First-Rank Household Guard

"This time, I truly have to thank Master Feng for speaking so frankly."

Xu Yuan felt deeply enlightened and once again respectfully bowed to him.

Tian Yang hurriedly followed suit.

"No need."

Feng Xiao waved his hand. Though he said nothing, he was quite pleased with Xu Yuan's attitude, knowing he had casually forged a bond of goodwill.

Seeing that they were nearly at the registration office, he gave them a final introduction. "Our Shangyang Family is divided into five halls: the Pill Hall, Enforcement Hall, Personnel Hall, Supervision Hall, and Skill Hall."

"The Pill Hall is where you purchase cultivation medicine, such as Meridian Nourishing Soup and Blood Activating Pills. The Enforcement Hall, as its name suggests, maintains order and discipline. The Personnel Hall registers martial artists, distributes monthly stipends, and assigns duties."

"If you feel any assignment is unfair, you can go to the Supervision Hall. As for the Skill Hall, I'm sure I needn't say more. Later, you can go there directly to receive the martial skill Thunderclap Fist."

Having said that, Feng Xiao directly led them into the Personnel Hall's registration office.

Remembering last night's instructions, Xu Yuan found a maid and informed her. Zhao Qiusheng soon came out.

Feng Xiao clearly knew him. After the two exchanged pleasantries, Feng Xiao even put in a few good words for Xu Yuan.

This greatly surprised Zhao Qiusheng.

After all, Feng Xiao was usually a stuffy gourd. Though he did not engage in crooked schemes, he was hardly an easygoing person either.

Yet he was showing such appreciation for Xu Yuan now, which could not help but pique Zhao Qiusheng's interest.

Feng Xiao left after speaking, and the three entered a room to begin registering one by one.

As Zhao Qiusheng looked over the information the two had filled out, he suddenly frowned. "You have a conflict with that Wild Wolf Gang in the outer city?"

"Yes. My father was previously... That is how it happened."

Xu Yuan did not hide anything. Following the form's requirements, he wrote his interpersonal relationships and the like very clearly.

After all, even if he did not say these things, the Shangyang Family could investigate them whenever it wished. It was better to be honest than to make more mistakes the more he tried to conceal.

Zhao Qiusheng's brow relaxed as he said casually, "It's nothing, so long as it has nothing to do with the Bai Family."

"As for this Wild Wolf Gang? They're just a pack of petty ruffians from the outer city, living hand to mouth. They hardly count as anyone... Don't worry. They won't dare make a move against you openly from now on. Just be careful in your daily life."

Xu Yuan slightly cupped his hands, knowing his guess had been correct.

Even if he could not use the Shangyang Family's power to wipe out the gang, as long as he remained vigilant, it would be enough to protect himself.

After entering the two men's information, Zhao Qiusheng took out a token and a set of gray clothing.

"From today onward, you are First-Rank Household Guards of our Shangyang Family."

"Household guards are divided into three ranks. Above them are black-robed servant leaders. Our standards are unlike those for maids and old women in the side courtyards, where seniority or the promotion of some noble person matters. Here, we look at one thing only: your cultivation realm!"

"If you can break through to the Four-Vein Realm, you will become a Fourth-Rank Servant Leader. Your status and resources within the Lineage will rise by a great deal."

"Even outside, ordinary officials will have to temporarily avoid your sharp edge when they see you."

Fourth-Rank Servant Leader!

Xu Yuan and Tian Yang's eyes flickered, their hearts filled with longing.

"I've gone off on a tangent. You are First-Rank Household Guards now. Your base monthly stipend is one tael; at the second rank, it becomes three taels, and at the third rank, five taels."

Zhao Qiusheng glanced at the two and continued, "In addition, you will receive duty allowances. Those depend on the duties assigned to you."

With that, he handed over their monthly stipends and took out a receipt form. "Fill this out to show that you have received your monthly stipend."

After Xu Yuan filled out the form and took the money pouch, he weighed it in his hand and sensed something was off. This weight seemed to be two taels?

Seeing the confusion on his face, Zhao Qiusheng suddenly remembered.

"Oh, right. That extra tael is a reward granted to you by the Lineage."

Only then did Xu Yuan accept it with ease. Feeling the heavy two taels of silver in his hand, he could not help but sigh inwardly.

"It was over this little bit of silver that Big Brother risked everything to borrow money, drawing the Wild Wolf Gang to his door."

Now, it was merely two months of his wages.

He understood even more clearly that his status had already undergone an earth-shaking change!

Tian Yang tucked his money away as well, his face equally full of joy.

Seeing the two staring blankly at their silver, Zhao Qiusheng could not help but smile.

"This silver may seem like a lot outside, enough to cover an ordinary person's food expenses for several months, but for people like us, there are far too many places to spend money."

"A serving of Meridian Nourishing Soup costs two mace, and a Blood Activating Pill costs three mace. One serving is only enough for a One-Vein martial artist to use for two or three days, and they are in high demand."

"The saying that scholars can be poor but martial artists must be rich is no joke."

Xu Yuan silently nodded. These things truly were expensive!

Those two taels of silver would be enough for Big Brother's household to live on for more than a year.

Yet here, they would only last a little over half a month.

"All right, you may now go to the Skill Hall to receive the martial skill Thunderclap Fist. As for duties, they will not be assigned for selection until next month, after your results have been assessed."

Xu Yuan had already heard Feng Xiao explain this before, but he still leaned forward slightly, listening with patient attentiveness.

Tian Yang, on the other hand, was somewhat absent-minded as he listened to the familiar information.

Zhao Qiusheng naturally spotted the oddity at a glance and asked, "You already knew all this?"

"Yes." Tian Yang hurriedly nodded.

"Master Feng told us on the way here. But Manager Zhao serves in the Personnel Hall, so naturally what you have seen and heard is different. Hearing it from you offers another perspective, and this junior has gained much from it as well." Xu Yuan cupped his hands and answered sincerely.

"..." Tian Yang gave an embarrassed smile, signaling his agreement.

Brother Yuan, do you know you're making me look very foolish like this?

"Oh?"

Hearing that, Zhao Qiusheng could not help looking at him again.

He was clearly only fifteen or sixteen, yet his words were so polished. Not simple at all!

Thus, alongside his appreciation, Zhao Qiusheng gave Xu Yuan quite a bit more advice about matters within the estate, only to discover that Xu Yuan was exceptionally clever.

There were many crucial details he could not conveniently spell out, yet Xu Yuan understood them the moment they were hinted at. Even his manner of speaking was exceedingly proper, leaving no fault for anyone to find.

By comparison, Tian Yang beside him could not hide his rough edges. His reactions were slow, and he often seemed at a loss.

"The younger generation truly inspires awe!"

Zhao Qiusheng sighed. No wonder Feng Xiao thought so highly of Xu Yuan. Interacting with him, he simply did not seem like someone of this age.

He was simply worry-free and effortless to deal with.

At last, Xu Yuan asked for another two days of leave.

The two had been conversing pleasantly, so Zhao Qiusheng naturally had no objection.

Afterward, the two sensibly brought the conversation to an end, and Xu Yuan bade farewell and left.

After coming outside.

The two walked along the road back to their quarters.

Looking at Xu Yuan ahead of him, Tian Yang's expression twisted with hesitation for a while. Then he suddenly stopped, took out his tael of silver from his clothes, and handed it to Xu Yuan.

"Brother Yuan, you saved my life, and you also need to buy Blood Activating Pills soon. Take these two taels."

"But this money definitely isn't enough to repay the favor... If there's anything else in the future, just say the word!"

By the end, Tian Yang was so emotional that his words became somewhat incoherent.

But Xu Yuan understood what he meant. One had to know that during the coming month, ordinary martial artists would be relying on this little bit of silver to cultivate.

If they failed to make a breakthrough by then and were assigned random duties, even their lives would be difficult to guarantee.

"This man may love showing off, but that is only natural. After what happened last night, he has clearly matured quite a bit."

Xu Yuan thought this, then pushed the silver back.

"Take it back. I understand your intentions, but this is a critical time. Every coin has an important use."

"When you are better off someday, it won't be too late to repay me."