Chapter 9

After the third crow of the rooster, all the servants had to get up and start working, and Grant Benson was among them. Carrying a shoulder pole, he went down the mountain to fetch water from the waterfall. The disciple in charge of managing the servants was named "Wesley Benson", a low-ranking disciple. Due to his limited aptitude, it was destined that he would not achieve much, so he was assigned here to manage the servants. Wesley Benson was an honest person. Although he managed a group of servants, which basically meant the entire Wuwei Sword Sect had given up on him and no longer expected him to make any breakthroughs in cultivation, Wesley Benson himself did not give up. He still got up early every day to practice breathing exercises with the senior brothers, absorbing the purple energy from the east. Hearing the senior brothers' ridicule, Wesley Benson felt uncomfortable, but it only strengthened his determination to make a breakthrough in cultivation!

Every morning, after assigning the servants their tasks, he would promptly head to the mountaintop to join the group absorbing the purple energy. Today was Grant Benson's first day participating in the servants' labor, and Wesley Benson specially instructed him: "Gordon Brooks, you only need to carry the smallest buckets." He then turned to a strong servant nearby and ordered, "Trevor Harris, you'll make up for the share that Gordon Brooks can't carry." The name Gordon Brooks was a homophone for Grant Benson. When the Jiuxian Daoist asked her name, Grant Benson suddenly realized she had never had a name! She made one up on the spot. The Jiuxian Daoist repeated it a few times, found it a bit odd, but didn't comment further. Thus, Gordon Brooks became one of the many servants in the Wuwei Sword Sect.

"Why!" Trevor Harris protested loudly. Wesley Benson said, "You're the strongest among the servants. If you don't make up the difference, who will?" Trevor Harris refused to comply: "I'm not doing it! Everyone should do their own work!" Gordon Brooks didn't want to trouble others, as it would make him feel indebted: "It's fine, I'll do it myself." He picked up two large buckets, but Wesley Benson swapped them for smaller ones: "You're just starting out, you won't be used to it." He then said to Trevor Harris with displeasure, "What happens if you don't follow orders?" Trevor Harris gritted his teeth and glared at Wesley Benson fiercely: "One day, when I become an official disciple, I'll make you pay for this!" Wesley Benson didn't mind at all and helped him switch to the largest buckets.

"Go on!" Wesley Benson smiled and patted Gordon Brooks. "I have to hurry up the mountain now!" He sent Gordon Brooks off and turned to dash up the mountain. Trevor Harris, fuming, carried his buckets, surrounded by a few others, cursing all the way: "Stuck with a useless guy. One day, when I become a formal disciple, I'll teach this useless guy a lesson!" Still not satisfied, he shouted angrily a few more times: "Useless! Useless!" Gordon Brooks found it strange and quietly asked a senior brother in front of him, "Senior brother, why does Brother Harris always call Brother Wesley useless?" That senior brother glanced at the people ahead, sighed, and said, "Brother Wesley was born with blocked meridians. Most of his meridians are obstructed, so he can't practice advanced techniques. Sigh, what a pity for such a good person..." He shook his head repeatedly, genuinely feeling sorry.

Grant Benson nodded to himself after hearing this. Today's kindness would surely be repaid in the future. Grant Benson felt a bit more at ease. Having just joined the Wuwei Sword Sect, he already owed two big favors, which made him feel uneasy. Now that he knew he could repay one, the burden was halved, and he naturally felt much more relaxed.

The water-fetching spot was at a waterfall halfway up the mountain, with the source being a stream. The stream was formed by mountain springs, clear and sweet, perfect for cultivators to drink. The water-fetching spot was set right in front of the waterfall, where the current was fastest. In the rushing water, a row of large stone piers had been placed. The piers were three steps from the shore, just far enough for someone to stretch their legs, with one foot on the shore and the other on a pier. Holding the bucket, you could scoop along the current, and the bucket would quickly fill. It was Gordon Brooks's first time doing this, and he was very clumsy. The first time, not paying attention, the swift current swept his bucket away. Fortunately, a senior brother behind him reacted quickly and grabbed it; otherwise, he would have had to make a big detour to retrieve it from the lower waterfall.

The servants carried water with shoulder poles, two buckets each, up the mountain. Even the smallest buckets that Grant Benson carried, with two buckets of water and the thick wooden buckets themselves, weighed at least two hundred jin. Not to mention the extra-large buckets that Trevor Harris carried, so it was no wonder Trevor Harris was full of complaints.

Carrying water up and down the mountain was nothing like how Grant Benson climbed the mountain before; it required speed, with a round trip in half an hour. At this time, the inner disciples were only halfway through their breathing exercises. After bringing the water up, the servants started cooking, as many disciples with insufficient cultivation needed breakfast. Not to mention, so many servants also needed to eat. Everyone chatted and laughed along the way. After all, this was an immortal mountain. Although the work was hard, everyone looked forward to a better tomorrow, so their spirits were high. The labor was meant to train the body and temper the mind, laying a solid foundation for future cultivation. The wooden buckets used were specially made with pointed bottoms to prevent anyone from resting halfway. Everyone honestly carried two buckets of water up in one go—except for one person.