Gu Yue Jiao San smiled gently and said to Fang Yuan, "Younger Brother Fang Yuan, your performance truly made us all look at you in a new light. It seems that inviting you to join us was the right decision after all. You've just come out of the Academy, so there are some things you may not be familiar with. Let me introduce them to you now."
"First, regarding clan tasks, every Gu Master must complete at least one per month. The more you complete, and the more perfectly you complete them, the higher your rating."
"Second, tasks are issued by the Internal Affairs Hall or the External Affairs Hall. A Gu Master can only choose one at a time, and once accepted, it must be completed."
"Third, under special circumstances, a Gu Master may choose to abandon a task. However, their rating will be greatly reduced as a result. Furthermore, First Transformation Gu Masters do not have the right to abandon tasks — only Second Transformation Gu Masters are qualified to do so. Even then, they can only abandon one task per year."
"Fourth, the clan rating is extremely important. It determines your future within the clan. The higher your rating, the broader and brighter your prospects."
Fang Yuan listened and nodded. He already knew all of this inside and out. What Gu Yue Jiao San said wasn't wrong, and he hadn't been deliberately misleading — but he had conveniently left out many other crucial details.
"Alright, we've just finished the Permafrost Soil collection task. Next, I've taken on a Wild Deer capturing task. The danger level is very low — it's perfect for you to practice with, Fang Yuan." Jiao San continued to Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan sneered inwardly, but said aloud, "Thank you for your care, Team Leader."
Gu Yue Kong Jing immediately chimed in, "Younger Brother Fang Yuan, you really should thank the Team Leader. Simple tasks may be easy to complete, but the rewards are quite low. The Team Leader is doing this all for your sake."
The other two female Gu Masters chimed in as well, "That's right, that's right, Younger Brother Fang Yuan — words of thanks aren't as good as real action. Why not treat the Team Leader to a meal?"
"Younger Brother Fang Yuan, you've only just left the Academy. Things in society are very complicated. Interpersonal relationships are extremely important. If there's anything you don't understand, feel free to ask us over dinner."
Gu Yue Jiao San laughed heartily and waved his hand deliberately, "Don't pressure Fang Yuan. He's just left the Academy — he doesn't have many Yuan Stones on hand. He's pretty hard up right now."
"No way! Setting everything else aside, just the reward for first place in the year-end assessment alone is a hundred Yuan Stones!" one of the female Gu Masters exclaimed on purpose, then put on a slightly envious expression. "Come to think of it, that really is something to be jealous of. A hundred Yuan Stones is quite a sum for the likes of us."
"Team Leader, you've underestimated our Younger Brother Fang Yuan. How could he possibly be that stingy? Younger Brother Fang Yuan, am I right?" Gu Yue Kong Jing laughed with a loud, hearty voice, sounding thoroughly amused.
Another female Gu Master sidled up to Fang Yuan, putting on a warm and familiar air, and said, "Younger Brother Fang Yuan, let me give you a friendly tip. You can afford to ignore the rest of us, but you absolutely must curry favor with the Team Leader. Did you know? A portion of our members' evaluations are written by the Team Leader himself. If he says you're outstanding, you're outstanding. If he says you're poor, you're poor."
"Exactly, exactly. Evaluations are extremely important for us Gu Masters. If your evaluation says 'outstanding,' the clan's upper echelons will take notice of you. Once you've put in enough years of seniority, you can save yourself years of hard work!" Kong Jing echoed immediately.
Throughout the entire exchange, Gu Yue Jiao San watched with a faint smile.
Finally, he waved his hand, his expression benevolent, his smile kindly: "Hey now, don't go talking nonsense. My evaluations are always fair and objective — I won't be easily bribed by the likes of you. But rest assured, Fang Yuan, you're a newcomer. Since you've joined our team, I'll certainly look after your evaluation appropriately."
If it were an ordinary young man, he would most likely have been thoroughly charmed and secretly moved by this bunch by now. What they bullied was the newcomer's ignorance of the rules and his naive innocence.
But Fang Yuan's eyes remained calm and clear throughout.
Team leaders participating in team members' evaluations — that was indeed a fact. This was the clan's system: delegating authority and granting the team leader position its weight, making it convenient for leaders to manage their teams.
But it was never as severe as these people made it sound.
In the clan's evaluation process, the team leader's comments were only a small part. The majority of it still fell under the jurisdiction of the clan's Internal Affairs Hall.
Even in the most extreme scenario, even if a team leader's assessment of a team member carried tremendous weight — so what?
Fang Yuan didn't care about this evaluation in the slightest.
He had long since made up his mind to improve his cultivation as quickly as possible, reach the Third Transformation, and leave this place. He had never once considered spending a hundred years idling within this clan, devoting his entire life to its service.
In the eyes of these short-sighted Gu Masters, the evaluation was of the utmost importance. But to Fang Yuan, the so-called evaluation was worth absolutely nothing!
Therefore, these Gu Masters' veiled threats and coercive words held no power over Fang Yuan whatsoever.
"I've heard everything you had to say. I have some matters to attend to, so I'll be leaving now." Fang Yuan paused for a moment, then spoke.
Huh?
In that moment, all four Gu Masters showed expressions of stunned disbelief.
"What does this mean? Did you not hear a single word of what we just said?" A female Gu Master's eyes went wide as she roared inwardly.
"Is there truly something wrong with your comprehension?" In that instant, Guyue Kongjing truly wanted to grab Fang Yuan by the collar and interrogate him face to face.