The palace repair job lasted only four days, earning a total of five Contribution Points.
This task was a bit more strenuous, requiring us to carry timber and stones from the valley bottom to a designated spot near the palace at the mountain top.
That palace was an old ceremonial hall, dedicated to the ancestral master tablets of bygone eras.
This group was only responsible for piling the timber and stones at the designated location atop the mountain. The actual palace repair would be taken over by another team.
These Registered Disciples were martial artists, but the timber and stones were rather heavy, and the mountain paths were rugged; after four days, everyone was quite exhausted.
On this day, they finally concluded their four days of hard labor, received the stamped receipt, and prepared to go to the Guanglu Institute to exchange it for Contribution Points.
Ximen Kankan shook the receipt in his hand and grumbled, "Carrying timber and stones! This isn’t work for humans; it’s work for oxen and horses! Is this the kind of job you pick for us?"
Shen Mizi also looked at Duan Rong with a hint of suspicion.
Duan Rong replied, "Four days for five Contribution Points. That’s pretty good. You think Contribution Points are easy to earn? We’re basically the beasts of burden in the sect."
"Think about it, working at the Weapon Workshop for a year earns you only eighty-five points," Duan Rong said, turning to Shen Mizi, "You earn a bit more at the Elder Hall, but that’s only ninety-five points a year."
After Duan Rong said this, both Ximen Kankan and Shen Mizi fell silent. Yes, working for a year yields such a small amount of Contribution Points, so getting five in four days is quite a lot.
Though the work was challenging, they were martial artists, and it was not unbearable.
Xiao Yu chuckled, "Alright. No matter what, we finally got some work done, right? Next time, let’s be more selective. For now, let’s head back and enjoy a good meal."
Upon hearing this, Ximen Kankan’s eyes lit up, "The soup from those sour berries last time was tasty, let’s make another pot this time!"
As Ximen Kankan spoke, he was already drooling.
Xiao Yu replied, "Oh, you glutton. Then the job of catching wild game is yours."
Ximen Kankan pouted, "Haven’t even gotten a bite yet, and I’m already being assigned a task."
The four of them returned to the mountain peak of Shang Xiangyu. With cooperation, Xiao Yu quickly made a pot of delicious soup, and the fragrance had the other three salivating.
Once the soup was ready, Xiao Yu served them each a bowl.
Holding stone bowls, they sat by the campfire at the cave entrance, slurping the soup.
After a hearty meal, they all felt revitalized, lounging lazily by the cave entrance and started chatting.
Just as they were chatting, suddenly, a bolt of lightning flashed across the sky!
That lightning was like an electric dragon tearing the sky apart, followed by deafening thunder echoing in the distant valleys.
A torrential downpour, without warning, began to pour over the Endless Mountains.
The pervasive fog instantly vanished, and the night rain brought a heavy, fishy scent, filling every corner of the mountains...
Lightning, thunder, rain: thus came the summer at Changling Mountain...
The storm came swiftly and left just as quickly.
As they took shelter in the cave to avoid the rain and wiped themselves with towels, the rain soon stopped.
Shen Mizi stepped outside first, and saw the night sky full of stars, a bright moonlit disc, the night cleaner like a glass tile.
The light of stars and the moon showered the Endless Mountains, with no fog blocking the view, and the water droplets on the woods shimmered faintly, ethereal like a fairyland.
"Come out and see!" Shen Mizi cried out lightly.
"See what?" Ximen Kankan asked, "Did a dog bite you?"
With that, Ximen Kankan and the others walked out of the cave.
Once out of the cave, they fell silent.
Three months into the mountains, the environment had been shrouded in haze and fog, but suddenly it cleared, unveiling Changling Mountain’s true appearance under its mysterious veil for the first time.
Bright moonlight, a vast wilderness, clear moonlit serenity.
Suddenly, across the starry sky, a streak of light appeared.
A shooting star!
At this moment, the shooting star was like a tear from the sky.
The tear leaves no trace...
Even Ximen Kankan, known for his antics, clasped his hands tightly, closed his eyes, and made a wish.
The four felt very pleased in their hearts, with Ximen Kankan eagerly asking Duan Rong what he wished for. Duan Rong chuckled and said, "To marry a good wife and have a chubby boy."
Ximen Kankan criticized, "How mundane, absolutely mundane!"
Duan Rong was only joking, but for some reason, Xiao Yu’s face turned red as he spoke.
Under the starlight, Shen Mizi seemed to understand Xiao Yu’s emotions at this moment.
Xiao Yu treated her like a little sister, and she saw Xiao Yu as family.
She grew up in a repressive household, but felt genuine warmth and infinite love from Xiao Yu.
Shen Mizi turned to glance at Duan Rong, but he seemed oblivious to Xiao Yu’s embarrassment, his eyes flickering as he stared at the endless starry sky, lost in thought...
After all, the four had been working for four days, and as beautiful as the starlit sky was, fatigue started to set in, and they each went to sleep.
The next morning, the mist no longer lingered in the valley, and the morning light appeared brighter.
They agreed to meet again in five days to head to the Guanglu Institute for another task, and each prepared to go their separate ways.
Duan Rong, with nothing else to do, offered to walk them partway.
Ximen Kankan patted Duan Rong’s shoulder and smirked, "Why so courteous all of a sudden? Did sleeping next to me for a few days make you develop feelings?"