Upon hearing this, a few twitches ran across Luh Jingsun's stoic face. "Yes, Outer Disciples are different from servants," he said.
"The gap between Outer Disciples can be quite large. The worst are only slightly better than servants, while the best can approach the level of Inner Sect Disciples.
"Within the Sect, the Outer Disciples probably have the greatest disparity in status.
"'You... I suppose you'd be considered one of the very lucky ones.'"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Deming nodded in understanding, finally feeling much more relieved.
'If the entire Outer Sect is like this, then the Celestial Spirit Sect... wouldn't be the Middle-Stream Sect I'd heard about. It'd have to be a Holy Land!'
"'Oh, right. The disciple who used to take care of this place lived in a separately constructed house. A few days ago, because...
"'Well, because of disrepair over the years, all those houses collapsed.
"'The higher-ups considered it, and since it's just you, they couldn't be bothered to rebuild.
"'You... You should just live in the main pavilion.
"'Anyway... it's meant to be lived in, and it could use a bit of life.
"'The only thing to be aware of is, don't enter the main bedroom on the second floor. It's already occupied. Bedroom Two is also occupied from time to time.
"'As for the other areas, you can treat them as your own.
"'Just be sure to keep things clean. Don't let it get too messy.
"'If... if you really can't manage it, report it to me. I'll do my best to arrange for a servant to come clean a few times a month.'"
The normally aloof Luh Jingsun suddenly seemed to be stuttering. He finished, paused, and then added:
"'Also, that little white snake in the medicine garden is someone's pet. Don't you go and kill it.
"'It may not be a Spirit Beast, but its owner adores it, so it's very precious to them.
"'So don't mess with it.
"'It's a type of Medicinal Snake. You don't need to care for it, just keep an eye on it occasionally.'"
"'A snake? A white one?' Zhang Deming asked, surprised."
Luh Jingsun nodded. "'It took a lot of effort to find one that was just right.'"
"'Noted,' Zhang Deming said with a nod."
"'Alright, if there's nothing else, I'll be heading back. I still have a lot to do,' Luh Jingsun said."
Zhang Deming nodded. "'Of course, Senior Brother Luh.'"
With that, Luh Jingsun turned to leave. Zhang Deming also went forward and entered the pavilion.
After getting some distance away, Luh Jingsun glanced back at Qingyou Pool, shook his head, and muttered to himself:
'What on earth is that woman up to? This whole chaotic mess... this isn't hiring someone to work, it's installing a pampered master in there.
'The place was already coveted enough. Now with these kinds of benefits, they just grabbed a random newcomer to put there.
'Now, the Qingyou Medicine Garden on Little Hui Peak is going to make people burn with envy.'"
He watched for a long while before shaking his head, deciding to stop thinking about this whole mess.
...
After seeing Luh Jingsun off, Zhang Deming stood before the main door of the pavilion, stunned for a moment. It wasn't locked, and it seemed Senior Brother Luh hadn't given him a key.
'So, how do I open it?'
After a moment's thought, he took out his Identity Card and tentatively swiped it in front of the door.
"CLICK..."
A faint light flickered, and the door opened.
'Ha, so this door is basically a fantasy version of an electronic lock. It seems the closer you get to the Inner Sect, the more convenient and high-tech things become.'
Pushing the door open, Zhang Deming froze.
'Damn, no wonder the servants are so envious of Outer Disciples. I thought it was no big deal before. Now I see... my mistake. I completely underestimated it.'
Inside the pavilion, the floor, which seemed to be made of jade, was polished to a mirror shine.
Overhead were no oil lamps or simple balls of Spiritual Light.
Instead, there were lighting Artifacts that flowed with brilliant colors. The entire decor couldn't be described as merely luxurious.
The only word for it was "fantastical." Compared to the Miscellaneous Affairs Courtyard, this was truly Heaven.
In a corner of the main hall was a semi-open kitchen that blended many modern and ancient elements, along with many features unique to the world of immortals.
Zhang Deming toured the bedroom and bathroom next. He realized that even in his past life, he'd never lived in—no, he'd never even *seen*—a place this nice.
'Ten years of struggle... it was all worth it!'
'It was the classic tale of a serf breaking his chains and becoming the master.'
'If the Outer Sect is like this, I can't even imagine what the Inner Sect must be like!'
Zhang Deming chose a master bedroom on the first floor and flopped onto the bed, thinking blissfully.
Starting today, life seemed to hold endless hope and things to look forward to again.
Zhang Deming lay on the bed, indulging in a blissful fantasy for a moment before taking out his Identity Card and opening the so-called "Qingyou Medicine Garden Care Guide."
Qingyou Medicine Garden: This year's crop is the common Spirit Medicine, Spirit-Binding Grass, the Main Ingredient for the Spirit-Binding Potion.
Type: Annual Herbaceous Plant.
Care Difficulty: Low.
Instructions: Basic requirements are to cast the Little Cloud Rain Skill twice daily, and a large-scale Growth Technique, Spring Wind Technique, or similar Life Force Technique once every ten days.
For more delicate care, you may adjust as needed, but do not overwater. Therefore, it is not recommended to cast the Little Cloud Rain Skill more than three times a day.
'Huh, that doesn't seem too difficult.'
'So this is what it's like to be an Outer Disciple. What a sweet deal!'
With his ten years of experience as a Spirit Farmer, Zhang Deming was confident he could handle this job based on this information alone, no further guidance needed.
Tossing his bundle onto the bed, Zhang Deming left the room and surveyed the expanse of the medicine garden for a moment.
He walked to the edge of the pool. The water was so clear he could see a few small fish swimming near the bottom.
Zhang Deming strolled along the edge of the small pool for a while.
He crossed the channel at the "gourd's mouth" and reached the edge of the large pool, where the sound of the waterfall became distinct.
'It seemed an Array at the gourd's mouth dampened the sound.'
When he reached the large pool, the sight of the surging waterfall and the clear water gave Zhang Deming an irresistible urge to jump in for a few laps.
The urge was incredibly strong.
He thought for a moment. Even though Senior Brother Luh had made it sound like the entire place was his to manage...
...it was his first day. It was better to play it safe. You could never be too careful.
Staring at the deep pool, which was large enough to be a small lake, Zhang Deming turned and headed back.
The area wasn't small. Zhang Deming took a stroll around the entire place before returning to the pavilion to inspect the rooms.
Once he had a good sense of the layout, he thought about how he would use the different rooms.
Before Zhang Deming could even unpack his bundle, the card in his pocket began to vibrate slightly.
He took it out and looked at it, stunned.
The card indicated that someone had arrived outside the Array.
'Array?'
'When did I activate an Array?'
Confused, he went out the door.
Standing at the entrance, Zhang Deming looked out and saw that in the distance, at the entrance to the path, a faint layer of light was blocking the way. The shimmering light was apparently linked to the pavilion's main door.
Right now, two people and a deer were standing there quietly, waiting.
'So, unlike Little Qing Mountain, this place has a main gate with access control.'
The Array's glow wasn't strong; it seemed to function merely as an early warning system. But no one would dare to break it.
Zhang Deming straightened his clothes and walked over to greet them.
Both were strangers. Zhang Deming didn't recognize either of them.