Chapter 237: Shimen Mountain Yuan Crystal Mine

“Brother, why didn’t you help her? It shouldn’t be too hard for you, just taking some time at most. She seemed really pitiful. Why not help?”

After landing on the shore, Jiang Xinyu couldn’t help asking Jiang Xincheng, puzzled. But as soon as she spoke, she heard Lyu Ning’s curses and hatred for Jiang Xincheng coming from behind.

“Now you understand,” Jiang Xincheng said with a faint smile, looking at Jiang Xinyu’s changing expression. “Pitiful people often do hateful things. She is indeed pitiful, facing the danger of her family being ruined. If she had taken the proper route, coming to find me personally with her uncle, the Administrative Department head of Tongle Town, to ask for help, I might have spent some time to help her.”

“After all, first, her uncle is the head of the Tongle Town Administrative Department. Such a small favor isn’t difficult for me, and it would also win her uncle’s favor. Later, if our parents encounter anything in Tongle Town, her uncle could help them. Second, helping her father is also beneficial; as the deputy head of Diannan County’s Administrative Department, he holds significant influence and could look after our parents and you. Third, I could also gain some Flourishing Tang Points, improving my status within the Flourishing Tang Empire.”

Pausing here, Jiang Xincheng continued, “But she insisted on using such a shady method, trying to capture my affection so I would help rescue her father. This made me suspicious. Why ignore the proper route and opt for these unacceptable methods? Could there be something fishy about this matter? Besides, I really disliked her personality. So I didn’t agree to help her directly; I planned to investigate this matter after returning to see if what she said was true. Yet, no sooner had I left than she cursed us behind our backs. That reveals her character. Why should I help someone like that? With her character being so poor, one can imagine what her father’s character is like.”

“But what if her father really was wronged?” Jiang Xinyu argued. “The saying ‘like father, like son’ isn’t always true.”

Jiang Xincheng smiled slightly. “I also don’t believe ‘like father, like son’ is absolute. But the chances are indeed much higher. Moreover, she’s that kind of person. Why should I waste my cultivation time helping her? There are far too many wronged people in this world; I can’t help everyone. It’s unrealistic. Your brother is never a selflessly public-minded person. Everything I do is solely to make life better for those close to me and myself. If within my power, I might do something for others or for the Shenxia Alliance. But I won’t dedicate my entire life to fighting for justice or battling evil.”

“My brother isn’t a Saint-like figure either,” Jiang Xinyu pouted.

Jiang Xincheng laughed and patted her head. “You’re right. Your brother is no saint. He’s just a selfish man. While I harbor no intent to harm others, I remain cautious. Though occasionally, I do show kindness and help others as much as I am able.”

“But I like this kind of brother; he feels real and caring. Especially how he protects me, hehe!” Jiang Xinyu suddenly flashed a sly grin, grabbed Jiang Xincheng’s hand, and dashed towards the distance. “Brother, let’s go home quickly, it’s so late! Mom and Dad must be really worried.”

Jiang Xincheng nodded and led Jiang Xinyu back towards Tongle Town.

After the Lantern Festival, Jiang Xinyu returned to her busy final year of high school. Jiang Xincheng, however, did not go back to school. The matter involving Ximen Changkong remained unresolved, so how could he return peacefully to Tianhai University?

During this period, while cultivating, Jiang Xincheng also investigated the Shimen Mountain situation. He learned that the Xuimen Family prospecting expert who discovered the Yuan Crystal Mine at Shimen Mountain belonged to Ximen Changkong’s private forces, not the main Ximen Family’s resources. Ximen Changkong truly lived up to the reputation of the heir who, in his past life, led the Ximen Family to its peak; his methods and capabilities were first-rate.

He had privately established several dozen prospecting teams, scouring the world to find Yuan Crystal Mines for him and expand his personal power. The Overlapping Yuan Crystal Mine in Yuyang City was also discovered by one of his private teams. The Yuan Crystal Mine at Shimen Mountain in Tongle Town was likewise found by his private prospectors.

After confirming that Shimen Mountain’s Yuan Crystal Mine was at least a Medium Yuan Crystal Mine, Ximen Changkong immediately dispatched Ximen Hong, a Great Yuan Warrior of the Cloud Condensation Realm’s later stage, to guard the site until his own arrival. Additionally, dozens of prospecting experts rushed to Shimen Mountain before the new year to survey the mine further.

Furthermore, to prevent any trouble, Ximen Hong imprisoned the entire Yu family, who held the leasehold rights for the dozens of square miles around Shimen Mountain. He only awaited Ximen Changkong’s arrival to sign the agreement transferring Shimen Mountain’s century-long leasehold rights, thereby granting Ximen Changkong ownership of this Medium Yuan Crystal Mine.

This event happened in the past life too. Jiang Xincheng already knew that the mine at Shimen Mountain was a Medium Yuan Crystal Mine, valued between three to five billion Credit Points. With Jiang Xincheng’s current strength, he was capable of seizing this Medium Yuan Crystal Mine. So, upon learning about it, Jiang Xincheng set his sights on this resource.

After detailed investigation, Jiang Xincheng gained full knowledge of everything related to the Shimen Mountain Yuan Crystal Mine. Consequently, after the Lantern Festival, Jiang Xincheng initiated his plan.

The Yu family were the contractors of Shimen Mountain, holding the lease for a hundred years. Only five years had passed; they still had ninety-five years remaining.

The Yu family originally farmed fruit trees on the mountain, making them one of the largest orchard owners near Tongle Town. They lived quite happily, even having built a small villa at the mountain’s base. The family of four lived harmoniously in their villa and were counted among the wealthy in the area.

Little did they expect that the discovery of a Yuan Crystal Mine at Shimen Mountain by Ximen prospectors would bring utter calamity upon the Yu household.

Once Ximen Hong arrived at Shimen Mountain, to prevent leaks and potential competitors, he imprisoned all four members of the Yu family inside their small villa. Moreover, as Yu He’s wife, Wang Mei, and their daughter, Yu Wenwen, were quite beautiful, and Ximen Hong was a lecher, he quickly forced himself upon the mother-daughter pair.

Yu He and his son, Yu Wenshu, rushed to stop him in fury. Yu Wenshu was instantly killed by Ximen Hong; Yu He had all his limbs broken. He was kept alive only until the transfer agreement was signed, after which he was to be eliminated.

As for Yu He’s wife, Wang Mei, and daughter Yu Wenwen, they were naturally also to be killed afterward. Weeds must be plucked out by the roots, or they’d sprout again with the spring wind. Ximen Hong didn’t want any future trouble.

However, since Ximen Changkong hadn’t arrived yet, Ximen Hong continued imprisoning the surviving three members of the Yu family. He spent his days enjoying the mother-daughter pair inside the villa, and torturing Yu He, living comfortably. He didn’t know a deadly crisis was already looming towards him.