The eastern mine had changed in the three days Huo Chen was gone. The secondary vein excavation had progressed significantly—support beams now lined the widened tunnel entrance, and fresh tool marks scarred the stone walls where new sections had been opened. The air thrummed with concentrated spiritual energy, that familiar metallic sweetness that came from exposed spirit stones.

  Huo Chen arrived just as the morning shift was assembling. About twenty disciples stood in loose formation near the entrance, checking their equipment and discussing the day's work. He spotted Elder Huo Rong near the front, reviewing notes on a jade slip.

  "Huo Chen!" He turned to see Huo Feng and Huo An walking toward him, both grinning. They were his age, fellow branch disciples who'd grown up working the mines together. Huo Feng was lean and quick, always talking. Huo An was stockier, quieter, but with a sharp sense of humor.

  "Heard you broke through," Huo Feng said, slapping him on the shoulder.

  "Fifth layer finally, huh?"

  "Three days ago," Huo Chen confirmed.

  "About time," Huo An added with a slight smile. "Thought you were going to stay at fourth forever."

  "Makes three of us now," Huo Feng said. "We can actually spar properly without me having to hold back."

  "You? Hold back?" Huo An snorted. "I've seen your sparring. There's nothing to hold back."

  "Better than your earth-turtle style. You just stand there and take hits."

  "It's called defense, idiot. Not everyone charges in like a headless chicken."

  Before they could continue, Elder Huo Rong's voice cut through the chatter. "Attention! Morning assignments." The disciples quieted immediately. Huo Rong distributed assignments quickly—Huo Chen got stability monitoring in the secondary tunnel, Huo Feng and Huo An were assigned to debris hauling, while the main-line disciples got extraction work as usual.

  As the group began moving toward the tunnel entrance, Huo Feng fell into step beside Huo Chen. "So how does it feel? The breakthrough?"

  "It feels different," Huo Chen said. "I'm stronger now, and everything's more stable. Hard to explain."

  "Same here when I got it two months back," Huo Feng replied. "The bone reinforcement makes everything easier. You can work longer shifts without getting tired and take harder hits without breaking."

  "And the spiritual energy absorption improves," Huo An added from Huo Chen's other side. "Low-grade stones that used to take days to refine now take hours."

  "Speaking of stones," Huo Feng lowered his voice slightly, glancing around to make sure no nobody was nearby. "Did you hear about the Lin Clan?"

  Huo Chen shook his head. "What about them?"

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  "They've been sniffing around," Huo An said quietly. "Their scouts were spotted near the eastern border two days ago. Three of them, at least sixth layer or higher."

  "Just scouts?" Huo Chen asked. "For now," Huo Feng replied. "But you know how they are. The moment they heard we found a rich vein, they started circling like vultures."

  Huo An grunted in agreement. "Lin Clan's been looking for an excuse to push into our territory for years. A secondary vein this rich? That's all the excuse they need."

  "What's Elder Wei saying about it?" Huo Chen asked. "Nothing publicly,"

  Huo Feng replied. "But security's been doubled. Extra patrols, more guards at the perimeter. They're taking it seriously."

  They entered the tunnel, and the temperature dropped immediately. The walls were damp with condensation, and the sound of their boots echoed off the stone. Torches lined the passage at regular intervals, their flames casting dancing shadows.

  "Once they confirm how rich this vein is, they'll come up with some excuse," Huo An said. "Border dispute, ancestral claim, whatever justification lets them save face while they try to take it."

  "Or they'll just send 'rogue disciples' to cause trouble," Huo Feng added with a bitter laugh. "That's their usual approach. They attack us, claim it was unauthorized, offer some token apology while keeping whatever they stole."

  "They've tried that twice in the last five years," Huo An said. "Elders saw through it both times, but what can they do? Starting a full war over a few 'rogue' disciples isn't worth it."

  "Not unless we catch them red-handed," Huo Feng said. "Which is probably why security's so tight now. Elders want evidence this time."

  Huo Chen frowned. "Think it'll actually come to fighting?"

  "Depends on how greedy the Lin Clan gets," Huo An said. "They're bigger than us, sure, but not by much. And they know Elder Wei isn't going to roll over just because they flex their muscles. We've got Foundation Establishment elders too."

  "Plus the secondary vein's on our territory," Huo Feng added. "So they'll probably try the rogue disciple approach again," Huo Chen said.

  "Most likely," Huo An agreed. "Hit fast, grab what they can, disappear before the elders can respond. Classic Lin Clan tactics."

  They reached the main work area where the tunnel branched into multiple passages. Elder Rong was already directing disciples to their positions.

  "Huo Chen, eastern branch. Huo Feng, Huo An, cart duty. Move!" Huo Chen grabbed his equipment and headed toward the eastern passage.

  The work was familiar—checking tunnel stability, reinforcing weak spots with earth-attribute spiritual energy. His fifth layer cultivation made everything easier. His perception was sharper and his energy control more precise.

  The afternoon passed steadily. By the time Elder Rong called for the end of shift, Huo Chen had finished checking three full tunnel branches. The walk back to the clan grounds took about an hour.

  Huo Chen walked with Huo Feng and Huo An, listening to them argue about combat techniques.

  They reached the eastern gate as the sun was setting. Huo Chen noticed more guards than usual at the checkpoint, and they were checking people more carefully. The group dispersed toward their respective quarters. Huo Chen walked with his friends as far as the branch disciples' courtyard, then split off toward his own chamber.

  "Same time tomorrow?" Huo Feng called after him. "Same time," Huo Chen confirmed.

  Back in his chamber, he barred the door and sat on his meditation mat. The day had been routine, but the conversation about the Lin Clan stuck with him.

  Scouts at the border, Doubled security. The elders preparing for trouble. The Huo Clan wasn't afraid, but they were being smart about it. And when the Lin Clan made their move—because they would make a move—disciples like him would probably end up involved somehow.

  He looked at the floorboard hiding his remaining mid-grade stones. Five left. He needed to get stronger. But he also needed to be smart about it. Drawing too much attention right now, with tensions rising, would be stupid.

  Huo Chen closed his eyes and began his evening cultivation session. One step at a time. "Get stronger, stay ready and don't be reckless. The Lin Clan was coming. He just needed to be prepared when they did.