Chapter 118 - 116: Your Subordinates, Naturally Yours to Command

Chapter 118: Chapter 116: Your Subordinates, Naturally Yours to Command

Inside the jade box were human-like pupils covered in bloodshot veins. A pool of crimson blood had collected at the bottom, and the pungent stench of blood filled the air.

A look of astonishment flickered in Tan Hu’s eyes, as if he knew what these were.

Lan Cai Shen seemed to ignore their reactions, continuing his explanation. "A Tier Two Middle-grade Spirit Medicine: Thousand Silk Pupils."

"When it matures, its fruit resembles a closed eye. It must not be contaminated with human blood. If it gets bloody, the eye will fly open in a furious glare, and its medicinal properties will dissipate."

With that, he closed the jade box, offering no explanation of its effects or any mention of its seeds.

Li Changsheng lowered his gaze, repeating to himself, ’I’m just a simple planter...’

Lan Cai Shen paused for a moment, then looked at Tan Hu and chuckled. "Steward Tan, please go check on Dong Xing and the other two. We can’t have anything happening to them."

Tan Hu glanced at Li Changsheng, nodded, and left the courtyard.

After Tan Hu had left, Lan Cai Shen’s expression suddenly turned grave. With a flip of his hand, he produced two jade boxes that shimmered with complex restrictive seals. "Junior Brother," he said softly, "my future is now entirely in your hands."

With that, he formed a hand seal and channeled his Spiritual Power into the two Magical Artifact-grade jade boxes.

As the seals’ spiritual light faded away, the two boxes began to glow with different auras.

One box radiated an icy chill, causing a thin layer of frost to form beneath it. The other’s surface was damp, and water was seeping from its base.

Li Changsheng examined them with curiosity. "These are...?" he asked, puzzled.

Without a word, Lan Cai Shen waved a hand, and the two boxes opened.

A blast of bone-chilling air mixed with damp vapor washed over them.

In an instant, a thin layer of ice formed on the wooden table.

Inside each of the two boxes lay ten scattered seeds of different kinds.

Lan Cai Shen pointed to the cerulean seeds in one box, which were coated in crystalline frost. "A Tier Two High-grade Spirit Medicine: Cold Flame Flower."

"When it matures, its petals turn a deep, ethereal blue, and a cold flame flickers from its stamen. It cannot be touched with one’s bare hands. If contact is made, the cold flame will invade the body and freeze the heart’s meridians."

He did not explain its specific effects.

Lan Cai Shen then pointed to the jade-green, pebble-like seeds in the second box. "A Tier Two High-grade Spirit Medicine: Narcissus Spring."

"When it matures, it looks like a jade-green stone, from which a clear spring flows. The water is as heavy as iron and is not potable."

Again, he did not explain its specific effects.

"When the fruits mature, you are to take nine and leave one to turn back into seeds."

Lan Cai Shen waved a hand to close the boxes and reactivate their seals. He then produced a jade slip and handed it over. "This jade slip records the method for opening a Forbidden Spirit Box and the Secret Technique for turning Spirit Plants back into seeds. Keep it safe, Junior Brother. Do not let it fall into the hands of others."

"Alright."

Li Changsheng nodded, accepting the jade slip and placing it in his storage bag.

Lan Cai Shen mused for a moment before smiling. "To be frank, Junior Brother, both of these Spirit Medicines are vital resources for my cultivation. You must give them your utmost attention. I only have access to this High-grade Spirit Field for three years."

He added teasingly, "So, the quality of the harvest will depend entirely on you."

Li Changsheng was taken aback for a moment, then replied earnestly, "I will certainly take the utmost care of them." He hesitated, then added with some difficulty, "It’s just... I’ve never grown Tier Two Spirit Medicine before. If..."

Lan Cai Shen waved a dismissive hand, smiling. "Don’t worry, Junior Brother. No matter the harvest, I will be pleased."

Seeing that he wasn’t just pretending, Li Changsheng finally relaxed.

Just from their strange descriptions, he knew these Spirit Plants would be incredibly difficult to cultivate.

Especially with his lack of experience, the outcome of the harvest was completely unpredictable.

Lan Cai Shen had him put the boxes away, then took out a storage bag and another jade slip.

The storage bag contained the resources needed to cultivate the five types of Spirit Plants.

Although they could be nurtured with life-force alone, the drain would be too much for Li Changsheng to handle. Thus, supplemental Spiritual Objects were required for their cultivation.

The jade slip recorded the basic cultivation methods for the Spirit Plants.

After settling the matter of the middle- and high-grade Spirit Fields, Lan Cai Shen moved on to discuss which Spirit Plants to grow in the Low-grade Spirit Fields.

These were three relatively common and easy-to-grow Tier Two Low-grade Spirit Plants.

First was the main ingredient for the Soul Condensing Pill: the Concentration Flower.

Next, the main ingredient for the Water Rhythm Pill: the Water Spirit Flower.

And finally, the main ingredient for the Golden Embryo Pill: the Golden Embryo Grass.

The Soul Condensing Pill was a Spirit Pill that aided one’s cultivation, helping to focus the mind and eliminate distracting thoughts.

The Water Rhythm Pill and Golden Embryo Pill, on the other hand, were Spirit Pills used to advance one’s cultivation in the Early-Meridian Condensation realm.

As for how much to plant, Lan Cai Shen decided it would depend on the abilities of Dong Xing and the other two, and whether Li Changsheng could handle the remaining Spirit Fields.

Li Changsheng asked him for some extra spirit seeds, planning to make arrangements for his own Spirit Fields after he had spent some time cultivating the middle- and high-grade Spirit Plants.

With the important matters settled, the two began to chat.

Li Changsheng said, "Senior Brother, aren’t Dong Xing and the others’ personal Spirit Fields a little too far? Could we move their fields to the edge of Ten Thousand Serpent Lake?"

Lan Cai Shen glanced at him and smiled. "No problem. It’ll be their lucky day."

Li Changsheng smiled and cupped his hands. "On their behalf, thank you, Senior Brother."

He naturally understood what Lan Cai Shen meant. The Spirit Fields near Ten Thousand Serpent Lake had much richer Spiritual Qi than those on the outskirts. The three men had simply been too shortsighted, choosing their plots before all the Tier One Spirit Fields had even been fully developed.

After a moment of contemplation, Li Changsheng spoke again. "Senior Brother, there’s one more thing. It’s about Dong Xing..."

He recounted Dong Xing’s recent encounter with the Demon Hunting Corps, neither exaggerating the details nor intentionally hiding anything.

When he finished, Lan Cai Shen fell silent for a moment before asking earnestly, "What do you think should be done, Junior Brother?"

Li Changsheng shook his head. "I’ll leave the decision to you, Senior Brother. After all, the four of us are your subordinates."

"Alright."

Lan Cai Shen’s eyes narrowed slightly as he nodded.

The two changed the subject.

Lan Cai Shen began to recount some of his travels.

After about A Cup of Tea’s Time, Tan Hu returned with Dong Xing and the other two in tow.

Each of the three men held a basket of melons and fruit.

Once they were in the courtyard and had set down the baskets, Lan Cai Shen wasted no time, directly explaining which Tier Two Spirit Medicines they would be planting and the relevant precautions.

He spoke for a full hour.

Lan Cai Shen handed each of the three men a jade slip containing the cultivation instructions for the Spirit Plants. "You’ll begin clearing the fields and planting in three days. Study these well."

"Yes, Lord Steward!"

Dong Xing and the others put away their jade slips and bowed in acceptance.

Lan Cai Shen gave a slight nod to Li Changsheng and Tan Hu before turning and transforming into a streak of light that shot into the sky.

Tan Hu shot a glance at Dong Xing and his companions, said to Li Changsheng, "I’ll leave you to it, Junior Brother," and then strode away.

Once Tan Hu was gone, Dong Xing eagerly sidled up to Li Changsheng, rubbing his hands together. "Chief Steward Li," he said with a grin, "about the Spirit Fields..."

Xu Li and Fang Fan also looked at him expectantly.

Li Changsheng didn’t drag it out, nodding with a smile. "Wait for Steward Ye’s shift, then you can go with him and reselect your plots."

He paused, then added with another smile, "Just make sure you don’t choose wrong this time."

"We won’t, we won’t! Thank you, Steward!" "Thank you, sir!"

Hearing this, the three men’s faces lit up with joy, and they hurriedly cupped their hands in thanks.

Li Changsheng waved a hand. "No need to be so polite. If there’s nothing else, Xu Li and Fang Fan, you two can go back and study the cultivation methods for the Spirit Plants."

"Yes, sir. We’ll take our leave."

The two men shot Dong Xing an envious look before turning to leave the courtyard.

Li Changsheng shot him a look. "Sit down and talk," he said, annoyed. "Do I really have to crane my neck to look at you?"

"Heh..."

Dong Xing chuckled, plopped down onto a chair, grabbed a melon, and took a bite. "Did you keep me back for a reason?" he asked, confused.

Li Changsheng stared at him, speechless. "You’re one to forget the pain as soon as the scab has healed. Have you already forgotten about the incident with the Demon Hunting Corps?"

Dong Xing finished the melon in a few bites, casually wiped his hands, and said nonchalantly, "It’s fine. It was just one kick."

’He knew full well how powerful the Demon Hunting Corps was; he didn’t want to cause trouble for Li Changsheng over this.’

Li Changsheng rolled his eyes. "Too late. I already told Senior Brother Lan. Just you wait. I’ll make sure you didn’t take that kick for nothing."

Huh?!

Dong Xing was visibly shocked. "The Lord Steward is going to get involved in something so trivial?"

At that, Li Changsheng pointed at him and laughed in exasperation. "You’re his subordinate, how could he not? If you were seriously injured, who would cultivate the Spirit Fields?"

"Me? Am *I* supposed to do it?"

Then, growing serious, Li Changsheng said, "You now have three mu of Tier One High-grade Spirit Fields, and you’re also cultivating a Tier Two Spirit Field. That’s more than enough to support Dong Yao’s cultivation."

"Have her quit the Demon Hunting Corps. And as for her Dao-companion, Wu Yong... I don’t know what their situation is, but he’s bad news."

Dong Xing nodded emphatically. "I’ll have her leave the Demon Hunting Corps. It works out perfectly, actually. I don’t have time to tend to the Spirit Fields, so once she leaves the corps, she can take over."

Seeing that he understood, Li Changsheng didn’t press the matter.

The two then started chatting about their old neighbors on Miscellaneous Peak.

Dong Xing immediately started sighing with regret, wishing Huang Ping could appear right then and there so he could properly show off his new status.

Li Changsheng laughingly chided him for not knowing how to be discreet. Dong Xing retorted that even if he couldn’t return to his hometown in glory, he could at least make his old neighbors burn with envy.

「Just as the two were chatting idly.」

An Escape Light descended directly into the Demon Hunting Corps’ headquarters.

The immense fluctuation of Spiritual Power immediately drew the attention of everyone in the Demon Hunting Corps.

Luan Jian and Mingzhuang, who were in secluded cultivation, instantly recognized the aura. ’What’s he doing here at the Demon Hunting Corps?’ they wondered.

They immediately exited their seclusion and hurried toward the central grand hall.

Inside the grand hall, Lan Cai Shen was seated in the host’s chair, making idle chitchat with several of the Demon Hunting Corps captains.

Before long, Luan Jian and Mingzhuang arrived, one after the other.

"Greetings, Vice-Chiefs."

The captains greeted them with cupped hands.

Mingzhuang waved a dismissive hand and looked to Lan Cai Shen at the head of the hall, asking with a frown, "To what do we owe the pleasure of Young Master Lan’s visit?"

Lan Cai Shen looked puzzled. "Where is Steward Tong?"

"Still recovering from his injuries."

Mingzhuang replied without a moment’s hesitation.

Lan Cai Shen’s eyes flickered. After a moment of thought, he pushed aside his extraneous concerns and asked, "Do you have a cultivator here by the name of Dong Yao?"

’Dong Yao? A woman?’

’Mingzhuang and Luan Jian were both baffled. ’You came all this way just to find some woman?’’

’Is she some kind of celestial beauty? Worthy of you showing up with such fanfare?’ 𝑓𝑟ℯℴ𝓂

Mingzhuang looked toward the other captains and chuckled. "Do any of your subordinates answer to the name Dong Yao? If so, hurry up and bring her to our Young Master Lan!"

One of the captains, a scrawny, pale-faced cultivator, stepped forward. "There is a Dong Yao in my squad, my lord," he said with cupped hands, "but..."

"But what?" Mingzhuang waved a hand impatiently. "Enough nonsense. Just bring her here."