Such fulfilling, orderly days flashed by, and another two days passed.
Over those two days, Li Bufan went without fail to the Official Road outside the city during the day, diligently practicing the Spirit Ape Muscle Tempering Technique and Spirit Monkey Three Leaps. At night, he returned home to eat with his younger brother, urged him to review his lessons, then continued polishing the Nameless Fist Technique and studying the Complete Herbal Compendium.
With the tireless support of the [Heaven Rewards Diligence] fate, his progress was plain to see:
The Nameless Fist Technique grew ever more refined and profound, its proficiency rising steadily to (6687/). The most direct benefit was that his breath became increasingly long and deep, his endurance soared, and his ability to sustain combat increased enormously.
As his primary cultivation technique, the Spirit Ape Muscle Tempering Technique advanced even more swiftly, successfully breaking through to Minor Mastery (433/2000), greatly improving its tempering of the muscles throughout his body.
The Spirit Monkey Three Leaps footwork also rose with the tide, reaching Minor Mastery (1442/2000). His leaps became more nimble and swift.
His own Martial Arts Realm also advanced steadily from Minor Mastery in Muscle Tempering. His qi and blood grew increasingly vigorous and condensed as he continually approached Peak Minor Mastery.
What delighted him even more was that, through his deeper study and understanding of the Complete Herbal Compendium, the knowledge from the previously Great Mastery Herbal Compendium was thoroughly assimilated and vastly expanded. It directly advanced to Minor Mastery in the Complete Herbal Compendium (342/2000), giving him a deeper understanding of medicinal herbs and the combinations of their properties.
Furthermore, after adapting over the past few days, he could now completely ignore the restraints of his guard uniform. Whether practicing his fists, leaping, or swinging his blade, he could move freely and exert force smoothly, as though the clothes had grown onto his body.
His all-round increase in strength brought him powerful confidence. But Li Bufan did not let it go to his head.
After dinner that evening, he counted the days and thought, Tomorrow will be my day to take my shift. Although Coach Qin explained the rules in broad terms before, he might not have covered every detail. My first shift concerns my first impression, so I absolutely cannot make any mistakes. Uncle Fu is experienced and kind-hearted. It would be best to ask him again and confirm everything, so I know what to expect and leave nothing to chance.
With that in mind, he said to Ping'an, who was clearing the bowls and chopsticks, "Little brother, for the next seven days, your brother will be taking shifts at Lin Manor. I'm afraid I won't be able to come back at night."
Hearing this, Ping'an set down the bowl in his hand. A trace of reluctance appeared on his little face, but he still nodded sensibly. "Oh, I understand, Brother. Then where will you sleep at night? What about your meals?"
"The manor has accommodations and food, so don't worry." As Li Bufan spoke, he counted out one hundred copper coins from his clothes and stuffed them into his brother's hand. "Take this money. Your brother won't be able to cook for you these seven days. If you don't feel like lighting the stove after Academy, go buy something from Aunt Zhang's noodle stall or Uncle Wang's eatery at the street corner. Don't let yourself go hungry. Be especially careful on your way to and from Academy. Go straight home, and don't linger outside playing."
Ping'an held the weighty string of copper coins, feeling that the responsibility on his shoulders was immense. His little face tightened as he solemnly promised, "Mm! Don't worry, Brother! I can take care of myself! I'll definitely go straight home!"
Seeing how sensible his younger brother was, Li Bufan smiled with relief. He then sent Li Ping'an off to Academy.
After seeing Ping'an to Academy, Li Bufan headed straight for the residence of Uncle Fu, Lin Manor's chief steward. His steps were steady, and he had already prepared what he would say to ask Uncle Fu for advice.
Following the familiar route to the elegant little courtyard, Li Bufan straightened his robes and lightly knocked on the door ring.
"Coming." Uncle Fu's gentle voice came from within. The door creaked open, and when Uncle Fu saw the spirited Li Bufan outside, understanding flashed through his eyes. Smiling, he said, "So it's you, lad. You start your shift tomorrow, yet you still had the time to come see this old man today? Do you have doubts about being on duty?"
Li Bufan bowed respectfully. "Uncle Fu sees clearly. This is indeed my first time on duty. Though Coach Qin gave me a rough explanation, I fear I may have missed some details and violate the manor's rules. I have come especially to seek your guidance. When Second-Class Guards take shifts, what exactly must they do, and what should they pay particular attention to?"
Seeing Li Bufan's humble attitude and thorough consideration, the approval in Uncle Fu's eyes deepened. He stepped aside. "Come in and speak. It is good to be cautious on your first shift."
The two entered and sat down. Uncle Fu did not waste time on pleasantries, instead getting straight to the point. "For a Second-Class Guard on rotation, the foremost duty is patrol, ensuring the safety of the area you are responsible for. Patrol does not simply mean walking back and forth. You must watch for any suspicious person. The areas assigned for patrol mainly include important courtyards, storehouses, and passageways. No blind spots may be missed."
He paused, then continued, "Second is guarding doors. Not the main gate, but certain important entrances to the inner courtyard. You must stand guard as required, inspect the waist badges of those passing through, and promptly stop and report anyone who tries to enter without permission.
"Furthermore, should any unexpected incident occur, such as a fire, theft, or fight, you must sound the alarm immediately and decisively handle it or call for aid according to the circumstances. If you receive instructions from manor stewards or masters in ordinary times, you must obey respectfully and carry them out properly."
Uncle Fu explained in great detail, and Li Bufan listened attentively, silently committing every point to memory.
"Lastly, and most importantly," Uncle Fu said with heavier emphasis, "when you are on duty, you represent the face of Lin Manor. Your words and conduct must be proper, and you must remain calm when things happen—neither servile nor overbearing. You must display the authority of a guard, yet you must not use your position to bully others. You must carefully grasp the proper measure yourself."
After hearing Uncle Fu's words, Li Bufan suddenly saw the light. The little unease he had felt earlier was swept away. Rising to his feet, he gave a deep bow. "Thank you, Uncle Fu, for clearing away my confusion! I will remember it well and act with caution, never failing the manor's rules!"
"Mm, go on. Do your duty well. Do not be nervous, but do not be careless either." Uncle Fu smiled and waved his hand.
Li Bufan thanked him once more before turning to leave. He now had a clear understanding and walked steadily toward the area where the Second-Class Guards of the West Courtyard were stationed.
The moment he entered that area, before he even reached Merit Hall, several familiar figures surrounded him with sarcastic grins. They were the same people who had threatened him before.
The dark-faced young man at their head folded his arms and looked askance at Li Bufan, sneering. "Oh? Isn't this our exceptionally promoted Great Guard Li? What's this? You hid away for a few peaceful days, and now you finally decided to show up? We thought you were too scared to come!"
The tall, skinny man beside him chimed in with the same mocking tone. "Exactly! If you're scared, know your place and obediently follow the rules. You'll still get a mouthful of soup. Keep forcing yourself to stand tall, and it won't do you any good."
Li Bufan did not slow his pace. He did not even raise his eyelids, as if he had neither seen them nor heard a word they said. He walked directly past them, heading straight for the quarters of the Second-Class Guard Captain.
The men were stunned by such complete disregard. Anger immediately rose on their faces, but when they saw Li Bufan's calm, upright back, utterly unruffled, and noticed that he was heading directly to the Captain's room, they became uncertain and did not dare chase after him to cause a scene.
Li Bufan arrived outside the Captain's room and lightly knocked on the door.
"Come in." A low voice sounded from inside.
Li Bufan pushed open the door and entered. The furnishings inside were simple. A cold-faced young man of about twenty-seven or twenty-eight sat behind a table, wiping down a longsword. He looked up at Li Bufan with sharp, appraising eyes. No numbered waist badge hung from his belt, but Li Bufan knew that this man was Zhao Gan, the Captain ranked first among the Second-Class Guards.
"You are the newcomer, Li Bufan?" Zhao Gan set down his sword. His tone was flat, but it carried an invisible pressure.
"Yes." Li Bufan was concise and offered no unnecessary explanation.
Zhao Gan examined him for several moments. He seemed slightly surprised by Li Bufan's calm demeanor, but said nothing more. He merely picked up a sheet of paper from the table. "Tomorrow's shift schedule. Your post is patrolling the area near Tingxue Pavilion. Roll call is at the hour of the dragon. Do not be late. If there is nothing else, leave." His tone was cold, carrying obvious distance and a faint, almost imperceptible... rejection?
Tingxue Pavilion? Li Bufan's heart stirred. He remembered it. That was precisely where Eldest Miss Lin had summoned him, rewarded him, and promoted him.
"Thank you, Captain." Li Bufan did not ask further questions. He took the schedule, glanced it over, committed it to memory, then turned and left the room cleanly.
When he left the Captain's room, the three men were still watching him from not far away, their gazes unfriendly. Li Bufan continued to treat them as if they did not exist and headed directly for the five-man dormitory assigned to him.
Pushing open the door, he found the room still empty. He walked to his bed and sat down, his gaze calm.
"Patrolling near Tingxue Pavilion..." he muttered under his breath, his fingers unconsciously tapping the bedboard. That was where Eldest Miss Lin often stayed. Had they assigned him to patrol there by coincidence? Or did they want this "well-connected hire" to make a fool of himself right beneath the Eldest Miss's eyes?
No matter what, this first shift might not be as easy as he had imagined.
Tomorrow, the truth would become clear.
Before dawn had fully broken, Li Bufan was already up. He put on his guard uniform, strapped on his steel blade, and arrived punctually at the roll-call location. An ordinary steward was in charge of roll call. Comparing names against the roster, he drew a circle after Li Bufan's name.
Once roll call was over, Li Bufan followed the schedule and headed directly for the Tingxue Pavilion area.
Tingxue Pavilion lay on the eastern side of Lin Manor's inner courtyard. Its surroundings were tranquil, with artificial hills and flowing water, bamboo groves concealing the view, and exceptionally fine scenery. The patrol duty here appeared easy, but the responsibility was actually immense, because it lay close to where the Eldest Miss handled her daily affairs.
Li Bufan marked out his patrol range: several paths outside Tingxue Pavilion, the small garden, and the moon gates connecting to other courtyards. He drew a deep breath and began the day's patrol.
At first, he remained highly vigilant, his sharp gaze sweeping the surroundings while his ears caught every unusual sound. His upright posture, steady steps, and watchful eyes truly gave him something of the bearing of an elite guard.
But time passed bit by bit. One hour, two hours... The sun rose from the east to overhead, then slowly slanted toward the west. Aside from the occasional maidservant or steward hurrying by, nodding at him or ignoring him altogether, there was nothing unusual. All around, there was only the rustle of wind through bamboo leaves and the murmuring of running water.
Tedium and boredom gradually replaced the novelty he had first felt. Maintaining such intense concentration for so long also began to tire him.
This will not do. Since I am cultivating, I cannot waste time, Li Bufan thought. While maintaining his patrol posture and vigilance, he began secretly circulating the essence of the Spirit Monkey Three Leaps footwork.
His steps appeared no different from an ordinary patrol, yet every landing, exertion of force, and shift of balance secretly matched the light, nimble subtleties of Spirit Monkey Three Leaps. Though he could not leap or dart about, he could still subtly move his qi and blood and temper his leg muscles' fine control over strength, keeping his lower body flexible even after prolonged standing and walking.
The effect was far inferior to focused cultivation, but better than nothing. At the very least, it drove away some of his fatigue and boredom.
At noon and in the evening, he found a corner where he could rest his feet, took out the food he had brought, quickly settled his meals, then immediately returned to his post to continue patrolling.
The sky gradually darkened, and lanterns were lit throughout the manor. Lanterns were also hung around Tingxue Pavilion, their dim yellow light outlining the shadows of bamboo and artificial hills, making the place seem even more secluded.
The night deepened, and the cold grew heavier.
Li Bufan continued pacing along his route, his shadow stretched long beneath the lanterns. He had already been patrolling for more than six hours, and his body was beginning to feel distinctly fatigued, especially his legs.
"Strange..." He frowned slightly, suspicion rising in his heart. Normally, each post should have two people rotating shifts, each serving six hours. The handover time passed long ago. Why has no one come to relieve me?
He patiently persisted for another half hour. It was nearing the hour of the pig, and he had patrolled for nearly seven full hours! That was far beyond the prescribed six hours.
The late-night wind blew across his body with bone-piercing cold. The exhaustion in his body became increasingly obvious.
Before you continue