I Can Only Cultivate In A Game

Meanwhile...

Victor crept into the kitchen outside the Ore Vein just before the last guard shift ended.

The corridors beyond were quiet; the rattling of chains and the distant drip of water were the only sounds. He unhooked a small leather pouch from his belt which contents contained a handful of potent black powder he had gotten from Tarkos.

A single teaspoon added to each cauldron's stew would induce a deep, soporific sleep in those who consumed it.

He approached the largest cauldron first. It churned with half-rotten vegetables and stale grain stew.

Beneath the lip, Victor dipped two fingers into the powder and let it fall like a dark rain. Then he stirred slowly, letting the smoke swirl into the broth.

Over at the bread rack, he nudged a pinch into the doughy loaves, letting the particles hid in the flour.

A young guard, drawn by the aroma, raised an eyebrow and turned around to walk in.

Victor instantly used shadow blink and reappeared behind a pillar.

The guard was salivated as he drew closer to the cauldron and proceeded to grab a bowl of stew when he was sure no one was looking.

He licked a drop from his finger, and swallowed.

Victor held his breath while watching from behind the pillar. The guard's eyes drooped moments later.

He yawned and leaned against a table. Within moments, he slumped to the floor, fast asleep with his face dipped in his stew.

Victor knelt and covered the guard's bowls with a cloth and dragged him to a secluded corner to hide his unconscious figure.

After addjng the same powder to other cauldrons, he slipped out of the surrounding.

Soon enough the kitchen staff returned after Victor had initially lured them away by hiding one of their cooking ingredients.

They returned with a fresh one and kept cooking.

Within minutes, the food was ready and the guards and overseers alike, began to step in. Turned out that their shifts were over for the day and those who would be on duty for the night also came in to have dinner. Most of the guards were present here except maybe for one or two who still had to watch the ores while everyone was eating.

They all sampled the "pepper" and one by one they collapsed into a deep sleep.

...

...

Meanwhile, Chen Wen raced after Orin, slipping through the labyrinth of ore veins.

The distant drip of water and the faint rumble of carts were his only guides. His heart pounded like a war drum.

Chen Wen found Orin rounding a bend where the narrow corridor opened into a spur leading up to the watchmen's barracks.

A guard lamp glowed amber through the barred door ahead.

Orin was about to head forward when he felt a yanked on his cloak.

He turned around and spotted Chen Wen.

Orin eyes narrowed in annoyance. "Dreamer, your stupidity ends here... let go."

Chen Wen's voice trembled with fury. "I'm trying to save everyone—your family too, if you cared. You'll only get them killed."

Orin's laugh echoed off the stone. "You think I care about others? I care about me. Guards will reward me for this." He advanced while swaggering.

Chen Wen lost grip of Orin's cloak as he strutted forward unwavering.

He had no weapon... only the broken handle of a lantern. He gripped it like a stake. "Don't do it," he pleaded.

Chen Wen reached out to grab Orin's cloak again.

"Don't you dare tell me what to do!"

Orin spun around in anguish and lunged, swinging his fist.

Chen Wen barely blocked it. The impact jarred his shoulder causing him to stumble as the lantern-handle clattered to the floor and shattered into two splintered sticks.

As Orin roared and struck again, Chen Wen stepped to the side and delivered a sharp elbow to his ribs. Orin gasped but surged forward, grabbing Chen Wen's tunic and pulling him close.

Chen Wen's arm whipped free as his hand closed on a rough shard of the broken lantern's metal frame.

He pressed it to Orin's throat.

"Stop," Chen Wen hissed. "One more move, and I'll end this."

Orin thrashed with wild eyes.

He knocked Chen Wen's hand aside and swapped his grip to shove the shard away.

The lantern shard slipped as Chen Wen staggered back.

Both men stood face to face with their arms held out while breathing heavily. The shard was right there in the center, laying on the ground but they stared at each other unmoving.

The intensity rose.

Chen Wu realized something at this point... Orin would betray them all if he kept hesitating.

A single thought spurred Chen Wen: protect the everyone so the could escape this night after a year of slavery.

As the tension in the air reached its peak, they both charged forward at the same time.

However, Chen Wen was faster...

He grabbed the shard before Orin could, pressed it against his neck, and pushed.

Sliiihhhhh~

Orin screamed as he felt a deep burning pain on his throat.

A two inches long slit had appeeared, causing blood to slip out like a broken pipe.

He staggered back with his hands pressed to hot blood as he fell to his knees.

Chen Wen's stomach roiled. He dropped the shard and knelt beside him.

Orin cough twice and gasped, unable to let out any coherent words.

Soon he fell completely to the ground and lay still as his body turned limp and his eyes dull.

Chen Wen's let out rough gasps as breaths as he glanced back at the barred door which was only a dozen yards away.

Any moment, a guard might emerge. Time was precious.

He found a narrow niche in the tunnel wall, just big enough to slip Orin's body inside.

With trembling arms, Chen Wen dragged the man's weight into the recess and stacked loose stones and broken lantern glass to conceal him.

When the last stone settled, Chen Wen stepped back. The corridor's dim glow returned, as if nothing had happened.

He pressed his hands to his face with a look of remorse but couldn't stay here.

Chen Wen returned to the cavern where the laborers huddled anxiously. Liang Shu met his eyes with brows raised. Chen Wen drew a steadying breath.

"Orin tried to betray us," he announced. "He's gone. With him went our doubts. None of us will speak of this again. This night, at the second bell, we gather. If you stand with me—follow."

Murmurs rippled through the group but Old Wu nodded.

...

...

The night sky above Lingyun Town was blanketed with dense, ominous clouds, masking the faint moonlight that struggled to pierce through.

Victor stood patiently at the designated meeting point within the Iron Vein Ore mines, silently counting the seconds while keeping an ear out for any potential trouble.

At first, there was only silence. Then came the soft shuffling of footsteps, accompanied by anxious whispers and the rustling of worn clothing.

Victor turned his head sharply, spotting Chen Wu emerging from the shadows. His usually bright eyes seemed dull from exhaustion and weeks of hard labor, coupled with something Victor couldn't quite place his thumb on.

Chen Wu's gaze instantly met Victor's, and relief flooded his features. "Brother Fang Chen," he whispered urgently, "we're here."

Behind Chen Wu, the figures of countless men and women appeared whose bodies were thin and worn from harsh treatment and minimal nourishment.

Among them was Chen Wu's father, whose once proud and dignified stance had diminished into a frail silhouette. Yet, despite their condition, the flames of hope burned brightly within their eyes.

"Everyone ready?" Victor whispered sharply.

Chen Wu nodded firmly. "We've waited a long time for this."

Victor quickly scanned the crowd, satisfied by their determination. "Follow me closely. Keep silent and stay together," he instructed. "Once we reach the secret passage, my friend Tarkos will lead you out safely."

Victor led the group swiftly out of the iron vein mines. They navigated through narrow tunnels, winding paths, and shadows cast by moonlit stones.

The night air was chilling, whispering warnings through the cold wind, yet hope pushed them forward with urgency.

But just as they were nearing the edge of the Bai-Qin estate, a guard patrolling the periphery of the ore mine felt something amiss.

He casually decided to head into the mines to patrol.

Few minutes later, he was frozen still.

His eyes were widened in shock as he scanned the empty mine.

There was not a single soul in any of the sections.

All the slave laborers had vanished into the night.

"Impossible!" the guard gasped as panic overwhelmed his senses. He sprinted toward the nearby outpost, shouting for his fellow guard who was resting nearby. "Wake up, there's trouble!"

The second guard who was a stern-faced man, jolted awake. "What are you shouting about?"

"The slaves! They're gone!" The first guard frantically gestured toward the empty mines. "The elders will have our heads if they find out we let them escape!"