【A mediocre fortune: Go to the Fumo Workshop to make ink; when the city gates catch fire, the fish in the moat suffer as well. Temporary loss of freedom, hidden dangers buried, ominous.】

An excellent fortune... Jason Reed let out a long breath.

After drawing so many times, this was the first time he had seen an excellent fortune.

A third-grade opportunity, even better than the fifth-grade opportunity of the purple-gold lingzhi essence and the sixth-grade opportunity of the dragon horse scale—could it help him make up for the disadvantage of starting late in his cultivation?

However, the fate indicated by the fortune was to suggest he go outside the mountain to participate in disaster relief and epidemic prevention.

Chapter 9 Senior Sister, Second Celestial Master

Reading the fortune, Jason Reed was curious.

Going outside the mountain to participate in disaster relief and epidemic prevention was the excellent fortune.

In contrast, choosing to go to the Fumo Workshop to make ink was a mediocre path, possibly suffering misfortune because of the fire at the city gates.

To avoid this calamity, he could either give himself a day off and lie low in his courtyard, not participating in any assignments or training.

Or, he could go outside the mountain to help with disaster relief.

“Junior Brother Lei, you haven’t taken an assignment yet either?” David Bolton entered the Steward Hall at this moment.

He had actually arrived long ago, but hadn’t decided which assignment to take, instead waiting for Jason Reed.

He hadn’t expected that after waiting and waiting, he’d watch as others took all the good assignments, leaving only two tough ones by the time Jason Reed arrived.

But upon seeing Jason Reed, David Bolton immediately perked up.

During Elder Du’s open altar, he had been the most enthusiastic, but ended up the most injured among the six courtyards’ novices, later needing Jason Reed’s help to recover.

During the bandit roundup, he learned his lesson and didn’t act rashly, while Jason Reed bravely took the lead, earning first merit and commendation.

Thinking back, David Bolton felt half regret, half envy.

They usually got along well, and since Jason Reed had helped him before, he didn’t resent Jason Reed the way he did Chen Yi—he just thought Jason Reed was really lucky.

“Junior Brother Lei, which one are you going to pick? Shall we go together?” David Bolton had made up his mind to stick with Jason Reed this time and hold on tight to his coattails.

Whatever Jason Reed did, he would follow!

“Since coming up the mountain, I haven’t gone down yet. I’ll pick this one.”

Jason Reed chose the assignment to go outside the mountain to Qingyun Dike for disaster relief.

After a brief pause, David Bolton took a deep breath: “I’ll pick this one too!”

After receiving their assignments at the Steward Hall, the two made preparations and then headed to the outer mountain gate.

At the gate, the novices who were also going to Qingyun Dike were gathering—not many, but still over a dozen.

A Daoist in yellow robes, a true disciple from the Celestial Master’s Mansion, was in charge of leading the group. After giving them a pep talk, he organized the team and set off.

Upon arrival at Qingyun Dike, they didn’t actually need these Celestial Master’s disciples to do hard labor. There were already stewards and managers from outside the mountain organizing the relief, distributing porridge and medicine, and isolating the sick.

The Daoists from the Celestial Master’s Mansion, including Jason Reed and the other novices, mostly served as mascots, supervisors, and overseers.

A group of Daoists and novices with an immortal air and fair features constantly comforted the people, helping to calm their emotions and making them even more grateful for the Daoist immortals’ benevolence.

For Jason Reed and the others, although they didn’t have to exert much effort, being in close contact with the disaster victims meant facing all aspects of human nature—a unique worldly experience to temper their hearts.

Here, one could witness the brilliance of humanity, but also its ugliness.

Many novices were reluctant to come, mainly because the environment was harsh and noisy.

Staying for many days meant missing morning and evening classes at the novice academy, and there was little time or space for personal cultivation.

Jason Reed didn’t mind the environment. He remained calm, and aside from his assigned duties, spent most of his time observing.

He noticed that at Qingyun Dike, the hired workers, porters, and doctors were all ordinary people.

But the stewards and managers mostly seemed to have some level of qi cultivation.

“They also once attended lectures at the novice academy.”

A young Daoist in apricot-yellow robes stood beside Jason Reed and spoke softly:

“Only those with fate are brought to Mount Longhu. The novices who make it to the academy usually have some merit.

But the world is full of distractions, and people’s hearts change. As time passes, all sorts of unexpected things can happen.

So, as some grow older and see no hope on the Daoist path, they have to leave the mountain, and the sect arranges for them to manage its businesses outside.”

The Daoist in yellow was the true disciple leading the team this time.

Jason Reed knew him as well. During the previous mountain search, his team had been led by the now-deceased young Daoist and this very Master Clark.

At that time, Master Clark advocated sticking to their original duties, while the young Daoist surnamed Gao led a team to actively search.

Although Jason Reed had chosen to go with Daoist Gao, Master Clark hadn’t held it against him.

On the contrary, seeing Jason Reed participate in disaster relief now, Master Clark admired him even more, thinking Jason Reed was a righteous and responsible young man.

So, looking at the tall and obviously more mature Jason Reed, Master Clark encouraged him warmly:

“Although you started cultivating late, you’ve progressed quickly. There’s no need to worry. The ordination ceremony is held every three years. If you miss next year, there will still be opportunities later. Just focus on your cultivation.”

Jason Reed: “Thank you for your guidance, Daoist.”