......

To put it without exaggeration.

His relatives and friends would avoid him like the plague whenever they saw him.

Fang He was now not only penniless, but it was also almost time to make this month's installment payment.

Under all these pressures, his eyes quietly reddened.

'Could it be that I'll really have to roam the streets with my mother...'

What good was Heavenly Perception cultivation?

In the Second Circle, Heavenly Perception cultivation was just equivalent to a college student.

The Great Han had a huge population, and college students were everywhere.

Although in a small place like Xiankong Town, his Heavenly Perception cultivation carried some modest value.

But who told him to have a grudge against Chen Yan?

And Chen Yan had close ties with the local emperor group, Linshan Mining.

Even if Fang He went out to find work, no one would hire him unless they were looking for trouble.

As for hunting or such things...

Don't be ridiculous.

The area around Xiankong Town was all mines, long ravaged by Linshan Mining without a trace of greenery left. Unless he went very far away, but then what would happen to his mother?

At this moment.

Fang He felt like there was no path to heaven and no door to earth—utterly trapped.

Until Lu Ding's voice sounded again: "I've arranged a hospital for you in White Ridge. All medical expenses will be covered by White Ridge 749's investigator medical insurance. You should take your mother for medical checkups soon."

"When you get there, call this number."

Lu Ding said, showing his phone screen, indicating for Fang He to memorize the number.

Fang He looked down.

'White Ridge 749 Qian Jin'

How could he not know this name!

This was the famous White Ridge 749 Bureau Chief!

At this moment.

Fang He's vision gradually blurred as he looked at the phone screen, tears filling his eyes.

He quietly used Spiritual Energy to hold back his tears, then responded with a heavy "Mm" through his choked-up, nasal voice.

Who among those present couldn't see through this small act?

But they all tacitly remained silent.

After memorizing the number and exchanging contact information with Lu Ding, Fang He finally adjusted his emotions.

"Grand Duke Lu, can I join 749? I have no criminal record... I can do any kind of work, even as an intern."

Zhan Tingzhou thought: I'm still just an auxiliary member, and you want an internship?

"If that's not possible, being an auxiliary member would be fine too."

Zhan Tingzhou thought: What do you mean 'if that's not possible, auxiliary would be fine'? Is being auxiliary that bad?

Lu Ding's sharp expression softened, his aggressiveness receding as he stated matter-of-factly: "749 isn't suitable for you."

Fang He's talent wasn't particularly outstanding, he wasn't very brave, and he wasn't clever enough. If there were better options, someone like him wasn't suited for 749.

Because he would die very quickly.

Moreover, Lu Ding planned to assign him mining areas later. Once the cancer of Linshan Mining was removed from Xiankong Town, wouldn't Fang He earn more as a mine owner than as an ordinary 749 investigator?

Future investigators in the new city wouldn't have opportunities for extortion or side income—no extra earnings.

Not everyone was suited to be an investigator.

There are 360 trades, and every one has its master.

Fang He still had his mother to care for.

If Lu Ding hadn't considered these factors, he might have agreed, but since he had considered them, it wasn't possible.

Fang He looked somewhat dejected.

Lu Ding reached out and patted his shoulder: "Go pack your things, and set off as soon as possible."

As Fang He turned away.

Lu Ding tapped on his phone.

Fang He heard a ding notification sound.

He subconsciously picked up his phone to check.

On the phone screen, he saw:

[Lu Ding has transferred 50,000 to you, with a message: You must spend this. The hospital only treats illnesses, they don't provide meals. Your mother needs nutrition too. Don't wander around during this period. I'll notify you to return after the Xiankong Town matter is resolved.]

Seeing this message, Fang He sharply turned his head.

The three people who had been standing behind him—Lu Ding and the others—were already flying away into the distance.

At this moment.

Fang He could no longer hold back, tears streaming down his face.

Staggering toward the work shed where his mother lived while wiping his tears, he said through sobs: "Dad... I miss you..."

In the air.

Hearing the crying behind them.

The Earth Dragon Immortal sighed: "Ah, a man doesn't shed tears easily, it's just that he hasn't reached the point of heartbreak..."

Zhan Tingzhou turned his head and looked at him with a measuring gaze: "You can understand 'a man doesn't shed tears easily'?"

Even though the Earth Dragon Immortal had lived long enough, he was almost broken by this statement: "Although I'm hermaphroditic, I've always presented myself in male form!!!!"

As these words fell, Lu Ding's voice came quietly from the side: "So you tell me, should you die or not? The Mineral Nodes caused the deaths of so many innocent miners, making the already poor Iron Stone Cave situation even worse."

The Earth Dragon Immortal's face showed regret, a faint smile appearing: "I should die, I should die. You're absolutely right. After this matter is settled and I've apologized to him, I'll die immediately."

"Coincidentally, there are quite a few ore deposits beneath the Blood Pool in my nest that should be able to compensate for his losses. Whatever remains, I'll have to trouble him to sell it and distribute it to the families of other deceased miners, as a small gesture of my apology."

Lu Ding was satisfied.

But he didn't comment.

This matter was difficult to evaluate—the Earth Dragon Immortal was a victim, Fang He was a victim, the miners were victims too, and there were mutual cause-and-effect relationships between them.

They could only be addressed one by one.

But there were two people who weren't victims—Chen Yan's father and Chen Yan himself.

His father's death was entirely deserved.

Fang He's father had a sense of reverence—miners have the most taboos about these things. Even after being told not to disturb the Earth Dragon Immortal's nest, Chen Yan's father still stole his children to make soup.

If that's not deserving of death, then what is?

This thought surfaced in Lu Ding's mind. Not only would he think it, but when he met Chen Yan later, he would say it out loud.

"Your father deserved to die, your father was trash, your father was also a thief, a pickpocket, your father couldn't have children through his own ability."

Thinking of this, a smile appeared on Lu Ding's face.

He loved direct confrontations the most.

He truly hoped to face Chen Yan soon!

....

On the other side.

On the small hill beside the Linshan Mining area.

Zhao Feng pointed at the mining area before him with natural pride: "Just this single mining area can transport hundreds of cartloads of ore for me every day. Linshan Mining has thirteen mining areas like this."

Saying this, Zhao Feng turned to look at the mining area's general administrator Chen Yan, and the friend he had brought along.

An investigator from Path of Dry Bones 749, nicknamed Cold River Reflecting Moon Shen Qixue, rumored to have an extraordinary background.

Compared to White Ridge 749, Zhao Feng preferred to make contact with Path of Dry Bones 749, since it was closer and more convenient for business.

Moreover, he had no connections in White Ridge 749—ordinary investigators weren't very useful, and he couldn't access the powerful ones.

Deputy Directors, Directors—he couldn't even catch a glimpse of them.

But today, opportunity had arrived!!

Chen Yan, as the general administrator of Linshan Mining, actually had a close relationship with Shen Qixue.

If he could use Chen Yan to connect with Shen Qixue, then his Zhao family might very well become the next Yu family!!!

The moment he thought of his brother-in-law Yu Xiao, Zhao Feng's fists instantly clenched hard!!!

His main wife was Yu Xiao's biological younger sister. From the day he married her, Yu Xiao had imposed all kinds of rules on him.

Such as only being allowed to marry his sister, no fooling around, having to yield to her at home, and if she complained to Yu Xiao, he would beat Zhao Feng.

"I've already told you the conditions. Whether you accept them or not is your problem. The door is open, I'm not stopping you, nor am I forcing you."

"Don't accept it and leave, accept it and follow through. If you don't follow through, even if my sister speaks up for you, the Yu family won't provide any assistance to your Zhao family."

Yu Xiao truly looked down on Zhao Feng.

Helpless, for the sake of wealth and status, Zhao Feng could only hold his nose and endure it, while pretending 'we have true love, I don't love her for her money or background' to cover up the fact that he was a social climber.

Later, because his main wife couldn't have children, he had the opportunity to trick Zhao Shaolin's mother into voluntarily approaching Yu Xiao, saying that a man needs to continue his lineage, begging Yu Xiao to allow Zhao Feng to take more wives.

This was also one of the reasons why Yu Xiao felt his sister was hopeless.