The workshops of the Outer Sect Four Peaks.
Mortal Servants were beasts of burden, Marshals were the landlord masters who drove them, and in between was the Inspector, who acted as a "steward."
Becoming an Inspector meant no more clocking in for work. It also came with a bit of power to keep others in line.
It was a coveted position, one that many a Mortal Servant dreamed of attaining.
In the Quenching Room, there were plenty of "veterans" who, after finishing their twelve years, still hadn't left the mountain, signing yet another contract of indentured servitude.
They all stared with hopeful eyes, dreaming of being noticed and promoted by Yang Xun.
Many opportunistic Mortal Servants had even heard about the death of Yang Xun's son and were now actively trying to curry favor, fantasizing about becoming his godson in hopes of winning his approval.
"How did that kid get the jump on us? Is it because he's better at calling him 'Godfather'?"
"This is ridiculous! When it comes to seniority, how can he compare to me? I've worked conscientiously for Red Flame Peak for twenty years!"
"I saw that kid cozying up to Marshal Yang yesterday. Who knows what tricks he pulled!"
"I never would've guessed. Brother Yi looks so harmless, yet he got the job done without a peep..."
The crowd of Mortal Servants rushing to work exchanged astonished glances. No one had anticipated this outcome.
Especially He the Venerable.
'He wanted to beat his chest and stomp his feet. We're all slaving away like beasts of burden, so how did you suddenly make it big, Brother Yi!'
'Can I still freeload off you for meals and money?!'
"Greetings, Inspector Jiang!"
There was never a shortage of sharp-eyed individuals among the Mortal Servants, and one of them hurriedly shouted out a greeting.
Despite their utter unwillingness and resentment, everyone had to chime in:
"Inspector Jiang has always been a diligent worker. He certainly deserves this promotion from the Marshal."
"Marshal Yang has a discerning eye. Brother Yi is more than worthy of being an Inspector..."
Jiang Yi maintained his amiable expression. He first cupped his fist to the Mortal Servants, then accepted the Copper Green Token from Yang Xun with both hands.
With this token, he would no longer have to go to the Labor Institute to get a work tally.
He could finally breathe a sigh of relief, free from the suffering of manual labor.
"Get to work."
Yang Xun's face was cold as iron, like a sinister, man-eating vulture perched on a mountain peak.
The moment he spoke, the Mortal Servants scattered like birds and beasts.
They all rushed to their furnaces and began their preparations.
"Jiang Yi."
"Here."
Yang Xun instructed,
"From now on, you will oversee all affairs in the Quenching Room. The Inner Peak is pressuring us to speed up production; I'll leave it to you to handle. You must guarantee both quality and quantity, producing the full quota of usable Bone Material."
Jiang Yi agreed. He knew this was Yang Xun's way of giving him an opportunity to "establish his authority."
'His old boss in his past life used to do the same thing: pick a "problem" that already had a solution and publicly hand it over to him.'
'Others couldn't solve it, but my guy got it done, and done beautifully!'
'Then his promotion would be completely justified, and no one could say a word against it!'
'Under the Daoist Lineage, the Dharma Lineage governs the world. Cultivation is no longer just about fighting and killing...'
Accepting the order, Jiang Yi went down the line of furnaces as they were lit, explaining the improved quenching process: using Cold Water Stone and Ashen Phosphorus Powder as catalysts to maintain a stable flame, which would better refine the impurities from the Bone Material.
The more the Mortal Servants listened, the more feasible the method sounded. A hint of admiration crept into their gazes as they looked at Brother Yi.
'A young mind really is something else. We also work day and night in the Quenching Room, so how come I never thought of this!'
When it was He the Venerable's turn, he stammered, correcting himself as he called out:
"Bro... Inspector Jiang..."
Jiang Yi laughed.
"Brother He, just keep calling me 'Brother Yi.' It sounds better!"
He the Venerable hesitated. He had been on Red Flame Peak for over twenty years, nearly completing two full terms of service.
He'd seen plenty of Mortal Servants escape their fate as beasts of burden, as mere consumables. The first thing they always did was cut ties with their past.
They hated it when their old workmates tried to get chummy and ride their coattails.
Jiang Yi pretended not to notice He the Venerable's awkwardness and grinned at him.
"After work, let's get everyone from the Big Mixed Courtyard together and go eat at a restaurant in the Ice and Fire Cave!"
Then, before He the Venerable could react, Jiang Yi was already personally showing the other Mortal Servants how to spread the Cold Water Stone, sprinkle the Ashen Phosphorus Powder, and at what flame intensity to add the Quenching Medicine.
They were busy for the entire morning, right up until the bell on Guanlan Peak chimed again.
The Mortal Servants filed out, each scrambling to be first in line to return their work tallies.
Inside the Quenching Room, Yang Xun inspected the day's output of Bone Material. Not only was its quality and texture a cut above, but the quantity had also increased.
This made him find Jiang Yi even more pleasing to the eye.
'Truly an outstanding talent!'
"This secret formula of yours is truly effective. I just watched the Mortal Servants, and they were all full of praise. They said today's work didn't drain their True Qi as much as usual; it was much less taxing."
Yang Xun went up to the second floor, his expression one of clear satisfaction.
"I imagine they'll have nothing to complain about regarding your promotion to Inspector now."
Jiang Yi remained as respectful and docile as ever.
"It is all thanks to the Marshal's appreciation and willingness to give me a chance."
'According to the Celestial Book, this Marshal Yang actually had a rather difficult temperament.'
'In simple terms, he was a "domineering father" type.'
'He loved being autocratic and ordering people around.'
'Unfortunately, his son, Yang Zhi, had never truly suffered. That, combined with losing his mother at a young age and falling for some young woman, among other things... meant that the father and son were at each other's throats whenever they met. The air between them was always thick with tension.'
But Jiang Yi didn't care one bit.
'It was like a corporate drone who'd spent his life screwing bolts in a factory suddenly meeting a domineering old man who insisted on buying him a car, a house, and arranging his entire future for him.'
'Why would he feel any impulse to rebel? He'd be more likely to drop to his knees on the spot and declare, "I have drifted for half a lifetime, yet never met a foster father so true!"'
"I like the sound of that."
Regardless of how much of it was true, Yang Xun felt gratified. It had been a long time since he'd felt so content.
"Who do you plan to have watch over the workshop in your stead?"
Jiang Yi replied,
"He the Venerable. He's an old-timer on Red Flame Peak and a capable worker. He should be able to handle it."
Yang Xun shot him a sidelong glance. His long face and sparse, balding brows gave him a frighteningly fierce look as he asked in a chilling tone: