Chapter 327: Dead Men's Things

Early the next morning, Duan Rong arrived at the gray-walled, black-tiled pavilion of the Medicine Pavilion.

Xia Honghua was sitting lazily behind the curved counter, yawning, when she suddenly saw Duan Rong walking over slowly.

"Madam, I have come to report for duty."

Xia Honghua pursed her lips into a smile, looked Duan Rong over, and said, "I thought you, little brother, looked down on my humble temple and wouldn't come."

Duan Rong laughed and said, "Madam, you jest. With a female bodhisattva like you in this temple, even if it is small, it must be very efficacious."

Xia Honghua's eyes and brows crinkled with laughter as she said, "Oh my... little brother, you look quite honest and simple... how is it that you speak with such a glib tongue?"

"Just trying to make you smile, Madam." Duan Rong suddenly said with a solemn expression, "Madam also knows that last time when I came with my Senior Brother, we exchanged for nearly a hundred types of medicine. These past few days, I have been overwhelmed with processing herbs and refining medicine with my master, and only today did I have the time to come to you. I hope you will not take offense!"

With these words, Duan Rong both closed the distance between them and explained the reason, and Xia Honghua's favorable impression of Duan Rong could not help but climb a few notches.

"It is no matter," Xia Honghua said. "It is enough that you, little brother, could come. Come, follow me."

As she spoke, Xia Honghua led Duan Rong into the room behind the curved counter.

This room was constructed of wooden planks and had no windows on any of its four sides.

It stood eerily and abruptly in the center of the Main Hall on the first floor of the pavilion.

As Duan Rong walked into the room, he felt his vision darken; before him was a cramped Corridor, and the room had actually been partitioned into several cubicles.

A Candle Lamp hung from the ceiling of the Corridor, emitting a dim light.

Xia Honghua led Duan Rong to the innermost cubicle, took out a key, and opened the copper lock hanging there.

Xia Honghua stood at the doorway, blew the Fire Folder in her hand until it ignited, walked into the room, and lit a Candle Lamp on the table.

Duan Rong also walked into the room.

Standing inside the doorway, he caught a faint scent of mold, and saw that in this cramped, long, and narrow room, there was a wooden table in the middle, with shelves and chests placed against the walls on all sides.

Xia Honghua walked to a wall, opened a chest, and carried two thick booklets to the table.

Xia Honghua turned her head and, seeing Duan Rong still standing at the doorway, pursed her lips and smiled, "Why don't you come over!? Why stand so far away? Could I possibly eat you?"

Duan Rong gave an awkward smile, walked slowly to the wooden table, looked at the two rather thick booklets, and asked, "May I ask, Madam, what are these booklets?"

Xia Honghua did not answer, but looked at Duan Rong with interest and smiled lightly, "Why don't you take a look yourself?"

Seeing Xia Honghua say this, Duan Rong opened one of the booklets.

Duan Rong flipped through a few pages at random, then looked up and said, "Are these the account books for the medicine exchanges?"

A look of joy appeared in Xia Honghua's eyes, and she said, "You are indeed an expert."

Xia Honghua asked, "Little brother, since you are skilled in Mental Abacus Calculation, you should also understand account auditing, right?"

Duan Rong said, "I know a little."

Xia Honghua said, "Although I don't understand Mental Abacus Calculation myself, I have heard people talk about it. This Mental Abacus Calculation is not just simple Mental Calculation; usually, it is something only families of Calculation Rods experts cultivate from a young age to master. And such families usually work as accountants for others, don't they?"

As she spoke, Xia Honghua stared at Duan Rong, looking as if she wanted to see right through him.

Duan Rong sighed inwardly and had no choice but to play along, saying, "Madam's insight is truly thorough. I will not hide it from you, Madam: my family has been accountants for generations."

Seeing Duan Rong say this, Xia Honghua was even more delighted and said, "Little brother, I won't hide it from you, but the old accountant here has been ill for more than two months. The accounting work has been piling up for over two months as well. I was counting on him to finish the work for me once he recovered, but who would have thought that a few days ago he suddenly became critically ill and passed away."

"You say that in a little over a month, it will be the half-year audit period. With the work piled up for over two months, I have been anxious and frantic. I have been worried sick every day! It is truly heaven's mercy that I have met you, little brother."

As she spoke, Xia Honghua actually used her lotus-shaped fingers to touch the lapel of Duan Rong's robe.

Duan Rong immediately stepped back half a step and laughed, "May I ask, Madam, is the half-year audit period in early July?"

Xia Honghua immediately straightened her expression and said, "The third of July. The Elder Council will send people to audit the accounts that day."

Duan Rong nodded and said, "They won't just be auditing the accounts for the medicine exchanges, will they?"

Seeing Duan Rong hit the nail on the head with a single remark, Xia Honghua's eyes lit up; sure enough, once an expert makes a move, you know if they have the skill.

She was slightly pleased and said, "Of course not. The medicine exchange accounts belong to the outgoing stock accounts."

"Furthermore, on the third, thirteenth, and twenty-third of every month, the Medicine Pavilion replenishes the medicine in the pavilion based on the outgoing accounts for that month. This replenishment is the incoming stock account."

"Besides that, there are the inventory audit accounts."

"Outgoing, incoming, and inventory must all be cross-checked against each other."

"Only when the three accounts are unified and not a single drop leaks through can it be considered a perfectly seamless set of accounts!"

Upon hearing this, Duan Rong's eyes flickered slightly. He tapped the account books on the table and said, "These two are the outgoing account books. Please, Madam, bring out the incoming account books and the inventory audit books for a full month each. I would like to take a look."

"Little brother, please wait a moment."

Seeing Duan Rong speak more and more reliably, Xia Honghua's attitude toward him changed unconsciously, and faintly, it seemed as if a bit of respect had arisen.

Xia Honghua brought out more account books from the shelves and another chest.

By the dim candlelight, Duan Rong quickly flipped through the several account books.

Duan Rong suddenly pointed to one of the first two account books and said, "Why is this account book recorded so chaotically? I see that some entries are recorded in the wrong places!"

Upon hearing this, Xia Honghua's face immediately flushed slightly, and her originally bright eyes began to flicker.

As soon as Duan Rong saw her expression, he knew what was going on.

Xia Honghua paused, then stammered, "The accountant wasn't here! I had to transcribe and register them myself... I'm not familiar with accounting work, so it's inevitable that there would be mistakes..."

Duan Rong said, "How many months did you transcribe and register?"

Xia Honghua said, "The old accountant fell ill at the beginning of the third month. So, just the third and fourth months."

Duan Rong said, "The old accountant's accounts shouldn't have much of a problem; I just need to cross-check them. But the accounts for these two months when he was absent might be a bit complicated. Many places will need adjustments, and as you know, Madam, in accounting, pulling one hair affects the whole body; this workload is not small!"

As Duan Rong spoke, a troubled expression appeared on his face.

Xia Honghua's heart skipped a beat, and she asked nervously, "What? Can it not be finished before the mid-year audit period?"

Duan Rong's expression was grave as he said, "It is only the beginning of the fifth month now. There are still about two months left, so it should be possible."

Seeing Duan Rong say it was possible, Xia Honghua finally let out a sigh of relief.

Duan Rong said, "Madam, with such a large workload and the need to rush the progress, do you think the daily compensation could be raised a little bit?"

Upon hearing this, Xia Honghua rolled her eyes at Duan Rong.

So, the kid putting on such a difficult act just now, giving her a fright, was just to negotiate terms with her.

"That won't do." Xia Honghua pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve, wiped the fine sweat from her cheek, and said, "When the old accountant was here, it was only two Contribution Points per day."

"If I give you more for no reason, others will gossip." As Xia Honghua spoke, she cast a meaningful glance at Duan Rong.

That look from Xia Honghua made Duan Rong shiver involuntarily.

Since it was two points a day when the old accountant was here, it was indeed difficult for him to ask for more.

Duan Rong hesitated for a moment and said, "How about this. Madam, you know my situation; I am still working as a Medicine Boy for my master. I cannot come to do the accounting for you every day. As for these Contribution Points, let's settle them monthly, sixty points per month. I guarantee I will finish the work here for you every month. However, I will arrange the time myself. You must not interfere with when I come or when I don't. How about that?"

Xia Honghua asked, "Can you finish all the accounts for the first half of the year before the mid-year audit?"

Duan Rong said, "Naturally. Since I have taken this job, I will not let you fail to deliver, Madam."

Xia Honghua's eyes flickered, and she smiled charmingly, "Your words have truly relieved a heavy burden on my heart. To tell you the truth, for the past few days, I haven't been able to eat or sleep, worrying every day about the mid-year audit. I've even lost weight around my waist..."

As Xia Honghua spoke, she gently stroked her slender, graceful waist, and her gaze became hazy.

Seeing Xia Honghua's alluring posture, Duan Rong's eyelids twitched.

He suddenly said, "Madam, I have one more presumptuous request."

Xia Honghua's eyes immediately lit up, and she said, "Speak."

Duan Rong said, "I would like to request an advance of half a month's Contribution Points."

Seeing that Duan Rong was only talking about an advance of Contribution Points, Xia Honghua's expression dimmed, and she said, "I will write a note for you in a moment. Go to the Guanglu Courtyard and redeem it yourself."

Duan Rong cupped his hands and lowered his head, saying, "Thank you, Madam."

Seeing Duan Rong's cold attitude and overly respectful demeanor, Xia Honghua felt bored and said, "Then you can do the accounting here; I'm leaving first. If you need anything, just come find me at the counter."

After Xia Honghua finished speaking, she swayed her waist and left the room.

Duan Rong wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, glanced at the doorway, and couldn't help but chuckle softly, "That was really a mood-killer! If that kid Ximen Kankan were here, he might have liked it!"

As Duan Rong spoke, he closed the room door.

His gaze sharpened, and he immediately began to work on the accounts; he prepared to first draw up a schedule for his work progress...

Although Duan Rong had only looked at a few account books, he already had a general idea in his mind; for him, this job could actually be called using a butcher's knife to slaughter a chicken.

He had devoured the Spirit Tool of Li Jun's Copper Abacus and had already reached the realm of Wonderful Accounts Like Weaving.

This was only two months of accounts; could this even be called work?

Duan Rong only stayed in that room for two hours before locking the door and leaving.

During a break in his accounting, Xia Honghua had already handed him the note for redeeming thirty Contribution Points and the key to the room where the account books were stored.

Duan Rong walked past the counter and greeted Xia Honghua, saying, "Madam, see you tomorrow."

"You're leaving already?" Xia Honghua saw that it was only noon; she had thought that since Duan Rong had come, he would work until evening.

"Yes. I have some other matters to attend to; I will come again tomorrow." After Duan Rong finished speaking, he left directly.

Xia Honghua looked at Duan Rong's back, her expression suspicious, and said, "I wonder if this kid is a reliable worker?"

Duan Rong first went to the Guanglu Courtyard, took the note signed and stamped by Xia Honghua, and gave it to the people there.

The people at the Guanglu Courtyard saw the note, took out a specially made key with a matching serial number, twisted it a few times into the hole in the middle of the back of Duan Rong's Star Disk, and then handed the Star Disk back to Duan Rong.

Duan Rong took it and looked; the points on the face of the Star Disk had changed from seventy-five to one hundred and five.

Duan Rong tucked the Star Disk into his sleeve and left the Guanglu Courtyard.

Duan Rong returned from the Guanglu Courtyard to the hill where he worked as a Medicine Boy; he first went into the dense forest to catch some game to satisfy his cravings.

Afterward, he went to the herb garden he tended and took a look; he pushed aside the lush leaves of the Frost-Hair Mugwort to check the humidity of the soil at the roots. Duan Rong felt that there was no need to water it for the time being, so he went into the dense forest to practice his arts.

Duan Rong went through all four of his martial arts once before going into his cave, taking two Sacks, and returning to the dense forest.

Duan Rong walked to a deeper part of the dense forest and spread the Sacks out there.

He realized that he couldn't keep catching poisonous insects in the same place; after three times, the Sacks were no longer full, so he had to change locations.

After Duan Rong caught the poisonous insects and fed the Black Blood Vine, he gripped the two rolled-up empty Sacks and headed toward his cave.

As he walked not far from the entrance of the cave, he suddenly saw Yin Cong waiting at the entrance of his cave in the twilight, pacing back and forth.

As soon as Yin Cong saw Duan Rong, he said, "I came by once this morning, but you weren't there. I figured you should be back by now."

Duan Rong raised his eyelids and said, "I went out this morning."

Yin Cong glanced at the empty Sacks in Duan Rong's hands and said, "You went to feed the Black Blood Vine."

"Mm."

Duan Rong walked into the cave, and Yin Cong followed him in.

Seeing Yin Cong enter, Duan Rong took out a Fire Folder and lit the Candle Lamp on the Stone Table.

Duan Rong sat on the edge of the stone bed, while Yin Cong sat on a stone stool by the wall.

As soon as Yin Cong sat down, he looked at Duan Rong and whispered, "Did Qin Laotou from the Lower Courtyard come today?"

Duan Rong's gaze shifted. "What did he come for?"

Yin Cong said, "It's about Tang Zhu. They said he died in an accidental furnace explosion. After Qin Laotou came to check, he already reported the matter to the Sect."

Duan Rong remained silent, his gaze flickering incessantly.

Yin Cong continued, "Not long after Qin Laotou left, they buried Tang Zhu. Do you know what Qin Laotou said when he came?"

"What did he say?"

"He said, 'Another one is dead.'"

Duan Rong's eyelids couldn't help but tremble.

Yin Cong lowered his head and said, "Judging by Qin Laotou's tone, before I came, another Registered Disciple had died here. It was only after that person died that I came. I have been here for over a year."

Yin Cong suddenly looked up, staring fixedly at Duan Rong, and said, "Duan Rong, do you know why you came here?"

"Why?" Duan Rong sensed the fear permeating Yin Cong's gaze.

Yin Cong said, "There was originally another Registered Disciple here named Wei Luan. Two months before you arrived, he suddenly disappeared."

"Missing?"

"I found it strange at the time. The kid was about to finish his three years and was just about to take the Registered Disciple assessment. How could he suddenly go missing? I know now, Duan Rong, he didn't go missing; he died."

As Yin Cong spoke, his low voice began to tremble, and his hands, gripped by fear, tore tightly at his trousers. "The cave you are living in now is the one he used to live in."

The muscles on Duan Rong's face twitched, and a wave of revulsion suddenly rose in his heart.

He had been using many of the things inside this cave, including the bedding on the stone bed; he had originally not cared much about these items, but he had not expected that these were all things belonging to a dead person.

Pan Yong was the one who had led him to live in this cave at the time.

Pan Yong must have known that Wei Luan was already dead at the time, and it was even possible that he was the one who killed him.

He knew full well that these were the belongings of a dead person, yet he deliberately let him use them...

His heart is punishable.

(End of chapter)