Chapter 2

The brothels in Daling are not just places for men and women to seek pleasure; they also host various performances such as singing and plays.

Well-run brothels can earn a substantial income from performances alone.

Zhang Rongfang had only been awake for a short time and naturally lacked the ability to do so.

This was the income earned by his predecessor through writing songs.

He touched the one-hundred-wen paper note, which bore the complex name of the manufacturer, anti-counterfeiting marks, and the official name designated by the Daling Emperor: Lingyuan Pass Treasure Note.

Carefully putting away the paper note, Zhang Rongfang folded the letter and placed it in the inner pocket of his clothes.

With more money saved, his life in Qinghe Palace would be a bit easier.

Recently, the prices in the town below had risen again; coarse rice now cost twenty wen per catty. One hundred wen... if used alone to improve his life, wouldn't really be of much use.

But in Qinghe Palace, where food and lodging are free, one hundred wen could be used to buy meat and eggs to boost his physical attributes.

When the time comes, he would try to obtain the status of a practicing disciple... then he could openly test the effects of the attribute enhancement skills...

As he walked forward, Zhang Rongfang heard some voices coming from the right side of the corridor, near the training ground.

"... When did you return? I thought only Li Yunchang was sent back." A young man's voice, sounding anxious, said. He sounded to be in his early twenties.

"I was sent down the mountain last night, along with Chen Dashan and Zhang Shitou... The mountain doesn't need so many miscellaneous disciples, so they were naturally sent back." Another female Daoist sighed.

"If someone in the family becomes a Daoist, they can avoid a lot of taxes and military service. So even being a miscellaneous disciple is something many people want to send their family members to do. After all, as long as you send someone who isn't crucial to the family, you can enjoy many benefits. Who wouldn't want such a good deal?" the female Daoist continued.

"Ah... So how do they decide who stays?" the male Daoist asked.

"Either you pay money or have someone to vouch for you..." the female Daoist sighed. "If you're sent down the mountain, you can't go home, and we are fourth-class people..."

Zhang Rongfang didn't continue listening, but his heart sank.

In Daling, people are divided into ten classes based on their profession: officials, clerks, monks, Daoists, doctors, workers, craftsmen, prostitutes, scholars, and beggars.

They are also divided into four ethnic classes: Ling people, Huxi people, Northern people, and Southern people.

Qinghe Palace is located in the south, and most of the miscellaneous disciples are Southern people. Zhang Rongfang was originally a Northern person, but after drifting to Pingyu Road with his sister, he was also classified as a Southern person.

This Pingyu Road is equivalent to a large province in his previous life.

He walked past the two Daoists silently, and they didn't pay any attention to him, still trying to figure out how to stay.

After passing them, Zhang Rongfang could still hear their voices faintly.

Being sent down the mountain and removed from the Daoist registry is a very troublesome matter.

In Daling, changing professions is not as simple as you might think; you need to apply to the government, otherwise, you'll be considered an illegal worker with very low income.

Without government certification, even if you have good skills, you can only earn very little.

And as a fourth-class Southern person, you are restricted from many professions. Once sent down the mountain, you can't avoid taxes and conscription, which could lead to the destruction of your family.

Even if you can barely survive, the various taxes will make it difficult for a fourth-class Southern person to even have enough to eat and wear.

But staying on the mountain, he can have free food and lodging, and many families can live comfortably.

So even if it's tiring and hard, no one wants to go down the mountain.

Many thoughts ran through Zhang Rongfang's mind. He was also a miscellaneous disciple, and Qinghe Palace had too many miscellaneous disciples, so some needed to be cleared out.

This gave him a sense of crisis. Others could go back to farming if they were cleared out, but he didn't know how to farm.

The income from writing songs was also a matter of luck; he only hit once in half a year, earning one hundred wen... trying to live on this was a dream.

Moreover, the songs were written by his predecessor, and he didn't know how to write them. Daling's songs have many strict rules and aren't as simple as modern versions.

He suddenly thought of his predecessor's sister, Zhang Rongyu, and the words she used to say.

In Daling, as a fourth-class person, living with dignity... is very difficult.

He circled around the main hall of Qinghe Palace and found his room in the disciples' quarters.

Zhang Rongfang carefully placed the one-hundred-wen paper note with the rest of his savings and carried it on his person.

The room had only one wardrobe, one bed, one wooden stool, and an oil lamp on the stool.

Zhang Rongfang sat down by the bed, feeling a bit lost.

Although he had been there for about ten days, he still felt a sense of unreality.

In his previous life, he was just an ordinary office worker, earning a few thousand a month, unmarried, and planning to save money for a mortgage to buy a house. One night, he went to sleep.

When he opened his eyes, he found himself in the body of a miscellaneous Daoist, Zhang Rongfang, at Qinghe Palace.

Fortunately, his name was also Zhang Rongfang, so there was no issue with the name.

But the transition from an ordinary office worker to a Daoist was quite significant.

He had to observe, learn, and integrate the memories of his predecessor to finally settle down in Qinghe Palace without causing any trouble.

Being a Daoist is not easy, especially in this era of Daling.

Not to mention other things, just the fixed details and rules for reciting scriptures and greeting people are quite strict.

Even with a leader to guide the recitation, unfamiliarity can still lead to problems. Although miscellaneous disciples do various tasks, not knowing how to use many tools can also be troublesome.

He had just adapted to the rhythm, and now there was a new issue of clearing out some miscellaneous disciples.

Zhang Rongfang unconsciously rubbed the wooden headboard, the rough and cold texture calming him a bit.

'Historically, there was no Daling Dynasty... It seems I have come to another world.'

In his predecessor's memory, Daling was just an ordinary ancient dynasty, without cultivation, magic, or monsters, similar to ancient China.

The only difference was the vast territory of Daling, which was unimaginably large.

Zhang Rongfang felt lost, not knowing what he could do or should do in this world.

In the past ten days, he didn't have time to think about this, but now that he had some free time, the question resurfaced in his mind.

'If I can't go back, what do I want to do here? What can I do?'

He raised his hand and moved his fingers.

His eyes, which were initially lost, gradually became focused.

'Forget it, no matter what happens in the future, at least I need to take care of myself now.'

'Now, my life is uncertain, and the free meals provided daily are not enough to meet my basic needs, let alone to gain attribute points. I have to do a lot of miscellaneous tasks every day and only have some rest time at night.'

Zhang Rongfang's expression, which was initially blank, slowly became determined.

'First, set a small goal: get out of being a miscellaneous disciple and have enough to eat and wear. The current living conditions are too unstable.'

But with the attribute ability, he believed he could find a way out.

Regaining his composure, he stood up, checked the paper note on his person, and prepared to go out.

He still had to do his daily tasks.

The money he had saved, plus the one hundred wen he just received, totaled two taels of silver, or two thousand wen, which his predecessor had saved for a long time.

As a Daoist, even a miscellaneous disciple, he occasionally received small tips from generous guests.

His predecessor did well in this aspect, being honest and reserved, so the income was decent.

He originally planned to use this money to buy some good things during his rest time, to boost his physical attributes.

But after hearing the conversation of the two Daoists, he decided to use it to bribe the Daoist in charge of the registry.

In this world, the class system is extremely strict, and fourth-class Southern people are heavily restricted, only able to do hard labor.

Zhang Rongfang knew that to live comfortably, he had to stick to the Daoist registry.

There would be opportunities to earn money in the future, but missing this chance to stay in the registry might make it very difficult later.

Leaving the disciples' quarters, he headed straight to the laundry room.

This month, it was his turn to do the laundry.

However, before reaching the laundry room, Zhang Rongfang took a detour and went to the registry management office.

The Daoist in charge, Zhang Chunsheng, was not there. After inquiring about Zhang Chunsheng's schedule, he learned that Zhang Chunsheng would come in the evening, which made him feel more at ease.

Zhang Chunsheng was known for being greedy, and as long as the information was confirmed, he might be able to bribe his way to a spot.

Unfortunately, the money he had saved would be gone...

Just as Zhang Rongfang left the registry management office, he didn't walk far.

Behind him, two Daoists sweeping the floor, their eyes darting, noticed the bulge in his chest and stopped their actions.

They exchanged a glance and, without making a sound, followed Zhang Rongfang with their brooms.

These two were tall and muscular, and sweeping was just a cover; their real job was to watch for disciples who might come to bribe.

They had heard the news from Qinghe Palace.

This decision was made by the highest supervisor, second only to the palace master, and no one could change it.

Once the news spread, those with connections used their connections, and those with money prepared their money. Those without enough money had to resort to underhanded methods.

They had already identified which disciples had backgrounds and which did not.

Now, seeing Zhang Rongfang, who was not one of the disciples they had noted, they knew what to do.

The two followed Zhang Rongfang closely, getting closer and closer.

Soon, they reached a narrow alley between two large halls.

As they walked, one of them suddenly pushed Zhang Rongfang from behind.

Puff.

Zhang Rongfang stumbled forward.

He quickly steadied himself and turned around. Just then, the two Daoists rushed up, one in front and one behind, trapping him.

"Good boy, you stole my money and still dare to show your face here!?" The taller Daoist with darker skin pointed at Zhang Rongfang and shouted.

"..." Zhang Rongfang followed the other's gaze and looked at his chest, realizing their intention.

The two were taller and stronger than him, and a direct confrontation would clearly be a losing battle.

This place was narrow and sparsely populated, and he had no close friends who would come to his aid. The chances of keeping his money were slim.

So...

After a moment of silence, Zhang Rongfang suddenly raised his right hand and reached for his hairpin.

"What are you doing!?" A clear female voice suddenly came from behind.

Zhang Rongfang paused.

The two Daoists, who were about to pounce, also stopped.

The three of them turned to see two young women, one tall and one short, quickly walking into the alley.

The taller one, with a red hair tie and a delicate face, was the one who had spoken.

"Xiao Shijie!" Zhang Rongfang recognized her as Xiao Qingying, the daughter of the transmission master responsible for the miscellaneous disciples.

"You two!" Xiao Qingying ignored Zhang Rongfang and focused on the two tall Daoists.

Before she could finish her sentence, the two saw the situation and turned to run.

The two figures quickly dashed out of the alley and disappeared.

Xiao Qingying wanted to chase them but saw they were already gone, and she stomped her foot in anger.

"Clear out!" She called to the other girl, and as they passed Zhang Rongfang, they didn't even look at him, as if he didn't exist.

The two girls, wearing green long dresses and white short jackets, their long hair swaying behind them, quickly left the alley.

"Thank you, Xiao Shijie." Zhang Rongfang didn't care about their attitude. Regardless of her motives, she had helped him.

He clasped his hands and bowed deeply in the direction they had left.