16: Appointment

"Find these Materials: two three-year-old purple iris flowers, three five-year-old Blood-Producing Grasses, and one piece of Bright Light Jade."

Chu Jingyu's eyebrows twitched slightly. "Ancestor Chu, what are these Materials for?"

"Required for the evolution of the Phosphorescent Butterfly." Chu Mu's voice was indifferent, devoid of joy or sorrow, as if the evolution path he spoke of was merely a common occurrence.

Upon receiving the answer, Chu Jingyu's expression became visibly more excited. With hands trembling slightly, he bowed toward the stone book on the Eight Immortals Table.

"Yes, Ancestor Chu. I will certainly find the Materials by tomorrow."

"Mhm." Chu Mu gave a soft response. The radiance on the stone book faded into tranquility, and no further unusual changes occurred.

The room remained silent for a good while before Chu Jingyu sat back down in his chair.

"An evolution path..."

He murmured softly under his breath, his eyes brewing with some sort of emotion.

Chu Qinhui looked at his distracted father and spoke softly, "Father, Xiao Fan just contracted a Source Beast; can it really evolve directly?"

Although he had never contracted a Source Beast to become a Contract Master, he had been somewhat influenced by such matters since childhood.

According to common knowledge, don't Source Beasts usually only begin racial evolution once they reach their racial limit?

Hearing Chu Qinhui's words, Chu Jingyu's excited expression gradually calmed down. He pondered for a moment before speaking.

"Not necessarily. The reason Source Beasts typically seek an evolution path after reaching a Bottleneck is that excess energy accumulates inside the body, lowering the threshold for evolution significantly.

It's not that they can't evolve while still growing. It's just that Noble Families usually wait until racial potential is exhausted before starting evolution, so they can maximize the use of the Family's resources."

Chu Jingyu's eyes instinctively drifted toward the stone book, and his voice lowered unconsciously. "Perhaps Ancestor Chu simply doesn't care about such things."

Chu Qinhui looked at his father's expression and could tell that his father was gambling, but they didn't know what they were gambling on.

Thinking carefully, it seemed their Chu Family had nothing worth being coveted by Ancestor Chu.

...

The next morning.

The wind and snow outside seemed to have stopped during the night, leaving behind snow that reached Chu Shengfan's calves.

Chu Shengfan followed behind his grandfather out the door with a nervous expression, stepping unevenly through the snow.

Last night, his grandfather had told him about going to report for duty today, and also about buying Materials to evolve his Source Beast, the Phosphorescent Butterfly.

Since all his knowledge regarding Source Beasts and Contract Masters came from his grandfather, he naturally believed whatever he was told.

Thinking that he would start to shoulder the Family's responsibilities from today, Chu Shengfan's heart was filled with excitement, anticipation, and the nervousness of whether he could do the job well.

At such temperatures, it would certainly be bone-chilling for an ordinary person.

But for him, a Mortal Rank Contract Master, a stream of heat constantly flowed from his heart to his limbs, making him completely unafraid of the current cold.

He now seemed to understand a bit why those Contract Masters always referred to ordinary people as mere mortals.

Without using the ox cart, the grandfather and grandson walked to town on foot, yet their speed was not a bit slower than the last time they had gone out by cart.

Once they entered the town, aside from the cleaning crews clearing the snow, other pedestrians were rarely seen on the streets. Chu Shengfan felt a bit uneasy at the sudden shift from prosperity to desolation.

Walking down the street, every household's doors and windows were tightly shut. Faint cooking smoke occasionally rose from the rooftops, but what Chu Shengfan heard more often were frequent sounds of coughing.

It was likely because of the sudden change in weather; some people were caught off guard and had fallen ill.

Chu Jingyu walked ahead silently with a basket on his back. After a long while, he suddenly spoke, "If this weather continues like this, people will start dying soon."

Chu Jingyu's sudden remark made Chu Shengfan let out a soft "Ah?" Realizing his grandfather was talking to him, he asked in confusion,

"As long as people are diligent, it shouldn't come to that, right? This year was a harvest year, so we can just treat it as an early winter."

Chu Jingyu seemed amused by Chu Shengfan's words. "Do you think everywhere is like the village? As long as it's a harvest year, you can eat stored grain when hungry and be diligent enough to go up the mountain to chop wood when cold. As long as you're diligent, you can always survive."

"Isn't it?" Chu Shengfan was somewhat puzzled.

"This town isn't just full of rich people and Contract Masters. There are plenty of craftsmen who have lost their land. Business is hard in the cold, yet the prices of food and firewood keep rising.

With meager savings, they can only scrimp and save here and there, eventually saving themselves into illness. Then seeing a doctor is another huge expense. If they can't afford it, they can only endure it; whether they live or die is left to fate."

From his grandfather's simple words, Chu Shengfan could sense that the town residents' lives were not as wonderful as he had imagined.

He felt his throat go a bit dry. "Then why do they still live in town?"

Chu Jingyu looked at the Town Chiefs Mansion not far ahead. He stopped to tidy his and Chu Shengfan's clothes while explaining softly,

"Lost land isn't so easy to buy back. Or maybe it's for the sake of Face and reputation. In short, everyone has their own difficulties and their own calculations.

I'm telling you this so you understand not to just pay attention to the outward glamour. Who knows what filth and squalor are hidden beneath the surface?

Don't trust others easily in town. Think deeply about everything, watch more, listen more, and speak less. Do fewer unnecessary things."

Facing his grandfather's nagging, Chu Shengfan showed no impatience. Instead, he said obediently, "I understand, Grandpa. I'll be careful."

Satisfied with his grandson's obedience, Chu Jingyu nodded and then resumed walking toward the Town Chiefs Mansion.

After announcing their purpose to the guards at the gate, they were led into the mansion after a short while.

It was the same room where they had met the Guard Commander last time. The one receiving them was indeed Zhang Yu.

Perhaps yesterday's Mist-Resentment Ghost had brought him many benefits, as he now looked quite radiant. Seeing the two, he took the initiative to smile and greet Chu Jingyu,

"Old Gentleman, we meet again."

Chu Jingyu cupped his hands. "Lord Zhang, today I have brought my grandson to report for duty as agreed. Xiao Fan, come let the Lord see you."

Seeing a tender-faced child about 1.5 meters tall beside Chu Jingyu, Zhang Yu's Face showed obvious surprise. Although he knew Chu Jingyu was sending his grandson to work,

He had assumed Chu Jingyu's grandson would at least be at the age of capping. But the child before him looked to be only twelve or thirteen years old, which was a bit too young.

His daze lasted only a second before he patted his side and put on a gentle expression, leaning down slightly to ask Chu Shengfan:

"What is your name?"

Chu Shengfan mimicked his grandfather and cupped his hands slightly. "In reply to the Lord, my name is Chu Shengfan. Chu as in double-wood, Sheng as in sage, and Fan as in ordinary."

"Shengfan, that is a good name. How old are you this year?"

"Twelve by actual age, thirteen by nominal age."

It was about what he had estimated, Zhang Yu thought to himself. "Starting today, you will come to duty alone. Won't you feel afraid?"

Chu Shengfan showed a bit of confusion. "Why would I be afraid? I am already twelve years old. As the eldest son of the Family, I am already capable of shouldering the Family's responsibilities."

At Chu Shengfan's answer, Zhang Yu felt a flash of shame. What was he doing at twelve or thirteen? Probably still chasing cats and teasing dogs.

Coughing twice, Zhang Yu continued his inquiry, "I heard from your grandfather that you have already contracted a Source Beast. Could you let me see it?"

Chu Shengfan turned his head slightly to look at his grandfather. Only after Chu Jingyu nodded slightly did he summon the Phosphorescent Butterfly from his space.

Looking at the butterfly reflecting faint colorful light, Zhang Yu stared intently for two seconds before recognizing what kind of Source Beast it was.

"It's actually a Phosphorescent Butterfly. This kind of Medicine Beast is indeed very suitable for the Logistics Department. Shall I take you to your future workplace now?"

Chu Shengfan kept a stiff Face, trying his best to look mature. "I shall trouble the Lord then."

Seeing this highly contrasting scene, Zhang Yu felt like laughing, and a bit of a smile escaped his Face. To avoid letting Chu Shengfan see it, he took the first step out the door.

Passing through a corridor, the three arrived at another courtyard where a plaque was hung with the words 'Logistics Department'.

As Zhang Yu walked in, a staff member who was counting supplies immediately came forward, asking with a flattering smile, "Lord Zhang, do you have any needs?"

Zhang Yu's expression was indifferent as he pointed to Chu Shengfan behind him. "Wasn't it said that someone was coming to your Logistics Department to take office? I've brought the person to you."

The staff member with the handlebar mustache said with a smile, "How could we trouble you to deliver him personally, Lord? Just give us a word and we would have gone to collect him."

Then, following Zhang Yu's finger, he looked behind him and saw a small 1.5-meter 'bean sprout'. His gaze paused for a moment, then naturally moved to Chu Jingyu behind Chu Shengfan.

His eyebrows furrowed slightly. This age is a bit old, isn't it? But since it was personally arranged by the Town Chief, he would just treat him like a mascot to be kept there.

So he walked warmly to Chu Jingyu and cupped his hands. "I am Bai Liangshu. I do not know the Old Gentleman's name, but please bear with me in the future."

Chu Jingyu pressed his hand to his forehead and pointed in front of him. "The one coming to take office is him, my grandson."

The expression on the mustache-wearing Bai Liangshu froze. He turned and looked down, staring at Chu Shengfan in disbelief, his voice turning sharp,

"He is the one taking office?"