Dim tunnel filled with White Lotus cultists, torches flickering.

The tunnel twisted and turned, stretching endlessly, teeming with insects and ants. Cold, muddy water dripped intermittently, sliding down their collars and into their spines, chilling them to the core.

The only saving grace was the tunnel's spaciousness. They didn't have to crawl on their hands and knees, but could walk four abreast, watching out for one another.

Clang—

A loud noise echoed from the depths of the tunnel, its distance unclear.

It sounded like a group of people approaching,

or perhaps some colossal monster breathing slowly.

The White Lotus members instinctively stopped, exchanging fearful glances.

They had been pursued by the Wu Virtue Guards above ground,

and had wandered the dark tunnel below for who knew how long, exhausted, hungry, and weary.

Their former arrogance and ruthlessness, their disregard for human life, had been completely worn away.

"Don't worry,"

Song Jie said softly, "This tunnel has a peculiar structure that distorts sound and carries it over long distances.

The sound probably isn't coming from nearby."

To prove his point, Song Jie stepped out of the line, took a deep breath, opened his mouth wide, and shouted loudly,

while rapidly patting his mouth with his hand,

making a staccato "Ah-ah-ah-ah-" sound.

After a few moments, a faint, indistinct "Ah-ah-ah-ah-" echo reverberated through the tunnel.

"See?"

Song Jie turned around and said calmly, "I told you everything was fine."

Are you a child?! How childish.

The White Lotus members were speechless.

"Hoo..."

The white-browed elder slowly exhaled, rising from the ground.

He clutched a writing brush in his hand—he had been using it to mark the way, preventing them from forgetting the path back.

"Young Master, we've been walking underground for about half an hour, and we still haven't found a way out,"

the white-browed elder frowned. "Perhaps we should send a few capable men back the way we came to see if the Wu Virtue Guards are pursuing us.

The rest of us can rest here for a while and regain our strength..."

"Hmm..."

Gongyang Han glanced at Song Jie, "Chief Song, what do you think?"

Song Jie nodded and said, "The Wu Virtue Guard's Embroidered Uniform Guards shouldn't be able to catch up for a while. We can let the brothers rest first.

I even have a set of Xiangqi (Chinese chess) here. If you're bored, we can play a game or two."

With that, he actually took out a set of Xiangqi from his pocket,

brandishing it in front of Gongyang Han as if showing it off, tapping the iron chessboard with his knuckles. "This chessboard is made of refined iron.

When I'm free, I can take it out and play with people anytime, anywhere.

In battle, I can stuff the chessboard in my chest and use it as armor to defend against swords and spears.

If necessary, I can also take out the four embedded iron pipes from the bottom of the chessboard and use them as stools.

It's a multi-functional item that's essential for burning, killing, looting, and traveling."

"..."

Gongyang Han's eyelid twitched as he heard the Xiaosheng (bookworm) beside him add, "Young Master, you may not know this, but our Chief Song may look honest and simple,

but he's actually meticulous and ingenious.

His dream since childhood has been to become a scientist like Song Yingxing Song Chang Geng,

summarizing the agricultural and handicraft creations that have appeared in the Central Plains over thousands of years,

from machinery, bricks, tiles, ceramics, and ironware,

to candles, paper, spinning, weaving, and farming,

recording their manufacturing processes, innovating, improving technology, upgrading industries, compiling all the knowledge into a book, printing it for free, and disseminating it throughout the Central Plains,

so that the masses can master the technology, start their own businesses, and support themselves.

This multi-functional iron chessboard is something that Chief Song made in his spare time as an inventor."

Song Jie quickly waved his hand and said with a simple and honest smile, "Don't talk nonsense. Song is just tinkering with small gadgets in his spare time, far from being called an inventor."

"Why should Chief Song be so modest?"

Xiaosheng shook his head and cupped his fist at Gongyang Han, "Young Master, Chief Song has actually secretly created a large number of inventions, waiting for the right opportunity to put them into commercial use,

which can both raise funds for him to publish his books,

and raise funds for our White Lotus Holy Church."

Gongyang Han really didn't want to respond, but Song Jie stared at him with wide eyes, so he had no choice but to ask, "Then what inventions does Chief Song have?"

"Since Young Master has sincerely asked, then I will respectfully tell you,"

Song Jie said modestly, "As the saying goes, our body, hair, and skin are received from our parents. People all over the world use either clean water or Gleditsia sinensis (Chinese honeylocust) and Hibiscus mutabilis (Confederate rose) leaves to wash their hair.

However, washing hair for too long can easily cause a cold.

I have invented an automatic hair washing machine, the overall shape of which is a water bucket with a vertical iron bracket.

When washing hair, people can be bound upside down on the iron frame, allowing only their head to be submerged in the water,

and the iron frame is connected to a water mill. As long as donkeys or horses drive the water mill, the iron frame can rotate automatically.

The hair washer is driven by the iron frame, and the whole person, along with their head, rotates rapidly in the water bucket, quickly washing their hair clean.

Does Young Master think this invention has the potential for commercial use?"

"..."

Gongyang Han closed his eyes and imagined the scene of the automatic hair washing machine, immediately classifying it as a torture device.

But considering that he still needed to rely on Song Jie, he had to grit his teeth and say, "It's pretty good..."

"Then does Young Master have any ideas about investing in a franchise?"

Song Jie said eagerly, "In the early stage, as long as you invest three thousand strings of cash, you can hire a blacksmith to build the first batch of products for use, and Song is willing to give out 90% of the money earned."

Heh, whatever makes you happy.

Gongyang Han just wanted to leave the underground, and reluctantly nodded and agreed, "After we get out, go to the bank to get the money."

"Young Master is indeed generous!"

Song Jie praised and flattered, "From now on, the mountain is a mountain, the river is a river, touching my Young Master is like hitting rock bottom,

my man, my king, my man, the king of kings."

Where did you learn these words? You used to seem pretty normal?

Gongyang Han didn't know how to complain, so he could only smile stiffly.

Song Jie pressed his advantage and continued to promote his products,

such as reusable toilet paper made of rusty iron sheets,

running and fitness boots with nails embedded in the soles,

and coffins made of special wood that would automatically expand and push out of the ground in the second year, leading to official promotion and wealth.

Listening to all of this made Gongyang Han's head ache.