Ni Ying (Two-in-One)

The next day, the first day of the first month, early in the morning, the entire Shen Family began slowly turning like a massive machine. At the Outer Courtyard gates, Martial Student Recruitment had drawn a long queue, packed with people; in the Outer Courtyard's General Affairs Department, every subordinate office was operating at full capacity as well: distributing Monthly Stipends, determining rewards and punishments for last month's assignments, conducting rank-promotion assessments, assigning missions, and so on.

Normally, today was the first day of the New Year. In previous years, the various branches of the Shen Family would not have been as busy as they were this year. At most, a small number of people would remain on duty, while the great majority took a ten-day holiday and only gradually returned to normal after the tenth day of the month. But this year was an exceptional case. The sudden rise of the Medicine King Gang had brought considerable pressure upon the Shen Family, and wartime conditions were naturally different from peacetime.

Still, everything had two sides, and wartime conditions had their benefits as well.

"Six taels of silver? Overseer, could there have been some mistake?" Zhuang Jin glanced at the silver being handed over. Rather than immediately accepting it and signing for it, he looked up and asked.

"No mistake. Today is New Year's Day, and with the Medicine King Gang outside, the Family Head has approved it: this month, everyone in the Shen Family will receive double their basic Monthly Stipend according to rank... Hm? Looking at the registration date on your token, you were promoted to a Two-Striped Servant yesterday? You truly are a lucky star. You just rose in servant rank, and today you happened to catch such a moment."

—In fact, the Shen Family gave New Year benefits in past years too, but at most it was only one-third to one-half of the basic Monthly Stipend. This year was exceptional, yet they had directly doubled it!

As soon as those words came out, the people in line behind him grew excited and began whispering among themselves, clearly delighted to receive an extra month's stipend. Quite a few One-Striped Servants also cast envious looks at Zhuang Jin.

Yet some more perceptive people secretly studied Zhuang Jin. Normally, rank-promotion assessments were held on the first day of the month—that was, today—so why was the registration date on this man's token yesterday? There was only one possibility: he was a newly advanced Formal Martial Artist. He had studied a Martial Skill last month and been promoted in the month-end evaluation. Realizing this, they could not help being secretly astonished by Zhuang Jin's talent.

So that was it. Zhuang Jin ignored the others' gazes and nodded to himself. The basic Monthly Stipend for a Two-Striped Servant was three taels of silver. Doubled, that made exactly six taels!

No wonder the man said he was lucky. Had he still been a One-Striped Servant, even doubled, he would only have received two taels. He had simply arrived at the right time, advancing in rank just before running into such good fortune.

"So that's how it is. Thank you for clearing that up, Overseer." Zhuang Jin thanked him, signed for the silver, and left. He had encountered good fortune first thing in the morning, gaining an extra month's stipend—three taels of silver—for nothing. A faint joy filled his heart.

During the final five or six days of last month, I practiced Martial Skills and bought two packets of Black Fiend Palm medicine. Of the original nine taels, only eight taels and eight mace remained. But adding the two taels Master Ping gave me yesterday, these six taels, next month's Monthly Stipend, and the money from my monthly assignment... I won't have to worry about lacking silver for cultivation Provisions for at least two or three months.

This only made him more certain that he had made the right choice in selecting an assignment at Shen Family Headquarters.

After collecting his Monthly Stipend, Zhuang Jin went to the mission office of the General Affairs Department and found the window where Chang Hetong was stationed.

With so many eyes watching, it was different from speaking in private. Chang Hetong merely gave him a look and handled matters officially. "Zhuang Jin, Two-Striped Servant. You have four months' worth of opportunities for Self-selected Missions. This is the mission list. Decide within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, then come register with me..."

"Thank you, Overseer Chang."

Understanding the hint, Zhuang Jin nodded and went aside to examine the detailed mission list. Sure enough, just as Ping Yongfeng had said yesterday, there were no assignments in stable areas such as East of the City or South of the City.

His gaze swept over places like North of the City, the Herb Fields Outside the City, and the areas in South of the City bordering the Medicine King Gang, skipping them directly. He began searching through the assignments at Shen Family Headquarters that Two-Striped Servants could accept and soon settled on one.

Martial Arts Instructor for Martial Students!

It was the very work Ping Yongfeng did: instructing the Martial Students recruited from outside. It was just right for a Two-Striped Servant, and he met the qualifications to accept it!

Zhuang Jin's reasons for choosing it were simple. First, it was safe, being at Shen Family Headquarters. Second, he only needed to teach for at least the time of one incense stick in the morning and afternoon. It was leisurely, leaving him plenty of time for Martial Practice.

Once he had made his choice, he went over to register at once. The process went smoothly, and he received his credentials as this month's Martial Arts Instructor for Martial Students.

When he came out, he ran into Qian Wende. Today, the others from their former dormitory naturally had to come collect their assignments as well, and they had all arrived.

"Brother Zhuang, happy New Year!"

Qian Wende bent at the waist slightly, his face full of smiles as he greeted him. "Brother Zhuang, did you know? I heard our Monthly Stipends have doubled this month... What, Brother Zhuang, you've already collected yours? The news is true? Brother Zhuang truly is a lucky star! You advanced to Two-Striped Servant yesterday, then ran into such joyous news today. If you ask me, Brother Zhuang is a man blessed with great fortune!"

After a round of flattery, he continued, "Kai Zi, Haozi, and the others came in with me. We came to pick up our missions first, and they went to collect their Monthly Stipends just now. I spotted Brother Zhuang with my sharp eyes, so I waited here..."

From Qian Wende, Zhuang Jin learned what assignments the others from the dormitory had chosen.

Xiong Lei had also selected Shen Family Headquarters, specifically the Internal Affairs Department of the Law Enforcement Division. To put it more plainly, he would be guarding the gates, an assignment that paid five mace of silver a month.

Lin Hong had likewise chosen Shen Family Headquarters, the Internal Affairs Department of the Law Enforcement Division, as one of the Martial Arts Instructors responsible for Martial Student Night Duty. It was the same assignment held by that Martial Instructor Sun who had come on the night Bi Kai was ambushed, and it also paid five mace of silver.

Bi Kai had chosen the Herb Fields Outside the City, which paid seven mace of silver a month.

Xiang Qichen, Jiao Kun, Qian Wende, and Wu Hao had all chosen North of the City. Their assignments paid a basic one tael of silver each month, with kills calculated separately.

Well, no one had foolishly chosen to go to the areas in South of the City adjacent to the Medicine King Gang. A little inquiry was enough to reveal how dangerous that place was.

My Martial Arts Instructor assignment pays one tael of silver per month. If I fail to train even one Formal Martial Artist in a month, five mace will be deducted. But after meeting the minimum of one, every additional one earns a reward—five mace of silver apiece.

Listening to the compensation for the others' assignments, Zhuang Jin nodded slightly. He did not find it unreasonable. As a Two-Striped Servant, if he were willing to go to the Herb Fields Outside the City, he could receive a basic one tael and five mace every month. If he went to North of the City, he could receive a basic three taels even without counting kill rewards. In the areas of South of the City bordering the Medicine King Gang, the basic assignment payment was even five taels... But risk and reward went hand in hand. The fear was that one might live to earn it, yet not live to spend it!

"A genius like Brother Zhuang ought to cultivate here in peace. Leave the minor matters to me. I'll go to North of the City and gather news and intelligence, then report it back to Brother Zhuang. Just wait and see what I can do!" Qian Wende said, half a step behind him, bent slightly at the waist with a fawning smile.

Ever since the incident with Xiang Qichen that day, the man had remained in this sycophantic state around Zhuang Jin. Not only had he decisively drawn a line between himself and Xiang Qichen, whom he had once called boss at every turn, but he had also begun acting together with Zhuang Jin every day, following Bi Kai and Wu Hao's example. He gathered tidbits of insider news daily, relayed them as gossip during meals, constantly played along with Zhuang Jin's remarks, flattered him, and amused him. Often, he did not hesitate to mock himself. He took care of every detail in daily life as well—serving Zhuang Jin's meal first every time they ate, even preparing the foot-washing water by the time they returned to the dormitory...

From an onlooker's perspective, Qian Wende had once seemed like this sort of person: thick-skinned, fond of petty gains, given an inch and taking a mile, selfish, self-serving, and ungrateful. But when you showed your value and he entered this sycophantic state, wholeheartedly currying favor with you, he made an entirely different impression: he stood firmly on your side, racked his brains to make you happy, never got angry no matter what you said, provided emotional value to the fullest, and in every small matter put himself in your shoes and considered everything thoroughly, determined to make his bootlicking feel as comfortable and pleasing as possible.

Many people did not understand why those in high positions would draw close to flattering petty men. In their eyes, such people were worthless, so they believed those above had been deceived, or were stubborn and muddle-headed. Yet they did not know that those people showed an entirely different face before their superiors.

To put it more bluntly, they did not bother pretending before you simply because you were not worth currying favor with. You lacked that value.

In fact, many times, those in high positions may not have been unaware of the true faces of such petty men. They simply had another standard of judgment: they looked not at good and evil, but only at profit and loss. To those above, when they were powerful and illustrious, these so-called petty men knew who their master was, could please them, and when they encountered someone their master disliked but could not conveniently deal with personally, a single look would send them charging forward like dogs... That was enough. They were useful people.

And since they were useful people, there was nothing wrong with giving them one or two opportunities. Indeed, they were far better than those coy fools who wanted benefits but could not bend at the waist to flatter, who wanted both substance and face, or who could not see their own position clearly.

As for whether these petty men would become ungrateful, shift with the wind, or even bite back when those above them became dragons stranded in shallow waters—that was another matter entirely.

These thoughts flashed through Zhuang Jin's mind. He did not refuse. "Then I'll have to thank you, Wende."

"Ah, Brother Zhuang, why be so polite with me? You honor me just by calling me Dezi." Knowing that Zhuang Jin was gradually acknowledging him, Qian Wende immediately beamed.

At this moment, Xiang Qichen, Xiong Lei, Lin Hong, Jiao Kun, Bi Kai, and Wu Hao came over after collecting their Monthly Stipends. Whatever conflicts they had once had, the eight of them were still outwardly getting along well enough now. Even Xiang Qichen came over to offer a greeting. Then, because they had to report for duty, they all said their farewells and left.

"Brother Zhuang, the Herb Field is far away. I'll go report in first, then come see you again at the end of the month!" Bi Kai said goodbye and departed.

Wu Hao also wished him a happy New Year before following Xiang Qichen and Jiao Kun toward North of the City.

Lin Hong simply nodded. They were both stationed at Shen Family Headquarters, so there was no need to talk immediately. After saying a word, he left as well.

Xiong Lei lingered behind. He looked at Zhuang Jin, then at Qian Wende, his expression complicated. When he returned yesterday, Xiong Dadan had painstakingly laid out certain matters for him. He had not been willing to believe them at first, but today, he was beginning to.

—Today, Qian Wende did not even call him Brother Xiong. He simply called him Lei Zi. Presumably, since they would no longer be in the same dormitory and there was no more advantage or benefit to gain, this was truly... realistic.

"All right, Brother Zhuang, I'll go collect this month's Monthly Stipend first." Qian Wende spoke, bowed as he left, and did not even glance at Xiong Lei.

He knew that on the night of the incident between Zhuang Jin and Xiang Qichen, when Xiong Lei had stopped Zhuang Jin from making a move, whatever friendship remained between the two had been exhausted. No matter how prosperous or illustrious Zhuang Jin became in the future, it would have nothing whatsoever to do with Xiong Lei. Xiong Lei would never again be able to bask in any of his reflected glory... In other words, Xiong Lei was out!

"Jin... Brother Zhuang, I... that day, I wronged you..." Xiong Lei still believed that strength came first among Martial Artists and that the accomplished deserved precedence. With difficulty, he called out, "Brother Zhuang."

"Enough. What's past is past. Look ahead." Zhuang Jin said this and turned away.

Watching Zhuang Jin's retreating back, Xiong Lei felt an inexplicable bitterness rise in his heart. He opened his mouth, but in the end, he could not bring himself to call him back.

Both of them knew that although this apology seemed to reconcile them and dissolve their former grievances, they could never return to what they had once been.

—What grand reunion where everyone laughed and let old grudges vanish? That existed only in storybooks. In reality, spilled water could not be gathered again.

It was not pettiness, either. People were constantly selecting one another. No one stood in place waiting for anyone else. More often, if they did not suit each other, they would be cast aside, and from then on, drift farther and farther apart.

Meanwhile, Zhuang Jin was also preparing to begin his new assignment. He arrived early at Yellow Character Number Nine Training Field.

Well, his main purpose was to keep an eye on the Qi Channel Opening Soup. Whatever remained after each Martial Student received a bowl was all his benefit, and he had to prevent something like what Qian Wende had done before from happening.

Before long, he unexpectedly saw an acquaintance: Miss Yun. Another girl of about sixteen accompanied her, and the two carried Qi Channel Opening Soup and bowls over.

As the two girls approached, their lovely appearance seemed to make the entire Training Ground brighter.

The unfamiliar girl in particular stood graceful and slender, with cherry lips and peach-blossom cheeks. Her tender, baby-fat face wore no powder or paint, yet the two traces of blush, like evening clouds at the edge of the sky, were already the finest adornment. When she glanced about and turned her head, her bright eyes were lively and alluring... Yes, the most remarkable thing was those eyes: nimble and glistening, clear and luminous. At the sight of them, one could not help recalling the phrase, "A pool of autumn water shone cold upon the beholder."

Zhuang Jin's gaze tightened slightly as he looked at the two Willow Leaf Patterns on the willow green skirt of the girl, an Outer Courtyard Second-Class Maid. "Greetings, Miss Yun, and greetings to this young lady as well. Happy New Year!"

"Happy New Year, young master. What a coincidence indeed!"

After greeting Zhuang Jin and learning that he was responsible for this Training Ground, Chen Yun sighed softly, then introduced the girl beside her. "This is my cousin, Ni Ying. With the recent expansion of Martial Student Recruitment, the Outer Courtyard has recruited some maids as well. Yingying was assessed as an Outer Courtyard Second-Class Maid as soon as she entered. For the coming month, she will distribute Qi Channel Opening Soup here. I hope young master will look after her a little."

She made this request because she worried that Ni Ying might be jostled by some rough-handed Martial Students. In theory, no Martial Student would dare go that far, for anyone so unaware of their limits would naturally be punished by the rules. But maids were different from servants; after all, they had not practiced martial arts. If such a thing truly happened, it would leave people feeling unhappy and ill at ease, would it not?

"Of course. How about this? I'll come early each day and keep an eye on things."

Zhuang Jin was not someone who meddled in others' affairs, yet he agreed without hesitation. It was not because, like Xiong Lei, his heart had begun to stir with springtime feelings. Rather, he remembered the kindness Miss Yun had shown by speaking up for him when Hou Yong came looking for trouble that day.

—Although Chen Yun had long said that the matter that day counted as repayment for his help to Song Lan, one thing was one thing and another was another. Song Lan was Song Lan, and Miss Yun was Miss Yun. Besides, he had his own scales in his heart. Even if it had been offset in that manner, there was still something lacking before the debt was truly repaid.