Chapter 52 - 50: Borrowing a Man

Feng Mingyou was stunned for a moment. Then he composed himself and said, "Go on. What do you need me to do?"

"Aren’t you going to state your conditions first, Steward Feng?" Zhang Deming asked in surprise.

"Heh, wouldn’t that be too pragmatic, Junior Brother Zhang?" Feng Mingyou took a light sip of tea, smiling at Zhang Deming as he spoke mildly.

’Interesting. This Steward in Little Qing Mountain is becoming more and more to my liking.’

’Maybe we could actually become friends!’

’Mhm, partners in... ambition!’

"Actually, it’s nothing major. I’d like to borrow someone from you, Steward," Zhang Deming said.

Feng Mingyou paused, stunned. "You want to transfer a servant to Little Hui Peak? For something this good, those little rascals would go crazy with joy."

Zhang Deming shook his head. "You’ve misunderstood, Steward Feng. I mean, I want to borrow a person, and I’ll return them in a few days.

"But it can’t go through any official channels. And during this time, it’s best if no one knows that I was the one who borrowed him.

"Do you understand what I’m saying, Steward?"

Feng Mingyou was stunned again. He looked at Zhang Deming and said, "It seems your life on Little Hui Peak is quite eventful. I imagine it’s not as dull and boring as it is here on Little Qing Mountain."

Zhang Deming nodded in agreement. "One month there is better than ten years on Little Qing Mountain. It truly is a case of ’an inch of time is an inch of gold.’"

"Heh, that precious?" Feng Mingyou asked with a smile.

"More than just precious, it’s exciting! So, have you made your decision, Steward?" Zhang Deming asked.

"Do I need to consider it?

"In just two short months, you’ve advanced to the Mid-Term of Apprenticeship. Little Cloud Rain Skill, Growth Technique, and now you walk in and throw Agility Technique and Spiritual Shield in my face.

"You’ve mastered all four free entry-level Techniques. Once your Cultivation meets the requirement, you can apply directly for the Inner Sect review.

"With so much thrown in my face, haven’t you already chosen the path for me, Junior Brother Zhang?

"What choice do I have left?" Feng Mingyou murmured, sipping his tea.

"Then I’ll thank you in advance, Steward," Zhang Deming said, also smiling and sipping his tea.

"How many people do you need? Will you pick, or should I?" Feng Mingyou asked.

Zhang Deming replied, "I’m not going to a brawl, one is enough. By the way, has Zong En been promoted yet? I don’t think I’ve seen his Outer Sect basic profile."

Feng Mingyou shook his head. "That kid has been getting more and more anxious lately, but he’s stuck on the final step and just can’t get past it.

"I suspect you’ve had some influence on that."

Zhang Deming was taken aback for a moment. "Then let’s go with him. I trust him.

"Besides, my place might be able to help him. Who knows, by the time I send him back, he might be an Outer Disciple."

Feng Mingyou smiled and replied, "Then I really must thank you in advance."

The two chatted idly until the pot of tea was empty. Zhang Deming then said, "How about... another pot?"

"Get lost. I only have two taels of this tea, and you’ve already wasted a full tael on me. If we have another pot, I won’t have anything left to serve guests," Feng Mingyou said with a laugh.

Hearing this, Zhang Deming gave Feng Mingyou a scrutinizing look, eyeing him up and down.

Feng Mingyou froze, looking down at himself in confusion. "What is it? I was in a hurry this morning, is something out of place?"

Zhang Deming continued to size him up. "Your looks are decent, and that calm demeanor is a perfect ten. You can do it yourself."

Feng Mingyou asked, confused, "What are you talking about?"

Zhang Deming said, "You can receive the guests yourself. Mhm, plenty of people should like that calm demeanor. It would work on senior brothers and sisters alike."

"Er... you really are different. It seems you’ve met quite a few senior and junior brothers, and your life has been exceptionally exciting and... flavorful," Feng Mingyou said with a straight face.

Zhang Deming: "..."

’I never would have guessed. So you can play that game too, Steward Feng!’

’That double entendre of yours was truly high-level. I never realized you had such a secretly wild heart!’

’It seems Feng Mingyou is a man of culture as well.’

The two stopped their pointless banter. Feng Mingyou stood up and left the small courtyard.

He returned a moment later.

Behind him followed a nervous Zong En, who had no idea what he had done wrong to be summoned for a private chat in the courtyard.

"What’s with that look like a timid new bride? Did Steward Feng bully you?

"Or is it that since I left, you have nowhere to show off, so you’ve been pent up for a month?

"Or have you developed some... interesting new hobbies?" Zhang Deming teased with a smile.

Zong En, who had entered with his head lowered nervously, looked up in pleasant surprise upon hearing Zhang Deming’s voice. "Brother Ming?!!!"

"It’s been a month and you’re still a soon-to-be Outer Sect senior brother. Don’t tell me you enjoy the feeling of showing off here in our Little Qing Mountain Servant Institute so much that you’re deliberately not getting promoted," Zhang Deming continued to tease.

Zong En, who had been about to step forward and give Zhang Deming a bear hug, froze. The joy on his face stiffened, and a vein throbbed on his forehead.

Feng Mingyou shook his head. "Aren’t you afraid you’ll make him burst from frustration?"

Zhang Deming turned his head and said, "You don’t know, Steward Feng. This guy was smug in front of me for a full six months. I’m already holding back, you know.

"If you had seen the look on his face back then, you’d know my revenge is light."

Feng Mingyou replied, "Then I should thank him, shouldn’t I? For motivating a patient genius."

Seeing Zhang Deming and Feng Mingyou chatting so familiarly, Zong En’s nervous heart relaxed considerably, but he still didn’t dare to sit down.

To the ordinary servants of the Miscellaneous Affairs Courtyard, Feng Mingyou was still quite intimidating.

After all, when your status is equal, it’s called a calm demeanor. When your statuses are different, it can be an unfathomable and intimidating presence.

Moreover, strictly speaking, many of the servants on Little Qing Mountain had grown up under Feng Mingyou’s watch, making him a sort of foster father to them.

Even though this foster father looked as young as they did.

Feng Mingyou looked at Zong En and said, "Your Brother Ming wants you to do something for him. Whether you’re willing or not is up to you."

Zong En looked at Zhang Deming and said, "What is it? Just give the order, Brother Ming. If you hadn’t protected me all these years, I wouldn’t even have a hope of reaching the Outer Sect.

"Who knows, I might have ended up like that kid Liu Yuan, getting bullied all day and working for others day and night."

Zhang Deming shook his head slightly. "It’s nothing major. I just want you to help me look after a medicine garden for a few days. It’s no different from tending to the Spirit Rice here.

"But it’s best if you don’t tell anyone about this."

"What’s so hard about that? You can count on me."

Zong En agreed almost without a second thought.

Seeing this, Zhang Deming said, "Well then, Steward Feng, shall we chat again when we have time? I’m in a bit of a hurry right now."

Feng Mingyou nodded. "Do you need me to find someone I know from the transport department?"

"No need. I won’t have any problem taking one person with me," Zhang Deming replied.