“Take over a hundred herb gardens at Greenstone Ridge, required to submit a fixed amount of rare medicinal herbs annually.”
Upon seeing these golden characters on the bamboo slip, Han Li was overjoyed. Pointing at the slip, he looked up and said to Steward Yu, “I’m quite interested in this task. Could you tell me more about it, Senior Brother Yu?”
Hearing Han Li’s words, Steward Yu smiled and leaned in. But when he clearly saw which task Han Li had chosen, the smile on his face immediately turned into a bitter expression.
“Junior Brother, you’d better choose another task. Taking over that garden is far too troublesome and not suitable for you!” Steward Yu said sincerely. Seeing Han Li’s puzzled look, he continued to explain, “This task has been listed here for several years, and many disciples have taken it on, but every single one of them has failed. Not only did they not receive any rewards, but they were also fined a considerable number of spirit stones. It’s one of the most difficult tasks to complete here. Besides, I’m not afraid of you laughing, Junior Brother Han, but every year I have to force this task on fellow disciples through a lottery!”
After hearing this, Han Li found it somewhat amusing but also began to have doubts. Nevertheless, he had no intention of giving up just yet. So, with great humility, he asked, “Senior Brother, could you tell me exactly why this task is so difficult? Why have so many senior brothers failed? Isn’t it just about managing the herbs in the garden? How hard could that be?”
“Has our junior nephew chosen Elder Ma’s herb garden task?” The elderly surnamed Ye, who had been listening to their conversation, frowned and interjected before the middle-aged steward could answer.
“Exactly! Junior Brother Han has taken a fancy to Elder Ma’s extremely difficult task,” the middle-aged steward said with a mix of amusement and exasperation.
Upon hearing this, the old man also took on an expression that was both smiling and not.
“Haha! Junior Nephew Han, you certainly know how to pick! You’ve managed to pick the most troublesome task here at first glance. However, this task is truly a headache. Several people who were forced to take it have already come to me to complain. But since Elder Ma refuses to change the reward and penalty conditions easily, there’s nothing I can do! If Junior Nephew Han wants to know the details of this task, you can come with me to the inner hall to review the relevant records. That’s much better than hearing it from someone else!” For some reason, Hall Master Ye of the Hundred Duties Hall appeared very straightforward with Han Li and even went out of his way to help him.
Han Li, however, frowned inwardly. This Uncle Ye was being a bit too enthusiastic! Although he had given the Foundation Establishment Pill to the other party, on the surface, it had seemed like an equal exchange. Surely that wouldn’t warrant such warmth from him?
Suppressing his doubts, Han Li put on an expression of being overwhelmed by the favor and followed the old man, who had taken the bamboo slip, into a room at the back of the hall. The room was filled with all kinds of records.
The old man picked up a bamboo slip in the room and gently waved it. A green light flashed on the slip, and a scroll automatically flew into his hand. He then turned and handed the scroll to Han Li.
Since things had already come to this, Han Li unceremoniously took the scroll, swiftly unrolled it, and began to examine it carefully.
The content of the scroll wasn’t long. It only recorded the accounts of previous disciples who had taken over the herb garden and their reasons for failure. Han Li read it quickly and soon understood most of the task’s content and difficulties.
“So, what do you think? Would you like to choose another task? Although the rewards for this task are quite substantial, it’s truly not something an ordinary disciple can accomplish,” Uncle Ye said, seemingly very concerned.
After pondering for a moment, Han Li decisively shook his head and said, “Thank you, Uncle Ye! But this task suits me quite well. There’s no need to change to another task. I’ll choose this one!”
The old man, sensing the determination in Han Li’s words, was somewhat taken aback but didn’t say anything more. He simply nodded in agreement. However, he didn’t immediately lead Han Li out of the room. Instead, after hesitating for a moment, he somewhat awkwardly spoke up.
“Junior Nephew Han, regarding the Foundation Establishment Pill transaction we made last time, could we delay the handover of some of the items? Your uncle is currently refining a batch of Unity Qi Pills and is a bit short on resources at the moment, so it’s rather inconvenient. But don’t worry, Nephew. In a year or so, your uncle will be able to repay all the owed items in full.”
Upon hearing this, Han Li was initially stunned but soon laughed.
“Uncle Ye, what are you saying? Since it’s inconvenient for you, just give me what you can. There’s no need to talk about repaying later. Consider it a token of respect from your junior!”
Han Li felt that he was being extremely hypocritical at that moment. Although he was inwardly frustrated and deeply resentful of the other party’s breach of agreement, he had to maintain a smiling face and say things that would please the other party. Such is the sorrow of being the weaker party, he thought bitterly.
“What do you mean by that, Nephew? Do you think I am the kind of person who goes back on my word and breaks promises? What I promised you will not be missing even a single bit!” Instead of being pleased, the old man surnamed Ye straightened his face upon hearing Han Li’s words, putting on an expression that said, “I am a righteous gentleman who would never do such underhanded things.”
Han Li, who had been barely maintaining his smile, was almost pushed to the brink of anger by these words!
This elder’s skin was truly thick. Clearly, his intention was to renege on most of the items, yet he still insisted on putting on a righteous and trustworthy facade. What a typical hypocrite!
Han Li couldn’t help but curse inwardly repeatedly. However, after only a slight pause, the smile on his face naturally shifted to a sincere expression, and he continued in a tone that even he found nauseatingly sweet, “Uncle Ye, you’ve misunderstood me! Actually, I feel that since I’ve just entered the sect, having so many resources is a bit too extravagant for someone like me. So, why don’t we leave most of the items with you for now, Uncle? I have no use for them at the moment anyway.”
Upon hearing Han Li’s duplicitous words, the old man surnamed Ye finally relaxed his expression and nodded slightly. “Junior Nephew Han, your words do make some sense! New disciples relying too much on external possessions can indeed hinder their cultivation! Then let’s do as you say. I’ll hold onto some of the items for now. If you need them in the future, feel free to come and take them!”
“Then I’ll trouble Uncle Ye with this!” Han Li forced a smile, all the while comforting himself repeatedly inwardly. These are just worldly possessions. Right now, he couldn’t afford to offend this old man! When the opportunity arises in the future, he would reclaim everything with interest.
“Haha, it’s nothing! Let’s go out now.” The old man seemed to be in an even better mood.
After that, things proceeded much more smoothly. With Uncle Ye’s assistance, Han Li completed all the procedures without a hitch and received the jade token representing his acceptance of the task. Then, under the enthusiastic guidance of Steward Yu, he set off for the Hundred Herb Garden at Goldfoal Ridge.
The old man surnamed Ye stood at the entrance of the Hundred Duties Hall, watching Han Li’s figure gradually disappear into the distance. His expression turned gloomy, and he fell silent, as if lost in thought.
“Junior Brother Ye, are you feeling a bit soft-hearted?” a low voice suddenly came from behind him.
“It’s not a matter of being soft-hearted. I just feel that using such methods against a newly entered disciple seems somewhat improper. Moreover, what if this Junior Nephew Han says one thing to our faces but another behind our backs? What if he reports this to the sect leader?” The old man spoke without turning around, but his tone carried a hint of worry.
“Heh, report?” The person behind him sneered.
“What? Aren’t you worried, Senior Brother Wu?” The old man surnamed Ye finally turned around to face the grim-looking Senior Brother Wu.
“Why should I be worried? Didn’t the kid willingly say, just as we had planned, that he would leave the items with you? It’s not like we explicitly said we wouldn’t return them—we’re just holding them for now! What grounds does he have to report us?” Senior Brother Wu said with full confidence.
“However, I quite admire this kid! For someone so young, he already understands the way of advance and retreat. Not simple at all! If it weren’t for his poor aptitude and fake spiritual roots, I’d actually consider taking him as my disciple!” Senior Brother Wu added, a look of regret on his face.
“Thankfully, he isn’t stubborn. Otherwise, we would have had to use other methods, which would have been much more troublesome,” the old man surnamed Ye said slowly.
“Alright, there’s nothing to worry about with this kid. The two of us could crush him as easily as an ant. However, Junior Brother Ye, since you didn’t have to spend much this time, don’t forget what we agreed on beforehand!” Senior Brother Wu suddenly changed the subject, his words carrying a hidden meaning.
“I won’t forget. Half of the Unity Qi Pills from this batch will go to you. *Sigh*! To be honest, if it weren’t for my grandnephew needing a large number of precious pills to assist him in building his foundation, I really wouldn’t have the cheek to withhold these items from a junior,” the old man surnamed Ye said, shaking his head lightly as if lamenting the loss of his integrity in his later years.
Upon hearing this, the old man surnamed Wu smiled without saying a word, thinking triumphantly to himself, “Now that Junior Brother Ye has done such a shady deed, he’s effectively given me leverage over him. I won’t have to worry about him not siding with me in future discussions.”
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