Not Doing One's Job While In Office

Looking at the two, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but smile. He toyed with the wine glass in his hand and said with a laugh, "You tell me, I sit here in the Patrol Prefecture within the market town, not having to worry about anything, yet my cultivation resources and spirit stones haven't decreased at all."

"Why would I need to cause myself trouble for such a small amount of power?" Lin Chang'an paused here, then looked at the two playfully.

He wanted to get involved, but as an outsider, he simply couldn't. It was better this way; spirit stones and cultivation resources were still plentiful. He could leave the responsibilities to Zhang Qing, enjoy his leisure, and only a fool would create trouble for himself.

Moreover, he understood his own value even better.

Upon hearing this, Qi Feng and Li Han immediately showed expressions of being enlightened and cupped their fists in unison, saying, "Brother Lin, your insights are profound."

Seeing their flattery, Lin Chang'an chuckled and waved his hand, "You two, stop with the flattery. Even if we exhausted ourselves fighting for power and profit, considering that almost everyone from top to bottom grew up in the sect, do you think they would listen to me or Senior Brother Zhang Qing!"

"You two!" Seeing their enlightened expressions, Lin Chang'an smiled and waved his hand, "As long as our cultivation resources aren't lacking, why bother with so much? If we have this free time, we might as well cultivate properly. Ultimately, for us cultivators, strength is what matters."

"If you two want to establish yourselves, you should quickly advance your cultivation to mid Qi Refining. When that time comes, if you truly have such ambitions, you'll be able to convince others!"

Just then, footsteps suddenly echoed from outside the door. Qi Feng and Li Han quickly stood up and moved to the side. After all, in front of outsiders, they still had to show Lin Chang'an respect due to his position.

"Brother Lin."

As the main hall door was pushed open, a blast of cold wind carrying snow and wind roared in. The temperature inside the room instantly dropped significantly, and upon seeing the person who entered, Lin Chang'an's face lit up with a smile.

"Come, come, Junior Brother Li, you've arrived at the perfect time. Join us for a drink."

Good heavens, the moment he walked in, he saw this banquet. Junior Brother Li's mouth twitched a couple of times, then he took a deep breath and respectfully cupped his fist, "Brother Lin, the rent for the Hu family on West Second Street is due soon..."

Before the other party could finish speaking, Lin Chang'an waved his hand with a smile, "Junior Brother Li, you've come to the wrong person for these matters."

This statement directly stunned Junior Brother Li. Elder Lu had personally appointed you as a steward of the Patrol Prefecture, responsible for market town patrol duties. How could he have come to the wrong person?

Seeing his bewildered look, Lin Chang'an narrowed his eyes and said with a smile, "Junior Brother Li, don't you forget, my Senior Brother Zhang Qing is the main person in charge here. Although we are both stewards, I'm just helping out."

"Then this...?" Junior Brother Li was dumbfounded, his eyes filled with confusion.

Seeing that he still hadn't caught on, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but shake his head, "Of course, you should go to Senior Brother Zhang Qing for this. I've only been here a few days, what do I know about the businesses in the market town? I spend my days either refining pills or cultivating, where would I find the time to manage this? Don't come to me about this matter in the future."

"Oh, right." As Lin Chang'an said this, he seemed to remember something else and sighed, shaking his head, "Ultimately, I can't let down Elder Lu's expectations of me, can I."

Junior Brother Li habitually nodded upon hearing this. That's right, after all, Elder Lu asked you to manage things, and you can't just be a hands-off manager like this, can you?

"From now on, all the accounts for the businesses we are responsible for should be sent to me. We can't just dump all the work on Senior Brother Zhang Qing, or Elder Lu would surely scold me."

Lin Chang'an said this with an innocent expression, and Junior Brother Li finally understood. So, this guy didn't want to do any work at all and only took on a leisurely task.

"Brother Lin, is this okay?" The honest Junior Brother Li's voice weakened, and he asked somewhat awkwardly.

Although they were initially dissatisfied with this parachuted-in steward Lin Chang'an, and even though he was Elder Lu's disciple, he was still an outsider. How could he compare to them who grew up in the sect since childhood?

But now, it seemed that Elder Lu's disciple was quite pleasing to the eye.

"What's not good about it?" Lin Chang'an smiled and stood up, inviting him to sit down. "It's so cold outside, come have a few drinks to warm yourself up first."

At this moment, with a glance from Lin Chang'an, Li Han and Qi Feng beside him nodded in agreement, their faces full of smiles.

"Junior Brother Li, please have some food."

"I've refilled your cup for you."

Under this enthusiastic hospitality, Junior Brother Li was momentarily stunned. He seemed to have forgotten why he had come and ended up joining them in the lively atmosphere at the wine table.

The wind and snow outside grew heavier, heralding the arrival of the new year, and they had also been in this place for half a year.

Ore District.

"Senior Brother Zhang..."

After coming out, Junior Brother Li went straight to the Bronze Ore District and found his Senior Brother Zhang Qing. He then braced himself and relayed Lin Chang'an's words.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Qing's face broke into a smile. Looking out the window at the weary and numb cultivators walking towards the mine entrance, this monotonous scene somehow felt pleasing to the eye.

"Junior Brother Lin really knows how to handle things, haha."

Zhang Qing couldn't help but laugh heartily, and Junior Brother Li behind him cautiously asked, "Senior Brother Zhang, is Lin Chang'an's approach not quite right?"

"Not right?" Zhang Qing glared at the clueless fellow without good grace.

"What do you know? Junior Brother Lin has great talent. He simply doesn't have time for these power games right now. What he wants is far more than just this little bit."

With limited talent, as he matured with age, his youthful ambitions had long since been gradually worn away.

Thinking of this, Zhang Qing couldn't help but sigh with envy. His cultivation had been stagnant for years, wasn't it because he had gradually become greedy for power?

After toiling for so many years, shouldn't he be able to enjoy himself? If his cultivation hadn't been stagnant, he wouldn't have looked down on these things.

"Tell those below to behave themselves. Junior Brother Lin is highly valued by Elder Lu, and what's more!" As Zhang Qing said this, he glanced back and saw the contempt in the other party's eyes, and he couldn't help but sneer.

"This kid is only eighteen and already at the fourth level of Qi Refining. As long as nothing happens, breaking through to late Qi Refining is almost a sure thing. And don't forget, this kid is also an Alchemist, and his talent isn't low."

"With the pills from an Alchemist, for our own people to buy them, or even if you find spiritual herbs and ask Junior Brother Lin to refine them, do you still think it's not important?"

With a light sentence, Junior Brother Li's pupils constricted, and the contempt he held for Lin Chang'an vanished without a trace.

"And you might not need it, but what about your descendants?" Zhang Qing's words immediately made Junior Brother Li completely enlightened.

"Senior Brother Zhang, Junior Brother understands. I will warn the people below. Anyone who dares to look down on Alchemist Lin is looking down on all of us brothers."

The temptation to befriend an Alchemist was too great. Junior Brother Li even patted his chest, his eyes filled with determination.

Thank you all fellow Daoists for your support.