Chapter 87

The collective strike of the miners in Green Tree Village, demanding a reduction in the quota of refined ore they had to submit, clearly touched a nerve with Hu Siping and his associates, including Han Xiusheng and other managers and foremen of the mine.

Among these people, someone came up with a plan: to recruit idle villagers from other villages to come and mine. This would allow them to resume work quickly and also put pressure on Chu Chuang and others. After all, mining in Green Tree Village was a good livelihood for outsiders, and many would be eager to participate.

This idea was not bad. In fact, after Hu Siping and his associates spread the word, they quickly gathered nearly a hundred miners to come to Green Tree Village. However, what they did not expect was that this move not only failed to put pressure on the villagers but instead thoroughly enraged the entire village.

To the villagers of Green Tree Village, the mian soil mine was their own. Hu Siping and his associates bringing in outsiders to mine was like inviting wolves into their home. The mine in Green Tree Village should only be mined by the villagers of Green Tree Village; otherwise, it would cut off their livelihood.

The enraged villagers of Green Tree Village blocked the incoming miners outside the village. A fight was about to break out, and a bloody battle seemed imminent. Fortunately, at this moment, Han Xiusheng led over a dozen managers and foremen from the mine, all of whom were skilled at the Fifth Level of the Mortal Realm. Their presence had a deterrent effect, and they managed to prevent the bloodshed in time.

At this moment, Hu Siping hurriedly arrived, riding a turbid wind. He had been blocked in the village by the martial cultivators of the village, but now, not only Hu Siping but also Han Xiusheng and others realized the magnitude of their mistake.

When Yang Junshan walked out of the array, he happened to meet Han Xiusheng, who was rushing back.

Seeing Yang Junshan, Han Xiusheng said in surprise, "Hey, how did you come out? But it's good you did, so I don't have to go down the mine to call you. Let's go home first!"

"Uncle, you're about to fight, how can I have the heart to mine?" Yang Junshan said in surprise. "What, Uncle, you're not going to the mine?"

Han Xiusheng said regretfully, "Don't mention it. We almost made a mistake. We won't go to the mine for now. We'll wait for the town to send someone to handle it."

Outside Green Tree Village, hundreds of people were almost on the brink of a melee. This matter could not be covered up. It was quickly reported to the Qing Shi Town Guard Office, but they were told that the town guard Yang Tianchen was not in town. The village chief, managers, and foremen of Green Tree Village breathed a sigh of relief, but then they received news that the deputy town guard of Qing Shi Town would soon take office and handle the matter personally!

A deputy town guard? When did Qing Shi Town have a deputy town guard?

Since the rise of the Yang siblings several decades ago, the position of town guard had never left the Yang family. Even now, the current town guard, Yang Tianchen, was just a figurehead who did not manage affairs, as all major and minor matters in Qing Shi Town were decided by the head of the Yang family. Therefore, setting up a deputy town guard was redundant. But why did the Heaven-Shaking Sect suddenly appoint a deputy town guard?

Could it be that the Heaven-Shaking Sect was dissatisfied with the old Yang family? Or was there some deeper, unspoken reason?

While the people of Qing Shi Town were suspicious, Yang Junshan took the opportunity to use the earth stones he had brought to cultivate. If everything went as planned, these six earth stones would be enough to push his cultivation to the peak of the Spirit Awakening stage within ten days.

However, the next day, Han Xiusheng interrupted Yang Junshan's cultivation with a strange look on his face. "Your sixth uncle is looking for you."

"My sixth uncle?" Yang Junshan asked in surprise. "What does he want?"

Yang Junshan's sixth uncle, Yang Tianlin, did not leave a deep impression on him. He was the eldest son of Yang Junshan's great-aunt Yang Yan and ranked sixth in the Yang family. He was at the Fifth Level of the Mortal Realm and was usually a quiet and reserved person.

"Come with me, your great-aunt wants to see you!"

When Yang Junshan met his great-aunt Yang Yan, he saw that his great-uncle Zhang Menghe was also in the hall. Zhang Menghe was a martial cultivator, but he was at the first level after opening his dantian. Although he sat at the head of the table with Yang Yan, his aura was overshadowed by Yang Yan, who was at the second level.

"Have you heard about the deputy town guard coming to Qing Shi Town?" Yang Yan asked directly when she saw Yang Junshan.

Yang Junshan answered honestly, "Yes, I have."

"Then your father must have heard about it too?"

"Yes."

Such matters did not need to be relayed by Yang Junshan. There were informants in Qing Shi Town who would promptly pass the news to Tuqiu Village. There was no need to hide this from Yang Yan.

"This time I called you here because some things cannot be relayed by others to your father. Listen carefully. Your eldest uncle has retired from the position of town guard, citing his preparation to advance to the fourth level of the martial realm. The current deputy town guard is the nephew of the Wang family, your fourth great-uncle Wang Yuan. In a year, Wang Yuan will officially take over the position of town guard. Do you understand?"

Yang Junshan nodded and said, "I understand, but why does Great-Aunt want me to tell my father? We have been living separately for five years."

"Bullshit about living separately!" Yang Yan glared and slapped the table, standing up abruptly. "His blood is from the old Yang family, and so is yours. Do you think he is willing to let your grandfather's lifelong efforts be handed over to others?"

Yang Junshan said softly, "Great-Aunt, you should talk to my eldest uncle about this."

"You... insolent!" Yang Yan was taken aback by the child's defiance, feeling a deep sense of estrangement. Her气势 (aura) dissipated, and she felt a wave of fatigue.

"Alright, alright!" Great-Uncle Zhang Menghe smiled at Yang Junshan and then said to Yang Yan, "The older you get, the worse your temper. What if you scare the child?"

After that, Zhang Menghe said to Yang Junshan, "Child, just tell your father what your great-aunt said. As for what to do, no one in the old Yang family can force him. You may leave now."

Yang Junshan nodded and was about to leave when Zhang Menghe added, "Oh, right. Your eldest uncle is about to enter seclusion to cultivate. We know you have come to Qing Shi Town. He will likely need to use his influence to find a weapon refiner for you from the Heaven-Shaking Sect. This should be decided soon, or it will be too late once he enters seclusion. Besides, your eldest uncle and your father are brothers. It's only right for you to visit him."

As Yang Junshan left, Yang Yan said softly, "Old Zhang, did we do the wrong thing?"

Zhang Menghe hesitated, then shook his head. "No, the mistake was that your eldest brother acted too hastily. Even if he never reached the True Human Realm, as long as he was alive, the old Yang family would not be in this situation!"

"Ah!" Yang Yan fell silent, but then seemed to think of something. "No, I still can't be at ease. I should go to Mengyu County myself."

Zhang Menghe quickly stopped her. "Don't go. If you go, it might cause misunderstandings on both sides. You know your eldest sister-in-law best. If she overreacts, it will harm the old Yang family!"

Zhang Menghe turned to Yang Tianlin. "Let your sixth uncle go. Go out and do something, but don't make a fuss. Find an excuse to go to Mengyu County and tell your third brother about this. Also, convey your mother's words."

Yang Tianlin nodded silently and turned to leave. Yang Yan watched his back and said, "You say my eldest brother acted too hastily. Now I understand his feelings. If he had truly reached the True Human Realm, the Yang family would not be in this predicament. I think he must have foreseen this day when he married into the Wang family, but at the time, it was for the sake of the Yang family, and he had no choice."

Yang Junshan, of course, understood what his great-aunt Yang Yan meant. She wanted his father to return to Qing Shi Town. Clearly, Yang Yan had sensed the crisis facing the old Yang family and was trying to reunite the family to face the difficulties together.

However, what Yang Yan did not know was that while she sensed the crisis, she had not identified the true enemy. In the coming storm, the old Yang family was not even a match for a mantis trying to stop a cart.

After returning to his uncle's house, Yang Junshan put everything aside and focused on cultivation. He temporarily ignored the earth stones in the Green Tree Village mine, as it would not be noticed in the short term. In his previous life, the earth stones in the mine were discovered only a few years later.

The new deputy town guard, Wang, was quite decisive. On his first day in Qing Shi Town, he gathered the village chief, managers, and foremen of Green Tree Village to understand the situation. The next day, the miners of Green Tree Village resumed work. The mining fee was set at seven stone coins, and the quota of refined ore to be submitted was reduced from 90% to 85%. The miners' demands were largely met.

At the same time, two deputy mine managers were added, both martial cultivators from Green Tree Village. They did not interfere with the mining of mian soil but were responsible for supervising the mine managers, foremen, and other matters, making the entire Green Tree Village mine more transparent and efficient. The miners' enthusiasm for mining also increased.

As the people of Qing Shi Town praised the new deputy town guard, some inevitably associated him with the Heaven-Shaking Sect and the old Yang family. However, it was soon revealed that the deputy town guard was actually a son-in-law of the old Yang family. The eldest daughter of the current matriarch of the old Yang family, Wang, was married to the deputy town guard.

So, it turned out that Qing Shi Town was still under the control of the old Yang family, just with a son-in-law instead of a son.

In the secret room, Yang Junshan suddenly opened his eyes. The last bit of space in his bone marrow spirit aperture was finally filled with dense earth spirit energy.

(End of Chapter)