Chapter 112: The Miner

Over the ten years since the creation of Minecraft, the cave ecosystems and environmental systems have undergone numerous updates and optimizations, both large and small. Initially, ores and lava were introduced, followed by the addition of more types of rock... Among these, the update in version 1.17 was the most extensive, famously known as the "Cave Update."

During this era, Minecraft’s cave system experienced groundbreaking changes—biomes flourished with flowers and stalagmites, forming a complete and intricate subterranean world.

The Block World, however, lacked such a diverse array of elements and remained in a pre-cave-update state. Yet, its caves were not entirely barren; some mysterious “mod” creations inhabited them.

Little Mag was one of the few original inhabitants of the Block Kingdom.

Having just turned twenty-three this year, he had healthy parents, had started his own family, and now had a wife and a daughter...

His profession was that of a miner, so he had been assigned by the Human Resources Department to work in the mines, a role he accepted without complaint, as mining was his true calling.

“Little Mag, this isn’t the old days anymore. We’re citizens now! Protected by His Majesty the King, safe and secure, with guaranteed living resources!”

This was a phrase often repeated to him by Wang Dahao, the captain of the miners.

There were 117 miners working in the mine, divided into more than ten teams, employing the “fishbone mining” technique. Mining was the most populous industry in the Block Kingdom.

Thanks to his experience and unwavering loyalty to the Block Kingdom, Little Mag had the honor of becoming the captain of the Third Mining Team, overseeing excavation in the northernmost shaft of the lowest level.

“Team, let’s push forward! Let’s aim for first place today! The rewards are waiting for us!”

An idol can subconsciously influence a person’s behavior and thoughts.

A good idol leads their followers toward positive habits and excellence; a bad one breeds toxic fandom.

The Block people who admired Mo Fangyuan had, to some extent, absorbed his embodiment of “traditional Chinese virtues,” mastering his oratory skills and nationalist spirit...

“Hahaha, Captain! This time, first place is definitely ours!”

“Absolutely! We’re fifty blocks ahead of the second-place First Team!”

Lighting their torches and arranging their chests, the eleven members of the Third Mining Team grasped their iron pickaxes and charged at the stone ahead.

Having tasted success, Mo Fangyuan implemented a ranking and reward system across all feasible industries to boost productivity.

“Ha! Captain, I just hit a vein of lapis lazuli ore!”

“Great job! Keep it up!”

The mining ranking system was based on the amount of stone each team collected daily or monthly.

One base stone equaled one point; points varied with depth, and other ores were valued according to importance.

For example, lapis lazuli ore was worth three points, iron ore five points, and so forth. Even if luck wasn’t on their side, hardworking teams could rank highly, embodying a fair “more effort, more reward” principle.

“Bang! Bang! Bang!”

The Third Team was working on the seventy-fourth level—the lowest floor.

Every stone block took a considerable amount of time to break down into collectible drops.

“I heard from His Majesty that below one hundred levels, a red glowing ore spawns, something called... redstone? Is that true?”

“It should be. His Majesty the King wouldn’t lie…”

“Phew!”

One team member exhaled and added,

“Finding better ores would be amazing. I heard one piece of redstone ore is worth as much as three gold ores!”

“No way, really? One gold ore is worth 15 points... that’s 45 points!”

“It's not a lie. If I wasn’t sure, why would I tell you? Rumors like that are severely reprimanded by His Majesty…”

“Bang! Bang! Bang—”

The iron pickaxes struck the stone, the mining process always monotonous. To stave off boredom, the miners began chatting.

They shared their recent observations and news with fellow workers—a pastime known colloquially as “gossip.”

“Have you heard? The Seventh Team saw a monster with white eyes down here, very terrifying…”

“No way, don’t scare me... that’s our level!”

“Hahaha! Little Fang, don’t believe his nonsense. He’s just an old grump, very bad! You’re new here, right? That rumor was all over the place before, and people were really scared, worried a white-eyed monster would sneak up behind them... Then His Majesty personally came and dispelled the rumors. Now it’s just entertainment after meals, don’t take it seriously…”

Shi Bufang scolded the old grump who was terrifying the newcomers.

“He’s new, scaring him like that isn’t very gentlemanly.”

“Bang! Bang! Thud!”

A stone riddled with black cracks shattered into countless small fragments, which collected into a floating drop.

“Hey! I got here first!”

Shi Bufang chuckled.

“Ah—this…”

“Old Shi, that’s not fair!”

“You tricked us!”

“I call it strategy. Do you understand the King’s tactics? If not, don’t talk nonsense... Besides, what I said was true—the white-eyed monster was fake!”

He placed the ore into the communal chest and picked up his iron pickaxe to continue working.

“Bang! Bang! Boom!”

“Hehe, I’m catching up with Old Shi!”

Fulai patted himself and grabbed the dropped ore.

“Don’t get cocky! Over here... what the heck?”

As the team chipped away at the stone ahead, an inexplicable terror suddenly enveloped everyone.

The fear was so intense, like a tidal wave, revealing itself as a solid black abyss of dread.

“This, this... this…”

The miner who had broken the stone sat slumped against the tunnel wall, his iron pickaxe dropped carelessly, mouth trembling in stammering terror, eyes dark as sludge with fear.

“Roar! Roar! Roar!”

Behind the stone was more stone, but the overwhelming fear told them that digging further would unleash a terrifying monster!

“Ca-Captain... I heard it! I heard it! They’re coming!”

“C-Captain... what should we do?”

Shi Bufang, who had been so spirited moments before, now trembled in his legs, stammering wildly.

“We... we retreat! Find His Majesty! He’s the strongest!”

Little Mag gripped his iron pickaxe—half worn down—tight, forcing himself to control the shaking and calm his mind.

“Retreat! Let’s retreat!”

He dragged their paralyzed comrade from the front and led the team in a frantic, tumbling escape from the cursed place.

“Don’t panic. With me here, no monster will harm you!”

Upon hearing that the most important mine was in trouble again, Mo Fangyuan immediately dropped everything and rushed over.

Shi Bufang looked up at the unassuming young man, and all his fear, panic, and despair vanished in an instant.

“With His Majesty here, nothing will happen to us!”

At the sight of Mo Fangyuan, the members of the Third Team behind Shi Bufang regained their composure.

“Don’t worry. We’re here. The Block Kingdom is your strongest backing!”

Waving over the Deputy Minister Siko of the Mining Administration Department to lead the miners to rest, Mo Fangyuan summoned the team captains alone.

“Hmm, are you Shi Bufang?”

Mo Fangyuan smiled kindly.

“I’ve heard about your incident. You did well!”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I’m Shi Bufang!”

“Good. Shi Bufang, I want to ask you about what you encountered just now in the mine...”