Entering the Peace Guard

Chapter 48: Entering Jiaqing County's Peace Guard.

The Peace Guard barracks.

This was where the county's Peace Guard was stationed.

The Peace Guard was primarily responsible for all matters of public order within the city.

This included, but was not limited to, apprehending members of the Demonic Cult, capturing Evil Cultivators, and even resolving various messy personal disputes.

The Peace Guard was mostly busy with their duties, so most of those selected were the county's elites.

Lin Yi, holding the contract in his hand, arrived at the entrance. He showed the contract to the guards at the gate and was smoothly admitted into the barracks.

The guards at the entrance led Lin Yi towards the Martial Practice Platform in the inner courtyard.

"You're Lin Yi, from Rainbow Martial Hall, right?"

Soon, Lin Yi saw a man in his early thirties with a clean and handsome face.

Beside him was a woman, about seventeen or eighteen years old, with a delicate appearance and a slender figure.

"It's him, it's him! I remember him."

Lin Yi bowed slightly, neither servile nor overbearing, and said, "Senior Brother, Fourth Senior Sister."

These two were Master Yuan's eldest disciple, Su Ji, and his fourth disciple, Bai Qiqi.

Bai Qiqi stepped forward slightly, his face almost touching Lin Yi's.

Lin Yi kept his gaze straight ahead, lowering his eyes slightly.

"Shh, junior brother, when we're on duty, you can't call us Senior Brother and Senior Sister. You have to use our titles."

"You should call him Senior Squad Leader Su."

"And you have to call me Captain Bai!"

Lin Yi obediently called out, "Squad Leader Su, Captain Bai."

The official ranks of the Peace Guard were somewhat similar to the Embroidered Uniform Guard from Lin Yi's previous life.

A Squad Leader was equivalent to a small team leader, commanding about ten people.

A Captain was a formal employee of the Peace Guard, and their status was more than just a little higher than his own temporary position.

"Alright, Qiqi, stop teasing him," Su Ji said helplessly.

Bai Qiqi stuck out his tongue at Lin Yi and retreated to Su Ji's side.

Su Ji looked at Lin Yi and began to speak.

"I know you. Liu Lie mentioned you to me..."

"He said you train diligently, have high comprehension, and are ambitious."

"Actually, the contract for a temporary sparring partner in the Peace Guard was my idea. The purpose is to allow both the Peace Guard and the martial halls to improve their practical combat abilities as much as possible. Therefore, every time someone in the martial hall breaks through to become a Martial Artist, I will issue a temporary contract in the name of the Peace Guard."

"However, few people understand this. They think coming to the Peace Guard is just being a whetstone, a punching bag for them. The real reason is insufficient strength. If you were stronger, the Peace Guard would merely be your whetstone."

"So, I will not lower my requirements for you just because you are my junior brother from the martial hall. Do you understand?"

Lin Yi replied, "I understand."

Su Ji nodded and beckoned, signaling Lin Yi to follow.

Lin Yi followed behind Su Ji. Bai Qiqi also quietly moved closer and whispered.

"Senior Brother, he doesn't talk much usually. Because you are someone Senior Brother Liu has taken notice of, Senior Brother also has expectations for you."

"Before, many people came from the martial hall, but the gap in strength with the Peace Guard was too large. Most of them left within a few days. They also spread rumors in the martial hall that the Peace Guard was a wolf's den, making Senior Brother extremely disappointed."

"Thank you, Senior Sister," Lin Yi said gratefully, also expressing his understanding.

For Bai Qiqi to be willing to explain more was a sign of goodwill.

"Hehe," Bai Qiqi chuckled, reaching out to pat Lin Yi's shoulder and winking at him. "I'm optimistic about you too!"

Along the way, Lin Yi's ears were sharp and clear, and he heard many hushed whispers.

"This must be the sparring partner from Rainbow Martial Hall, right?"

"Looks like it. After all, Squad Leader Su personally brought him here."

"Sigh, how long do you think this kid will last here?"

"Who knows? Anyway, those guys from Rainbow Martial Hall have been quite timid in recent years..."

"Alas, why bother, Squad Leader Su? He insisted on recruiting martial artists from outside martial halls to be our sparring partners, wanting us to ignite our fighting spirit and hone our combat skills. But they're all cowards. They run off after two or three days of fighting. It's almost a waste of time to spar with them."

"Rainbow Martial Hall only ranked sixth in last year's Seven Halls Martial Arts Tournament, didn't they..."

If you find this book good, remember to add it to your bookshelf so you don't lose it next time.

"Be gentle with him later. This kid doesn't look much older than my son..."

Lin Yi heard everything clearly.

Bai Qiqi and Su Ji, with their higher cultivation, likely heard even more clearly.

However, the two of them remained expressionless and didn't say much, likely having heard such words too many times before.

On the martial practice field.

Besides Lin Yi.

There were also a pair of twin youths in their early twenties, and a woman who looked about the same age as Bai Qiqi, though her looks were a notch below.

Su Ji then began to gather everyone.

"These four are part-time sparring partners from the martial halls."

"These two are from Gengjin Martial Hall, Zhang Chang and Zhang Lu."

"This is Zheng Yu, from Yunbo Martial Hall."

"This is Lin Yi, from Rainbow Martial Hall."

Su Ji said to the assembled members of the Peace Guard, "Everyone, get acquainted for a moment, we'll begin the martial training shortly."

Below, a man with stubble grinned and said, "Boss, no need for so many introductions. It's not certain if they'll stay anyway. Aren't they sparring partners? A few rounds and we'll know them."

The stubbled man spoke.

The crowd immediately chimed in, "Yeah, you don't know someone until you fight them. A few rounds and we'll know them."

Lin Yi shrugged helplessly.

This show of dominance came a little too quickly.

Lin Yi knew this was also a common occurrence.

Entering a new environment.

The seniors needed to establish their authority, and the newcomers needed to follow the rules.

Finally, amidst the clamor, Su Ji gently nodded. He then looked at the man with stubble and a rough demeanor and said, "Hu Biao, since you brought it up, you'll be the first to spar with the sparring partners."

Hu Biao grinned, stomped his feet, and leaped onto the Martial Practice Platform with surging qi and blood.

His aura, that of a Postnatal Mid-stage martial artist, was fully unleashed.

"Alright, perfect. Let's see how good these sparring partners are."

Su Ji asked, "Who do you want to fight?"

Hu Biao smiled, his gaze sweeping over Lin Yi and the other three, a smirk playing on his lips. "Heh, let's take you all on at once. Saves time."

As soon as he finished speaking.

Lin Yi raised an eyebrow. "So arrogant?"

Lin Yi glanced at Su Ji. His expression was calm.

Hmm? It seemed this was the senior disciple's doing.

Then, his gaze swept over the three beside him. He could clearly see their brows furrowed simultaneously, a flicker of indignation crossing their faces.

Bai Qiqi interjected unexpectedly, "Being so arrogant, don't end up getting beaten by the newcomers."

Hu Biao casually waved his hand and chuckled, "It's not arrogance, it's based on past experience."

What Hu Biao was referring to were the martial hall disciples who had come to the Peace Guard before and left within two days.

Such disdain.

It instantly angered the young and spirited martial hall disciples, especially those who had just broken through to become martial artists and were still feeling overconfident.

The twin brothers from Gengjin Martial Hall, Zhang Chang and Zhang Lu, were the first to lose their patience and speak.

"Squad Leader Su, we've long heard that the Peace Guard is the elite of the elite among martial artists. We brothers would like to witness the great skills of the Peace Guard adults."

Zheng Yu's eyes were sharp, and one hand was already resting on the hilt of the sword hanging at her waist. "I want to fight too."

After Zheng Yu spoke.

The three pairs of eyes turned to Lin Yi.

There it was.

No escape, dragged into it.

Lin Yi smiled wryly and spread his hands. "I'm fine with anything."

Su Ji pondered for a moment and then seized the opportunity to say.

"Alright, just stop when it's enough. No killing."