Chapter 38: Little Cui Plain 1

Little Jade Flat 1 (First Update, Please Bookmark)

Ever since Hu Donghan had killed that servant who had leaked information a month ago, the new servant assigned to him by the servant overseer had proven to be truly quick-witted. Every day, he calculated Hu Donghan's waking and lunchtime schedules, always delivering whatever Hu Donghan wanted at the proper time according to his instructions.

This servant possessed inferior three-spirit roots. Because his Household lived in a remote village, he had not taken part when the Yin Soul Sect selected disciples. Later, after leaving his little village, he happened upon a fortunate opportunity and entered the Yin Soul Sect as a servant.

He had been fifteen when he joined the Yin Soul Sect. Five years had passed, and he was now twenty. His cultivation had reached the peak of the fifth level of Qi Refining; he was only two steps away from breaking through into the Late Qi Refining Realm and becoming an outer sect disciple of the Yin Soul Sect. But so long as he had not broken through, he would remain a servant! Moreover, he truly possessed the awareness expected of a servant. Over this past month, Hu Donghan had found him increasingly handy to command. From Hu Donghan's observations, the servant was clever yet honest and loyal. All this time, he had worked without complaint or resentment, never leaking any information about Hu Donghan.

"If I'm taking a servant along, this fellow would be quite suitable."

As Hu Donghan pondered this, he narrowed his eyes slightly and suddenly asked, "What is your name?"

The servant froze for a moment before cautiously replying, "My name is Niu Ergen. Martial Uncle Hu, did I do something wrong? Could you please not tell the servant overseer? Otherwise, I'll be driven out of the Yin Soul Sect."

"No." Hu Donghan shook his head, then said, "I merely wanted to ask whether you would like to accompany me to the Little Jade Flat herb fields."

"Go... go to the herb fields?" The servant went blank. His expression looked rather dull, but his eyes spun restlessly.

Hu Donghan nodded. "That's right. I accepted the herb field assignment at Overlapping Peaks. Starting tomorrow, I'll be responsible for guarding the herb fields. You have been specifically serving me these past days, and I'm quite satisfied. So, if you are willing, you may accompany me to Little Jade Flat. Of course, if you are unwilling, I will not force you! What do you say?"

Herb fields! These were herb fields! Going to the herb fields could be called one of the places all servants most longed to go!

Now that Hu Donghan wanted to take him to the herb fields, Niu Ergen only weighed it briefly before immediately nodding and saying delightedly, "In reply to Martial Uncle, this disciple is willing!"

"Good!" Hu Donghan nodded. Niu Ergen could be said to be the first person he had recruited since entering the Yin Soul Sect. "Since you are going with me to the herb fields, hurry and make your preparations. If there is anything you need to pack and bring, settle it quickly..."

Niu Ergen immediately said, "This disciple owns nothing of value. All my belongings are packed on me. I can leave with Martial Uncle Hu at any time."

"Then that is good. Come with me now. As for the servant overseer... find time another day to go and inform him yourself." Hu Donghan was quite satisfied. With Niu Ergen following behind him, he left the outer sect disciples' courtyard.

Although the Little Jade Flat herb fields were also located on Overlapping Peaks, there were not many people there. They first left Overlapping Peaks' mountain gate, then climbed along a mountain cableway, switched to mountain paths afterward, and finally arrived at Little Jade Flat, located halfway up the mountain.

The instant they set foot on Little Jade Flat, several servant disciples gathered around them. From the looks of it, they had intended to question them. But when they saw Hu Donghan's attire, their momentum immediately weakened. In low voices, they asked, "Th-this Martial Uncle, may we ask why Martial Uncle has come?"

Hu Donghan's gaze swept across the servant disciples one by one. Only then did he take out the token given to him by the Outer Affairs Hall deacon and say coldly, "From today onward, the Little Jade Flat herb fields are under my care. Immediately summon all the other servants for me!"

"Ah? Yes!" One servant answered, then bowed as he backed away and turned to pass on the message.

Before long, all twelve servants from the Little Jade Flat herb fields had assembled.

Once the twelve servants had gathered, they first bowed to Hu Donghan together. Hu Donghan frowned, then looked toward the two people standing at the front of the servants and asked coldly, "You two are the servant leaders?"

No matter where one was, even among servants, there would be a certain hierarchy. Some servants with great strength and capability would naturally become the leading sheep among the flock. Such things were quite common.

Joy appeared on the faces of the two servants who had been singled out. They hurriedly answered, "We cannot be called leaders. It is only that our brothers usually think highly of us."

"Good. You two may leave now!" Hu Donghan ordered directly, his face cold.

"Ah?" The joy on the two servants' faces instantly turned into shock—they had originally thought Hu Donghan wanted to identify the leaders among them and entrust them with important duties! Who could have expected that they would instead be driven away outright?

Hu Donghan's expression was grim as frost as he said coldly, "What? You two cannot understand me? I am now the disciple in charge of the Little Jade Flat herb fields, and I have the authority to deal with all personnel matters here! You two, get the hell out right now! Otherwise..."

Hu Donghan wore the robes of a law enforcement disciple and had spoken such harsh words once more. The two servant disciples did not even dare entertain thoughts of resistance. They merely gritted their teeth in resentment and walked down the mountain path out of Little Jade Flat.

Watching the two servants leave, the remaining servants were all deeply alarmed—they twelve had been brought here by Hu Donghan's predecessor, that pitiful fellow who possessed a Medicinal-Scent Ghost. Yet that pitiful fellow had died just after bringing them here, leaving the twelve of them naturally stranded neither high nor low.

In Hu Donghan's eyes, although these twelve had been selected by his predecessor, they had only spent a few days with him and could not be considered close confidants at all. Now that Hu Donghan had succeeded him, it did not matter if he continued using them. However, Hu Donghan could tolerate their continued presence, but he absolutely could not tolerate them forming cliques among themselves!

Hu Donghan only needed people who would carry out his orders with absolute strictness. He had no need for people who made decisions on their own. Those two leaders, in Hu Donghan's eyes, were two calamities!

In the future, Hu Donghan would certainly use the Medicine Spirit Ghost to cultivate spirit herbs. Within his territory, no one absolutely could be allowed to come or go! Otherwise, if anyone saw the strange phenomena within that area, it would become troublesome. And since those two could lead the other servants, they naturally had some ability. If they acted on their own, casually disturbed Hu Donghan, or tried to curry favor with him, Hu Donghan would be thoroughly displeased!

Killing them to silence them would certainly be simple, but the subsequent investigation would give Hu Donghan a headache. Even law enforcement disciples would be investigated for killing servants!

This was also why Hu Donghan thought Niu Ergen was a good fellow and had been willing to bring him along.

(End of Chapter)