Transfer

Although carrying water was exhausting, it allowed them to leave the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall and head to the spring in the back mountains.

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

The two collected their buckets, left the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, and headed toward the back mountains.

"Where did you get those things last night?"

"From the Miscellaneous Goods Hall, exchanged with contribution points," Lin Ye said. "Don't worry, no one noticed."

"When did you prepare them?"

"The first day I arrived at the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall," Lin Ye said. "I knew some people wouldn't let things go easily, so I prepared a few little gadgets."

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

"Only by being cautious can one live long," Lin Ye said indifferently.

As they spoke, the two arrived at the spring in the back mountains.

The spring water here was clear, flowing from the heart of the mountain, and contained a trace of spiritual energy.

Lin Ye filled both buckets, but instead of leaving, he walked behind a large rock by the spring and sat down cross-legged.

"What are you doing?" Chen Feng asked.

"Cultivating," Lin Ye said. "The spiritual energy here is denser than at the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall; it would be a waste not to cultivate."

"There's a time limit for carrying water..."

"No rush," Lin Ye closed his eyes. "Head Li told us to fill the water vat, but he didn't say how long it should take. We can perfectly well take our time."

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

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

Then, they continued.

Repeating this, by the end of the day, the water vat was only half full.

When Head Li inspected it, he was so angry he cursed, "You two pieces of trash! You only carried this much in a whole day?"

"Head Li, the mountain paths are rugged, and our cultivation base is too low; we can't go any faster even if we want to," Lin Ye said "ashamedly."

"If it's not full by tomorrow, you'll see what happens!" Head Li threw down the threat and stormed off.

Lin Ye and Chen Feng exchanged a smile.

The next day, they continued to carry water "slowly."

Three days later, the water vat was finally "laboriously" filled.

Head Li had nothing to say, so he assigned them a new task—chopping firewood.

The firewood was Iron Wood, as hard as iron; even those in the Body Tempering Realm found it strenuous to split.

But Lin Ye and Chen Feng still "barely" managed to finish.

Every time, they finished "just in time."

A month passed in this manner.

The two gradually became "veterans" in the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall.

Head Li found them eyesores, but since he couldn't catch them in any wrongdoing, he had to let it go.

Over this month, Lin Ye and Chen Feng had thoroughly figured out the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall.

The chores in the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall were divided into different tiers. The most bitter and exhausting were the hard labor tasks like washing clothes, carrying water, and chopping wood, along with toxic tasks that could easily harm the body, such as washing medicinal herbs, panning for ore, and cleaning manure.

As for the leisurely jobs like guarding the warehouse, watching the gate, or delivering messages, they had long been monopolized by disciples with connections. People like them, who had been sent here as punishment, couldn't even get a foot in the door.

"We need to find a way to perform a meritorious deed," Lin Ye said to Chen Feng that night.

"What kind of merit?" Chen Feng asked.

"The Miscellaneous Affairs Hall has an 'evaluation' every month. Those who perform well get transferred to better positions," Lin Ye said. "The first day of next month is the evaluation day."

"With our performance..." Chen Feng frowned.

"That's why we need to perform a meritorious deed," a sharp glint flashed in Lin Ye's eyes.

"Tomorrow, come with me to the back mountains."

The next day, the two collected their water-carrying tools and arrived at the spring in the back mountains.

However, Lin Ye did not draw water; instead, he led Chen Feng toward the upper reaches of the spring.

The two followed the stream upward until they reached a valley.

The valley was filled with mist.

"This is the Miasma Valley, where demonic beasts roam," Chen Feng warned.

"I know," Lin Ye took two leaves from his robe. "Keep these in your mouth; they can ward off the miasma."

With the leaves in their mouths, the two walked into the valley.

Lin Ye seemed very familiar with this place and soon arrived beneath a cliff face.

On the cliff wall grew a plant that was blood-red from top to bottom.

"Is this a Blood Ganoderma?" Chen Feng was startled.

Blood Ganoderma was a mortal-grade high-tier spiritual herb capable of replenishing blood and qi, with miraculous effects for body tempering; a single stalk was worth over a hundred contribution points.

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

"I discovered it by accident while carrying water last month," Lin Ye said. "There was a demonic beast guarding it at the time, so I didn't dare to move."

"The beast shouldn't be here now." Lin Ye scanned the surroundings. "I've observed it; the one guarding this place is a Blood-patterned Leopard, a peak first-rank demonic beast. Every day at noon, it leaves for an hour to drink water by the stream."

"You want to harvest the Blood Ganoderma and hand it in to earn merit?"

"Correct." Lin Ye nodded. "One Blood Ganoderma is enough for us to be transferred out of hard labor."

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

Chen Feng glanced at him and nodded. "Alright."

The two hid beneath the cliff, waiting quietly.

Before long, a low roar echoed from the distance, and a beastly shadow darted out from the valley, sprinting toward the stream.

"Now!" Lin Ye whispered sharply.

Chen Feng's figure flashed; he instantly scaled the cliff and reached the Blood Ganoderma in a few leaps.

He took out a jade trowel and carefully dug the Blood Ganoderma out by its roots, placing it into a jade box.

The entire process took no more than ten breaths.

"Go!"

The two quickly fled the valley.

Just as they exited the valley mouth, they heard an angry roar from behind.

Without looking back, the two ran for their lives.

They didn't stop until they reached the spring.

"Hoo... hoo..." Chen Feng panted heavily, his eyes filled with excitement.

"Now, let's go back and hand it in," Lin Ye said.

"Wait." Chen Feng suddenly spoke. "One Blood Ganoderma can only earn merit for one person. How do we split it between the two of us?"

"No need to split it." Lin Ye shook his head. "We'll hand it in together and say we discovered it jointly. 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 countered.

Chen Feng shook his head slowly. "No."

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

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

"Head Li, we discovered a Blood Ganoderma in the back mountain and have come to hand it in." Lin Ye presented the jade box.

Head Li opened the box, and his eyes lit up when he saw the Blood Ganoderma. "Blood Ganoderma? It really is! Where did you find this?"

"In the Miasma Valley of the back mountain," Lin Ye said. "We found it by chance while carrying water."

"Good! Good!" Head Li laughed heartily. "With this Blood Ganoderma, we can exceed our quota for this month's mission! You two have performed a great service!"

"This is what a disciple should do," Lin Ye bowed.

"Alright, enough talk." Head Li put away the jade box. "I will report this upward and record your merit. You won't need to perform hard labor for the rest of the month; go help out at the Herb Repository instead!"

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

After leaving Head Li's room, Chen Feng looked at Lin Ye. "You had this planned all along?"

"Yes." Lin Ye nodded. "I discovered the location of the Blood Ganoderma last month. I didn't touch it specifically for today."

"Why today?"

"Because today is the twenty-fifth, and the evaluation day is in five days. Earning merit now is perfect timing," Lin Ye said. "Besides, I observed the Blood-patterned Leopard's habit of leaving at noon for a whole month before I was certain."

Chen Feng looked at him deeply.

Lin Ye smiled. "I just want to survive, and live a little better."

The two returned to their quarters to pack their things, preparing to move to the Herb Repository.

When the other laborers heard they had earned merit and were being transferred to the Herb Repository, they were all filled with envy.

Zhao Xiaosi approached and whispered, "Senior Brother Lin, Senior Brother Chen, congratulations."

"Thank you." Lin Ye nodded, took a small bottle from his robes, and shoved it into Zhao Xiaosi's hand. "There are a few Body Tempering Pills in here. Take them and cultivate well."

Zhao Xiaosi was stunned. "This is too valuable..."

"Just take it." Lin Ye patted his shoulder. "In the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, only by surviving is there hope."

Zhao Xiaosi's eyes reddened, and he nodded heavily. "Thank you, Senior Brother Lin!"

Lin Ye smiled and turned to leave.

He and Chen Feng moved to the Herb Repository.

The Herb Repository was on the east side of the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, an independent small courtyard filled with various medicinal herbs, guarded by dedicated personnel.

Their work was simple: organize the herbs, record them into the inventory, and keep them dry.

It was easy, clean, and offered more opportunities to learn about medicinal herbs.

The Herb Repository even had separate living quarters, with two people to a room.

"Finally, a decent place to stay." Chen Feng looked at the clean and tidy room, letting 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 said calmly. "Zhao Liang won't let this go, and the Herb Repository isn't absolutely safe."

"What do you plan to do?"

"Continue cultivating and accumulate strength." Lin Ye looked out the window. "In the face of absolute strength, all schemes and tricks are nothing but paper tigers."

"We need time." Chen Feng said.

"Then we shall fight for that time." Lin Ye turned to look at Chen Feng. "In the Herb Repository, we can access herbs and have the chance to learn alchemy."

"You want to learn alchemy?"

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

"Alright, I'll help you." Chen Feng said. "I know an outer sect disciple in the Alchemy Hall who can get hold of basic alchemy manuals."

"Thanks."

"We are partners." Chen Feng emphasized.

Night fell, and Lin Ye sat cross-legged on the bed, beginning his cultivation.

As the Azure Origin Technique circulated, the rich spiritual energy of the Herb Repository was drawn into his body, transforming into pure true energy.

His cultivation at the seventh level of Body Tempering was steadily improving.

His points were also slowly accumulating.

He was only three points away from three hundred.

"Three hundred points. I can either deduce a Mortal-grade high-tier martial art or continue upgrading the Azure Origin Technique."

Lin Ye closed his eyes and immersed himself in cultivation.

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

"Useless! You couldn't even keep an eye on two miscellaneous laborers! You even let them earn merit and get transferred to the Herb Repository!" Zhao Liang's face was grim.

"Senior Brother Zhao, I didn't expect this either." Head Li said with a bitter face. "They got lucky and found a Blood Ganoderma; there was nothing I could do."

"Luck?" Zhao Liang sneered. "Once is luck, but twice or three times is strength."

"Then what should we do now?"

"The Herb Repository..." A ruthless glint flashed in Zhao Liang's eyes. "It's the perfect place to borrow a knife to kill."

"You mean..."

"Yes." Zhao Liang nodded. "Zhou Bapi is the manager of the Herb Repository, famous for being stingy and greedy. Go find him tomorrow and tell him that Lin Ye and Chen Feng have plenty of wealth on them, and ask him to 'take good care' of them."

"Yes!" Head Li nodded hurriedly.

Zhao Liang stood up, walked to the window, and looked toward the Herb Repository, cold light flickering in his eyes.

"Lin Ye, do you think you're safe just because you left the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall?"

"This is only the beginning."

The night wind blew, carrying a chill.

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

He felt a sense of malice spreading.

"Is it coming..."