On Duty, Making Trouble

Such fulfilling and regular days passed by in a flash for another two days.

During these two days, Li Bufan stuck to his routine like clockwork: heading to the official road outside the city during the day to train the Spirit Ape Muscle Tempering Technique and Spirit Monkey Three Leaps, returning home in the evening to eat with his younger brother and supervise his studies, and at night continuing to refine the Nameless Fist Technique and study the Complete Herbal Compendium.

With the relentless boost from his [Heaven Rewards Diligence] destiny, his progress was clearly visible:

The Nameless Fist Technique grew more refined and profound, its proficiency steadily climbing, now reaching (6687/). The most tangible benefit was that his breath grew longer and deeper, his stamina surged, and his sustained combat ability greatly improved.

As his primary cultivation method, the Spirit Ape Muscle Tempering Technique advanced rapidly, breaking through to the Minor Achievement stage (433/2000), significantly enhancing the tempering of his entire body's muscles.

The Spirit Monkey Three Leaps footwork followed suit, reaching Minor Achievement (1442/2000), making his leaps and bounds more agile and swift.

His own Martial Arts Realm also steadily progressed on the foundation of Minor Achievement in Muscle Tempering, his blood and qi growing more vigorous and condensed, drawing ever closer to the peak of Minor Achievement.

What surprised him even more was that with deeper study and understanding of the Complete Herbal Compendium, his previously Mastered Herbal Compendium knowledge was fully integrated and vastly expanded, directly promoting it to Minor Achievement in the Complete Herbal Compendium (342/2000). His grasp of medicinal herbs and the pairing of their properties reached a deeper level.

Moreover, after these days of adjustment, he could completely ignore the constraints of the guard uniform he wore. Whether practicing punches, leaping, or swinging a blade, he moved freely and exerted force smoothly, as if the clothes had always been part of him.

The all-around improvement in strength brought powerful confidence. But Li Bufan wasn't swept away by it.

That evening after dinner, he calculated the days and mused to himself: "Tomorrow is the day I start my shift. Coach Qin roughly explained the rules before, but the details might not be thorough. The first shift is about first impressions—I can't afford any mistakes. Uncle Fu is experienced and kind. It's best to ask him for confirmation and get everything clear in my mind, leaving no room for error."

With that thought, he said to Ping'an, who was clearing the dishes: "Little brother, for the next seven days, I'll be on duty at Lin Manor. I probably won't be able to come back at night."

Ping'an put down his bowl, a hint of reluctance on his young face, but he nodded understandingly: "Oh, I get it, big brother. Then where will you sleep? What about meals?"

"The manor has lodging and food, don't worry." Li Bufan counted out a hundred coins from his pocket and pressed them into his brother's hand. "Take this money. For these seven days, I can't cook for you. If you don't want to light the stove after school, go buy food at Aunt Zhang's noodle stall or Uncle Wang's eatery at the street corner. Don't starve yourself. On the way to and from school, be careful and come straight home. Don't dawdle outside."

Ping'an gripped the heavy string of copper coins, feeling the weight of responsibility. His little face tightened solemnly as he promised earnestly: "Mm! Big brother, don't worry! I can take care of myself! I'll come straight home!"

Seeing his brother's mature demeanor, Li Bufan smiled with relief. Then he escorted Li Ping'an to the Academy.

After seeing his brother safely to the Academy, Li Bufan headed straight for the residence of Uncle Fu, the Lin Manor's head steward. His steps were steady, his mind already rehearsing how to ask for advice.

Familiar with the route, he arrived outside the elegant little courtyard, straightened his robe, and gently knocked on the door ring.

"Coming." Uncle Fu's warm voice came from inside. The door creaked open, and Uncle Fu, seeing the spirited Li Bufan outside, a flicker of understanding in his eyes, smiled and said: "It's you, lad. Starting your shift tomorrow, and you still have time to visit an old man like me today? Worried about something regarding the duty?"

Li Bufan bowed respectfully: "Uncle Fu sees clearly. This is indeed my first shift. Though Coach Qin gave me a rough idea, I'm afraid I might miss details and break the manor's rules. I've come specially to ask you, elder, what exactly a Second-Class Guard on rotation needs to do, and what special points require attention?"

Uncle Fu saw Li Bufan's humble attitude and thorough thinking, and the approval in his eyes deepened. He stepped aside: "Come in and talk. It's good to be cautious on your first shift."

They entered and sat down. Uncle Fu skipped pleasantries and got straight to the point: "The primary duty of a Second-Class Guard on rotation is patrolling, ensuring the safety of your assigned area. Patrolling isn't just walking around—you need to watch for any suspicious people. The areas assigned for patrol mainly cover important courtyards, storehouses, and passages. No dead ends should be missed."

He paused, then continued: "Second is guarding doors. Not the main gate, but important inner courtyard doors. You need to stand guard as required, check the identity tokens of those passing through. Anyone not invited must be stopped and reported.

"Third, if an emergency occurs—like a fire, theft, or fight—you must raise the alarm immediately and handle it decisively or call for backup as the situation demands. On ordinary days, if a manor steward or master gives an order, you must obey respectfully and carry it out properly."

Uncle Fu spoke in detail, and Li Bufan listened intently, silently memorizing every point.

"Finally, and most importantly," Uncle Fu's tone grew heavier, "when on duty, you represent the face of Lin Manor. Your words and actions must be proper. Stay calm in any situation, neither humble nor arrogant. You must show the guard's authority without bullying others. The balance is something you'll need to grasp yourself."

After hearing Uncle Fu's words, Li Bufan's mind cleared. The earlier unease vanished. He rose and bowed deeply: "Thank you, Uncle Fu, for guiding me! I'll keep it all in mind and act cautiously, never disgracing the manor's rules!"

"Mm, go on. Do your duty well. Don't be nervous, but don't be careless either." Uncle Fu waved with a smile.

Li Bufan thanked him again, then turned and left. His mind was settled, and he walked steadily toward the West Courtyard area where the Second-Class Guards were stationed.

Just as he entered that area, before reaching the Merit Hall, a few familiar figures surrounded him with sarcastic tones—the same ones who had threatened him before.

The Dark-Faced Youth at the lead crossed his arms, squinting at Li Bufan, and sneered: "Oh? Isn't this our specially promoted Guard Li? What, after hiding out for a few days, you finally deign to show up? Thought you'd chickened out!"

The Skinny Tall Guy beside him chimed in with a mocking tone: "Yeah! If you're scared, just wise up and follow the rules. There's a scrap for you. Keep stubborn, and it won't end well."

Li Bufan didn't stop walking, didn't even lift his eyelids, as if he hadn't seen or heard them at all. He walked right past them, heading straight for the Second-Class Guard Captain's quarters.

The group was stunned by such complete disregard. Anger flared on their faces, but watching Li Bufan's calm, upright back and his direct path to the captain's room, they hesitated, uncertain, and didn't dare chase after him immediately.

Li Bufan reached the captain's door and knocked lightly.

"Come in." A low voice came from inside.

Li Bufan pushed the door open. The room was simply furnished. A stern-faced young man of about twenty-seven or twenty-eight sat behind a table, wiping a longsword. He looked up at Li Bufan, his gaze sharp and appraising. He wore no numbered token at his waist, but Li Bufan knew this was Zhao Gan, the top-ranked captain among the Second-Class Guards.

"You're the new one, Li Bufan?" Zhao Gan set down the sword, his tone flat but carrying an invisible pressure.

"Yes." Li Bufan was concise, offering no extra explanation.

Zhao Gan sized him up for a few moments, seeming slightly surprised by his calm demeanor, but said nothing more. He simply picked up a sheet of paper from the table: "Tomorrow's shift schedule. Your post: patrol the area near Tingxue Pavilion. Roll call at the Hour of the Dragon. Don't be late. If there's nothing else, get out." His tone was cold, with clear distance and a faint, barely perceptible... hostility?

Tingxue Pavilion? Li Bufan's mind stirred. He remembered. That was where Eldest Miss Lin had summoned him, rewarded him, and promoted him.

"Thank you, Captain." Li Bufan didn't ask further. He took the schedule, glanced at it, committed it to memory, and turned to leave the room without hesitation.

Outside the room, the three men were still watching him from a distance, their eyes hostile. Li Bufan ignored them again, walking straight to the five-man dormitory assigned to him.

He pushed open the door. The room was still empty. He walked to his bed and sat down, his gaze calm.

"Patrolling near Tingxue Pavilion..." he murmured, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the bedboard. That was where Eldest Miss Lin often stayed. Arranging for him to patrol there—was it a coincidence? Or did they want him, the "connection," to embarrass himself under the young lady's nose?

Either way, this first shift might not be as easy as it seemed.

Tomorrow, the answer would come.

Before dawn had fully broken, Li Bufan was already up. He donned his guard uniform, strapped on his steel blade, and arrived at the roll call point on time. The roll call was handled by an ordinary steward, who checked the roster and drew a circle next to Li Bufan's name.

After roll call, Li Bufan followed the schedule and headed straight for the Tingxue Pavilion area.

Tingxue Pavilion was located on the eastern side of the Lin Manor's inner courtyard. The surroundings were serene, with rockeries, flowing water, and bamboo groves creating a beautiful scene. The patrol duty here seemed light, but the responsibility was heavy, as it was right next to where the Eldest Miss handled her daily affairs.

Li Bufan marked out his patrol zone, mainly the paths around the outer perimeter of Tingxue Pavilion, the small garden, and the moon gate connecting to other courtyards. He took a deep breath and began his day's patrol.

At first, he managed to stay highly alert, his sharp gaze sweeping the surroundings, his ears catching any unusual sound. With his upright posture, steady steps, and vigilant eyes, he actually looked the part of a capable guard.

But as time dragged on—one hour, two hours—the sun climbed from the east to its zenith, then gradually slanted westward. Aside from the occasional maid or steward hurrying past, nodding at him or ignoring him entirely, there was nothing out of the ordinary. Only the rustle of bamboo leaves in the wind and the murmur of flowing water filled the air.

Monotony and tedium gradually replaced the initial novelty. His once razor-sharp focus began to fray with fatigue.

"This won't do. Since this is training, I can't waste time," Li Bufan thought to himself. He began to secretly circulate the essence of the Spirit Monkey Three Leaps footwork technique while maintaining his patrol posture and vigilance.

His steps looked no different from an ordinary patrol, but every landing, every burst of force, every shift of weight subtly embodied the lightness and agility of the Spirit Monkey Three Leaps. Though he couldn't leap or bound, he could still gently stimulate his blood and qi, hone the fine control of his leg muscles over strength, and keep his lower body nimble despite prolonged standing and walking.

The effect was far inferior to dedicated practice, but it was better than nothing—at least it dispelled some of the fatigue and boredom.

At noon and dusk, he found a corner to rest, pulled out his own food, wolfed it down quickly, and immediately returned to his post to continue patrolling.

The sky gradually darkened, and lanterns were lit one by one throughout the estate. Around Tingxue Pavilion, lanterns were hung as well, their dim yellow light outlining the silhouettes of bamboo and rockeries, making the scene even more serene.

The night deepened, and the chill grew heavier.

Li Bufan continued his back-and-forth patrol along his route, his shadow stretching long under the lantern light. He had been on duty for over six hours now, and his body was clearly feeling the strain, especially his legs.

"Strange..." He frowned slightly, a hint of doubt rising in his mind. "Normally, a post should have two people rotating, each serving six hours. It's long past the shift change—why hasn't anyone come to relieve me?"

He held on patiently for another half hour or so, until it was nearly the hour of Hai. He had been patrolling for almost seven hours—far exceeding the standard six!

The night wind cut through him with a biting cold. The fatigue in his body grew more pronounced.