Shi Yu had long considered hiring a servant to handle mundane affairs so she could focus entirely on her cultivation. However, being alone in the Origin Realm and harboring many secrets, finding someone completely trustworthy and reliable was no easy task.
Chen Er came from the Mortal Realm and had a simple background. After spending time with him, Shi Yu had gotten a good read on his character, knowing he was pure-hearted and trustworthy. He was a good candidate.
Previously, while he was cultivating in the sect, Shi Yu hadn't entertained the idea.
But now, due to the conflict with Lu Yujiao, Chen Er was being targeted within the sect. He couldn't even receive his meager monthly allowance, let alone any cultivation resources.
Rather than taking on dangerous bounty missions, he would be better off working for her.
“I need to focus on my cultivation, and there are many mundane chores that need doing. Would you be willing to help me?” Shi Yu spoke unhurriedly. “Think of it as employment. For helping me with these tasks, I will pay you spirit stones as a wage. How about it?”
Chen Er shook his head, his expression solemn and respectful. “Young Master, why speak of payment? My life was saved by you. Whatever you need me to do, I will give my all. Just give the order!”
Shi Yu smiled softly. “I need you to work for me long-term. How could I continuously rely on favors to command you?”
Hearing this, Chen Er scratched his head. “T-Then, what do you need me to do, Young Master?”
“I will rent a house for you nearby. Every day, you'll come over and cook meals for me.” Shi Yu retrieved a bag of spiritual grain rice from the Fate-Tapping Bell. “Use this.”
Chen Er took it, holding the bag tightly as he nodded vigorously.
“The grain in the field needs to be watered once a day.”
“Every few days, go to Tongyi Pavilion to sell spirit talismans and purchase spiritual materials for me.”
“Also, when you're out, keep an eye out for news and recent occurrences. If anything noteworthy catches your attention, inform me.”
As Shi Yu listed the tasks, Chen Er memorized each one, nodding in agreement from time to time.
They were mostly simple chores, with nothing much else to add.
After making sure she hadn't missed anything, Shi Yu brought out the newly refined soft armor and a handful of spirit stones, pushing them toward Chen Er. “This will be your payment.”
“Every month from now on, I will provide you with spirit stones and pills for your cultivation. In any case, it won't be less than what you would get in the sect.”
Chen Er stared at the soft armor and spirit stones. Although he had never touched an artifact before and couldn't tell its exact quality, he was no longer the clueless greenhorn who had just arrived in the Origin Realm. He had a solid grasp of basic knowledge here.
Even the lowest grade of artifact was far beyond what a small outer disciple without background or backing like him could possess. Moreover, the soft armor before him glowed with a soft green light and shimmering radiance, clearly showing its exceptional quality.
An artifact soft armor like this would cost at least a hundred spirit stones. How could he accept something so valuable?
And after hearing Shi Yu's follow-up words, Chen Er was rendered speechless.
It took a long time before he opened his mouth with a bitter laugh. “Young Master... how could the small chores I do ever be worth what you are giving me?”
The tasks Shi Yu assigned were all effortless chores; even a quick-witted mortal could perform them properly.
Shi Yu didn't mind. These items were things she lacked least. The time and effort Chen Er saved her by handling these matters far exceeded their value. Besides, since she had decided to employ Chen Er, it would be troublesome if his cultivation was too low.
She looked up calmly. “How can you cultivate without these resources? In the future, when I go out to travel and gain experience, I will need you to watch over this courtyard. You need a certain level of cultivation to put my mind at ease and keep petty thieves from disturbing my residence.”
Yet Chen Er still couldn't overcome his own conscience. After struggling for a moment, he seemed to reach a realization and clenched his fists tightly. “Since coming to the Origin Realm, Chen Er has learned many things, and I naturally hope to cultivate hard to seek my own fortune.”
“Young Master is bestowing a great opportunity upon me today. I know I do not deserve what you have given me, so I can only do my utmost to fulfill your instructions and obey your commands. I will cultivate hard to guard by Young Master's side and never betray you.”
By using the word “betray,” he was implicitly placing himself in the position of a loyal servant.
Shi Yu originally felt this was inappropriate, but seeing Chen Er's resolute expression and bright, determined eyes, it was clear that if she did not accept his pledge, he would rather refuse the job altogether.
“So be it,” Shi Yu said, no longer pressing the matter.
Only then did Chen Er break into a wide smile. Delighted, he picked up the soft armor Shi Yu gave him and held it up against his chest to measure it.
“It has three restrictions on it: Impact Dissipation, Speed Augmentation, and Growth...” Shi Yu briefly explained the soft armor's characteristics before concluding, “As for the rest, you can adapt and figure it out over time.”
Chen Er nodded and put on the soft armor beneath his outer robe. Channeling spiritual energy into it, he felt the resonance from the armor, making it feel as if it were a natural part of his body—supremely comfortable.
He felt even more touched. An artifact so perfectly aligned with his attribute was extremely rare; the Young Master must have specifically chosen it for him.
He chuckled foolishly, and seeing that the sun was high, he rolled up his sleeves to prepare lunch for Shi Yu.
While Shi Yu was eating, he didn't idle either, deftly watering the field.
Shi Yu blinked and instructed, “In the future, when watering the field, use the water from this wooden bucket.”
Saying that, she pointed to a wooden bucket placed in the corner beside her.
The water in this bucket was diluted with Life Spring water. It would stay in this position permanently; before Chen Er arrived each day, she would just need to add more Life Spring water to it.
Chen Er didn't ask why and simply nodded dutifully.
Shi Yu then retrieved a stack of spirit talismans and handed them to Chen Er. “Take this stack of spirit talismans and sell them to Manager Jiang at Tongyi Pavilion when you have time. It doesn't have to be today, just whenever you're free.”
Chen Er accepted them, and seeing that Shi Yu had no further orders, he said, “Young Master, I won't disturb you any longer. I'll go check if there are any houses nearby to rent.”
Shi Yu nodded.
Watching Chen Er leave and close the courtyard door behind him, she let out a comfortable sigh. “Not having to cook or water the field myself really lightens the load.”
Handling these mundane tasks had been amusing at first, but over time, they inevitably dragged down her cultivation progress.
Having freed up her time, Shi Yu planned to continue refining artifacts. Since the spiritual energy in her dantian was not yet full, she went to retrieve a Dew-Condensing Pill to regulate her spiritual energy. But when she took out the jade bottle, she found it completely empty—she had run out without realizing it.
These Dew-Condensing Pills had been bought from Tongyi Pavilion earlier. Now that they were gone, she had no intention of buying more.
Most Dew-Condensing Pills sold in shops were Low-Grade, riddled with impurities and possessing poor medicinal efficacy. Prolonged consumption would inevitably accumulate pill toxicity. Although she had ways to handle pill toxicity, it was best to avoid it if possible to save herself the extra trouble.
Since she looked down on the pills sold in shops, she decided to make her own.
Pulling out the three types of spiritual plants she had bought last time from Tongyi Pavilion, along with the pill furnace she had forged herself, Shi Yu began her very first alchemy session in this world.
“Jade Dew Grass, Qi Gathering Grass, Half-Sided Orchid...” She inspected these few hundred spiritual plants and found that they looked even fresher and more brimming with spiritual energy than when she had bought them.
Even though they had merely been stored inside the Yin-Yang Fate-Tapping Bell rather than planted in the medicinal field beside the Life Spring, being nourished by the spiritual energy inside had still benefited these spiritual plants to some degree.
“That works out great—their efficacy will be a step higher.”
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