Chapter 520: Chapter 474: Work-Study Program
Sea Suppression City, the weather cleared after the rain, and the ground was full of fallen petals.
Banners fluttered in the streets and alleys, with hurried passersby bustling for their livelihood.
With black hair and an ordinary face, Jiang Yuebai, wearing a white long robe with the words ’Sushan Building’ printed on the back, walked down the street holding an oil-paper umbrella, and casually used Dust Cleaning Technique to sweep up the petals at the entrance of Sushan Building.
She put away the umbrella, opened the door, hung up the sign saying they were open for business, and walked into the hall to see books and jade scrolls casually thrown everywhere, shaking her head in disapproval.
The clerks would show books to the customers, but once they were done, they wouldn’t bother to put them back, leaving the mess for her to clean up.
There was no one else in the store. On both sides of the hall were rows of antique shelves and bookshelves, filled with jade scrolls, bamboo scrolls, and various books.
Jiang Yuebai used Divine Sense Silk, and with Silk Control Technique, gathered up the scattered books and jade scrolls, not even looking at them, and put them back in their places.
After tidying up, the clerks, accountants, and shopkeeper of Sushan Building started to arrive from various places, greeted each other, and busied themselves with their respective tasks.
As usual, Jiang Yuebai pretended to busy herself by carrying a pile of books, running back and forth between the bookshelves.
It seemed like she was organizing the books, but in reality, three sections of her Divine Split were controlling three palm-sized White Vine Avatars, hidden among the bookshelves reading books.
For works on Cultivation Techniques, only the general outline could be read, anything beyond was sealed.
The insights and travel logs of cultivators were similar, only partial content could be viewed unless one paid to have the rest replicated for viewing.
The complete versions available were mostly those of widespread, common knowledge.
For example, "Hundred Dragon Atlas," "Qingcang Geographic Record," "Green Dragon Realm History," "Dragon Shepherd Heroes," and such.
Additionally, Sushan Building offered its clerks a benefit of being able to view one book of insights each month if they had perfect attendance.
Jiang Yuebai had been at Sushan Building in Sea Suppression City for over two months and hadn’t even finished half of the ordinary collection.
She was only inclined to stay and read while waiting for Xie Jingshan, as she needed his help to head to the West Sea Battlefield.
"Jiang Xiaojiu, go to the back and fetch a box of Spiritual Mulberry Paper, and also bring three blocks of Pine Smoke Ink."
The steward called out in the hall.
"Alright!"
Jiang Yuebai quickly agreed and went to the back storeroom to fetch the items.
One reason she was slow at reading was that this job required handling many errands. Even though it was agreed upon at hiring that she’d only organize books and clean bookshelves.
As soon as the store got busy, she was treated like a workhorse, tasked with moving items, running errands, serving tea, welcoming and sending off guests, and even cleaning up after and feeding customer mounts.
When she mentioned this to the shopkeeper, he would earnestly say:
"Xiaojiu, among so many clerks in our store, I value you the most. You’re diligent and quick-witted. You see, our second steward is getting old, and might leave soon. Get familiar with the tasks and practice more so that I can arrange something for you. Do your best, Xiaojiu."
The repeated spiel made Jiang Yuebai feel nauseous.
In the Earth Spiritual Realm, a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator was the backbone of any sect, and in smaller families, they could even become an Old Ancestor, with status and prestige.
But here, Foundation Establishment cultivators were as common as crops in Sea Suppression City, serving merely as an entry point for Immortal Cultivation, and were the minimum hiring criteria for shops.
Qi Cultivation cultivators? Sent to haul packages at the docks!
This was because the cost of living in Sea Suppression City was sky-high, and the competition was fierce. If you didn’t want to be a clerk, there were plenty of others waiting to do it, striving for a chance to stay in Sea Suppression City.
After all, it was governed by the Fulong Sect, close to Guixu Sea, with rich Spiritual Energy, guaranteed safety, and opportunities to access the top-tier cultivation techniques, cultivators, news, and Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures of the Green Dragon Realm.
If she hadn’t lowered her pay expectations back then, she wouldn’t have squeezed her way into Sushan Building.
It was truly hard for lower-level cultivators to maintain cultivation and survive.
"Manager Wang, here’s what you asked for."
Jiang Yuebai placed a large box of items on one of the tables in the hall, and Wrinkly-faced Manager Wang nodded repeatedly, smiling obsequiously to a young male cultivator drinking tea by the table, who was only at a Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivation.
The male cultivator had a jade-like handsome face but carried a bit of arrogance in his demeanor and actions.
Because he was wearing the bluish-green combat attire of an Inner Sect disciple of the Fulong Sect, with azure dragon patterns on the cuffs and collar.
The jade crown paired with a dragon hairpin, and a dragon token hanging from his waist, looked impressive.
"Mr. Chi, everything is here. Kindly exchange for paper money, and consider the ink as a gift from us at Sushan Building."
Chi Feng took a sip of tea, putting down the cup, "Your tea tastes really bad. Go ahead, flattering me for some reason?"
Manager Wang glanced at Jiang Yuebai standing nearby, gesturing for her to step aside, and she had no choice but to leave.
"Mr. Chi, it’s just that the payment for the Blank Jade Scrolls and paper ink sent from Sushan Building to Fulong Sect last time hasn’t been settled. Knowing your master is extremely busy with managing the Inner Affairs Hall, we thought to trouble you to remind him."
Chi Feng smiled, "That matter is simple, send another batch of Blank Jade Scrolls and paper ink tomorrow, same as last time, and the Inner Affairs Hall will settle it then."
"Really? That’s great, I’ll certainly have someone deliver it tomorrow."
As Chi Feng was personally sent out by Manager Wang, the smile on his face disappeared instantly once Chi Feng left, followed by a few disdainful huffs.
"If it were that straightforward, the payment wouldn’t have been delayed for half a year, difficult indeed!"
With a worried frown, Manager Wang watched as Jiang Yuebai was commanded by another Manager Zhang to serve tea.
In the hall sat two female cultivators, seemingly also from Fulong Sect, chatting in low voices as they waited for the clerks to find the latest storybooks for them.
"...It seems Daoist Long Ming has truly fallen, today I heard someone say that the Sect Master plans to give Daoist Long Ming’s Spiritual Void Mountain to the Five Fire True Monarch."
"No way? Didn’t Daoist Long Ming go out to hunt dragons for his newly accepted disciple? How did he suddenly fall?"
"Who knows, it’s unlucky to have met a tough opponent. I heard Master Dongfang told the sect that it was just a Golden Core Perfection female cultivator who killed Daoist Long Ming, using a Dragon Herding Song to command a hundred dragons, unstoppable and completely mind-boggling."
"That’s a Female Demon Head! So terrifying!"
"If we encountered her, all we could do is kneel and beg for mercy."
"Pah pah pah, stop saying such inauspicious things, we definitely won’t meet her."
"Here, have some tea."
Jiang Yuebai placed the teacups before the two female cultivators.
One of the female cultivators glanced at Jiang Yuebai, irritably tapped the empty plate, "Another plate of snacks, be quick, no sense of attentiveness."
Jiang Yuebai forced out a standard smile, nodded, and retreated.
"The Five Fire True Monarch wanting to seize Daoist Long Ming’s cave dwelling won’t be easy, the array around Spiritual Void Mountain is too tight, only the jade talismans personally refined by Daoist Long Ming can pass through, his third disciple Ning Zhiyuan has been missing for years, and the cave dwelling remains untouched."
"Yes, I also heard, Daoist Long Ming still has five disciples, probably all five of them would oppose anyone else taking over Spiritual Void Mountain, if his eldest disciple could successfully return as a Nascent Soul, he could directly inherit Spiritual Void Mountain..."
The conversation continued, Jiang Yuebai’s ears perked at the familiar names.
So, the Mid-Stage Nascent Soul cultivator who died previously at the Sword Grass Sea was called Daoist Long Ming, the mentor of the Big Dog Thief Ning Zhiyuan, no wonder!
The Big Dog Thief’s cave dwelling is still untouched?
She hadn’t held much hope initially, but wasn’t this forcing her to pay a visit?
Jiang Yuebai glanced toward the door, having received a message from Xie Jingshan two days ago, saying he’d be delayed for another half month.
In that case...
Jiang Yuebai turned to find Manager Wang, who stood at the doorway to the back storeroom, directing people to pack a large number of Blank Jade Scrolls into boxes.
"Hehehe, Manager Wang~" Jiang Yuebai lifted a smiling face.
Manager Wang snorted, "Speak your mind, don’t just smile at me."
Jiang Yuebai rubbed her hands, "Manager Wang, are these to be sent to Fulong Sect again? Why not let me go tomorrow? I lack experience and have only heard how grand Fulong Sect is, never got the chance to see it for myself."
"I understand what you’re concerned about, rest assured, this time I’ll ensure to get every single Spirit Stone owed by Fulong Sect back. If I can’t, I won’t return, how about it?"
