Get Rewards by Fulfilling Others' Wishes

Chapter 84: Chapter 72: Asylum for Problem Children (Part 2)

These Martial Scholars were something else. The moment they heard there was a free meal and the chance to land a generous offer, they called all their friends and came running.

Over a hundred people.

That was almost a third of all the candidates in the Prefecture Examination.

The Scholars who had already arrived were all dressed in Martial Artist’s short tunics, yet they sat primly before their dining tables. They even greeted each other in a bookish, refined manner, creating a rather incongruous sight.

Zhao Ci didn’t greet them ahead of time. He simply sat in the host’s seat, quietly watching the people come and go.

But then, unexpectedly, he saw a familiar figure.

A little surprised, he waved to the person in the distance.

”Yang Mo!”

It was none other than his ’waste’ of a friend from the Dian Nan Yang Clan.

The very one who had sold him those mushrooms.

The guy was a total clam, so quiet it would take him half a day to squeeze out a fart. But he was a good person and would always help if he could.

In the old Lingge Waste Group, he was just a wallflower, with even less of a presence than Feng Kucha.

Of course, what left the deepest impression on Zhao Ci was the text that often floated above his head.

[Yang Mo’s Current Wish]: To not be tormented by his parents when he gets home today. Wish Completion Reward: Insight Value +10, Torture Talisman x1.

Because it was difficult to interfere in the Yang Family’s affairs and the Insight Value reward wasn’t high, Zhao Ci never had a chance to fulfill this wish.

Even now, that same wish was still hanging over his head.

The moment Yang Mo entered the courtyard, he heard Zhao Ci’s voice. An unpracticed smile appeared on his usually wooden face as he strode over and gave a stiff, formal bow. ”Your Highness!”

’He’s being so formal in public. Usually, he just calls me Zhao Ci.’

’Then again, it’s related to his background. His father was from a branch family of the Yang Clan, so his standing in the clan was already low. Add to that Yang Mo’s own lack of cultivation talent, and his status was even lower.’

Feng Kucha was quite enthusiastic. ”Lao Mo, what are you doing here? You didn’t even say you were coming! Hurry, come sit at my table!”

Yang Mo looked tempted, but he still glanced cautiously at Zhao Ci.

Zhao Ci looked at Cuiyun, who was waiting at the side. ”Quick, prepare a table for Young Master Yang. Place it next to Young Master Feng.”

”No, no, that’s not necessary!”

Yang Mo quickly squeezed in next to Feng Kucha. ”It was presumptuous of me to come unannounced. I can just share with Old Feng.”

Feng Kucha wasn’t one to fuss over such things. He even scooted over to make room for Yang Mo. While the ambitious young elites schemed and plotted against one another, the Lingge Waste Group’s main principle was harmony. They ate, drank, and had fun together, rarely fighting.

He suddenly thought of something and looked at Yang Mo in confusion. ”Today is the day His... uh, His Highness is recruiting Mansion Officials. You didn’t come today hoping to become one, did you?”

”I...”

Yang Mo hesitated, his hands gripping the fabric over his knees so tightly his knuckles turned white.

Feng Kucha had clearly hit the mark.

For a moment, Feng Kucha also felt awkward. He glanced at Zhao Ci. He couldn’t make decisions about recruiting officials. It was normal for the Waste Group to help each other out, but this involved the prefecture’s political struggles. He was already enough of a burden himself; he wouldn’t dare grant a favor on Zhao Ci’s behalf.

Zhao Ci also felt a headache coming on. Yang Mo’s parents were the extremely pushy, ’helicopter’ type. Their attitude could be summed up in one sentence: ”Your father and I are what we are in this life. You’re our only hope. We’ve given you everything we can, so you can’t afford to be a disappointment.”

It was utterly suffocating.

’This was the main reason Yang Mo was so withdrawn. He worked incredibly hard, but after all these years, he had nothing to show for it.’

Zhao Ci wanted to help him, but this prefecture struggle... One had to understand that although Yang Mo was from a branch family, he was a bona fide disciple of one of the seven great clans. He would be taking up a spot reserved for the Merit Clans.

’Question.’

’How do you tactfully turn someone down without hurting their feelings?’

”Your Highness!”

Yang Mo forced a smile that looked worse than a grimace, his voice a little hoarse. ”I did indeed come for this matter. I didn’t mention it privately before because I thought I would likely just be a burden to you. But after I went home, my parents cried, threw tantrums, and even threatened to hang themselves, insisting that I had to come and beg you.

When I heard you were selecting Mansion Officials, I thought I’d give it a shot, too.

If I can come out on top tonight, I hope you’ll consider me.

Of course!

You don’t have to choose me. After all, as someone from a great clan, it wouldn’t be very honorable to bully these common-born candidates.”

Zhao Ci: ”...”

’Such a sincere speech was really hard to refuse.’

But just then, the text above Yang Mo’s head slowly began to change.

[Yang Mo’s Current Wish]: To overcome his fear and break out of his cocoon. Wish Completion Reward: Insight Value +10,000, Stealable Talent: Divine Cocoon.

Zhao Ci: ”...”

’H-how much?’

’He was floored.’

’Ten thousand Insight Value?’

’A golden wish?’

’Holy shit!’

He was dumbfounded. It was the first time he had ever seen a golden wish.

’But... how is that possible?’

He had encountered plenty of purple wishes before, but all of them either came at a great cost or were extremely difficult to fulfill.

And even then, they were only purple.

’A golden wish... was just absurd!’

”Moreover, this ’Divine Cocoon’ talent was probably something insane. After all, the rewards for purple wishes were already the best of the best. As for a golden one...”

’But if Yang Mo has this talent, why did he end up a ’waste’ just like me and Kucha?’

’I don’t get it.’

’But I’m completely blown away.’

He used an Insight Talisman directly, and two new lines of text immediately appeared above Yang Mo’s head.

[Current Cultivation]: Physical Body Divine Treasure Unopened - Body Refining Stage (Seventh Body Refining, Fifth-Grade Flesh Soul)]

[Estimated Potential]: Seventh-Layer Divine Treasure+]

Zhao Ci: ”...”

To be frank, a normal person would undergo ten rounds of Body Refining. The first round had the best effect; unless a miracle occurred, one could at most raise their Flesh Soul by one more grade. To only have a Fifth-Grade Flesh Soul after the seventh round of Body Refining wasn’t terrible, but it was frighteningly mediocre.