My experience of grinding in another world

Chapter 143 Crescent Lake

Fenxi Ferry Crossing.

On the open ground beside the wooden pier, there stands a large oil-paper umbrella providing shade. Under it is a long, brown-lacquered table.

On the table is a four-legged, door-shaped stand about the height of a forearm. A white jade ring inlaid with gold thread hangs in the middle of the stand.

Below it are five pearl-shaped jade pendants, each the size of a peanut, suspended by silver threads.

"Give me your hand," a thin, elderly man in his fifties said coldly.

Chen Mu trembled as he extended his left hand, his heart pounding with nervousness.

The old man removed the enormous iron bracelet and examined its inner surface. Then he squinted at the jade pendant.

A gentle breeze blew, and the jade pendants swayed, but they never touched.

"Let's go," the old man said calmly. "Your constitution is too weak. Eat more."

Chen Mu nodded vigorously and walked onto the wooden boardwalk with a grateful expression.

"Phew! I finally passed!" Chen Mu breathed a sigh of relief.

Then his clothes suddenly heaved and bulged at his chest.

Snapped!
It was as if someone had slapped him in the chest; a crisp sound came from under his robes.

"What's that noise?" Zheng Yuan, who was walking ahead, turned around suspiciously.

Chen Mu reached out and slapped his chest hard, knocking out the river fish hidden under his clothes and parasitized by black lines. He chuckled and said, "It's a little itchy."

"Why does it smell fishy?" Zheng Yuan sniffed twice, her face full of doubt.

"It's probably the smell of the river water..." Chen Mu said evasively.

"No, it smells fishy!" Zheng Yuan glared at Chen Mu meaningfully: "You're not being honest."

Chen Mu's heart skipped a beat, and his eyes narrowed involuntarily.

Did this fat guy figure something out?
He had worked so hard to hide himself and had escaped two calamities involving the iron rings. How could this fat man see through his disguise?
"Shouldn't you show your appreciation?" Zheng Yuan asked with a smile, leaning closer.

Extorting me?
Ah……

Chen Mu glanced at Zheng Yuan expressionlessly.

So, they noticed something was wrong...

"You reap what you sow..."

Black smoke immediately billowed from inside the cuff.

Zheng Yuan approached Chen Mu discreetly and said in a low, confident voice, "You actually dared to sneak in some extra food?! I could smell the grilled fish on you a long time ago!"

Then he glared at Chen Mu with his intelligent little eyes, his face resolute: "If you don't invite me next time, I'll tell your Seventh Uncle!"

Chen Mu: “…”

Just...that's it?
"Okay." Chen Mu looked at the smug-looking short and stout man with complicated feelings.

He had all the sedatives ready in his sleeve, he was just one step away!
This short, stocky guy was almost about to fall into the water in front of everyone.

Zheng Yuan became even more smug: "You hid it very well. I didn't even notice the place you chose, but my nose caught on. I knew you were giving me special treatment as soon as I thought about it."

"I'm smart, aren't I?" the short, stocky man chuckled.

Clever! You're incredibly clever!
Chen Mu was speechless. Then, he sighed with a grim expression.

What was I just doing? I actually tried to kill someone!

It's so brutal! I'm not the person I used to be anymore!

"It's all because of the Tangshan army!" Chen Mu thought bitterly.

"The black thread that can drain a person dry, supervised by a master of the Armored Soul, with layer upon layer of verification, is filled with evil intentions everywhere."

"Luckily, I pulled back from the brink!" Chen Mu thought with relief.

"I guess I'm still a good person after all."

Looking at the round, short, and stocky creature, Chen Mu felt nothing but pity.

Be thankful you met me.

If you dare to play such a dangerous game, you'd be dead by now if someone was quick enough to react!

……

February 16th, 642nd year of the Great Liang Dynasty.

The enormous fleet, stretching as far as the eye could see, sailed upstream along the Jinshui River from southeast to northwest.

The fleet's boats were mostly around fifty meters long, with numerous long wooden oars extending from both sides.

Accompanied by the slow, rhythmic beating of drums inside the cabin, the oars moved in unison, propelling the large ship forward steadily.

Chen Mu climbed the wooden ladder onto the deck.

Noticing that Zheng Yuanman's face was covered in sweat, he paused, and immediately started sweating as well.

They've just finished their shift of rowing. Now they're going to cook for everyone on the boat.

"Luckily, we're the cooks, and we only work one shift a day, otherwise we'd be exhausted," complained the short and stocky Zheng Yuan.

Chen Mu nodded in agreement, pretending to be honest.

They might be tired, but they wouldn't die. Chen Mu discovered that everyone on the ship was in surprisingly good health.

Especially after they started taking turns rowing, everyone on the boat ate more and more, and their bodies became stronger and stronger.

"It's a parasitic black thread; it helps the parasite absorb nutrients, making it stronger!"

Is the Tangshan military station really that good?

Chen Mu would never forget the river fish whose life force had been drained by the black lines. "Fat it up before killing it?" Chen Mu's expression turned stern.

"I need to master the Armor Soul technique as soon as possible." He raised his hand and popped a Bigu Pill 3.0 into his mouth.

Chen Mu's breathing became rapid and slow.

He had already integrated the Cloud Mirage Form Refining Technique's breathing method into his daily life.

The divine intent in my mind became increasingly complex and clear.

Cloud Mirage Form Refinement Technique: 4550/10000/Tier 5;

"almost!"

……

The large ship sailed north for seven days, after which everyone abandoned ship and went ashore, taking to land instead.

When encountering mountains, build roads; when encountering rivers, build bridges.

After traveling at a leisurely pace for more than ten days, we finally ventured into the edge of the mountains.

They set up camp at the foot of a mountain called Yunzhan Mountain.

……

At the foot of Yunzhan Mountain lies a small lake, formed by the convergence of mountain streams. Because of its crescent shape, it is called Crescent Lake.

The Tangshan army was stationed at the foot of the mountain along the lake.

The laborers were stationed in the Dingyou camp.

Chen Mu shakily chopped vegetables with a kitchen knife.

Since arriving at Crescent Lake, he has dutifully played the role of a cook in the civilian labor camp.

The Tangshan army was stationed here, and there is a high possibility that there are ghosts or monsters in this area.

He dared not run around recklessly.

"Da Wang, why don't you sneak out to cook for yourself?" The short and stout Zheng Yuan looked at him with a resentful expression.

Go out for private tutoring? I think you're joking!

What if you encounter a ghost or monster?
Chen Mu looked at Zheng Yuan with a blank expression: "Me? I didn't get any special treatment? Why would I need special treatment?"

He didn't plan to cause any more trouble before he became a fully-fledged Armor Soul.

Zheng Yuan's small eyes widened in surprise: "Didn't you say you'd take me to eat grilled fish last time?! Are you planning to renege on your promise?!"

You guessed it!

Chen Mu chuckled to himself, then looked utterly astonished and said, "The military has strict rules; how could I dare to sneak out for private lessons?"

"I have never sneaked out, and I would never go to get special treatment!" Chen Muyi said righteously.

Zheng Yuan: "..."

I don't believe you for a second!
……

The snoring continued inside the tent at night.

Chen Mu stared wide-eyed at the top of the tent.

A gray wall appeared before him, and Chen Mu carefully examined the skills.

Writing: 3230/10000/Second order;

Drawing: 5787/10000/Second order;

Throw: 8141/10000/Tier 4;

Cooking skill: 2090/10000/Tier 3;

Pharmacy Skill: 4965/10000/Tier 4;

Hidden Sword: 3038/10000/Tier 4;