Chapter 191: Chapter 143: Serving as an Honored Guest Elder

When Tan Shihe heard this, he thought to himself, ’There’s a chance!’

He quickly cupped his hands and smiled. "The Tan Family would never mistreat an Honored Guest Elder. You will receive all the benefits offered by other families. Why don’t we head up to a private room and discuss the details over a meal?"

"Then I’ll take you up on that offer," Lü Zhong said with a nod.

The two talked as they walked. Once they were seated in the private room, Tan Shihe began to explain the benefits of being an Honored Guest Elder.

The Tan Family had different tiers for their Honored Guest Elders, primarily based on cultivation. An Early-stage Foundation Establishment Honored Guest Elder would receive a monthly stipend of eighty Spirit Stones. Including other miscellaneous income, earning over a hundred Spirit Stones a month wouldn’t be a problem.

However, in Lü Zhong’s case, his monthly stipend was greatly reduced to just twenty Spirit Stones because he had already agreed to teach the method for making Flying Talismans.

Fortunately, his other income streams would remain. For instance, he could practice Talisman Making in his spare time, meaning his income could potentially be even higher than that of an ordinary Honored Guest Elder.

Other benefits included attending a monthly lecture on the Dao by the Tan Family’s Ancestor, the right to freely browse the common texts in the Tan Family’s Library, and the chance to learn one Tier Two Spell from the Tan Family for free.

As for the other minor benefits for Honored Guest Elders, they were too trivial and numerous, so Lü Zhong didn’t bother asking for details. It wouldn’t make much difference whether he enjoyed them or not.

Regarding specific duties, Tan Shihe paused, took out a prepared list from his sleeve, and asked, "Fellow Daoist Lü, what specific duties would you like to be in charge of? It’s best to confirm this beforehand; we want to respect your wishes, after all."

Lü Zhong took the list and saw that it was filled with various Tan Family properties.

These included shops in a certain Workshop Market or security for a mine. A slightly more important position was Steward of the Spirit Medicine Garden, which required ensuring the garden’s safety and preventing the theft of Spirit Medicine.

He read through it carefully and finally chose one.

"Oh, this one?" Tan Shihe looked and was surprised to find it was a farm that grew Spirit Rice.

At first, he was a little confused, but after recalling the farm’s location, he suddenly understood Lü Zhong’s thinking. He clearly wanted to be far away from the Tan Family to avoid being drawn into any potential conflicts.

"No problem. Then it’s settled." Tan Shihe had been given authority by the Tan Family Clan Leader. As long as he wrote a formal letter, any Honored Guest Elder he recruited would be officially recognized with the Clan Leader’s seal, so he had a certain degree of decision-making power.

Soon, a Spirit Contract was drafted.

It stipulated a five-year term during which Lü Zhong would supervise the farm for the Tan Family. After completing his quotas for five consecutive years, he would be taught the method for making Flying Talismans. The Spirit Contract was made in duplicate, with each party holding one copy.

And just like that, Lü Zhong became an Honored Guest Elder of the Tan Family.

...

「Liuyun Mountain Farm」

The mountain got its name because its shape resembled flowing clouds. Years ago, a Tan Family cultivator discovered a weak Spirit Vein here and subsequently developed large swaths of Spirit Fields, primarily for planting Spirit Rice that required little Spiritual Qi.

Liuyun Mountain ran from east to west, stretching about twelve to thirteen li long and over four li wide.

Terraced Spirit Fields were carved into the rolling hillsides. Houses were scattered among the crisscrossing paths—homes for the mortal farmers who tilled the Spirit Fields. Occasionally, one or two slightly nicer residences could be seen, which belonged to the Tan Family disciples responsible for casting the Spirit Rain Technique.

The Spirit Fields were irrigated by a Spiritual Spring that bubbled up on the mountain’s peak. This was also where the Liuyun Mountain Spirit Vein was located. A large, three-courtyard mansion had been built next to it, serving as the farm’s administrative center. Both the mansion and the Spiritual Spring were enveloped in an Array to protect the Spirit Vein and prevent anyone from sneaking in to damage it.

When Lü Zhong arrived, all the farm’s stewards, major and minor, were waiting respectfully in front of the mansion, led by the Tan Family-appointed Vice Steward. They all hoped to make a good impression on the new Steward.

According to past custom, although the Steward didn’t manage the farm’s daily affairs, he had the authority to punish subordinates. This served as a form of supervision and deterrence for the Tan Family disciples. If they didn’t get on his good side early, they feared the next five years would be difficult.

When the crowd saw this unbelievably young new Steward, they couldn’t help but reveal their astonishment.

After all, Lü Zhong currently looked like a young man in his early twenties, making it hard to believe he was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. If not for the advance notice, no one would have believed it.

"Junior Tan Yunde greets Steward Lü!"

At the head of the group was a middle-aged man with a square face, thick eyebrows, and large eyes, dressed in black robes. He was currently at the Ninth Level of Qi Refining Cultivation and served as the Vice Steward of Liuyun Mountain Farm, as well as the actual manager of the farm’s day-to-day affairs.

Behind Tan Yunde, all the stewards, major and minor, also bowed.

The stewards were responsible for implementing the farm’s operations. From scheduling the rainfall plan to planting and harvesting the Spirit Rice, everything was carried out by them. Without the stewards, the farm’s operations would grind to a halt.

Lü Zhong greeted each of them in turn, officially marking him taking up his new post.

That evening, after attending the welcome banquet, he returned to his residence.

But when he entered, he found that Li Hejun was not alone. There were two other young, beautiful women in the room. When he asked Hejun, he learned that the Tan Family disciples had sent them over.

A closer look revealed that the two women were actually sisters.

Liuyun Mountain was rich in Spiritual Qi. The nearly 100,000 mortals of the Tan Clan who lived here ate and lived well. Nourished by the Spiritual Qi, it was common for women of considerable beauty to be found among them.

Judging by their expressions, they were probably overjoyed. After all, if a mortal could attach herself to an Immortal Master, she was guaranteed a life free from worries about food and clothing.

Lü Zhong didn’t put on an act of false modesty and accepted the two women immediately.

After all, it was tough for Li Hejun to handle him all by herself. It was good to have someone to share the burden.

On normal days, they could also act as two serving maids for her.

That night, they all slept under one big blanket.