After bidding farewell to Wu Datong and Wu Xiaoxu, Lu Xuan didn't go home to practice his Cultivation. He also didn't go out to scavenge for recyclables or sneak into the school to eavesdrop on classes.
He didn't have time for the first two, and as for the last, East Sea High School only had one Cultivation class per week, and there was no point in listening to the regular academic lessons.
Following his phone's navigation, Lu Xuan made his way to the Upper City District and finally stopped in front of a towering building.
The East Sea City Inspectorate Building.
Every city had an Inspectorate. It was responsible for maintaining public order and also held the authority to manage Cultivators!
Of course, in normal times, it was less 'management' and more 'service'.
Lu Xuan had learned all this online. According to a few posts, once you became a Cultivator, you could collect a "monthly stipend" from the local Inspectorate.
He didn't know the exact amount, but he guessed it had to be at least eight hundred to a thousand, right?
A look of pure hope filled Lu Xuan's eyes. He gulped. 'Eight hundred to a thousand yuan... that's more than I'd make from collecting cans for half a month!'
Without hesitation, Lu Xuan strode toward the Inspectorate Building. Many of the surrounding pedestrians glanced over in surprise.
After all, this was the Upper City District, where even ordinary civilians were well-dressed. This young man, however, was in tattered rags... though, thankfully, he was quite clean.
The passersby sent curious glances his way, but their looks held no contempt, only confusion.
......
East Sea High School, the best high school in all of East Sea City, was also one of the few that offered Cultivation classes.
In the principal's office, Lu Xiuyuan took a leisurely sip of tea. Across from him, the principal of East Sea High School put down the phone, a baffled look on his face.
"What's wrong?" Lu Xiuyuan asked with a smile.
"It was a call from Longque Technology. They said they want to jointly launch some kind of financial aid program for underprivileged students."
The principal gave a wry smile.
"I have no idea what these bigwigs are thinking... By the way, Elder Lu, this year's batch of sophomores have all begun their real Cultivation, haven't they? Are there any promising prospects?"
"They're all just so-so," Lu Xiuyuan said calmly. "The only one who's truly outstanding is a girl named Yan Jiangxue. But she hardly ever speaks. Keeps everyone at arm's length."
"Yan Jiangxue..." The principal seemed to shrink in on himself. "I know about her. Her background is immense. The director of the Super Ancient Research Institute, a subsidiary of Longque Technology, personally enrolled her here."
He paused, then continued, recalling the memory.
"You should have seen it. The way that institute director treated her... it wasn't like he was dealing with a junior. He was downright deferential."
"Oh?" Lu Xiuyuan was surprised for a moment, but then it clicked. "That explains it. Her foundation is terrifyingly deep. She must have been nurtured with all sorts of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures since she was a child. Why would someone like that come to East Sea City?"
The principal shrugged.
"I'm not sure... But then again, it's not so strange. A man of your stature is living right here in East Sea City, teaching at my school. If that can happen, what's impossible?"
He paused, then said with a smile,
"Anyway, I have to make the arrangements. The manager from Longque Technology specifically mentioned they would be enrolling an underprivileged student named Lu Xuan. I suspect there's more to this kid than meets the eye. When the time comes, could you personally guide his Cultivation? Personally 'open the door' for him?"
"I don't mind either way." Lu Xiuyuan rose gracefully. "I have no interest in the affairs of those corporations. My job is to teach and nurture. It makes no difference to me who the student is."
The principal let out a visible sigh of relief.
"It's just that you normally despise corporations. I was worried..."
"I despise the executives at these corporations. This has nothing to do with the children."
"Yes, yes, of course..."
"By the way."
Lu Xiuyuan seemed to recall something and spoke slowly.
"Speaking of which, it seems Longque Technology has done something decent for once with this student aid program... I'd also like to enroll a child from the Lower City District. Is that possible?"
"Whatever you say, goes," the principal said cheerfully. "What's the child's name? I'll make the arrangements ahead of time."
Lu Xiuyuan shrugged and spread his hands.
"I don't know."
"You don't know?" The principal blinked.
"That's right, I really don't know. I'll ask him next time I see him. He's a good kid." Lu Xiuyuan rose gracefully. "Well, I need to make a trip to the Inspectorate, so I'll be on my way."
"Master Lu, let me see you out." The principal scrambled to his feet.
"No need. Within the school, I'm just a humble teacher and you're my superior. There's no reason for you to see me out."
The principal could only offer a wry smile in response, not daring to say another word.
......
Chen Xiaoyu sat at her workstation, bored out of her mind and yawning.
Working at the Inspectorate was respectable, sure, but she was a non-combat front-desk clerk, and the boredom was just as real.
She shifted in her seat, and after making sure no one was watching, carefully pulled out her phone and launched a fun, exciting match of 'Cultivator's Glory'.
After successfully losing yet another team fight, Chen Xiaoyu stared blankly at the animation of her base exploding and slapped her desk in a huff.
"Damn it!"
she muttered.
"Hello."
The sudden voice made Chen Xiaoyu jump. She frantically hid her phone and looked up with a panicked expression.
Before her stood a young man in simple, even ragged, clothes. But he was surprisingly clean, with a handsome face and a pair of startlingly bright eyes.
"H-h-h... Hello!" Chen Xiaoyu's cheeks flushed slightly as she spoke in a small voice.
Lu Xuan paid no mind to the sideways glances from others in the lobby, simply offering a gentle smile.
"I'd like to ask, is it true you can receive a stipend after becoming a Cultivator?"
Chen Xiaoyu blinked, struggling to tear her attention away from the young man's clean, handsome face. She stammered,
"W-wait a minute, wait a minute! I've only been working here for two days, I'm not really sure... Let me check the handbook!"
"Alright," the young man replied calmly, not at all impatient.
After fumbling around for what felt like an eternity, Chen Xiaoyu finally looked up and said in a small voice,
"Um! Yes! After becoming a Cultivator, there is a corresponding monthly stipend, and the amount is based on your Cultivation level!"
She paused, then explained in detail.
"The handbook only lists the stipends for the Nine Gates of the Jade Tower. A First Gate Skin Tempering Realm Martial Artist can collect a monthly stipend of ten thousand. A Second Gate Bone Forging Realm Great Martial Artist gets twenty thousand, a Third Gate Marrow Refining Realm Martial Master gets thirty thousand, and so on. A Ninth Gate Acupoint Realm Grandmaster can collect ninety thousand!"
Seeing that the young man seemed easygoing, she paused and added with a playful smile,
"To be honest, though, it seems like no Cultivator really cares about the stipend. It's too little for them—just pocket change, really!"
As she spoke, Chen Xiaoyu rubbed her thumb and index finger together to emphasize just how little money it was.
GULP!
Lu Xuan, however, swallowed hard, his head spinning. 'Ten thousand, twenty thousand, thirty thousand... That's so much!'
A wave of anxiety washed over him. 'What Gate am I at right now? Am I a Skin Tempering Realm Martial Artist?'
Lu Xuan then asked softly,
"Excuse me, is certification required before receiving the stipend?"
"Yes, yes!" Chen Xiaoyu said quickly. "After you're certified by the Inspectorate, the system updates your information, and then you can enjoy the benefits and..."
Before she could finish,
"Get someone in charge of reception out here to see me."
A middle-aged man had appeared at the counter at some point and now spoke impatiently.
"Hurry up, I'm in a rush!"
Chen Xiaoyu tilted her head slightly and said politely,
"Sir, please get in line. As soon as I'm finished helping this gentleman, I will assist you..."
BANG!
Without even glancing at Lu Xuan, the middle-aged man slammed his palm on the counter. The heavy thud made the entire counter tremble as if it were about to collapse.
"I said I'm in a rush. Are you telling me to wait in line behind some country bumpkin?"
Chen Xiaoyu's face went pale with fright and she began to stammer. In the distance, a few staff members noticed the commotion. A younger employee started to step forward, but was pulled back by an old-timer who warned him,
"Have you got no sense? That's the head of the White Elephant Martial Arts Hall, a Third Gate Marrow Refining Realm Martial Master! He's famous for his terrible temper. Are you trying to get yourself into trouble?"
The young employee was indignant.
"So what? This is the Inspectorate! The very institution responsible for maintaining order and managing Cultivators!"
"Are you crazy?"
The old-timer smacked the younger man on the back of the head.
"The Inspectorate may have the authority to manage Cultivators on paper, but like I said, it's less 'management' and more 'service.' Or maybe even 'servitude'."
The young man stood there, stunned, the light draining from his eyes.
Service... Servitude.
He lowered his head in defeat and stepped back.
Meanwhile, Chen Xiaoyu's eyes were red-rimmed. Having not even finished memorizing the employee handbook, she had no idea how to handle a situation like this.
The middle-aged man was growing visibly impatient. He snorted and was just about to say something else when...
"Excuse me."
Lu Xuan spoke, his tone earnest and polite.
"Waiting in line is a matter of basic courtesy. It has nothing to do with whether or not I'm a 'country bumpkin'. So, could you please either wait for me to finish my business, or go to another counter?"
A brief silence fell over the hall.