In the academic affairs office hall, Fang Lin headed straight for the stone table holding the golden plate.
In the corner, Cheng Mo's drooping eyelids lingered on Fang Lin for a while before his expression returned to one of indifference.
After he channeled Soul Elder-level Soul Power into the octagonal golden plate, the information it displayed differed from what appeared at the Soul Grandmaster level. The simple patrol and guard missions Fang Lin had seen before were now rare.
Most missions were suited to Soul Elder-level Soul Masters. In other words, only Heaven Dou Grade students could access them, a kind of indirect protection for lower-level students.
"Guard duty at entrance three on the outskirts of the Heaven Dou Soul Hunting Forest; number of participants: one; duration: three months; reward: 600 credits."
"Escort Balak Kingdom military provisions and weapons to the mountain range on the Lima Plain border; number of participants: two; duration: seven days; reward: 200 credits."
"Capture Li Feiyu, a murderous three-ring Soul Master; number of participants: unlimited; duration: unlimited; reward: 500 credits; information on the fugitive's whereabouts will be provided upon acceptance."
"Search the central region of Sunset Forest for ten hundred-year-old Cinnabar Lotuses; number of participants: unlimited; duration: unlimited; reward: 500 credits."
After browsing through them, Fang Lin found that the academy's credit missions fell into roughly three categories.
The first was guard duty, such as at Soul Hunting Forest checkpoints or border outposts. It did not mean standing guard at the gates or checkpoints; spear-bearing soldiers or low-level Soul Masters handled that. The actual job was to hold the fort and intervene only if a powerful enemy appeared.
The hours were flexible, and the pay was relatively low. At the lowest, it matched the Spirit Hall's stipend.
The second was escort duty, such as accompanying imperial relatives and nobles on long journeys or transporting weapons and provisions to the border. Credits were awarded according to the mission's difficulty, with rewards more than twice those of the first category.
The third consisted of more straightforward combat missions, such as capturing murderers, hunting Soul Beasts, searching for treasures, or even fighting deathmatches in the Great Soul Arena on someone else's behalf. These missions paid handsomely, but the danger was also a clear step higher.
After weighing his options, Fang Lin decided to choose one that would save him some detours.
"Teacher Cheng, sorry for the trouble, but could you register me for mission 178?"
Like exchanging resources, accepting credit missions required Cheng Mo's confirmation.
Cheng Mo took the Soul Tool from Fang Lin and focused his mind on the 178th line.
"Night guard duty at the main entrance of Earl Feilin's estate; duration: one month; reward: 300 credits. Upon completion, the credits may be exchanged directly with Earl Feilin for Gold Soul Coins, and the participant may decide whether to renew the mission."
After reading it, Cheng Mo's brows shot up in surprise. "You want to guard someone's front gate?"
Fang Lin put on a serious expression. "Teacher Cheng, we're all serving the empire and its people. No honest work is beneath anyone."
Fang Lin had spent a long time searching before he found this guard mission. It involved little work and paid the most Gold Soul Coins. It was also a night shift, so it would not interfere with his cultivation in his spare time, and he could still go to the Soul Fighting Arena during the day.
Even if something did happen, a Soul King-level expert from the Earl's estate would naturally step forward. A mere Soul Elder like him would not have to risk his life.
Cheng Mo was so angry he laughed. "Fine-sounding words, but you're still guarding someone's gate. If you really want to serve the people, why don't I see you taking a mission to clear out Wolf Bandits on the border? Couldn't find one?"
Fang Lin gave an awkward smile. He actually wanted to retort, "Aren't you guarding the academy's storeroom too?" But reason stopped his mouth.
Cheng Mo looked at him with the frustration of someone watching iron refuse to become steel. He stuffed the Soul Tool back into Fang Lin's hands. "If you really want to guard a gate, I'll find you another one. Mission 201."
"Where did mission 201 come from?" Fang Lin took the octagonal golden plate in puzzlement and looked at the end. At some point, another line had appeared at the bottom:
"Guard duty in the inner courtyard of Prince Xue Beng's residence; number of participants: unlimited; duration: one month; reward: credits;"
Fang Lin's eyes narrowed slightly.
Even a Heavenly Supreme Level teacher at the academy received a monthly stipend of only 1,500 Gold Soul Coins. The pay for this mission was already close to what a junior Soul King received.
Unless Fang Lin was a fool, he could guess there was something fishy about the mission. He even suspected that the imperial family had sent it to Cheng Mo, who had then passed it on to him, or that Cheng Mo had just made it up on the spot.
Fang Lin pondered for a moment, then spoke tactfully. "Teacher Cheng, I think Earl Feilin and I really hit it off."
To guard a prince or princess's inner courtyard, one needed at least the cultivation of a Soul King or Soul Emperor.
Cheng Mo paused for a long while, then sighed. "Prince Xue Beng is several years younger than you, but he's lazy and idle. The main reason I'm sending you there is to cultivate with him and get him to be more diligent. When there's nothing else to do, tell him about the academy. I've found several people before, but none of them stayed long."
"If you're willing to go, you won't need to exchange credits for Soul Crystals anymore. Whenever there's stock, just come and get them."
"Wait." Fang Lin dodged Cheng Mo's hand as he reached to take back the octagonal golden plate and chuckled. "So I'd be a study companion, cultivating with the prince. Teacher Cheng, you should have said so earlier. I'll take the job."
From Cheng Mo's description, the future Emperor Xue Beng had already begun playing the fool, presenting the outside world with an image of laziness and a lack of ambition. This also meant that Xue Qinghe probably had no intention of making another move for the time being.
After assessing the risks at Prince Xue Beng's residence, Fang Lin hesitated no longer.
A few months as a study companion would get him the Whale Rubber. It was an even better deal than doing Soul Fighting with Dugu Yan.
Cheng Mo snorted softly, registered Fang Lin, and tossed him a metal token bearing a relief.
"Use this to report to Prince Xue Beng's residence."
Fang Lin caught it. It felt weighty in his hand, made of a metal he had never seen before. It also bore a relief of the Heaven Dou Empire's imperial swan emblem.
Fang Lin stepped out of the academic affairs office, then suddenly stopped, turned around, and ran back in.
"Teacher Cheng, register me for mission 65 too."
Mission 65 was to search the central region of Sunset Forest for ten hundred-year-old Cinnabar Lotuses.
The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was right there. Once Dugu Bo emerged from seclusion, it would be a simple matter for Fang Lin to pick them up along the way.
Xue Beng was the Heaven Dou Empire's fourth prince. His residence ranked below those of the crown prince and princes of the blood, occupied more than twenty mu, and lay south of the imperial palace in the inner city, adjoining the crown prince's and the princes of the blood's residences.
The Heaven Dou Empire's imperial residences looked like a blend of Gothic and Chinese architecture as Fang Lin remembered them. They had front, middle, and rear courtyards, along with numerous pointed arches and ornamental windows.
Using his token, Fang Lin followed an elderly steward named Kebo into the inner courtyard, where he met Xue Beng in a luxurious room.
Xue Beng had a handsome face and good looks. His expression was arrogant, and his whole manner was languid.
After listening to Kebo's introduction, Xue Beng raised his chin and glanced at Fang Lin. He said impatiently,
"Another so-called genius sent by those people. Find somewhere to stay out of the way, and don't come into the inner courtyard. Leave on your own in two or three months, and don't nag me."
With that, Xue Beng paid no heed to how Fang Lin felt. Grinning, he wrapped his arms around two graceful maids and went into a room behind a beaded curtain.
Fang Lin was momentarily stunned. Looking at the lecherous grin on Xue Beng's face, he could not tell whether the prince was pretending or genuinely enjoying himself.
Kebo sighed beside him and led Fang Lin to a row of rooms in the middle courtyard. Taking a key from his pocket, he said, "Young brother, you've seen His Highness the fourth prince's situation for yourself. Stay here for now. When the mission expires, you can choose to stay or continue. The residence's security is handled by Soul Masters recruited on a long-term basis, so there's nothing you need to do."
"Thank you, Kebo." Fang Lin looked excited, his satisfaction all but written on his face.
Little work, plenty of money, and no one cared if he skipped his shift. The job he had dreamed of in his previous life had become a reality here.
It's just a pity it won't last long, Fang Lin lamented inwardly.
Once Cheng Mo learned he had failed to do his job as a "study companion," he would probably start looking for the next person.
As Fang Lin spoke with the old steward, he saw a young man in his twenties walk past them. The man had regular features and fair skin. His brocade robe was extremely similar in style to the one Xue Beng had just worn, with embroidered cloud patterns on a pale moon-white ground, except that it had an additional trace of gold at the waist.