C10 Cleaner

"Have you heard? Grand Elder Li Daoran just went to Skysplit Tower himself and discovered that the blood essence of the Earth Dragon, the reward on the ninth floor, has been taken. This means that the person who conquered Skysplit Tower actually exists!"

"Really? Someone is that powerful?"

"The Grand Elder saw it with his own eyes. How could it be a lie?

He also mentioned that he doesn't know why the disciple hasn't come forward. But the Grand Elder assured that if he reveals himself, the Grand Elder will help him with any concerns he has. Whatever he desires, the Sect will provide."

"Any condition? That's incredibly enviable."

Chu Yun overheard this conversation as he walked through the Sect, and a peculiar look crossed his face.

Daoran claimed he could alleviate any worry. Yet, he certainly had no idea that Chu Yun's greatest worry was Daoran himself!

The only way for Chu Yun to ease his concern would be for Daoran to take his own life, but Chu Yun doubted Daoran would ever do such a thing.

As Chu Yun ambled around Mingzhao Peak, he passed the Compendium Pavilion. Having triggered a mission there just the day before, he hadn't planned to return so soon and was about to leave when a mission was triggered.

Mission Details: Sweep the Compendium Pavilion courtyard

Mission Time Limit: Within half an hour

Mission Reward: Three Ordinary Grade Baits

Chu Yun paused, taken aback by the unexpected system notification.

"What's this? Another mission to clean the Compendium Pavilion courtyard? But I just did that yesterday."

Chu Yun gazed at the pavilion, his eyes brimming with suspicion. Could there be something unique about this place that warranted the system's repeated missions?

Nevertheless, with the mission assigned, Chu Yun wouldn't just stand idle.

He walked into the pavilion, grabbed a broom from the corner, and started sweeping.

As the chime of the Chen hour sounded, a gray-clothed elder entered the courtyard and jumped in surprise upon seeing Chu Yun.

"Young man, what brings you back here again?"

Mr. Xu asked with a wry smile.

While sweeping the yard, Chu Yun replied, "I want to help alleviate some of your stress, so I guess I need to stick with this job, right?"

As he spoke, Chu Yun had already resolved to return to the Compendium Pavilion the next day to see if the same task would be triggered again.

Mr. Xu opened his mouth, watching Chu Yun sweep for a moment, utterly baffled by the actions of this once prodigious disciple.

He must have an ulterior motive.

Mr. Xu, the custodian of the Compendium Pavilion, had the privilege of perusing the books.

Yet, this privilege was not unique to him; many disciples had it. Chu Yun, as an inner sect disciple and the former Eldest Brother of the Sect, could access the Compendium Pavilion without needing anyone's permission.

Mr. Xu held no utilitarian value for him, so what was Chu Yun's true intent?

"He couldn't possibly be doing this just to look after me, could he?"

Mr. Xu let out a bitter chuckle and shook his head.

The following day, Chu Yun rose early and headed straight for the Compendium Pavilion.

Mission triggered.

Mission Details: Clean the Compendium Pavilion courtyard.

Mission Time Limit: Within half an hour.

Mission Reward: Three Ordinary Grade Baits.

The familiar notification from the system rang out, and Chu Yun's eyebrows lifted, his face etched with a complex mix of emotions.

"Is there something amiss with the Compendium Pavilion? Can I really keep receiving tasks here?"

Chu Yun stroked his chin thoughtfully, puzzled.

However, he noticed a pattern: places where spiritual energy converged or that held significance were more likely to trigger missions.

The Compendium Pavilion was certainly one of the Elemental River Sect's most vital locations. Although the frequency of mission triggers was somewhat laughable, it did follow a discernible pattern.

"Mr. Xu, you're up early today. You're looking remarkably vibrant!"

Chu Yun stepped through the door into the courtyard, where he found Mr. Xu in his familiar gray robe, broom in hand, diligently sweeping the ground before seven in the morning.

"I was worried you might come and help out again today."

Mr. Xu grunted in response.

Chu Yun burst into laughter, saying, "I'm just here to help lighten your load a bit."

As he spoke, he grabbed another broom from the corner and joined Mr. Xu in tidying up.

"I really can't figure you out," Mr. Xu said, looking at Chu Yun's brimming enthusiasm. He sighed gently and continued, "I know you were once the Eldest Brother of the Elemental River Sect. Falling from grace must be tough on you, but you don't need to distract yourself with these chores. You're still young. Even if you give up on cultivation, there are other paths you can take."

Chu Yun burst into laughter and replied, "I appreciate your concern, but I'm not numbing myself."

"To me, it's only right to respect our elders and cherish the young. I was too absorbed in my cultivation before to attend to such matters. But now that I'm not cultivating, I have plenty of time, so why not help you out?"

Chu Yun was sincere. He wasn't originally from this world and didn't believe that martial prowess was everything. Having lived in the 21st century, he was shaped by the core socialist values and was inherently kind-hearted.

"Alright then," Mr. Xu said with a wry smile and another sigh of regret, deciding to leave it at that.

Together, they finished cleaning the courtyard.

Congratulations, your mission is complete.

Your reward (3 Ordinary Grade Baits) has been deposited into your System Space. Please check to confirm receipt.

The system notification chimed, and Chu Yun prepared to leave, feeling content.

"Hold on, don't rush off," Mr. Xu called out, his voice gentle. "You've been working hard all morning. Come over to my place, take a break, and have some tea."

"Sure, I wouldn't want to impose," Chu Yun said with an easy smile, accepting the invitation. He followed Mr. Xu out of the courtyard.

They headed to a secluded corner of the library grounds, where a modest cottage stood—Mr. Xu's home.

Every day at 7 a.m., Mr. Xu would step out of his cottage to clean the library, a routine he had maintained for over a decade.

Mr. Xu had been sweeping the library floors long before Immortal Shangyuan was appointed Sect Master. With such tenure, there were few in the Elemental River Sect with more experience than him.

"No matter how seasoned I am, I'm still just a janitor," Mr. Xu said with a soft smile as he poured a cup of tea for Chu Yun.

The tea bowl was well-worn, its porcelain surface etched with patterns from many years of use, and it even had a few chips. But Chu Yun was unfazed. He inhaled deeply, savoring the faint, sweet aroma that arose. His eyes sparkled with delight. "Excellent tea," he exclaimed before downing the cup in one go.

"I grew this tea myself. How's the flavor?" Mr. Xu inquired.

"Remarkable!" Chu Yun responded with high praise. "This appears to be just ordinary green tea, yet it has an extraordinary sweetness. Did you employ a special method of cultivation?"

"I came across a tea cultivation method in the 'Song Ling Journey' book and decided to give it a try."

Mr. Xu, flattered by Chu Yun's compliment, stroked his beard and smiled gently.

"Do you often enjoy reading books like that?" Chu Yun asked offhandedly.

"Yes," Mr. Xu replied, then hesitated before adding, "I haven't read any books in years, though."

Chu Yun nodded, pondering that Mr. Xu had been in the Compendium Pavilion for decades. It seemed logical that even if he once had a passion for reading, the years might have dulled his interest.

But Mr. Xu kept a secret from him.

The library housed over a million books, and over the decades, Mr. Xu had read every single one. More than that, he wasn't just reading; he possessed a photographic memory, never forgetting anything he read. Now, there were no more books left for him to discover.

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