Turmoil Within the Sect: Chapter 29: A Good Assignment
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Luo Shuyao stared at the man who had just saved her, only to turn around and rob her with a perfectly solemn expression. For a moment, she had no idea what expression to wear.
She opened her mouth, then realized that what he had said seemed to be... somewhat reasonable.
In the end, under Chu Xing’s unquestionable gaze, she reluctantly pulled out her money pouch.
One hundred and thirty low-grade spirit stones.
Chu Xing accepted every last one without the slightest hesitation. The instant the weighty pouch fell into his hand, a satisfied smile finally appeared on his bloodless face.
“Pleasure doing business.”
With that, he stopped looking at Luo Shuyao, turned around, and dragged his injured leg step by step toward the depths of the forest.
Luo Shuyao remained where she was, staring at the patch of ground where the bodies had been buried. She touched her now-empty money pouch, her heart filled with conflicting emotions.
Her mind kept replaying Chu Xing’s reckless fighting style. A seventh-stage Body Tempering cultivator had actually killed a first-stage Qi Gathering cultivator!
And she, a first-stage Qi Gathering cultivator, had been utterly useless, capable only of relying on someone else to save her.
All the little tricks she usually took pride in were worthless in the face of true life and death.
For the first time, she felt deep regret. If she had not spent her days fooling around, but had cultivated seriously, how could things have come to this?
Luo Shuyao clenched her silver teeth. Thinking of her spirit stones, she finally could not resist shouting toward the direction in which Chu Xing had departed.
“You shameless bastard!”
After cursing him, she froze.
It seemed she had... forgotten to ask his name.
But then again... when had the Profound Star Pavilion gained such a person? Why had she never heard of him before?
Never mind. As long as he was a disciple of the Profound Star Pavilion, he could not escape her. She would investigate him down to the last detail when she returned!
By the time he reached the sect, the sky was already bright.
The waves of pain radiating from his left shoulder kept Chu Xing’s mind exceptionally clear. Whenever he recalled the moment the sword had pierced through his body, he still felt a lingering fear.
A seventh-stage Body Tempering cultivator had faced a first-stage Qi Gathering cultivator. Even against an opponent with an unstable foundation, he had won in such a miserable state, practically exchanging his life for victory.
If he had been just a little stronger—if he had reached the eighth stage of Body Tempering, or even the ninth—how could he have ended up in such a predicament?
In the end, his cultivation was simply too low.
His current appearance was indeed wretched. His clothes were torn, and his entire body was spattered with blood.
Yet under the nourishment of the stone bead, those hideous wounds had already stopped bleeding and were slowly healing at an astonishing rate. The pain was fading as well, leaving behind only waves of warm, tingling numbness.
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Chu Xing had just reached the entrance to his courtyard when he stopped.
The steward of the Affairs Hall, Elder Second Sun, stood before the dilapidated wooden gate with his hands behind his back, pacing anxiously.
A flicker passed through Chu Xing’s eyes. He put on a weak, bitter smile and walked toward him of his own accord.
“Second Master, what brings you here so early in the morning?”
Sun the Second started at the sound and slowly turned around. The instant he saw Chu Xing’s condition, his beady eyes widened.
“Boy, what happened to you? Did someone chase you down?”
Chu Xing explained feebly, “I’m afraid I’ve made a fool of myself before you, Second Master. I went into the mountains last night to try my luck, but unexpectedly ran into a Blackwind Boar that had no sense of its own. We kept each other company all night.”
“A Blackwind Boar?” Sun the Second drew in a sharp breath, suspicion filling his eyes. But he did not ask further questions and went straight to the reason for his visit.
“The steward at Hundred Herbs Ravine told me today that you didn’t show up for work. I thought you’d grown wings and decided to abandon the job.”
Understanding dawned in Chu Xing’s heart, though his face showed nothing but sudden realization. “Oh, I forgot. I’ll go right away. Right away.”
He knew perfectly well that no one else could manage the work at Hundred Herbs Ravine as well as he could. If he stopped going, they would have no one to replace him for the time being.
“Ah, no need to rush, no need!” Sun the Second hurriedly caught hold of him, his face full of concern as he pointed at Chu Xing’s injuries. “Looking at you, you should rest first. Your health is what matters.”
Chu Xing merely smiled and followed his lead. “Isn’t that the truth? I almost didn’t make it back. My bones still ache. I’m afraid I’ll need to rest for several days.”
After saying this, Chu Xing fell silent and simply watched Sun the Second.
The courtyard grew quiet.
Sun the Second rubbed his hands together, a smile plastered across his face. He looked as though he wanted to speak but could not bring himself to do so, and his eyes darted uneasily from side to side.
Chu Xing found it amusing. This old fox was usually as shrewd as they came, so why was he acting so awkwardly today?
He did not urge him. He merely watched, perfectly at ease.
Under Chu Xing’s gaze, Sun the Second grew increasingly uncomfortable. After coughing twice, he finally could not hold back any longer.
“Well... Chu Xing, I have another good job here and wanted to ask whether you might be interested.”
“Oh?” Chu Xing raised an eyebrow and adopted an expression of rapt attention.
“The Pill Hall has recently been short of someone to clear away discarded medicinal dregs.”
Sun the Second leaned closer and lowered his voice. “That place is much cleaner than Hundred Herbs Ravine! And... it pays five contribution points a day!”
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At the mention of the Pill Hall, Chu Xing’s expression stiffened slightly. He then furrowed his brow and fell silent.
Seeing his reaction, Sun the Second’s heart gave a jolt. This was bad. The boy had probably heard how dangerous the Pill Hall’s waste could be and had been frightened by the reputation of pill toxins.
What he did not know was that Chu Xing’s thoughts were racing.
Wasn’t Mu Wanqing there as well? The thought of that woman made Chu Xing feel somewhat uneasy, but then he reconsidered. Wasn’t this precisely an opportunity?
The Pill Hall’s discarded dregs!
Everyone in the sect knew that when alchemy failed, the conflicting medicinal properties in the waste could form unique pill toxins. For ordinary disciples, the slightest contact could throw their vital energy into chaos; in serious cases, it could even cause their cultivation to regress.
Yet the stone bead in Chu Xing’s chest was sending forth an unprecedented, searing hunger.
If the rotten herbs from Hundred Herbs Ravine were merely scraps and leftovers, then the failed pills from the Pill Hall would be a true feast to him!
What was more, the Pill Hall was the sect’s most important alchemical ground, with treasures scattered everywhere. What if he happened upon some high-grade herbs that had been mistaken for waste?
The moment this thought arose, Chu Xing had already begun making plans. On his face, however, his troubled expression only deepened.
“Second Master, it’s not that I don’t want to do you the favor. Just look at this injury...”
He pointed to his shoulder. “Besides, I’ve heard that the discarded dregs inside all contain some degree of pill toxin. If one is careless, it could cost a person his life.”
“Oh, it’s not nearly that serious!” Sun the Second grew anxious when he realized Chu Xing knew the truth. “They’re just useless medicinal scraps. You only need to be careful! If you’re willing to go, I... I’ll risk this old face of mine and try to secure better terms for you!”
When Chu Xing still looked hesitant, Sun the Second gritted his teeth and stamped his foot.
“Eight! Eight contribution points a day! That’s treatment normally reserved for inner disciples! Boy, surely that will do this time?!”
“Eight?” Chu Xing’s eyes suddenly lit up, as though the number had struck him senseless. The hesitation vanished from his face, and he nodded repeatedly.
“Second Master, you’ve gone this far for me. If I still refuse, that would hardly be proper, would it? I’ll take the job!”
Seeing that he had agreed, Sun the Second immediately breathed a sigh of relief, his face blooming into a broad smile. “Good lad! I knew you were someone who understood how to read the situation!”
He proudly patted Chu Xing on the shoulder and was just about to tell him to rest properly when Chu Xing added, “Then, Second Master, I’ll take the Pill Hall assignment. But... what do you think? Could you keep my job at Hundred Herbs Ravine for me as well?”
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