The New Steward

What?

Everyone was startled when they heard this.

This man was actually the new steward of Waste Hall?

After He Steward left, Waste Hall had been without a steward.

Over the past few days, the sect had transferred another steward over.

But this steward was a little too...

Everyone could not help frowning.

This steward was clearly a ruthless character. The moment he arrived, he treated them so brutally.

The days ahead would probably be hard.

Xu Yan swept a cold gaze across everyone in Waste Hall.

"I don't care what you were like before, but now that I'm here, everything must be done my way. You all have to follow my rules."

"Otherwise..."

He pointed at the burly man lying on the ground.

"He will be next. And next time, I won't hold back at all. It depends on whether you can withstand a palm strike from me. Heh heh."

As he spoke, he let out a cold laugh, and spiritual power spilled from his body.

A wave of pressure instantly shrouded the entire area.

Most of these Waste Hall disciples were only at the early or middle stages of Body Tempering. How could they withstand Xu Yan's pressure?

They were immediately frightened into trembling.

Xu Yan was extremely satisfied when he saw this.

He then announced his rules.

"From today onward, Waste Hall disciples must get up at five in the morning every day and work for me until eleven at night before they can rest. Other than mealtimes, no one is allowed to leave their work area without cause. Violators will be severely punished without exception!"

Everyone's expressions changed when they heard this.

Five in the morning to eleven at night?

Even a production brigade's donkey was not worked like that!

At that moment, a young menial disciple could not help asking,

"With such long working hours, where are we supposed to find that much work?"

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"That's right. The sect only has so much waste to clean up every day. There's simply no need to work for that long. There isn't that much work."

"Humph!"

Xu Yan sneered.

"That useless fool surnamed He was simply too good to you before. There's so much work in the sect—are you blind to it? Is cleaning up waste the only thing you can do?"

"Starting today, your Waste Hall will not only clean up the sect's waste and handle miscellaneous tasks, but also take on every other assignment the sect sends your way. In short, you must come the moment you're called. There can be no mistakes!"

Everyone's faces changed at once.

So this was why he was piling so much extra work onto them?

"But Steward, that clearly isn't Waste Hall's work. Why should we do it?"

"Why?"

Xu Yan sneered.

"Because you're a bunch of trash. If trash doesn't work, what meaning is there in keeping it here?"

His words were so grating that everyone clenched their teeth in fury.

Yet because of his formidable strength, they did not dare argue back.

"There's another question."

Xu Yan said impatiently,

"Speak. So much nonsense. Trash, and full of nonsense too."

That disciple asked,

"We Waste Hall disciples need to cultivate as well. Now that every moment of the entire day is being used for work, how are we supposed to cultivate?"

"Cultivate?"

Xu Yan looked as though he had heard the funniest joke in the world.

He said,

"Trash like you, with such garbage talent, still dreams of cultivating? What use is your cultivation? You waste time, waste air, and waste resources!"

"Look at you old men!"

He pointed at several older disciples whose temples had turned gray.

"You've cultivated here for decades and are still trash in the Body Tempering Realm. Is that useful? Is it useful? Tell me!"

And another thing!

Xu Yan continued,

"Starting today, every one of your monthly stipends will be reduced from four spirit stones to two!"

What!

Everyone's brows furrowed even tighter.

Had Xu Yan come here to be a steward, or to stir up trouble?

He was driving them straight into the ground!

Several hot-blooded menial disciples immediately shouted,

"Steward, if the sect treats us like this, then I'd rather not stay in Waste Hall!"

"That's right, I'm not staying either!"

Another young disciple shouted loudly as well,

"Treating us like this here is worse than treating us like pigs and dogs! Why should I keep swallowing it? Starting today, I'm going down the mountain!"

"Going down the mountain?"

Xu Yan fell silent for two seconds, then suddenly attacked those disciples without any warning.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Several palm strikes flew out, sending all those disciples flying. They crashed to the ground and coughed up blood.

Everyone was horrified.

Xu Yan stood with his hands behind his back and looked down at them.

"Without my permission, no one may go down the mountain! Starting today, whether you people want to work in Waste Hall or not, you will work! I said it already—anyone who dares disobey will face only one outcome!"

After that, no one dared speak again.

They ground their teeth in hatred, yet did not dare voice another complaint.

Those disciples lying on the ground were the example.

Just then, the steward swept his gaze around and said,

"Eh, why are you still missing one person? Where is that Li Ping'an? Why isn't he here?"

Everyone remained silent.

"Humph, still refusing to speak? Fine. If no one can tell me where he is today, then none of you will eat lunch!"

At that moment, a voice sounded from outside.

"Who's looking for this old man?"

Li Ping'an was already standing at the door.

He was carrying several oil-paper parcels in his hands.

He had just returned from the foot of the mountain when he saw a sharp-chinned, monkey-faced fellow lording it over everyone in Waste Hall and even injuring Waste Hall disciples.

That was far too arrogant.

When Xu Yan saw Li Ping'an, he immediately sized him up from head to toe.

He asked,

"You're Li Ping'an?"

"That would be this old man."

Li Ping'an's tone was calm, neither hurried nor slow.

"Since that is so, why didn't you greet this steward when you saw me?"

Xu Yan shouted angrily.

Li Ping'an's expression remained calm.

"What steward? Where did this steward come from?"

Xu Yan said with some irritation,

"Me! I am the new steward of your Waste Hall! From now on, all your work must follow my orders! Without my permission, no one may leave the mountain privately. Did you hear me?"

"Oh."

Li Ping'an nodded faintly.

"So you're the new steward. I thought some family's dog had not been tied up properly and ran into our Waste Hall to bark wildly."

"What did you say?!"

Xu Yan had never imagined that Li Ping'an would dare provoke him so openly.

Especially in front of so many Waste Hall disciples.

He flew into a rage and raised his palm to strike Li Ping'an.

Yet Li Ping'an did not panic in the slightest.

He was now at the second level of Qi Refining. Having consumed quite a few pills, his blood and qi were vigorous and abundant, already comparable to an ordinary fifth- or sixth-level Qi Refiner.

Facing Xu Yan's incoming palm, Li Ping'an lightly twisted his feet, and spiritual power blossomed from his body.

With ease, he dissipated the spiritual power ripples released by that palm strike into nothingness.

Xu Yan's pupils contracted slightly at the sight.

It seemed he had underestimated this old man.

The old man had actually evaded his palm so easily. He had some skill.

But so what?

The corner of Xu Yan's mouth curled slightly as he sneered,

"Li Ping'an, don't think that just because you defeated Zhen Xin in the arena and have a little strength, you can do whatever you please before this steward!"

"This steward was appointed as the steward of Waste Hall by the sect itself!"

"If you dare sing a different tune from me and oppose me, that is defying the sect's orders, and you will receive severe punishment. Do you understand?"