"So this is what it feels like not to have to work... so refreshing!"
Early the next morning, dawn had barely broken.
The moment Jiang Yi opened his eyes, he instinctively rolled out of bed and dressed to go out.
Only after slipping on his thick-soled cloth shoes did he suddenly come to his senses.
I'm already the Quenching Room's Inspection Officer!
I only have to report in once every seven days. There's no need to collect a work slip on time and go to work!
Then.
Jiang Yi chuckled and lay back down.
Having finally escaped his bitter life as a beast of burden, he had to enjoy this leisure properly.
But less than an hour later.
Jiang Yi sighed helplessly, silently got up, dressed, and left his room.
"I'm still miles away from the fifth level of Qi Refining, let alone catching up with those blue-blooded cultivators of extraordinary birth.
"Compared to me, they're practically figures up in the clouds.
"The moment I think of that, I can't even lie back and relax.
"Who says cultivation is carefree? From where I'm standing, it's nothing but anxiety!"
After hearing Yang Xun's words last night, Jiang Yi had secretly set himself an interim goal: break through to the fifth level of Qi Refining before the start of spring next year, then enter the inner peaks.
He would secure each step and strive to climb higher, preferably making his way beyond the Qianji Sect.
He wanted to see just what caliber the disciples of the Fu Clan and Kang Clan, which dominated Northern Mang, really were.
The world was vast. How could he remain trapped on Crimson Flame Peak...
"Ah! This rotten habit of reaching beyond my grasp... I need to fix it!"
With a splash, Jiang Yi plunged his face into the bone-chilling water.
A sudden shiver ran through him, and he felt more clearheaded.
He had regained his steady, feet-on-the-ground mindset!
"The immediate priority is to get past the third level of Qi Refining and gain better control over the Lesser Forging Origin Fire-Control Art.
"With only second-level True Qi, I can't sustain the consumption of this ninth-grade cultivation method."
Jiang Yi strolled leisurely to the Ice and Fire Cave. He had never appeared anywhere outside the workshops at this hour, let alone wandered around.
Even the waiter was startled to see him and hurried forward with a welcoming smile.
"What would you like to try, Brother Yi?"
Jiang Yi said:
"Bring me a few beef buns, the kind with thin skins and plenty of filling, and a bowl of spirit rice porridge."
After all his eating and drinking these past few days, little remained of the twenty-four thousand Talisman Money his fellow workers in the Qianji Sect had "voluntarily gifted" him.
Last night in particular, he had laid out a feast for everyone in the Large Compound, then prepared mountain delicacies and wild game as gifts for Yang Xun.
Altogether, he had spent a full three thousand Talisman Money!
It truly pained him!
After carefully counting his funds, Jiang Yi found that his purse had shrunk by more than half, leaving him with less than five thousand.
"Duty Officer Yang said that offering up the secret recipe could earn a reward of anywhere from twenty to fifty thousand Talisman Money from the inner peaks. That's a huge sum.
"On top of that, an Inspection Officer can collect four or five thousand Talisman Money a month even without working.
"I probably won't find myself short of funds."
Jiang Yi bit into a large beef bun dripping with oil and drank his steaming spirit rice porridge, feeling quite content.
For Inspection Officer Jiang of Crimson Flame Peak, tens of thousands of Talisman Money were naturally enough to cover his expenses.
But for the talented Jiang, determined to cultivate and press toward the fifth level of Qi Refining, that sum fell a little short.
After all, renting cave abodes and meditation chambers, attending lectures by Inner Sect elders, and even obtaining nourishment from spiritual treasures and supplies of spirit cuisine were all money-burning pits.
Jiang Yi's savings of a few tens of thousands would barely fill the gaps between their teeth.
"No wonder hardly any of the Mortal Laborers on Crimson Flame Peak think about cultivating. A year's hard-earned wages aren't even enough to eat spirit rice."
Slurping away, Jiang Yi polished off the brimming bowl of spirit rice porridge.
He wiped his mouth and lifted his eyelids slightly, gold shining through his eyes.
The question he had asked before bed last night had been answered.
[I humbly beseech the Heavenly Book to show me the method by which, at my current realm, I may break through to the third level of Qi Refining at the least cost and greatest speed.] [Subject of inquiry: realm breakthrough] [Derivation time: six hours] [Derivation result: use tiger-and-wolf medicines to stimulate Qi and Blood. The prescription is as follows: three qian of blood-pattern grass, two qian of bone-strengthening flower, one jar of strong liquor...]
"Hmm, taking Tiger-Wolf Medicine to make my Qi and Blood surge, then using that to force a breakthrough, would indeed work.
"Blood-pattern grass and bone-strengthening flower aren't rare medicinal ingredients either. Herb-Gathering Peak has them."
Jiang Yi's brow creased slightly as he hesitated.
Recklessly taking tiger-and-wolf medicines could, at best, harm his body and deplete his vitality; at worst, it could affect the foundations of his cultivation.
In the long run, the losses would outweigh the gains!
"But without Tiger-Wolf Medicine, breaking through to the third level of Qi Refining step by step would take at least another month..."
After a moment's consideration, Jiang Yi questioned the Heavenly Book again.
[I humbly beseech the Heavenly Book to show me how to replenish the depletion after taking Tiger-Wolf Medicine.] [Additional conditions: leave no hidden risks, concealed injuries, or roots of illness; perfectly restore the body ravaged by Tiger-Wolf Medicine.]
Light surfaced on the golden paper, and a moment later, tiny tadpole-like characters flashed in succession.
[Subject of inquiry: health preservation] [Derivation time: six hours]
"Looks promising. Replenish heavily after the depletion-the best of both worlds!"
Having made up his mind, Jiang Yi quickly paid the bill and hurried off to buy what he needed.
Now that he was the Quenching Room's Inspection Officer, he could naturally enter the other peaks with his waist token.
In the past, he would have had to humbly ask the duty officer for leave and obtain a written pass.
By the time the sun sank westward, Jiang Yi had finally obtained all the ingredients for the Tiger-Wolf Medicine prescription. Dozens of packets of medicinal ingredients were strung into a stack, enough to last him seven days.
"Oh! What are you doing, Brother Yi? Brewing medicine?"
Widow Qin had finished work early. The moment she entered the compound gate, she caught a pungent smell.
Jiang Yi had spent the whole afternoon gathering all the ingredients. He looked up and smiled.
"You're back, Sister Qin. My family ran a medicine shop for generations. Some of my ancestors could even be called master physicians.
"So I've prescribed myself something to build up my health."
Widow Qin said with concern:
"You mustn't take medicine carelessly. From what I can see, quite a few of these have fierce medicinal properties..."
Jiang Yi said confidently:
"Don't worry, Sister Qin. I'm already at the Qi Refining Second Stage. I've undergone Tendon Tempering and Bone Tempering. I can withstand it."
Widow Qin knew Brother Yi was steady in his actions and rarely behaved recklessly, so she said:
"Brewing medicine takes time. Let me lend a hand."
Jiang Yi did not refuse and explained in detail:
"The blood-pattern grass and bone-strengthening flower need to be ground into powder, then soaked in strong liquor to release their medicinal properties..."
Widow Qin had always been meticulous in her work and soon sorted out the dozens of packets of medicinal ingredients.
She also borrowed a medicine grinder and an earthenware pot from Old Li's family.
"Leave brewing the medicine to me, Brother Yi."
Widow Qin took the task upon herself.
"Sorry for the trouble, Sister Qin."
Jiang Yi had intended to pay her Talisman Money for her "help," but the moment he brought it up, Widow Qin rolled her eyes at him.
"You call me 'Sister,' so why are you treating me like an outsider?"
Jiang Yi thanked her again. He did not remain idle himself, asking He Laohun to borrow a copper pot from the neighboring Work Dormitory.
The latter stood watching from the side and asked curiously:
"What are you planning to fry, Brother Yi? Oil cakes?"
Jiang Yi continued maintaining his image as the scion of a "family of physicians," explaining with all due seriousness:
"Tiger-Wolf Medicine isn't for internal use, but external application. It's best made into a salve.
"The first step is 'steeping the medicine.' Put sanqi, dragon's blood resin, and the other ingredients into heated sesame oil, then simmer them slowly over low heat to draw out their essence.
"Then fry them over high heat to release their medicinal fragrance. Once the dregs have been filtered out, mix and stir the medicinal oil with the powdered medicine, then reduce it into a salve."
He Laohun clicked his tongue in admiration:
"With skills like these, Brother Yi, even without joining the Qianji Sect, you could make a living in a market town."
In the Southern Continent under the Demonic Dao's rule, most Mortal Laborers living as beasts of burden relied on a craft to make a living.
With a useful craft in hand, someone would want you wherever you went.
As he worked, Jiang Yi said:
"Brother He, I'll be counting on you to keep an eye on things in the Quenching Room from now on."
He Laohun thumped his chest hard.
"Rest completely easy, Brother Yi. Old He here may usually be careless, but since you've entrusted me with the job, I'll do it well even if it costs my life!"
Widow Qin could not resist a jab:
"He's asking you to work properly, not wipe out bandit cultivators. How did this turn into risking your life?"
He Laohun chuckled. From now on, he would inspect the bone materials on Brother Yi's behalf. Though it would not earn him much extra Talisman Money, the work was easy. He could openly slack off and coast along until his twelve-year term ended.
The sun sank behind the peaks, and the wind and snow howled, bringing night as dark as thick ink.
Everyone in the Large Compound pitched in, helping Jiang Yi quickly finish preparing the Tiger-Wolf Medicinal Paste.
Widow Qin was still not entirely reassured and repeatedly cautioned him:
"There are fourteen portions of salve altogether. Take it easy when using them, Brother Yi. Don't hurt yourself."
Jiang Yi agreed with a smile:
"Don't worry, Sister Qin. I know my limits."
After gathering the fourteen portions of Tiger-Wolf Medicinal Paste, he found several earthenware jars, placed the paste inside, and sealed them properly.
They had to sit undisturbed for a full day and night, until their toxicity dissipated and the salve set, before the work would be complete.
"Brother Yi."
Once the others had dispersed, He Laohun held Jiang Yi back and said quietly:
"There's something I need to tell you."
"Has someone in the Quenching Room been giving you trouble?"
Hearing Jiang Yi's question, He Laohun waved his hands repeatedly:
"No, no, no! It's Zhang San from the Engraving Room and Dong Si from the Forging Room. They want to talk to you and asked me to pass along the message."
Jiang Yi frowned. He had heard of those two disreputable characters and their notoriety.
To be honest, he had little interest in dealing with them.
"Brother He, what do you think they want to discuss with me?"
He Laohun hesitated:
"Probably... splitting the tribute money."
What tribute money?
Jiang Yi thought carefully for quite a while before remembering.
There really did seem to be such a "protection fee"!
Mortal Laborers were paid by the piece.
They could only collect their pay if their products met standards and they fulfilled the required work hours.
That gave Inspection Officers leverage over others.
Thus, most of the many Mortal Laborers in the various workshops had to pay the Inspection Officers to avoid fault-finding and harassment.
This was called "tribute money."
"Previously, although the Quenching Room's Inspection Officer post was vacant, the Mortal Laborers on Crimson Flame Peak rotated by drawing lots, so Zhang San and Dong Si collected that money on its behalf."
He Laohun spoke quietly:
"Now that you've taken the post, Brother Yi, naturally they have to give you a share."
Jiang Yi pondered for a moment, then shook his head.
"Brother He, those two are used to crushing bones and sucking out the marrow. We can't control them.
"But think about it. Every bit the Mortal Laborers on Crimson Flame Peak earn is blood-and-sweat money.
"In the past, whenever someone ran into difficulty and the others had money to spare, everyone was willing to help if they could.
"Now that I've been lucky enough to become an Inspection Officer, am I supposed to turn around and eat their flesh and drink their blood? Is that right?"
He Laohun lowered his head, seemingly ashamed, and said repeatedly:
"You're right, Brother Yi. You're right."
Jiang Yi pressed a hand onto He Laohun's shoulder and leaned close, his eyes bright:
"If you're short of Talisman Money, Brother He, feel free to ask me. But don't do filthy things that make people point at your spine behind your back!"
He Laohun was utterly panicked. For some reason, Brother Yi at that moment sent chills rising from the bottom of his heart.
"I understand! I understand! Whatever you say, Brother Yi, that's what I'll do!"
Jiang Yi suddenly broke into a smile, once again becoming that shy, pure-hearted youth.
"Brother He, once this month ends and we get paid in Talisman Money, I'll treat you to a meal out."
He Laohun gave a dry laugh:
"You're too kind, Brother Yi! I should be treating you!"
Before you continue