Chapter 283: The Training Ground

Hua Changxi made a round at the Personnel Department and, seeing that applicants were indeed arriving in a steady stream, instructed Apothecary Xu to select fifty people from the senior apprentices to expand the department.

Previously, the Law Enforcement Hall, the Mission Hall, and the Logistics Department had all added staff; upon learning that the Personnel Department was also hiring, the senior apprentices eagerly signed up.

When at Danyuan Peak, Hua Changxi was either inside the secret realm or in the Lecture Hall.

After parting ways with Apothecary Xu, she went straight to the Lecture Hall, where she spotted Hua Sanlang.

"Third Brother?"

Upon seeing Hua Changxi, Hua Sanlang showed no joy at their sibling reunion; instead, his expression was slightly uneasy.

Only after arriving at Danyuan Peak did he truly feel the vast gap between himself and his sister.

Beyond the disparity in status, what Hua Sanlang found most unbearable was that Ninth Lady treated him, her own elder brother, exactly like any other apprentice, granting him not a shred of special favor.

Because of this, he had endured no small amount of gossip from the clansmen.

Hua Changxi approached Hua Sanlang: "I've been busy all this time and haven't had a moment to gather with you. Since coming to Danyuan Peak, have you settled in well?"

Hua Sanlang's expression softened slightly, and he nodded: "Harvesting spiritual herbs, processing them, and planting them are all tasks I'm accustomed to. Whether it's the herb fields inside the secret realm or the spiritual fields outside the cave dwellings, I can manage them all properly."

Hua Changxi smiled: "That's good. Third Brother, you possess great talent in medicine and the Dao of alchemy. Now that you are on Danyuan Peak, you must solidify your foundations. Only with a firm foundation can you go further in medicine and alchemy. I also hope that in the future, Third Brother will become a high-grade alchemist."

Hua Sanlang forced a faint smile; he did not care for Ninth Lady's preachy tone—was he not the elder brother? Yet, recalling the purpose of his visit, he still nodded in agreement: "I understand."

Hua Changxi looked at him: "Third Brother has been on Danyuan Peak for about five months now, yet this is the first time you've actively sought me out."

Hua Sanlang thought to himself that, being unfamiliar with people and places on Danyuan Peak, shouldn't the peak master's sister have been the one to seek him out?

Seeing him remain silent, Hua Changxi felt a bit weary; compared to Sixth Brother, who spoke his mind directly, this Third Brother of hers was rather awkward: "Did Third Brother seek me out for some specific matter?"

Seeing Hua Changxi bring up the topic, Hua Sanlang stopped beating around the bush: "I can manage both the herb fields in the secret realm and the spiritual fields outside the cave dwellings quite well, and I have plenty of leisure time usually, so I wish to find something else to do."

Hua Changxi looked surprised: "Third Brother still has leisure time? I thought that after managing the herb fields daily, none of you would have enough time left for cultivation."

She herself felt her cultivation time was insufficient, and projecting her own situation onto others, she assumed other cultivators lacked enough time to cultivate as well.

Hua Sanlang paused briefly: "Master Fang from the Marquis's residence said that bitter cultivation alone is not the right path; one must also undergo more tempering to prevent one's state of mind from falling behind."

Hua Changxi agreed with this statement and nodded: "Those words are true, but for a cultivator, strength is the foundation, so sufficient time must be reserved for cultivation."

Thinking Hua Changxi intended to refuse him, Hua Sanlang grew anxious: "My cultivation time is sufficient; I simply wish to find something to do, firstly to temper myself, and secondly to broaden my horizons."

"With the number of apprentices on Danyuan Peak growing steadily, surely you need people to help manage the affairs of the peak and the secret realm."

Hua Changxi looked at him and fell silent for a moment: "Third Brother, if you do not fear delaying your cultivation, then come to the Lecture Hall to serve as an instructor."

This arrangement was made entirely out of consideration for Hua Sanlang; serving as an instructor would allow him to meet and interact with various people while also consolidating his knowledge of medicine and the Dao of alchemy through teaching.

Hua Changxi believed this would help Hua Sanlang build a stronger foundation, benefiting his future.

Unfortunately, Hua Sanlang did not appreciate the gesture: "Ninth Lady, do you see me as someone capable only of being a pedantic teacher in the Lecture Hall, merely reciting from textbooks?"

Hearing Hua Sanlang's reluctance and dissatisfaction, Hua Changxi fell silent for a moment: "Then what does Third Brother wish to do?"

Hua Sanlang paused, then looked straight at Hua Changxi: "I wish to work in the Mission Hall."

Hua Changxi did not respond immediately; after a moment of silence, she spoke: "Third Brother, because of the relationship between you and me, many people on Danyuan Peak will surely seek to approach you. You are aware of this, aren't you?"

Hua Sanlang frowned: "I know what you mean, but surely I cannot do nothing just because I am your brother? Am I not allowed to have my own aspirations?"

Hua Changxi replied: "Everyone may have their own aspirations, but the premise is that they must rely on themselves."

Hua Sanlang's face darkened: "Ninth Lady, I merely came to ask you for a task; if you will not grant it, then say so. Is there any need to lecture me like this? And here I thought I was your Third Brother."

Hua Changxi looked at him: "Precisely because you are my Third Brother can you stand before me now and say these things."

Hua Sanlang choked up, filled with anger: "So, you are unwilling to let me go to the Mission Hall?"

Hua Changxi said: "Why must you go to the Mission Hall? The rules of Danyuan Peak apply equally to everyone."

"The Mission Hall is responsible for mission distribution. Because you are my Third Brother, many eyes will surely be fixed on you. Once you make a mistake, tell me, should I punish you or not?"

Hua Sanlang fell silent.

Hua Changxi continued: "...I just saw Fourth Brother and Seventh Lady leading a group of Hua clansmen to register at the Personnel Department. You wish to go to the Mission Hall; could it be that you intend to show them favoritism?"

Hua Sanlang looked at Hua Changxi: "Ninth Lady, they are our clansmen; what is wrong with showing them a little care?"

"Look at how Qingyao Peak and Xuanhuang Peak operate; why must you be so high-and-mighty, insisting on treating your own people the same as outsiders?"

Hearing this, Hua Changxi did not wish to say more: "Third Brother, I too have my own aspirations and things I wish to accomplish. As my family, I do not expect your support, but do not drag me down."

"I will not allow anyone to undermine the rules I have established. If you seek work, you may come to the Lecture Hall; the Mission Hall is not suitable for you."

Assigning Hua Sanlang to the Mission Hall carried too high a probability of him making mistakes. Even if he did not err, there was no guarantee that those with ulterior motives would not tempt him into doing so.

"Remember, the rules of Danyuan Peak apply equally to everyone; furthermore, Danyuan Peak conducts assessments, and those who fail the assessment will be dismissed."

Having said this, Hua Changxi turned and left.

Watching Hua Changxi depart into the distance, Hua Sanlang's chest heaved unevenly; he had not expected his own sister to be so heartless toward him, refusing to even let him serve as an administrator in the Mission Hall.

Meanwhile, Hua Changxi arrived at the Logistics Department with furrowed brows and found Yu Fu.

"Many Hua clansmen have come to register this time. You and Zhou Shou and the others must keep a closer watch. If anyone approaches my Third Brother and the others, remain vigilant."

Yu Fu hurriedly nodded: "Rest assured, Master; we will keep a tight watch on everything happening on Danyuan Peak."

Regarding how to treat the Hua family and the Hua clansmen, he and Zhou Shou and the other two had already discussed it; once they committed any violation of the rules, they would report the facts immediately.

"By the way, Master, among those who came to register today, there are a few individuals with rather special identities."

Hua Changxi looked over: "Special identities?"

Yu Fu nodded: "The Seventh Imperial Prince, Chu Junhao, and the former master of the Qihuang Hall, number twelve, Zhu Qinghuan, have both come to register."

Hua Changxi was also surprised: "These two have come to register as apprentices?"

Chu Junhao was a member of the imperial family with too many entanglements behind him; for him to enter the Danyuan Secret Realm and become an apprentice, one needed only to think briefly to realize he had ulterior motives.

As for Zhu Qinghuan, the fact that she had once obtained the Qihuang Token indicated she possessed talent in the Dao of alchemy and medicine, yet she held the token without receiving a secret realm bestowed by the Divine Wood; there must certainly be something strange about this.

"Keep a close watch on these two; if they display any unusual behavior, report it to me immediately."

In a private room at the Sihai Restaurant, where Hua Changxi often gathered with Tong Yao and the other two, Tong Yao, Yan Zhenzhen, and Jing Le arrived one after another.

Yan Zhenzhen said: "I originally thought that without assistance, Fellow Daoist Hua would be slower than us in deploying the spirit-displaying devices, yet unexpectedly, she has actually moved a step faster."

"Fellow Daoist Hua's cultivation is even more profound than we imagined."

Tong Yao sighed: "Fellow Daoist Hua's actions actually rely too heavily on raw power. She believes that because her strength is formidable, she can bear everything alone."

Yan Zhenzhen looked over: "Your words make no sense. Is it wrong to rely on strength to get things done?"

Tong Yao shook his head: "In this world, matters cannot be settled by strength alone."

Jing Le nodded, showing agreement: "Benefactor Hua relies on her great power, solving every problem with force. If this continues, it will become a mental habit."

Tong Yao said: "Fortunately, the situation in the Medical Bureau is complex; it retains the lingering awe of imperial authority while facing the rise of the Sacred Land's resurgence. In such an intricate situation, strength alone cannot solve everything."

"Fellow Daoist Hua, being in the midst of it, should be able to realize her own limitations."

Yan Zhenzhen said: "I heard that many noble families have sent people into the Danyuan Secret Realm; even the Seventh Imperial Prince joined the fray. To balance so many factions, I imagine Fellow Daoist Hua already has a splitting headache."

Jing Le looked at Tong Yao and Yan Zhenzhen: "You and I have undergone much training under our sects, whereas Benefactor Hua has had little. The emergence of Danyuan Peak is likely her training ground."

Yan Zhenzhen nodded: "The Divine Wood bestowing a secret realm inherently carries the intent of training; it is quite fitting for Fellow Daoist Hua to use Danyuan Peak to hone her skills."