The days that followed were a blur of hard labor and quiet observation. Yu Liang, Wei Feng, and Xiao Fei woke before dawn each morning, their bodies still stiff from the previous day’s work. Their duties were as varied as they were exhausting. One day, they hauled sacks of rich, spiritual blacksoil from the market, the fine dirt staining their clothes and hands. Another day, they carried crates of rare, aromatic herbs, some of their pungent scents making them urge to vomit. They visited countless markets, from sprawling outdoor plazas to narrow, winding alleys filled with the stalls of specialty traders.
While Wei Feng and Xiao Fei grumbled and complained about the endless toil, Yu Liang, however, focused his attention on the task at hand. His eyes weren’t just on the tasks before him or the weight on his back. They were everywhere. He memorized the locations of the high end pill shops, noting some with beautiful and flashy signs and the types of cultivators who visited them.
He observed the bustling weapons forges, the spiritual artifact shops, and even the bustling food stalls that sold delicacies he had only ever dreamed of. To his companions, this was a tedious, back breaking job. To Yu Liang, it was a reconnaissance mission. Like he was a scout mapping out enemy territory, cataloging every resource and point of interest for a future assault.
After tedious work, the evenings were their only respite. Eating a simple meal of bland rice and vegetables, they would gather in their cramped dormitory, the soft glow of a single spiritual lantern illuminating their tired faces. It was in these moments that they truly felt the weight of their status.
"My back feels like it’s been run over by a Spirit beast," Wei Feng groaned, stretching out on his thin straw mat. "I swear, Ling Tao made us carry that last crate of Ironwood just to be a jerk."
"At least we’re done with the soil," Xiao Fei said, rubbing a smudge of dirt from his cheek. "I’m glad we’re in the city, but this is nothing like the stories I heard."
"The stories are for the people," Yu Liang said while cleaning his worn out shoes with a damp cloth, a habit of his.
Then Xiao Fei remembered something and shuddered at the thought. "Did you guys see what happened with me and Sister Fei?" he asked, using the affectionate title for the female outer sect disciple, whose full name was Fei Min.
"I was just trying to hand her the pouch of money for the medicinal herbs," explained Xiao Fei, lowering his voice to a nervous whisper. "I didn’t want to hand it directly to her, you know, we’re handymen, it’s not proper. So I held it out carefully, but when she reached for it, the pouch slipped in my hand. It looked like... like I was trying to brush against her fingers on purpose."
Wei Feng frowned. "Oh no. Did she get mad?"
"She didn’t say anything," Xiao Fei said, fear evident in his eyes. "She just... looked at me. Her eyes were so cold, It was like a chill that went straight to my bones. Senior Brother Luo was standing right there, and he didn’t even speak, just raised an eyebrow. That’s all he did, but I almost pissed myself. She took the pouch without a word, but her face... It was like a stone. I thought they were going to cripple me on the spot."
Yu Liang nodded slowly. He had seen the exchange. Fei Min hadn’t even bothered with a condescending sneer. Her silence and her gaze had been far more chilling.
Suddenly, the door to their dormitory creaked open. It was Ling Tao, the male outer sect disciple, holding a small pouch. The three handymen quickly stood up straight.
Ling Tao tossed the pouch at them. "Here. Your payment for the day. And your reward for not being completely useless."
Yu Liang caught the pouch instinctively. It held a meager amount, just a few copper coins and some cheap, low grade cultivation pills that were barely better than plain herbs.
Ling Tao’s eyes scanned the room, and for a fleeting moment, they lingered on Yu Liang. "You moved pretty fast with those crates and kept up with the pace. Good." He then gave a slight, dismissive nod and left, not even waiting for a response.
Yu Liang sensed the faint acknowledgment, yet it was something far more than either of them had experienced in years. This cold acknowledgment proved to him that his hard work had not been overlooked, even if it had been given for the wrong reason.
The other two handymen looked at Yu Liang with a mix of surprise and a touch of jealousy. "Did you hear that?" Xiao Fei whispered. "He said you were good."
"It’s nothing," Yu Liang muttered, shrugging off the praise.
The next morning, as they ate their usual tasteless breakfast, Ling Tao and Fei Min walked in with a few other outer sect disciples who also happened to be in the city, their faces relaxed and happy.
Ling Tao approached their table with a grin. "Alright, listen up, you three. We finished the work a day early. Senior Brother Luo is busy with some... private matters, so he said you can have a free day today. You can go see the city, buy some trinkets or whatever. Just be back at the landing platform at dawn tomorrow. Don’t be late."
Xiao Fei’s eyes went wide. "A whole day, finally!"
"Yes, a whole day," Ling Tao said, his voice dripping with condescension. "A show of generosity from a superior disciple. You’re lucky to be with him. Now don’t go causing any trouble."
He walked away, laughing with his companions. The handymen, however, were left in a state of utter shock and excitement.
"A whole day!" Wei Feng whispered, his voice trembling with disbelief. "I can finally see the markets! I’ve heard they have the best shops there!"
"And the food stalls! I’m going to try everything!" Xiao Fei said, his face alight with joy.
Yu Liang also gave a big smile. He had been so patient. Working tirelessly day after day, living in squalor, and enduring an overwhelming workload, all for this very moment. Every bit of hardship, every ounce of effort, and every sacrifice had finally led him here. This wasn’t just another ordinary free day. It was his day and only thought was going through his mind.
Spending. Spending. Spending.
This time, there would be no hesitation. No holding back. No second thoughts. He would spend without restraint. He would buy whatever he wanted, enjoy every moment, and make full use of the opportunity he had waited so long for.
Tomorrow, he had no intention of letting anything stop him.