Monday!
At eight thirty in the morning, Zhang Fan arrived on time at the seventeenth floor of Taoyuan Square.
The door to Night is not bright was wide open, and as soon as he reached the entrance, Zhang Fan encountered a familiar face.
"Are you that old security guard!?"
"Young man, I was just joking with you that day." Yu Fu grinned, scanning Zhang Fan up and down.
"He's called Yu Fu, but everyone calls him Old Yu. He's our driver and security here."
At this time, Bai Buran walked out of the office, carrying a thermos cup.
"Security!?"
Zhang Fan paused for a moment, then scrutinized the old security guard in front of him.
Yu Fu seemed to be around sixty or seventy years old. Although his face was full of wrinkles, his skin was very pale and slightly swollen. His lips were extremely moist, and it seemed like he had three or five lip balms in his shirt pocket. From his accent, he sounded like he was from the Chuanyu area.
"Zhang Fan!"
At this moment, a familiar and gentle voice came from behind.
Zhang Fa turned around and saw Wen He approaching.
"Sister Wen." Zhang Fan greeted her, considering he was recruited by Wen He.
"From today on, you belong to Night is not bright." Wen He flashed a sweet smile.
"Cars need fuel, people need food, as long as you're alive, you have to work." Wen He encouraged.
"..."
"Here, sign this."
Saying this, Wen He turned around and fetched a document, thoughtfully placing it in front of Zhang Fan.
"Is this a labor contract?" Zhang Fan glanced at it and immediately froze.
"Not at all!"
Death accident insurance!?
"Why do we have to sign this for work?" Zhang Fan asked in a strange tone.
"It's employee welfare."
"What kind of employee welfare is this?"
"Employees who have died at our company know that dying on the job is common, so we need to leave something for the family." Wen He gently said.
"It can compensate up to three million."
Wen He's voice carried a hint of temptation.
"..."
"Young man, work hard; maybe next year I'll find you a lady." Yu Fu approached, patted Zhang Fan's shoulder, and encouraged him.
"Welcome aboard." Bai Buran patted Zhang Fan's shoulder, a rare kind smile appearing on his lazy face.
"Night is not bright..."
Though seemingly a small temple with sparse incense, it hides remarkable individuals.
Zhang Fan finally began his life as a corporate drone at Night is not bright.
Blending into the city while working, he improved his cultivation alongside earning a living.
...
On the second day, Zhang Fan began his career at Night is not bright.
Throughout the day, there was nothing much happening, quite leisurely. In Wen He's words, "Old vines, trees, and drowsy crows, lazing at work and going home"—it was idle enough to bore a bird when not busy.
"Sister Wen, is our company just the four of us?" Zhang Fan couldn't help but ask.
Four people indeed seem a bit sparse for a company.
"Plus two more, who went to the mountains to collect stove ash." Wen He replied casually.
In the past, rural kitchens often worshipped the Kitchen God, so folklore stated that stove ash warded off evil, especially those old iron stoves—the longer they've been around, the stronger their anti-evil effects.
Once some people would spread furnace ash on walls; many witches or Daoists would collect furnace ash.
There was a time when the price was quite high, but now it's rare, usually only found in mountains, seldom in ordinary countryside.
Night is not bright's clients are cultivators, so there's demand for such items—one kilogram of top-grade old stove ash can sell for five thousand yuan.
In prosperous times, it's even hard to meet demand—a kilogram can sell for twenty to thirty thousand, requiring pre-orders.
Going out to collect goods offers a ten-percent commission; relying solely on a salary, how could one become truly rich and successful in cultivation?
"Fanfan, it's a shame you're not born in the Year of the Horse or a Taurus; otherwise, you'd get an extra thousand yuan subsidy every month."
Wen He reviewed Zhang Fan's personal information, looking at his birthday, and commented with some regret.
"Why?" Zhang Fan paused for a moment, then asked, "Year of the Horse, Taurus…? Why is there such a perk?"
"The boss said such people are naturally hardworking… So, of course, there must be subsidies."
"..."
During lunch break, feeling bored, Zhang Fan was alone at his desk, practicing the Daoist Hand Seal.
Currently, his body contained sufficient True Yang, and having endured the Fire Time at the Qi Worker stage, he was ready to comprehend and practice Daoist Techniques.
However, before that, mastering the Daoist Hand Seal was essential.
If Inner Core Skill is akin to Inner Power, then the hand seal is equivalent to general basic skills, like the horse stance.
It's known that when Daoists chant, use talismans, cast spells, recite curses, or set up altars, they need to coordinate with hand seals, also known as forming seals.
The phrase "pinching seals and reciting curses" refers to the Daoist Hand Seal as a seal and the Daoist Secret Curse as a curse.
If the True Yang within is like an electric current, then different hand seals equate to different circuits, with varying effects as the current flows through.
At this moment, Zhang Fan's left thumb bent inward, while the other nine fingers were exposed…
This is one of the most common seals among Daoist Hand Seals, known as the Lion Seal.
In the Buddhist Sect, there's a similar seal called the Fearless Lion Seal.
Both the Buddhist and Daoist Families regard lions as spiritual beasts capable of warding off evil, serving as Guardians.
In Daoist Inner Core Skill, there's a technique to visualize lions and eliminate distractions.
In the Buddhist Sect, there's also a skill like the Lion's Roar, which dispels all distractions in one shout.
"Tsk tsk, practicing the Lion Seal... You'll never succeed in a lifetime at this rate."
At this point, Bai Buran walked out with his thermos cup, watching Zhang Fan's hands almost cramp up.
"Why?" Zhang Fan asked in confusion.
"Have you seen people practice boxing?" Bai Buran asked in return without answering.
"What do you mean?"
"Those training Mantis Fist must study the mantis's postures and movements; those practicing Tiger Fist must observe the tiger's leaping and lunging..."
"To cultivate anything, one needs to capture both its form and spirit..."
"Spirit and resonance—it's like divine assistance... Practicing hand seals is the same," Bai Buran said blandly.
"With this… who should I observe?" Zhang Fan looked at his hands almost twisted into a pretzel and couldn't help but ask.
"Daoist Seal, they all have origins..."
"Lion Seal represents the Nine-headed Divine Lion… also known as the mount of the Taiyi Celestial Venerable of Salvation..."
"You've seen Journey to the West, right? Inside, that Nine-Headed Primordial Saint…" Bai Buran explained.
The Nine-Headed Primordial Saint, with one bloodthirsty mouth, couldn't be subdued even by the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, who had no choice but to give in.
Why?
Because a lion's roar gives rise to nine thoughts, clearing all distractions and naturally subduing the Heart Monkey and locking the Yima.
"If you want to practice the Lion Seal, you need to observe the divine statues of Nine-headed Lions." Bai Buran patted Zhang Fan's shoulder, and advised, "Go search online yourself..."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Fan displayed a look of sudden realization; indeed, guidance from a teacher surpasses reading for ten years.
"By the way…"
"Next Wednesday, you and Wen He deliver a shipment…"
"Where to?" Zhang Fan asked while searching for images of the Nine-headed Lion statues.
"Yujing City, He Family!"