Rewards

When the shift change finally arrived, Chen Jin dragged his feet back to the guard barracks along with his comrades.

Although the rain had stopped, leaden clouds still pressed low over Langya City, and the air was thick with a pungent stench of rust and damp earth.

The barracks were set in a row of semi-subterranean earthen huts at the base of the city wall; they were low and gloomy, with straw mats spread across the floor. Dozens of men were crammed into the space, their foul breath condensing into a damp mist against the ceiling.

Chen Jin found a corner against the wall, sat down, and closed his eyes to feign sleep.

The flesh wounds from the whipping had long since healed, but the bone-deep agony felt like lingering embers, still burning faintly at his nerve endings. He had to endure it.

His comrades were noisily dividing up coarse cakes and sipping cloudy wine, none of them sparing him a second glance.

Heifu had always been surly and lacked friends. Chen Jin was happy for the peace.

Only when the snoring began to rise around him did he slowly open his eyes and fish the Identity Tablet belonging to "Heifu" from his tunic.

It was a wooden slip the size of half a palm, its edges worn smooth from handling. The surface was covered in dense Qin Seal Script and runes, with a material that felt neither like jade nor bone embedded in the center, cold to the touch.

A faint, flowing light swirled upon it, clearly utilizing the power of a "Law Eye."

"Fu"—this was his real name.

And "Heifu" was his nickname, likely because his skin was dark, or perhaps his heart was black.

In the bottom right corner of the Identity Tablet, a few faint glimmers outlined a small seal script character: Seven.

Only seven Spirit Coins. Poor as a church mouse.

Chen Jin's fingertips brushed over the number, and he pulled the corners of his mouth into a silent smirk.

The Identity Tablet contained other personal information about "Fu," but it was unimportant now; Chen Jin scanned it once and tucked it away.

Just as he was deep in thought, a Bronze Edict Board hanging in the center of the barracks suddenly began to hum, erupting with brilliant green light!

"Rise!" the Centurion's low bark rang out.

All the guards sprang up instantly, quickly donning their armor and grabbing their halberds, standing at attention facing the edict board.

Chen Jin blended into the ranks, mimicking the posture of the others with his gaze lowered.

Light and shadow swirled on the board, and a phantom figure wearing deep black robes and a legal crown slowly emerged, its face blurred as it looked down upon the masses.

"Prime Minister Li Si issues a decree—" A voice devoid of emotional fluctuation resonated through the barracks, every word striking the eardrums like a copper nail. "Effective immediately, Article 17 of the Forced Labor Law is amended: Any guard who encounters a violent, law-defying individual and sustains injury to a comrade may execute the offender on the spot to serve as a warning to others. The required spirit consumption shall be written off by the local garrison."

"Article 9 of the Gold and Cloth Law is amended: Anyone who reports the private hoarding or theft of tribute goods shall, upon verification, be rewarded with one hundred Spirit Coins."

New laws were issued one by one, cold, detailed, strict, and all-encompassing.

The phantom dissipated, and the green light faded.

"The laws are clear! Have you all memorized them?" The Centurion's gaze swept over the men like a hawk.

"Understood!" the men shouted in unison, the sound waves echoing in the low-ceilinged barracks.

"Drill!"

The guards filed out, forming ranks on the open ground outside the barracks.

The ground after the rain was a muddy mess, but every step they took was precise and uniform. Their halberds rose and fell with the wind, and their shouts were loud enough to shake the accumulated water from the eaves.

Chen Jin imitated the movements expected of an ordinary soldier, deliberately slowing his force and restraining his speed.

Even so, the physique he had tempered through over a dozen Yanfu Events, combined with his extreme control over his body, still made his movements appear exceptionally outstanding.

Every parry, thrust, and step was more coordinated than those around him.

The Squad Leader's gaze fell upon him several times, carrying a hint of astonishment.

This Heifu, usually so lazy—had he suddenly had an epiphany after capturing that criminal last night?

The command to end the drill sounded, and the guards' taut nerves finally relaxed. They dragged their exhausted bodies away, preparing to wipe down their armor and maintain their weapons.

Just as Chen Jin was about to leave with the flow of people, a low voice called out to him.

"Fu, wait a moment."

Chen Jin's footsteps faltered. He turned around to see the Squad Leader walking toward him.

The Squad Leader's surname was Wang, given name Wu. It was said he had a distant, ten-thousand-mile-long connection to General Wang Jian, though no one knew if the news was true—it was likely just bragging.

"Squad Leader." Chen Jin lowered his head slightly.

Wang Wu walked up to him, casually wiped the sweat from his neck with a towel, and spoke: "During today's drill, your legs were quite nimble, kid. Those few thrusts—they were actually decent."

"What's this? Did you have an epiphany after performing a meritorious deed yesterday?"

"You flatter me, Squad Leader," Chen Jin forced a smile. "I risked my life to take down that thug yesterday, and thinking back on it, I felt a bit of lingering fear. I also felt... I felt I couldn't keep drifting through life like I used to. I have to be worthy of your cultivation, don't I?"

Wang Wu laughed twice and patted Chen Jin's arm, his force neither light nor heavy. "Good! That's the spirit I want! You've finally shown some promise."

Wang Wu's gaze lingered on his face for two seconds, and he leaned in half a step with practiced naturalness. "Speaking of which, do you have any plans for the next rest day?"

Chen Jin was already on high alert, prepared to strike at any moment, yet he showed nothing on his face, merely answering along with the conversation: "Not yet... Does the Squad Leader have any instructions?"

"Instructions? It's a good thing. It just so happens to be my little girl's birthday, and your sister-in-law has been nagging me to liven up the house. Since you've... well, improved, come over. Have a cup of wine and get to know the place."

At this moment, a line of small text appeared before Chen Jin's eyes—Walker, please take note! Squad Leader Wang Wu's only young daughter passed away last month; "Fu" attended the funeral.

Ren Tu's warning came just in time!

The eight-million-strong Ren Tu lived up to his reputation; even when descending in such a rush, he had managed to prepare the Walker's identity to the greatest possible extent.

Next, it was time for Chen Jin's performance.

His lips parted slightly as if he wanted to say something, yet no sound emerged; his complexion turned deathly pale at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"Sq... Squad Leader..." His voice was dry and trembling, squeezed out from his throat, "Please... please don't tease me like this... your daughter... your daughter clearly passed away last month..."

Wang Wu stared at him for a moment before his voice returned to its usual cold rigidity: "I remembered incorrectly. Forget what I just said."

Just then, the Centurion suddenly shouted from a distance: "Fu, come here!"

Chen Jin stepped forward, putting distance between himself and Wang Wu.

"You are credited with the primary merit for capturing the culprit today. According to the law, you are rewarded with one hundred and fifty Spirit Coins."

The Centurion took out his own Identity Tablet and tapped it gently against Chen Jin's.

A stream of light surged across "Fu's" Identity Tablet, and the numbers in the bottom right corner flickered rapidly before finally settling on: One Hundred and Fifty-Seven.

"Thank you, my lord!" Chen Jin lowered his head, his voice deliberately raspy to mask his suppressed ecstasy.

Countless gazes filled with envy, jealousy, and disbelief were cast from behind him.

One hundred and fifty Spirit Coins was a staggering windfall for these low-ranking Guards.

The Centurion waved his hand, signaling him to return to the ranks, and said in a deep voice: "This is the grace of His Majesty. The Law Eye is clear; merit is rewarded and faults are punished. You must all emulate this and perform your duties with diligence!"

"Understood!"