With such good benefits being offered, even Han Yu was tempted and couldn’t say no. One must know that servants barely got ten silvers every week for the chores they did. while this payment was higher than what they might get paid for the same kind of work in the city, it was still quite tiring.
Not to mention the dangers they had to endure for it here in the sect. They could very well get killed by a stray attack from some disciples sparring nearby or die in an accidental explosion due to a defective talisman that was disposed off improperly.
As such death was always at the next turn and the servants had to be wary. But now Han Yu had a steady source of income.
’I won’t have to rely on some crazy missons from the SHH or rats. I’ll be able to buy the beast meat myself.’ He thought to himself as he returned to his room to rest.
But by noon the next day, Han Yu was ready to retire at the age of sixteen.
Li Mei, to her credit, was very efficient. By "efficient," Han Yu meant she had tried to feed him four different pills before breakfast.
He had to run around the lab, dodging her like a squirrel dodging taxes.
"I said no more testing today! We’ve already done ten pills." Han Yu snapped, balancing a tray of tea for the ’tea table’ (who was very picky about oolong vs. jasmine).
"But these are different pills!" Li Mei said, holding one between metal chopsticks like it might explode—or grant immortality.
"That’s what you said about the one that made me speak fluent goose." Though in reality, he was just honking nonstop.
"To be fair, it was fluent."
"I almost got adopted by a migrating flock, Li Mei!" That did happen as the nearby geese found his voice rather soothing.
She pouted. "Come on, Han Yu. Just one little—"
"I WILL DEFECT TO THE MOSS GATHERING DIVISION."
"...Fine." She slumped dramatically onto what was a beanbag that looked like it was growing legs.
As Han Yu wiped sweat off his forehead, Sniffles skittered up his shoulder and pointed to a loose floorboard.
"Huh?" Han Yu crouched and tugged it open.
Below was a small tunnel. Lit by glowing mushrooms. And echoing with the faint sound of tribal drums.
"...Li Mei, why is there a rat city under your lab?"
"Oh, right." She peeked over his shoulder. "Sniffles founded that last year. They’ve got plumbing now."
"You let the rats build a colony here?"
"I mean, they were already unionized. It was inevitable." Li Mei replied. "But they also help me around and procure stuff for me. It’s easier to just contact them here than go find them." she added.
Han Yu squinted into the tunnel as a parade of mice wearing acorn helmets marched by. At the front was a rat holding a banner that read:
"HAIL HAN YU: THE ONE WHO TOOK THE NOSE PILL AND LIVED."
"...What the hell is this?"
"Oh. They’ve decided you’re their chosen one. Something about your resistance to alchemical poisoning and your ’divine glow.’"
"That glow was internal bleeding!"
The drums grew louder. Rat children threw flower petals. Someone lit a tiny incense burner shaped like Han Yu’s head.
Sniffles squeaked at them and pointed dramatically at Han Yu. The crowd cheered.
"I can’t be a messiah, Li Mei. I failed mop duty three times last week!"
"Too late. You’re their idol now." She clapped him on the back. "Might as well use it. Want to start a rat militia?"
"Fine. But just think about it."
Han Yu staggered away from the tunnel, trying to breathe.
He found the grumpy tea table, polishing his own legs with a cloth.
"I’m losing my grip on reality," Han Yu whispered.
The Tea Table grunted. "Buddy, I was born a normal table. Then Li Mei spilled one sentience pill and now I have opinions about leaf-to-water ratios. Accept your fate."
Han Yu collapsed into the chair. "I’m going to die in this lab."
"You’ll die smarter," The Tea Table replied.
At that moment, Li Mei skipped over with a new glowing bottle.
"Okay, this one’s definitely not a pill," she said brightly. "It’s a spiritual ink that might unlock hidden techniques through subconscious absorption."
"...How many times have you tested it?"
"On rats? Seventeen. On humans? Once. On a bird pretending to be human? Also once."
Han Yu opened his mouth to protest, but Warlord Sniffles pointed at the scroll next to the ink—and his tiny eyes sparkled with unspoken power.
"...What kind of hidden technique?"
"Could be a footwork technique. Could be cloud-walking. Or," she added helpfully, "you might temporarily turn into a fog elemental. Either way—very educational."
Han Yu exhaled slowly. "...Fine. Just this once."
He dipped his finger in the ink and let it touch the scroll.
His vision went black.
He was floating. No. Flying? Running? Screaming? Possibly all three?
Strange symbols flashed before his eyes. His blood pulsed with some foreign rhythm. He saw a rabbit doing tai chi. He felt like he understood something greater than reality itself.
He fell backward, eyes wide open, chest heaving.
A rush of vital energy surged through his veins.
The scroll burst into golden flames and vanished into his forehead.
Han Yu gasped—and shot to his feet in perfect form.
His muscles felt lighter. His feet buzzed with energy. His balance, perception, reflexes—they had all sharpened.
He turned to the training dummy in the corner and moved instinctively.
Step. Slide. Shift. Spin. Flick.
His body flowed like water. He vanished and reappeared three feet away in a blur of footwork.
"...I... I just unlocked a movement technique."
Li Mei squealed. "YES! I knew the rat ink would work!"
Han Yu blinked. "Wait. What ink?"
"...Please don’t explain."
She smiled cheekily before saying. "Don’t worry. I won’t."