Zhou Yanwei

Seeing that Senior Brother Zhou had already begun attending to others, Jiang Yang said nothing for the moment and started browsing the Dao Register.

Though called a register, it turned out to be a magical artifact when he held it.

The volume shimmered, its pages like silk, warm and smooth to the touch. It felt nothing like an ordinary book.

Apart from the Flying Boat he had ridden, this was Jiang Yang's first proper encounter with a magical artifact. He carefully opened a page and looked it over.

"Rain Marsh Peak: one urgently needed to guard Chuanwu Market Ward."

"Craft Peak: twelve furnace workers."

"Cold Creek Valley: three spirit plant grower positions remaining."

"Pill Spring Island: furnace attendants and fire fanners fully staffed."

"..."

"Dawn Rain Peak: seven positions remaining for planting and tending spirit bamboo."

The sight broadened Jiang Yang's horizons. A single page listed dozens of duties in rows and columns, some glowing, others dim. Within the circles drawn in vermilion ink, the vacancies and numbers required were recorded in detail.

They ranged from pills, artifacts, talismans, and formations to cultivating spirit plants, guarding Market Wards, slaying demons, and capturing beasts, to name but a few.

Liang Jing really wasn't lying. There's a job planting spirit bamboo after all. Dawn Rain Peak...

Jiang Yang swept his gaze down and found the inside information Liang Jing had mentioned on the very bottom line.

If these duties were chosen freely rather than assigned, Jiang Yang would truly have been dazzled by the choices. Whether writing sacred scripts and drawing talismans, fanning flames, or guarding Market Wards, they all seemed much more appealing than planting spirit bamboo.

Whether they were tiring or difficult was secondary. The key was that he could learn a craft to fall back on, which really made it hard for Jiang Yang to decide.

"The dim entries represent duties already filled. Only those with vermilion circles after them can be accepted. Don't misread them, Junior Brother."

At some point, Senior Brother Zhou had finished his work and strolled over to Jiang Yang's side.

"Well, Junior Brother? Have you chosen?"

"Uh..."

Jiang Yang pondered for a moment, then simply spoke frankly.

"I've only just joined, and my understanding of these duties is patchy at best. Could you offer me some guidance, Senior Brother Zhou?"

Senior Brother Zhou stood tall and laughed.

"Hahaha, I wouldn't call it guidance. Duties are merely sundry tasks, all for the sake of cultivation. Let me ask you this: are you looking to fulfill your obligation, or to run errands for 'Dao Merit'?"

Jiang Yang's bright eyes widened, and he pressed him.

"What do you mean? Please explain, Senior Brother Zhou."

"Running the sect requires considerable resources, so its disciples must do their part. These duties may seem trivial, but they're essential to the sect's operation. If everyone buried themselves in cultivation and produced nothing, how would we differ from rogue cultivators and demons?"

"Where does your stipend come from? Where do your cultivation supplies come from? That's where 'Dao Merit' is crucial. It can be exchanged for Metal and Stone, spiritual treasures, pills, and talismans. Accumulate enough, and even cultivation methods and inheritances are within reach."

Senior Brother Zhou was clearly in a talkative mood. He flicked his sleeve and explained at an unhurried pace.

With that explanation, Jiang Yang understood at once and thought to himself:

Got it. Do quests, get rewards. If I want to slack off, I can complete one a year and spend the rest of my time however I like. If I want to earn Dao Merit, I can grind quests for resources and work my fellow disciples into the ground.

Looks like I've found the way to increase income and cut expenses that I was thinking about earlier. Perhaps once I'm more familiar with the place, I can come back often to take a look.

Those thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant. Jiang Yang smiled and nodded in agreement.

"More work, more reward. That's fair enough. Thank you for clearing things up, Senior Brother Zhou."

"Oh, don't mention it. Having someone else to talk to is wonderful in itself. There haven't been any new disciples in the past three months, and you're the first. I've also been covering for Martial Uncle Lin for three months without being able to leave. It's been worrying me to death."

Senior Brother Zhou had clearly been bottled up for far too long. Once he caught someone, his words poured out like beans tipped from a bamboo tube.

Jiang Yang listened patiently for a while. The gist was that this place was boring, the disciples who normally came were always in a hurry, and someone like him who could keep Zhou company for a while was a rare find.

Seeing that he was only gathering momentum, Jiang Yang did not want to waste any more time here. He had not even had a chance to find his way to his new cave abode yet, so he quickly interrupted.

"Senior Brother Zhou, about this duty... what do you think...?"

As he spoke, he held the Dao Register a little closer to him.

"Oh... yes, yes! Forgive me, forgive me. You looked so friendly that I got carried away talking. Is there a duty you have your eye on, Junior Brother?"

Senior Brother Zhou came back to himself and took the register, apologizing repeatedly before composing his expression and asking.

"Well... am I allowed to choose?" Jiang Yang asked tentatively.

"Heh, normally, no. But it depends on the circumstances. Administrators are people too, so the rules can vary."

Senior Brother Zhou gave him a knowing smile and continued.

"Some duties are better than others. When there are lots of people, you have to fight for them. When there are fewer, you can choose. I'm in a good mood today, so tell me whichever one catches your eye. As long as it's marked in vermilion, I can assign it to you."

"Of course, there are two exceptions. The first is guarding a Market Ward. That has a cultivation requirement—you must at least be in late-stage Qi Refining to accept it. The other is Pill Spring Island. That's a popular one everyone scrambles for, and they stopped taking people long ago. As for the rest, take your pick."

"I see..."

Recalling what he had just read, Jiang Yang began to understand. There was plenty beneath the surface of these duties, and assigning them carried considerable authority. If both you and someone else wanted an easy duty, who should get it? The administrator's word decided it all.

The tangled interests involved were not something Jiang Yang could concern himself with yet. The thought merely passed through his mind before he smiled and thanked him.

"Thank you for your kindness, Senior Brother Zhou. I'll take the job planting spirit bamboo on Dawn Rain Peak."

"Oh? You have an excellent eye, Junior Brother. You picked out one of the best duties here at a glance."

Senior Brother Zhou looked surprised. Holding the register, he bobbed his head as he explained.

"Dawn Rain Peak has always assigned the fewest duties of all the peaks. It's famous for having little work and generous rewards, and it has quite a reputation among the disciples."

"The positions are highly sought after, and there are seven left right now. Have you made up your mind, Junior Brother? Once it's settled, you can't change it."

Jiang Yang had chosen it on Liang Jing's tip in the first place. Now that Senior Brother Zhou also thought highly of it, he was even less inclined to change his mind and said plainly:

"It's settled. I won't change my mind."

"Good."

Senior Brother Zhou answered, picked up the vermilion brush from the desk, and made a stroke. A streak of spiritual light darted out of the Dao Register, spun in midair, and plunged into Jiang Yang's waist token.

Then he added, patiently and solemnly:

"Now that you've been assigned, you must report to the Rain Listening Pavilion on Dawn Rain Peak tomorrow. If you miss the deadline, you'll not only lose part of your stipend but also face questioning from Dawn Rain Peak. You must take this to heart, Junior Brother. Don't neglect it."

Jiang Yang's heart tightened, and he quickly bowed in thanks.

"Thank you for the warning, Senior Brother. I'll keep it firmly in mind."

Without rules, neither squares nor circles could take shape. The larger the sect, the more rules it had. Carelessness and neglect were simply asking for trouble.

Once the matter was settled, Senior Brother Zhou kept Jiang Yang there for another chat. Jiang Yang wanted to learn more, so they exchanged names. His surname was Zhou, his given name Yanwei. He had joined seven years before Jiang Yang and was already in late-stage Qi Refining.

Having just received his help, Jiang Yang could hardly leave immediately. They talked until the sun was sinking in the west, and only after repeatedly taking his leave did he manage to get away.

Before he left, Zhou Yanwei cupped his hands toward Jiang Yang.

"Junior Brother Jiang, we hit it off like old friends. When you have some free time, come to Rain Marsh Peak for a visit. We can sip clear tea and discuss the Dao and its mysteries."

"What have I done to deserve such kindness, Senior Brother? I'll certainly find an opportunity to trouble you with a visit."

Seeing that Zhou had followed him to the doorway, Jiang Yang turned back, cupped his hands in farewell, and said earnestly:

"Please don't see me any farther, Senior Brother. I'll be on my way."

A few steps took him out of the General Affairs Office. He looked into the distance, where the sunset clouds burned red and gold, casting a crimson glow. Leaves rustled through the mountain woods, and a warm breeze brushed his face.

"Whew..."

Jiang Yang let out a breath. It had certainly been a busy day.

He had spent quite a while at the General Affairs Office, but he had also gained a great deal.

Aside from being a little too talkative, Zhou Yanwei was a fine fellow: warm, well cultivated, knowledgeable, and articulate. Jiang Yang had heard plenty of interesting stories while chatting with him.

Jiang Yang suspected that he came from a distinguished background. For a lower-court disciple of ordinary origins like himself, making a few connections within the sect was a very good thing.

"Let's go take a look at my new home."

Standing on the mountain path, Jiang Yang formed a seal with two fingers and cast the Lightness Technique. He activated the map with his spiritual sense and ran toward the mountainside.