Northern Mang Ridge, Qianji Sect.
Dawn had barely broken when Jiang Yi rose early in the communal courtyard halfway up Crimson Flame Peak.
The late-autumn chill had grown sharper. Though snow had yet to fall, a row of icicles already hung beneath the eaves.
Wrapped in a dingy gray padded Daoist robe, Jiang Yi bent over to wash. He scooped a ladle of bone-chilling water from the vat and splashed it onto his face.
"Hiss!"
A shudder ran through him, instantly jolting him awake.
Yesterday, he had spent another twelve to fourteen hours working in the "Quenching Room." Smoke and flames filled the place, scorching his eyes until they streamed and turning his skin red. It was truly miserable work.
By the time work ended, it was past the hour of the ox.
Jiang Yi had merely gulped down a pot of cold tea before hurrying to bed. Now he was ravenous and exhausted.
"Yi, when did you get back last night? I didn't even see you."
Someone pushed open the door of the neighboring room. It was He Laohun, who shared the communal courtyard with Jiang Yi.
"I worked until the hour of the ox. You were all asleep by then."
Jiang Yi rubbed his face hard, feeling a faint burning pain like sunburn.
He Laohun clicked his tongue twice.
"You push yourself too hard, Yi. An extra four hours won't earn you much talisman money."
His face red, Jiang Yi grinned, revealing white teeth.
"The work overseer was pressing us hard. Normally, it's twenty in talisman money per two hours. Yesterday, he was generous for once and offered eighty."
He Laohun pursed his lips. One hundred and sixty in talisman money was certainly no small sum, but the conditions in the Quenching Room were far too punishing. Seven or eight furnaces burned day and night. Even a short stay left a person dizzy and muddleheaded. Not even an iron man could endure it.
Besides, Yi was scraping together talisman money neither for his own use nor to build up savings. He had fallen for Luo Qian'er from the neighboring peak and did everything he could to please her, just to win a smile.
In a mere six months, he had spent all twenty or thirty thousand in talisman money he had painstakingly saved.
At that thought, He Laohun could not help shaking his head. Who didn't know that the Luo hussy was involved with Zhou Can of Sewing Peak?
Otherwise, how could she have transferred from the "Banner-Making Room" on Soul-Nourishing Peak to the relatively easy "Silk-Washing Room" on Sewing Peak?
The work there was not particularly heavy, and earning a total of "two thousand in talisman money" each month was quite easy. It was a fine posting that many mortal laborers envied!
"Yi, why work yourself to the bone over a woman? If you ask me, we should work a few more years, save up several tens of thousands in talisman money, and leave the mountain. Buy some fields and a house, go home as wealthy men, and marry a few lovely wives and beautiful concubines. Wouldn't that be grand?"
Remembering how Jiang Yi often fetched meals and saved dishes for him, He Laohun offered a few more words than usual.
"Thanks, Brother He. I've gotten over it. I won't do anything foolish again."
Jiang Yi grinned. Some of his former dullness had vanished from his expression, leaving him looking more open and cheerful.
"That's good. You're up so early-off to work again?"
He Laohun was skeptical. He had advised Yi more than once, but his words had always gone in one ear and out the other. Yi had seen Luo Qian'er as nothing less than a goddess, practically ready to offer her his heart and soul, like a man possessed.
"Duty Officer Yang of the Quenching Room saw how hard I worked and specially assigned me to oversee recruitment at the Lower Courtyard."
Jiang Yi told him the truth.
"You're lucky, then. Recruitment offers plenty of perks. Making a few hundred or even a thousand in talisman money from a single stint is no trouble."
He Laohun's tone suddenly soured. Why hadn't he been there when Old Man Yang of the Quenching Room had decided to be kind?
Had he known, he would not have left so early yesterday. He had missed his chance!
"When I'm back from work, I'll treat you to some 'spirit cuisine,' Brother He."
Jiang Yi smiled as he spoke.
"Now that sounds good! Let me share in your good fortune!"
With something to gain, He Laohun smiled more warmly. The little jealousy in his heart dissipated, and he said lightly:
"You haven't eaten yet, have you, Yi? There are a few beef pancakes by the stove. Take them to tide you over.
"Right, what happened to your eyes? They're all red."
"The furnace flames scorched them. It's nothing. Thanks, Brother He."
Jiang Yi cupped his hands in thanks, then went to the kitchen, lifted the porcelain bowl covering the food, and tucked the pancakes wrapped around braised beef into his robe.
"Brother He, I'm off."
After calling out, he left the communal courtyard and headed down the mountain.
Whooo!
The cold wind swept past, howling through the mountain forest.
Countless thoughts churned through Jiang Yi's mind, like the clouds drifting above Crimson Flame Peak, scattered by the wind only to gather again.
Qianji Sect, Crimson Flame Peak, mortal laborers... Cultivating the Dao and seeking immortality? We're nothing but disposable drudges in a sweatshop!
Chewing on a pleasantly chewy beef wrap, Jiang Yi sighed inwardly as his thoughts drifted to his previous life:
My second uncle remarried, so I went back home, gave him a cash gift, and attended the wedding feast. Then I ran into a Daoist who told my fortune and said I was "destined to become an immortal and about to encounter great fortune."
I thought it was something auspicious. Damn it, how was I supposed to know he meant a Dayun truck!
He had occupied this body for seven or eight days now and had roughly figured out the situation. Jiang Yi...
The original owner had been a youth from Guniu Town below Northern Mang Ridge. His family had been fairly comfortable, with no worries about food or clothing. But his parents had died young, and he was obsessed with the tales of sword immortals in storybooks. Egged on by his relatives, he had sold the family property and gone to the Prefectural City to enroll in the Dao Academy.
Unfortunately, he had little talent and lower-vehicle aptitude, and his progress had stalled at the First Level of Qi Refining.
Once his three years of study ended, he had been assigned to the Qianji Sect on Northern Mang Ridge, becoming a mortal laborer in one of the seven or eight Work Dormitories on Crimson Flame Peak.
"Sounds like graduating from a vocational college and getting assigned by the school to tighten screws in an electronics factory..."
Jiang Yi mocked himself.
So-called mortal laborers were simply odd-job workers in the sect. They did not count as "disciples."
Like apprentices learning a trade in the secular world, they had little personal freedom. Each morning and evening, the bells told them when to start and stop work.
Following the work overseers' assignments, they went to places such as the "Quenching Room," "Engraving Room," and "Forging Room" to earn some talisman money.
If they were lucky enough to reach the Fifth Level of Qi Refining, they might be promoted to work overseer. Alternatively, after enduring twelve years and completing their term, they could choose to leave the Qianji Sect and return to the secular world.
"Work my way up from disposable screw-tightener to a core workshop employee? Sounds like empty promises."
Jiang Yi did not consider that much of a prospect. The Qianji Sect was no legendary great sect of the immortal Dao, but a minor establishment.
Its main products were "Hundred-Soul Banners," "Hundred-Shadow Dharma Robes," and "White Bone Dharma Swords."
The names alone made it obvious: this was absolutely a demonic sect!
The mortal laborers and odd-job workers in the various peaks and rooms suffered considerable losses.
But a demonic sect actually uses a sustainable model, setting up Dao Academies to select talent and disposable labor.
Jiang Yi pondered this. As he understood it, didn't demonic sects generally exhaust every resource and treat ordinary mortals like livestock?
They actually paid talisman money for work done for the sect?
The very thought seemed incredible.
As for that Luo Qian'er of Sewing Peak whom He Laohun had mentioned, it was just the classic tiresome story of a lovesick doormat and a factory girl. Jiang Yi paid it no mind whatsoever.
The original owner had worked himself to exhaustion, putting in twelve to fourteen hours, or even sixteen to eighteen, only to earn a monthly surplus of one or two thousand.
Yet he had spent lavishly on all sorts of outfits and accessories for Luo Qian'er and rented her a cave abode. What an utterly blinded fool!
Jiang Yi could never have done such a thing.
"Hit by a Dayun truck and transmigrated into a laborer who went all in. At least he didn't leave me any debts. Being disposable labor in a sweatshop is bad enough. If I had loans to repay too, life wouldn't be worth living."
Jiang Yi walked briskly and soon reached the foot of the mountain.
The Lower Courtyard sounded imposing, but it was really just a few buildings with white walls and black tiles. Two ferocious stone beasts stood at the entrance, beneath a plaque bearing the huge characters "Dao Gate."
The demonic Dao is still a Dao, so calling it the "Dao Gate" is fair enough. But if they like dressing themselves up, why call themselves "demonic"? If it were me, I'd rename it the "Sacred Sect."
Muttering inwardly, Jiang Yi stepped through the side entrance and met with the steward stationed there.
"You're just in time. There are plenty of people today, already lined up. Once the bell rings on Wavelooking Peak, we'll begin registration."
The steward spoke.
Jiang Yi nodded slightly, then took a seat at the front courtyard's main gate. A long table stood before him, with brushes, ink, and registers laid out on it.
He had attended the Dao Academy, after all, so he could certainly read and write.
The Qianji Sect was quite well known around Northern Mang Ridge. Its "Hundred-Shadow Dharma Robes" and "White Bone Dharma Swords" sold widely, and practically every demonic cultivator in the surrounding area owned one.
Thus, it had no shortage of "disposable labor" clamoring to join the sect as mortal laborers.
Besides unsuccessful students sent over by the Dao Academies in the various prefectural cities, there were many wilderness cultivators, as well as ordinary mortals who had heard the news from who knew where.
Jiang Yi sat quietly for a short while. The sun rose above the horizon, draping the mountain ranges in golden light.
The bell on Wavelooking Peak rang as well, nine times in all. Its thunderous sound rolled across the surrounding five peaks.
The steward opened the Lower Courtyard's main gate. A long line waited outside; at a glance, there were over a hundred people.
"Even becoming disposable sweatshop labor is something people rush to do. How can anyone cultivate the Dao and seek longevity in this rotten world?"
After that heartfelt remark, Jiang Yi drew on his breath and called out:
"One at a time! No pushing! Remember, state your name and place of origin clearly. If you have nothing to prove your identity, leave quietly!"
"All right, go back and wait for word. The list should be posted tomorrow."
Past the middle of the hour of the goat, Jiang Yi finished registering the last person.
Once the Lower Courtyard's main gate closed again, he slowly sorted through the "Fish-Scale Register," which recorded everyone's name, place of origin, and background, carefully organizing and categorizing the entries.
Two incense sticks later, Jiang Yi had finished and gave the steward a detailed report:
"A total of two hundred and sixty-three people registered. Half were recommended by Dao Academies and have reliable 'Identity Verification Slips.'
"Another eighty-three are wilderness cultivators or rogue cultivators who will need to be investigated..."
Unlike the original owner, who had been dull and taciturn, Jiang Yi worked methodically. Even a miscellaneous task like registering names was handled beautifully.
The steward was quite pleased by the report and thought to himself:
The mortal laborers from Crimson Flame Peak really are much more perceptive than those from the other peaks. He's saved me a great deal of work.
A smile immediately softened his formerly stern face, and he said gently:
"Thank you for your efforts, Junior Brother Jiang."
Jiang Yi hurriedly cupped his hands.
"I haven't formally entered the sect. I don't deserve to be called 'junior brother.'"
The steward waved a hand.
"There are few inner disciples to begin with, and I'm no illustrious True Disciple myself.
"We're both making a living in the sect. There's no harm in calling each other senior and junior brother."
Only then did Jiang Yi accept, addressing the man as "senior brother."
The steward introduced himself as Lin. He had once been a work overseer on Sewing Peak, but later, when his health declined, he had voluntarily transferred to a leisurely post at the Lower Courtyard.
He flipped through the Fish-Scale Register, confirmed that it was generally correct, and spoke slowly:
"Junior Brother Jiang, this is your first time recruiting. There are certain ins and outs I ought to explain to you."
Jiang Yi's heart gave a jolt. He knew the main event had arrived.
Even He Laohun, an old hand on Crimson Flame Peak, had envied him this assignment. That showed how lucrative it was.
"For this recruitment, Crimson Flame Peak needs thirty-one replacements, Herb-Gathering Peak nine, Soul-Nourishing Peak twelve, and Sewing Peak forty-three."
As though worried Jiang Yi might be a naive youngster, Steward Lin explained patiently:
"Some of these vacancies are good, and some are bad. Quite a few Dao Academy graduates are willing to pay for the Lower Courtyard to make arrangements.
"It's no more than a small favor on our part..."
At this point, Steward Lin deliberately glanced at Jiang Yi. Seeing no sign of resistance, he continued:
"Look at these two: Xu Jinsheng and Zhao Fang from the Prefectural City's Dao Academy. One wants the 'Spirit Plant Room' on Herb-Gathering Peak, and the other wants the 'Engraving Room' on Crimson Flame Peak.
"The former pays eighteen hundred in talisman money, and the latter six hundred."
So there were set prices!
Jiang Yi understood, then inwardly grumbled:
These days, you even have to pull strings to become a disposable drudge in a sweatshop!
"There are plenty more like these. Junior Brother Jiang, you were sent by your overseer to handle recruitment and register names for the Lower Courtyard. You've certainly worked hard.
"I would never let you make the trip for nothing."
Steward Lin shook his hand and smiled.
"Two thousand as your share! Are you satisfied, Junior Brother Jiang?"
It really was a lucrative assignment!
Jiang Yi marveled. He would probably have to toil in the Quenching Room for a month to earn that much.
He immediately cupped his hands and bowed.
"You're generous, Senior Brother! You have my thanks!"
This lad knows how things work.
Steward Lin nodded in satisfaction. He would have no trouble making ten thousand in talisman money from this round.
He was willing to share two thousand partly out of respect for Old Man Yang of Crimson Flame Peak, and partly because Jiang Yi had worked hard and genuinely saved him considerable trouble.
With their agreement settled, Jiang Yi began "assigning positions." Once he submitted the register later, the work overseers from the various peaks would come down tomorrow to collect their people.
Before leaving the Lower Courtyard, Jiang Yi could not resist asking:
"Senior Brother, why are these Dao Academy graduates willing to spend so much money?"
He had occupied this body for seven or eight days. Judging by its fragmented memories, the world had not deteriorated to the point where life was impossible.
Northern Mang Ridge lay under the Zhao Kingdom's rule, which differed little from most feudal dynasties. There were onerous taxes and levies, and officials exploited the people until they could barely breathe.
But they could still survive!
Those who attended Dao Academies, in particular, generally had some family wealth. Otherwise, how could they afford three years of cultivation expenses?
There was absolutely no need to sell themselves to the Qianji Sect, willingly becoming outer-sect mortal laborers and serving as disposable drudges.
In truth, very few people managed to save enough talisman money to leave the mountain after twelve years of grueling work.
"Junior Brother Jiang, haven't you heard? In the Jambudvipa Vast Land, the Dao governs all!"
Steward Lin puffed out his chest and said with a smile:
"This 'Dao' naturally encompasses everything. Whether the demonic Dao, immortal Dao, Buddhist Dao, or demon Dao, any tradition with a legitimate lineage may govern the world!
"It is so throughout the Five Domains!"
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