I can see experience bars after being transported to another world.

"Captain Lu, could you please step in and ask this knight to lend a hand?" He bent down slightly. "The reward is negotiable. It's just that the town is poor and can't afford much. Please bear with me."

Lu Yuan did not respond immediately, but turned to look at the Blue Knight.

The Blue Knight sat upright to the side, holding a teacup in his hands, sipping his tea slowly.

"Blue Knight, what's up? Do you need help?" Lu Yuan asked.

"Yes," the Blue Knight said decisively. "Blackwell Town is a contact point set up by the academy on the only route. It's only right and wrong to help."

The old man rubbed his hands together with delight upon hearing the Blue Knight's reply.

"Let's eat first tonight! That thing likes to come out at night, so after dinner, we can make our move!"

"It comes out at night?" Lu Yuan seized on this question.

"Yes, every single time." The old man nodded. "It's completely silent during the day. But as soon as it gets dark, the bottom of the well becomes lively; it likes to come out."

This is a good time for the two of them to rest.

They've been traveling for so long, they really deserve a break.

Of course, Lu Yuan also had other plans in mind.

If even the Blue Knights can't handle it, then what's the point? Just run away.

With the timer in hand, I'll be fast enough to run. I'll add the timer to the Blue Knight and have her carry me, it'll feel like flying.

Even if it's at the fifth rank, it probably won't survive.

There's nothing to worry about.

Upon hearing their agreement, the old man immediately ordered the two young night watchmen to go and prepare the evening's meal.

It's getting late.

Lu Yuan took the opportunity to inquire about the situation on the Empire's side.

"When did that thing appear? What does it look like? What's the logic behind its actions?"

The old man explained everything one by one.

That thing was accidentally unearthed by a miner when they arrived at the new mine and dug deep into the ground.

He dug a hole, threw a torch down to check it out, and then left it there.

After that, strange things started to happen.

"This thing looks like a section of ore vein, all black and shiny. It's like those coal ore pieces pieced together, a bit like an insect, but extremely large and very hard. When our crossbow bolts hit it, they only left a few white marks."

"I can't figure out exactly how it moves. It just comes out at night and catches and eats whatever it can."

"At first, we could manage to keep it at bay. But later, we just couldn't muster the energy, and it seemed to be getting bigger and bigger, so everyone got a little scared."

"Our Night Watch branch, sigh, only has four people." The old man sighed. "I'm a second-tier extraordinary being, and the other three young men are all just starting out as extraordinary beings. So there's nothing we can do."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yuan understood.

"Where do you sell all the coal you mine?" he asked again. "You can't keep it all for your own combustion, can you?"

"We sold it to Raven City," the old man said, looking at Lu Yuan. "It's a city to the north, not too far from here. All our coal is supplied to that city. According to the usual practice, right after the coal was delivered, now is the time to purchase winter supplies and mine some more coal for our own use. But then this mess happened. Sigh."

The Blue Knight listened silently without interrupting or speaking.

She seemed to really enjoy the tea here.

A small section of black plant root was soaking inside, and when you drank it, it had a strangely sweet taste.

As the two were talking, dinner was served.

The stewed fish and some kind of unidentified meat were sprinkled with a rare type of chili pepper.

Lu Yuan's eyes lit up as he looked at the bright red food in front of him.

You know, since he came into this world, he doesn't seem to have eaten anything spicy, except for that alcohol.

"This is a local specialty," the old man explained. "It's stewed with fish from the nearby river and snowbird meat. You should try it, and after you've eaten, take a rest. It'll probably be time for you to step in."

Lu Yuan and the Blue Knight didn't stand on ceremony; they lowered their heads and began eating the food in front of them.

This thing does resemble chili peppers, but it has a numbing sensation, and it tastes pretty good in the mouth.

It's perfect for eating in cold places; it will warm you up nicely.

Lu Yuan ate a large bowl of food, which was quite unusual for him.

The Blue Knight seemed to really enjoy it, finishing all the food in front of him and even asking for an extra loaf of bread.

After that, the old man went to get some more firewood and added it to the fireplace.

Time passed slowly until the sky darkened.

It's time.

On the way to the mine, the old man and a young night watchman accompanied Lu Yuan and the Blue Knight.

Along the way, the townspeople surrounded the procession.

"Captain, is there really no way?"

"My husband heard noises coming from the bottom of the well again yesterday!"

"The child's father who disappeared up ahead, we still haven't found his body. What are we going to do?"

The old man shouted at the top of his lungs, "Stop arguing! We've got reinforcements! An adult from the Knight Academy and a captain from Bronze City. We'll take care of this tonight!"

A buzz of excitement rose from the crowd, and all eyes turned to Lu Yuan and the Blue Knight.

"My lords, we're counting on you!"

"Please, please get rid of that thing! My cow went missing the day before yesterday!"

Lu Yuan and the Blue Knight were surrounded and walked forward.

Since they had promised to help Heijing Town, they naturally wouldn't go back on their word.

Lu Yuan simply nodded, pushed through the crowd, and continued forward.

There are two mines in Heijing Town.

The old mine is quite far from the town, and the ore inside has been almost completely mined out, leaving it in a semi-abandoned state.

The accident happened at the newly opened mine, which had a thicker coal seam and better coal quality; the whole town was pinning its hopes on it.

The mine entrance was on the hillside, a shaft slanted into the mountainside and framed with wood.

Stones and rough timber were piled up at the entrance, forming a makeshift barricade that completely blocked the opening.

A night watchman and two strong men were standing guard at the cave entrance, each holding a torch.

The stones on both sides of the mouth were blackened by the flames.

The night watchman saw the newcomer and immediately went forward.

"Captain, are we getting ready to go down into the mine?"

The old man nodded: "Yes, that's right. Open up this mine."

The night watchman and the two men hesitated for a moment, but still moved the barricades aside to create a gap, revealing a mine shaft large enough for one person to pass through.

Although the mine entrance was pitch black, it was actually emitting a cool breeze.

There was some kind of newly condensed frost hanging on the edge of the cave entrance.

Lu Yuan glanced at it a few more times.

Logically, since the mine leads deep underground, there should be steam rising from the well.

Frosting is clearly not right.

But since there's no hint in the gray text, it doesn't matter.