True Colors

Although the treatment of the Patrol Team was no different from other guards, the long hours and high intensity of the work were even more hellish than that of the apprentices.

Anyone who entered the Patrol Team essentially lost all personal time; aside from sleeping, all their energy was consumed by the day-in, day-out, meaningless patrols.

Cultivation? That was nothing more than wishful thinking.

Consequently, the entire Patrol Team was a nest for veteran guards who possessed the lowest talent and had no hope of breaking through.

Jiang Feng believed the strength he displayed during the assessment was not poor—he had even beaten the instructor's deputy until he couldn't get up—so how could he have been assigned to such a place?

But upon second thought, perhaps there were some unwritten rules in the Guard Hall for newcomers, and they all had to endure a stint in the Patrol Team first.

He suppressed the doubts in his heart and said nothing more about the matter, turning instead to ask about something he cared about more:

"Manager Tie, I heard that after officially becoming a guard, one receives independent living quarters and can study the martial arts and internal cultivation techniques exclusive to the Medicine Hall. I wonder about my situation..."

The smile on Tie Rong's face did not change in the slightest, his tone remaining as gentle as if they were chatting about daily life:

"These are small matters, and naturally, I will arrange them properly for you. But before that, there is a more pressing matter I must ask you about first."

Jiang Feng straightened his expression, assuming an appearance of listening intently:

"Manager Tie, please ask. As long as I know the answer, I will certainly tell you everything without reservation."

Seeing Jiang Feng so compliant, Tie Rong nodded in approval and then asked straightforwardly:

"Do you have some personal grievances with the apprentice manager, Xue Zhao?"

Jiang Feng was slightly stunned; he had not expected Tie Rong to bring this matter directly to the table.

He deliberated for a moment, then replied with a calm expression:

"We did have some minor friction regarding our philosophies in the past, but that has long since been turned over. In my heart, I still hold Manager Xue in high regard."

This insincere remark flowed as smoothly as water, his expression so calm that it seemed as if every word came from the bottom of his heart.

The corners of Tie Rong's mouth twitched, his smile stiffening slightly, and his tone took on a hint of mockery:

"Jiang Feng, are you serious? Because this doesn't seem to match what I've heard."

Jiang Feng remained solemn, cupping his hands in a salute:

"Manager Tie, that is likely just a rumor. There are many people with many mouths in the Medicine Hall, so it is normal for some outrageous news to spread. You must not believe those groundless accusations."

Tie Rong, blocked by this airtight deflection, completely lost his patience. His smile vanished, and he couldn't be bothered to beat around the bush anymore, coming straight to the point:

"Xue Zhao spent a large sum of money wanting me to kick you out of the Guard Hall."

Jiang Feng had anticipated this, but now that Tie Rong had laid it out to his face, he wasn't quite sure of the other man's intentions.

His expression tightened, and he said in a low voice: "Manager Tie, what do you mean by this? I don't quite understand."

The smile of someone who had everything under control reappeared on Tie Rong's face, and his tone softened, revealing a sense of earnest advice:

"Jiang Feng, Xue Zhao has a grudge against you, but I do not. Not only do I not, but I actually admire you.

I saw your performance yesterday. To be honest, reaching the eighth level of the Blood-Moving Realm at your age is already quite talented.

The thickness of your blood-energy is among the best I have seen among Martial Apprentices.

Breaking through to the Martial Artist Realm is only a matter of time for you. In the future, when I am transferred back to the Wu Family, the position of the next Guard Hall manager might not necessarily be out of your reach."

As he spoke, he walked over to Jiang Feng and patted his shoulder with a palm as large as a cattail fan. The force was neither light nor heavy, as if he were entrusting something of great importance:

"As long as you prove your determination to me, no matter what, I will protect you."

After hearing this, everything became clear to Jiang Feng.

He was looking for money!

Shopkeeper Xie was absolutely right; this Tie Rong truly valued money above all else.

However, this was fine. If spending money could clear the obstacles within the Medicine Hall, Jiang Feng was willing to lose wealth to avoid disaster.

He smiled and pulled a heavy little cloth bag from his chest, handing it to Tie Rong without changing his expression, his tone respectful and frank:

"Manager Tie, take a look. Is my determination firm enough?"

Tie Rong didn't even need to look; he weighed it lightly in his palm, then curled his lips, his smile carrying a hint of hidden meaning:

"Hmm, fifty taels. That is indeed quite a lot. Many apprentices work until they die without saving that much. The fact that you can produce this shows that your connections, kid, are not ordinary."

He tossed the money bag onto the weapon rack beside him, where it landed with a heavy thud, then changed the subject, his tone as casual as if he were discussing a trivial matter:

"However, this alone is not enough."

Fifty taels wasn't enough?

Jiang Feng's heart sank.

He had expected Tie Rong to be greedy, but he hadn't expected him to be this greedy.

The silver he had obtained from the Sun Family totaled only about one hundred taels, and these fifty were already the limit of what he was willing to part with.

But looking at Tie Rong now, even if he handed over everything, it might not be enough to fill that mouth.

Furthermore, even if he fed the man, could he really expect a good outcome?

Pinning all his hopes on an outsider was simply too risky.

Having realized this, Jiang Feng's expression returned to seriousness. He met Tie Rong's gaze again and asked neither humbly nor arrogantly:

"Manager Tie, I have no conflict with Manager Xue, nor do I have any ambition to covet the position of Guard Hall manager.

I only wish to cultivate in peace and be an ordinary guard.

May I ask, Manager Tie, where are my living quarters arranged? And when can the Medicine Hall's guard techniques be taught to me?"

This was Jiang Feng clearly refusing Tie Rong's extortion.

The layer of gentle smiles on Tie Rong's face faded inch by inch, and his voice turned cold, carrying an undisguised threat:

"Jiang Feng, I only said so much to you because I saw you as a talent worth molding. Do not ruin yourself."

Jiang Feng did not speak, simply looking at him calmly and frankly.

Seeing that Jiang Feng was determined not to pay another cent, Tie Rong couldn't be bothered to keep up the act. He picked up two tattered booklets from the side and threw them in front of Jiang Feng like trash, his tone as cold as if he were dismissing a stranger:

"These are the techniques you wanted. Take them and practice them yourself.

The instructors of the Guard Hall are all very busy; no one has the time to guide you.

Additionally, housing in the Guard Hall is tight. I have already spoken with Xue Zhao, so you will continue to live in your original place for now."

Tie Rong wasn't even pretending anymore; he turned hostile the moment he couldn't get his money.

Jiang Feng couldn't be bothered to waste any more breath on him. He picked up the two techniques and turned to walk toward the door.

Just before he stepped over the threshold, Tie Rong's gloomy voice came slowly from behind, enunciated word by word, like nails being driven in:

"Jiang Feng, if you walk out like this, don't blame me for not warning you if you run into any 'accidents' in the Guard Hall later on."

This was a naked threat.

Jiang Feng paused, looked back at Tie Rong with indifference, and without another word, pushed open the door and strode out without looking back.