"Assume management of the Hundred Herb Garden on Green Stone Ridge. A specified quantity of rare medicinal herbs must be delivered annually."
The moment Han Li's eyes fell upon these gilded characters, his heart leapt with delight. He pointed at the line and looked up at Steward Yu. "This task interests me. Could Senior Brother explain its details?"
Steward Yu approached with a ready smile, but the moment he saw clearly what Han Li had chosen, the pleasant expression on his face collapsed into a grimace.
"Junior Brother, perhaps you'd like to choose something else? This garden-management task is rather... temperamental. It may not be suited to you." The steward's tone was sincere. Seeing Han Li's puzzled expression, he continued: "This task has been posted here for years now. Many disciples have taken it on, and every single one has failed. Not only did they fail to earn any rewards, but they were each fined a considerable number of spirit stones. It's widely regarded as one of the most difficult assignments in the entire hall. And frankly—don't let this get around—every year I have to have the disciples draw lots just to force someone into taking it!"
Han Li found this amusing, though a thread of unease wound through him. Still, he had no intention of giving up. He adopted an earnest tone and pressed further.
"Could Senior Brother tell me what exactly makes it so difficult? Why have so many disciples failed? Is it truly just a matter of managing the herb garden?"
"Could it be that Nephew Han has chosen Senior Brother Ma's garden task?" Elder Ye, who had been standing to the side listening to the exchange, cut in before the steward could respond, his brow furrowed.
"Indeed! Junior Brother Han has set his sights on that notoriously impossible task of Senior Brother Ma." The steward wore the expression of a man caught between laughter and tears.
The elder's expression shifted to something caught between amusement and concern.
"Haha! Nephew Han has quite the eye—zeroing in on the most troublesome task in the entire hall on his very first visit. But truly, this task is a headache. Several disciples who were forced to accept it have come to me complaining bitterly. However, since Senior Brother Ma refuses to change the reward-and-punishment terms, there's nothing I can do. If Nephew Han wishes to know the specifics, you're welcome to come with me to the inner hall and examine the relevant files yourself. That would be far more reliable than relying on hearsay." The Hall Master of the Hundred Mechanisms Hall, for reasons Han Li couldn't quite fathom, seemed disposed to extend every courtesy.
Han Li frowned inwardly. This Elder Ye was being excessively hospitable. True, he had yielded the Foundation Establishment Pill to the man, but it had been presented as a fair exchange—surely that didn't warrant this level of warmth?
Suppressing his doubts, Han Li adopted a flattered expression and followed the elder into a room behind the main hall, where the shelves were heaped with documents of every description.
The elder waved a bamboo slip lightly, and a flash of green light shot from it, sending a scroll flying automatically into his hand. He passed it to Han Li without ceremony.
At this point, Han Li saw no reason for further delicacy. He took the scroll and unfurled it, studying its contents in detail.
The scroll was not lengthy. It recorded the accounts of the previous disciples who had managed the garden, along with their explanations for their failures. Han Li read through it quickly and in short order had grasped the nature and difficulties of the task—roughly eighty percent of it, at least.
"Well? Perhaps you'd reconsider and choose a different task? The rewards are generous, I'll admit, but this really isn't something an ordinary disciple can accomplish." Elder Ye sounded as though he were genuinely concerned.
Han Li considered for a moment, then shook his head with finality. "I thank Elder Ye for his concern. But this task suits me well. I won't be changing—this is my choice."
The elder caught the steel in Han Li's words, and a flicker of surprise crossed his face. He said nothing more and gave his assent with a nod. But rather than escorting Han Li out immediately, he hesitated, then spoke in a slightly unnatural tone.
"Nephew Han, regarding the Foundation Establishment Pill exchange we made previously—would it be possible to defer delivery of certain items? I am about to refine a batch of Harmony Pills, and my resources are a bit strained at the moment. Rest assured, however: within a year or two at most, I will settle the full balance."
Han Li was stunned for a heartbeat, then laughed.
"Elder Ye speaks too plainly! If you're in a difficult position, whatever you can provide now is more than sufficient. There's no need to speak of future repayment—consider this a gesture of respect from a junior to his elder."
Han Li thought to himself that he had never been so thoroughly hypocritical in his life. His heart churned with rage at this blatant breach of contract, yet his face bore a radiant smile and his tongue delivered words calculated to please. This, he reflected bitterly, was the sorrow of being the weaker party.
"What does Nephew Han mean by that? Does he think I am the sort of man to break his word and renege on his promises? What I have promised, you shall receive—not a single item will be withheld." Rather than looking pleased, the elder drew himself up with a stern, offended air, the very picture of righteous indignation.
Han Li, who had been struggling to maintain his smile, very nearly lost control entirely. The man's shamelessness was truly beyond the pale—he intended to default on the vast majority of the promised items, yet insisted on performing the role of the honorable gentleman. A textbook hypocrite.
Han Li seethed inwardly, cursing silently. But the smile on his face merely stiffened for an instant before smoothly transitioning to an expression of earnest sincerity, delivered in a tone that made even Han Li's own skin crawl.
"Elder Ye has misunderstood! What I meant was that, as a newly admitted disciple, such quantities of goods would be far too extravagant for me. Most of the items would be better kept in your care for the time being. I have no real use for them yet."
Only after hearing these honeyed words of self-deprecation did Elder Ye's expression soften. He nodded with satisfaction. "Nephew Han speaks with some wisdom. If new disciples grow too dependent on external tools, it truly does hinder their cultivation. Very well—we'll do as you suggest. I'll hold the items for you. Come claim them whenever you need them."
"Then I impose upon Elder Ye's generosity." Han Li forced a smile while repeating to himself, over and over: These are mere external possessions. I cannot afford to offend this man now. When the time comes, I will recover everything—with interest.
"Ha ha, it's nothing at all! Shall we go?" The elder's spirits appeared to have improved considerably.
What followed was accomplished with smooth efficiency. With Elder Ye's assistance, Han Li completed all the formalities without a hitch and received the jade token signifying his acceptance of the task. Then, under Steward Yu's warm guidance, he set out for the Hundred Herb Garden on Golden Ant Ridge.
Elder Ye stood at the entrance of the Hundred Mechanisms Hall, watching Han Li's figure grow smaller and smaller in the distance. His expression turned somber, and he stood in brooding silence.
"Has Junior Brother Ye developed a soft heart?" A deep voice came suddenly from behind him.
"It's not a question of a soft heart. I simply feel that using such methods against a newly admitted disciple doesn't sit right. And what if this Nephew Han says one thing to our faces but acts differently behind our back—reporting the matter to the Sect Master?" The elder did not turn around, but worry threaded through his words.
"Heh, report us?" The man behind him sneered.
"What, Senior Brother Wu—are you not concerned?" Elder Ye finally turned to face the sullen-featured man behind him.
"Concerned about what? The boy quite willingly agreed to place the items in your care, didn't he? You haven't refused to return them outright—merely holding them for safekeeping. What could he possibly report?" Senior Brother Wu replied with the confidence of a man who had already calculated every angle.
"I must say, though—I'm rather impressed by this boy. So young, yet already so adept at reading the situation and knowing when to yield. Quite remarkable, really. If it weren't for his dismal spiritual root being a false-type, I might even consider taking him under my wing." Senior Brother Wu added, a note of genuine regret in his voice.
"Thank goodness he isn't the stubborn type. Otherwise, we would have had to resort to a different approach—and that would have been far more troublesome." Elder Ye spoke slowly.
"Enough. There's nothing to worry about with this boy. Squashing him would be no harder than crushing an ant. But Junior Brother Ye—now that you've saved yourself a fortune this time, don't forget what we agreed upon beforehand." Senior Brother Wu abruptly shifted the subject, his words carrying a hidden meaning.
"I won't forget. Half of the Harmony Pills from this batch will go to you. Sigh—truth be told, if my grandnephew didn't require such quantities of precious pills during his Foundation Establishment process, I wouldn't have brought myself to take a junior's belongings like this." Elder Ye shook his head, wearing the air of a man lamenting his own moral decline.
Senior Brother Wu smiled and said nothing, his mind filled with quiet satisfaction. Now that this Junior Brother Ye had committed such a deed, he had effectively handed over leverage. There would be no difficulty ensuring the man's cooperation in future council deliberations.