# 456
**Chapter 456 – The Sword Saint’s Job**
“S-S-S-Sword Saint?!” Baili Pangpang’s jaw dropped. “You’re the number one ranked ‘Sword’ among the Human Apex?!”
Everyone present—except for the utterly bewildered Jialan—was stunned speechless.
The teacher Zuo Qing said Ye Fan had paid a steep price to invite… turned out to be an actual Human Apex, and the top Sword Saint at that?!
Lin Qiye couldn’t even imagine what Ye Fan must have given up to get him here…
“‘Human Apex’ is just something other people call me. I don’t really like the name,” Zhou Ping said seriously. “I prefer ‘Sword Saint.’”
Lin Qiye glanced at the mop in his hand and the spotless warehouse around them, then couldn’t help asking, “Sword Saint senior, then this cleaning…”
“It looked dirty here, so I tidied up last night while I was at it.” Zhou Ping seemed to remember something, lifted the mop, and began scrubbing the last floor tile. “Wait a moment. I’ll finish this bit, then we can start class.”
Lin Qiye: …
“Senior Sword Saint, chores like this—let us do them!” Lin Qiye stepped forward, trying to take the mop.
Letting a Sword Saint clean for them?
Was this a joke?!
If Ye Fan found out, he’d tear them apart with his bare hands.
“No, you won’t get it clean enough.” Zhou Ping shook his head. “I’m bad at everything except swordplay and cleaning. Stand aside; it’ll be done soon…”
Seeing Zhou Ping refuse so firmly, Lin Qiye could only retract his outstretched hand, return to the others, and watch that meticulous mopping figure.
“Qiye… what’s going on?” Baili Pangpang whispered. “Having the Sword Saint mop for us—are we losing years off our lives?”
“…Don’t be superstitious.”
Cao Yuan studied Zhou Ping’s palms and nodded thoughtfully. “Look closely—his hands are calloused; he must train with the sword a lot.”
Beside them, An Qingyu adjusted his glasses, expression odd. “The calluses are real, but both hands are identical. From the details, they don’t look like sword grip calluses. More like…”
Just then, Lin Qiye couldn’t help asking, “Senior Sword Saint, do you usually do manual work a lot?”
Without lifting his head from the tile, Zhou Ping gave a focused “Mm.”
“This is my job.”
This is… his job?
Lin Qiye froze.
“Your job is…”
“Waiter,” Zhou Ping said calmly. “I work at my third uncle’s restaurant—cleaning and washing dishes every day.”
Lin Qiye: ???
“Your third uncle’s place? A waiter?” Baili Pangpang repeated in disbelief.
“Third-Uncle Home-Style Eatery, on Changxiang Road in Xijin City. Mention my name for a five-percent discount.”
“……”
Lin Qiye and the others exchanged glances, faces full of absurdity.
The Sword Saint’s day job is waiting tables? Had the world gone mad, or had they?
Did the dishes at Third-Uncle Home-Style use meat from Klein-realm Mysteries?
“May I ask… what price did Commander Ye pay to get you here?” Lin Qiye ventured.
“Oh, if I come teach you, I have to take leave, but then the shop’s short a waiter, so…” Zhou Ping paused. “Right now he should be doing my shift.”
Lin Qiye’s group turned to stone.
…
Xijin City.
Third-Uncle Home-Style Eatery.
Ye Fan, apron on, stood in the cramped kitchen, sleeves rolled, scrubbing plates furiously, face green.
“Third Uncle, add a tomato stir-fried with tomato for us!”
“Third Uncle, heard we’re ranked number one on Xijin’s food list—how ’bout a free dish today?”
“Yo, Third Uncle, your meat’s sliced thin lately—knife skills improving?”
“……”
In the tiny dining room, a handful of customers bantered while eating. Third Uncle chuckled back, cradling a steaming old-cadre tea mug, and sauntered into the kitchen.
Seeing Ye Fan scrubbing for dear life, he clicked his tongue. “So, new guy Xiao Fan, huh? You’re way slower than our Xiao Ping. Keep this up and I’ll dock your pay.”
Ye Fan’s expression stiffened; he scrubbed even harder, teeth clenched.
“Those little brats—if they don’t learn something this time, I’ll break their legs when I get back…”
…
Warehouse.
At last Zhou Ping finished the last tile, stowed the cleaning gear, rolled his sleeves down, and walked to the open space.
Facing him, Lin Qiye and the other four sat upright on little stools, backs straight, ready for class.
“If you’re ready, we’ll begin,” Zhou Ping said slowly.
“We’re ready, Senior Sword Saint!” Baili Pangpang exclaimed excitedly.
This was the ceiling of the Human Apex teaching them—few in all Great Xia ever got such treatment. Commander Ye had traded his own labor for this chance; if they didn’t study hard, how could they face him again?
Zhou Ping nodded, pointed to a cardboard box in the corner, and said, “Your textbooks are in there. Take them all out.”
Lin Qiye’s eyes lit up. Worthy of the Sword Saint—textbooks prepared.
They hurried over, lugged the heavy box—at least forty or fifty books—back, and Lin Qiye opened it. The title on top made him freeze.
“The Sword of the Third Young Master?” Baili Pangpang read, puzzled. “Is this a sword manual?”
He lifted it and looked at the next.
“Tianya, Mingyue, Dao? Must be a saber manual.”
“Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils?”
“Heaven Sword & Dragon Saber?”
“Smiling, Proud Wanderer?”
“Empresses in the Palace?!!!” Baili Pangpang stared at the book, utterly lost.
Zhou Ping snatched *Empresses in the Palace* lightning-fast and hid it behind his back. “Wrong copy, that one’s not…”