“What is wrong with him?”

As Wang Ba stepped into the manor, the first thing he saw was Chu Erniu sitting alone beneath the eaves.

The young cultivator was wailing, his face twisted in grief as if mourning a dead parent. Gone was the arrogance and self-importance typical of a Sect disciple; in its place was the raw, ugly vulnerability of a terrified youth.

Wang Ba turned to Tao Yi, who stood nearby with arms crossed, watching the spectacle with undisguised glee. He lowered his voice to a whisper. “Senior Tao?”

“This kid? The External Affairs Hall just sent a runner,” Tao Yi sneered, making no attempt to hide his schadenfreude. “He’s been ordered to report to South Lake Village in a few days. He’ll be shipping out with the main force to the border of the State of Fu.”

Tao Yi shook his head, though his grin remained. “A rookie at the first layer of Qi Refining heading to the meat grinder? He won’t be coming back. Tsk, tsk. The Sect has abandoned him.”

Whether Chu Erniu heard these words or not, his wailing immediately climbed an octave in volume.

“Tao Yi.”

“Stop spouting nonsense.”

A sharp rebuke cut through the air from the central house.

Tao Yi’s expression soured instantly. He shrugged, turning his back to the main house and pulling a mocking face at Wang Ba.

At that moment, Lin Yu pushed her door open, a wooden basin in her hands. She glanced at the sobbing Chu Erniu, her lip curling in disgust, before averting her gaze.

In the entirety of Ding-Nine Manor, the only person she showed even superficial respect to was the cultivator surnamed Shi. The others were beneath her notice. One was a waste who had cultivated for years with nothing to show for it; the other was a dim-witted cowherd.

As for Wang Ba? He didn’t even register as a person. He was just a tool—a Laborer Disciple without a scrap of Spiritual Power.

Lin Yu walked to the side, swaying her hips, and dumped the foot-washing water, floral petals splashing onto the dirt. She turned to head back inside, but just then, Senior Brother Shi stepped out of the central house.

He glanced at her and spoke, his voice flat. “Junior Sister Lin, stay a moment.”

Lin Yu paused, puzzled, but obediently stopped.

Senior Brother Shi cleared his throat.

“Since everyone is present, and Junior Brother Chu is about to embark on a long journey, the manor is unlikely to receive replacements anytime soon. We need to discuss the division of labor.”

“Division of labor?” Tao Yi’s eyes narrowed, sensing a trap, though he remained silent.

Chu Erniu’s wailing subsided into quiet, hitched sobs as he pricked up his ears.

Lin Yu, however, looked genuinely baffled. “Senior Brother Shi, what is there to divide? Doesn’t the Laborer Disciple do everything?”

Senior Brother Shi shook his head slightly. “He cannot handle this much work alone.”

Seeing their confusion, he sighed and laid out the reality.

“Over at Manor Ding Ten, Junior Brother Zhu and his three companions have all been drafted. Elder Qian has ordered the three of us to temporarily manage both manors.”

He quickly added, “Of course, this is not for free. Once the war concludes, the Sect will reward us based on merit.”

The words rang hollow, and even Shi himself seemed unconvinced.

Lin Yu’s composure shattered. In her agitation, she dropped her copper basin, which hit the ground with a loud clang.

“The three of us? Responsible for two manors?!” Her voice rose to a shrill pitch. “Why? Why didn’t the Elder assign Manor Ding Ten to Manor Eight or Seven? Two manors mean over a thousand Spirit Poultry! If I have to serve these beasts all day, when will I have time to cultivate?”

“Junior Brother Hu from Manor Eight has also been drafted,” Shi replied calmly, anticipating her outburst. “Manor Seven’s Senior Brother Yu is taking over their duties. Do not be so emotional. The Sect is facing a crisis; minor hardships are to be expected. When the Sect Leader returns victorious, we will naturally share in the glory…”

“I… I don’t care!” Lin Yu stamped her foot, her face flushing red. “I am not going to pick any more rotten eggs!”

Tao Yi, leaning against a pillar, lazily interjected. “With Chu Erniu gone, you won’t just be picking eggs. You’ll have to shovel the chicken shit, too.”

“You! Tao Yi, don’t think just because you entered the Sect two years before me that you’re special!” Lin Yu spun on him, teeth bared. “You’re still stuck at the third layer of Qi Refining!”

She turned back to Shi, furious. “I don’t care! I won’t do it! If the work needs doing, make this Laborer Disciple do it! Why doesn’t the Sect just send more laborers? I refuse!”

With a huff, she twisted her waist and marched toward her room.

Wang Ba, hearing himself mentioned, narrowed his eyes slightly. His face remained a mask of dull obedience. It didn’t matter. He wouldn’t be here much longer.

Senior Brother Shi frowned, his voice dropping to a chilly register. “Junior Sister Lin. Would you prefer to go to the front lines?”

The threat hung in the air, heavy and suffocating.

Lin Yu froze in her tracks. She hesitated, her shoulders trembling. Finally, she stamped her foot again in impotent rage and stormed into her room, slamming the door.

A moment later, the sound of objects being thrown and smashed echoed from inside.

Senior Brother Shi ignored the tantrum completely. “Then it is settled. For Manor Ten, I will inspect the Spirit Poultry daily. Tao Yi, you handle the feed and a portion of the waste removal. Lin Yu will handle the rest of the manure and the egg collection.”

Tao Yi shrugged indifferently.

Satisfied, Senior Brother Shi nodded and returned to his quarters.

Chu Erniu remained seated under the eaves. He had stopped crying, his eyes staring blankly at nothing, lost in a world of terror.

These matters had little to do with Wang Ba. He kept his head down.

Tao Yi, however, sidled up to Wang Ba, unable to keep his complaints to himself. “See that? In the eyes of the Sect, those of us with poor aptitude are no different from you Laborer Disciples.”

Wang Ba forced a humble smile. “Senior jests.”

The words were harsh, but accurate. Qi Refining disciples stuck in these poultry farms did the same filth-shoveling work as laborers. The only difference was the robe they wore.

Of course, Spirit Poultry were critical cultivation supplies. It made sense for the Sect to entrust them to cultivators. But with the war against the State of Fu draining manpower, the line between disciple and laborer was blurring.

But Wang Ba didn’t care about Sect politics. He was only interested in one detail Tao Yi had let slip.

“Senior Tao,” Wang Ba asked cautiously, “You mentioned earlier that the disciples going to war… they will depart from South Lake Village?”

“Mm,” Tao Yi nodded, eager to share his insider knowledge. “Didn’t they station a bunch of Laborer Disciples at South Lake Village recently? I heard it was to prep the logistics. In about five or six days, once the supplies are ready, the disciples will board the warships and set off together…”

Wang Ba’s heart skipped a beat. He had grasped the key point.

“In five or six days, all the disciples will leave?”

“Of course. The Sect Leader is personally overseeing the battle. They’ll likely bring back a mountain of resources. Not that it matters to us stay-at-homes…”

Tao Yi paused, a thought occurring to him. “Right, I’m going out to gather some more news.”

He didn’t wait for a reply, turning and hurrying out of the manor.

Wang Ba stood alone in the yard, suppressing the wild excitement threatening to show in his eyes.

The opportunity has finally arrived.

Once the expedition force departs, the Sect will be critically understaffed. South Lake Village will almost certainly be left unguarded by Qi Refining disciples.

With the cover of his Yin God power, he could walk right out the front door.

The escape plan that had tormented him for days was suddenly crystal clear. Wang Ba felt a weight lift from his shoulders. He felt invigorated, physically lighter. Even the prospect of shoveling manure felt manageable.

He picked up his shovel and walked toward the coop, ready to work.

But then, the unexpected happened.

Just as Wang Ba lowered his head to scoop a pile of waste, a shadow moved.

Chu Erniu, who had been sitting catatonic against the wall, suddenly exploded into motion.

He lunged forward, gripping a standard-issue magic sword in a white-knuckled fist. His eyes were bloodshot, filled with madness and misdirected rage.

He charged straight at Wang Ba, the sword raised high.

“DIE!”