Chapter 81: Scolding Myself? I’m Pretty Good at It!

It wasn’t strange that this girl named Nidnia and the three—Terrence, Feidi, and Andy—knew Willis.

Watching their excited embrace, Willis was pondering the meaning behind the soldier’s earlier words.

“Nidnia, it’s so good that you’re safe!”

The three said excitedly.

The two separated, and the girl asked in confusion,

“Uncle Terrence, didn’t you all escape? Why did you come back?”

“If the overseers find out, you’ll be finished!”

Of course, Terrence hadn’t come back by choice; it was all Willis’ idea.

At this point, he could only bite the bullet and make up a reason for himself.

“It’s fine. There are so many people in the mines, and we’ve been gone a long time. Unless the overseers purposely compare our faces, they shouldn’t notice.”

“That’s right, Nidnia!”

Feidi also nodded.

“We were just unremarkable. Among the many miners the overseers’ lackeys could bully at will…”

“We only drew attention because we led people to escape back then. Now, how many even remember us?”

As for the miners who knew and recognized them, they were all in the prison of Wushi City now.

“Even so…”

Nidnia still couldn’t understand.

“Why did you come back?”

“Sigh… Isn’t it because, outside, we could only be mountain bandits? Now our brothers have been wiped out by the Imperial Army, and with nowhere to run, we could only hide back in the mines.”

Terrence recited the explanation he and Willis had agreed on, tears streaming down his face.

At the side, Victoria’s eye twitched.

This man’s acting skills were something else.

“The most dangerous place is the safest. Hiding in the mines is the only way to escape the Empire’s hunt.”

Nidnia let out a sigh.

“But things aren’t good here either. Wasn’t it because you couldn’t stand it that you escaped?”

Terrence sighed as well.

“Sigh, saying more is useless. Since we’re back, we’ll have to stay here for a while.”

“By the way, have you found your father’s… remains?”

The youngest, Andy, suddenly asked.

Nidnia shook her head sorrowfully.

“The mine over there hasn’t been cleared. I still haven’t found my father’s bones.”

“I see…”

The four fell silent.

At that moment, Willis coughed.

“Ahem, um… You’re our Mining Squad Four Leader, right? What should we do now?”

Pulled back to reality by Willis’ words, Nidnia finally noticed the two women.

“Uncle Terrence, they are…”

“They’re a pair of sisters I saved when I was a mountain bandit. They’re pitiful too, with nowhere to go, so they followed me.”

Hearing this, Nidnia burst into angry curses.

“The Okam Empire is rotten to the core! Especially that Second Princess—she’s the cancer of the Empire!”

“One day, I’ll kill her!”

Willis scratched her nose awkwardly at those words.

When did she offend this girl?

Did she hate her that much?

“That’s right! That bastard Willis deserves to be cut to pieces and sent to hell!”

Willis agreed without blushing or even changing her breath, causing Nidnia to look at her in confusion.

“You hate her that much?”

“Of course! She ruined my family. I wish she were dead!”

Willis nodded.

“And she imprisoned Uncle Terrence’s brothers too. We are mortal enemies!”

!

Terrence and the other two nearly jumped up to kick Willis.

But in that instant, the two women found a common enemy, and after introductions, their relationship grew much closer.

“Come with me. Let’s get your mining equipment first…”

Nidnia led Willis, worry clear on her face.

“Little Wei, why did you follow me into the mines? This isn’t a place for girls.”

“But didn’t you come too, Nidnia?”

Willis retorted.

The other fell silent.

After a moment, she said,

“Just stay close to me from now on. I’ll protect you as best I can.”

Willis gave no comment.

Soon, they arrived at a small warehouse, where a soldier stood guard.

“What are you here for!?”

“I’m the Mining Squad Four Leader, bringing newcomers to collect equipment.”

As she spoke, Nidnia whispered to Willis,

“Sister, bear with it later.”

“Huh? What?”

Before Willis could react, Nidnia had already slipped inside and came out with five sets of simple mining equipment for them.

Just as Willis was about to leave, the guard at the door suddenly drew his whip.

With a loud crack, before she could react, he struck Willis directly.

A searing pain burned across her back.

Willis almost couldn’t help but kill him on the spot.

“What are you doing!?”

Willis’ eyes brimmed with murderous intent.

Beside her, Victoria looked like a furious lion.

Terrence’s face twisted with complex emotions, while Feidi and Andy watched with an air of enjoying the show.

Seeing Willis unyielding, the soldier lashed out again, striking her arm.

“Stupid woman! This is the Newcomer Education Whip!”

“Once you’re a miner in the mines, if you don’t finish your tasks or work hard, you get whipped!”

“This is a warning! There’ll be plenty more whippings ahead!”

“Keep staring! I’ll whip you a few more times if you don’t stop!”

As the soldier was about to act again, Nidnia hurried forward to stop him.

“No, no, sir! She’s a newcomer and doesn’t know the rules. I’ll take her to the mine now. Please calm down!”

“Hmph! Get lost! One rotten and two stinking women—stay away from me!”

The soldier cursed, and Nidnia quickly led them away.

“Sigh, sister, didn’t I tell you to endure it? In this place, going against these people won’t end well.”

Nidnia rubbed the spot where Willis had been hit.

“Next time, don’t talk back. Listen to your sister, okay?”

With a beauty comforting her, Willis’ anger eased somewhat.

She snorted and nodded, but signaled to Victoria with her eyes.

[Kill him for me tonight!]

Victoria received the message and nodded grimly.

“I understand, Nidnia. I’ll listen to you.”

Willis promised.

Nidnia nodded with some relief and continued.

“By the look of the sky, there’s about two hours left in today’s work shift…”

“Let’s take you and Little Wei to get familiar with the mine first, so you won’t get scolded tomorrow.”

Now, night had fallen.

The whole Heishan Mine was shrouded in darkness.

Under the glow of Illumination Spells and various oil lamps, only the distant outlines could barely be seen.

However, the roads to the work sites were all lit by Illumination Spells, so there was no worry of losing your way.

“There are fifteen mines in Heishan Mine. We’re at the fourth. I’m the leader.”

Nidnia led them out of the huts and wagon yard, heading to the mountainside.

Along the way, piles of mine slag, soil, and stones were everywhere.

***

Unprocessed and unremoved ores were scattered all around.

As they approached, Willis looked up.

This mountain had only sparse vegetation, with few trees.

Now, the lower mountainside was covered with a thick layer of mine slag, and the winding roads were paved with gravel.

The mines were scattered everywhere like rat holes.

The closer they got, the more they could hear overseers cracking whips and miners begging for mercy.

Each mine had oil lamps and a few lit Magic Circles for illumination.

Passing by, Willis saw miners inside working hard.

Iron picks and chisels swung.

Iron hammers fell with crisp clangs, and the workers’ grunts rose and fell.

In the quiet of the mining mountain, the sounds formed a melody of clanging music.

Each mine was numbered.

When passing Mine Number Thirteen, Nidnia visibly stiffened.

Willis glanced over and saw that the mine had collapsed and was filled with signs of cave-ins.

Without asking further, the group soon reached Mine Number Four.

“Nidnia, you rotten, stinking woman! Why did you take so long?”

“Hmm? Newcomers!? Just what we need, not enough hands. Bring them over to work!”

Inside the mine, a bald overseer bellowed fiercely.