165: Chapter 165 Two Roommates

[Two Zhao Family Disciples walked ahead, leading the way east along the bluestone path by the lake shore.]

[The one on the left was tall and thin, named Zhao Ping, looking to be in his early twenties. The slightly shorter one on the right was named Zhao An, with a round face and short eyebrows, like a youth who hadn't fully grown.]

[Zhao Ping spoke first, his voice not loud, but clear enough for the fifty-three people behind to hear.]

["Now that everyone has joined the Zhao Family, there are some things we need to explain first. Our Qingyang Zhao Clan is divided into five halls: the Internal Affairs Hall manages the Family's daily affairs and logistics; the Law Enforcement Hall manages Family rules and discipline; the External Affairs Hall manages market operations and external negotiations; the Guard Hall manages patrols and defense; and finally, the Cultivation Hall, responsible for teaching Cultivation Techniques and cultivating Disciples."]

["Guest Elders usually interact most with the Internal Affairs Hall and the Guard Hall, and most of the tasks they accept are issued from these two halls." Zhao An interjected, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, pausing on your face for half a breath before quickly moving away.]

[You noticed, but showed no change in expression.]

[Fang Han whispered behind you, "Both of them are secretly looking at you."]

["Shut up." You didn't turn your head.]

[The group continued along the lake. When they passed a three-story wooden building, Zhao Ping stopped and pointed.]

["This is the Contribution Pavilion. In the future, you will exchange resources with Family Contribution Points here. Cultivation Techniques, Medicinal Pills, Spirit Stones, Magical Artifacts, Talisman paper, and spiritual ink — everything is available. The specific catalog will be given to you tomorrow during class."]

[Someone in the team immediately asked, "Then how do we earn Contribution Points?"]

[Zhao An explained, "Mainly by completing tasks issued by the Family, such as patrolling, gathering herbs, caring for spiritual fields and Spirit Beasts, hunting Yao Beasts, escorting transportation, and so on. Different difficulties correspond to different contributions, which will be explained in detail tomorrow. Besides tasks, if you have a special skill in a certain area, such as Alchemy, Talisman crafting, or Artifact Refining, you can also report to the Family and set up a personal stall, with a 20% commission going to the Family."]

[Immediately, several gulping sounds could be heard in the crowd.]

[You walked in the middle of the group, your expression calm, but your gaze secretly surveying the surroundings.]

[The Spiritual Qi concentration was indeed high, several times stronger than the outer areas of Qingyue Market, but the Formations here were also extremely dense, with a hidden Formation node almost every ten zhang.]

["It seems I still need to take on a few tasks to earn some Contribution Points and exchange them for Talisman crafting Materials." You calculated your plan. "The Talisman Dao is just one step away. As long as I can draw a Low Grade Tier 1 Talisman, I can become self-sufficient."]

[After walking for about another quarter of an hour, and passing through a round archway in a low wall, the view suddenly opened up.]

[A scattered arrangement of small courtyards appeared in sight, about forty to fifty of them. Each courtyard had the same layout: grey brick walls, dark wood courtyard gates, one tree inside the courtyard, three main rooms plus one side room. The design was simple but clean and tidy.]

[Zhao Ping stopped at the intersection and turned to face everyone.]

["We've arrived. This is the Guest Elder area. Each three of you will share a courtyard, with one room per person."]

[Zhao An took out a stack of wooden plaques from his Storage Pouch and began distributing them one by one.]

["Your courtyard number and room number are written on the plaques. Just find your own courtyard and move in. Rest today; someone will deliver food later — two meat and one vegetable, don't complain."]

["Tomorrow morning at Mao Shi San Ke, gather at the old spot, the plaza you passed when you came in. Someone will take you to class." Zhao An finished, clapped his hands, "Alright, disperse."]

[You lowered your head and glanced at the wooden plaque in your hand, on which was carved "C-37, East Room."]

[Courtyard C-37, the dark wood door was ajar. You pushed the door open and entered.]

[The courtyard was not large, only about three zhang across. In the center was a short jujube tree, with a stone table and two stone stools beneath it.]

[The doors to the two rooms directly opposite were already open, with a pair of shoes placed outside each.]

[Someone had arrived before you.]

[As you stepped into the courtyard, the door to the west room was pushed open with a

[She was about sixteen or seventeen, with an oval face, willow-leaf eyebrows, and a pair of round, bright apricot eyes. She wore a goose-yellow dress. Although not made of expensive fabric, the style was novel, clearly chosen with care.]

[The girl's gaze fell on your face, and she seemed to freeze, stunned for two breaths, then sharply inhaled.]

["Oh my goodness!"]

[She quickly rushed to your front, circling you halfway, as if admiring some rare treasure.]

["Sister, you must be our third roommate, right? You're just too... too beautiful! I thought the person I saw from afar on the flying boat was already pretty enough, but up close, even more... My goodness, are you a fairy descended from the heavens?"]

[You smiled, "Thank you for the compliment. My name is Lin Shuangwan."]

["I'm Jiang Xuechan! A cicada in the snow. Don't ask me why I'm called that; my mother said it snowed heavily the day I was born, but there was a cicada outside still chirping somehow. I think my mother made it up; where are cicadas chirping in winter?" She finished in one breath, then remembered and turned to shout at the middle room.]

["Sister Liu! Come out, our new roommate is here!"]

[The door to the middle room slowly opened a crack.]

[A slender girl walked out sideways, about eighteen or nineteen, with a delicate but not outstanding face. Her skin was yellowish, showing signs of long-term malnutrition. She wore a coarse cloth shirt, washed until it was faded, with frayed cuffs.]

[She stood at the doorway, and the moment her eyes met yours, you saw her shoulders imperceptibly shrink.]

["You... hello." Her voice was very soft. "My name is Liu Ya."]

[Her gaze lingered on your face for a breath, then quickly dropped, her hands unconsciously twisting the corner of her clothes.]

[You took a step forward, smiling, and said, "Lin Shuangwan. We'll be living in the same courtyard from now on. Don't hesitate to ask if you need any help."]

[Liu Ya nodded slightly, her lips moving, forcing out a somewhat stiff smile.]

[Jiang Xuechan had already pulled your sleeve, dragging you to sit at the stone table, asking where you were from, while pouring out her own background like beans from a bamboo tube.]

[Through your conversation, you learned that Jiang Xuechan came from another market managed by the Zhao Family. Her parents were Loose Cultivators, and she had been exposed to worldly affairs since childhood, understanding much about human nature. Her cultivation was at Aperture Opening Stage Six.]

[Liu Ya, on the other hand, was brought back by the Zhao Family after her Spiritual Root was detected in a remote Mortal town. From a young age, her father sold her to a wealthy Family in the city to be a maidservant, and she had no cultivation.]

[After learning about Liu Ya's Family situation.]

[Jiang Xuechan reacted quickly, immediately changing the subject: "So, the three of us are roommates now! Sister Shuangwan, what's your Spiritual Root? And what's your cultivation level?"]