Wang Lai nodded, whispered a few more instructions, then left Old Yu's house. Turning the corner and seeing that no one was around, he spat scornfully:
"Old fool, still daydreaming, believing anything you tell him..."
"Success in cultivation? Go dream on."
"Born in the mines, you're destined for a lowly life, no matter how good your Spiritual Root is, it's still a lowly life you lead!"
...
Wang Lai snorted coldly and walked away.
On a nearby rooftop, three little cultivators dressed in cloaks, their figures hidden, lay in secret, their little heads huddled together.
"This guy is a bastard," Bai Zisheng declared.
Bai Zixi nodded in agreement.
Mo Hua also nodded.
"Should we take care of him first?" Bai Zisheng was eager to try.
Bai Zixi looked at Mo Hua.
Mo Hua shook his head, "Not yet, let's see what they're up to."
Bai Zisheng thought for a moment, then nodded, "Alright, you're the junior brother, we'll follow your lead."
The three of them moved stealthily, following Wang Lai.
Walking proudly on the main road, Wang Lai, oblivious to the events behind him, was unaware that every move he made was being watched by the three little cultivators.
Wang Lai left Old Yu's house and met with a few other mining cultivators.
That is, the ones he mentioned, Wang Er and Tang Wu.
"Old Yu has agreed, will you go or not?"
Wang Er frowned, "He actually agreed?"
"Fortune comes with danger, how could he not understand that?" Wang Lai snorted coldly, looking at Wang Er and the others with slight contempt.
"An old man like him has more guts than you two, young and yet so timid?"
Tang Wu was somewhat unconvinced and wanted to agree on the spot.
But Wang Er pulled him and signaled him not to rush.
Wang Lai's eyes darted around and he asked, "You haven't got yourself wives, have you?"
The two men looked a bit bashful.
Wang Lai lowered his voice, "The old lady Li who sells pastries in the city, her family has two or three young daughters, young and with tender, dewy faces..."
"Come with me to steal from the mine, earn some Spirit Stones, and I'll be the matchmaker for you."
Wang Er and the others were somewhat moved, their faces turning slightly red, "But..."
"But what?" Wang Lai scorned, "How can you start a family and marry without earning some Spirit Stones while you're young? Do you want to bring someone into suffering?"
Tang Wu immediately said, "I'll go with you!"
Wang Er was still hesitating, "You could steal by yourselves, why involve us?"
Wang Lai sighed, "Old Yu is getting on in years and isn't strong enough, and my few men, although they have mined before, are inconsistent as they come. They're not familiar with the workings of a mine, hence I turned to you..."
After finishing, Wang Lai turned serious and warned in a low voice:
"You must not let this matter out, otherwise the Lu Family won't let us off..."
Wang Er and Tang Wu both turned solemn and nodded:
"Brother Wang, rest assured."
Wang Lai nodded, "Then it's settled..."
"Tomorrow at 1 p.m., at the eastern end of the mine near the half-cut willow tree, I'll wait for you there."
After giving his instructions, Wang Lai left.
empire
After Wang Lai left, he didn't go out for his usual drinking and gambling but went straight home to sleep, seemingly to prepare and conserve his energy.
Mo Hua and his two companions then returned to their cave dwelling.
Back in the dwelling, entering the courtyard, the three removed their cloaks, revealing their figures.
Bai Zisheng, still excited, said, "Eavesdropping is so much fun!"
Mo Hua glanced at him, "This isn't for fun."
"Okay..." Bai Zisheng paused, then asked,
"What exactly do you think that Wang Lai is planning to do?"
"Murder?" Bai Zixi said.
Mo Hua nodded, "I guess he wants to deceive the mining cultivators into the mine, then kill them and go to the Lu Family for compensation..."