Chapter 40

Since a month ago, when Hu Donghan provoked and killed the servant who had been通风报信, the new servant assigned to Hu Donghan by the servant manager was indeed a clever fellow. Every day, he calculated the time when Hu Donghan would wake up and have lunch, and always managed to deliver what Hu Donghan wanted at the right time according to his instructions.

This servant had a lower-grade three spiritual roots. Because his home was in a remote village, he did not participate when the Yin Soul Sect was selecting disciples. Later, he left the small village and, by a stroke of luck, entered the Yin Soul Sect, becoming a servant.

When he joined the Yin Soul Sect, this person was fifteen years old. Five years later, he was already twenty, and his cultivation had reached the peak of the fifth level of the Qi Practitioner stage, just two steps away from breaking through to the later stage of the Qi Practitioner and becoming an outer sect disciple of the Yin Soul Sect. However, as long as he did not break through, he would always remain a servant! Moreover, this person indeed had the resolve to be a servant. Over the past month, Hu Donghan had found it very convenient to use this servant. According to Hu Donghan's observation, the servant was clever but also very honest and sincere. For such a long time, he had only worked hard and endured without complaint, and had not leaked any information about Hu Donghan.

"If I were to bring a servant, this person would be quite suitable," Hu Donghan thought, slightly narrowing his eyes. Suddenly, he asked, "What's your name?"

The servant was slightly stunned, then cautiously replied, "I'm called Niu Ergen. Uncle Hu, have I done something wrong? Can you please not tell the servant manager, or I will be expelled from the Yin Soul Sect."

"No," Hu Donghan shook his head and continued, "I just want to ask if you want to go with me to Xiaocuiping Herb Field."

"Go... go to the herb field?" The servant was stunned for a moment, looking somewhat dazed, but his eyes were constantly moving.

Hu Donghan nodded and said, "Yes. I have taken on the task of the Xiaocuiping Herb Field on Stacked Peaks. Starting tomorrow, I will be responsible for guarding the herb field. You have been serving me well these past few days, and I am very satisfied. So, if you are willing, you can go with me to Xiaocuiping. Of course, if you are unwilling, I will not force you! What do you think?"

Herb field! This is a herb field! Going to the herb field is one of the most anticipated things for all servants!

Now, Hu Donghan was taking him to the herb field. Niu Ergen only briefly considered it and immediately nodded, delighted, "Uncle Hu, I am willing!"

"Good!" Hu Donghan nodded. Niu Ergen could be considered the first person he had recruited since joining the Yin Soul Sect. "Since you are going to the herb field with me, go and prepare now. Gather anything you need to take with you..."

Niu Ergen immediately said, "I have nothing much. All my belongings are with me, and I can leave with Uncle Hu at any time."

"That's good. Then come with me now. As for the servant manager... you can take the time to inform him later." Hu Donghan was very satisfied and had Niu Ergen follow him out of the outer sect disciples' courtyard.

The Xiaocuiping Herb Field, although also on Stacked Peaks, was sparsely populated. First, they left the mountain gate of Stacked Peaks, then climbed along a mountain cableway, and finally walked along a mountain path to reach Xiaocuiping, located on the mountain waist.

As soon as they stood on Xiaocuiping, several servant disciples immediately approached. From their appearance, it seemed they wanted to question, but upon seeing Hu Donghan's attire, their momentum immediately weakened, and they whispered, "This... this Uncle, may I ask what brings you here?"

Hu Donghan's gaze swept over each of the servant disciples, then he took out the token given by the outer affairs hall manager and said coldly, "From today, the Xiaocuiping Herb Field will be under my supervision. Immediately call all the other servants!"

"Ah? Yes!" A servant responded, then bowed and retreated, turning to relay the message.

Soon, the twelve servants of the Xiaocuiping Herb Field had all gathered.

The twelve servants first bowed to Hu Donghan together. Hu Donghan frowned, then looked at the two servants standing at the front and asked coldly, "You two, are you the leaders of the servants?"

No matter where, even among servants, there would be a certain hierarchy. Some servants with higher strength and ability would naturally become the leaders of the group, which was quite common.

The two servants who were called out showed a look of joy and quickly replied, "We are not really leaders, just favored by our brothers."

"Good, you two can leave now!" Hu Donghan said coldly, giving a direct order.

"Ah?" The joy on the faces of the two servants instantly turned to shock—they had originally thought that Hu Donghan was trying to find the leaders among them to use them! How could they have expected to be directly expelled?

Hu Donghan's face was stern, and he said coldly, "What? Can't you understand my words? Now, I am the supervisor of the Xiaocuiping Herb Field and have the authority to handle all matters here! You two, get out now! Otherwise..."

Hu Donghan, dressed as an enforcement disciple, spoke harshly again. The two servant disciples did not even think of resisting, just gritted their teeth in anger and walked out of the mountain path of Xiaocuiping.

Seeing these two servants leave, the other servants were all shocked—these twelve people were brought by Hu Donghan's predecessor, that poor guy with a medicinal ghost. However, this poor guy had just brought these servants when he died, leaving these twelve people in an ambiguous position.

In Hu Donghan's view, although these twelve people were chosen by the predecessor, they had only interacted with him for a few days and could not be considered close confidants. He did not mind continuing to use these people after taking over. However, Hu Donghan could tolerate these people existing, but he absolutely could not tolerate them forming small groups among themselves!

Hu Donghan only needed people who would absolutely follow his orders, not those who would act on their own. Those two leaders, in Hu Donghan's view, were two pests!

Hu Donghan would definitely use spirit ghosts to cultivate medicinal herbs, and the area he was in must be absolutely off-limits to anyone! Otherwise, if the unusual conditions in this area were seen by someone, it would be a problem. Those two people, being able to lead the servants, were naturally capable. If they acted on their own and casually disturbed Hu Donghan or tried to curry favor with him, it would make Hu Donghan very unhappy!

Killing them to silence them was simple, but the subsequent investigation would be a headache for Hu Donghan. Even as an enforcement disciple, killing a servant would still require an investigation!

This was also why Hu Donghan found Niu Ergen to be a good person and was willing to bring him along.