Chapter 20: Selection of Duties (Requesting Monthly Tickets and Follows)

Go home!

With the Star-Pointing Season over, Xu Jin had not only successfully pointed his star but also gained entry into the Middle Courtyard—so he must return home.

First, to deliver good news; second, to make an appearance; third, to find a way to resolve the family’s most urgent debt before it spirals into a major problem.

Delivering the good news was simple.

If Xu Dajiang learned his son had not only succeeded in pointing his star but also cured his congenital heart ailment, he’d likely burst into tears of joy; Xu Jiang would surely jump for joy.

The appearance was Xu Jin’s own idea.

In this world, successfully pointing a star is a threshold of status.

In any household, if one person points their star, the family gains relatively higher income and social standing, and neighbors or thugs dare not easily oppress them.

Xu Jin’s current headache was the family’s debt.

The bottle of Awakening Pill Xu Dajiang gave him eight days ago cost fifty taels of silver.

Xu Jin didn’t know how Xu Dajiang obtained it, but it certainly wasn’t borrowed from relatives or friends—none of them had that kind of means.

Xu Dajiang’s source was likely a moneylender or gang, meaning high-interest loans.

The former was tolerable; though interest rates were high, at least they only wanted money.

The latter was different.

So Xu Jin wanted to resolve this family Yinhuan as soon as possible.

In the Middle Courtyard of Jinshan Dao Academy, after completing the corresponding duties, one received ten taels of silver monthly, plus two Awakening Pills as cultivation resources—totaling twenty taels per month.

In Jinshan Commandery, that was high income.

This was precisely why Xu Jin had spared no effort to join the Middle Courtyard.

But the family’s debt was urgent.

Fifty taels of high-interest loan—even if borrowed from a moneylender—was a Liangxin price at nine out, thirteen back.

So when Xu Dajiang repaid the fifty taels, he’d likely need to pay back at least seventy-two taels.

That was the minimum.

Last time, he borrowed a hundred taels from Ning Yuchan to buy cultivation pills; now he had six taels and four mace left, plus one Blood-Replenishing Pill—these were all his assets.

To repay this debt, Xu Jin would need to save four months in the Middle Courtyard.

With compound interest, he might need five or six months.

Saving five or six months wasn’t the problem; the fear was something unexpected happening in between.

Xu Jin still wanted to repay this debt quickly, so he could rest easy.

But where could he find silver out of thin air?

After thinking for a while, Xu Jin came up with a plan.

If you’re not ruthless, you can’t stand firm.

If you’re too shy, you won’t have money to spend!

He’d already borrowed once—would Instructor Ning lend him again?

Xu Jin was a man of action—he acted immediately upon thinking.

Worst case, he failed to borrow—what did he have to fear?

“Xu Jin?”

Ning Yuchan was surprised by Xu Jin’s second visit and didn’t understand why he came.

“Instructor, I have a question I’d like to ask.”

“Mm, speak.” Ning Yuchan was very willing to help these disciples resolve their doubts and open their understanding.

“Instructor, every disciple in the academy must choose a duty. May I ask your advice—what duty offers the greatest financial potential?” Xu Jin asked.

“Duty? What potential could it have?” Ning Yuchan was puzzled.

“No, Instructor, I mean—what duty earns the most silver?” Xu Jin clarified.

At once, Ning Yuchan understood: he was short on silver and wanted to know which duty could bring extra income.

“Theoretically, every duty can yield side income.

Among the Six Arts, if you choose duties related to combat or tracking—hunting bandits, pursuing criminals—you’ll receive bounties and seized goods, depending on luck.

In forging, early on it’s hard labor, draining your physique; but if you master it, decades later, wealth may flow endlessly,” Ning Yuchan said.

“Instructor, I need silver in the short term—I’m desperate right now,” Xu Jin said with a Kuxiao .

“For the short term, that means Herbal Quest or Sea Exploration.

Especially since Jinshan Commandery borders mountains and the Great River flows through it, Herbal Quest and Sea Exploration duties currently involve entering mountains or waters to search for herbs and rare celestial treasures imbued with star power—your gains depend entirely on your personal fortune,” Ning Yuchan said. “But Sea Exploration has always been the specialty of the Tianyang Branch, and the Jinsha River is their territory.

Our Jinshan Dao Academy mainly handles Herbal Quest,” Ning Yuchan added.

“So you’re recommending I choose a Herbal Quest duty?” Xu Jin asked.

“Yes, roughly!

Herbal Quest duties rarely interfere with cultivation, carry relatively lower danger, suit your current low cultivation level, offer chances to train combat skills, and make side income easier—but you must be bold yet meticulous, and memorize the Herbal Canon and the Book of Myriad Star Treasures,” Ning Yuchan said.

Xu Jin caught several key words: danger level, low cultivation, combat.

Combined, these pointed to Ning Yuchan’s optimal recommendation.

Listen to advice, eat well.

“Instructor, I know how to choose now.

By the way, Instructor, I came today for another favor.”

“Speak!”

“Instructor, I’d like to borrow more silver.”

The moment Xu Jin spoke, Ning Yuchan’s almond eyes widened sharply.

She’d never met such bold, shameless a disciple—coming again to borrow from his teacher.

For the second time.

The last loan hadn’t even been repaid!

And now again!

Xu Jin’s face flushed, but he pressed on stubbornly.

As the saying goes: a virtuous woman fears a persistent man—whether pursuing a woman or borrowing silver, thick skin is essential.

“Instructor, the silver you lent me last time was mostly spent during my push into the Middle Courtyard. I plan to return home today, but I suspect my father borrowed a high-interest loan for the Awakening Pills.

I could repay this in three or four months by saving in the Middle Courtyard.

But you know—those who lend high-interest loans aren’t kind people. I want to borrow more from you now to resolve this Yinhuan and prevent disaster at home.

Then I can cultivate in peace and repay you as soon as possible.”

Even though he came shamelessly to borrow, he had to give a reasonable explanation.

Otherwise, it wasn’t borrowing—it was fraud!

Ning Yuchan stared at Xu Jin with wide eyes; Xu Jin feigned innocence, though privately he felt embarrassed.

Though he’d definitely repay, constantly milking one person was truly...

But as they locked eyes, Xu Jin noticed Ning Yuchan was quite beautiful—her delicate features carried a touch of unique vigor, especially her pale skin and tall stature.

If not for that silver iron cane, she’d be a goddess.

Suddenly, Xu Jin grew curious—how had Ning Yuchan lost her leg?

Xiantian or acquired?

He wondered, but dared not ask.

He knew bodily disability might be Ning Yuchan’s most sensitive topic—never to be touched lightly.

She stared at him for dozens of breaths; to show he wasn’t guilty, Xu Jin met her gaze steadily. Suddenly, Ning Yuchan realized something was off—they were too close.

She turned away and pulled two hundred-tael silver notes from her bosom, slapping them onto the stone table. “If you break through to Canxia Fifth Layer within two months, next year I’ll take only the principal.

If you don’t, repay tenfold—including your previous debt. Dare you take it?” She rose, looking down Linran at Xu Jin seated on the stone bench.

“What’s there to fear!”

Xu Jin considered for only a second, then immediately accepted the wager, swiftly snatching the two hundred-tael notes before Ning Yuchan could change her mind.

“August 18th, Canxia Fifth Layer—no problem?”

“No problem! August 18th!”

After accepting and thanking her, Xu Jin took his leave—but as he stepped past the courtyard gate, Ning Yuchan’s words made him stumble.

“You’d better break through to Canxia Fifth Layer—if you can’t repay three thousand taels next year, I’ll sell you to the mines. Someone like you, who pointed a star, should fetch a good price!” Her clear voice strained to sound threatening.

“You’d better strive to break through to Meal of Mist Fifth Layer, or else in a year you won’t be able to repay three thousand taels of silver—I’ll sell you to the mines for sure. Someone like you who succeeded at Pointing the Star should fetch a good price!” Ning Yuchan strained to infuse her clear voice with threats!

Two hundred taels—could that settle the family’s debt?

Should he bring a little surprise for his father and Jiang Er?

(End of Chapter)

(End of Chapter)