In the days that followed, Mo Yun returned to his regular, boring routine.
Once the members of Zhou Tieshan's rent-collection squad returned, Mo Yun and Zhao Gang left the squad and rejoined the patrol team.
"Patrolling is just... so boring."
The moment morning training ended, Zhao Gang tilted his head toward the sky, his rugged face filled with utter despair.
Just thinking about the full day of patrols ahead-from the eastern district of the Inner Court to the northern district, then from the West Garden to the southern garden, over and over-made him feel sick of everything.
"Tell me about it."
Mo Yun walked over, looking equally resigned.
Collecting rent outside for two days had been tiring, but at least it offered some novelty. They could see different scenery and meet different people.
Patrolling was different. Every day, it was the same route, the same scenery, and the same faces.
They could walk the entire circuit with their eyes closed, and still know which stone slab was loose and which corner tended to collect rainwater.
Sometimes, Mo Yun even felt that patrol work existed solely to grind down people's temperaments.
"Mo Yun, you're taking the Third-Class Guard Examination in seven days, right?"
Zhao Gang suddenly spoke, looking at Mo Yun with a measure of seriousness.
"Of course. I don't want to spend forever patrolling."
Mo Yun nodded as though it went without saying.
Unlike Fourth-Class Guards, Third-Class Guards did not patrol every day. They handled more important and challenging tasks, such as collecting rent, escorting shipments, and going out to eradicate demons.
Though the risks were greater, they also had more freedom, rather than repeating the same routes day after day.
Most importantly, only by becoming a Third-Class Guard could he obtain more cultivation resources.
Greater access, higher pill-purchasing allowances,