Gu Qing read Kang Feng’s notice on the terrace. Elder Zhao read the royal seal and turned pale.
“They can take the mountain if we refuse.”
“They can also take it if we agree badly,” Gu Qing replied.
He brought Kang and six unarmed inspectors to the workshop. The boring skiffs stayed outside. Kang’s steel arm clicked as he descended the spiral stairs, and his guards left their drill pikes above.
Austin met them beside the tagged chisel. He had chalked three water routes on the floor and a line across the threshold. “Past that line, no outdoor grit. It gets into the bearings.”
Kang looked at the red tag. “You stopped production?”
“This morning. The machine cut well and moved groundwater. We missed quota. We are redesigning.”
Kang had expected denial. He took a moment before answering.
“Our surveys agree. The ley line carries pressure through the ore. Break it carelessly, and you shift both water and spiritual flow. The Pavilion’s warning was justified.”
Austin nodded. “Your warning is not the problem. The order to seize everything is.”
Kang unfolded a second document. “I want a production contract. You keep the mine. You supply measured lots of safe alloy. We provide survey maps, deep pumps, and buyers. No seizure unless people are in immediate danger.”
From the tunnel entrance, Gu Qing muttered, “That is almost disappointingly sensible.”
Austin read the terms. “No exclusive ownership. No minimum quota until the water stays stable for seven days.”
Kang’s metal fingers tapped his thigh. “Seven days will cost us shipyard time.”
“A dry village costs more.”
Kang agreed.
The meeting might have ended there, but Tie Kuang’s private order arrived by signal flare. The Grand Elder demanded ownership of the vein, all Stellar-Steel, and the workshop itself. Kang was told to arrest the builder if he objected.
Kang crushed the message in his steel hand.
“He wants a mountain, not a supply line.”
Austin picked up his clipboard. “Then he can submit a complaint through normal channels.”
Gu Qing laughed so suddenly that Elder Zhao dropped the contract.
Kang did not laugh. “Tie does not file complaints. He brings machines.”
“Then we had better make the water safe before he gets here.”
They inspected the cave together. Kang’s maps showed three linked water seams. Austin’s chisel struck near the narrowest one. The waterwheel’s return also dumped into a lower fissure instead of restoring the original flow.
Austin drew the new plan in plain lines.
“Isolate the cutter from the main vein. Take small slices from dead-end branches. Use a spring damper so the impacts do not travel. And pump the turbine water back to its source.”
Kang studied the drawing. “That cuts output by more than half.”
“Yes.”
“You really will lose quota.”
“I already did. I would like to stop losing wells too.”
For the first time, Kang’s severe expression softened.
“I can have damper springs and return pipe here by evening,” he said. “Charge them against the first contract payment.”
Austin held out his hand. “Deal, if your Grand Elder does not own the invoice.”
Kang shook it with his flesh hand. “He does not.”