MartialMan.

He stood up and his height and figure towered, everyone. Even Uncle Wu felt intimidated but quickly recovered. He frowned again when he saw Jing was using a very costly white silk as his lower garment and pointed at it.

”Sadly, I didn bring anything, ” Jing said embarrassingly.

”No worries, we will give you clothes too. ” Uncle Wu smiled like a hunter who has caught his prey with his wit.

He followed Uncle Wu and gave one last look at Madam Xiao Nings beauty but failed to notice her sharp glare. The guards frowned but did not act because the rat was already in their cage. They will teach him later.

When Jing walked out of the room he realised the cost of this room. It was an isolated palace of his own right. The large courtyard at the centre was filled with exotic large trees, ponds and man-made hills.

Various exotic birds in trees and fishes in ponds were playing in the warm morning sun. He crossed at least 30 rooms before they reached the exit from the inner courtyard.

Madam and the guards have already left them and it was only Uncle Wu and him who were walking on foot for an hour. After an hour later they truly exit from this palace-like structure.

”Feeling overwhelmed? ” Uncle Wu asked because he can see the wonder in Jings eyes. ”Now, why not tell me the truth? ”

”Truth? Is this for a show? ” Jing rattled the silvery shackle. ”If you don believe me then why waste time with me? ”

”Okay, no need to get angry. We do want to know how you end up in that room and its not about Formation only, its about maids and guards too. You successfully avoided all of them. A somewhat very impressive feat. If you tell me we will reward you. ”

”Whats the fun in it? But I am curious about what if my answers are not what you were expecting, What will you do then? ” Jing calmly probed.

”Then you will have to work here till you will be able to pay off the rent of the room you enjoyed. I hope this is not an injustice for you, correct? ” Uncle Wu also calmly probed.

”I am confident my answers will satisfy you. ” He confidently bullshitted.

”Sounds good, lets continue. ” Uncle Wu gestured to proceed. Jing followed and after walking for another hour they reached a very stuffy, humid and hot kitchen.

Giant mud stoves were spilling searing flame and even bigger bronze metal cauldrons were cooking various soups and sauces. He felt little in front of these giant cookwares. Sea of people clamouring in white clothes cooking and helping in this giant kitchen. They gave a respectful bow to Uncle Wu and looked curiously towards Jing.

After taking various turns they reached the end. A large room filled with firewood and dried dung cakes spreading dried stench of manure.

In the corner, there was another path going towards another kitchen with five similar giant stoves with giant bronze cauldrons.

”This room separates the kitchen for guests and workers. You will help with whatever is needed in the workers kitchen. Is that sufficient? ” Uncle Wu asked calmly in the clamour of the kitchen.

”I thought you were bringing me to test the formation. ” He questioned.

”Thats not my duty, its Madam Nings task and it will take at least a week for a Formation Smith to cater for your request if even he is willing to humour your claim. You do know that its costly to ask for the services of Formation Smiths? ” Uncle Wu smirked.

”How much did it cost me to spend a night there? ” He ignored Uncle Wus smirk and asked.

”One Blue Spirit Jade. ” Uncle Wu saw the confusion in his eyes. ”Which costs 1000 pure white spirit stones. ” Still seeing the same confusion in Jings eyes which gave Uncle Wu a big smile so he continued. ”Each pure white spirit stone costs 1000 grey spirit stones, each grey spirit stone costs 1000 mud spirit stones, each mud spirit stone costs 1000 gold coins and if you work here for a year you will be lucky to earn a fabulous one gold coin but don worry, we will take care of your living and feeding expenses and at the appropriate time we will also help you marry a suitable maid to spend your old times with your children and grandchildren. ” Uncle Wu laughed heartily and left him in a daze.

Three guards came brandishing dark sticks and surrounded him. They looked at him from top to bottom but his tall figure still intimidated them. ”What do you guys want? ” Jing asked annoyingly, Uncle Wus last laugh annoyed him and kind of challenged him to dare, dare to run away which he will do but he wants to know more about this world first so he let him laugh.

They frowned and gestured towards his white silk lower garment. ”Fuck off! ” He cursed to which they reacted immediately as they wanted him to rebel so that they could teach him a lesson.

They attacked his golden head. However, for Jing time slowed down as he easily grabbed the hand of one of the guards and lightly gave a backhand smack on his face.

The guard immediately lost consciousness but also broke his jaw. Jing felt guilty for the unnecessary wound so he lowered his strength more and smacked the second guard, he also lost consciousness but no physical damage.

He didn hurt the head of the last guard and smacked his hand to which he cried out loud. ”Take your friends away and treat them immediately. Don come running to me if they die. ” Jing gave him a stern warning.

The guard who was full of bravado earlier bowed deeply while spilling tears because of the pain in his hand, and dragged both of his friends along with him.

Jing sighed and walked towards the workers kitchen for his new job.

—————–

Uncle Wu reached the private office of Madam and bowed deeply. ”Madam, its done. ”

”Come in. ” The sweet mature voice of Madam called. Uncle Wu respectfully entered the office.

”What do you think? ” Madam Ning asked.

”I think he is a beginner Body cultivator but he is no Smith of any kind, we can be sure of it. ” Uncle Wu confidently declared.

”Then how did he do it? ”

”I think its a prank by some Formation Master and he must have paid this troublemaker handsomely to be part of this prank. I am confident that after a few days later he will pay and leave us. ”

”What if he demands Formation Smith? ”

”Then we will provide him with one and ask for the visiting fee to prove his truth. ”

”But why prank us? If they can prank like this, what is stopping them from stealing from our vaults? ” Madam Ning shared her concern.

”I checked the vaults and everything is fine, nothing was stolen but yes, its a concern, an unnecessary but yet irritating one. ” Uncle Wu shared his irritation.

”Do you think we offended someone? ” Madam Ning asked cautiously.

”We do offend every time by choosing our patrons, its not new for us. But I am sure its more of a prank than teaching us a lesson. He will act like a pain in the ass to stir us and we need to act magnanimous to diffuse him. ” Uncle Wu confidently deduced.

”What if we offer him and stop him from wasting our time? ” She frowned remembering his gaze.

”I already tried but he is determined to play his part but he is still a fool who knows very little about us. I believe he is from mortal kingdoms and enjoying it so far. ” Uncle Wu smiled.

”We are not getting paid for his amusement, but I agree we will have to indulge him until we know who helped him. ” She understood Uncle Wus approach.

*Knock Knock*

”What is it? ”

”Madam, Young Master Song he is here. ” Maid gave her a message.

”Welcome him. ”

A few moments later the door opened and a hunk of a guy walked in a black dress with crimson borders along with a crimson phoenix emblem on his chest. Dark long hair on his back with a feminine face will drive any woman in lust to mess him up with no mercy.

”My dear sweetest little brother! Did you finally come to ease my heart pain? ” She called in her sweet aged vine voice with a raspy aftertaste.

”Greetings Senior Sister, please have mercy on me. ” He said in a deep playful voice which didn match his face at all.

”Why do you play with my heart? ” She acted like a victim and stomped her foot like a child.

”Uncle Wu, greetings! ” He respectfully greeted Uncle Wu.

”Its good to see you, Little Brother Song. How can I be of service? ” Uncle Wu didn take any advantage of the seniority or respect given to him.

”Sect Matriarch is coming to visit. ” He delivered the information in his deep serious voice. ”Along with 17 senior sisters and two brothers including me, 20 in total. ”

The information made them happy and tense at the same time but Uncle Wu smelled something else in it that Jin Song was expecting from Uncle Wu.

”We are going to participate in the Star Ascension Sect selection event. ” He delivered the bomb.

”WHAT? WHY? ” Both of them said at the same time.