Data-Driven Daoist

“I’ll never forgive Hu Feng,” Li Yao said on their way back. “At least Li Weidong and Xiao Zhuzi visited you on the first day. Yeah, I get it, he doesn’t want to get involved, but—”

“You guys shouldn’t get involved either.” Yu Han said. “You too, Huang Niuniu.”

“Call me Niu’er.” Huang Niuniu carried a large backpack like a snail.

“I don’t know you that well,” Yu Han said. “Where are the other two girls?”

“They were taken as direct disciples because of their talents. They’re in the Inner Sect now,” Huang Niuniu said.

Yu Han turned to Fang Zhao. “I know you even less. If I were you, I would be like Hu Feng. Why would I hang out with a guy who’s marked by some haughty noble?”

Fang Zhao just laughed. “I decided to live freely, not bound by decorum.”

“You speak pretty politely for that. You were a noble, yeah?” Li Yao asked.

“Still am. Just a crippled one.” Fang Zhao stopped, then clasped his hands. “This Fang Zhao shall take his leave. I report for my mission in an hour, lest I miss the boat. I’ll visit again in the next days if you’ll have me.”

“I have to select a mission,” Yu Han said.

“Tubs…” Li Yao wore a sad expression. “There’s not many left, and you probably will end up… No, I can’t—” He burst out laughing.

“What’s so funny?”

“It pays well. But yeah…” Li Yao was laughing so hard he had to crouch. “You gotta select a hut too. Most are taken, so probably only the shittiest ones are left.”

“It’ll be fine,” Huang Niuniu said. “I have reserved a place.”

“You can’t reserve. It’s first come, first served,” Li Yao said, confused.

“Follow me.” Huang Niuniu led the way to the residential area. There were many huts lining the wide mountain. They were spread out like an old American suburb, each hut having a fence, a yard, and even a detached outhouse.

“Let’s go to my place. There’s this rock in the outhouse and the hut. When you hit it with another rock, water comes out,” Li Yao explained.

“I know. There were these rocks in the other two villages too,” Yu Han said.

“Wait, really?” Li Yao was shocked.

It was a secluded place, covered by the canopy and only accessible by a branching sideway.

“Let me show you,” Li Yao said.

“Let’s go to Yu Han’s first,” Huang Niuniu insisted.

“What do you want?” Yu Han faced the girl. “I didn’t fight Wu Di only for you. I had something to prove to myself. You don’t need to feel any kind of debt.”

“I have had enough of men telling me what to do.”

“If you stick with me, you’ll probably be targeted. We’re not friends. We aren’t even acquaintances. Just go away. I’ll select my own hut.”

For a few seconds, there was silence.

“That’s him, right? The fatty.”

“Sucks to be him.”

Other disciples were there too. Some were in their yards, others walking the road, probably heading off to their mission.

“I need to talk to you. In private,” Huang Niuniu said. “I won’t bother you after that.”

“Fine, but we’re going to Li Yao’s place first.”

He didn’t want pity. He didn’t need any traumatised girl sticking to him for mental support. It would just delay her own healing.

Li Yao didn’t interrupt them while they were talking, and after that, he led them to a large hut by a stream. Xiao Zhuzi and Li Weidong were outside.

“You rascals. Did this daddy make you wait?” Li Yao grinned.

“Inside,” Li Weidong said.

They entered.

The door was barely big enough for Yu Han to fit through, but the hut was far larger than those in the Village of New Tidings and the Rookie Village. There was a large bed, a table and a chair, and a wardrobe. Probably 20 square metres in size.

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Hu Feng sat on the chair.

“You fucking bastard!” Li Yao rolled up his sleeves and was about to slug the farmer’s son, but Xiao Zhuzi and Li Weidong held him back.

“Let me go! I’ve never seen a fucker so spineless—”

“Listen to us, Brother Li! Calm down!” Xiao Zhuzi said.

“Sit on the bed.” Li Weidong had to drag him there.

Another awkward silence followed. Hu Feng stood up, approached Yu Han, and bowed deeply.

“I’m sorry. I can’t publicly take your side,” he said. “This is my only chance to be someone. I will not ruin it.”

“I would’ve done the same. You don’t need to apologise,” Yu Han said, but it didn’t feel good.

“I’m sorry.” Hu Feng placed a pouch on the ground. “Please take this.”

“I won’t.”

“Please, take it for my sake. I was able to ask for my stipend early.”

Yu Han hesitated at that.

“Take it,” Huang Niuniu said. “You’ll need all the help you can get if you want to be alive a year from now.”

Right, the grace period.

“Me, Little Bamboo, and Li Weidong each pitched in five Spirit Stones,” Hu Feng said.

“Wish I could run Gong Muhua over with a cart. This is pure bullying.” Xiao Zhuzi clenched his fist. His eyes were bloodshot. But then he said with a tired sigh, “We can’t do anything. We’re just rookies. Sima Yan has a cousin that’s an Inner Sect Disciple.”

“They say he might become a Core Disciple soon,” Hu Feng said.

“I’ve seen this before. Corrupt officials donate lots of gold to the City God Temple to wash out all the bad stuff they’ve committed. Feels really good on your conscience, doesn’t—”

“Li Yao, stop,” Yu Han said. He picked up the pouch. “I don’t blame you. You’d be a fool to sabotage your future for a guy you met less than three months ago. I won’t hold it against you.”

Everyone was quiet.

Hu Feng broke the silence. “If I can get to Qi Gathering, I’ll make Gong Muhua’s life hell. He’s been stuck at Level 10 for seven years. We’re all Refined Talents. We’ll outpace him.”

“I’ll break his knees,” Xiao Zhuzi said.

“And slit his wrists,” Li Weidong said.

“Take it all the way. In the gangs, you go for the eye,” Li Yao shouted, vitriol in his voice.

“I’m a Common Talent,” Yu Han said. “I’ll be counting on you when you make it big.”

“Let’s go,” Huang Niuniu said. She was already by the door. “Or your hut may be taken. They might send someone to clean it after the complaints.”

“I’m sorry, Brother Yu. I—” Hu Feng started again.

“It’s fine!” Yu Han said, somewhat forcefully. “Let’s see if we can exchange information later. Keep me updated on Gong Muhua’s movements.”

“I’ll do it.” Hu Feng nodded triumphantly, as if he had found a silver lining.

“Better not talk to me either. I’m not gonna be afraid of Gong Muhua,” Li Yao said, somewhat sarcastically.

“You don’t know how much leeway Refined Talents have, do you?” Li Weidong shook his head. “He won’t touch you. If nothing goes wrong, we’ll reach Qi Gathering within a few years. If he directly antagonises you, you’d be justified for revenge. He won’t risk it.”

“I’ll still gouge his eyes out.”

“And I’ll slit his wrists. But secretly,” Li Weidong said. His face clouded over. “We’ll wait here. We four have the same mission.”

“Don’t you dare touch my wine.” With that, Li Yao followed Yu Han and Huang Niuniu out.

“They aren’t bad,” Yu Han said. “Just forced by circumstance.”

Li Yao didn’t reply. They went back to the main street, then walked to the end of the road, where a side path went down the mountainside. The huts were more dilapidated here, their owners older than the recruits. He even saw a little kid. Maybe some Outer Sect Disciples started families?

“What’s your Internal Sect Mission?” Yu Han asked.

“We’re at the butchery!” Li Yao grinned. “They say it’s one of the most coveted spots. They needed Refined Talents.”

“Free meat?”

“Exactly. Sometimes they bring in Monsters and Beasts full of Qi. No one cares if you swipe a few pieces,” Li Yao said. “The boss said it’s a great way to practice swordsmanship too! Learn where to strike on a monster and all that.”

“Good for you,” Yu Han said.

“Aren’t you going to ask me what my mission is?” Huang Niuniu asked, looking back at them.

“What’s your mission?” Yu Han asked.

“It’s a secret,” she replied without changing her expression.

Yu Han glared at her.

They walked down the mountain for half an hour more. The huts were sparser here. Even if one shouted inside one, the neighbours couldn’t hear it, probably.

At the very end of the line, by another offshoot stream, were two huts side by side. One on an upper ledge of the mountain, the other about twenty feet down from where the first one’s fence ended.

“The one above is yours,” Huang Niuniu said.

“They don’t like this place, say it’s full of negative energy,” Li Yao said.

“Why?” Yu Han asked.

“See that stone thing over there?” Li Yao pointed to a stone structure about a hundred metres further down from the huts. “All the poop goes there. But then again—” Li Yao stopped.

“Say it.”

“No! Let’s check your house out.”

“You can’t just leave me hanging.” A bad feeling rose in Yu Han’s gut. Something was wrong.

Huang Niuniu opened the fence gate, then went inside and opened the hut door while covering her nose.

“Fuck, it smells! Did something die in here?” Li Yao retreated.

Great. My house is near a sewage centre, and it stinks. He didn’t have to select this one. He’d just followed because Huang Niuniu seemed so confident.

Huang Niuniu nodded. “I put some dead birds and snakes here so that the smell would chase away anyone who wanted to take this place.”

“That’s not what reserving means,” Li Yao retorted.

“Yes, it is. Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it. Men are far smellier.” Huang Niuniu didn’t let off. She grabbed a stick by the doorway and picked up the corpses. They had rotted, pus and slime falling off as she picked them up. One snake corpse snapped in two. She threw them all in a sack and put them in the backyard. Soon, there was a fire going.

“I’m not living here.” Yu Han was close to retching.

“It’s good practice for your mission,” Huang Niuniu said. She brought out a glass vial, then closed the doors and windows.

“It’s a special concoction for the bad things. After an hour, we’ll air the hut, and it’ll be good as new.” She spoke in a strange way, as if she was speaking to a baby. Yu Han shuddered. What’s happening?

“I think I have to go,” Li Yao said. “I’ll see you later. Better hurry to the Mission Hall. Don’t be too sad, it’s not that bad.”

By the time Yu Han could ask him to explain, he was off.

“What a mischievous friend you have. I heard suspense isn’t good for your heart. Especially for fat people like you,” Huang Niuniu said. “You only have three realistic choices for a mission now. The first is—”

“Did you just call me fat?”

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