Mining Dispute

In the wooden cabin, Yang Ling began sorting through his belongings.

Four Detoxification Pills.

Four bottles of Healing Ointment.

Five Buns.

One Steel Pickaxe.

About fifteen taels of silver remaining.

He tucked the silver close to his body, hung a few Cloth Bags from his waist to hold the Detoxification Pills, Healing Ointment, and Buns.

Then he secured the Steel Pickaxe at his waist before stepping out of the cabin.

"Brother Yang!"

Chen Xu, drenched in sweat, came looking for him:

"I finally found you."

"What happened?"

Yang Ling's expression shifted.

The other party wouldn't be this anxious when he was just hungry.

"It's... Brother Chen and the others—they're in trouble!"

Chen Xu said with a bitter smile: "I know you have some sway in the mine, Brother Yang. Could you help them out?"

Yang Ling was silent for a moment, then said:

"Talk as we walk."

Chen Xu breathed a sigh of relief. Since the other party was willing to help, things should be easier to resolve.

On the way, after a brief explanation from Chen Xu, Yang Ling roughly understood what had happened.

A mining dispute.

He had seen plenty of these when he first arrived.

They still occurred from time to time.

After all, Fire Crystal Rock meant Copper Coins, which meant food, drink, and shelter.

Whoever found the Fire Crystal Rock first got to mine it—that was the consensus.

But this time, Lin Guoliang and his girlfriend had broken that rule.

The two of them, along with a few other Miners, had discovered a patch of Fire Crystal Rock on the surface around the same time.

Judging by the amount, it was quite substantial.

But strictly speaking, the other Miners had spotted it first.

Lin Guoliang and his girlfriend Wu Meng then egged on the other West Position Players to fight them for the Fire Crystal Rock.

In the end, a conflict broke out. Most of the Miners stuck to the rules.

Naturally, they stepped in to help, which led to Lin Guoliang and his six people getting beaten up.

Their injuries ranged from light to severe. Even the Mine Guard felt they were in the wrong and didn't intervene.

Finally, that Officer Chen rushed over. To protect Lin Guoliang and the others, he was struck by a pickaxe in the chaos, leaving him bleeding from the head.

Chen Xu knew he couldn't handle this alone. The group of Miners was still furious, and without someone with face to speak up, there was no way they'd calm down.

That's why he came to find him.

"That friend of yours is Lin Guoliang, right?"

Yang Ling said.

Chen Xu nodded: "That's right."

"He's got some screws loose in his head. You'd better keep your distance from him from now on."

Yang Ling warned.

Chen Xu thought of something, a flash of anger in his eyes, then slowly nodded:

"Brother Yang, I'll listen to you. After this, I won't bother with him anymore."

Yang Ling felt a bit relieved.

This kid took advice well. At least in a place like the Divine Domain, he should be able to survive a while longer.

He glanced at Chen Xu's Attribute Panel:

Character: Chen Xu

Occupation: Miner

Level: 4

Strength: 6

Agility: 3

Spirit: 2

Health Points: 60

"Level 4? Figuring when they arrived, that means he's been mining hard. He knows he can level up and boost his Strength Attribute, so he hasn't been slacking off."

Yang Ling's mind stirred.

By then, the two of them had already reached the mine entrance.

Steward Niu sat leisurely at the entrance. Spotting Yang Ling and Chen Xu, he lifted his eyelids:

"Yang Ling, you want to meddle in that? Those newcomers don't know the rules—they deserve what they get.

Getting burned is good. It'll teach them how to survive in the Fire Crystal Mine from now on."

"Steward Niu, I know Lin Guoliang and the others messed up. I'm just worried it might turn deadly. Let me go talk some sense into them."

Yang Ling smiled as he stated his stance.

Only then did Steward Niu nod slightly.

He was afraid the guy would provoke those miners.

Not far off, the miners had formed a thick circle several layers deep.

Many other miners stood nearby watching the excitement, taking a break.

But more miners were busy working for pay, unwilling to be distracted.

"You little bastards, been here a few days and you're already trying to steal our mine!?"

A middle-aged miner pointed at Lin Guoliang and the others, cursing in fury.

Lin Guoliang and his girlfriend looked terrified, anxiously glancing around in all directions.

The other four newcomers also huddled together, some trembling, some crying.

They were covered in footprints, faces dusty, with many scrapes and bruises—clearly beaten badly.

Beside them, Officer Chen sat weakly on the ground, one hand clutching his head.

Blood dripped uncontrollably through his fingers.

Though he was weak and his eyes blurred with blood, he forced himself to stay alert and spoke gently:

"Brothers, these kids don't know any better. Please cut them some slack. They won't dare do it again."

"Won't dare again? Hah."

A lean, wiry young man raised a bloodstained pickaxe, sneering coldly:

"Once is the start of twice. If we don't deal with you properly today, you'll still dare next time!"

"You refugees without even an identity, daring to steal our mine—where'd you get the guts from a bear's heart and leopard's gall?"

"I say, brothers, dig a hole and bury them!"

He began stirring up the nearby miners.

Many miners responded.

The Mine Guards glanced at each other but still didn't intervene.

At a time like this, even if the miners really buried those guys, they wouldn't stop them.

Otherwise, if the miners rioted, the blame would fall on them—they couldn't bear that!

Some miners were already itching to act, looking for a spot to dig.

A flicker of alarm passed through Officer Chen's eyes.

Only at this moment did he truly believe that this game world had no regard for law whatsoever!