Liu Mo

Before long, it was noon.

Outside the Guard Hall, apprentices and servants on their lunch break had already gathered in a large crowd, talking among themselves and buzzing with speculation.

The assessment ring had been set up in the middle of the courtyard. It was plain and simple, yet carried a faint air of menace.

Word of Jiang Feng applying for the Guard Assessment had spread through the Medicine Hall long ago.

He was already something of a celebrity in the Medicine Hall. The grudge between him and Wu Han was widely known, and it had become a favorite topic of conversation for many.

But no one had expected that the man they had always treated as a joke would now be capable of applying for the Guard Assessment.

How could they not be surprised? How could they not be puzzled?

Among the crowd, the people from the Apprentice Hall were the loudest in their discussion.

"Jiang Feng sure kept his cards close to his chest. How did he suddenly reach the seventh tier of the Blood-Moving Realm? I never saw any sign he had that kind of ability."

"Hmph, I bet there was a mistake. The test must've malfunctioned. I refuse to believe Jiang Feng is stronger than me. Who does he think he is, to deserve a place in the assessment?"

"Don't be so harsh. Jiang Feng really has always worked hard. When we were resting, he was the only one tucked away in a corner, quietly cultivating.

If you had half his drive, you might be standing up there today, too."

"Don't you think there's something fishy about this? Can hard work alone really get you that far?

I don't believe it. I'm sure Jiang Feng's hiding some secret!"

"Hey, shouldn't we ask Zhao Sen? He's usually closest to Jiang Feng, so he must know plenty of the inside story."

Zhao Sen had been huddled in a corner, lost in thought. When his name suddenly came up, he visibly froze.

He scratched his head and answered honestly:

"Huh? I-I don't know either. Sure, Jiang Feng and I are close, but not as close as you think. He doesn't tell me everything."

Though he answered that way, inside he was more confused than anyone.

How had Jiang Feng reached the seventh tier of the Blood-Moving Realm without a word?

The other man had never even mentioned his progress in cultivation.

Just then, a series of heavy footsteps approached from afar.

Everyone looked toward the courtyard entrance at the sound. Xue Zhao walked in, followed by another man who was extraordinarily tall and broad.

The man was built like a thick stone wall, with a square head and hair shaved close, leaving only a layer of dark stubble against his scalp.

He had a pair of triangular eyes, with plenty of white and tiny pupils. Whenever he looked at someone, his gaze carried an air of disdain and impatience, as if he were looking down on them.

This was Tie Rong, the steward of the Guard Hall and the Benevolent Heart Medicine Hall's strongest fighter in the open. He had broken through the Skin-Refining Realm last year and officially entered the Bone-Forging Realm.

When the apprentices saw him, they fell silent one after another. The guards lowered their heads in unison, wishing they could bury their eyes in their chests so they wouldn't meet that triangular gaze.

The courtyard, which had been noisy moments ago, fell silent in an instant, leaving only the sound of the wind.

"Has that brat arrived yet? Let me see what kind of person could give you such a headache."

Tie Rong swept his gaze over the people in the courtyard and asked in a deep, rumbling voice.

Xue Zhao stood beside him, his face wreathed in smiles as he stepped forward to ingratiate himself.

"Steward Tie, he hasn't arrived yet, but he should be here soon. About what I mentioned earlier... have you taken care of it?"

Tie Rong gave a disdainful snort and settled into a chair on the platform with his legs spread wide. His tone was casual.

"All I have to do is make sure he fails the assessment. What's so difficult about that? If I feel like it, I can even break his arms and legs so he can't get off the platform."

Xue Zhao was overjoyed. He nodded and bowed repeatedly.

"Naturally, the more miserable he is, the better!

But Shopkeeper Xie will probably come to watch, too, so we should show a little restraint. Don't offend him too much."

Tie Rong's expression didn't change in the slightest. He didn't seem to take even Xie Shu seriously. He said flatly:

"Don't worry. We're both doing this for Young Master Wu. Since you've come to me for help, it'd be unreasonable not to lend you a hand.

But you know the rules, don't you?"

Xue Zhao felt a pang of frustration, but he still answered with a smile.

"Don't worry. I've already had someone deliver fifty taels of silver to your residence.

Once it's done, I'll host a banquet at the Moon Gazing Pavilion and treat you to a proper drink."

Only then did Tie Rong nod in satisfaction. At last, a faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"Good. That's more like it. Our friendship is one thing, but business is business. Don't worry. I'll handle this beautifully. Your silver won't go to waste."

Xue Zhao's smile grew even more obsequious, but inwardly he cursed Tie Rong from head to toe.

Everyone in the Medicine Hall knew Tie Rong was a miser. He charged a clear price for every favor, starting at thirty taels, with no upper limit.

In Xue Zhao's eyes, Jiang Feng wasn't worth fifty taels. If he weren't worried about possible revenge down the line, he wouldn't have paid a copper.

Now he blamed all his pent-up frustration on Jiang Feng, and could hardly wait to see the brat get beaten black and blue.

About a quarter of an hour later, Jiang Feng and Xie Shu entered the courtyard one after the other.

Xie Shu's gaze swept through the crowd and landed at once on Tie Rong, who was sitting with his legs spread wide on the platform. His expression flickered with surprise.

"Why is Tie Rong here? Isn't he usually the last person to get involved in this kind of assessment?"

Though puzzled, Xie Shu still walked over with a cheerful smile, about to exchange a few pleasantries.

But Tie Rong impatiently waved him away. He couldn't even be bothered to raise his eyelids as he cut him off in a cold voice.

"That's enough, Shopkeeper Xie. We've known each other long enough. Spare me the useless chatter.

Now that he's here, let's get started.

I've got things to do this afternoon. I don't have time to waste here with you."

The smile on Xie Shu's face stiffened slightly, but he wasn't annoyed. He had expected Tie Rong to act this way.

He turned and quietly reminded Jiang Feng:

"Go on. Just do your best. With me here, nothing will go wrong."

Jiang Feng nodded and walked up onto the ring.

Tie Rong's gaze stayed fixed on Jiang Feng the entire time, sizing him up from head to toe, studying his build and watching his steps.

One could get a general idea of a Blood-Moving Realm martial apprentice's strength from those two things alone.

In Tie Rong's view, a truly capable fighter was usually sturdier than an ordinary person, with steps that were heavier and steadier, too.

But Jiang Feng, standing before him, was lean, and his steps were light and drifting. He failed on both counts.

A trace of doubt even rose in Tie Rong's mind: had this brat really reached the seventh tier of the Blood-Moving Realm?

After hesitating for a moment, he ultimately chose to trust Xue Zhao.

Xue Zhao had no reason to lie to him.

"Liu Mo, you're up."

He gave the order casually to the man behind him. "Mind your strength. Don't let him get off too easily."

"Don't worry, Steward Tie."

Behind Tie Rong, a similarly tall, burly guard grinned when he heard this, then strode toward Jiang Feng.