Chapter 546: Chapter 232: Cooperation?_2
Liang Yuan looked up and saw that several people nearby were still absorbed in practicing with their talisman stones, so he quietly took out a white talisman stone and discreetly handed it to Ding Yan.
He whispered, "This is a Water-Repelling Rune. I only have one, given to me by Wu Meng back then."
"If you face a particular danger, hold the rune and run towards the water, understand?"
Ding Yan looked up and couldn’t help but ask, "Liang Yuan, is this sea tide really that dangerous?"
Liang Yuan shook his head. "I don’t know. I can only consider the worst-case scenario, as we haven’t experienced a sea tide crisis before."
"Just make sure you take care, okay?"
"Are you... worried about me?" Ding Yan gazed intensely at him.
Liang Yuan couldn’t help but feel helpless. He reached out and straightened her now long hair, saying, "We’ve been through so much together. Do you think I wouldn’t be worried about you?"
Ding Yan’s smile blossomed immediately. "Don’t worry, I’ll definitely protect myself!"
Ding Yan was never one to act coy or speak sweetly.
She was a mature woman. Even when faced with someone she liked, she could remain relatively calm and restrained.
"Are you staying here tonight?" she suddenly asked.
This was already her most straightforward expression.
Liang Yuan blinked and asked, "In this cave? There are too many people."
Ding Yan pursed her lips, thought for a moment, and said, "Forget it. It’s indeed not a good place. We’ll go to your house later."
Liang Yuan laughed heartily, "I’ve got a room saved for you."
Ding Yan’s lips curled slightly. "I knew it. You and Yang Mei living in a three-bedroom apartment? Another room is probably saved for Song Wen?"
Liang Yuan laughed mischievously, "Study room, all study rooms."
Ding Yan snorted, "So studious? You know I’m a teacher, right? Next time, I’ll have to teach you in your study room."
Liang Yuan laughed, "Then you’d better wear a teacher’s uniform."
"You’re asking for a beating!"
Ding Yan lightly slapped him, then even she couldn’t help but laugh.
The two laughed and chatted, and it was soon time for lunch.
Liang Yuan had already taken out the supplies, which included not only rice, flour, and oil but also a full set of electrical equipment.
He had left the generator in the mine for them to use temporarily, while he had batteries and Xiaodong Jie to generate electricity on his side.
During the two days of sea tide, cooking on an open fire would attract mutant beasts.
But as Liang Yuan found out later, the mine slaves didn’t need an open fire to cook; they used the powdered Fire Attribute Superpower Stones as high-temperature fuel.
Liang Yuan planned to have the people in Fire Bamboo Forest use this method after returning.
After eating and drinking, Liang Yuan didn’t leave but took advantage of the remaining time to continue mining with everyone.
By evening, he had collected over a hundred Attribute Superpower Stones and more than two hundred Attributeless Superpower Stones.
Liang Yuan kept them all, then greeted everyone and hurriedly returned to Fire Bamboo Forest.
With the Earth Escape Skills, he could be back in half an hour, making it really convenient.
Upon returning to Fire Bamboo Forest, he used Earth Escape and went straight to the Bamboo House.
As soon as he entered, he saw Zhao Kai and others gathered there, all looking grim.
Liang Yuan immediately walked in. "What’s going on? Why is everyone sitting here today?"
Everyone brightened up upon seeing Liang Yuan and quickly stood up.
"Brother Liang, you’re finally back!"
"Brother Liang, come in quickly."
"Mr. Liang, something’s happened."
Liang Yuan pressed his hand down. "Don’t panic, Zhao Kai, tell me, what’s wrong?"
Zhao Kai quickly said, "Brother Liang, while you were away today, Yuan Rui from Martial King Pavilion came."
"Yuan Rui?"
Liang Yuan’s mind flashed with the image of that somewhat arrogant young man, who excelled in Earth Escape Superpower.
Wondering if both of them now knew Earth Escape, who would be more skillful.
"What did he come for?"
Zhao Kai quickly replied, "Brother Liang, Martial King Pavilion somehow got wind that you killed Tian Wei and occupied the mine."
"Yuan Rui came on behalf of Martial King Pavilion asking if we wanted to cooperate. He said a mine this large couldn’t be monopolized by us alone."
"Neither Tu Long of Phoenix Temple nor Li Yuefeng of Meihai Garden would stand idly by and watch us take it all."
"These two groups must have gotten the news too. They’re just waiting for the sea tide to pass before causing us trouble."
"Yuan Rui suggested that Martial King Pavilion could cooperate with us to jointly develop the mine."
Zhao Kai efficiently conveyed Yuan Rui’s basic intent.
Liang Yuan raised his eyebrows slightly and smiled, "Hehehe, at least they’re showing they know how to manage cooperation fairly."
"It seems our last clash with Wu Meng wasn’t in vain. How did Yuan Rui propose collaborating?"
"Brother Liang, do we really want to cooperate with them?" Song Wen couldn’t help but ask.
Zhao Kai couldn’t hold back his anger either, "Brother Liang, why should we cooperate with them? This mine was won by you alone, and you killed Tian Wei alone. Why should they come with just words and do nothing yet try to take a share?"
Liang Yuan shook his head, saying, "It’s their strength. Wu Meng’s combat power isn’t weak, and his fist is the basis for negotiation."
"In fact, there’s a subtle implication. If we refuse this cooperation, we would face not only the threats from Phoenix Temple and Meihai Garden’s shelters."
"We’d also have to count in Martial King Pavilion!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Kai, Song Wen, and others were furious.