"Is Xu Yang in? Come out and see me."

Just as a strange atmosphere began to settle over the courtyard, a voice called out from outside.

Xu Yang’s heart sank. The voice belonged to none other than Xiao Hua, the Steward of the Task Hall.

’I don’t know if this is about something else, or if it’s because of Li Rui’an.’

On the day Li Rui’an went missing, he too had left the Sect for Cyan Yang City. If the Sect investigated this carefully, they were bound to find out.

"I am here!"

He stepped out of the courtyard to find Xiao Hua standing outside, his face devoid of expression. Beside him stood Lu Ren, Gu Haoming, and another Outer Disciple whom he didn’t recognize.

"May I ask why the Steward has come looking for me?" Xu Yang asked, cupping his fists.

Xiao Hua’s lips curved into a smirk that didn’t reach his eyes. "It’s good news," he said. "The Sect’s medicinal supply warehouse in Cyan Yang City needs someone to garrison it, and I’ve recommended you. Pack your things quickly and head to Cyan Yang City with them.

This is a great opportunity. Twenty contribution points a month, little work, and plenty of points. You’ll be getting the same compensation as a Qi Cultivation Gang disciple."

Hearing it wasn’t about Li Rui’an, Xu Yang breathed a silent sigh of relief, only for his heart to sink once more.

’Xiao Hua is clearly targeting me. If this were really such a great assignment, the position wouldn’t be vacant.’

’Besides, given Xiao Hua’s character, there’s no way he’d be doing me any favors.’

’Even though I’m getting the same pay as a Qi Cultivation Gang disciple, I’ll also be doing the same job. If danger arises, my chances of an early death are high.’

’He’s trying to get me killed!’

He didn’t know exactly how dangerous garrisoning the medicinal supply warehouse was, but just looking at Lu Ren and Gu Haoming told him that you had to be at least at the Qi Cultivation Gang level to take this job.

For a "Qi Gathering" Martial Artist like him to be mixed in with them... the danger was easy to imagine.

’On top of that, this is the time I should be in seclusion, preparing to break through to the Qi Cultivation Gang realm. Xiao Hua is forcing this mission on me now... I’m afraid his real intention is to stop me from making that breakthrough.’

As for the reason, he had a pretty good idea. First, there was the incident a few days ago when Xiao Hua had tried and failed to frame him, causing the Steward to lose face.

There was also the matter with Lin Cheng. Lin Cheng had asked Xiao Hua to look out for them, and Xiao Hua had accepted the gift but done nothing. Xu Yang had witnessed this dishonorable side of the Steward, which was likely the reason for this series of targeted actions.

"Junior Brother Xu is in trouble!" Sun Tao, who had followed him out, also realized that Xu Yang was being singled out.

Xu Yang’s last mission had only ended a few days ago. Even a beast of burden needed rest, yet Xiao Hua was already assigning him a new task without a moment’s pause.

Sending him to garrison a vital location like the medicinal supply warehouse in Cyan Yang City before he had even reached the Qi Cultivation Gang realm—the malicious intent was completely undisguised.

"Steward, may I ask... can I refuse this assignment? I would like to choose my own missions," Xu Yang said, taking a deep breath.

Xiao Hua sneered. "And who do you think you are? When the Sect designates a mission, you have no room to refuse."

Nearby, Lu Ren remained expressionless.

Gu Haoming and the other disciple, however, were both clearly gloating.

Normally, the Task Hall didn’t assign missions to disciples. The only exception was if your contribution points were below the requirement or if you were just trying to slack off. Only then would they force an assignment on you.

Xu Yang had just spent forty days toiling like a beast of burden on Li Fire Peak and had only been resting for a few days. This was clearly not his situation.

"Then may I ask the Steward, how long is this assignment?" Xu Yang asked.

"Three months!"

An impatient look crossed Xiao Hua’s face. He tossed a token to Xu Yang and said, "Ask them about the mission details. Now get down the mountain. If you delay the mission, you’ll face consequences you can’t handle."

’Three months. It’s not that long. I can just endure it.’

Things had already come to this; he had no choice but to accept the mission. ’Fortunately, I’ve already reached the Qi Cultivation Gang realm, so the danger won’t be as great for me.’

He took the Task Token and headed down the mountain with Lu Ren and the other two, walking toward Cyan Yang City.

The atmosphere on the road was somewhat silent.

Although Xu Yang and Lu Ren had a unique relationship, they had also clashed a few times. Xu Yang had even defeated him during the Martial Arts Examination, so Lu Ren didn’t initiate any conversation.

He had refused Gu Haoming’s recruitment attempt, and Gu Haoming had once declared he would make Xu Yang’s life in the Purple Sun Sect impossible.

’I don’t know if today was all Xiao Hua’s doing, or if Gu Haoming had a hand in it. I can’t be sure if Gu Haoming took this mission voluntarily, or if he was assigned it against his will, just like me.’

So Gu Haoming didn’t speak to him either.

As for the third person, Xu Yang didn’t recognize him at all, so he didn’t try to strike up a conversation.

They continued on their way, and the four of them soon entered Cyan Yang City and found the place they were to garrison.

It was a shop called the Hundred Medicine Hall, a place the Purple Sun Sect used specifically for collecting medicinal herbs.

Cyan Yang City was situated in the heart of the Yunling Mountain Range, a natural Treasure Vault. Many Martial Artists came here treasure hunting. If they found Spirit Medicines or Old Medicines they had no use for, they would usually choose to sell them in Cyan Yang City.

The Hundred Medicine Hall catered to this very clientele. Useful herbs it acquired were sent to the Sect for use, while those the Sect didn’t need were sold.

The four of them presented their Task Tokens, passed quickly through the shop into the rear courtyard, and came upon a young man with a sharp, imposing aura.

His name was Jin Lei. He was also an Outer Disciple, not from Xu Yang’s generation, but the one before.

"Listen up. Your job is to make sure nothing happens to the warehouse and to guarantee the shop’s security. You can die, but the medicinal herbs cannot be compromised. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Keep your eyes peeled on watch. Don’t let someone slit your throat before you even know what’s happening. For the first month, you’re responsible for the night watch..."

Jin Lei went over a few more details, assigned the four of them their respective patrol routes, and then left without another word.