hit the market. Why haven't they been updated yet?"

The flying sparrow was quite heavy, so Ye Zhufeng helped Jin Suiqing carry it on her back. He said to his best friend, a lawless outlaw who was involved in illegal modification, "Let's not even talk about the regulation of legal flying sparrows, which require an application to fly or purchase; most of your blueprints, which are priceless, are monopolized by legal machinery dealers and can only be bought at high prices, with the powerful and wealthy having priority."

Jin Suiqing sneered: "I haven't even asked them for technology patent fees yet, and they're already trying to monopolize my business."

After Ye Zhufeng checked the aircraft and put on the safety harness, the two of them hooked up in the same position for a tandem skydive. Jin Suiqing said, "Take off!" and took Ye Zhufeng into the air at high speed, flying towards the abandoned mine.

High above, the scenery was beautiful. During the flight, Jin Suiqing and Ye Zhufeng chatted about their experiences and observations regarding the research on magical artifacts.

Ye Zhufeng, a liberal arts student, only understood half of what Jin Suiqing was saying, but he didn't spoil Jin Suiqing's fun. He would ask a question or two from time to time. The two chatted as they flew and soon arrived at the abandoned mine.

At the foot of the abandoned mine, scattered points of cold blue light shone, the color of unrefined sulfur-based gold burning directly.

As Jin Suiqing descended, the scattered blue flames gradually transformed into bamboo houses. She fixed her gaze on an empty courtyard, where a large "H" was drawn on the ground.

Ye Zhufeng laughed, "You actually had a helipad painted on?"

Jin Suiqing said smugly, "Of course, they've all been armed into helicopters, so how can they not have a helipad?"

The moment the two landed, two elderly people came out of the house.

The message delivered by Gong Dagou mentioned that the two elderly men were veteran miners who jointly managed the abandoned mine and cared for the villagers in the abandoned mining village.

The two people, a man and a woman, had worked hard labor in their youth. Even in their old age, they were still physically strong and energetic. The man's name was Li Yousheng, and the woman's name was Ma Anping.

Ma Anping stepped forward first, his eyes scanning Jin Suiqing up and down. After a moment's hesitation, he asked, "May I ask which young lady is Boss Jin?"

Jin Suiqing was unpretentious and extended her hand to Grandma Ma in a generous manner. "Hello, Grandma Ma, I am Jin Suiqing. Gong Dagou should have already spoken with you. I bought this place and am the actual owner of the mining rights."

Ma Anping glanced coldly at her hand, frowned, and didn't shake it. Instead, he met Li Yousheng's gaze, nodded, and expressionlessly led Jin Suiqing and Ye Zhufeng into the house.

Jin Suiqing withdrew her hand, knowing that there would be many difficulties. She was prepared and was not embarrassed. She took the opportunity to observe her surroundings.

The mines have been abandoned for many years, and the miners barely manage to make a living. Bamboo houses are flammable, but because they are inexpensive and can be built with locally sourced materials, they have become the main type of building in the small village.

Even leaders like Ma Anping and Li Yousheng weren't very well-off. The room contained only a bed, a table, and two stools. Jin Suiqing and Ye Zhufeng sat down, leaving the two old men to stand.

Jin Suiqing and Ye Zhufeng couldn't bear it, so they moved the stools to the bedside and asked the two elderly people to sit on the bed and chat with them.

To Ma Anping and Li Yousheng's surprise, the two elegant young women were not only down-to-earth, but also showed no disgust when they entered the dilapidated house. Instead, they kindly inquired about their current situation.

Ma Anping and Li You had lived most of their lives here and had seen many ups and downs. This place had always been an illegal mine, and the miners lived under the whipping of the foreman. They were so used to it that they became numb to the fact that the miners around them died one after another.

Miners are a constant presence, but bosses come and go. Generation after generation, miners make a living by mining, their children become miners, and the dead miners are buried on the mountain. The mountain, riddled with holes, has become a home, with houses and graves.

Now that the mines are depleted, young people who are still relatively mobile can leave, but what will become of these old folks?

Ma Anping and Li Yousheng were unaware.

Upon hearing that the mine had changed hands, the two numbly thought that it was just the beginning of another period of hardship.

The mine owner sent people, assuming it was another new foreman bringing men to suppress the miners. Unexpectedly, it was a dark-skinned young man who came. After learning about the situation, the young man actually contributed money and effort to support these old fogies.

When they asked, Gong Dagou simply said, "My boss told me to do it. If you want to express your gratitude, don't thank me, go thank her. She's kind-hearted and can't bear to see others suffer."

Ma Anping and Li Yousheng were grateful and accepted everything, but remained unmoved.

It's not that there haven't been good bosses like this before, but once they've placed their trust in them, the people these bosses send out just like those foremen, continuing to enslave them.

They no longer wanted to believe these empty words.

Later, I heard from the young man that the boss wanted to open a factory in the mine to make money and provide a livelihood for the villagers.

Ma Anping and Li Yousheng remained numb.

Hearing that Jin Suiqing still wanted to blow up the mine, Li Yousheng suppressed his anger, stood up, pointed at Jin Suiqing and shouted: "Do you know that the mine is our lifeline! So many brothers and sisters have been buried on this mountain. You want to blow up the mountain just because of your word? Those who have nowhere to go will become wandering ghosts!"

Ma Anping snapped, "Old man, sit down!"

Li Yousheng glared at Jin Suiqing, then reluctantly sat down, turning his face away from her.

Ma Anping sighed and said to Jin Suiqing, "Burying mountains to build a factory is not out of the question, but we need to relocate our village. We need houses to live in, land to bury people, and land to grow crops. Only then can we survive. Mr. Jin, can you afford it?"

Ye Zhufeng frowned. "That's really asking for the moon."

Ma Anping calmly said, "There's no other way; we have to survive."

Jin Suiqing shook her head, signaling Ye Zhufeng to stop arguing.

Jin Suiqing wasn't unable to pay, but she needed these villagers to work. If she couldn't negotiate the treatment properly at the beginning, she would be rejected by the villagers. When the factory was built in the future, these people would probably become the biggest time bomb.

She didn't want to resort to violence, as peaceful resolutions were too costly, and she also realized that the work of poverty alleviation cadres was difficult.

She needs an opportunity, an opportunity to unite the majority of people.

Jin Suiqing was troubled and didn't want to face the two old people, so she pulled Ye Zhufeng away from the house, wanting to find Gong Dagou to discuss a solution. When they reached the courtyard gate, a dilapidated wooden board nailed to the ground caught Jin Suiqing's attention.

There were blurry words on it, which Jin Suiqing had to rub with his hand to make them barely legible. It read: "Be mindful of danger in times of peace; if you are mindful, you will be prepared; if you are prepared, you will have no worries."

It was followed by a plain-sounding phrase: "Be careful when you go into the mountains."

The characters are upright and powerful, seemingly penetrating to the core. Over the years, the ink has oxidized and faded somewhat, but it seems that the writer's essence has never dissipated.

The handwriting was so familiar that Jin Suiqing would never forget it. She stared at it in a daze for a long time before pointing to the wooden sign and asking, "Grandma Ma, who wrote this sign?"

Grandma Ma was taken aback, a hint of warmth appearing on her cold face. She pondered for a moment, seemingly lost in thought, before finally saying to Jin Suiqing, "Oh, that sign? It was written by a refined scholar. However, that scholar left the mine ten years ago."

"I heard that he went elsewhere to look for his younger sister."

*

Inside the Shaohuai Palace. Jin Shiyu had dreamt for the umpteenth time of Jin Suiqing's departing figure carrying a small cloth bag. He strode forward, wanting to catch up with Jin Suiqing.

Jin Shiyu didn't want Jin Suiqing to leave and tried to grab his wrist, but his hand passed right through it.

He was taken aback, then tried to put his arm around her waist. His arm swept away the dust, creating a phantom effect, the golden fragments and blue hues scattering and then gathering together again.

Jin Suiqing continued walking forward.

Jin Shiyu called out to her urgently, but Jin Suiqing stared straight ahead, unable to hear him, see him, or respond.

Jin Suiqing's figure grew clearer and clearer, yet she walked further and further away. Jin Shiyu wanted to continue chasing, but his legs felt like they were stuck in mud, unable to move. In a panic, he called out all the names he knew, "Jin Suiqing? Sister? Suiqing?"

No one could make her turn back.

Finally, as if drowning, his breathing became increasingly suffocating. Jin Shiyu used his hands and feet to desperately try to crawl out of the mud. He looked down and found that, unlike Jin Suiqing, his body had become increasingly transparent.

It was as if Jin Suiqing was about to leave, and Jin Shiyu had no reason to exist.

Kim Shi-ok realized that this was a nightmare.

Struggling to wake up, he found himself trapped in a nightmare, unable to escape the terrifying dream no matter how he tried to convince himself.

Thick, icy liquid washed over his mouth and nose. Kim Shi-ok gave up struggling, closed his eyes in despair, and let the nightmare take him into the deeper Dead Sea.

...

Jin Shiyu suddenly opened his eyes. To avoid falling into the nightmare again, he raised his limp hand, brought it to his mouth, and bit down hard on the back of his hand.

Blood splattered everywhere in an instant!

After the shock subsided, Jin Shiyu finally came to his senses. He looked up and saw moonlight streaming through the window, illuminating the room. Wisps of smoke rose from the incense burner, like dodder vines, swirling and floating around the moonlight, spreading throughout the room.

Jin Shiyu's nose twitched, a faint, almost imperceptible sweetness entered his nasal cavity, and a flash of white light appeared before his eyes.

There's something wrong with the calming incense.

He reacted quickly, covering his mouth and nose as he stood up, extinguishing the incense with tea, and opening the doors and windows for ventilation. After doing all this, Jin Shiyu stood in the courtyard with his hands at his sides, coldly gazing into the house.

The fragrance is like gold fragments and blue dots.

What about Jin Sui Qing?

A note from the author: I'm bad at writing titles; titles are so hard to come up with.

Mini-theater:

Gong Dagou: He rattled off a whole string of words in one breath, and in conclusion, I have a good boss who can't bear to see people suffer.

Golden Skin: ?

When did she become so virtuous and righteous?!