Chapter 110: Borrowing

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Lin Hui strode quickly over to Yang Ze, wearing that familiar smile.

“Junior Brother Yang, it has been several days since we last met.”

Seeing Lin Hui approach, Yang Ze did not avoid him. Among all the registered disciples, Lin Hui was probably the only one with whom he still had any real acquaintance.

Yang Ze nodded and was just about to speak when his expression changed. He had noticed that something about Lin Hui was different.

The vital energy radiating from Lin Hui was clearly stronger than it had been the last time they met.

“Congratulations on your breakthrough, Senior Brother Lin,” Yang Ze said, clasping his fists.

“Hahaha, it was only a minor breakthrough. I have merely managed to catch up with you, Junior Brother Yang. Compared with you, I am still far behind. Besides, judging from the change in your aura, you must have made some progress as well during this time.”

Lin Hui scrutinized him closely.

“It was only a little progress, nothing worth mentioning.” Yang Ze shook his head.

Seeing that Yang Ze was unwilling to continue the subject, Lin Hui changed the topic.

“You must have heard that voice just now, Junior Brother Yang?”

“To make one’s voice resound throughout the entire Azure Sun Peak, one must at least be an elder of the fifth realm. I imagine it was spoken by one of the elders on the peak,” Yang Ze replied.

“Precisely. But for an elder to issue an order personally this time, there must surely be someone of even higher standing behind it. It seems the atmosphere throughout Azure Sun Peak is finally going to change.”

Lin Hui nodded.

Yang Ze considered his words. They were not without reason. With hundreds of thousands of registered disciples on Azure Sun Peak, a single elder likely had no authority to pass judgment over them all. Someone with a higher position in the Misty Martial Academy had certainly intervened behind the scenes.

“A change in atmosphere? Senior Brother Lin, what was the academy like in the past?” Yang Ze asked.

“Our Misty Martial Academy has strict rules. In the past, the Enforcement Hall was stationed on Azure Sun Peak. With the academy regulations hanging over everyone’s heads, not a single person dared violate them.

“At that time, all the senior and junior disciples focused on cultivating. Although there were private disputes, things never reached the point they have now, where disciples frequently engage in fights—even brawling openly in the streets.

“Back then, the small groups were formed to complete large-scale missions. People gathered together and acted as a unit; if conflicts arose, they could call on their companions for support. At that time, disputes were rare throughout Azure Sun Peak, and people were not constantly being injured.

“But once no one was enforcing the rules, Azure Sun Peak became like a chaotic martial world. Those small groups turned into gangs, carving out territory and recruiting members everywhere. They bullied disciples with weaker cultivation, and matters such as seizing other people’s contribution points occurred constantly, with no one to restrain them.

“In just three years, many disciples whose cultivation had already been weak made no further progress under layer upon layer of oppression. They sank to the very bottom of the registered disciples and became little more than servants for others.”

“Why did things become like this?” Yang Ze asked, puzzled. Given the strength of the Misty Martial Academy, why would it make such a basic mistake?

“That concerns the academy’s higher-ups. But I heard they hoped to temper our fighting spirit by beginning with us registered disciples, so that we would not become fools who knew nothing but cultivation. That is why they adopted this method.

“We should not discuss this any further. It is not something we have the standing to comment on.”

Lin Hui ended the subject there.

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“Since we have run into each other here, why don’t we go inside and eat first?” Lin Hui suggested.

Yang Ze had come to the dining hall for that very purpose. He had been hungry for half the day, so he did not refuse. The two of them went inside at once. While eating, Yang Ze asked a few questions and learned that Lin Hui was also planning to go to the Mission Hall.

They immediately reached an agreement. Yang Ze had never been to the Mission Hall and knew nothing about how things worked there. Since Lin Hui was willing to take him, he naturally decided to go along.

They hurriedly finished all the food in front of them, then set off for Azure Sun Peak.

The Mission Hall stood near the Scripture Hall. Unlike the quiet Scripture Hall, it was exceptionally noisy, with people coming and going in an endless stream.

When they entered the first-floor lobby, Yang Ze saw a row of wooden tables and chairs at the far end. The chairs were scattered in an orderly fashion, and every one of them was occupied.

Behind the row of tables and chairs stood a huge cabinet filled with rows of drawers. From time to time, someone would rise, open one of the drawers, and take something out.

Looking at the scene, Yang Ze could not help thinking of the banks he had seen in his previous life. People lined up in rows while employees handled their requests at the front.

“It has been a long time since I have seen a scene like this,” Lin Hui suddenly sighed from beside him.

Yang Ze turned toward him, his gaze filled with curiosity.

“Over the past three years, because of the way the various groups among the registered disciples operated, even coming to the Mission Hall to accept a task became governed by unwritten rules. In the past, disciples without connections like us could only receive the most grueling tasks, the ones that awarded the fewest contribution points.

“This orderly line is something that has not been seen for the past three years. It seems only the Enforcement Hall can truly keep these people in check.”

“Does the Enforcement Hall really inspire that much fear?” Yang Ze murmured.

It was only a single announcement, and the Enforcement Hall had not even dispatched anyone, yet the entire Azure Sun Peak had already changed so dramatically.

“Junior Brother Yang has only just entered the academy, so you do not know how ruthless the people of the Enforcement Hall are. They have never shown mercy to disciples who violate the academy regulations. When they strike, they are often more vicious than anyone else. Besides, anyone capable of joining the Enforcement Hall on Azure Sun Peak is at least a first-grade martial artist. Do you think registered disciples like us would dare not be afraid?”

As he spoke, Lin Hui led Yang Ze to the end of one of the lines.

“You may have a chance to learn how frightening the Enforcement Hall is in the future. For now, though, let me help you find a good task.”

Lin Hui pointed ahead.

“The tasks in the Mission Hall are divided into three grades: those worth fewer than fifteen contribution points, those worth between fifteen and thirty, and those worth more than thirty.

“The drawers behind us contain the details of the various tasks. Once someone accepts a task, they register for it. After completing it, they return here to claim their contribution points.”

“The tasks are divided by grade? Does that mean the higher the grade, the greater the difficulty?” Yang Ze asked.

“Of course. Accepting a task you cannot complete will also result in punishment, so we must know our own limits.”

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“The row we are standing in now is for the lowest-grade tasks. Once you complete one, you can submit it on the other side and receive your contribution points.”

Lin Hui patiently explained everything to Yang Ze.

As they spoke, the long line slowly moved forward. After waiting for quite some time, it was finally their turn.

Lin Hui spoke first.

“Senior Brother, may I ask whether there are any tasks from the Spirit Herb Garden left?”

The man seated behind the desk had thick eyebrows. Hearing Lin Hui’s question, he cast him a brief glance, then began flipping through the thick register in front of him. A moment later, he left his seat, walked to the cabinet behind him, opened a drawer, and took out two sheets of paper.

“There is only one kind of task left from the Spirit Herb Garden. Fill one hundred vats with water for five contribution points. If you want it, write your names on these two sheets and I will register you. Once the task is complete, return here to collect your contribution points.”

The thick-browed disciple placed the two sheets before Yang Ze and Lin Hui.

Lin Hui quickly pulled Yang Ze over, and the two of them signed their names before handing the papers back.

The thick-browed man took the sheets and placed them inside a certain page of the thick register before drawing a line across them with considerable force. Their two names were stamped into the record.

Lin Hui took the sheets back, handed one to Yang Ze, and then pulled him quickly out of the Mission Hall.

Only after they had left did Yang Ze finally ask, unable to restrain himself, “Senior Brother Lin, this task looks like nothing more than hard labor, and it offers very few contribution points. Why did you accept it?”

“Hard labor? For martial artists like us, what difficulty is there in filling one hundred vats with water? The contribution points are a little low, but once you come with me to the Spirit Herb Garden, you will understand the benefits of this task.”

Lin Hui grabbed Yang Ze and began walking forward.

Yang Ze followed and continued, “Senior Brother Lin, I need a large number of contribution points right now. These tasks take quite a long time, yet offer very little in return. They are of no help to me.”

“Junior Brother Yang, we must be patient in everything we do. There is no need to rush. Besides, any task that is not difficult can only offer so few contribution points. Trust me—the task I found for you will certainly be worthwhile.”

Seeing the displeasure on Yang Ze’s face, Lin Hui’s eyes shifted slightly before he continued, “How about this, Junior Brother Yang? Tell me how many contribution points you need. I will lend them to you for now, and you can repay me once you have accumulated enough.”

Lin Hui’s proposal moved Yang Ze. After considering it for a moment, he agreed.

He did so because, judging from the situation, earning one hundred contribution points would take quite a long time, and he did not have that much time to spare.

After Yang Ze agreed, Lin Hui did not descend the mountain. The two of them hurried to the Azure Sun Hall and converted the contribution points there.

Only then did Yang Ze catch a glimpse of Lin Hui’s financial resources. He must have been quite well-off. He produced one hundred contribution points without even blinking, and did not mention when Yang Ze would have to repay him.

This further convinced Yang Ze that Lin Hui was certainly no ordinary registered disciple.

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