by Imperfection
"If I have to work, then I have to work!"
Lü Yang quickly adjusted his mood.
Strictly speaking, I could kill myself and start over right now... but the Book of a Hundred Lives has a limited number of pages. Restarting just like that would be too wasteful.
Although he had become an official disciple, Lü Yang still knew very little about the Primordial Saint Sect. His understanding of the entire cultivation world was limited to what he had read in books. While he already had thoughts of starting over, in order to accumulate advantages for his next life, he should live as long as possible in this one.
Heaven-Mending Peak was home to countless cave dwellings, yet only two places truly stood out. One was naturally the Peak Lord's cave dwelling. The other was a tall building.
The building had nine stories and was named the Hall of Meritorious Deeds.
Official disciples conducted transactions with one another, posted bounties, and accepted sect missions mostly within the Hall of Meritorious Deeds, where they could do so under the Saint Sect's protection.
Lü Yang walked into the hall and approached a counter.
"Senior Brother, might I ask if this is the place to receive sect missions?"
"Nonsense, you... hmm?"
The young Daoist behind the counter first gave Lü Yang an absent-minded glance. When he noticed Lü Yang's handsome features, his eyes lit up.
The next instant, a warm smile spread across the young Daoist's face.
"No need to call me Senior Brother. My name is Zhao Xuhe, a steward of the Hall of Meritorious Deeds. You must be new, Junior Brother? I haven't seen you before."
"This humble one is Lü Yang. Greetings, Senior Brother."
Lü Yang hastily bowed, activating his disciple token to verify his identity at the same time.
Zhao Xuhe examined the token, his expression growing warmer by the moment, his smile ever more radiant. "Very good, very good. Junior Brother Lü is quite an outstanding talent. Very impressive indeed."
Zhao Xuhe looked Lü Yang up and down in a way that made him distinctly uncomfortable. Then, without warning, Zhao Xuhe said, "Junior Brother Lü, since you're looking for sect missions, I happen to have one right here. Or rather, let's call it a chance at great fortune. If it works out, your path to immortality will be limitless in the future..."
"Truly?" Lü Yang feigned interest on the surface, but inwardly, his guard went up.
"Absolutely true. Couldn't be more real!"
Zhao Xuhe flashed a grin, pointing toward the summit of Heaven-Mending Peak. "The current Peak Lord is looking to find a husband for his daughter. With your distinguished appearance..."
Lü Yang: "???"
I came here looking for sect missions because I wanted to earn money with my own two hands, through diligence and hard work. And now you want me to live off a woman?
"What, not interested?"
Seeing Lü Yang's stiff expression, Zhao Xuhe pressed even harder. "This is a fortune falling from the sky! If you can marry into the Peak Lord's family, you'll be treated as a Foundation Establishment disciple from now on. Contribution points, techniques, resources, you'll have everything you could ever want! If you play this card right, you could save yourself sixty years of struggle..."
Despite Zhao Xuhe's silver tongue, Lü Yang remained unmoved.
In truth, if it were simply marrying into wealth, Lü Yang would not have minded.
But where was he? The Primordial Saint Sect! The head of the Demonic Path! With Liu Xin's example still fresh in his mind, how could he possibly trust Zhao Xuhe's talk of looking for a son-in-law?
There's definitely a catch!
With that thought, Lü Yang simply sighed. "Senior Brother Zhao, it's not that I don't want to be a live-in son-in-law. It's just that I have... a condition I'd rather not speak of."
Zhao Xuhe blinked. "A condition you'd rather not speak of?"
"To be frank..." Lü Yang's face was a picture of embarrassment. "I suffer from a sexually transmitted disease."
The moment these words left his mouth, the eagerness on Zhao Xuhe's face cooled considerably.
A sexually transmitted disease was not in itself a serious matter. He had ways to cure it. The real issue was why someone would have contracted such a disease. The reason behind it was what truly mattered.
"Ah, what a pity."
Zhao Xuhe shook his head. No matter how handsome Lü Yang was, the Peak Lord would never allow his daughter to become Dao Companions with a man who could get himself into that kind of trouble.
Lü Yang spoke respectfully. "I'm sorry to have troubled Senior Brother."
One does not strike a smiling face. Given Lü Yang's courtesy, Zhao Xuhe's expression softened somewhat. "Well, in that case, let me pick out a good mission for you."
"What kind of mission are you looking for?"
"High Contribution Points and relatively safe," Lü Yang said.
Zhao Xuhe's smile did not waver. He had clearly expected as much. After all, every newly inducted disciple wanted exactly this kind of mission. "As it happens, I do have one."
He handed Lü Yang a jade slip.
"The Yin-Yang Immortal Blossom. It requires a Qi Refinement cultivator's blood essence and True Qi to nurture it to maturity. Heaven-Mending Peak purchases them at the highest price: 150 Contribution Points per blossom."
Zhao Xuhe continued warmly, "This is a mission posted by the Peak Lord himself. There's no limit on quantity. However many you grow, he'll buy them all. And you don't need any experience with spirit plants, Junior Brother. The Yin-Yang Immortal Blossom is extremely adaptable. As long as you plant it in your cave dwelling, it won't wither easily."
Lü Yang was tempted at first, but quickly shook his head.
Zhao Xuhe frowned. "What's the matter?"
"Thank you for the guidance, Senior Brother. It's just..." Lü Yang's face was bitter. "I still have to pay next month's rent. I simply can't afford to purchase the blossom seeds."
"Ah, I see."
Zhao Xuhe let out a sigh of his own. "I went through the same stage myself. Senior Brother knows how hard it is... very well, let me help you out."
He extended his hand. "Give me your disciple token."
Lü Yang handed it over obediently. Moments later, he was astonished to find that 500 Contribution Points had appeared on the token out of thin air!
Zhao Xuhe smiled faintly. "These are your reserve Contribution Points from the Three Rivers Association. Withdraw them whenever you need. Go ahead and use them to buy the blossom seeds."
Lü Yang frowned. "Senior Brother, isn't this the same as the technique loan? I'm worried..."
"The Three Rivers Association is a major faction within the Inner Sect. New disciples can even enjoy thirty days interest-free on their loans. It's much cheaper than the sect's official technique loan.
"Besides, didn't you want to buy Immortal Blossom seeds?" Zhao Xuhe's tone was gentle and inviting. "As it happens, our Three Rivers Association has a senior brother who specializes in selling them. Since you've taken out a loan with us, I'll put in a good word for you. I can get him to sell you the seeds at cost..."
"There's a deal like that?" Lü Yang's face lit up with delight.
"Well, it's only because you and I hit it off, Junior Brother." Zhao Xuhe laughed heartily. "Otherwise, I wouldn't tell just anyone about an opportunity like this!"
He then took out another jade slip and handed it to Lü Yang. "This is that senior brother's communication slip. I wish you early fortune, Junior Brother."
"Thank you so much, Senior Brother!"
Lü Yang departed, showering him with thanks.
Watching his retreating figure, Zhao Xuhe's lips curled into a cold smirk. Then he turned back to the Hall of Meritorious Deeds and began searching for his next target.
---
Lü Yang did not rush off to find the "reliable Senior Brother" Zhao Xuhe had recommended for purchasing Yin-Yang Immortal Blossoms. Instead, he returned to his cave dwelling first and did some calculations.
A loan of 500 Contribution Points buys ten blossom seeds. The annual interest rate is the same as the technique loan: thirty-six percent.
Waking up at dawn and working until dark every day, watering them with blood essence and nurturing them with spiritual energy, it would still take roughly a year for all of them to mature. That's 1,500 Contribution Points earned.
After paying rent, only 1,140 Contribution Points remain.
Then 460 for the technique loan's principal plus interest. That leaves 680. Then the blossom seed loan of 500 in principal plus 180 in interest comes due...
Gone!?
Where's my money?
With this question gnawing at him, Lü Yang ran the numbers a second time. He stared blankly at his own hands for a long while before it finally sank in. He laughed in sheer disbelief.
Well played. They've calculated everything down to the last point. They didn't even leave me enough money to eat!
The Primordial Saint Sect truly lives up to its name!
As a disciple of the Saint Sect, you started out in debt. Then the sect stretched you to the breaking point on your financial chain. The Contribution Points earned from missions were just barely enough to cover expenses.
If you wanted to earn more, to save, you had to take on more work, accept more missions.
One moment of carelessness, one break in the financial chain, and the mountain of loans on your back would instantly become the straw that broke the camel's back.
As long as you're willing to endure suffering, you'll have endless suffering to endure.
To put it bluntly, the sect dangled basic necessities over the heads of its lowest disciples, forcing them to work themselves to death, all to add another brick to the Primordial Saint Sect's glory.
Bastards!
At this thought, Lü Yang could not help but curse aloud. Then he consoled himself:
I work for the Saint Sect, and the Saint Sect pays me Contribution Points. The loans and rent take those points right back. That means the sect is just buying and selling from itself. I'm the one sitting in the middle, enjoying the benefits!
Then Lü Yang recalled the warm and attentive Zhao Xuhe from earlier. He looked at the 500-point loan now sitting on his disciple token, and a cold smile formed in his heart.
And since you're so ruthless, don't blame me for returning the favor.
Predatory loans? I'll just default!
That said, the beast-of-burden existence of a Saint Sect disciple still left Lü Yang feeling stifled. The more he thought about it, the worse the taste in his mouth grew, and a nameless anger surged upward.
"...Fiend?"
Just then, the curtain parted. It was Yun Miaoqing. She had heard Lü Yang's outburst and gotten out of bed to come see what was happening.