Su Ming opened his eyes.

He picked up his brush and began writing swiftly on the blank bamboo slip.

His calligraphy was elegant yet forceful, a pleasure to behold.

He was not writing a dry, boring inventory list.

What he was writing was an “Analysis of Vessel Hall’s Last Quarter Material Inflow/Outflow and Optimization Suggestions.”

He used the method Lin Yu had once taught him to categorize all the ledger entries into several major groups.

Then, using a cinnabar brush, he drew a simple chart.

The chart clearly displayed the material consumption comparisons of the major peaks.

Among them, the line representing the Logistics Department of Heavenly Sword Peak was unnaturally straight.

At the end of the report, he did not use any words like “corruption” or “problematic.”

He merely wrote in a tone of discussion:

“…The material loss rate of Heavenly Sword Peak shows a regular pattern. Perhaps inventory optimization could be implemented to reduce unnecessary resource occupation…”

After writing the final character, he blew on the ink to dry it and rolled up the bamboo slip.

Just at that moment, a slightly portly middle-aged man wearing steward’s attire walked out from the inner hall.

“Steward Wang.”

Everyone in the room hurriedly stood up and bowed in greeting.

This person was precisely the supervisor of the Accounting Office.

“All sorted out?” Steward Wang glanced at the neat pile of bamboo slips on Su Ming’s desk, then looked at Liu Tong’s displeased face, and already understood the situation.

“Reporting to the steward, everything has been organized.” Su Ming respectfully presented the bamboo slip in his hands with both hands.

Steward Wang took it, somewhat surprised.

He unrolled the slip, and after just one glance, his eyes lit up.

Beautiful handwriting! Clear organization!

Looking further down, when he saw that cinnabar chart, the fat on his face couldn’t help but tremble.

Good heavens!

He had managed the Accounting Office for ten years, and this was the first time he had seen someone do accounting in this way!

So intuitive!

When he read the final “optimization suggestions” section, his breathing even became somewhat hurried.

He abruptly looked up, staring intently at Su Ming, his gaze as if looking at a piece of flawless, peerless jade.

“This… you did this?”

“Yes.”

“Good! Good! Good!”

Steward Wang said the word “good” three times in a row, excitedly slapping his thigh.

“Damn it! Finally, someone who actually knows how to work has arrived!”

Holding the bamboo slip, he turned and strode into the inner hall.

A moment later, his excited roar echoed from within the inner hall.

“Elder Ma! Come quickly and look! I’ve got a genius here!”

The door to the quiet chamber in the inner hall was slammed open with a loud “bang.”

Wang, the fat man, was beaming, his face flushed. He rushed in, panting heavily, holding a bamboo slip high in his hand.

His ample flesh trembled violently from his excitement.

“Elder Ma! Elder Ma! Look at this quickly!”

On the meditation cushion, Elder Ma, who had been resting with his eyes closed, furrowed his brows into a tight knot.

He slowly opened his eyes. Two icy, cold glints shot from his murky pupils, as if intending to freeze Wang the fat man right where he stood.

“Wang Defa, is that fat of yours something you want me to refine into lamp oil for you?”

Elder Ma’s voice was hoarse and low, carrying a suppressed anger.

“Have you swallowed all the rules of the External Affairs Hall?”

Wang the fat man was glared at by this look, causing his whole body to shudder. The excitement on his face instantly froze. He quickly hunched his body, his face plastered with an obsequious smile.

“Elder, please calm your anger! Please calm your anger! It was Defa who was rash and impulsive. Defa deserves to die!”

While verbally apologizing, his steps didn’t stop. He shuffled a few steps closer to Elder Ma and presented the bamboo slip in his hand as if it were a treasure.

“Elder, look at this quickly! This… this is simply divine workmanship! I’ve managed the Accounting Office for ten years and have never seen such beautiful accounting!”

Elder Ma snorted coldly but ultimately took the bamboo slip.

He initially thought it was just Wang the fat man making a mountain out of a molehill again, a hint of impatience in his eyes.

But when he unrolled the slip and his gaze fell upon it, those eyes, usually as still as an ancient well, contracted slightly.

The first thing that caught his eye was that elegant, handsome, and naturally graceful calligraphy.

Just this handwriting alone was enough to make ninety-nine percent of the disciples within the sect feel ashamed.

Looking further down, the content made his heart jolt even more.

No lengthy, tedious itemized records. No chaotic piling up of numbers.

In its place was a meticulously drawn chart using a cinnabar brush.

Horizontal axis for time, vertical axis for materials.

The consumption curves of the major peaks were clear at a glance.

Which peak’s usage exceeded standards, which material’s loss rate was abnormal—all were as clear as looking at the lines on one’s own palm.

This… what incredibly clear thinking!

Elder Ma’s gaze finally settled on that unnaturally straight curve.

Heavenly Sword Peak.

His finger gently stroked that line. A meaningful glint flashed in his murky eyes.

Seeing this final suggestion, Elder Ma’s breathing halted for an instant.

This kid not only figured out the accounts clearly.

He also pointed out the problem behind the accounts in the safest, most fireproof way possible.

This was a smart person.

“Who did this?” Elder Ma’s voice now betrayed no emotion, neither joy nor anger.

Seeing an opportunity, Wang the fat man immediately straightened his back, speaking as if claiming credit, “Reporting to the Elder, it’s that menial post disciple you specially approved for sect entry a few days ago, Su Ming!”

He leaned in closer, lowering his voice, his tone full of the excitement of having found a treasure.

“Elder, you didn’t see it. That pile of messed-up accounts from the Vessel Hall that had been rotting for three months, two disciples couldn’t sort them out in half a month. This kid, half a day! Just half a day, he made everything crystal clear!”

“This isn’t a menial post disciple! This is clearly talent tailor-made for our Accounting Office!”

Elder Ma slowly rolled up the bamboo slip and placed it to the side.

He glanced at the enthusiastically spittle-flying Wang the fat man and said indifferently, “Since he’s talent for your Accounting Office, he’ll be under your management from now on.”

“Do not disturb my quiet cultivation again over such trivial matters.”

“If there’s a next time, you can go to the Spirit Beast Valley and sweep the stables.”

Upon hearing this, Wang the fat man was immediately overjoyed.

This was approval!

The Elder was completely assigning Su Ming, this treasure, to him!

“Yes, yes, yes! Defa obeys! Defa wouldn’t dare do it again!”

He bowed and scraped as he retreated, the fat on his face smiling like a fully bloomed chrysanthemum.

Quiet returned to the chamber once more.

Elder Ma picked up that bamboo slip and looked at it again.

“Su Ming…”

He softly uttered this name, a trace of pity flashing in his murky eyes.

“What a fine Hanlin Academy compiler. A pity, what a pity…”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep