Ore Vein Unsealed, Mining Resumes

"Yang Ling, after today, I, Zhang Wei, don't owe you anything anymore."

Zhang Wei waved with a smile and turned to leave.

Yang Ling watched his retreating back: "You've screwed me over twice. The benefits I got from you only cancel out one of those. You still owe me one."

Zhang Wei's steps faltered for a moment, then he hurried off without acknowledging Yang Ling.

Back at the wooden hut.

Yang Ling continued training in Collapse Mountain Fist and Vajra Mingwang Technique.

The next day.

His Collapse Mountain Fist proficiency rose by another twenty-odd points.

Vajra Mingwang Technique's Experience Points also reached: 40.

Not far from the 100 Points needed for First Glimpse of the Door.

He stepped out and headed toward the mine entrance, planning to check if it was unsealed yet.

But halfway there, he ran into Zhang Wei again.

"Why haven't you left yet?"

Yang Ling smirked: "Can't bear to part with the Fire Crystal Rock Ore? Trying to level up here?"

"You think I want to stay?"

Zhang Wei's face darkened. He glanced toward the mine entrance, his eyes heavy with solemn wariness.

"A steward from Mountain River Sect has arrived. His rank is higher than Supervisor Wu and Steward Niu."

Zhang Wei said in a low voice: "This steward has ordered that no miner is allowed to leave."

"What happened?"

Yang Ling's mind stirred, though he already knew the answer.

"Who knows."

Zhang Wei replied absently.

Yang Ling guessed he was afraid of his connection to Zhang Hao being exposed.

Just then, a Mine Guard walked toward them.

Zhang Wei, feeling guilty, immediately slipped away.

"Yang Ling? Supervisor Wu wants you to come over. Follow me."

The Mine Guard called out.

"Me? What for?"

Yang Ling was taken aback.

The Mine Guard said impatiently: "Why ask so many questions? Just come with me."

"Yes, yes, of course."

Yang Ling nodded repeatedly and followed him toward the mine entrance.

Zhang Wei watched this scene, somewhat surprised: "They're looking for Yang Ling? What does Supervisor Wu want with him?"

He couldn't figure it out, but he still felt relieved.

As long as it wasn't him they were after.

He believed the other party wasn't foolish enough to expose Collapse Mountain Fist.

At the mine, in front of Mine Tunnel No. 1.

The bodies of Fifth Brother and the others had already been dug up, laid out side by side at the tunnel entrance.

Having been dead for days, their corpses had begun to rot, giving off a foul stench.

Yang Ling saw this from a distance and couldn't help but take a deep breath.

Had Supervisor Wu called him over because he'd found something?

"Right now, I have 11 Points of strength. Using Collapse Mountain Fist adds 3 more, but then I can't hold the Steel Pickaxe, so my strength caps at 14 Points."

"Vajra Mingwang Technique hasn't reached First Glimpse of the Door yet. I'm still far from being a match for Supervisor Wu."

Yang Ling's thoughts raced, a thin sheen of cold sweat forming on his palms.

But as he got closer, he noticed not only Wu Que and Steward Niu were there, but also Captain Lin and that Master Huìnéng.

There was also a young man in white robes embroidered with mountain and river patterns, chatting and laughing with Huìnéng, though his expression carried a hint of fawning.

"Supervisor Wu, Yang Ling has been brought."

The Mine Guard said respectfully.

Supervisor Wu nodded slightly, his gaze landing on Yang Ling:

"Yang Ling, do you know who the corpse on the ground is?"

A flicker of fear crossed Yang Ling's eyes as he glanced at the body, then quickly shook his head:

"I can't recognize them."

It was already rotting—how could he easily tell who it was.

"It's Fifth Brother."

Supervisor Wu said flatly: "As far as I know, you're the only one he's had a grudge with lately."

"What!? It's Fifth Brother!?"

Yang Ling stumbled back a few steps in terror.

Huìnéng and the young man, who had been observing him, nodded thoughtfully in response.

"Master Huìnéng, it seems these miners were all killed by the Prisoner Butcher."

The young man said in a grave tone: "The Prisoner Butcher likely hid the Gui Bao Temple's Buddhist Sutra in Mine Tunnel No. 1.

I'll have men dig three feet deep if needed to find that sutra."

"If we can find it, that would be best. Benefactor Wang, please give this matter your full attention."

Huìnéng pressed his palms together.

"You're too kind, Master."

The young man smiled: "What concerns Ku Jue Temple concerns the Mountain River Sect!"

With that, he turned to Supervisor Wu:

"Transfer your most skilled miners to Mine Tunnel No. 1 and have them dig hard for half a month. If they find the lost Buddhist Sutra from Ku Jue Temple, you'll be credited for it!"

"Yes, Senior Brother Wang."

Supervisor Wu immediately clasped his fist and bowed.

"Master Huìnéng, Supervisor Wu and his men sealed off the ore vein as soon as they noticed this anomaly, and they've been diligent about it. Nothing will go wrong with him handling it.

Let's head to Qingshan City for a while and wait for news."

The young man smiled.

Now that Yang Ling realized he was no longer in danger, he quietly glanced at the young man's attributes:

Character: Wang Jing

Profession: Martial Artist

Strength: 19

Agility: 10

Spirit: 5

Martial Arts: Mountain River Drawing Sword Technique (Entering the Hall and Room), Black Tiger Fist (Entering the Hall and Room), Iron Skin Technique (Mastery Through Practice)

Faction: Mountain River Sect

Three martial arts! Two at Entering the Hall and Room!

"So this is the difference between a Mountain River Sect disciple and Wu Que. Definitely much stronger than Wu Que, probably a notch below Huìnéng."

Yang Ling thought to himself.

"Benefactor Wang Jing, let's just stay in the Miner's Village and wait for news. Qingshan City is thirty li away—going back and forth would be inconvenient."

Huìnéng smiled.

"The Miner's Village, huh... I suppose that works."

Wang Jing seemed a bit disdainful of the Miner's Village's conditions, but since Huìnéng had spoken, he couldn't very well object.

He gave a few instructions to Wu Que, then personally led Huìnéng and Captain Lin away.