"Phew…"
Chu Mu let out a long breath, slowly adjusting his mindset.
He firmly believed that since true martial prowess existed, there would come a day when he would encounter it.
If he couldn't access it now, it was merely because he hadn't yet reached that level.
Having arrived in this world and already begun practicing martial arts, reaching that level was undoubtedly only a matter of time.
However, the inexplicable killing intent in his heart made Chu Mu somewhat wary.
It was a simple truth: a different mindset would inevitably influence one's approach to action.
People always preferred to solve problems in the way they were most adept.
Scholars reasoned, warriors fought—such was the way.
With such a mindset, his future actions would likely lean more toward the blade in his hand.
Whether this would be good… or bad… he did not know.
His thoughts wandered for a moment, and a faint blue panel flickered into view.
[Name: Chu Mu]
[Skills:
Basic Saber Technique (Initial Glimpse) 20/500]
[Spirit Radiance Value: 15.3%]
As was his habit, he scanned the panel, his gaze settling on the sharply increased proficiency in his Basic Saber Technique.
In just one or two hours, his proficiency had surged by over ten points!
Such a dramatic increase clearly showed he wasn't wasting his time; this was genuinely advancing his martial training.
"As long as it's effective," Chu Mu murmured, exhaling softly. He had been worried he was merely fumbling blindly, especially since these seemingly simple tools were far from cheap.
The wooden dummy, for instance, was no ordinary wood—it was ironwood, exceptionally hard and naturally expensive. Add to that the layers of thick hemp wrapped around it, and the cost was considerable.
The unassuming hanging balls were even more of a luxury in this era. Each one was repurposed from a cuju ball.
Cuju, in this world, was a sport of the wealthy, and the balls used for it were predictably costly.
A dozen or so hanging balls had caused Chu Mu no small amount of financial pain.
All told, this endeavor had cost him dozens of silver coins, flowing out like water.
If he had been wasting his time, it would've been as if he'd labored for over two months for nothing.
Amid these thoughts, Chu Mu suddenly recalled his previous life.
Back then, he would never have acted so decisively.
Disregarding cost, acting on impulse—such recklessness would have been impossible for the overworked wage slave he once was.
"Things are pretty good now…"
Chu Mu's mood dimmed inexplicably, and he muttered to himself.
"Woof, woof…"
A faint whimpering broke his reverie. Looking down, he saw the fluffy puppy nuzzling against his pant leg.
"Almost forgot about you!"
Chu Mu chuckled, scooping up the pup and striding toward the kitchen.
There were still plenty of leftovers from last night. He poured them into a bowl, and the puppy, with its stubby legs waddling, scampered to the bowl and began gobbling noisily, clearly famished.
Chu Mu busied himself at the stove, preparing a simple meal for himself.
Being alone, he wasn't particular. He stir-fried a couple of small dishes, cooked some rice, and ate right there by the stove.
After eating and tidying up, Chu Mu returned to his bedroom.
With a single candle and a book in hand, he leaned against the headboard, slowly flipping through the pages.
About half an hour later, a burst of firelight illuminated the courtyard. A bonfire roared to life, its flickering glow setting the hanging balls swaying. The wooden dummy thudded dully, and the silhouette of a figure wielding a saber emerged once more…
…
The next morning, as usual, Chu Mu practiced martial arts for over half an hour before donning his patrol inspector's armor and heading out for duty.
The early morning in Nanshan Town already felt somewhat desolate. Several of the vendors Chu Mu frequented had already been encountered again at the mine.
Merchants who once set up stalls at sunrise and packed up at sunset had now become corvée laborers, toiling before dawn and unable to rest even at dusk.
It would likely be difficult to taste their familiar flavors again, Chu Mu thought.
Without those familiar tastes, he wasn't picky. He grabbed a quick bite and headed toward the mine.
Under the endless snow, the entire mountain was blanketed in white. The mountain air was already chilly, and with the heavy snow sealing the paths, even Chu Mu, bundled in a thick cotton jacket beneath his armor, couldn't help but shiver.
Compared to the quiet of the mountains, the mine was a scene of bustling activity.
In the depths of winter, the corvée laborers had mostly switched to thick jackets. Of course, this wasn't a perk of the corvée system. By custom, laborers brought their own winter clothing when conscripted. Those who didn't would have their families deliver it before winter set in.
Naturally, there were exceptions. Some, in tattered rags, could still be seen in the freezing mine.
Compared to half a month ago, the number of laborers in the mine had noticeably increased.
In Chu Mu's section alone, there were over thirty additional workers.
He estimated that in the past half-month, the entire mine had gained at least two thousand more laborers.
It was an almost unbelievable number. Even more astonishing was that the conscription of laborers showed no sign of stopping.
"What's all this mining for?"
Sitting under a tree, Chu Mu gazed at the laborers toiling in the snow, his brow furrowed with doubt.
Over the past half-month, he had naturally made inquiries.
The mined ore, even when sent to the county seat, wasn't the final destination. It was said to be sent even higher up.
This wasn't unique to Qinghe County. In all the surrounding counties with mines, regardless of the type of ore, the process was the same.
Extraction, delivery, and further delivery.
It all followed official channels, completely detached from the market.
This meant that from Qinghe County to the county seat, and even throughout the entire Yanshan Prefecture, all ore entering the market was illicit, unable to see the light of day.
The question was… with such massive mobilization of manpower and resources, if the mined ore didn't enter the market, where was it ultimately going?
Forging weapons?
Iron ore might have such a demand, and in this era, the need for iron was significant. But what about other ores?
From what Chu Mu knew, Changshan County, adjacent to Qinghe County, had several copper mines that had been extracted and smelted for decades, always following the same process of delivery upward.
In this era, iron had many uses, but copper?
This wasn't an industrial age. Copper's primary use was for coinage, but paper currency had been in use for centuries. What else could copper be used for?
"At the very least, the official process involves level after level of delivery, unrelated to the market. So where is the final destination, and why is it needed?"
Chu Mu speculated silently.
Without a doubt, such a process was entirely illogical.
He couldn't figure it out, nor could he find answers. At least, at the Nanshan Patrol Station, none of the people he could access knew anything.
Of course, aside from Chu Mu, few others even thought to question it.
"Everyone, come here!"
"Assemble!"
A shout rang out. Chu Mu stood, striding quickly toward the call.
…
*(End of Chapter)*