Lou Ben slowly fell asleep as his mind raced.
As he was sleeping, and relaxing his body, his mind was very much at work.
He was replaying the scene in which two dark figures bound him along a tree and laughed as they slowly cut his limbs apart.
Lou Ben woke up in his bed drenched in sweat trying to escape his nightmare.
"It truly is a dog eats dog world." Lou Ben muttered underneath his gasps.
While Lou Ben was trying to catch his breath, a figure entered his loft and yelled out his name.
"Lou Ben!"
"Come take what I have and make your way to the plaza where steward Wen Guoliang is waiting!"
Lou Ben shot out of his bed and hurriedly put on his loose white clothes.
He ran down to the living spaces where the figure was.
This man was large and stout with short red hair. He had a bald spot that glistened. It seemed as if his hair from his head went to the hair underneath his chin, because there was a large and flowing red beard.
"Grab this sack. You have your orders. Now go!"
The red bearded figure threw a barrel sized sack towards Lou Ben as if it was as light as air.
When Lou Ben caught it, he almost fell from the weight.
"So heavy, how can someone throw this so easily!" Lou Ben thought.
He grabbed the sack and carried it over his shoulder to maintain balance. Inside was a broom and a few supplies, such as scrolls and robes.
Lou Ben sneered and thought "this must be my welcoming package."
Some time after finding his way back to the plaza, he saw the refined figure of steward Wen Guoliang.
"Servant Lou Ben greets steward Wen Guoliang!"
"Good boy." Steward Wen Guoliang replied.
"Today I will show you towards the perimeter public library. You will clean and rest after the sun goes down. When that time is up, you will leave immediately. You are not allowed to touch the books. You must keep your hands on your broom only."
"As for the sack im sure you have found your accommodations well. Give them to me and I will send it to your place of living."
Steward Wen Guoliang went in the most roundabout way of providing these materials to Lou Ben, he could have left them in his room but asked the plaza servant to ensure he brings it along.
This was a simple probe at the strength of Lou Ben, after all, the mortal boy was found wearing bloody armor and seemed to have survived a battlefield with chance.
He wanted to see if he could be left with other matters, but unfortunately, his strength was below the requirement for any other job besides sweeping.
Steward Wen Guoliang smirked at Lou Ben as he found this information quite settling.
"At the very least he poses no trouble to the stronger mortals. It would be best to keep him to sweep the rooms that will cause little friction among men."
Steward Wen Guoliang was not scheming but rather instead trying to manage the affairs of the palace.
Lou Ben was brought to the palace public library that was not too far from the entrance of the building. He recognized that this is where master Xiao had let him out of his sleeve.
The library was large, there was no surprise there. It was not as decedent as the study room that Xiao Weizhe and Wen Guoliang were speaking in, but there were some remarkable features.
This was the first library that Lou Ben saw so it was still engraved to his heart as to what a difference earth library and this world compared to.
The shelves of books reached the sky, no clouds of enchanting rain, just simple books stacked high.
The room itself spanned four football fields.
In the entrance was a beautiful and curvy figure.
She held her head high as the two figures of steward Wen Guoliang and Lou ben approached.
Her height reached the chin of Lou Ben, who is still young in life.
The woman had silk white skin and peach colored lips that caused Lou Ben to inwardly drool.
Her eyes a special tone of amber, that seemed to blow the mind of Lou Ben into a blank.
She smirked in a light manner and spoke "Steward Wen Guoliang, is this the sweeping servant for today?"
Steward Wen Guoliang noticed the hotheaded nature of the boy and started to think.
"We have many sweeping servants, many of which stay in one place. I might be inclined to leave this fellow in the hands of servant Qi Shuang. Perhaps they might bear an offspring for this palace to continue being so self-sufficient."
The thoughts of this steward were vast as the sea, he had to manage the inner workings of the palace and paid great attention to the lives of mortals because of this.
Steward Wen Guoliang was after all trying to accomplish a further stage of the palace of Xiao.
He wanted many offspring to pledge their heart to the name of his master and life saver, the more people, the better. It meant the weight of managing this palace would be easier in the future.
Steward Wen Guoliang thought about this and looked at servant Qi Shuang.
She looked at steward Wen Guoliang in anticipation as if she was ready to keep this young man for herself, slowly nodding steward Wen Guoliang.
He spoke in a stern manner as he spoke "No, I think this gentleman would find more solace in staying here to sweep daily. What do you say servant Qi Shuang?"
Lou Ben was surprised; in a matter of seconds, he was already pawned off to be here every day?
What changed from going places every day?
Yes, this woman here is quite lovely, but what is the sense of telling me all these things and having me deduce my rise towards life?
"That would be very much appreciated, steward Wen Guoliang! I am at the age of marriage and having been wondering when steward Wen Guoliang would grant me the benevolence of a partner." Qi Shuang was not surprised, when she saw steward Wen Guoliang, she wanted to make this apparent.
Steward Wen Guoliang spoke up "yes, let me tell you servant Lou Ben. In easy to manage locations such as the library or even taverns, only partners are allowed to work together."
"This is the rule of the palace of Xiao. We do this to maintain cooperation and morale. Servant Qi Shuang allowed you to remain here, this is as good as telling me that she agrees to be your partner."
Lou Ben was star struck, he understood that he could be placed to work anywhere and do anything if steward Wen Guoliang requested, but handling his affair in love?
Is this not going too far?
Lou Ben was trying to gather himself "okay, lets take it slow. Qi Shuang is a beautiful fairy. There is no harm in this action."
"I also told myself to ride the trend and experience this world. There is no harm in this. Just relax. Although it happened without any warning, this could be a good thing."
Lou Ben collected himself and spoke "I am truly lucky to receive a position with such a beautiful figure as servant Qi Shuang."
He was not lying, if things were different, he might be chasing after such a beauty in his last life on earth.
Steward Wen Guoliang was rather happy about taking care of Lou Ben in such an easy manner. He no longer needs to waste a moment's thought in directing the life of Lou Ben.
Beforehand steward Wen Guoliang was searching for the best place to keep Lou Ben, that was the reason why most sweeping servants, and other low maintenance jobs go to other places day to day. They have yet to find their permanent location.
Some will end up the same way Lou Ben has, while others will simply mix into a group and permanently stay there forever.
"I will now leave this young man in your hands servant Qi Shuang." Steward Wen Guoliang smiled and walked into the doorway and disappeared.
The two lasting figures were now Lou Ben and Qi Shuang who have after happenstance formed a partnership of love.
Qi Shuang was the first to speak to Lou Ben "Don't be too surprised dear, we are now one in the same here. The situation at the library is rather nice. We get the time to do our jobs and spend quality time together."
"If I must be honest with you, I'm rather happy to have you as a partner. There is no telling who steward Wen Guoliang would bring in here. In this way, I had a sort of lucky encounter to not be paired with a mortal that causes problems for master Xiao and steward Wen Guoliang."
Qi Shuang was assured that picking Lou Ben was her best bet at continuing to live a good life here inside the library. She was not only happy, but looked forward to have a young handsome man beside her.