Chapter 9: The Mountain Rain is Coming

  The advantage of being a miscellaneous disciple is that you are not subject to the constraints of the sect. Without the master's supervision, as long as you complete the sect's tasks every month, you can do whatever you want with the rest of your time.

  For example, this small wine shop is located in the outer periphery of the gate where miscellaneous disciples gather.

  Entering the tavern, Yuan Tian didn't rush to order dishes, but instead went straight to the kitchen to find the head chef. The owner of this tavern was only in charge of management, while the real boss was controlling the kitchen from behind, which he had figured out a long time ago.

  I came to the kitchen today to find the boss and discuss something with him. The reason I chose today is because Lingyu decided to come. The tavern owner has a piece of spiritual land for growing vegetables, which requires someone to water it.

  No one in the inner disciples can handle Ling Yu's decision, and the outer door disciples are not willing to be invited, each and every one of them is like a big shot. The boss has long posted a notice to recruit people, but so far no one has been recruited.

  The Ling rain irrigation will not be like the cursed rain, which only earns one low-grade spirit stone in three months after ten times a month. Although the tavern owner's first-class spiritual field is only two mu in size and only needs to be irrigated three times a month, the monthly reward is three low-grade spirit stones, and nine can be obtained in three months.

  It's also lucky that it's only a first-grade spiritual field, if it were a second-grade spiritual field, it wouldn't be settled. The current spiritual rain decision of Yuan Tian is only one layer of fire, which is just right for watering the first-grade spiritual field.

  "After watering the vegetable garden, fill up the water tank and give the livestock a bath." The tavern owner, being such a shrewd person, naturally wouldn't let go of this good opportunity. Hiring a miscellaneous laborer is indeed cheap, so he thought to make him do more work."

  "That's gonna cost you more, your water tank isn't small and there are quite a few livestock too." Yuan Tian was notoriously stingy and wouldn't do any labor for free without reason.

  It's a small matter to add water to the trough and give the cattle a shower. Compared to the large-scale spiritual field, the small cattle shed is just a trivial matter.

  After a fierce haggling, the two finally reached an agreement. Yuan Tian would come three times a month, and Ling Tian's labor for watering would be paid in advance with three low-grade spiritual stones for one month. Filling up the water tank and washing the livestock could be done at any time, preferably once a day, but also filling up the water vat in the backyard kitchen was required. As long as he came, Ling Tian would provide food to his fill, and wild beast meat to eat freely. Although fine wine and spiritual beast meat were not included, being able to eat for free was still a great deal.

  This agreement seems to be a win-win for both parties. The melon in the spiritual field grows very large and can be made into a dish that can be eaten for several meals, with little cost to the boss. For Yuantian, it's just a matter of raising his hand and he can eat a full meal, which is more cost-effective than ordering dishes himself. Although the spiritual dish doesn't have much cost, if you order from a restaurant, it's still not cheap.

  In the end, it was still Yuan Tian who got the better deal. If Flower Spirit Stone were to eat so many meals, that would be a considerable expense. As for haggling, in Yuan Tian's memory, he had never lost to anyone before.

  Everything was settled, and Yuan Tian directly went to the cattle shed and cast a spiritual rain spell. Twenty or thirty heads of cattle were all washed clean, and the water in the trough was full and overflowing. Coming to the back kitchen where the water tank was located, a dark cloud the size of a pot lid gathered, and in a short while, the water tank was filled to the brim. The water tank was indeed not small, no wonder the boss was so generous with the spiritual vegetable dishes.

  No washing livestock, can't get a free meal. Since the work is done, of course, I won't be polite. Went to the hall and ordered two vegetarian dishes and one meat dish. Also, thick-skinned asked for a pot of tea, raised my legs and ate leisurely.

  Although the tavern is located in a gathering place for miscellaneous disciples, most of those who come here to eat are actually outer sect disciples. Miscellaneous disciples have limited financial resources and usually just make do with some dry rations. Occasionally coming to the tavern to eat some spiritual rice balls or rice made from spiritual grains is done to allow their bodies to absorb some pure spiritual energy. As for ordering a couple of spiritual dishes to try, that's an extravagant behavior that only happens once a year.

  It's just like Huang Lao Shi who would often order a few small dishes and a pot of wine.

  Old Huang, if you were still alive. I'd treat you to a full meal of Ling Cai and wine too. Yuan Tian savored the delicious Ling Cai, thinking of Old Huang who had taken him in. Although Old Huang was also very stingy, he would occasionally bring Yuan Tian over for a treat. As a result, this Ling fruit wine, Yuan Tian became addicted after just a few sips. Today, having just earned three spirit stones from work, if not for the thought of duplicating the Flame Symbol tonight, I really wanted to brew a pot of wine and slowly savor it.

  Most of the people present are outer sect disciples, and Yuan Tian doesn't recognize any of them. If he had to name an outer sect disciple he knows, it would be the tavern owner. The tavern owner's name is Fan Weidong, also known as Old Fan, a veteran outer sect disciple. This "veteran" doesn't mean his cultivation is high, but rather that he has spent enough time in the outer sect.

  Almost 40 years old, practicing Qi for eight layers is no longer expected to break through. He married a fellow female disciple and opened a wine shop. Later, he had a daughter and worked even harder. He earned spirit stones and invested them desperately on his daughter, wanting to achieve his dreams in the next generation.

  It's also unknown whether Huang Lao Shi had high hopes for Yuan Tian, with such low innate talent, it's estimated that he didn't have much expectation. The two root bones can't even be called innate talent. If he were to see Yuan Tian now, eating and drinking lavishly, he would definitely be shocked.

  Just as they were eating, a man walked in from outside the door. A fellow disciple of miscellaneous chores, Yuan Tian remembered this person. It was that pockmarked-faced Wang San Chun who followed Liu Ming's ass all day, bowing his head and stooping his waist.

  Those who can afford to eat at a wine house must have some money. A miscellaneous apprentice, and a not-so-good miscellaneous apprentice, actually came here to consume, Yuan Tian couldn't help but take a few more glances.

  Wang San Chun walked in and saw Yuan Tian eating, glanced at the two vegetarian dishes and one meat dish on the table, and was quite surprised. He took three steps and sat down at the table with a thud.

  "Bring two good dishes and heat up a pot of good wine." He tore open the throat of the public duck, calling out to the store clerk.

  Here is the translation:

  It only takes a pot of wine to get a low-grade spirit stone, and Wang San Chun is so generous, all thanks to that idiot Liu Ming. He got the spirit stone from his brother, but instead of buying the spirit symbol himself, he let Wang San Chun run errands for him. As a result, he naturally bought the cheapest one and cheated him out of two low-grade spirit stones.

  The dishes were served, and Wang San Chun intentionally gave Yuan Tian a glance. He wanted to show off his wealth, a pot of wine and a low-grade spirit stone, the two dishes together cost about one low-grade spirit stone. The cheap green vegetables, after being cooked, increased in price several times, the profit was quite considerable.

  Yuan Tian wasn't familiar with him and naturally didn't bother to pay attention to him, eating the dishes on his plate by himself, occasionally smacking his lips.

  "Add another dish, and refill the tea." Yuan Tian ordered the store clerk, then started eating the braised rabbit meat with gusto. Although the vegetarian dishes were high-end, they really weren't his thing. He was still addicted to meat, and as he ate, his mouth was filled with fragrance, and his lips and the corners of his mouth were smeared with a lot of oil.

  Wang San Chun naturally did not know that Yuan Tian's dishes were free, and thought that this kid had made some extra money and came here to show off.

  Seeing Yuan Tian ordering more dishes, the tavern owner Guo Ming couldn't help but feel a little heartache. However, his boss had instructed him that this kid's orders were on the house. So, steeling himself, he ordered the shop assistant to bring out another dish for Yuan Tian.

  "Hey little brother, don't pretend you don't know me. Liu Ming and I are friends, and that famous Liu Zhuang outside is also my buddy." Seeing Yuan Tian adding dishes, Wang San Chun came over to try to get in good with him.

  "Oh? What's up?" Yuan Tian looked at Wang San Chun, with a puzzled expression on his face. He thought to himself: Is this guy trying to mooch off my food again?

  "You're so thin, you ordered so many dishes but can't finish them, why don't we eat together?"

  It really was guessed by Yuan Tian. Wang San Chun said as he stretched out his chopsticks, with an air of familiarity, just like old friends who didn't stand on ceremony.

  With a "clap" sound of chopsticks colliding, Wang San Chun's extended chopsticks were knocked back by Yuan Tian.

  "Want to invite me to eat, should also be me first taste your dish, best give me a small wine." Said Yuantian made a gesture to go get his wine jug.

  Wang San Chun hastily grabbed the wine jug and broke it, then pulled the plate closer to himself, tense as if someone was going to snatch his child. How could he bear to let Yuan Tian eat and drink, having barely managed to swindle two spirit stones to fill his own belly once.

  "Let me tell you, Yuan Tian, don't be too arrogant. Liu Ming is going to the outer gate next month, and by then, you'll have a good show to watch. And as for Xuan Yu Shu, if Brother Ming wants to get his hands on him, he definitely won't be able to escape, so just wait and cry." Wang San Chun was frantic.

  "Huh? Liu Ming is interested in Xuan Yuan's sister, eh? He should go after her properly, why bother with me and hold such a big grudge." Yuan Tian slowly picked out a thin bamboo toothpick from the wooden box on the table and began to pick his teeth.

  "No grudge against you? Eat well, won't be able to jump around for a few more days. Being a glutton is better than starving." With that, Wang San Chun directly took his wine and dishes and moved them to another table, he really was afraid of Yuan Tian drinking his wine.

  Yuan Tian had not taken Liu Ming's matter to heart, it was just that he did not agree to give him spiritual water for irrigation, even if there were opinions, it would not lead to such hatred. Now hearing Wang San Chun say so vividly, and also involving Xuan Yuan Shu's sister, this matter really needs to be weighed carefully.

  Qing finished the last dish, let out a satisfied burp, wiped away the oil from his mouth and walked out.

  "Shopkeeper, he hasn't paid the bill!" Seeing Yuan Tian walking out without paying, Wang San Chun was taken aback: this poor devil Yuan Tian actually wanted to eat for free, and didn't even consider that the boss here is Old Fan, who is even more powerful than Liu Ming's brother Liu Shoufu.

  Seeing that the shopkeeper didn't react, Wang San Chun became even more anxious: "Shopkeeper, he hasn't paid his bill. It's that person who just walked out, his name is Yuan Tian and he's a miscellaneous servant disciple who raises pigs."

  It's unclear whether he was afraid that the shopkeeper hadn't heard him or that he had mistaken the person. Wang San Chun pulled out all the stops, shouting at the top of his lungs until he was hoarse, his small face beet red with effort. The hemp seeds above seemed to have come back to life, as if they were about to jump down.

  The shopkeeper looked at Wang San Chun with a silly gaze, thinking that this kid was really making a big deal. With so many people in the store not saying a word, you're still shouting away. I'm not even sure if he's paid or not, do you need to yell about it? That's someone the boss specifically instructed not to charge.

  Until Yuan Tian walked out of the store, Wang San Chun stopped shouting. He took a big gulp of wine and ended up choking on it. This is strange, isn't anyone in charge of eating at this store?

  No matter who was in charge, Wang San Chun did not dare to try the tyrant's meal. A outer door disciple of Qi Xi Ba Ceng, wasn't someone he could afford to offend. Moreover, it was said that Old Fan's daughter had an extraordinary talent and was going to be selected for the inner door.

  Wang San Chun drank wine while thinking about how to stir up trouble between Liu Ming and Yuan Tian. Hmph! That stinky little brat Yuan Tian, Brother Ming had already wanted to get rid of him, this time he's definitely done for.