Bab 11 – Zhang Hu
“Weasel?” Wang Lin was stunned. The first person he thought of who might fit that description was the yellow-clothed disciple who had laughed at him, however, he wasn’t sure.
“Ah? Didn’t you see? He’s the one responsible for managing his disciples’ work. He’s also an honorary disciple, but he’s been given the right to begin his cultivation. Dressed in yellow, he doesn’t look like a good person at all. We all call him a weasel,” Zhang Hu explained as he drank some water.
Wang Lin took a bite of sweet potato and said, “I know who he is. I saw him today. He told me to bring back 10 barrels of water a day starting tomorrow, or I won’t get any food.”
Zhang Hu was stunned. After staring at Wang Lin for a moment, he asked, “Big brother, have you offended him before?”
Wang Lin shook his head and asked, “Why?”
Zhang Hu showed a sad expression to Wang Lin. “Wang Lin, do you think those barrels are like the ones you use at home? This big?” He gestured with his hand.
Wang Lin had a bad feeling and nodded.
Zhang Hu smiled bitterly. He said, “You must have offended the yellow weasel. The barrels he spoke of are the size of this room, filling ten barrels… Wang Lin, I won’t eat these sweet potatoes, just keep them. You’ll be lucky if you get a meal every four or five days. You’re new here, and all the foraging spots on the mountain are already taken. Only the older disciples can pick them. Tomorrow, I’ll just eat my wild fruits.” He placed the remaining sweet potatoes on the table, sighed, lay down on his bed, and fell asleep.
Wang Lin felt anger welling up inside him, but then he remembered his parents’ hopeful eyes and suppressed his anger. He lay down on the bed and fell asleep, filled with rage.
It was still dark on the second day when Wang Lin got out of bed. Zhang Hu was still snoring. Wang Lin put on his gray clothes and hurried to the place where he had met the weasel. Shortly after he arrived, the sun rose in the east. The young man in yellow opened the door and gave Wang Lin a strange look. “At least you’re on time. Take a bucket and head east. There’s a spring in the mountain; bring some water from there.”
He no longer paid attention to Wang Lin. He sat cross-legged on the ground and breathed slowly as he faced the rising sun. A barely visible white mist came out of his nose, curling up like two dragons.
Wang Lin looked at him with envy. He then walked into the room and looked around. Finally, behind the door he saw 10 barrels and smiled bitterly as he walked towards the east gate.
Wang Lin arrived at the location after a long walk. The scenery was beautiful, and the sound of flowing water was soothing. It was a place that could soothe the heart.
He didn’t have time to enjoy its beauty. When the bucket was full, he took it and hurried back up the mountain.
Wang Lin continued this until dusk. He hadn’t even filled a single barrel. If it weren’t for the sweet potatoes filling his stomach, he wouldn’t have had the strength to continue. His arms and legs ached and felt numb. The pain was palpable every time he moved.
Wang Lin pondered for a moment, then carried half a bucket of water to a quiet area. He looked around to make sure no one was around. He dropped the stone beads into the bucket and watered them a little. Then he took out the beads and drank the water. He immediately felt a warmth in his stomach, and his muscle pain disappeared.
Although the effect wasn’t as good as the dew, Wang Lin was still excited. He touched his chest and adjusted the position of the beads. He decided not to tell anyone about this treasure.
After drinking half a bucket of water, her muscles no longer ached and she felt full of energy. She immediately resumed her task of fetching water.
That night, he dipped the stone bead in another half bucket of water and drank it. To avoid suspicion, he returned with a tired expression.
A while later, Zhang Hu returned. He still had a tired expression on his face. The two chatted for a while, and Zhang Hu hesitantly asked for two pieces of sweet potato. He ate them and fell asleep on his bed.
Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, a month had passed since Wang Lin became a disciple of the Heng Yue Sect.
Wang Lin learned that Zhang Hu’s job was to collect firewood. He had to collect enough firewood before he could eat. He had been collecting firewood for three years since he became an honorary disciple of the Heng Yue Sect. Three years ago, he only ate once every three or four days, but now he had reduced his eating schedule to once every two days.
According to him, honorary disciples had to perform duties for ten years and were allowed to eat three meals a day before they were allowed to learn even the most basic cultivation.
Inner disciples are not like them. They have their own teachers, don’t perform any duties, and have their own rooms. Their sole task is to cultivate.
In addition, there was someone between the inner disciple and the honorary disciple, like Wang Hao who was an assistant, but he was basically a servant.
These people didn’t have to do housework or practice any low-level techniques. They simply had to complete the tasks assigned by their masters. However, these people had little talent and would spend their entire lives as servants.
Regarding so-called talent, Wang Lin learned from Zhang Hu that it was simply spiritual energy. Everyone possessed it, but in varying amounts. If one had enough spiritual energy, they could learn an immortal technique in a year, but if they lacked it, it would take decades or even hundreds of years.
A man’s life is limited. A person with mediocre talent will never achieve anything in life. That’s why the sect places such great importance on spiritual energy.
This month, when Wang Lin fetched water, he drank a lot of water soaked in stone beads, which caused his body to become much stronger. Previously, it took him six days to fill 10 barrels, but now it only took him three days.
However, to avoid suspicion, Wang Lin always woke up before sunrise and leisurely walked up the mountain carrying a bucket. While others were surprised that he could finish in three days, they assumed it was because he woke up very early and went to bed late.