Chapter 46

Han Muye smiled and nodded, then turned and went downstairs. Lu Gao picked up the stone stool and followed behind him.

On the second floor of the tavern, the outer disciples watched the backs of Han Muye and the others, their eyes filled with various thoughts.

This observer of the Sword Pavilion was definitely a mysterious figure they had never seen before.

From the respect that Jiang Han and the others showed him, it was clear that this person was not ordinary.

Jiang Han and the others opened the wooden box on the table, inside were several spirit stones.

"Everyone take them back, Brother Han really doesn't care for these spirit stones," Jiang Han looked at everyone and said in a low voice.

Everyone looked at each other, then reached out to take back their own spirit stones.

This left the surrounding people speechless once again.

All of them were outer disciples, each as poor as a church mouse, and so many spirit stones made their mouths water.

"Brother Han doesn't want our spirit stones, we can't take this advantage for free," Jiang Han looked at the few people around him and said in a low voice, "Let's find out what Brother Han needs and help him keep an eye out."

This made the few people nod.

It wasn't a transaction, but a favor.

Business is easy to do, but favors are hard to repay.

Han Muye and Lu Gao walked out of the small market. Lu Gao took a few steps and stood in front of Han Muye, "Brother Han, can you take me into the Sword Pavilion?"

Take him into the Sword Pavilion?

Han Muye's brows furrowed slightly, "Brother Lu, do you want to be an observer?"

This wasn't a good job.

It was life-threatening.

Han Muye himself knew the dangers involved.

Could it be that Lu Gao was tempted by his own success?

"No, Brother, you misunderstood me."

"Your Sword Pavilion used to take on miscellaneous servants, serving tea, pouring water, sweeping the steps, cleaning windows, and helping the observers with odd jobs."

"Later, as the observers became fewer, the servants became useless and were dismissed."

Lu Gao lowered his voice and muttered, "Back then, nine out of ten observers died, and the Sword Pavilion became a place everyone avoided..."

So it wasn't to be an observer, but a servant.

Han Muye's heart stirred.

There were some things he really needed help with.

"Alright, I'll ask about the situation when I get back. If it's possible, I'll let Brother Lu join the Sword Pavilion."

Hearing this, Lu Gao grinned, bowed, and then carried the stone stool towards the mountain gate.

"Brother, please hurry. Recently, our Sword Gate has been gathering nearby sects, and we servants are exhausted," Lu Gao turned his head and said with a pained expression after a few steps.

A gathering of nearby sects?

Han Muye took a few steps and recalled the scene he had seen from Qin Yuanhe's sword.

Under the rule of the Nine Profound Sword Gate, several sects had been subverted by the Tai Ling Sword Sect.

Would those sects come?

Would they cause trouble?

Thinking about it, Han Muye shook his head.

The Nine Profound Sword Gate was one of the nine sects in the Western Border, with many Earth Realm experts and three Half-Step Heaven Realm experts.

And the Sword Pavilion had the Elder who wielded the Nine Profound Sword.

With such strength, let alone the subverted sects, even if the Tai Ling Sword Sect came in full force, they would not fare well.

If the Tai Ling Sword Sect really had the strength to challenge the Nine Profound Sword Gate, they wouldn't be doing so many underhanded things in secret.

Perhaps this gathering would have some issues, and some people might come to cause trouble, but to say that these people could shake the foundation of the Nine Profound Sword Gate, the Nine Profound Sword Gate wouldn't have stood in the Western Border for countless years, weathering all storms.

Thinking of this, Han Muye couldn't help but laugh.

He, a mere observer who ate and drank for a living and earned ten spirit stones a month, was worrying about the elders and sect leaders of those sects.

Isn't this like worrying about something that's not your business?

Back at the Sword Pavilion, Old Huang saw that the small wooden box Han Muye had been carrying was indeed gone and muttered a few words.

The gist was something about not knowing the value of things until you're in charge.

Han Muye smiled and asked Old Huang about the servants of the Sword Pavilion.

"In the past, the Sword Pavilion did have servants," Old Huang nodded and grinned, "When the Sword Pavilion was prosperous, there were seven or eight observers and twenty or so servants."

"So, the Sword Pavilion can recruit servant disciples?" Han Muye asked.

If it was possible, he was willing to recruit Lu Gao to the Sword Pavilion.

"Recruit..." Old Huang smacked his lips, paused, and said in a low voice, somewhat reluctantly, "Recruiting servants means the Sword Pavilion has to bear the expenses."

The servants of the Sword Pavilion, their salaries and mission rewards, were borne by the Sword Pavilion?

No wonder the servants of the Sword Pavilion had all dispersed.

Before Han Muye came, the Sword Pavilion only had Elder Huang and Old Huang as observers. Asking Old Huang to share his salary and benefits to support servant disciples?

That would be like the sun rising in the west.

"Then, how about we recruit one or two first?" Han Muye looked at Old Huang and then smiled, "The expenses will come from my share."

Old Huang glanced at Han Muye, his eyes twinkling, and leaned in, "Little Han, can your business of observing swords and people be a regular thing?"

Old Huang was shrewd.

Han Muye could refine pills, but he couldn't participate in the pill-refining business.

In the Sword Pavilion, as long as he could scrape some benefits, he would get a share.

Today, Han Muye had earned more in a casual manner than Old Huang had in a year.

He had been calculating for a long time before asking this.

Wealth, Dharma, companions, and land. To cultivate, how could a man be without wealth?

"Brother, rest assured. As long as I am an observer in the Sword Pavilion, I will fully uphold the rules of the Sword Pavilion."

"Whether it's observing swords or people, it's all part of cultivation," Han Muye said straightforwardly.

After all, he wasn't losing out.

Helping people choose swords not only brought benefits but also expanded his network, a win-win situation.

"Alright, then the servant matter will be as you say." In return, Old Huang immediately agreed.

"Do we need to report to the elder?" Han Muye asked.

"Such a trivial matter, do we need to ask the elder?" Old Huang patted his chest, "I've been an observer in the Sword Pavilion for seven years, and in three more years, I'll become a steward."

...

Han Muye didn't drag his feet and recruited Lu Gao to the Sword Pavilion that day.

Lu Gao's job was to open the Sword Pavilion every morning, sweep the stone steps in front of the door, and close the pavilion door at night.

During the day, he would guard the entrance and run errands.

Han Muye was generous and gave Lu Gao a salary of three spirit stones a month.

This was on par with the salary of ordinary outer disciples, making Lu Gao overjoyed.

Moreover, in Lu Gao's eyes, the job at the Sword Pavilion was like playing, too easy.

The next morning, Lu Gao arrived at the Sword Pavilion early, opened the door, swept the entrance clean, and then stood at the door, basking in the sun and looking out for anyone coming.

After a while, he was startled and looked at a group of inner disciples in white robes approaching from a distance.

"Are the senior brothers here to receive swords? Please come in, please come in." Instinctively, Lu Gao bowed and greeted them with a smile.

Being a servant, he was used to it.

"Is Brother Han here? We are here to receive swords today." The leader of the inner disciples was Zhao Youzhi from yesterday. He bowed to Lu Gao and asked in a low voice.

The inner disciples returned the bow, a courtesy that Lu Gao, used to being a servant, had never experienced.

He hurriedly bowed in return, "Yes, Brother Han is here."

Since yesterday, he had been calling Han Muye "Brother," afraid that calling him "Brother" would be too intimate and lose his status.

Zhao Youzhi and the others showed signs of joy, nodded, and walked into the Sword Pavilion.

After a few steps, Zhao Youzhi suddenly thought of something and handed a spirit stone to Lu Gao.

"Thank you, junior brother."

As Zhao Youzhi and the others walked into the Sword Pavilion, Lu Gao held eight spirit stones in his hands, his eyes wide and his mouth twitching.

"Junior brother, junior brother, hehe..."

"This, the job at the Sword Pavilion, is really lucrative..."

Turning to look at the Sword Pavilion, Lu Gao's eyes shone like spirit stones.

"Senior brothers, we are here to receive swords today." Inside the Sword Pavilion, Zhao Youzhi and the others bowed to Han Muye and Old Huang.

The two inner disciples behind them stepped forward and placed their merit certificates on the long table.

Old Huang grinned, took the certificates, and said with a chuckle, "We're all family, why be so formal?"

"Brother Han, please help the junior brothers choose good swords that suit them."

PS: Thank you to the readers 20200727214657362, Ku Hua Shijian, Kuaidige, Liulei Xin, and Beifeng Chu Su for your support with the monthly tickets. Thank you to Qian Chi for the tip. Your comments and support have greatly increased the popularity of this book. I will write more and better stories for you.