Treason and Collusion with the Enemy

In Green Mountain City, Constable Lin was somewhat surprised when he saw Yang Ling.

Especially after learning what had happened at the Red Gold Mine, Constable Lin was even more astonished.

He glanced at Fang Qingyang, whose face was ashen, then at Wang Er. After listening to the testimony of several miners Yang Ling had deliberately brought along, he looked at Yang Ling.

"You took care of that many Red Gold Mantises?"

"Boss, my official saber broke."

Yang Ling smiled bitterly and took out the official saber, which had shattered into several pieces.

Constable Lin looked at the notches on it and nodded with a smile.

"Red Gold Mantises normally feed on Red Gold, supplemented by flesh and blood.

"They spend all day around Red Gold Ore, so their bodies are incredibly tough.

"Your official saber was nothing special. It's normal for it to break.

"Go claim another one later."

"Boss, what will happen to these two?"

Yang Ling asked.

Constable Lin looked at Wang Er and Fang Qingyang and sneered.

"They caused the deaths of ten miners. That's no minor crime."

"By the way, were the dead miners refugees?"

He glanced at Yang Ling.

Yang Ling pondered briefly. "Three were refugees."

"Oh, I see."

Constable Lin immediately ordered,

"Men, throw them into the prison."

Constables immediately stepped forward and dragged Fang Qingyang and Wang Er away.

"For a crime like this, they'll usually be executed after autumn."

"Once they enter the prison, they can forget about coming out alive."

Constable Lin smiled as he played with the Red Gold Ore Essence in his hand.

"Boss, if there's nothing else, I'll go claim an official saber and head back."

Yang Ling clasped his hands.

"Don't rush back. I was just about to send someone to notify you—someone important has come down from above."

Constable Lin said, "They're here to investigate Wu Que."

"What?!"

Yang Ling was slightly startled.

Wasn't Wu Que's matter already over?

Why was the government still getting involved?

"This Wu Que really was an idiot."

Constable Lin sighed softly and glanced at Yang Ling.

"Do you know where he sold the Fire Crystal Ore he embezzled?"

"I don't."

Yang Ling shook his head slightly.

"He sold it to the Rong Tribe in the north!"

Constable Lin sneered. "They're our Zhao Kingdom's mortal enemies, and we've been fighting them for nearly a hundred years.

"An official from the Iron Garment Division happened to discover a cartload of suspicious Fire Crystal Ore in the northern region.

"The evidence points directly at Wu Que of your Mountains and Rivers Sect."

"If he had merely sold it privately to other merchants to make some money, that would've been one thing."

"But treason and collusion with the enemy—that's a serious problem."

Yang Ling drew a sharp breath inwardly.

He hadn't expected Wu Que to have such nerve!

Had Wu Que betrayed the kingdom and colluded with the enemy on his own, or was there something wrong with Yang Zhiwen behind him?

"Boss, will this matter affect the Mountains and Rivers Sect?"

Yang Ling gathered his courage and asked.

His heart kept pounding.

He had only just managed to settle down. He definitely didn't want anything to happen to the Mountains and Rivers Sect!

"What happens specifically depends on finding the person who dealt with Wu Que."

Constable Lin smiled. "Don't worry. The Mountains and Rivers Sect may not have earned much merit over the years, but they've put in plenty of effort.

"As long as they didn't know about this, they won't be implicated too deeply."

Yang Ling immediately felt relieved.

Judging by Constable Lin's tone, it probably wasn't a major problem.

"You're somewhat connected to this matter as well, so stay at the magistrate's office for now. When the Iron Garment Division official arrives tomorrow, come meet him with me."

Constable Lin said.

"Yes."

After leaving Constable Lin, Yang Ling had the miners return to the Red Gold Mine first.

He also told them to inform Chen Xu and the others that he probably would not be returning for the next few days.

Mining operations would be put on hold for now.

That night, Yang Ling stayed in a rest room at the magistrate's office.

Since he was alone, he could cultivate the Vajra Wisdom King Art.

After finishing that, he continued practicing the Bandit-Catching Saber Technique.

The next morning, Yang Ling went out to buy breakfast.

Steamed buns, fried dough sticks, and soy milk.

He ate as he walked toward the magistrate's office.

Suddenly, his vision darkened.

A huge figure blocked his path.

"Yang Ling?"

The other man looked down at Yang Ling from above.

Yang Ling continued eating his bun, took a sip of soy milk, and calmly opened the man's status panel.

Name: Wu Man

Class: Martial Artist

Strength: 31

Agility: 12

Spirit: 7

Martial Arts: Mountain-Crushing Fist (Advanced Mastery)

Black Tiger Fist (Advanced Mastery)

Iron-Mixing Art (Complete Integration)

Faction: Giant Spirit Sect

"I'm not Yang Ling. You've mistaken me for someone else, haven't you?"

A look of confusion appeared on Yang Ling's face.

"My name is Chen Guoqing."

A savage grin flashed through Wu Man's eyes.

"You're Yang Ling. Are you coming with me now, or should I beat you to death right here?"

"Yang Ling, there you are. Did you go buy breakfast? The boss already had me get some for you."

Old Zhao walked over, greeting him as he came.

"The official from above will be here soon. Let's hurry back and gather."

"Old Zhao, go tell the boss that I ran into an acquaintance. I'll head back a little later."

Yang Ling smiled and clasped his hands.

Old Zhao frowned slightly and gave Wu Man an odd look before nodding.

"Fine, but get back early."

As he walked away, he muttered,

"What a huge guy."

Wu Man narrowed his eyes. Only after Old Zhao had gone far away did he turn back toward Yang Ling.

What met him was the Red Gold Pickaxe!

Vajra Wisdom King Art!

Strength increased by 15 points, agility increased by 15 points!

Red Gold Pickaxe, strength increased by 10 points!

At that moment, Yang Ling's strength reached 36 points!

Higher than Wu Man's!

[Crazy Ten-Strikes]

The Red Gold Pickaxe left behind afterimages!

Wu Man instinctively roared. Muscles bulged all over his body, while a faint gray mist seemed to flow over his skin.

Iron-Mixing Art!

Clang—

The Red Gold Pickaxe struck Wu Man's body with the sound of metal striking metal!

Even so, it still left an extremely deep hole in his body.

After all, all ten strikes of the pickaxe had landed in the same spot!

Yang Ling glanced at Wu Man's status again.

After activating his art, the other man's strength had increased by 7 points!

It had reached 38!

That wasn't the important part. What truly shocked Yang Ling was how tough Wu Man's flesh and skin had become after activating his art.

"My brother died by your hand!"

Wu Man was both furious and shocked.

Your brother?

You're Wu Que's fucking younger brother?!

Without another word, Yang Ling continued swinging the Red Gold Pickaxe, viciously hammering it into Wu Man.

By then, the commotion had already drawn a crowd of onlookers.

Old Zhao, who had not gone far, also stopped in his tracks, uncertain and alarmed.

"Old Zhao, hurry and tell the boss! Wu Que's accomplice has appeared!"

Yang Ling shouted.

Old Zhao's heart jolted, and he hurried toward the magistrate's office!

Seeing this, Yang Ling continued fighting Wu Man.

His strength was currently slightly lower than Wu Man's.

But his agility was higher.

Still, Wu Man's defense was truly astonishing.

For the moment, Yang Ling could not take him down, and Wu Man could not kill him either.

"Tell me, where is my brother's corpse?"

Wu Man gritted his teeth and demanded in a low voice as he unleashed the Mountain-Crushing Fist.

Yang Ling felt as though a mountain were collapsing down upon him.

The other man's Mountain-Crushing Fist had reached Advanced Mastery. It was truly extraordinary!

31 + 7 + 9, 47 points!

His opponent's strength had reached a terrifying 47 points!

I can't let him live, or there'll be too many things I can't explain!

Yang Ling had already made his decision.

"Xiao Bai, blind him when the time comes."