Appointment and Settlement

Yue Shuo's mind raced.

A family fortune, longevity, or fighting and killing?

First, longevity.

At his age, no one would believe he truly craved that, and besides, he had his own means of extending his lifespan.

Earning a family fortune meant caring for his family over the long term, and naturally serving the Qin Clan.

The former seemed selfish, while the latter could be used.

As for fighting and killing—

Yue Shuo had absolutely no such thoughts at present.

If he chose that, he might have to constantly fight on the front lines from now on.

Of those from Lesser Desolate Island who had joined the Qin Clan as guest disciples years ago, not a single one had lived out their natural lifespan.

"I want to... earn a little more family fortune..."

Yue Shuo lowered his head awkwardly.

Smack!

The old man tossed one of the cultivation manuals to him.

"Cultivate this one!"

Yue Shuo caught it and looked.

The manual was called the Wood Essence Art. Without bothering to read the panel's contents any further, he tucked the booklet away and thanked the old man.

His trusting attitude slightly improved the old man's opinion of him.

The old man casually offered another pointer.

"Take on another mu of Spirit Field to cultivate. Be diligent. If you can harvest ten Gathering Spirit Grass plants in the first year, exchange them for a Spirit Carp first to increase your cultivation and reach Qi Refining Level One."

Seeing the child nod hard—

"Oh, right. Take this Treatise on Spirit Plants too!"

He fished out a small booklet from beneath the table and tossed it to Yue Shuo.

"Once you reach Qi Refining Level One, you can remain on Hemu Island. You can also pay the Spirit Field rent once every two years..."

At this point, the old man seemed to feel that he had said too much.

He waved Yue Shuo away.

"If there's anything you don't understand, ask your personal servant. If he wants to stay on this island with you for the long term, he'll do his utmost to assist you!"

"He'll also collect your daily supplies for you! Off you go!"

Yue Shuo was not thin-skinned, so he hurriedly asked, "Then where do I collect the Spirit Field and seeds...?"

"Take this next door!"

The old man marked something on his token, tossed it back, and pointed toward a side door a dozen or so steps away.

Yue Shuo could only obediently take the token.

He stuffed the manual and booklets into his clothes and jogged into the quiet room beyond the side door.

Inside, someone was sprawled over a long desk, sleeping soundly.

Yue Shuo had not yet decided whether to wake him.

But as soon as Yue Shuo approached, the man woke up.

"A newcomer this diligent? What appointment did you take?" Yue Shuo hurried forward and presented his token with both hands.

He quickly sized the man up.

His complexion was pale and he looked listless, his hair and beard were disheveled, and he seemed rather careless about appearances. Put simply, he looked quite slovenly.

A slovenly High Person?

Whether the old man earlier or this man was some mysterious High Person, Yue Shuo maintained his respect throughout.

One could never fault excessive courtesy.

"One mu of Spirit Field..."

"Planning to become a planter in the future? Good choice!" The slovenly cultivator, who looked far from young himself, was quite friendly.

Then he pulled out a plaque, a small bag, and a booklet from behind him.

He motioned for Yue Shuo to take them, wrote a few things in his own book, then said to Yue Shuo:

"Before January next year, remember to hand over three Gathering Spirit Grass plants or ten Spirit Stones. That is the Spirit Field rent. The latter is also the minimum annual expense required to maintain one mu of Spirit Field!"

"Only in your first year of appointment are the seeds free, and only the basic costs charged!"

"Starting from the second year, you may choose between two cultivation profit-sharing arrangements: first, the Spirit Plant Hall provides the seeds and covers the expenses, while you receive twenty percent of the Spirit Field's yield!"

"Second, you bear the cost of seeds and expenses yourself, independently renting the Spirit Field and paying its rent!"

"Of course, from the second year onward, there is no newcomer discount. The rent for one mu of Spirit Field is fifty Spirit Stones!"

Yue Shuo memorized all this and asked:

"Will the island purchase what the Spirit Field produces?"

The slovenly cultivator smiled.

"We will! Of course we will!"

"You can bring spirit plants and spirit grain directly here to the External Affairs Pavilion!"

"You can also sell them to Qin Clan shops in the market. The prices are the same on both sides, and your planting contribution will be recorded as well!"

"Of course, you can sell them on the black market too..."

The slovenly cultivator's expression turned slightly strange.

"However, within five years, your planting contribution must reach a certain standard if you wish to continue renting Spirit Fields!"

"Any more questions?"

Seeing that the man was easy to talk to, Yue Shuo asked the slovenly cultivator about a few other matters.

In the end, the man could not help yawning and chased him away.

"Quite eager to learn..."

After leaving a faint impression on the two Qin Clan stewards—

Yue Shuo left the External Affairs Pavilion.

He exchanged only a few words with the others.

Everyone was eager to return and cultivate. Only the two illiterate youths stayed behind to learn how to read.

Led by Gu Jiu—

Yue Shuo first found the place where he would temporarily reside on Hemu Island for the coming year.

There were not many people along the way. Occasionally, he saw a few figures flash past in the distance at astonishing speed, but no one stopped to question him.

Hemu Island was not as bustling or populous as Little Hemmu Island.

At least, since disembarking, he had not seen many people in total.

The External Affairs Pavilion was not far from where they had disembarked. After leaving it, Yue Shuo was led onward for about half an hour before reaching the place.

This was an area in Little Brook Valley, where several mu of Spirit Fields had been opened up.

At a slightly higher spot stood a stone-brick courtyard that was not particularly rundown.

There were no other residential courtyards nearby.

"Because you accepted an appointment, you were allowed to choose your residence. When you did not come out, this lowly one chose this place for you. If you do not like it..."

"No! It's quite good!"

Yue Shuo did not suppress Gu Jiu's initiative.

He was only twelve now, a newly arrived guest disciple who was unfamiliar with the place. He had a young face and no cultivation.

There was no rush to display both kindness and authority.

He would use Gu Jiu if he was useful, and replace him if he was not.

For now, entering cultivation was the most important thing!

"Wasn't my Spirit Field only one mu?" Yue Shuo swept his gaze around. The cultivated land in the valley was far more than one mu.

His family had fields too.

He knew that a mu here was roughly four to five hundred square meters.

It was an area of two paces by one hundred paces.

Of course, the size was not truly precise. It was a little smaller than the standard 666-square-meter mu he remembered.

"These are all Spirit Fields still being nurtured. Later, someone will come to measure your field and set up an array for you..."

Gu Jiu respectfully followed Yue Shuo to the entrance of the small courtyard on the slope.

Up close, the courtyard was not small. Its walls were gray-white, and it was divided into two sections. The front yard was somewhat smaller, with two and a half brick rooms built there, while the rear yard had three rows of rooms, one large and two small.

There was also a well.

It would be no problem for a large family of more than ten people to live here.

"You have already received the array activation plaque and seeds at the External Affairs Pavilion, as well as a book on planting spells..." At the mention of spells, obvious envy appeared in Gu Jiu's eyes.

After entering, they toured the clean main room and inner chamber.

Some daily necessities had already been placed inside.

Their quality was better than those at home.

Yue Shuo had Gu Jiu clean up, then wait outside the courtyard for the person who would come measure the field and set up the array. He also casually arranged for him to stay in the little room by the front courtyard gate.

After instructing him not to disturb him—

Yue Shuo entered the inner chamber. Once seated, he took out the five items he had collected from the External Affairs Pavilion and examined them one by one.

One cultivation manual, the Wood Essence Art, and one Treatise on Spirit Plants.

One copy of the Three Planting Arts.

One array plaque, and one small cloth bag half-filled with seeds.

At first, he had thought it was a storage bag. He had even asked the slovenly cultivator about it, only to be ridiculed. He was not even a cultivator yet—what use could he have for a storage bag?

Examining the items calmed Yue Shuo's heart.

He closed his eyes briefly, then checked the detailed contents of the cultivation manual on his character panel once more.