His uncle Stuart was a friendly and affable man, towering in height, and had managed to win the heart of a stunningly beautiful woman whom he had married. They had a daughter who happened to be a year older than Kevin. Despite their close bond, Kevin hadn't had much opportunity to spend time with them since his father's passing. However, he had hoped to see them today, only to discover that they were not at home, having already left for their daily routines.
Kevin's aunt, Esmeralda, worked as a teacher at a primary school, while his cousin was still attending school, now in her final year. Kevin was also in school but dropped off to focus on working at the store.
"Don't worry, kiddo. It's not that hard of a job there. You'll get used to it with time and grow stronger," reassured Uncle Stuart, as they both sat in a well-armored bus along with numerous other workers. The workers were dressed in long, grey uniforms resembling those worn by mechanics, and their muscular frames spoke of their physically demanding work in the mines.
Among the workers, Kevin's eyes were particularly drawn to the presence of some strong, muscular women. The sight was like a magnetic attraction to him. Romireo, noticing Kevin's fascination, couldn't resist teasing him about it.
Romireo nudged Kevin with a mischievous grin on his face. "Hey there, Kevin, seems like you've got a keen eye for the muscular ladies, huh? Maybe you should join them in their daily workout sessions!"
Romireo was a friend of his uncle's who also worked at mine and Kevin had known him because he lived near their house.
Kevin's cheeks turned a shade of crimson as he stammered, "N-No, it's not like that! I was just... um, admiring their strength, you know, as fellow workers!"
Romireo burst into laughter, his booming voice echoing through the bus. "Oh, Kevin, don't worry. We're all just having a bit of fun here. But hey, who knows? Maybe one of those strong women will catch your eye, and you'll be doing push-ups together in no time!"
"Hey, he's just a kid. Don't tease him," Stuart interjected, coming to Kevin's defense as he noticed the blush on his nephew's face. Kevin himself was unsure why he was blushing and feeling drawn to the muscular women.
He pondered if it was simply a result of teenage hormones kicking in. In his previous life as a teenager, he had experienced similar attractions, but as he grew older, such tendencies had waned, no longer holding the same appeal. After all, he no longer needed to ogle at women's bodies when they were paying him to admire them.
"I was just having some harmless fun, and it seems our little Kevin wanted to join in as well, right?" Romireo playfully remarked, his gaze fixed on Kevin.
Stuart glanced at Kevin, observing the lingering blush on his face but chose not to comment on it. Instead, he simply stated, "Let him focus on his work for now."
As they arrived at the mines located just outside the city, Kevin noticed the presence of heavily armored soldiers stationed there. Their purpose was to protect the workers from potential monster attacks and other dangerous creatures that lurked beyond the city walls. While Kevin had only seen monsters on the news, their terrifying appearances were etched in his memory.
Filled with concern, Kevin turned to his uncle and asked, "Uncle, won't monsters attack us here? I've heard they often target the city, but there are powerful cultivators who defend against them."
"Why wouldn't they attack when they see such delicious humans around?" Romario chimed in mischievously, earning a playful glare from Stuart.
"Monsters do pose a threat at times, but there's no need to worry. This mine is heavily guarded by skilled cultivators who ensure our safety," Stuart reassured Kevin, handing him a pickaxe from a nearby pile.
After waiting in line for about 15 minutes, they reached the checkpoint where a female miner was responsible for checking everyone's identity cards. As Kevin's turn approached, he couldn't help but notice the woman's appraising gaze scanning him from head to toe.
"Well, well, what do we have here? A fresh face," the woman, named Sia, remarked with a playful smile. "A fish from the clear lake, huh? How did you end up diving into this murky water?"
Confused by her metaphorical question, Kevin looked to his uncle for guidance. Sensing the situation, Stuart stepped in and introduced Kevin, "This is my nephew, Sia. He's starting work here today."
"I see," Sia replied, her brown skin glowing with a mischievous grin. She turned her attention back to Stuart and continued, "So, you've finally decided to introduce a family member to me. Is your wife okay with this?" Her suggestive smile mirrored those Kevin had only seen on the faces of women with a certain reputation. The exact word to describe them would be "sluts".
"Hey Sia, don't you have something better to do than trying to break up happy homes and disrupt beds?" Romerio interjected, a mischievous smile dancing on his face.
Sia's smile faltered for a moment as annoyance flashed across her features. She glared at Romerios and retorted, "Oh please, Romerios. You should focus on your own affairs instead of meddling in mine."
Romerios chuckled and shrugged nonchalantly. "Just looking out for the well-being of others, you know. Can't have you causing trouble everywhere you go."
Sia huffed in response, a mix of irritation and amusement evident in her eyes. "Well, keep your watchful eye elsewhere then. I have work to do."
With that, the banter came to an end, and the group continued their journey into the mine, leaving Sia behind with a lingering sense of irritation and Romerio with a satisfied smirk.
As they left Sia behind, Kevin couldn't help but ponder over his upcoming cultivation journey, which essentially meant engaging in intimate relations with women. Initially, he had contemplated earning some cash and visiting a brothel to fulfill his needs. However, after observing Sia conversing with other miners and showcasing her muscular yet provocative physique, a new idea began to form in his mind.
'Why pay when you can have it for free?' Kevin chuckled to himself, contemplating the allure of cultivating with women in the mining community. The idea of engaging in intimate encounters without the need for financial transactions sparked a mischievous grin on his face.
[Spiritite stone detected 12 meters away.]