The creaking sound of the mining cart reverberated as it moved deeper into the mine, where the tunnels resembled a vast labyrinth. As the cart pressed on, weaving through various tunnel entrances, the towering shafts gradually narrowed. The faint glow of the Ink Stone lamps hanging outside vanished, leaving only the headlight of the cart to guide the way.
It was here that even Zhou Tieyi deeply understood why the common miners did not object to the use of Ink Stone mechanisms despite the harm they caused to the human body. As Min Huorong had said, the harm could be mitigated by timely rest, which reduced both physical and mental damage. But without them, there was no telling how many people would die within these tunnels.
This labyrinthine mining area was divided into smaller sectors. As per Zhou Tieyi’s intent, the cart did not stop at the safer, outer sectors. It pressed on for another quarter of an hour before finally coming to a halt. Min Huorong spoke to Zhou Tieyi with deference, "Marquis Zhou, we must proceed on foot from here. You..."
Chapter 330