Forbidden Zone of the Human Race

Chapter 32 Simple Joys

Xiang Ning arrived home and was greeted by the smell of delicious cooking. He spotted his sister sitting at the dinner table, grinning at him. 

“Xiang Ning, let’s dig in!” Xiang Xiaoyu blinked, smiling. 

“Hey, what’s all this? You’re even cooking for me now.” Xiang Ning smiled and sat in his spot. Of course she knew how to cook; being the only two in the house, when Xiang Ning was working or mining, she would cook when he didn’t have the time. However, if he had the time, she would never cook because she felt like his cooking was better than hers—especially when it came to her favorite dish, stir-fried eggs with tomatoes. 

“Hehe, I’d like to make an official request here, Xiang Ning. I want to go out with my friends this weekend,” Xiang Xiaoyu said, embarrassed. 

“Go out? With your classmates?” he asked with a smile. So far, he had been keeping an eye on his sister’s education. Although he was only three years older than her, he was much more mature as the head of the house. 

“Yeah, they’ve asked me out many times, and I don’t think I can say no again.” Xiang Xiaoyu rubbed her face. She was a budding young woman now, growing more beautiful every day. Her little nymph-like features made her popular in school, and Xiang Ning thought it was only natural. He fished out five hundred dollars for her. 

Xiang Xiaoyu froze, then hurriedly declined. “I don’t need that much.” 

“Don’t worry, just take it. I’ve recently earned much more, and I’m already a martial artist. Money comes much easier now. Plus, I’ve already agreed to buy you a set of spiritual armor—do you really think this small amount would make a difference?” He grinned. Xiang Ning was a frugal man, even asking for a few more scallions when he bought vegetables, but he was never stingy in the wrong places and would never make Xiang Xiaoyu feel the pinch. 

Xiang Xiaoyu hung her head. She didn’t even need so much money for a day out, but her brother cared for her and even felt it was too little. If he didn’t think she would decline his offer, he would have given her a thousand dollars. Qiling Academy was filled with hidden rich kids, you’d hit one if you threw a brick at a random passerby. He didn’t want Xiang Xiaoyu to be cast aside because of money. She was his little princess, the meaning of his life. 

Xiang Xiaoyu took the five hundred dollars, her little hands clutching it tight. Although he didn’t say much, she felt the love. She looked up with tears welling up and smiled. “Thank you, big brother.” 

“Mm, let’s eat. I’ll cook a feast for you tonight.” He smiled. 

“Right, I have something for you.” Xiang Xiaoyu leapt off her chair and ruffled through her bag, carefully taking out two spirit stones. 

“Ning, this is for you.” Xiang Xiaoyu put two stones the size of goose eggs in front of Xiang Ning. He was stunned—spirit stones? 

“My school gave them to me as a reward,” said Xiang Xiaoyu, a little delighted with herself. She looked adorable. 

Xiang Ning regarded his little sister, still unable to understand how she had more than thirty Mental Power at such a young age. However, he was sure that she must be at the top of her class—how else would she be rewarded with Spirit Stones? He wanted to raise her well. Looks like he would have to find out more about her strengths. 

“It’s fine, have you forgotten that I’m a miner? Your job is to improve your cultivation. Plus, Uncle Zhao left me two stones the last time I visited.” He pointed at his bag. 

Xiang Xiaoyu stubbornly kept her hands outstretched. His heart softened and he took one, then reached out to pinch her cheek. “Since when have you been this stubborn?” 

She broke out into a grin, overjoyed. Perhaps these were the simple joys of life, shared between two siblings. 

After their meal, Xiang Xiaoyu left. Her meeting point with her friends was quite far away so she had to leave earlier. He gave her a few reminders and told her to call if she needed anything. 

Xiang Ning watched as she left until he could no longer see her, then returned inside. He looked at the spirit stone, then took out another two from his bag. Other than combat, he could only further strengthen his physical body through spiritual qi. He hadn’t used spirit stones before and was very curious. This was a good chance for him to find out how effective they were. 

He sat in the lotus position on his bed and held the three stones in his palm. He activated the Advanced Breathing Technique, which allowed him to breathe two or three times quicker, as well as absorb spiritual qi two to three times faster. If absorbing spiritual qi from the air was the equivalent of mist, then spirit stones were a river. 

Five seconds later. 

Level: Tier one, six-star martial artist (215/3000) +20 

When the three stones were empty, he had four hundred more cultivation points, having gained more than a hundred points per stone. Not exactly worth it. He rubbed his chin. To be honest, it was a good experience to just be wasteful for a bit. Although the three stones had only given him four hundred points—what if he wasn’t a martial artist? Or what if he was only one-star? But this was the equivalent of burning money, so he couldn’t afford to do it often. Xiang Ning picked up his tools and bag and left as usual. 

There were many people huddled together in discussion outside the mines, so Xiang Ning approached, puzzled. 

“Uncle Li, did something happen?” Xiang Ning pulled a middle-aged man aside. 

“Old Zhang went to mine as usual, today, but apparently there was a tunnel that had been dug open, so he went inside and soon ran out claiming he’d seen a strange creature,” said Uncle Li. 

Xiang Ning was surprised—wasn’t that also where he had seen the Savage Sand Rat? Was there another beast inside? 

“Thank you, Uncle Li, I’ll check it out.” Xiang Ning squeezed through the crowd to enter the cave. 

He had only taken two steps when he was stopped by a familiar voice. “Ning, what’re you doing? Come here,” rang Uncle Zhao’s voice. 

“Uncle Zhao, I’ll be fine. I just want to take a look, I’ll be out in a second,” Xiang Ning said with a smile, running in. When Uncle Zhao saw him entering, he hesitated, then followed him. What a stubborn kid.

Xiang Ning rushed to the mouth of the tunnel where he had fought the Savage Sand Rat. Its mouth was much bigger than before; this was the right place. Where did this tunnel lead to? Why was there a fearsome beast inside? 

Initially, Xiang Ning had merely wanted to check it out, but then he realized he could mine for spirit stones and fight beasts here. Beasts gave him many more Fury Points than humans. 

He missed the rat. He should have kept it as a pet.