Chapter 150: Breaking a Promise

"Take charge of a Hundred-Herb Garden in Green Stone Ridge, and hand in a specified quantity of rare medicinal materials every year."

Upon seeing this line of gold-lacquered characters on the bamboo slip, Han Li was overjoyed. He pointed to the bamboo slip and looked up at Deacon Yu, saying: "I am quite fond of this task. Could Senior Brother Yu introduce it to me?"

After hearing Han Li's words, Deacon Yu leaned over with a smile. But when he saw the task Han Li had chosen, the smile on his face immediately turned into a bitter one.

"Junior Brother, you'd better change to another task. This task of managing the garden is too difficult and not suitable for you to do!" Deacon Yu said very sincerely, but seeing Han Li's confused look, he continued to explain:

"Since this task was posted here a few years ago, many disciples have taken it, but everyone messed it up. Not only did they not get the reward, but they were also fined quite a few spirit stones. It can be said to be one of the most difficult tasks to complete here. Also, I'm not afraid of Junior Brother Han laughing at me, but every year I have to let those Senior Brothers draw lots before this task can be forced out!"

After hearing these words, Han Li felt somewhat funny, but he also muttered to himself. However, he did not intend to give up, so he asked very humbly:

"Could Senior Brother tell me where the difficulty of this task lies, and why so many Senior Brothers failed to complete it? Isn't it just managing the medicinal herbs in the garden! Is this really that difficult?"

"Is it possible that Nephew-Disciple chose Senior Brother Ma's difficult garden task?" The elder surnamed Ye on the side, after hearing the conversation between the two, frowned before the middle-aged deacon could answer and interrupted first.

"Isn't it! Junior Brother Han just took a fancy to Uncle-Master Ma's super-difficult task." The middle-aged deacon looked dumbfounded.

Upon hearing this, the elder also changed into a smile that was not quite a smile.

"Haha! Nephew-Disciple Han really knows how to pick! You actually took a fancy to the most troublesome task here at a glance. However, this task is truly a headache. Several people who were forced to take this task have complained to me. But because Senior Brother Ma is unwilling to easily change the reward and punishment conditions, I have no way to help! If Nephew-Disciple Han wants to know the detailed situation of this task, you can go to the inner hall with me to see the relevant files. Isn't that better than listening to others talk?" This Hall Master Ye of the Hundred Machines Hall didn't know why, but he was very generous to Han Li, actually opening the back door for him.

Han Li frowned secretly. This Uncle-Master Ye was too enthusiastic! Although he had yielded the Foundation Establishment Pill to the other party, on the surface, that was also an equal trade, so it shouldn't make this person so intimate with him, right?

Suppressing his confusion, Han Li put on a flattered expression and followed the elder who took the bamboo slip into a room behind the great hall, which was piled with all kinds of files.

In the room, the elder waved the bamboo slip lightly, and a cyan light flashed on the slip, and a scroll automatically flew into his hand. Then, he turned and handed the scroll to Han Li.

Since things had reached this point, Han Li didn't stand on ceremony, took the scroll, and unfolded it to read carefully.

The content of the scroll was not long, just recording the self-narrated experiences of the previous disciples who had managed the herb garden, as well as their excuses for failure. So Han Li read it very quickly and understood the content and difficulties of this task in a short while.

"How is it? You'd better change to another task! Although the reward for this task is very generous, it is indeed not something that ordinary disciples can complete." This Uncle-Master Ye said with apparent concern.

After hearing this, Han Li pondered for a moment, then shook his head decisively and said: "Thank you, Uncle-Master! However, this task is very much to my liking. No need to change to other tasks, I'll choose this one!"

The elder heard the determination in Han Li's words and felt somewhat surprised, but he didn't say anything and nodded in agreement. However, he didn't take Han Li away from the room immediately, but hesitated for a moment before saying something unnatural.

"Nephew-Disciple Han, regarding the Foundation Establishment Pill trade we made last time, can the items for the trade be delayed for a while? I am currently refining a furnace of Harmony Pills, and I am a bit tight on hand, so it's probably not very convenient. But Nephew-Disciple, rest assured, as long as a year or a year and a half passes, I will be able to pay off all the items I owe you."

Han Li was stunned at first upon hearing this, but immediately laughed.

"What is Uncle-Master saying? Since it's not convenient for you, then just give me as much as you can. Why mention paying it back later? This can be considered my filial piety to you, Uncle-Master!"

Han Li felt that he was truly hypocritical to the extreme now. Clearly, he was extremely depressed and hated the other party's breach of promise, but on the surface, he had to be all smiles, saying things that made the other party happy. This was probably the sorrow of being the weak! He thought bitterly.

"What does Nephew-Disciple mean by this! Do you think I am the kind of person who breaks promises and doesn't keep his word? The things I promised will definitely not be a single bit less for you, Nephew-Disciple." After hearing Han Li's words, the elder surnamed Ye was not happy, but instead straightened his face, revealing an expression of "I am an upright gentleman and would never do such a petty thing."

Han Li's smile, which he had barely maintained, was almost collapsed by these words!

This elder's skin was too thick. Clearly, his original intention was to renege on most of the items, but he still had to put on a very upright and promise-keeping fake face. He was truly a typical hypocrite!

Han Li couldn't help but curse secretly in his heart. But the smile on his face only paused slightly before naturally changing into a sincere expression, continuing to speak in a tone that he himself felt was nauseating:

"Uncle-Master misunderstood me! Actually, I just feel that since I have just entered the sect, these things are too extravagant for me. So, most of the items can be temporarily kept with you, Uncle-Master. I don't have any use for them for the time being."

After hearing Han Li say these insincere words, the elder surnamed Ye's expression eased, and he nodded slightly: "What Nephew-Disciple said makes some sense! If new disciples rely too much on these external things, it will indeed be a great hindrance to your cultivation! Then let's do as you said, and just temporarily keep the items with me. If you need them in the future, just come and get them!"

"Then I will trouble you, Uncle-Master Ye!" Han Li forced a smile, but in his heart, he kept persuading himself over and over again. These are just external things, and he couldn't afford to offend the elder before him now! When he had the chance in the future, he would just ask for them back with interest.

"Haha, this is nothing! Let's go out!" The elder's mood seemed even better.

And the subsequent things were much easier to handle. With the assistance of this Uncle-Master Ye, Han Li handled all the procedures extremely smoothly and obtained the jade token representing the task. Then, under the enthusiastic guidance of Deacon Yu, he set off for the Hundred-Herb Garden in Golden talisman Ridge.

The elder surnamed Ye stood at the entrance of the Hundred Machines Hall, looking at Han Li's figure flying away, his complexion darkened, and he remained silent, as if thinking about something.

"Is Junior Brother Ye's heart softening?" A low voice suddenly came from behind him.

"It's not a question of whether my heart is soft or not, but that using such means to deal with a newly entered disciple always feels inappropriate. And will this Nephew-Disciple Han say one thing on the surface and another in secret, and go to the Sect Master to report this matter!" The elder said without turning his head, but there was a hint of worry in his words.

"Hehe, report?" The person behind him sneered.

"Why, isn't Senior Brother Wu worried?" The elder surnamed Ye finally turned around and said to the gloomy-faced Senior Brother Wu behind him.

"What's there to worry about! Didn't this kid very consciously do as we arranged in advance and say he would keep the items with you? It's not like we explicitly said we wouldn't return them to him, just temporarily keeping them! What does he have to report?" Senior Brother Wu said with confidence.

"However, I quite appreciate this kid! He knows how to advance and retreat at such a young age, not simple! If it weren't for his poor aptitude and pseudo-spiritual root body, I would really have the idea of taking him into my sect!" Senior Brother Wu continued, revealing a look of regret on his face.

"It's also fortunate that this person is not a stubborn person, otherwise we would have to use another method, which would be much more troublesome!" The elder surnamed Ye said slowly.

"Alright, there's nothing to worry about with this kid! You and I can crush him like crushing an ant. But don't forget what we agreed on regarding the Harmony Pills this time, Junior Brother Ye!" Senior Brother Wu suddenly changed the subject, and there was another meaning in his words.

"I won't forget. Half of the Harmony Pills produced this time will be yours. Sigh! To tell you the truth, if it weren't for the fact that my grand-nephew also needs a large number of precious medicinal pills to assist him in the process of foundation establishment, I really wouldn't have the face to embezzle these things from a junior!" The elder surnamed Ye shook his head lightly, looking like he had lost his integrity in his later years.

The elder surnamed Wu heard these words but smiled without saying a word, thinking triumphantly in his heart:

"Since this Junior Brother Ye has done such a despicable thing, it can be considered that he has a handle in my hands. I don't have to worry about him not leaning toward me in future discussions."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 151 =====