Chapter Fourteen: Transferred

Although hauling water was exhausting, it let them leave the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall and head to the spring in the rear mountains.

The spiritual energy there was dense, making it ideal for cultivation.

The two collected their buckets, left the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, and headed for the rear mountains.

"Where did you get all those things you used last night?"

"From the Miscellaneous Goods Hall. I traded contribution points for them," Lin Ye said. "Don't worry, nobody noticed."

"When did you prepare them?"

"On my first day at the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall." Lin Ye said, "I knew someone wouldn't let things go, so I prepared a few little tricks."

Chen Feng was silent for a moment. "You're even more cautious than I thought."

"Being cautious is how you stay alive longer," Lin Ye said calmly.

As they talked, the two arrived at the spring in the rear mountains.

The spring water was clear, flowing out from deep within the mountain and containing a trace of spiritual energy.

Lin Ye filled both buckets, but didn't leave. Instead, he walked behind a large boulder beside the spring, sat cross-legged, and began to meditate.

"What are you doing?" Chen Feng asked.

"Practicing," Lin Ye said. "The spiritual energy here is denser than at the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall. It'd be a waste not to cultivate."

"We have a time limit for hauling water..."

"No rush." Lin Ye closed his eyes. "Head Li told us to fill the water tanks, but he never said how long we had. We can take our time."

Chen Feng looked at him, then set down his buckets and sat nearby to cultivate as well.

Half an hour later, the two stood and hauled the water back to the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall.

Then they did it all over again.

They kept at it, and by the end of the day, they had only filled the water tank halfway.

When Head Li inspected it, he exploded with rage. "You two good-for-nothings! This is all you managed to haul in one day?"

"Head Li, the mountain path is rugged, and our cultivation is too low. We can't go any faster," Lin Ye said with an "ashamed" look.

"If you haven't filled it by tomorrow, you'll be sorry!" Head Li barked before storming off.

Lin Ye and Chen Feng exchanged a smile.

The next day, they continued hauling water "slowly."

Three days later, they had finally "struggled" to fill the water tank.

Head Li had nothing to say. He gave them another job: chopping wood.

The wood was "Iron Wood," hard as iron. Even a Body Tempering cultivator would have a hard time splitting it.

Still, Lin Ye and Chen Feng "managed" to get the job done.

Every time, they "just barely" finished.

A month passed like this.

The two gradually became "old hands" at the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall.

Head Li couldn't stand the sight of them, but he couldn't find anything to pin on them, so he had to let it go.

Over the past month, Lin Ye and Chen Feng had gotten the lay of the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall.

The work there was divided into different ranks. The hardest, most exhausting jobs were the grueling labor of washing clothes, hauling water, and chopping wood, along with harmful chores like washing medicine, sorting ore, and cleaning out manure.

As for easy jobs like guarding the storehouse, watching the gate, or delivering messages, they had long since been claimed by disciples with connections. People like them, who had been sent there as punishment, didn't stand a chance of getting them.

"We need to find a way to earn merit," Lin Ye said to Chen Feng that night.

"What kind of merit?" Chen Feng asked.

"The Miscellaneous Affairs Hall holds a monthly 'evaluation.' Those who do well get transferred to better posts." Lin Ye said, "The next evaluation is on the first day of next month."

"Given how we've been doing..." Chen Feng frowned.

"That's why we need to earn merit." A glint flashed in Lin Ye's eyes.

"Come with me to the rear mountains tomorrow."

The next day, the two took the water-hauling assignment and went to the spring in the rear mountains.

But Lin Ye didn't draw any water. Instead, he led Chen Feng upstream along the spring.

They followed the stream uphill until they reached a valley.

Mist swirled through the valley.

"This is Miasma Valley. Demonic beasts roam here," Chen Feng warned.

"I know." Lin Ye took two leaves from his robes. "Keep these in your mouths. They'll ward off the miasma."

With the leaves in their mouths, the two entered the valley.

Lin Ye seemed familiar with the place. Soon, he led them to the foot of a cliff.

A plant with a deep-red body grew on the cliff face.

"Is that Blood Ganoderma?" Chen Feng exclaimed.

Blood Ganoderma was a high-grade mortal-rank spirit herb. It replenished qi and blood and was highly effective for Body Tempering. A single one was worth over a hundred contribution points.

"How did you know it was growing here?" Chen Feng looked at Lin Ye.

"I spotted it by chance while hauling water last month," Lin Ye said. "A demonic beast was guarding it then, so I didn't dare touch it."

"The beast should be gone now." Lin Ye scanned their surroundings. "I've been watching. The one guarding this place is a Blood-patterned Leopard, a peak first-level demonic beast. Every day at noon, it leaves for an hour to drink from the stream."

"You want to gather the Blood Ganoderma and turn it in for merit?"

"That's right." Lin Ye nodded. "One Blood Ganoderma will be enough to get us transferred away from the grueling labor."

"We have to be quick." Lin Ye looked at Chen Feng. "You go gather it. I'll keep watch."

Chen Feng glanced at him and nodded. "All right."

The two hid beneath the cliff and waited quietly.

Before long, a low growl sounded in the distance. A beast's shadow darted out of the valley and raced toward the stream.

"Now!" Lin Ye whispered.

Chen Feng darted forward, scaling the cliff in an instant. In a few leaps, he reached the Blood Ganoderma.

He took out a jade shovel and carefully dug up the Blood Ganoderma, roots and all, then placed it in a jade box.

The whole process took no more than ten breaths.

"Go!"

The two quickly left the valley.

As soon as they emerged from the entrance, an enraged roar sounded behind them.

Without looking back, they sprinted away.

They didn't stop until they reached the spring.

"Huff... huff..." Chen Feng panted, excitement shining in his eyes.

"Now, let's go turn it in," Lin Ye said.

"Wait." Chen Feng suddenly spoke. "A single Blood Ganoderma can only earn merit for one person. How are we going to split it?"

"No need to split it." Lin Ye shook his head. "We'll turn it in together and say we found it as a team. That way, we can both earn merit."

Chen Feng looked at him. "Aren't you afraid I'll keep it all for myself?"

"Would you?" Lin Ye asked in return.

Chen Feng shook his head. "No."

"Then that's settled," Lin Ye said. "Let's go."

The two returned to the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall and went straight to find Head Li.

"Head Li, we found a Blood Ganoderma in the rear mountains and came to turn it in." Lin Ye handed him the jade box.

Head Li opened it and saw the Blood Ganoderma. His eyes lit up. "Blood Ganoderma? It really is! Where did you find it?"

"In Miasma Valley in the rear mountains," Lin Ye said. "We came across it by chance while hauling water."

"Good! Good!" Head Li laughed. "This Blood Ganoderma will let us exceed this month's quota! You two have earned great merit!"

"It's only what we should do," Lin Ye said, bowing.

"All right, enough with the formalities." Head Li put away the jade box. "I'll report this to my superiors and have you credited with the merit. You won't have to do any more grueling labor for the rest of the month. Go help out at the Herb Repository!"

"Thank you, Head Li!" the two said in unison.

After leaving Head Li's room, Chen Feng looked at Lin Ye. "You planned this from the start?"

"Mm." Lin Ye nodded. "I found the Blood Ganoderma last month, but I left it untouched until today."

"Why today?"

"Because today is the twenty-fifth, and the evaluation is in five days. Earning merit now is perfect timing." Lin Ye said, "Besides, I watched the Blood-patterned Leopard leave at noon every day for a month before I was sure."

Chen Feng gave him a long look.

Lin Ye smiled. "I just want to stay alive and live a little better."

The two returned to their quarters, packed their things, and prepared to move to the Herb Repository.

When the other odd-job disciples heard they had earned merit and were being transferred to the Herb Repository, they were all envious.

Zhao Xiaosi came over and said softly, "Senior Brother Lin, Senior Brother Chen, congratulations."

"Thanks." Lin Ye nodded, took a small bottle from inside his robe, and pressed it into Zhao Xiaosi's hand. "There are a few Body Tempering Pills inside. Take them, and cultivate well."

Zhao Xiaosi froze. "These are too valuable..."

"Take them." Lin Ye patted his shoulder. "At the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, staying alive is the only way to have hope."

Zhao Xiaosi's eyes reddened. He nodded firmly. "Thank you, Senior Brother Lin!"

Lin Ye smiled and turned to leave.

He and Chen Feng moved to the Herb Repository.

The Herb Repository stood in a separate courtyard east of the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall. It was piled high with all kinds of medicinal herbs and had staff assigned to watch over it.

Their work was simple: sort the herbs, record incoming supplies, and keep everything dry.

It was easy, clean, and gave them more chances to learn about medicinal herbs.

The Herb Repository also had its own living quarters, with two people to a room.

"We finally have somewhere decent to stay." Chen Feng looked around the clean, tidy room and let out a sigh of relief.

"Mm." Lin Ye nodded and set down his luggage.

"We made it out," Chen Feng said.

"Only for now." Lin Ye remained calm. "Zhao Liang won't let this go, and the Herb Repository isn't completely safe either."

"What are you going to do?"

"Keep cultivating and build up our strength." Lin Ye gazed out the window. "In the face of absolute strength, every scheme and trick is just a paper tiger."

"We need time," Chen Feng said.

"Then we'll fight to buy it." Lin Ye turned and looked at Chen Feng. "At the Herb Repository, we can handle medicinal herbs and have a chance to learn alchemy."

"You want to learn alchemy?"

"Mm." Lin Ye nodded. "I have a 'talent' for it."

"All right. I'll help you," Chen Feng said. "I know an outer disciple in the Alchemy Hall. He can get us a basic alchemy manual."

"Thanks."

"We're partners," Chen Feng stressed.

Night fell. Lin Ye sat cross-legged on his bed and began to cultivate.

The Azure Origin Technique circulated, drawing in the Herb Repository's dense spiritual energy and transforming it into pure true qi.

His seventh-level Body Tempering cultivation steadily improved.

His points were slowly accumulating too.

Only three more until he reached three hundred.

"With three hundred points, I can deduce a high-grade mortal-rank martial skill or continue improving the Azure Origin Technique."

Lin Ye closed his eyes and sank into cultivation.

What he didn't know was that, at that very moment, someone was in Head Li's room at the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall.

"Useless! You couldn't even keep an eye on two odd-job disciples! Now they've earned merit and been transferred to the Herb Repository!" Zhao Liang's face was grim.

"Senior Brother Zhao, I didn't expect this either." Head Li grimaced. "They were lucky enough to find a Blood Ganoderma. There was nothing I could do."

"Lucky?" Zhao Liang sneered. "Once is luck. Twice or three times, and it's skill."

"Then what do we do now?"

"The Herb Repository..." A ruthless glint flashed in Zhao Liang's eyes. "This is the perfect chance to get someone else to kill them."

"You mean..."

"That's right." Zhao Liang nodded. "Zhou Bapi manages the Herb Repository, and he's famous for being mean and greedy. Go see him tomorrow. Tell him Lin Ye and Chen Feng have plenty of fat to squeeze out of them, and to 'look after' them properly."

"Yes!" Head Li nodded quickly.

Zhao Liang stood and walked to the window. He stared in the direction of the Herb Repository, a cold gleam in his eyes.

"Lin Ye, did you think you'd be safe after leaving the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall?"

"This is only the beginning."

The night wind blew past, carrying a chill.

Inside the Herb Repository, Lin Ye suddenly opened his eyes and looked out the window.

He felt a wave of malice spreading toward him.

"So it's started..."