Chapter 45: Menial Duties

“In that case… come with me.” Xuandaozi shook his head with a trace of regret, then waved his sleeve and swept Lin Hao inside. With a single step, he soared into the distance.

“A world within his sleeve!” Now, inside Xuandaozi’s wide sleeve, Lin Hao could hardly contain his excitement. A world within the sleeve—this was truly the art of an immortal! Who would have thought that, by misfortune, he would fall from a cliff only to be recognized by an immortal? He had discovered another path, apart from the imperial examinations! The thought that wealth and power now lay within reach made Lin Hao’s breathing quicken, and a longing for the path of cultivation began to stir in his heart.

“The wind is fierce; close your eyes.” Xuandaozi’s aged voice reached him, and Lin Hao’s face turned pale. He saw the two of them traversing the heavens, racing through the vast sky! Endless mountains and surging rivers flashed swiftly beneath them. The raging wind lashed at his face, leaving Lin Hao gasping for breath, fear taking root in his heart—yet his desire for immortality burned ever brighter.

Time passed swiftly as they flew through the clouds. After about half an hour, they descended gently onto a flat stone terrace halfway up a mountain. All around, peaks undulated, shrouded in swirling mists—this was no ordinary mortal realm! Elegant pavilions could be seen encircling the mountains, composing a scene of celestial grandeur.

“Disciple greets Elder Xuan.” Lin Qing gazed in wonder at the immortal splendor before him, his eyes full of astonishment—when a respectful male voice sounded.

He looked and saw a man in green robes, bowing deeply, his gaze deferential. Yet the man’s irises were an unnatural green, giving him an air of something wild and otherworldly.

Xuandaozi nodded slightly and instructed, “This boy I encountered on my travels possesses a commendable nature. Take him to the sect’s servant quarters and provide him with cultivation techniques and necessities.”

The green-robed man bowed again, agreeing respectfully.

“Servant…” Lin Hao could scarcely believe what he’d heard. A gust of wind seemed to swirl around him, leaving him completely disoriented.

Wasn’t this supposed to be the path to immortality?

“Master, wait—”

Lin Hao called after Xuandaozi’s retreating figure, eager to inquire further, but the green-robed man stepped forward, blocking his path.

“Boy, since Elder Xuan has shown you favor, stay here and do your duty as a servant. In sixty years, should you fail in your cultivation, you may return whence you came.” The man’s eyes flashed with an eerie light, and his voice was cold and sinister.

“Sixty years…”

“Where… is this place?” Lin Hao felt a chill crawl up his spine under the man’s gaze, fear flickering in his eyes.

“Qingluo Sect.”

The Qingluo Sect, located in the eastern reaches of Yunzhou, once stood as the foremost among the region’s three great sects, famed throughout the east. The sect had not always borne the name Qingluo; a thousand years ago, a cultivator of great renown arose, the legendary Ancestor Qingluo. With deep cunning, he forcibly renamed the sect and established harsh new rules. Under his leadership, Qingluo flourished in glory.

Alas, a thousand years had passed. Times had changed; the Qingluo Sect had long since fallen into decline. Ancestor Qingluo had been missing for over three centuries, and with further internal upheaval, the sect had weakened day by day. Had the fate of Ancestor Qingluo been known, the other two sects would likely have divided Qingluo’s lands among themselves long ago. Thus, the area remained vast but sparsely populated.

“Follow me,” the green-robed man ordered icily, turning to walk down a secluded path. Though despair gnawed at Lin Hao’s heart, he dared not linger, following behind in gloom.

“Sigh, to have failed the imperial exams again and again, to be hunted for trying to sell a jade pendant… I thought I had stumbled upon a great fortune, and found the road to immortality. Who could have imagined I’d end up a mere servant…” Bitterness filled Lin Hao’s eyes as he muttered to himself.

“Take this boy to the servant quarters and provide him with cultivation techniques and supplies…”

Suddenly, Lin Hao paused, recalling Xuandaozi’s words. A hint of brightness appeared in his gaze as he whispered, “Could it be that only by serving immortals does one earn the right to learn immortal arts?”

“Enough chatter. Keep up,” the green-clad youth shot him a frosty glance, his tone glacial. Lin Hao fell silent at once, trailing behind with utmost caution.

They soon emerged from the quiet path into a broad open area, where rows of orderly wooden houses stood. Compared to villages of the mortal world, this was a place of much greater refinement. All around, people in coarse clothes bustled about, hard at work.

“Senior Brother Ma, it’s been a while! I hear you’ve reached the fourth stage of Qi Condensation—truly admirable!” A playful youth approached with a teasing smile, a fairly comely young woman following behind him.

“Junior Brother Zhang, this is the boy Elder Xuan brought back. I’ll leave him in your care.” The man surnamed Ma gave the young woman a meaningful glance, then nodded slightly to the youth before him.

“Elder Xuan!” The youth was startled, though his expression remained composed. His eyes glimmered with even more warmth as he looked at Lin Hao.

“Rest assured, Senior Brother. I will take good care of him.”

The youth bowed respectfully to Ma, his manner solemn. Ma said no more, giving him a cool glance before turning away.

“Go back to your room and wait for me,” Ma said to the girl as he left. The youth then looked warmly at Lin Hao and smiled, “Junior Brother, from now on, you may call me Senior Brother Zhang. If others are present, address me as Steward Zhang. Should you encounter trouble in your cultivation, come to me—I’ll answer any question you have. And what is your name, Junior Brother?”

As he spoke, Steward Zhang clapped Lin Hao’s arm with great enthusiasm. Anyone unaware of the truth would have thought the two were real brothers.

“My name is Lin Hao, Senior Brother,” Lin Hao replied, his heart keenly aware of the youth’s intentions—he valued only the connection to Xuandaozi.

But, truth be told, Lin Hao had no real ties to Xuandaozi at all. He was about to explain when a girl’s cry interrupted.

He looked and saw a young woman, dirty all over, crouched on the ground rubbing her ankle. Beside her, a bucket had toppled, spilling water everywhere.

Seeing this, Lin Hao moved to help, but Steward Zhang was quicker.

A loud slap rang out. Steward Zhang glowered at the girl, his voice icy. “Useless thing! How dare you rest? Get back to work!”

“Yes…” The girl, not daring to tend her burning cheek, hurried to grab the bucket and limped away.

No one noticed the glint of cunning that flashed in the eyes of a distant figure…