Chapter 347

Tian Xianzi felt a bit hungry.

For cultivators who draw their sustenance from the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, especially someone as profoundly accomplished as him, hunger wasn’t something they typically experienced.

But his mouth was hungry.

If one’s mouth couldn’t savor the delicacies of the mortal world, what was the point of having it at all?

The Wanjian Swords Sect had many disciples, and Tian Xianzi rarely showed himself there.

As such, most people didn’t know that the handsome young man with a carefree demeanor was, in fact, the renowned Elder Tian Xianzi of the Xuanxu Sect.

He wandered the sect for a while, somewhat familiar with its layout, intending to check out the dining hall.

But halfway there, he spotted someone distributing snacks for free.

The snacks appeared to be jade cakes.

The person stood in a pavilion, surrounded by a small queue of disciples, each stepping forward to receive a piece from his hands.

Key point: they were free!

What fortune! Such generosity in the world!

Without much thought, Tian Xianzi joined the end of the line.

By sheer luck, when it was his turn, he received the very last piece of cake.

The jade cake was sweet but not overwhelming, soft and delicate.

As he enjoyed it thoroughly and prepared to leave, he suddenly noticed a burly man striding towards the pavilion.

The man carried a massive black sword on his back and had a somewhat intimidating appearance.

Without saying a word, he blocked the entrance to the pavilion, cutting off all escape routes, exuding an air of hostility.

“Hurry up! Finish your snacks; it’s time to get back to work.”

Completely baffled, Tianxianzi heard the man bark, “The main hall and Luoyue Pavilion still need to be cleaned. Grab your rags and brooms—none of you are getting away! You there, in white! Were you trying to sneak out of the pavilion?”

Tian Xianzi: …?

“You in white”—was he talking to him?

Before Tian Xianzi could figure out what was happening, someone shoved a broom into his hands.

“What are you standing around for? If you don’t finish your task, you’ll be locked in the Reflection Room tonight. Feeling regretful now, aren’t you? If you hadn’t misbehaved, you wouldn’t have ended up in the Disciplinary Hall doing hard labor—wait a minute.”

The man frowned, scrutinizing him.

“What’s your name, junior brother? Are you new here? I don’t recall seeing you before.”

Tian Xianzi’s long-neglected brain worked furiously.

So… these people weren’t just receiving free snacks; they were disciples from the Disciplinary Hall being punished with labor.

The snacks were merely a break to replenish their energy.

Could he admit he was Elder Tian Xianzi in this situation?

If word got out, his reputation as the “Light of Swordsmanship” would be utterly ruined.

Swallowing the last bite of jade cake with tears in his eyes, Tian Xianzi made a painful yet resolute decision.

“Senior Brother, my name… my name is Xu Ye.”

“Senior Brother Xue! Three more people have been sent to the Disciplinary Hall!”

No sooner had he spoken than a clear young voice rang out from not far away.

Tian Xianzi turned towards the sound and saw a young disciple of the Wanjian Swords Sect leading three disheveled figures behind him.

The three figures stared blankly at him, brooms in hand.

“These three intruded into Elder Qingyun’s Hundred Fruit Grove, tried to steal fruit, and ignored my warnings. They even shook Elder Qingyun out of his nap in the tree!”

The young disciple spoke with righteous indignation, oblivious to the four intersecting gazes exchanged nearby.

Tian Xianzi looked at his own disciples.

Ning Ning and the other two stared dumbfounded at their master.

Once, the Xuanxu Sect had stood proud and glorious.

Who could have predicted that after a hurried farewell at the sect gate, their next meeting would be under such utterly absurd circumstances?

Three disciples lamented their fate, metaphorically singing the dirge “Tears Behind Bars,” while their master became a line worker.

(T/N: tears behind bars song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OItSXwx7rE)

They exchanged silent glances, their tears speaking louder than words.

Tian Xianzi decided he needed to salvage some dignity as a master.

Straightening his neck, he spoke sternly, “What were you thinking, shaking Elder Qingyun out of a tree? How could you be so careless?”

The three turned red with shame, lowering their heads in guilt.

Having made a mistake, they dared not reveal they were disciples of the Xuanxu Sect.

Instead, they disguised themselves as new recruits of the Wanjian Swords Sect and ended up as laborers in the Disciplinary Hall.

But what rotten luck to run into their master, only to be exposed on the spot.

They had no idea where to hide their faces.

—In the midst of such awkwardness, none of them had the presence of mind to wonder why Tian Xianzi was holding a broom.

“Oh, you know them?”

The burly man suddenly seemed enlightened.

“Then you’ll clean the same area with them.”

He paused, patting Tian Xianzi’s shoulder before leaving.

“They’re new and don’t know the rules. Guide them properly and teach them the ways of the Disciplinary Hall. Understood, Xu Ye?”

The tables turned in an instant!

Ning Ning: ???

Lin Xun: “M-Master, you—?”

He Zhizhou: “Xu Ye?”

Tian Xianzi chuckled dryly.

Tian Xianzi: “You won’t believe it, but I was framed.”

*

Meanwhile, Xu Ye had been waiting in the dining hall for some time.

It wasn’t a meal hour, and most disciples abstained from mortal food due to their cultivation.

Those who did eat had gone to the sparring arena to watch the matches, leaving the hall empty save for him.

Xu Ye chuckled softly to himself.

The situation was perfect for his plan.

Having corresponded with He Zhizhou for a while and knowing the latter would visit the Wanjian Swords Sect, Xu Ye decided to prepare a little surprise.

After much thought, he devised the perfect prank.

He Zhizhou had expressed great interest in the dining hall, so Xu Ye enlisted the help of Senior Sister Su Qinghan, a Nascent Soul cultivator, to enchant the menu with a subtle illusion.

The dining hall menu, carved into wood with sword energy, was slightly altered by Senior Sister Su’s spiritual energy to blur a few strokes, creating a small but amusing visual misdirection.

Sure enough, He Zhizhou arrived as planned, accompanied by Ning Ning and the little dragon from Xuanxu Sect—none of which posed an issue.

Wait.