Chapter 144

Still want to tend the herb garden? That's a joke, even the black iron wood can't withstand it, let alone those spiritual herbs.

Just as this steward shook his head like a rattle drum, a steward from Bai Cao Peak suddenly walked in from outside.

"Old Chen, I have a few medicine gardens that have been unattended lately; we're short on hands—could your Miscellaneous Affairs Hall lend a hand?"

"Holy shit," hearing this, Steward Chen's face instantly turned pale.

Seeing the Bai Cao Peak steward stride into the hall with a smile, Steward Chen's mouth twitched—"Damn, you really know how to pick your timing." Turning his head, sure enough, Zhong Ling and the others were all showing sweet smiles.

"It's over, it's over," his heart sank, but the Bai Cao Peak steward still hadn't sensed the danger; he glanced at Zhong Ling and the others and smiled.

"Yo ho, your Miscellaneous Affairs Hall has gotten quite crowded now, not bad, Old Chen."

"Heh heh, I still have things to do here; how about we chat later? You go on back."

Steward Chen's mouth twitched as he kept blinking, speaking—this was already a pretty obvious hint, but the Bai Cao Peak steward utterly failed to grasp it; hearing this, he grew a bit anxious.

"No, my few medicine gardens are really short-staffed now—could your Miscellaneous Affairs Hall think of a way to send over a few menial disciples?"

Seeing this, Steward Chen was utterly speechless—what is this? It's like trying to advise a damned ghost with kind words; I think you don't actually want those medicine gardens at all.

Before Steward Chen could even reply, Zhong Ling already spoke.

"Steward, do you need someone to look after the medicine gardens?"

"Not bad, huh, you are………… "

"I am the third disciple of Jade Maiden Peak, Zhong Ling."

"Oh, so you're Bai Hua Xianzi's disciple—how did you end up in the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall?"

Inner disciples and the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall have nothing to do with each other—this was actually the first time he'd seen an inner disciple in the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall.

Upon hearing that, Zhong Ling still wore a sweet smile, saying it without blushing or her heart racing.

"This isn't because the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall is short on black iron wood—Steward Chen specially came to find us to help."

「No, I'm not............... 」

Hearing this, Steward Chen was dumbfounded—this damn person is just spouting lies with eyes open; when did I ever ask you to come help? I was begging you not to come, alright.

But after just saying a few words, in an instant Steward Chen felt countless gazes lock onto him.

Looking around, many Jade Maiden Peak disciples wore sweet smiles.

But however you look at it, the warning in their gazes is quite obvious.

"What's not there?"

At this moment, the Bai Cao Peak steward also asked curiously; hearing that, under the benevolent gazes of the Jade Maiden Peak disciples, Steward Chen could only give an embarrassed smile.

"Nothing much—I'm just grateful to Zhong Ling and the girls; without them, I really wouldn't know what to do."

After his words fell, the Jade Maiden Peak disciples nodded in satisfaction, while Steward Chen could only silently mutter in his heart, "Don't blame me, brother—I had no choice, and you practically delivered yourself to my door."

With Steward Chen's cooperation, the following matters became simple.

"It just so happens we're free—how about we go help you look after the medicine gardens?"

「This................. 」

Having the inner disciples and inner sect disciples look after the medicine gardens—isn't that a bit overqualified? The steward hesitated; seeing that, Zhong Ling took over the conversation.

"Mainly we're also free, and looking after medicine gardens is the sort of work where women tend to be more meticulous than men, right?"

That's true, that's the reasoning, but…………

"Looking after the medicine gardens is quite boring, and the sect points aren't many—just one sect point per day; plus there's gathering herbs, pest control, weeding—all together it's not much; letting you go, I feel bad in my heart."

He said it truthfully, but Zhong Ling and the others showed they didn't care at all.

"Steward, you're being polite; we're all from the same sect—talking about sect points or not, the main thing is to help."

She said that with her mouth, but inside she was already calculating the profits.

The fixed daily income of one sect point is naturally not worth noting; the main gains are from pest control, weeding, herb gathering, etc.

Ten spirit worms earn one sect point; a hundred weeds earn one sect point; harvesting herbs depends on grade, but even the lowest grade yields one sect point per stalk.

If there are many spirit worms in the medicine gardens—say, over two or three hundred thousand—then wouldn't we have struck it rich?

As expected, under Zhong Ling's round of persuasion, the Bai Cao Peak steward happily agreed; by the time he was leaving, he still felt he'd struck it lucky.

It's actually possible to have the inner sect and inner disciples come tend his medicine gardens for him.

"Then thanks; the spirit fields are in the Bai Cao Peak valley—please come before noon."

"Alright, steward, rest assured; we'll take charge of the spirit fields—absolutely foolproof."

"Of course, I naturally don't worry about that; then I'll take my leave."

"Steward, take your leave slowly."

Seeing off the Bai Cao Peak steward, all the Jade Maiden Peak disciples were beaming, their gazes toward Zhong Ling full of admiration.

"Third Senior Sister is awesome."

"Exactly, we can even snag this kind of work."

"No wonder she's Third Senior Sister."

Faced with everyone's flattery, Zhong Ling broke into a light smile.

"Just a small matter; the junior sisters should know what to do next, right?"

"What does Third Senior Sister mean?"

"You lot, tending the medicine gardens yields only a basic sect point per day—basically negligible; the main thing is pest control and weeding."

"Ten spirit worms for one sect point; we like this… that… then… heehee…

The Jade Maiden Peak disciples gathered together, whispering; afterward their smiles gradually began to look off.

After waiting for Zhong Ling to finish speaking, the disciples' eyes already shone with excitement; some even gave a thumbs up.

"Third Senior Sister is badass."

"Those people from Divine Sword Peak keep saying their Third Senior Brother Xu Jie is resourceful and strategic, but in my view, our Third Senior Sister is no less capable."

Yeah, Divine Sword Peak has Xu Jie, we also have Senior Sister Zhong; we will definitely be able to defeat Divine Sword Peak in the future.

Third Senior Sister is mighty.

Third Senior Sister is mighty.

The disciples shouted excitedly, but just then, Steward Chen's voice came faintly from the side.

I say, when you're talking about this, could you keep it down a bit? I'm still here.

Who knows what he just heard; are these women really treating him like air?

Just like that, openly and aboveboard, right in front of him, they spelled out the entire plan.

Just now, hearing Zhong Ling's plan, Steward Chen was completely numb; he could actually do it like that.

For a moment he felt that Jade Maiden Peak was really showing mercy to their Miscellaneous Affairs Hall.

But can this kind of secret be something he's allowed to hear? And what's with all this talk about Divine Sword Peak's Third Senior Brother, Jade Maiden Peak's Third Senior Sister—what does it even mean?

Are they all ranked third?

Hearing Steward Chen's words, Zhong Ling and the other Jade Maiden Peak disciples all glanced over and smiled sweetly.

We believe Steward won't repeat what was just said, right?