I'm Here for the Brocade Guard Recruitment Exam, What's It to You

The two walked side-by-side, entering the Thousand Households Office.

The scene within the Thousand Households Office met Su Fei's eyes.

The bluestone-paved ground was clean and tidy.

The two passed an open courtyard.

A shouting sound still emanated from within.

Su Fei curiously looked inside.

A group of Imperial Guard strongmen were diligently training inside.

Some carried mulberry wood on their shoulders, walking back and forth to build strength.

Some were punching wooden dummies in the courtyard, practicing their moves.

Some were using ropes to tie themselves to the stone rollers in the courtyard and then pushing them. The ropes were stretched taut, and every step was difficult.

A tall strongman walking with them saw Su Fei staring intently at the scene in the courtyard and casually explained.

"They're all in the Body Tempering Realm, building their strength. That's how everyone in the Body Tempering Realm trains."

Su Fei replied.

"Practicing so early in the morning, they're really dedicated."

"Dedicated?"

The tall strongman savored the word, understanding its meaning.

"Strongmen only get three taels of silver a month, which is barely enough to feed a family. If you want to get ahead, you have to work hard."

The two walked through a corridor and arrived at the training grounds of the Thousand Households Office.

This was the place where the Imperial Guard recruitment assessment was held.

At this time, forty to fifty young martial artists had already gathered on the training grounds. Each was dressed in fitted clothing, their hands clasped, their faces filled with nervousness and anticipation.

A circle of strongmen stood on the side, watching the spectacle.

In the center of the training grounds stood two individuals in Imperial Guard uniforms, holding a roster and checking the headcount.

"The first test is strength, it's over there. You go first," the tall strongman whispered, pointing to the stone lock area on the east side of the training grounds.

Su Fei nodded in agreement. Just as he reached the registration desk, he heard an arrogant voice.

"Well, look who it is, Su Fei? What, someone like you, a dissolute fellow, wants to sign up for the Imperial Guard? What, you just want to come here for a meal?"

"Don't think I don't know you haven't practiced any martial arts at all, and you have no talent for martial arts, right?"

"Besides going to places like brothels, what else are you good for?"

Su Fei looked up. The speaker was a young man around twenty years old, wearing fine clothes and a glazed jade pendant at his waist. His face carried an innate arrogance.

Su Fei recognized this person. His name was Chen Hu. They had previously competed for a girl at a brothel. However, Su Fei was good-looking, so the girl ultimately chose Su Fei.

Chen Hu, angered by this, left the brothel immediately.

From then on, the two became enemies.

It was said that this person had an uncle who was a Baihu.

He was also accompanied by two martial artist followers, who looked at Su Fei with amusement, whispering something to each other.

Su Fei frowned slightly. The God-tier Insight Technique automatically activated. He saw that his blood and qi were quite vigorous, and he possessed the cultivation of someone who had just entered the True Qi Realm.

However, his true qi was slightly unstable.

There was also a faint scent of medicinal pills on him.

This meant he had broken through his realm by relying on the power of medicinal pills.

I see. Your martial arts talent is indeed 'impressive'.

Su Fei said calmly.

"Chen Hu, I'm here to participate in the Imperial Guard recruitment assessment. What business is it of yours?"

Chen Hu let out a scoff.

"Su Fei, you think you're worthy of coming here? I know all about your past deeds. You haven't even reached the third level of the Body Tempering Realm, have you? I advise you to go home early and stop embarrassing yourself here."

"Even for the strongman assessment, you need at least the fifth or sixth level of Body Tempering to pass."

"I advise you to leave. If you perform too poorly later, you'll become a laughingstock. Didn't you say last time at the brothel that you lived by your looks?"

Su Fei ignored Chen Hu and walked directly to the registration desk.

He reported his name and registered.

"Su Fei."

The strongman registering looked at him, a hint of sympathy flashing in his eyes, and marked a check on the roster.

"Next."

Chen Hu, standing behind Su Fei, glanced at him before walking to the registration desk with an arrogant expression.

"I am Chen Hu, at the first level of the True Qi Realm."

Upon hearing this, the Strongman's eyes lit up. He quickly made a note on the roster, his movements noticeably faster.

Although the assessment registration only required one's name and not their cultivation level, a True Qi Realm martial artist was generally considered special.

For a Strongman, a True Qi Realm martial artist passing the assessment was practically a sure thing.

Higher martial arts cultivation made it easier to earn merits and be promoted to Squad Leader, unlike himself, a Strongman in the Body Tempering Realm.