Morning.
He walked straight to the first class disciple's residence area. Wang Bao himself was not a first class disciple but enjoyed the benefits of one. Zhang Wuji reached a walled courtyard. The gates to the courtyard were wide open.
He came to a stop in front of the gate.
'Haaaaaa, ok here we go. Wang Bao no Senior brother Wang or maybe Senior Wang, that would be too much Senior brother is good, that's what he is. Ok Senior brother Wang, I gave.. nope. It is just my assumption that Qiang Dahan is doing all this out of his own volition, but it is possible that it is on Wang Bao's direction, or maybe he offers some of the spoils to Wang Bao. So let's not bring up that. Or just don't speak as if blaming Qiang Dahan.
Alright. Senior brother Wang, I'm sorry. I brought some stuff as an apology. You are great, I'm lowly wait, how's he great? He might not ask. What if he's the kind that's a bully not because he has the power but because he doesn't? Bullied by his own people for being weak. After all he has a third grade spirit root, just like me. In that case he might think I'm mocking him. Or he might be narcissistic. Right I'll say I'm too stupid to understand his greatness but I know crowd gathers around great people and you are the one with the greatest following in the outer sect.
No I'll have to praise myself a little. Three things, me lowly, you great, but still this lowly fellow useful. Try and avoid Qiang Dahan. Don't talk about Wang family. Wait what if he finds pride in being someone from the Wangs? No problem, it's not like I'm insulting the Wangs. Stop thinking! I gotta go in. Things will go as they should. Thinking here won't bring me anything. I let those two take all my decisions for the past six months and now I have to think for a whole day on how to talk to some random dude. Well, he's a bully with great background, makes sense to.. alright shut up. Here we go.'
Zhang Wuji peeked in before knocking on the door. The courtyard was busy. There were close to six people training. Two were seated to the side watching them. Two more were serving one young man seated on a reclining chair. Zhang Wuji looked right at him, that was Wang Bao.
Except for one of those training and Wang Bao himself, everyone turned towards him.
"Aren't you the one that beat Dahan in the mess? What are you doing here?" One of the servers asked.
"I came to personally apologize to Senior brother Wang. I felt a verbal apology is not enough so I gave twenty qi recovery pills, bone mending pills and others to senior brother Qiang but I felt it was not enough and came personally to offer the remaining pills and some herbs I have to repent." 'Idiot! What did I say! Do not say I gave!'
"How many pills did you give him?" This time Wang Bao asked personally.
"Twenty qi recovery and four bone mending. I actua.."
"Call Dahan here." Wang Bao ordered one of the three sitting idly.
After a while he came with Qiang Dahan in tow.
"Dahan he says he gave you some pills, is that true?"
"Y-young master Wang, I-I.." Qiang Dahan kept looking at the only guy still training and stuttered.
"Break his limbs."
"Young master Wang No! I intended to hand those over to you later I had no intentioAHHH!" Qiang Dahan fell to the ground as the three idle guys moved, one restrained him, one broke all four of his limbs and one watched.
Zhang Wuji felt his knees tingle as he saw his two legs bent the wrong way. Despite all his efforts he couldn't stop his face from twisting. He really really wanted to sit down cross legged with his feet neatly tucked in, mainly his knees bent normal.
"So why are you here."
"S-Senior Wa.. no senior bro.. no senior Wang" 'Fuck! How could you do that to someone's legs. Eeek!'
He took a deep breath and continued "Senior brother Wang, my name is Zhang Wuji. My cultivation is nothing to brag about but as you must've seen in the mess, I fight good and also I am an alchemy apprentice. I'll be useful. I wish to work under you." 'Work under you? Maybe serve you or be your follower or maybe working for you would be my greatest honor. No that would be too much. Work for you is best. Oh no I forgot to praise him! Whatever, I can't do that now. As long as I become his lackey, Qiang Dahan won't be able to.. well he won't be able to anyway. Poor guy. Just a little ass kissing and some grunt work in exchange for protection is a good deal.'
"What can you do for me?"
"I'm an alchemy apprentice."
"You can't even make pills, what use is an alchemy apprentice to me? I don't need pills either."
'Right, you have Wang family behind you, of course you wouldn't care about pills.' He thought hard as to how he could be useful. 'Wait! Qiang Dahan is gone, I don't need to work for this guy. Right, Qiang Dahan!'
"I'm loyal and stronger than him." He pointed towards Qiang Dahan.
'Wait what happened to no need to work for him?'
'One of his lackeys is crippled for a while, he might not let me leave anyway. And if I were to change tones now, he definitely won't be happy. Whatever, this guy will protect me from other such bullies and might also share some soup with me.'
"Wang Chu, give him Dahan's position." Wang Bao said to one of his servers and then turned to Zhang Wuji "One month. That is how long it will take for him to heal completely. In this month, work in his position. If you do it to my satisfaction, I'll give you a chance to come under my wing."
"Dahan, looking at your big brother's face I'm going to give you another chance. One month later defeat him and you get your post back. Now leave." After having said his part, Wang Bao closed his eyes.
'What, that is it? I get to keep all the offerings I brought? Well of course, he's rich and won't care for my measly pills and herbs.' He bowed and turned to leave. As he was turning, he saw a venomous gaze fall on him 'What was that about his big brother? Damn! I just got out of one trouble and now stepped into another. He might not mess with me in the next month. Hopefully. I gotta make some senior lackey friends.'
Outside the courtyard.
Zhang Wuji followed behind a bald thin young man with sunken eyes and silver earrings. This guy was Wang Chu. Currently he was telling Zhang Wuji his responsibilities.
"You will stand guard in training ground 7. Dahan used to contribute about forty pills every month. If you are able to contribute 200, you will most probably be given his position permanently. There won't be any fight. Let me warn you, you might have beaten him once but that was only a fluke. The difference between fifth and seventh levels is not small."
"200 huh," he thought for a while before asking the question that has been bugging him for long "Who's Qiang Dahan's brother?"
"You don't have to worry about him. He is a loyal follower of young master, his family's been serving young master's for generations, he wouldn't hurt you as long as you work under young master Wang."
"Phew, that's good."
"You should start working today."
"Yes."
"Go on then."