Chapter 77: A Man Like Water

Ye Chen and Xu Fan hurried across the wilderness. The former moved swiftly and effortlessly, as if stepping on level ground, while the latter wore a bitter expression and proceeded with utmost caution.

If Ye Chen did not occasionally turn back to help Xu Fan, whose feet kept slipping, his pace would have been even faster. Years spent surviving in the wild had honed Ye Chen’s basic skills, skills that Xu Fan simply could not compare to.

Suddenly, Xu Fan noticed Ye Chen had stopped ahead, crouching to examine something on the ground.

“What’s up? Did you find money here?” Xu Fan peeked over Ye Chen’s shoulder, blinking his dark, inquisitive eyes.

Ye Chen asked in a low voice, “Xu Slacker, do you remember when Aunt Chen set out on her task?”

Xu Fan began counting on his fingers, recalling, “Yesterday, we patrolled, drank, and got into a fight. Before that, you rested at home, and I was hanging out at the young lady’s place. Right, now I remember—Aunt Chen left the day before yesterday.”

Ye Chen laughed and scolded, “I remember you didn’t rest the day before yesterday, so how were you at the young lady’s place again? I wasn’t around, Aunt Chen wasn’t around, and you patrolled alone, only to patrol your way right into someone’s bed! The moment I take my eyes off you, you let yourself go. I’ll remember this; let Aunt Chen deal with you later. For now, look here!”

Ye Chen pointed to two fresh tire marks on the ground. “See these? They’re new.”

“Is there something wrong with these tire marks?” Xu Fan was puzzled.

“There is, absolutely,” Ye Chen explained. “Look at their size—don’t they resemble the patrol vehicles from our bureau?”

Xu Fan blinked in confusion and pursed his lips, trying hard to compare in his mind.

Ye Chen sighed and explained, “Last time Qiao Mu Cao took me to the inner city, I noticed the cars there all had narrow tires, only suitable for city roads. So, those are ruled out. Next, the transport trucks and troop carriers have much wider tires, so those are out too. What’s left are the patrol vehicles used by our bureau. Think back—aren’t these about the same size?”

Xu Fan pretended to ponder, then feigned sudden realization and nodded, “Yes, you make a lot of sense.”

Ye Chen shot him a look and continued, “Now, the question is timing. These tire marks are very fresh. If Aunt Chen used this road the day before yesterday, would the marks still be this new?”

“No!” Xu Fan shook his head, responding quickly this time.

Considering the recent rain and snow, any old tire marks would long since have been washed away. Only a vehicle that passed through recently could leave such crisp tracks in the muddy earth.

Ye Chen pointed toward the direction of the mine and concluded, “So, today, besides us heading to the mine, there’s another patrol vehicle from the bureau heading there as well.”

This conclusion seemed to provoke Xu Fan, who jumped up indignantly and shouted, “Why do others get to ride in a car?”

Ye Chen ignored him, pondering silently: Which team could it be? Coincidence, or do their intentions match ours?

“Alright, shut up. Stop cursing at the world. We need to pick up the pace—I have a feeling this mine incident isn’t as simple as it seems.”

Ye Chen grabbed the still-stomping Xu Fan, pulling him along as they raced across the wilderness.

Xu Fan opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. All he managed was to gulp down a mouthful of cold northwestern wind.

...

“Sss... sss... sss...” The sound of high-pressure water jets striking stone.

“Bang!”

“Gurgle, gurgle...” A massive stone, shimmering with green, was cut from the rock wall and tumbled to the ground. The surface, sliced by the high-pressure water jet, was perfectly smooth, the green hue tinted with a silken sheen.

After cutting the stone, a man withdrew his fingers, which he had held together like a sword, and leaned against the wall, breathing heavily.

His clothing was nothing like Ye Chen’s or Xu Fan’s—he wore garments sewn from animal hides. His frame was emaciated, hair naturally curled, skin rough and dark, eyes deeply sunken, gaze weary and dull. He looked as if worn out by excess, or perhaps suffering from long-term malnutrition.

But the truth was neither; the fatigue was a side effect from repeatedly overdrawing his internal energy.

He had been working in the mine for days without rest.

After a brief pause, feeling a slight return of strength, the man forced himself to stand and prepared to slice another stone.

Just then, their old acquaintance, Mouse, arrived carrying a lunchbox.

“Ah... Ah Miao, it’s time to eat! No more cutting today, or the boss will have us hauling these stones again. Take a break, so we all can rest.”

Mouse’s tone was unusually polite.

He’d always been curious why a grown man would have such a feminine name. But after witnessing Ah Miao’s unique talent, he was convinced—Ah Miao absolutely deserved that name. Truly, a man made of water!

Ah Miao was neither from the inner city nor from the outer, but one of the wilderness dwellers—commonly known as wildfolk.

For reasons unknown, wildfolk never awakened as tool-users or body-type powers; those who awakened were always element-type. Ah Miao was one such awakened wildfolk—a water element wielder.

By the bureau’s classification, he’d be considered E-class.

But Ah Miao’s greatest advantage was that his high-pressure water jet skill consumed little energy.

His reason for working with Scarface and his gang was simple—his village was impoverished. The autumn harvest had been poor, winter was especially harsh and long, and the village’s food stores might not last.

Misfortune never comes alone! This winter, many fell ill, and the elders decreed that what food was left should go to the sick first.

Ah Miao, helpless, had to cross mountains and valleys alone, arriving at a place called the Black Market to look for work.

He was soon recruited there. The job was simple—mining, with wages based on the weight extracted.

When the recruiters saw his abilities, they were overjoyed—he was a born miner. Ah Miao could control water elements, shaping them into razor-sharp jets, slicing rock as easily as hard cheese.

Mouse handed Ah Miao the rolled-up money along with the lunchbox, saying, “So... how is it? Isn’t working with us better than struggling in that lousy village of yours?”

Ah Miao ate happily, nodding in agreement.

The exhaustion from overdrawing his internal energy vanished the moment money filled his pocket and food entered his mouth.

Mining was hard work, but the rewards were lavish.

Ah Miao felt he’d soon become the wealthiest man in his village.

Likewise, Scarface and his crew began considering long-term employment for him.

A high-pressure water jet could slice stone—and, perhaps, flesh as well.

That’s some serious firepower.

“Mouse... Mouse... get out here! The boss is here—load the goods, stop slacking off, you lazy fool!”

Scarface’s roar echoed through the mine shaft.