Ten Thousand Points, Room and Board?

Xu Xian’s interest was instantly piqued. He teased, "Oh? Are you planning to keep me, then?"

Keep him?

Li Qingshan’s expression immediately became darker than the night sky.

"Watch your choice of words."

Xu Xian put on a profound air. "My price is quite high, you know. I’m afraid you won’t be able to afford me."

"Spare me the nonsense. Name your price," Li Qingshan said coldly.

Xu Xian’s eyes darted around as he thought. He blurted out, "Seeing as you’re so sincere, how about this: ten thousand merit points a month. I might consider it."

Li Qingshan’s clear eyes widened. "Ten thousand? Why don’t you just go out and rob someone?"

Xu Xian scoffed, taking the opportunity to mock him. "I told you that you couldn’t afford it. If you don’t have the strength, don’t come here acting like a big shot. Understand?"

Li Qingshan’s fist tightened instinctively beneath his wide sleeve. Looking at the boy’s punchable face, he found it extremely difficult to remain calm.

He gritted his teeth and said, "Fine. Ten thousand it is."

Xu Xian sat up straight in an instant. "You’re actually going to pay?"

"A swordsman’s promise is as heavy as a thousand pieces of gold."

Xu Xian felt a hint of regret. He had only been speaking casually; he hadn’t expected the other man to agree so readily.

He felt like he had asked for too little...

"When are you moving in?"

The young man kept a straight face, playing hard to get. "I’ll have to think about it!"

Li Qingshan didn’t want to waste any more words.

"Suit yourself!"

Xu Xian stood up and patted his rear. "Alright, go back and wait for my notification."

The corner of Li Qingshan’s mouth twitched slightly...

With a monthly salary of ten thousand and room and board included, you couldn’t find a better deal in the Wendao Sword Sect if you searched with a lantern. What the hell was there to consider?

If he didn’t owe the boy, he truly wouldn’t want to spend a single second more with him. He was too good at putting on a show.

He put on a show at every possible moment, seizing every opportunity to flex.

Seeing that Li Qingshan didn’t seem to be moving, Xu Xian said calmly, "If you aren’t leaving, then I am."

With that, he turned and walked away, one hand in his pocket and the other raised high in a wave.

"See you later, Martial Nephew Qingshan."

Li Qingshan’s face darkened as he barked, "Stop!"

Xu Xian suddenly looked back. "What now? Didn’t I tell you to go back and wait for my notification? Do you want to try the hard way again?"

Li Qingshan reached out and beckoned.

"Give it back."

Xu Xian feigned ignorance. "Give what back?"

Li Qingshan’s face was grim. "Return my wine gourd."

Xu Xian let out a sheepish 'uh'. Feeling a bit awkward, he pulled the jade gourd from his sleeve, popped the stopper, and took several large gulps. The alcohol was so spicy that his face turned red and he grimaced.

He very reluctantly tossed it back.

"Stingy. To think someone like you wants to be my boss."

Li Qingshan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He shot the boy a glance and, without saying a word, vanished from the spot.

Xu Xian’s attempt at 'stealing the chicken' had failed, leaving him slightly depressed. He shrugged and headed down the mountain.

As he walked, he felt the breeze and hummed a little tune. He was about thirty percent tipsy, and his mood was actually quite good.

First, a beautiful girl had offered herself to him.

Then, a job with a monthly salary of over ten thousand merit points had come knocking on his door.

He felt that Li Qingshan wasn't such a bad kid after all.

While it was true the man had kidnapped him and brought him back, those heartfelt words tonight had actually moved him a little.

Now that things were out in the open, everything was fine.

He had complained about the Wendao Sword Sect and grumbled about Li Qingshan.

But in essence, that was only to shut Li Qingshan up.

That wasn’t how he truly felt in his heart.

While Xu Xian wasn’t exactly a saint, he was by no means an unreasonable person.

In this world, no one truly owed anyone anything.

He didn’t feel that the Wendao Sword Sect owed him.

What Li Qingshan said was certainly true: if he had gone to another sect with his current talent, the treatment would naturally be beyond compare.

It was like a top student from a prestigious high school suddenly dropping into a regular high school.

Scholarships, resources, and all sorts of perks... he would have whatever he wanted.

But then again, if he hadn’t come to the Wendao Sword Sect, he wouldn’t have been able to comprehend the sword stele, nor would he have a sword embryo or a sword body, let alone the Sword Tower...

He would just be someone with a mere mutated sword spirit root.

Even if it was rare, it wasn't exactly unique.

There were plenty of geniuses with single spirit roots in the world, and no shortage of mutated spirit roots. There were even those born with Saint Bodies, immortal bodies, or dao seeds.

In the Wendao Sword Sect, he simply hadn't received special treatment.

However, the overall benefits far exceeded those of other sects.

Setting aside the Three Sects, even if the hundred schools, thousand sects, and ten thousand gates gave it their all, they might not truly be able to compare.

Upon entering, he practiced a top-tier body refining manual, one of the few in Fanzhou.

And then there was the Dao Pavilion, which contained half of the world's techniques. As long as you could learn them, you were free to do so.

As for the rest... there was no need to say more.

Of course, what Xu Xian liked most was the environment of the Wendao Sword Sect. He wasn't talking about the scenery, but the living environment—there was no internal strife, no deception, and no treachery.

That was what he valued most.

It was his dream utopia.

Especially after the trip to Yecheng, his view of the Wendao Sword Sect had undergone a more direct change.

It was true he had faced danger several times. But others had similarly risked their lives for their fellow disciples, fighting until their strength was spent, or even choosing to self-detonate.

The principles written in books were truly more than just words in the Wendao Sword Sect.

Being in the Wendao Sword Sect, Xu Xian could feel completely at ease leaving his back to his fellow disciples.

This kind of trust stemmed from the sect's system and cultivation environment.

This was the very foundation upon which the Wendao Sword Sect stood.

Li Qingshan had talked in circles about many things. Others might not have understood, but Xu Xian knew exactly what he meant.

It was just that Li Qingshan hadn't said it explicitly, so Xu Xian simply pretended not to know.

Regardless of what others thought, Xu Xian had set his sights on the Wendao Sword Sect for this lifetime.

Even in death, he would follow the example of others and be buried beneath Wendao Slope.

If you asked him why?

To put it vulgarly: because he felt like it.

To put it elegantly: for the sake of sentiment.

But...

Only a fool wouldn't take advantage of a good deal.

So, Xu Xian accepted Li Qingshan’s offer—ten thousand merit points a month. As for who would be serving whom when the time came, that was yet to be seen.

After all, he was still the man’s Martial Uncle. His seniority was right there.

Hehe!

By the time Xu Xian returned, it was already the transition into the Hour of the Rat. The night was deep, but Wen Qingxue wasn't asleep. Hearing Xu Xian’s footsteps, the girl pushed the door open and poked half her head out.

"Little Grand-Uncle, you’re back?"

For a cultivator like Wen Qingxue, there was no need to distinguish clearly between day and night.

So Xu Xian didn’t ask why she wasn't asleep yet or why she wasn't resting.

Instead, he said directly, "Do you need something?"

Wen Qingxue shook her head. "Nothing. I just wanted to say hello."

Xu Xian was speechless.

He figured the sun would probably rise from the west tomorrow.

"Alright, then let me tell you something."

"What is it?"

"I’m moving out tomorrow."

Wen Qingxue was slightly taken aback. She asked, "Where to?"

"Zuiwan Residence."

Wen Qingxue’s small brow furrowed slightly. Confused, she asked, "Zuiwan Residence? Isn't that Martial Uncle Qingshan’s immortal abode?"

Xu Xian let out a long, helpless sigh. "I have no choice. He insisted on begging me to go live there. As his Martial Uncle, what could I do? If not for his sake, then for my Senior Sister's sake. Even if I don't give him face, I can't make things difficult for my Senior Sister."

Wen Qingxue’s eyes flickered. How should she put it... it felt very fake...

Her large eyes blinked as she asked tentatively, "Are you staying for free?"

Xu Xian said boisterously, "Ah, not for free. It’s ten thousand merit points."

Wen Qingxue’s eyes grew even wider. She gasped, "Ten thousand? That expensive?"

Xu Xian gave a cunning smile. "He’s giving me ten thousand."

Wen Qingxue was stunned. She gave him a thumbs up, her eyes full of admiration.

"Impressive!"