Volume One, Chapter Eleven: Unexpected Change
“I’ve broken through… Is this what it feels like to reach the fourth layer of Qi Refinement?” Ji Die slowly opened his eyes and glanced at the doorway.
“Ji Die, get out here, I know you’re inside!” Outside, He Song kept shouting, but suddenly the tightly shut door creaked open. A young man in a blue disciple’s robe stood in the doorway, casting a cold glance at him.
“The steward is looking for you!” Under that gaze, He Song felt his heart pound with unease, his voice growing weaker.
“Greetings, Steward.” Ji Die naturally saw the horse-faced man, approached him with proper formality, and bowed respectfully.
“Ji Die, do you know what day it is today?” The horse-faced man spoke in a deep voice.
He Song was immediately full of gleeful malice.
“Steward, you only said to clean once every seven days, but didn’t specify the hour, did you?” Ji Die replied with neither humility nor arrogance.
“Hmph. I’m the steward. You’ll clean whenever I say you clean.” The horse-faced man’s face darkened.
“Yes.” Ji Die lowered his gaze. Having broken through to the fourth layer of Qi Refinement, he could faintly sense the other’s aura was stronger than his, likely at the peak of the fourth layer.
He didn’t wish to offend him, so he drew water, took up the bucket, brush, broom, and other tools, and entered the stables, heading to cubicle eleven.
The black serpent saw him approach, opened its eyes, and flicked its tongue in a submissive manner.
“This is your first time doing this, I’ll be supervising you. If you try to shirk your duties, don’t blame me for being harsh,” declared the horse-faced man righteously, following him inside.
He Song, full of resentment toward Ji Die, wouldn’t miss the chance, and several other disciples with nothing better to do followed as well.
But upon meeting the black serpent’s gaze, everyone felt a chill underfoot; none dared offer help. The serpent was notorious for its ferocity.
“Go on in,” said the horse-faced man after glancing inside.
“Yes.” Ji Die clasped his hands in salute, opened the cubicle door, walked in, and looked at the great beast nearby. He took several deep breaths, set down his bucket and tools, and advanced slowly with only the broom in hand.
He stayed alert for any sudden change in the creature’s demeanor.
Though it had been submissive these past days, a serpent is still a serpent; Ji Die dared not fully trust it. Even if its cultivation now slightly exceeded his, he couldn’t afford carelessness.
As he drew closer, the black serpent flicked its tongue, moved its massive head toward Ji Die, as if sending a warning.
Outside, the disciples’ nerves tightened; it was as if they themselves were inside.
“That’s it! Eat him!” He Song was excited, already picturing Ji Die being attacked by the serpent.
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Ji Die kept his eyes fixed on it, heart pounding, broom at the ready to strike if needed.
Fortunately, the feeding and training of the past two days had paid off. The black serpent brought its head close, regarded him briefly, then drew back.
“At least you’ve got some conscience, beast,” Ji Die relaxed involuntarily, muttering as he took a basket of fruit from his storage pouch, setting it before the serpent. Among the fruit was a Spirit-Enhancing Fruit, concealed among the rest.
Seeing the black serpent begin to eat, Ji Die started cleaning the cubicle with his broom.
Man and serpent, each with their task.
“What… How is this possible? The serpent didn’t attack him…” The disciples outside were stunned.
The horse-faced man and the resentful He Song were equally baffled, unable to fathom why the black serpent was so docile, not attacking Ji Die.
“Eat as you like, I’ll give you a bath.” Soon, the cubicle was clean. Ji Die set the bucket by his feet, glanced at the serpent, and began to scrub its body with the brush.
The serpent kept eating, ignoring him. Everything proceeded smoothly.
“You little wretch!” Watching this, He Song’s gaze grew sinister, eyes cold with resentment as he touched the scratch marks on his face. His expression was full of imbalance and anger.
When he’d cleaned the cubicle, he’d ended up wounded. How could this wretch be unscathed?
At that moment, everyone’s attention was focused inside, and none noticed a needle-sized short arrow suddenly shoot through the air, striking the serpent’s soft underbelly.
A metallic clang rang out—the needle was blocked by the serpent’s scales, but it still hurt, and the serpent let out a furious roar, thrashing wildly. The fruit basket was overturned, scattering its contents.
“Die, wretch!” He Song was mad with glee; with Ji Die so close, if the serpent went berserk, he would surely die.
The horse-faced man seemed to sense something, glancing at He Song, but said nothing.
The other disciples’ faces changed dramatically.
“Not good, the serpent’s out of control!”
“Who was it?” Seeing the serpent suddenly go wild, Ji Die was startled, then instantly retreated to a safe distance. His gaze fell on the dropped silver needle.
A cold light flashed in his eyes. Now he understood why the serpent had lost control.
Someone wanted to harm him!
He Song?!
Since arriving at the stables, he’d only had enmity with He Song; besides him, Ji Die couldn’t imagine who else would wish him dead.
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“That bastard!” Ji Die forcibly suppressed his rage, unable to ponder further as he looked toward the frenzied black serpent.
He couldn’t be sure if the serpent would attack him in this state.
He soon learned: the serpent now saw everyone as an enemy. Its body lashed out like a massive whip, striking at him!
“Damn it!” Ji Die’s pupils contracted, spiritual energy surging within him as he retreated explosively toward the door. But before he could exit the cubicle, the door slammed shut.
“The task isn’t done. You’re not allowed to leave.” The horse-faced man stood outside, indifferent.
Ji Die glared at him. The serpent was now berserk, yet he was expected to continue cleaning?
Why don’t you do it yourself!
“Steward! The serpent has been attacked, it’s…” The steward’s authority forced Ji Die to swallow his anger, but before he finished, he was interrupted.
“Rules are rules. If the task isn’t completed, you can’t leave. That’s my order! If you dare disobey, you’ll be punished for insubordination and expelled from the sect!” The horse-faced man emphasized the word ‘steward,’ having already taken offense on behalf of Senior Sister Song. Now, he would enforce ‘rules’ to the letter.
Of course, these rules were his own invention. The sect never specified when disciples should clean such chores.
“Fine, I’ll remember this!” Ji Die stared hard at him, unable to fathom the reason for this deliberate persecution.
He didn’t know what he’d done to offend the steward.
“Are you threatening me?” The horse-faced man glanced at him, catching the anger in Ji Die’s eyes, a sneer flickering deep within his own.
The other disciples felt that the steward’s actions were unfair, but under his glare, they fell silent, not daring to protest.
The steward’s cultivation far exceeded theirs; he was not someone they could afford to offend.
Just then, the black serpent lashed its body, sending scattered fruit flying from the ground toward the crowd.