Is That Any Way to Treat People?

Early morning.

Jiang Man rubbed his belly as he cleaned the stables, feeling a little hungry.

He had to resolve the issue of money and food today, or he really would have to gnaw on tree bark.

Not only that, but continuing his cultivation would also be difficult.

Without replenishing the stamina he expended, he would be unable to raise his cultivation.

The only consolation was that another ten or so rounds of cultivation would fill the "Gourd."

Then he could try opening the second gourd.

And advance to Qi Refining Second Layer.

With the help of the flawless Spirit-Gathering Pills, it would be quick.

Unfortunately, the Spirit-Gathering Pills might only be enough to bring him to Qi Refining Third Layer.

He had already used up a small portion of them.

Meanwhile, Fang Yong and the others were mostly at Qi Refining Sixth Layer.

Reaching Qi Refining Sixth Layer before December would be no small challenge.

For now, though, his most pressing concern was finding work that could support him.

Early that morning, Jiang Man headed to the sixth courtyard in the Azure Cloud Pavilion's rear grounds.

He needed to find Mr. Zhao ahead of time.

For a moment, he did not know how to broach the subject.

But he could only steel himself and start by explaining his current circumstances.

There was some danger in going this time. What if the man did not want anyone else to know about the rearing method?

Although the special script it had been rendered in could lead him to assume Jiang Man could not understand its true contents.

But the greed in people's hearts was impossible to predict.

Fortunately, they were inside the Cloudfront Office, so the man was unlikely to act recklessly.

If he arranged a job outside the Cloudfront Office.

Then Jiang Man would have to be careful.

Taking a deep breath, Jiang Man felt that life was far too difficult.

It forced people into taking risks whether they wanted to or not.

But before he reached the sixth courtyard, Jiang Man saw Zhao Leming coming toward him.

That surprised him a little.

It looked as though the man was coming for him.

"Greetings, Mr. Zhao." Jiang Man offered a greeting bow.

"Were you looking for me?" Zhao Leming asked.

Jiang Man fell silent for a moment, suddenly feeling that he had lost the initiative.

The man had clearly seemed to be looking for him too.

"Yes." Jiang Man nodded, then explained his current predicament.

Under another's eaves, one had no choice but to bow one's head.

His peerless talent truly had suffered by following him.

But there was no rush. Next month, he should begin to show his edge.

By this time next year, he would surely stun everyone with a single cry.

"Adjusting the pay for the stables is a little troublesome. The courtyard authorities decide it, based on the scores in each courtyard.

"Your score is too low. Getting better pay would be rather difficult, but..." Zhao Leming changed tack and said:

"But you really are struggling, and the sixth courtyard is not a place devoid of human kindness.

"I can vouch for you for two months. If, after two months, your ranking or score remains as it is now.

"Then adjusting your pay would be rather difficult."

Hearing this, Jiang Man naturally bowed his head in thanks.

As for whether adjusting his pay was genuinely difficult, he did not dwell on it.

Whatever the case, he could now cover his basic food and clothing.

As long as he could keep cultivating, that was enough.

Seeing this, Zhao Leming suddenly asked, "Do you have any more copies of the book you gave me?"

Jiang Man shook his head. "No."

Zhao Leming did not press him, but instead asked, "Have you shown it to anyone else?"

Jiang Man shook his head again. "No, I haven't."

Only then did Zhao Leming nod. "When cultivating in the Three Towers and Six Pavilions, having someone's help and having no one looking out for you are two different things.

"For instance, previously, whoever ranked dead last was not eligible to compete for a spot.

"You should understand now, shouldn't you?"

"I understand." Jiang Man nodded firmly.

"Then, about that book..."

Zhao Leming had barely begun when Jiang Man interrupted him. "What book?"

At this, Zhao Leming paused, then smiled. "Nothing."

Then he continued, "Cultivation requires resources, so you want to find another job in your spare time?"

Jiang Man nodded. "Yes."

Without resources, advancing later would not be easy either.

"There are jobs, but I must remind you that every job pays according to your score." Zhao Leming considered briefly. "Besides, you have no foundation here yet. Finding a job that provides resources won't be easy.

"But I can vouch for you there as well.

"What would you like to do?"

Jiang Man hesitated briefly before saying, "Something easy, with free time and decent resources."

"Anything else?" Zhao Leming asked with a smile.

Jiang Man shook his head. "No."

"Are you this cautious even when making wishes?" Zhao Leming said.

Jiang Man: "..."

"There's nothing easy, nothing with free time, and anything with decent resources won't fall to you." Zhao Leming looked at Jiang Man and said, "At present, the only work you can do involves expending spiritual qi, Qi and Blood, and the like.

"If you want to try, take this to the Cloudfront Office's Guard Office."

As he spoke, an ordinary letter of recommendation landed in Jiang Man's hand.

Putting the letter away, Jiang Man asked in some confusion, "Am I going there to become a guard?"

Zhao Leming smiled faintly. "You'll know when you get there."

After that, he told Jiang Man to leave.

Watching him walk away, Zhao Leming sighed softly.

He had entertained many ideas.

But there was one question.

Where had the young man obtained that book?

Had it been a chance encounter, or had someone behind him given it to him?

If it was the latter, why had they given it to him?

After giving it to him, would they also be keeping an eye on him?

Although that possibility was extremely slim.

But... he was only after money to begin with. There was no need to put his own life in danger.

Leaving the young man a way out also meant leaving himself a way out.

Afterward, he wrote a letter, informing the people at the Guard Office that Jiang Man might be coming.

He would ask for a referral fee.

Sending someone with zero points would yield little, but even a mosquito had meat on its bones.

Naturally, he could not let it slip.

Jiang Man continued sweeping the old courtyard.

This time, he swept his way to a rather secluded spot.

It was the former training ground.

There were mostly stones there.

To his surprise, these stones were not rough. Someone must have been using them all along.

"Looks like someone has been sneaking here to cultivate."

"Probably practicing Spell Arts."

Jiang Man knew nothing about Spell Arts.

Right now, he was still raising his cultivation.

With his cultivation so low, the Azure Cloud Pavilion would not give him any Spell Arts either.

So there was no need to dwell on it. Raising his cultivation came first; that was the foundation.

After spending the morning finishing his sweeping, Jiang Man returned to the sixth courtyard.

He still needed to cultivate. At the very least, he had to complete the plan on his personal profile.

Little Chubby looked rather forlorn when he saw Jiang Man return.

"Brother Jiang, you're back again?" Little Chubby rubbed his belly. "I feel like I've even lost weight."

As he spoke, he took out some dried meat and began eating.

Jiang Man's eyes were riveted to it.

Accursed rich kid.

"Brother Jiang, here's a piece for you." Little Chubby slipped Jiang Man a piece of meat.

Accepting the meat, Jiang Man apologized for his careless words just now.

He had measured a gentleman's heart with a petty man's yardstick.

After eating the meat, Jiang Man threw himself into cultivation even harder.

He felt frighteningly energetic.

This time, Jiang Man was ready to leave after just fifty repetitions.

Little Chubby was a little surprised. "Little Jiang, are you finally giving up?"

Just fifty repetitions, and now I'm Little Jiang?

Jiang Man shook his head. "I'm going somewhere else to work hard in secret."

Little Chubby: "???"

Is that any way to treat people?

Sneaking off to cultivate was one thing, but why say it out loud?

Did he want them unable to stomach their tea or meals?

Wasn't he going to pay his cultivation fees anymore?

Even his village had given up on him.

Shouldn't he be weeping bitter tears, then earning his cultivation fees, finishing his studies without a hitch, and going back to farm for high pay?