"Brother, may I ask if there are any grand events at the Heavenly Sword Sect?" Xiao Man asked kindly.
"The Heavenly Sword Sect is recruiting handyman outer disciples, and many rogue cultivators have come here just to enter the sect," one of them replied immediately. "We are also here to compete."
"Handyman disciples?" A flicker of cunning flashed in Xiao Man's eyes. "Why would mere handyman disciples attract so many people?"
"Young brother, you wouldn't know this, but the Heavenly Sword Sect is the foremost among the Four Great Sects, the most powerful. As long as one can enter the Heavenly Sword Sect, even as a handyman, they are more esteemed than ordinary people!"
Xiao Man merely smiled upon hearing this. "And when does the Heavenly Sword Sect recruit handyman disciples?"
"It starts tomorrow at the hour of Chen. I heard they are only taking a few dozen people, and once filled, they stop. Thousands of people have poured in these past two days, and the inns are all full. We searched around and couldn't find a place to stay, so we came here to lodge."
"Guests, please ascend to the upper floor."
As the group went upstairs, Xiao Man walked towards the counter. "Shopkeeper, does the Heavenly Sword Sect frequently recruit handyman disciples?"
The shopkeeper glanced at the people going upstairs. After seeing them enter their rooms, he lowered his voice and said, "It's only once a year. Each time, they recruit dozens of people. Because of the Heavenly Sword Sect's great reputation, it attracts many eager individuals. However, it's not easy to enter such a sect, and even if one does, life inside is likely not easy."
"How so?"
"The people of the Heavenly Sword Sect have fiery tempers and like to resort to violence. The handyman disciples are the ones who die the most each year. Guest, I advise you not to join in the commotion. Be careful, or you might lose your life."
"Shopkeeper, is there some hidden agenda behind the Heavenly Sword Sect recruiting handymen?" Xiao Man slipped a high-grade spirit stone to the shopkeeper. "Please, shopkeeper, enlighten me."
The shopkeeper pocketed the spirit stone. "Being a handyman at the Heavenly Sword Sect is not easy. While they appear glorious on the surface, inwardly they are worse than dogs. They are frequently bullied, beaten, and humiliated by inner and outer disciples. Many disciples are driven to death by such treatment. This is also why the Heavenly Sword Sect frequently recruits handymen."
"Why do the Heavenly Sword Sect disciples torment the handymen so?"
"Speaking of which, this is another secret," the shopkeeper said, glancing outside to ensure no one was around, then lowered his voice. "The disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect have been in the clouds for too long and can no longer see the ground. They don't treat handymen as people; in their eyes, handymen are beasts, to be beaten and abused at their will. Coupled with the flaws in their cultivation methods, which make them inherently irritable and quick-tempered... Alas... In short, don't get involved in such matters."
"Thank you for the reminder, shopkeeper." Xiao Man thanked him repeatedly.
"Did the guest find anything after inspecting the back courtyard?"
"It was quite scary!" Xiao Man stated with certainty. "As soon as I went in, I felt a chilling wind. It was very stimulating."
The shopkeeper's lips twitched, but he ultimately did not refute. "Would the guest like to rest first, or have a meal?"
"Have someone send up a bucket of hot water, and then send up some food."
"Certainly, guest. You are staying in the Heavenly chamber." The shopkeeper quickly handed over the key. "It's the first room on the right after ascending the stairs."
Xiao Man took the key and went upstairs, coincidentally meeting a youth coming out of the room next door. "Hey, my name is Liu Han, what's yours?"
"Xiao Qin."
"Are you also here to compete for a handyman position at the Heavenly Sword Sect?" Liu Han leaned closer, asking curiously. "My father said that if I can enter the Heavenly Sword Sect, I will soon be able to make a name for myself."
"Becoming a handyman is making a name for oneself?"
"It depends on whose handyman you are!" Liu Han explained indignantly. "Look, can being a handyman for Manager Wang compare to being a handyman at the Heavenly Sword Sect?"
"No."
"Exactly!" Liu Han said familiarly. "If I become a handyman at the Heavenly Sword Sect, from now on, my relatives and friends will no longer look down on me. What about you? What reason brings you here to participate in the handyman selection? Is it also to bring honor to your ancestors?"
Xiao Man smiled. "I have nowhere else to go. I happened to hear that the Heavenly Sword Sect was recruiting handymen, so I thought I'd give it a try. If I'm chosen, I'll have a place to stay."
"And your family?"
"They're all gone."
"You poor thing, with no family. It's alright, from now on, I'll look after you!" Liu Han patted his chest. "If I get into the Heavenly Sword Sect, I will definitely help you."
"Thank you, Senior Brother Liu." Xiao Man immediately expressed his gratitude.
Liu Han's eyes lit up upon hearing Xiao Man call him Senior Brother. "Good, with Senior Brother around from now on, I definitely won't let anyone bully you!"
"Liu Han, what are you doing?"
"Brother Yang, I've made a new friend, Xiao Qin. She's also here to compete for a handyman position."
Yang Wei's gaze fell on Xiao Man. Seeing Xiao Man's frail appearance, he said, "With her weak and delicate appearance, the Heavenly Sword Sect won't accept her."
Liu Han's expression stiffened, and he looked at Xiao Man sheepishly. "Junior Brother Xiao Qin, don't be discouraged, there's still a chance."
Xiao Man nodded. "I'm a bit tired, I'll go back and rest."
"Then we'll call you to join us when we set off tomorrow," Liu Han said quickly.
"Alright, in that case, thank you all, Senior Brothers."
Yang Wei watched Xiao Man enter the room and bumped Liu Han with his elbow. "What's this kid's background?"
"He's an orphan with no parents."
"No background?" Yang Wei frowned. A person with no background was not worth befriending for them, as such a person could not bring them any benefits.
"Yes, his parents are deceased, and he has nowhere else to go, so he came to participate in the Heavenly Sword Sect's handyman selection."
"You should interact less with him. Look at his weak and delicate appearance, the Heavenly Sword Sect will surely not accept him, and you won't meet again in the future," Yang Wei advised Liu Han. "Also, you can know someone's face but not their heart. Who knows what kind of person she is."
"Don't think so badly of people. We are all unfortunate people. Why do you have to speculate about her like this? I think she's a good person," Liu Han said stubbornly. "We have all suffered. It's always right to look out for each other."
"You're just too naive," Yang Wei said helplessly. However, their objective was to compete for a handyman position at the Heavenly Sword Sect, thereby bringing honor to their ancestors and becoming superior beings, no longer living under the scorn and contempt of others.
As for helping others, he lacked the ability and the will. After all, they were struggling to fend for themselves; where would they have the energy to care for others?
The next morning, Liu Han knocked on the door and woke Xiao Man, asking her to join the selection for the Heavenly Sword Sect. He also thoughtfully prepared steamed buns for Xiao Man as breakfast. Xiao Man ate the steamed buns while walking with Liu Han. Looking at the crowded square, Xiao Man couldn't help but sigh. A mere handyman position could attract so many people!