Chapter 205 - Unrestrained
Opening Chapter 205 of "Red Heart Patrols the Sky": Ge Ye casually asked, âHow many Path Origin Stones are allocated to you each month?âJiang... Read on for more!
Ge Ye casually asked, âHow many Path Origin Stones are allocated to you each month?âJiang Wang, who came from the authentic Daoist countryâs City Dao Academy, had never really experienced the life of the true bottom-rung cultivators.
However, the sordid intricacies of human nature were nothing new at any level.
Jiang Wang looked up at him but didnât speak.
Being addressed repeatedly as âYe,â he really started to see himself as a lord.
This old cultivator surnamed Ge stayed for a while, but seeing that Jiang Wang remained unresponsive, his face turned sour, and he left with a swish of his hand.
He didnât avoid speaking in front of Shuanzi, who was standing at the door.
Shuanzi bowed and scraped as he watched him leave, seemingly well accustomed to this recognition of status.
After meditating quietly for a while, Manager Hu hurried back.
Perhaps too excited, the call âAh-Anâ came out too quickly and merged into a single âAn.â
âThe bed has been made for you, do you want to see if itâs satisfactory?â
Looking at his face, wrinkled like old tree bark, Jiang Wang felt a shiver of goosebumps that took a long time to settle.
He responded with a sound: âUh-huh.â
The living environment in the mine site naturally couldnât be too good, but the Hu Clan Mine Site had specially prepared separate quarters for the cultivators stationed there.
As for why there were six courtyards for four cultivators, those in the know naturally understood.
As long as the Zhong Xuan Family didnât come for an official inspection, these six courtyards would never be fully occupied.
The cultivatorsâ food and shelter were all separate from the miners, with virtually no interaction on a daily basis.
When he arrived at the entrance of the small courtyard, a man with droopy eyelids and a scruffy beard approached.
âMaster Xiang!â Manager Hu greeted.
The uncle called Master Xiang just raised his hand in acknowledgment and continued on his way without a sidelong glance.
Manager Hu was already used to his temperament and explained while pushing the door open: âMaster Xiang is like that, not having anything against anyone.
Just getting by day by day.â
Jiang Wang nodded.
The layout of the small courtyard was ordinary, but it was considered quite nice for a place like a mine site.
Because it had just been cleaned, it appeared neat and bright.
Jiang Wang casually looked around and expressed his satisfaction.
Manager Hu, however, awkwardly said, âAh-An, since youâve just arrived, there are no maids in the courtyard.
I had asked Master Zhangâs maid to clean up for you.
It wonât be until the end of the month when I go back to town that I can recruit a new maid for you.â
Manager Hu looked at Jiang Wang, seeming a bit embarrassed to speak outright: âFor the next few days, could you, perhaps, make do with Shuanzi?â
âMaster Zhangâ must be the third Transcendent cultivator from the Hu Clan Mine Site.
From Manager Huâs words, he seemed like a reasonable person.
As for maidsâŚ
Jiang Wang silently glanced at the honest-faced Shuanzi.
Shuanzi also smiled warmly and heartily.
Jiang Wang deliberately asked, âHow is it that Manager Hu, holding such high position and power, and being a direct relative of the Hu Pavilion leader, doesnât have a maid to serve him?â
âIâve got one, but could I temporarily send her to you?â Manager Hu said, leaning closer to Jiang Wangâs ear and adding softly, âMy old lady comes to check up every month, and that one, sheâs sharp as a tack.â
Jiang Wang then laughed.
âEnough, enough, Manager Hu.
Iâm not so delicate that I need someone waiting on me all the time.
Just make sure meals are prepared on time, thatâll do.â
Seeing him so amenable, Manager Huâs face crinkled with a smile, becoming more pleasing to the eye no matter how one looked.
He still said with a sense of propriety, âCome end of the month, Iâll definitely find a clever and charming one for you!â
Just then, Ge Yeâs voice came from outside the door: âI heard this courtyard was cleaned up, and they even asked for Master Zhang Haiâs maid to help out.
How can this be acceptable?
Isnât this neglecting our junior brother here?â
He walked into the small courtyard with a forced smile, followed by a woman with her head down, keeping pace behind him.
He looked at Jiang Wang with a mischievous glint in his eye, âPreviously, my courtyard was short of maids, so I borrowed one from here.
Since you have arrived, Iâll give her back to you.
You donât mind, do you?â
Before Jiang Wang could reply, he turned to Manager Hu and said, âWhen you recruit new maids at the end of the month, Iâm getting tired of the ones I have.
Get me a new one.â
Manager Hu readily agreed, âUnderstood, Ge Ye.â
Now Jiang Wang understood the previous hesitancy of Manager Hu.
It turned out that there had once been a maid in this courtyard, but she was taken by the surnamed Ge.
The man didnât dare to offend Ge Ye, so he had to muddle through the situation.
He didnât hold any particular grudge against Manager Hu, he just found this old man surnamed Ge to be petty and nauseating.
As for whether the maid from this courtyard left or stayed, Jiang Wang really couldnât care less.
But Old Man Ge deliberately brought her here just to be annoying.
Nonetheless, Jiang Wang always remembered the purpose of his visit, and wouldnât reveal himself before obtaining enough information.
Therefore, he just smiled, âOld Master Ge is of age and needs assistance, I can totally understand that.
You can take this maid back with you.
Iâm not a cripple, I can take care of myself.â
His expression was gentle, yet barbed.
âYouâd better keep her,â Old Master Ge said in a tone halfway between sarcasm and sincerity, âBe careful of catching a chill as spring turns to summer.â
âThereâs really no need,â Jiang Wang instinctively refused again, but stopped himself.
Because at that moment, he saw the woman behind Old Master Ge lift her head.
It wasnât that she was extraordinarily beautiful.
It was the silentâŚ
plea in her bruised eyes.
That mix of distress and hope in her gaze was just too hard to extinguish.
No wonder she had kept her head down, since her face was injured.
âThen she can stay,â Jiang Wang said, changing his response.
âDid you hear that?
Why havenât you gone over there?â Old Master Ge frowned.
The maid moved a couple of steps.
âUseless at everything!
Even walking so sluggishly!â Old Master Ge grabbed her and threw her violently towards Jiang Wang.
Even with the shock of being suddenly lifted and hurled as a weapon, the maid dared not scream out loud, instead she just tightly closed her eyes.
But she did not feel the pain she had anticipated, just a gentle force enveloping her, as if she had landed in cotton.
When she opened her eyes, she saw a young manâs face.
Beyond his delicate features, there was a determination rarely seen at his age.
Jiang Wang casually set her down.
Then, stepping forward, he looked directly at Old Master Ge, âGe, youâve gone too far!â
Although he had come here with another purpose, he couldnât allow himself to be bullied.
Such patience would only make him more suspect.
âNo, no, not at all.
Come, Old Master Ge,â Seeing the situation escalate, Manager Hu hurriedly tried to smooth things over, âWe just got a new bottle of fine tiger bone liquor, why donât you come and try it?â
Old Master Ge was just holding a grudge, intentionally coming to annoy Jiang Wang and show off his seniority, but he didnât actually want to fight to the death.
The older one gets, the more one values life, and making a big scene was not worth it for him.
Upon hearing the offer, he just hummed through his nose, âI shall see how it tastes.â
Manager Hu, being very diplomatic, led the way while also looking back at Jiang Wang and saying, âYou should rest first, Iâll send a jar over to you later as well.â
They walked away, and Manager Huâs obsequious voice still faintly carried through, âWeâre all cultivators, my lords, thereâs no need to quarrel over us common folks, is there?â
Soon, the courtyard was empty except for Jiang Wang and the maid.
âWhat is your name?â Jiang Wang asked.
The maid bowed deeply before replying, âThis slaveâs name is Xiao Xiao.â
Her voice was somewhat childish, but a bit hoarse.
She was probably very young, but had suffered quite a lot.
âOkay, go tidy up the room,â Jiang Wang casually ordered, then turned and walked towards the bedroom he had chosen.
He had only gone a few steps before turning his head back.
âI told you to tidy up your own room, why are you following me?â
Even though Jiang Wangâs voice was already very gentle, Xiao Xiao was still startled and didnât know what to do with her hands, looking extremely panicked and at a loss.
Beneath her disheveled hair was a fresh-faced countenance, yet the bruising around one eye and tearful look in the other made her look particularly pitiful.
Jiang Wang sighed inwardly, but didnât let it show, merely pointing to the chamber on the left, âThatâs your room.â