"Mu... Mu Deacon, what do you mean by that?" Su Qianmeng stammered, her cheeks instantly flushed.
"Ahem, Little Meng, don't misunderstand. I just need a little favor from you so I can deal with that kid Lin Banxian," Mu Xiaochuan quickly waved his hand to explain.
Hearing Mu Xiaochuan's explanation, Su Qianmeng finally breathed a sigh of relief. She nodded and said, "Alright, Deacon Mu, how can I help?"
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"It's simple. Just go back, and if you run into Lin Banxian, tell him to clean up thoroughly," Mu Xiaochuan instructed.
"Alright then, I'll be off. Goodbye, Deacon Mu." Su Qianmeng turned and ran up the mountain.
Mu Xiaochuan watched Su Qianmeng's figure gradually fade into the distance, a sly smile playing at the corner of his mouth.
***
The next morning, before the morning mist had fully dissipated, Yunqi Peak of the Qingling Sect was already waking up to the crisp sound of birds chirping.
Mu Xiaochuan, dressed in a neat deacon's Daoist robe, arrived early at the residence of the Outer Disciples. Looking at the four people waiting for work assignments, he said, "Before we start today's work, let's all check on yesterday's cleaning."
With that, he walked steadily towards the Yunqi Peak main hall, and the other four quickly followed.
As they approached the main hall, they saw a lot of trash still lying around. Mu Xiaochuan strode over, his voice low and playful, "Who was responsible for picking up the trash? Step forward."
Lin Banxian hurriedly stepped forward, smiling obsequiously, "Deacon Mu, I... I had something come up yesterday, but I'll clean up the trash right now."
Mu Xiaochuan sneered, his gaze fixed on him, "Picking up yesterday's trash now? Too late!"
Lin Banxian, flustered by Mu Xiaochuan's questioning, quickly explained, "Deacon Mu, there was a lot of trash yesterday. I saw Su Qianmeng was idle, so I asked her to help clean it up. Who knew she would..."
"Oh?" Mu Xiaochuan interrupted, raising his voice, "So, not only are you lazy, but you also bully others, making Su Qianmeng do your work."
As soon as he spoke, Lin Banxian realized he had slipped up, and his face turned pale, "I'm sorry, Deacon Lin, I won't dare do it again. Please, Deacon Lin, be generous and forgive me this once?"
Mu Xiaochuan chuckled, "Sorry, I'm not generous, I'm petty, and I can't forgive you. From today, you'll do the work of two people, including Su Qianmeng's task of cleaning the main hall, for a whole month!"
Hearing this, Lin Banxian was so anxious he started hopping around, "Deacon Mu, this won't do! If I have to do the work of two people, how will I have time to cultivate?"
Mu Xiaochuan crossed his arms, watching him with interest, "Cultivate? When you were bullying Little Meng,, did you think about how she would cultivate? One month, not a day less."
Lin Banxian's face turned an ashen blue with anger, but he was helpless. He could only force a smile more painful than crying and reluctantly turn to work. Watching Lin Banxian's angry yet resigned expression, Mu Xiaochuan felt a wave of satisfaction.
"Ding, congratulations to the host for successfully disciplining the lazy, making yourself feel satisfied, and earning 20 Thrill Points," the system's prompt sounded in Mu Xiaochuan's mind.
Recently, work had improved significantly, and none of them dared to slack off, so he didn't have to work as hard.
With the Thrill System, he had completely bid farewell to arduous cultivation. That day, he slept all afternoon, but at night he couldn't fall asleep.
After some thought, he pretended to inspect the cleanliness at Liu Ruyan's door, then knocked on her door.
Seeing it was Mu Xiaochuan, Liu Ruyan's eyes flashed with surprise, then she frowned. This old man was so audacious to intrude into her cave abode, completely disregarding her status as an Inner Sect Elder.
Just as she was about to reprimand him, she noticed that Mu Xiaochuan seemed younger and more handsome, and the words of scolding wouldn't come out. Could it be that she had developed feelings for this old cultivator?
While she was puzzled, Mu Xiaochuan had already entered without invitation.
Forget it, let him off this time.
***
Afterwards, Mu Xiaochuan returned to his place, feeling triumphant.
"Ding, congratulations to the host for making yourself feel satisfied, earning 15 Thrill Points," the system's prompt sounded in Mu Xiaochuan's mind.
Content, Mu Xiaochuan lay on his bed and opened the system panel to check.
[Host: Mu Xiaochuan]
[Thrill Points: 55]
[Realm: Seventh Level of Qi Refining]
[Cultivation Techniques: Withered Tree Revives Technique (Entry Level), Dragon-Subduing Staff Technique (Entry Level)]
[Secondary Cultivation: None]
[Spiritual Artifact: Greenwood Spirit-Pattern Staff (Mid-Grade Spiritual Artifact)]
Finally living the life he had dreamed of, Mu Xiaochuan felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction.
However, carefree days are always short-lived. One day, Lin Banxian came running in a panic, his face full of anxiety, gasping, "Deacon Mu, something's wrong, Li Dali has been beaten."
"Li Dali? How did he get beaten? Don't rush, speak slowly," Mu Xiaochuan asked, puzzled.
Lin Banxian, still panting, said, "It's Inner Sect's Junior Sister Ye Lingxuan, she... she beat Li Dali."
"Ye Lingxuan? Why would she beat Li Dali?" Mu Xiaochuan was even more puzzled.
He had heard of Ye Lingxuan, the notorious little junior sister of the Qingling Sect, who relied on being the daughter of Ye Mengze, the Peak Master of Youhuang Peak, to act arrogantly within the sect, willful and domineering, now bullying the weak again.
Lin Banxian explained, "Here's what happened: Junior Sister Ye Lingxuan accidentally threw three Qi-Gathering Pills into the trash, mistaking them for garbage. Li Dali, unaware, disposed of them as trash. Junior Sister Ye Lingxuan demanded Li Dali retrieve the pills, but the trash had already been processed, and the pills couldn't be found. She then demanded compensation from Li Dali, but those three Qi-Gathering Pills are worth 90 Spirit Stones, and as an Outer Disciple, Li Dali couldn't afford that, so she beat him."
Mu Xiaochuan was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "I understand the situation."
"Deacon Mu, you must help Li Dali," Lin Banxian pleaded, "Li Dali is now beaten half to death and can't even work."
"Oh, can't work, huh." Mu Xiaochuan said leisurely, "That girl Su Qianmeng hasn't been assigned work lately, so let Dali rest and recover. From now on, let Little Meng, handle the sect's trash cleaning. Yes, that's the arrangement!"
"What?" Lin Banxian was a bit confused; this wasn't the answer he was expecting. He quickly said, "Deacon Mu, you need to seek justice for Dali."
"Seek justice?" Mu Xiaochuan laughed, "Outer Disciples can go directly to the Law Enforcement Hall or the Outer Sect Elder if there's an issue. Why would it be up to me, a deacon, to seek justice?"
"But you're the deacon in charge of us?" Lin Banxian said anxiously.
"You know I'm just a deacon?" Mu Xiaochuan looked at Lin Banxian as if he were a fool, saying softly, "I'm not your father."
Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan