Interstellar Hunting Nation

Chapter 2: Zen Divine Technique

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

Wu Chang and Lion were squatting in front of a pile of waste ore that was as tall as a small mountain. Each of them was holding a small sieve, carefully filtering the ore for treasure: Rainbow Crystals.

“These Rainbow Crystals are a good thing. Although a hexagonal Rainbow Crystal is only as thick as a finger, it’s a key mineral for humanity to enter the spacefaring era.

“To put it simply, this strip-shaped crystal is an energy amplifier. When the energy enters through one end of the crystal, the energy will undergo an exotic amplification depending on the crystal’s length. It’s precisely because of this energy amplification that the space-folding engine can be activated.

“It’s not just the engine. Actually, this crystal has other uses. It’s said that mages can also use it to cast spells. This precious crystal can also amplify the energy of spells.

“Unfortunately, although the production of this crystal is quite large, the material itself is too brittle. It shatters with a light touch, so it’s very difficult to obtain a crystal of sufficient length. Did you know? On our Huang’e, there was once a 39-centimeter-long Rainbow Crystal. Damn, that mine owner was immediately conferred a noble title by the emperor. Tsk, tsk, too awesome.”

The dirty old man, Lion, was obviously a chatterbox. He sat on the ground and looked for the crystals that had been missed in the waste slag while introducing the background of the world to Wu Chang. In a short while, he poured a sieve of slag into the conveyor belt beside him. It seemed that there was nothing in this sieve.

As Wu Chang listened to the old man, he carefully picked out the slag in his hand. In a short while, he actually found something shiny.

Wu Chang pinched the fingernail-sized crystal, and asked, “Huh? Lion, take a look and see if this is a Rainbow Crystal.”

“Aiya, you’re so lucky. It hasn’t even been half an hour, and you’re already getting off to a good start? Not bad, not bad. This piece is worth at least one gold coin.”

“Huh? It’s so small, but it’s still valuable?”

“Nonsense! Don’t despite it just because it’s small. Small things are useful. Space warships need big ones, but ordinary land vehicles naturally need small ones. There are also all kinds of small machines. As long as you use a folding engine, you need Rainbow Crystals.”

Wu Chang held this small crystal in his hand, and his heart suddenly felt very cheerful. It seemed that it was not difficult to survive in this world.

Today’s good mood was only the beginning. After Wu Chang discovered Rainbow Crystals again and again, the dirty old man, Lion, could no longer remain calm. He even exchanged his sieve with Wu Chang’s, but Wu Chang still found the most crystals.

Lion was furious. He snatched the mineral sieve from Wu Chang’s hand, and gave him the slag that he had already filtered.

“Look, I don’t believe you can find crystals here too.”

The result was unexpected. In just 20 minutes, Wu Chang actually picked out another crystal from the waste slag that Lion had already filtered.

The old man finally accepted reality this time. He squatted on the ground and was about to cry. “Teaching a disciple will starve the master. Teaching a disciple will starve the master…”

Wu Chang looked at the old man, and couldn’t bear it. Wu Chang didn’t really lose his memory. It was just that his memory was in a mess, and some important nodes had disappeared. However, he didn’t forget the skills he had mastered, especially the Zen Divine Technique

After learning Zen from his master for seven years, his insight was much higher than that of ordinary people. Not mentioning if he was fully focused, his insight was much higher than that of ordinary people even if Wu Chang was multitasking.

A sieve full of slag might be a vexing portion of rock in the eyes of others, but in Wu Chang’s eyes, there was a subtle difference in field between the fine stones. He could even feel a certain aura among the stones.

The worthless rubble was quickly removed, but the stones that Wu Chang found strange were left behind. When there were fewer and fewer stones left, Wu Chang gave up on using his intuition, and used his naked eye to carefully choose. Soon, he obtained a bright Rainbow Crystal.

Wu Chang looked at the dozen or so Rainbow Crystals of different sizes in his hand, and then at the old man who was squatting on the ground without saying a word. Without much thought, he casually grabbed four or five of them, and stuffed them into his hand.

“You’ve taught me many things. Take this as my thank-you gift for teaching me…”

“Thank-you gift for teaching?” The dirty old man’s eyes suddenly lit up. He’d never thought that there would be someone who could say these five words in this dirty and disorderly barbaric mining area.

The old man did not say anything. He stuffed those several Rainbow Crystals into his arms and pulled Wu Chang back.

“It’s almost noon, let’s go eat, I’ll treat you to a few drinks.”

When Lion walked to the Delivery Center, his neck was raised like that of a victorious rooster. He walked to Smith Pann, who was drunk, and placed the Rainbow Crystals in front of him.

“Look, I’ve had a great harvest today.” After saying that, he looked around and stared provocatively at the surrounding miners.

Boss Pann’s interest was piqued. “Amazing. The dirty old man’s luck is pretty good today. He managed to find five in just one morning. Let me see… Not bad, not bad. This is worth at least three gold coins.” After saying that, he turned around, and said to Aileen, “Mark this down for the dirty old man. He earned 3 gold coins from this.”

To be able to earn three gold coins in one morning made the miners very excited. To these people, the cost of drinking and eating meat three times a day, in addition to sleeping on the duck-down bed in the Delivery Center, was only one gold coin. The dirty old man earning three days’ worth of money in one morning with ease was enough to make people envious.

Immediately, many people asked the old man to treat them to a drink.

“Old Lion, your harvest is so good. Where’s your big disciple? Why don’t you let us broaden our horizons?” Some busybodies in the crowd began to jeer.

At the end of the day, Wu Chang had studied Buddhism with his master for seven years, and so knew that there was no need to be in the limelight. He was about to lie to change the topic, but Old Lion was a little crazy today. He took out the cloth bag from Wu Chang’s arms.

“I’ll broaden your horizons.” After saying that, he shook his hand, and seven Rainbow Crystals fell onto the alloy bar counter, making a crisp and pleasant sound.

“Ah!” everyone exclaimed. Who would have thought that this amnesiac fool could actually find so many Rainbow Crystals in one morning? Furthermore, the largest one was actually the size of a fingernail.

“F*ck, then the largest piece will cost at least one gold coin, right?”

“I think it’s more than that. Two gold coins won’t be a problem.”

Boss Pann ignored the discussions of the people around him. He stared at Wu Chang, and said, “According to the usual price, these crystals of yours are at least five and a half gold coins. However, I can’t be stingy when I see that you’re so lucky on your first job.”

He turned to Aileen and said, “Give this guy… Oh, right, what’s your name?”

“Wu Chang.”

“Oh, Wu Chang. Open an account for Wu Chang. Six gold coins on the first note…”

There were nosy people in the crowd who whistled, and said, “Boss Pann, how impressive. You’re really generous.” A group of people surrounded the boss and flattered him.

Just as everyone was clamoring for Wu Chang to treat them, the airtight door of the distribution center suddenly opened, and a short man walked in with volcanic ash all over his body.

“Ground Mouse[1. This actually also means Diglett from Pokemon haha, but I think this reference is more likely to be accidental, plus I don’t want any copyright scuffles.] Parker, how was your harvest today? You came back after half a day. This is not your usual style.”

Wu Chang also knew the guy called Parker. It was said that he was the most powerful miner in mine B1313. He was short but abnormally agile. He crawled around in the underground caves like he was at home. He was the most high-earning miner in the mine.

Parker glared at Wu Chang, walked to the bar counter, ordered a glass of wine, and finished it. Then, he talked back to Boss Pann provocatively.

“I’ve been listening for a long time. You’re all so envious of a new kid who picked up some scraps. Look at how promising you are.” After saying that, he took out a thick white foam stick from his pocket.

Miners were all knowledgeable. One look at the solid foam, and they knew that there was a treasure inside.

“How long is it? Is it four centimeters long?”

Parker ignored them, and carefully peeled off the layer of elastic solid foam with his pliers. Soon, a Rainbow Crystal that was five centimeters long appeared in front of everyone.

“Damn, it’s so beautiful. It’s actually five centimeters long?”

“Damn, this is the standard for low-Earth orbit battleships. Parker is really rich.”

“Don’t talk. Let’s see what Boss Pann’s price is.”

Smith Pann was also excited. He had not seen such good stuff for more than half a month. After thinking carefully for a long time, he said, “I’ll round it up for you. 300 gold coins, that’s enough…”

The crowd was in an uproar. 300 gold coins was the annual expenditure of a family of three. They did not expect Ground Mouse Parker to earn it in one morning. At that time, people were jealous. A few of them finished the wine in their glasses in one gulp, put on their work clothes, and went to the mine.

At this moment, the dirty old man, Lion, whispered to Wu Chang, “This Ground Mouse Parker’s lifelong dream is to marry Aileen and run this Delivery Center together with her. You were saved by Aileen. He’s jealous.”

As expected, Parker turned around and wagged his tail at Aileen. “Aileen, help me keep this money. We’ll use it together later…”

Wu Chang didn’t have the time to appreciate the intimacy between lovers. He quickly carried a plate of roasted meat with black bread, and walked to his bunk to eat. During this period, other than Lion who poured him wine twice, no one else was interested in him.

Just as the food on Wu Chang’s plate was about to be wiped out, the airtight door opened again. However, it was not a familiar-looking miner this time. Instead, it was a beautiful blonde woman in a sexy outfit with four bodyguards behind her.

Wu Chang was not sure if this woman could be considered a beauty. After all, the freckles on her face and her rough skin were very conspicuous. However, Wu Chang was certain that this woman was definitely the number one beauty in this mining area. This could be seen from the miners’ obvious rough breathing and burning gazes.

That woman was obviously very used to such an atmosphere. It had to feel good to bask in the attention of so many people. She did not notice Aileen’s murderous gaze at all.

“Aiya, why is this place so dirty? Look at how damaged the alloy walls are. Even the circuit boards are exposed.

“There’s also a landscape hanging window. Why is it the oldest model? Are they really so poor?

“Tsk, tsk, 30 percent of the lighting system has been broken, and it’s still not being repaired.”

The woman paced back and forth in the hall as if she had entered an uninhabited place, attracting the gazes of all the animals[2. Figuratively, as in the guys who are in heat and are acting like animals.] in the room.

Aileen stood up, and shouted at the woman, “Blood Rose! What are you doing here? You’re not welcome in this place. Get out…”

The woman called Blood Rose didn’t care about Aileen’s condemnation at all. She continued to walk around the room shamelessly, and even picked on the flaws in the hall. In the end, she sat down beside Boss Pann and spoke to him seductively.

“Boss Pann, you’re a sensible person. Now that the anti-theft operation in Huang’e City is right in front of us, I’m just making preparations in advance for the takeover.” At this point, Blood Rose looked at Aileen disdainfully.

“Sister Aileen, don’t be so angry. If you sell the Delivery Center to me now, you can still earn some money. If you wait for the mine supervisor to confiscate your lousy shop, you will have nothing…”

‘Ah!’ Wu Chang finally understood. Wasn’t this daylight robbery? Using the power of the underworld to forcefully acquire other people’s assets was probably just an excuse to sweep the underworld.

Wu Chang lowered his head. He didn’t want to stand up for others now. However, if he didn’t look for trouble, it would look for him. After Wu Chang swallowed the last mouthful of roasted meat, the Blood Rose actually targeted him.

“No illegal immigrants? No illegal aliens? Do you think I’m stupid? That big guy in the corner, tell me, who is he? Why don’t I know him?”