Yang Jinshan

Early the next morning, Zhou Qi got up.

Pushing open the door, he was met by the crisp, chilly mountain air, carrying a faint scent of earth.

The camp was already bustling. Miners pushed ore carts toward the mine tunnels, while guards patrolled in groups of two and three.

Yang Hong was already waiting. Seeing Zhou Qi emerge, he stepped forward. "Elder Zhou, what are the arrangements for today?"

Zhou Qi said, "Let's take a look at our mine pit first."

Yang Hong nodded. "All right, I'll accompany you."

The two headed toward the eastern district.

Yang Jinshan popped out from who knew where and followed behind them, with a steamed bun still clamped between his teeth.

The mine tunnels in the eastern district were far larger than those in the western district. Their entrances were braced with thick timber, and inside was pitch-black. Miners constantly pushed carts in and out.

The carts were piled high with black ore, heavy enough to leave deep ruts in the ground beneath their wheels.

Zhou Qi walked up to an ore cart and bent down to pick up a piece of ore.

The ore was the size of a fist, black all over, with a faint metallic sheen on its surface. It was heavy in his hand, and its icy chill pierced to the bone.

The system panel popped up:

[Item: Black Iron Ore]

[Grade: Mortal-tier, low-grade]

[Use: Can be refined into black iron for forging weapons and tools]

Zhou Qi put the ore back and dusted off his hands.

Yang Hong explained from the side, "This is raw ore just extracted from the mine. It still has to be sorted, crushed, and smelted before it becomes black iron."

"Out of a hundred jin of raw ore, getting ten jin of black iron would already be considered good."

Zhou Qi nodded and looked into the mine tunnel.

The light from the entrance only reached a short way inside. Beyond that lay utter darkness. He could vaguely make out figures moving about, along with the sound of pickaxes striking stone walls.

Just then, several miners pushed empty carts out of the tunnel.

Zhou Qi's gaze settled on them.

They were several men so thin they were little more than skin and bones. They wore ragged hemp clothes stained with sweat and ore dust. Their faces were sallow, their eye sockets deeply sunken, their lips cracked. Their steps were unsteady, as though they might collapse at any moment.

One of the younger ones staggered while pushing his cart and nearly fell. The person beside him hurriedly supported him. The two exchanged a glance without saying a word, then continued onward.

Following Zhou Qi's gaze, Yang Hong sighed. "They're all poor people. They only came to the mines to earn a bite to eat. A day's work gets them five copper coins, two steamed buns, and a bowl of porridge. It's tiring, but still better than starving to death."

Zhou Qi withdrew his gaze, nodded, and said nothing.

Yang Jinshan burst out laughing beside him. "What's so bad about that? At least they're free. Isn't that far better than being Medicine Humans?"

Yang Hong grew awkward at once and could only pretend not to hear.

This was a core secret of the Yang Residence, yet that fool had blurted it out as a joke.

But Zhou Qi's heart tightened, and he swept a cold gaze over Yang Jinshan, who was still laughing beside him.

That was simply how Yang Jinshan was. If he acknowledged you, you were a person. If he did not, you were not even worth as much as an ant on the ground.

Medicine Humans were no different in his eyes. He looked down on them; even if their blood was drained dry, it had nothing to do with him.

No, it was not just Yang Jinshan. Yang Mingyuan, Yang Yuanshan, Yang Zhenshan—even everyone in this world was like this.

There was no such thing as equality for all here.

There was only the law of the jungle, where the weak were prey to the strong.

If you were weak, then being refined into a Medicine Human was only natural.

Zhou Qi thought of Zhang Hu, of those faces lying in the Medicine Human cellar.

Was it tragic?

Tragic! But in this world, there were countless things even more tragic than this.

Zhou Qi turned and continued forward.

Yang Hong followed and asked, "Elder Zhou, would you like to go inside the tunnel and have a look?"

Zhou Qi shook his head. "No need. We'll stop here today."

After a pause, he looked at Yang Hong. "Where is the Wang Family's mine pit?"

Yang Hong froze for a moment, then pointed toward the depths of the eastern district. "Go farther in. Once you cross that ridge, it's there."

Zhou Qi nodded, asked no more questions, and turned back.

Yang Jinshan followed him and could not help asking, "You only took one look? Aren't you going to do anything else?"

Zhou Qi did not slow down. "No rush."

Yang Jinshan grew anxious. "Still no rush? The Wang and Zhao Families are already riding roughshod over us!"

Zhou Qi thought for a moment, stopped, and turned to look at him.

"Fifth Elder," Zhou Qi said calmly, "do you know why the Li Family has not taken sides?"

Yang Jinshan was taken aback. "Why?"

"Because they're watching and waiting," Zhou Qi replied. "The Li Family wants to see the conflict intensify even more than the Wang and Zhao Families do."

"That way, they'll know whose side to stand on."

Yang Jinshan stood there thinking for a while. "So what? Right now, we're the strongest force at the mines."

"This first clash is especially crucial. Winning would be fine, but if we lose..." Zhou Qi paused, then said softly, "then it will become one against three from then on."

"And besides," Zhou Qi's voice gradually rose, "what you just said was right. At the mines, we are the strongest."

"But this is a matter of the mines, and yet it is not merely a matter of the mines!"

With that, Zhou Qi turned and continued back.

"I hate people who speak in riddles!"

Yang Jinshan stood where he was, scratching his head, his bewilderment tinged with resentment.

Yang Hong looked at him, then at Zhou Qi's retreating back, and a thoughtful glint flashed through his eyes.

The following afternoon.

Zhou Qi stood before the Li Family's mine pit, his gaze sweeping across its entrance.

Compared with the mine tunnels in the Yang Family's eastern district, the Li Family's mine pit was indeed a full size smaller.

The entrance was only about one zhang wide, and the supporting timber was much older. Several beams had already cracked, yet no one had replaced them.

Miners came and went, and even the carts they pushed were a size smaller than those of the Yang Family.

Yang Jinshan followed behind, muttering, "How much ore can this dump possibly produce?"

Yang Hong explained from the side, "The Li Family was assigned the poor mines in the western district to begin with. Their ore output has always been low."

Zhou Qi nodded and said nothing.

At the entrance, a middle-aged man came out to greet them. He had a goatee, eyes narrowed into slits, and a smile on his face.

"Elder Zhou, I have long admired your name." Li Dehou clasped his hands in greeting, his voice slow and unhurried. "I did not know Elder would honor us with your presence today. Forgive me for failing to welcome you from afar."

Zhou Qi returned the gesture. "Manager Li is too courteous."

Li Dehou turned sideways and gestured ahead. "Elder, please come inside. Would you care for a cup of tea and a rest?"

Zhou Qi shook his head. "No need. I came today to inspect the Li Family's mine pit and, while I'm here, discuss the handover."

Li Dehou's smile did not change, but a flicker of something strange passed through his eyes. He nodded. "Elder, please."

The three entered the mine tunnel. It was far cooler inside than outside, and the air carried a damp, moldy smell.

An oil lamp hung every few steps along the tunnel, its dim yellow light barely illuminating the way ahead.

Upon seeing this place, Zhou Qi instantly felt that the room Yang Hong had prepared for him was already heaven in this mining camp.

After walking several dozen steps, they arrived at a somewhat wider area furnished with several crude wooden tables and chairs.

Li Dehou invited the three to sit, then had someone bring over several bowls of water.

Zhou Qi lifted his bowl, took a sip, and looked at Li Dehou. "Manager Li, let's not beat around the bush. Of the shares the Yang Family won, 0.4 percent belongs to your Li Family. How does Manager Li intend to handle this matter?"

Li Dehou fell silent for several seconds. The smile on his face faded somewhat, revealing a troubled expression.

"Elder Zhou, you're a straightforward man, so I won't hide it from you." He sighed. "That 0.4 percent of the mine pit should be handed over. Our Li Family acknowledges it. Rules are rules; a loss is a loss. But..."

Zhou Qi looked at him without speaking, waiting for him to continue.

Li Dehou went on, "But you also know that this mine does not belong to the Li Family alone. Over on the Wang and Zhao Families' side..."

He paused without finishing.

Zhou Qi finished for him. "They won't hand theirs over, so you don't dare hand yours over either?"

Li Dehou gave a bitter smile. "Elder Zhou sees clearly. Our Li Family has a weak foundation and cannot withstand such turmoil. If I hand over the mine pit today, the Wang and Zhao Families can come looking for trouble tomorrow. You also know that our Li Family cannot compare to your Yang Family..."