A Mortal's Journey to Immortality: Starting as a Sword-Forging Servant and Ascending to Immorta

Lei Yang watched the three figures as they walked away and spoke softly.

"Aren't you afraid they'll continue to pass messages to Zhang Qian?"

"If they want to stay in that hellhole for the rest of their lives, they can pass it on."

Zhou Lingxuan picked up the teacup and found that the tea had gone cold.

Lei Yang seemed to be deep in thought.

Those three people probably want Zhang Qian to forget them more than anyone else right now.

After dealing with the three people, Zhou Lingxuan reassigned tasks.

Those who were originally in charge of the warehouse will continue to guard it, and those familiar with the waste items will continue to sort them. The older and weaker people will no longer help the younger people with moving things; instead, they will be responsible for counting and recording.

Two menial laborers with old injuries to their hands and feet were reassigned to guard the entrance.

For each batch of waste materials delivered, the origin, quantity, and delivery time are first recorded, and then Old Sun assigns manpower to handle them.

All the toxic materials and waste pills were sent to the bottom of the valley, and the boxes were not allowed to be opened en route.

Materials removed from dismantled equipment must be stored in a designated area; no one may take them away without authorization. Useless residue must be disposed of in the fire pit on the same day and must not be carried over to the next day.

As the arrangements were made one by one, the group was initially apprehensive, but gradually became more relaxed.

Zhou Lingxuan didn't arbitrarily replace people, nor did he investigate past instances of shirking responsibility and taking advantage of others. Most people's duties remained unchanged; only the responsibility was shifted to specific individuals.

In the past, when a task was passed around, whoever was unlucky would do it.

Now, once you've finished your part, you can go back to rest without worrying about being suddenly taken away and replaced.

An elderly handyman couldn't help but confirm.

"Manager, can I go back to my room after I finish inventorying the scrap metal in the west warehouse each day?"

"As long as the accounts match, that's fine."

"What if someone suddenly asks me to help move things?"

"If Old Sun hasn't said anything, you don't need to go."

The old handyman's face lit up with joy.

"Understood!"

The people nearby quickly followed up with more questions.

"After we dismantle these five pieces of junk today, should we still go to the fire pit?"

"Need not."

"The Pill Hall sends over waste materials, and we're not even supposed to touch them?"

"Deliver it to the entrance of the valley."

"What if the outsiders insist that we handle it?"

Zhou Lingxuan patted the jade pendant at his waist, indicating he was in charge of management.

"Have him come to me."

That was exactly what everyone was waiting for.

The work of dismantling the halls was not insignificant, but what truly troubled them was the arbitrary command of the disciples from different halls. If they encountered a disciple with a bad temper, they would be beaten and have no recourse.

Now that someone is standing in front of us, who would complain about having too much work?

Before Zhou Lingxuan could urge them, several laborers had already taken the empty wooden crates from the yard. The person in charge of the warehouse ran to check the locks, while the people transporting scrap materials began to count the carts.

Soon, footsteps and the sound of wooden wheels turning filled the courtyard.

Zhou Lingxuan looked at Old Sun.

Old Sun was still standing there, holding the roster, his fingers trembling.

Why aren't you going?

"Manager, you just said that I would be in charge of assigning manpower from now on?"

"Um."

"You're also going to give me the waste registration and accounting?"

"Um."

Old Sun's throat moved.

He spent twenty-seven years in the abandoned hall, from his youth to his gray hair, doing the dirtiest jobs and taking the blame for others' mistakes.

Anyone can order him around.

Now, with just one sentence from Zhou Lingxuan, all the daily affairs of the abandoned hall have been handed over to him.

It's not a formal position, but it has real power.

"Manager, my cultivation level is too low; I'm afraid I can't control them."

"You don't need to press."

Zhou Lingxuan pointed to the roster on the table.

"Write down who did it and who didn't. Bring it to me every three days. If anyone doesn't listen to you, make him come to me in person."

Old Sun held the roster, his eyes reddening.

"Aren't you afraid I'll misremember it?"

"If you had wanted to take advantage of the situation, you would not still be living in a leaky house after twenty-seven years in the abandoned hall."

Old Sun lowered his head and wiped his face with his sleeve.

"Manager Zhou, I will definitely manage it well."

"Make sure the accounts are correct, and don't throw away the waste materials."

"If there's one piece of scrap metal missing, I'll use my own allowance to make up the difference!"

"I didn't ask you to risk your life to vouch for it."

Zhou Lingxuan pointed to the teapot on the table.

"Get me a new pot of tea. This tea has been steeped three times; it's too bitter to drink."

Old Sun was stunned for a moment, then quickly grabbed the roster and walked out.

"I still have half a packet of new tea in my room! I'll go get it right away!"

Several servants in the courtyard heard this and all burst into laughter.

My fear of the new manager also faded considerably.

Zhou Lingxuan did not stop him.

If you're too afraid, you'll harbor ulterior motives when working. If the rules are clearly stated, and anyone who crosses the line is punished, then the rest will naturally stay in their positions.

In less than two hours, the items that had been piling up in the abandoned hall for days began to move around.

The broken ritual implements piled up in front of the east warehouse were divided into three categories.

The carts transported goods back and forth along the old road in the valley.

Over at the third fire pit, Zhang Qian's three henchmen had taken off their outer garments and were gritting their teeth as they cleaned up the piled-up debris. No one was slacking off, and no one mentioned Di Jianfeng again.

Old Sun moved a small table over and sat down at the entrance of the abandoned hall to register each item. He checked the records twice for every car he received.

A servant tried to take advantage of their past relationship to reduce the number of boxes recorded, but he immediately scolded him.

"Manager Zhou, hand over the accounts to me. Don't try to test me with these things!"

"Mr. Sun, we've known each other for so many years..."

"No matter how many years you've known each other, you still have to register! Are you trying to make me lose this job?"

The man had no choice but to bring out the wooden box hidden behind the car.

Lei Yang stood outside the workshop for a long time before finally speaking.

"Were they this fast at work before?"

"no."

"You didn't give them any spirit stones either."

"Giving them back the leisure they deserve is enough."

Lei Yang still didn't quite understand.

Zhou Lingxuan was too lazy to explain.

These menial tasks don't ask for much.

Having clear tasks, no one causing trouble after they're done, and a supervisor to protect them if something goes wrong—that's enough to motivate them to work hard.

As evening approached, Zhou Lingxuan summoned Old Sun.

"The courtyard deep within the ruined hall, near the fire vein of the Class A land, belongs to me."

Old Sun flipped through the roster.

"That courtyard has been empty for many years. The roof and walls are still intact, but the ground is too hot, so no one dares to live there on weekdays."

"Clear the area around you."

"Would you like a few people to serve you?"

"Need not."

"The daily routine of delivering water and meals..."

"Put it outside."

Zhou Lingxuan raised his hand and drew an area on the map.

"From this stone path onwards, the courtyards, workshops, and fire pits are all designated as restricted areas. No one may approach them without my permission."

Old Sun remembered it very carefully.

"Was it an accidental intrusion?"

"There's a sign at the entrance. If you see the sign and still walk in, it doesn't count as accidentally trespassing."

"How should we handle this?"

"It will be handled according to the clan rules."

Old Sun's heart tightened.

The residence of the steward is protected by the sect's rules. If a servant trespasses, the consequences range from having their allowance deducted to having their cultivation revoked and being expelled from the sect.

"I'll take care of it right away."

Half an hour later, a new wooden sign was erected at the entrance to the stone road.

There were only four characters written on it.

Restricted areas for management.

Fearing that some people might not understand, Old Sun added two more lines of smaller text below, clearly stating the punishment for trespassing.

Several passing servants took a detour after reading it.

Lei Yang packed their things and followed Zhou Lingxuan into the detached courtyard.