Shi Yu

Chapter 8: Shi Yu

Before long, Shi Yue arrived at the Deacon Hall.

Before he even stepped inside, he could hear a clamor like a bustling market.

The hall was packed with people, three or four hundred of them, all Qi Refining Stage disciples.

The beginning of each month, when routine tasks were assigned, was the busiest day at the Deacon Hall, and also the best day for the deacon disciples to line their pockets. If you had enough Spirit Stones to bribe them, they would naturally give you a cushy task. If you had no Spirit Stones to offer, the dirtiest, hardest labor was yours.

To be honest, Shi Yue had considered bribing Steward Wang, but Steward Wang had an exorbitant appetite, demanding dozens of Spirit Stones outright. Naturally, Shi Yue wouldn't agree to that.

For ease of management, each deacon disciple oversaw a certain number of low-level disciples, responsible for assigning them routine tasks. Unfortunately, Shi Yue happened to fall under Steward Wang's jurisdiction. Unless he cultivated to Qi Refining Level 10, he had to report to Steward Wang every month to receive his task.

Although Shi Yue had broken through to Qi Refining Level 3, his cultivation was still at the bottom among the disciples in the Deacon Hall.

He stood off to the side obediently, waiting until all the senior brothers ahead of him at Steward Wang's desk had left before stepping forward quickly, forcing a smile onto his face. "Steward Wang, I've come to receive my routine task."

"Pick five ten-year-old Blood Ginseng. Ten Spirit Stones," Steward Wang said, glancing at Shi Yue and speaking coldly.

"Steward Wang, I've been picking spirit herbs for over a year now. Could I switch to a different task?" Shi Yue said with a bitter smile upon hearing this.

In recent years, the spirit herbs on the outskirts of the Great Void Mountain Range had been picked clean. Even five-year-old herbs were rare, let alone ten-year-old ones.

Deep in the mountains grew many high-age spirit herbs, but after what happened last time, Shi Yue didn't dare go deep into the mountains to pick herbs anymore. No matter how many Spirit Stones there were, he needed to live to spend them.

"Of course you can. It just depends on whether you know how to play the game," Steward Wang said with a sly smile, a glint of cunning flashing in his eyes.

"How much?" Shi Yue asked, hesitating for a moment before gritting his teeth.

"A hundred Spirit Stones. You'll clean and organize the texts in the Scripture Repository. Ten Spirit Stones a month. It's a long-term task. As long as you don't make any mistakes, you can stay there your whole life. What do you think?" Steward Wang said, still smiling.

"A hundred Spirit Stones? Forget it." Shi Yue's mouth twitched, and he shook his head in refusal.

Not only did he not have a hundred Spirit Stones, even if he did, he wouldn't be willing to trade them for a job. If he paid the Spirit Stones and the uncle-master at the Scripture Repository found some excuse to kick him out, he'd have no one to cry to.

"Hmph. If you're not willing, then what are you still standing here for? Hurry up and find the Blood Ginseng." Steward Wang's smile froze, and his tone turned icy.

Seeing this, Shi Yue swallowed his anger and turned to leave the hall.

Just then, the silver jade plate in Steward Wang's hand emitted a buzzing sound, glowing with white light. When the light faded, a line of small text appeared on it.

"A new task." Steward Wang's face lit up with joy. But when he read the small text, his expression changed. He quickly shouted at Shi Yue, "Shi Yue, come back. That previous task is canceled. I'll assign you a new one."

Shi Yue frowned at this. After a moment's hesitation, he turned and walked back to Steward Wang.

"Go on. What spirit herb do I need to pick?" Shi Yue said flatly. In his mind, Steward Wang was definitely going to give him a harder task with even less reward.

"This time it's not picking herbs. It's planting work. Hmm, tending three acres of fifty-year-old Water Moon Flowers. Water them once every two days. Two Spirit Stones a month. The term is half a year." Steward Wang said with a serious expression.

"What? Only two Spirit Stones a month?" Shi Yue exclaimed in surprise, his face full of disbelief.

Watering three acres of spirit herbs once every two days, and only getting two Spirit Stones a month? The person who issued this task was practically a miser. Shi Yue thought he must have misheard.

"What are you shouting about? It's two Spirit Stones a month. Hmph, this is a task issued by Uncle-Master Zhou Hong." Steward Wang glared at Shi Yue and said sternly.

"Ah! Uncle-Master Zhou Hong?" Shi Yue's mouth twitched involuntarily.

The Great Void Sect had six inner peaks and eighteen outer peaks. The six inner peaks were where Foundation Establishment disciples lived, while the eighteen outer peaks housed Qi Refining disciples. The sect's High-level Cultivators had separate residences, which were the places with the richest spiritual energy in the entire Great Void Sect.

Among the Foundation Establishment disciples on the six inner peaks, two were particularly famous. One was Uncle-Master Yange, who taught the Qi Refining disciples, and the other was Uncle-Master Zhou Hong.

Uncle-Master Zhou Hong was a notorious planting fanatic who grew many kinds of spirit herbs. It was said his spirit fields spanned over ten acres. But he wasn't famous for his skill in planting; he was famous for being stingy.

The tasks issued by Uncle-Master Zhou Hong paid very little, and if you did a poor job, he'd give you a thorough scolding. As a result, many Qi Refining disciples were unwilling to take on tasks from Uncle-Master Zhou Hong.

Because Uncle-Master Zhou Hong's rewards never exceeded three Spirit Stones, many Qi Refining disciples privately called him Zhou Sankuai.

"What 'ah'? Go to Green Cloud Peak right now and report to Uncle-Master Zhou Hong. The largest courtyard is his." Steward Wang shot Shi Yue a glare and ordered in a tone that brooked no argument. With that, he took out a palm-sized green jade token and tossed it to Shi Yue.

To be honest, Shi Yue didn't want to take this task. But since he couldn't come up with a hundred Spirit Stones to bribe Steward Wang, he had no choice but to accept it, whether he liked it or not.

Leaving the Deacon Hall, Shi Yue flew toward Green Cloud Peak on his artifact.

Before long, he arrived near a towering mountain.

This Green Cloud Peak was three to four hundred zhang tall. From halfway up the mountain, layers of white mist spiraled upward. Looking out, the entire mountain was lush and verdant.

The mountain was dotted with pavilions of various sizes and caves with different decorations. One cave in particular stood out, covering over ten acres. The entire cave was shrouded in a layer of white light, obscuring the view inside.

Shi Yue landed in front of the cave gate, took out the green jade token Steward Wang had given him, and infused it with spiritual power. A beam of green light shot out from the token and vanished into the white light.

"Come in." Not long after, a somewhat hoarse voice came from within.

As the voice fell, the white light dissipated, and the courtyard gate swung open.

Seeing this, Shi Yue didn't dare delay and quickly walked inside.

As soon as he entered the courtyard, Shi Yue drew in a sharp breath.

The entire yard was filled with all kinds of spirit herbs. As far as the eye could see, there were colorful medicinal plants. A thick fragrance of medicine hung in the air, and Shi Yue felt invigorated just by smelling it.

There wasn't a single building in the entire yard. Several bluestone paths crisscrossed in a grid pattern, dividing the ten acres of spirit fields into nine sections. Each section was lush and thriving, filled with many spirit herbs Shi Yue had never seen before.

A gaunt middle-aged man stood in front of Shi Yue, watering a patch of white flowers about a foot tall.

"Disciple Shi Yue pays respects to Uncle-Master Zhou." Seeing the middle-aged man, Shi Yue quickly stepped forward and bowed.

"So you're the disciple sent from the Deacon Hall? Your cultivation is far too low!" The middle-aged man scrutinized Shi Yue carefully, frowned, and said with some displeasure.

Hearing this, Shi Yue bitterly laughed to himself. A reward of two Spirit Stones a month—only a fool would be willing to come for that, especially among the more advanced disciples. Of course, he only dared to think it, not say it aloud.

"Forget it, I still have matters to attend to outside. It's just watering, after all." The Middle-aged Man seemed to recall something, shook his head, and muttered to himself.

"Junior Nephew Shi, right? You should know what to do! Actually, it's quite simple. Every two days, you water these Water Moon Flowers once, for at least half an incense stick's time. You don't need to bother with the other spirit herbs." The Middle-aged Man pointed at a large patch of white flowers and spoke slowly.

"Disciple understands. Disciple guarantees to come and water them once every two days," Shi Yue said with a nod.

"Once every two days? No. What if something delays you when you come, or you forget? You'll stay here at my place. The spiritual energy here is far beyond what your dwelling can compare to." The Middle-aged Man shook his head and ordered in a tone that brooked no argument.

"Stay here? But where is the room? Surely Disciple isn't expected to rest sitting on the ground?" Shi Yue was taken aback and spoke with some difficulty.

"Look to your left." The Middle-aged Man said flatly.

Shi Yue turned his head to the left and saw a cave entrance about ten feet wide, with a flight of Stone Steps leading underground, bright light shining from below.

"This..." Seeing this, Shi Yue's mouth twitched.

This Uncle-Master Zhou Hong was truly a planting fanatic. To save space, he had actually built his cave dwelling underground.

"Follow me," Zhou Hong said, leaving behind a single sentence before heading down the Stone Steps.

Shi Yue did not hesitate and quickly followed.

This was a Stone Room about fifty or sixty zhang in size. Moonlight Stones were embedded in the walls, illuminating the entire room brightly.

The layout of the Stone Room was simple. Several emerald green meditation cushions lay on the floor, and to the left stood a Wood Shelf taller than a man, on which were placed some Jade Slips and books.

What left Shi Yue speechless was that on the right side of the Stone Room, dozens of black grass plants about a foot tall were growing, covered by a transparent light barrier.

"This is where you'll rest. Stay here, and every two days, water the Water Moon Flowers once. Remember, the watering time must be at least half an incense stick. Don't touch any other spirit herbs. If I find that even one other herb has withered or gone missing, I will not be lenient. Understand?" Zhou Hong said coldly.

"What if it withers on its own?" Shi Yue muttered quietly.

Though his voice was low, Zhou Hong heard it clearly.

"You can rest assured. Aside from the Water Moon Flowers, I have set up restrictions on all the other spirit herbs. When I return, if the restrictions are intact and a herb has withered, I won't blame you. Otherwise, punishment will be severe." Zhou Hong nodded and explained.

"Yes, Disciple understands," Shi Yue said with a nod. Then, as if remembering something, he pointed at the Wood Shelf and said, "Uncle-Master Zhou, may Disciple look at those texts?"

"As you wish. Be careful when you do—don't tear the paper ones. Alright, if there's nothing else, I'll be going. I've just watered the Water Moon Flowers, so you water them again in two days. Remember, the watering time must be at least half an incense stick." After repeatedly reminding him, Zhou Hong turned and left.

After seeing off Uncle-Master Zhou, Shi Yue closed the courtyard gate and began to stroll along the bluestone path.

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