The leader's voice could be faintly heard talking to Afu and a few others: "Afu, do you know your mistake?"
Afu lowered his head, but his eyes gleamed with a defiant light.
"Chief, I just..." He hesitated, but finally voiced his doubts, "I just don't understand why our clan has been so restless ever since the Holy Maiden arrived. Is this truly the will of Heaven?"
A complex emotion flashed in the leader's eyes. "Afu, do you know the significance of the Red Rose Stone to our tribe? It is the bridge between us and nature, the source of our power. And the Holy Maiden is the only one who can wield this power. This is the blessing of heaven upon us, and our only hope to break free from fate and move towards a new life."
At this point, the leader's tone turned icy. "If you don't believe me, then try it. If you can be like the Holy Maiden, the position of our clan's Holy Son will surely belong to you. But if you can't, then you must work even harder and contribute your strength to our clan."
Upon hearing this, Afu resolutely declared, "Very well! I, Afu, hereby swear an oath to prove my worth!"
After saying this, he turned around and walked resolutely with his companions toward the Red Rose Stone Mine, their backs casting long shadows in the night.
After they left, Xu Yuehuai closed her eyes and began to regulate her breathing.
Xu Yuehuai sat cross-legged in front of the cave, surrounded by a subtle, almost imperceptible light, a sign that the power of the red rose stone was slowly flowing through her body.
Her face was calm and serene. She chose to remain silent in the face of the doubts and incomprehension around her, because in her heart, there was a grander mission and belief.
Her consciousness penetrated deep into her body, sensing the changes brought about by the power of the red rose stone.
This power is both warm and violent, seemingly containing endless energy, yet it is difficult to control.
She tried to guide this power and make it circulate within her body, but each attempt was accompanied by intense pain until finally, she couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of blood.
"Your Highness!" Upon seeing this, Yan Qing rushed forward, her eyes filled with anxiety.
Xu Yuehuai waved her hand, signaling him to step back. She knew this was an inevitable path, a test she, as a saintess, had to endure.
"Are you really feeling alright?" Yan Qing's voice, tinged with worry, came from the darkness.
Xu Yuehuai gently opened her eyes, a faint smile playing on her lips, a smile that held an undeniable resilience: "I'm fine, Yan Qing. You just need to do your job and settle those people down."
Yan Qing frowned slightly, knowing he couldn't persuade this stubborn and strong woman, so he could only nod silently, turn around and blend into the night to continue his duties.
"The power of this red rose is indeed extraordinary," Xu Yuehuai thought to himself, "but I cannot rely on it forever. I must find a more stable and lasting method."
She began to try to fuse her own internal energy with the power of the red rose stone, attempting to find a balance so that this power would be used for her own benefit, rather than causing her harm...
Night fell, the moonlight thin, like fine silver sand scattered on the rugged mountain path. The leader and his entourage returned weary from their journey, their steps unsteady, each one seemingly carrying an indescribable weight.
Xu Yuehuai couldn't hide the worry in her eyes. She quickly stepped forward and gently supported the swaying leader. "Leader, why are there so few people? Where are the others?"
The leader looked up, his eyes filled with exhaustion and pain. He spoke in a low voice, "The mine... suddenly collapsed. The brothers who were still digging for red roses inside, and all the ore we had painstakingly accumulated, were buried inside."
Upon hearing this, the surrounding air seemed to freeze, and even breathing became heavy.
Yan Qing, Wang Mang, and others quickly gathered upon hearing the commotion. They helped and supported the exhausted clansmen, doing their best to allow them to catch their breath.
Xu Yuehuai watched this scene with a bitter feeling in her heart. "The other side has obviously figured out our next plan. They are trying to cut off our way out completely!"
Suddenly, Afu rushed out from the crowd, knelt down in front of Xu Yuehuai, tears welling up in his eyes: "Holy Maiden, please, save my brother! He's still inside!"
His voice, trembling with emotion, touched the hearts of everyone present.
"Your Holiness, please save everyone!"
Immediately afterwards, the others also knelt down, praying for hope.
The chief, the pillar of the tribe, also slowly knelt down, expressing his trust and reliance on Xu Yuehuai through his actions.
Xu Yuehuai hurriedly said, "Get up, everyone. I'll go save them right now."
Her words were like a gentle spring breeze, filling everyone with hope.
Seeing this, Yan Qing hesitated, then gave Xu Yuehuai a complicated look, as if he had a thousand words to say but didn't.
Wang Mang, a man who was usually carefree, was unusually serious at this moment: "Sister, I'm going too! We need to hurry, maybe we can find something to eat nearby to replenish our strength."
His words revealed his longing for food, but also his concern for the safety of his companions.
Xu Yuehuai then instructed, "Wang Mang, you take your men and come with me to the mine to rescue them. Yan Qing, you stay here to take care of the leader and the others. Afu, you lead the way."
Afu immediately stood up, his eyes flashing with determination and hope, and led Xu Yuehuai and his group quickly toward the Red Rose Stone Mine.
Under the moonlight, the entrance to the mine appeared particularly eerie and terrifying, with faint traces of explosives visible around, proving that this was a meticulously planned conspiracy.
Xu Yuehuai stood at the cave entrance, his brows furrowed, pondering to himself, "Who on earth would use explosives?"
Perhaps we can do the opposite!
She said to the group, "Go and find some things first."
Next, she explained to everyone some of the raw materials used to make explosives.
Upon hearing this, Afu anxiously grabbed Xu Yuehuai's sleeve: "Holy Maiden, everyone is about to die, why aren't you hurrying to save them, instead of looking for those unimportant things?"
Xu Yuehuai gently patted Afu's hand. "Trust me, finding some things now is more important than rushing in to save people."
Seeing her calm and composed demeanor, Afu, though full of doubts, said nothing more. He quickly gathered several strong and capable members of the tribe and, following her instructions, went off to find the sulfur, charcoal, and saltpeter needed to make explosives.
In the darkness, whispers and calls could be heard from time to time. They moved quickly, as if they were waging a silent battle against the quiet night.
Xu Yuehuai remained alone at the mine entrance, her sharp gaze scanning the surrounding terrain. Though the moonlight was faint, it was enough for her to clearly see the structure around the mine.
She crouched down, gently ran her fingers across the ground, feeling the moisture and hardness of the soil, and quickly calculated the best blasting point in her mind.
Time seemed to stand still, and every moment felt exceptionally long.
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