Parting with a Treasure

The great blade was exceptionally broad, with a dramatically curved edge. Its handle was made from ox horn and wrapped in black hemp cord.

Its overall design somewhat resembled an Executioner's Greatsword from his previous life!

Lu Mian picked it up with one hand.

Even with his strength, he found the weapon slightly heavy.

"With this weight, it should feel damn good to swing."

"This is the one."

Thoroughly satisfied with the greatsword, Lu Mian carried it straight to the counter to register it.

He also received the complete Iron Shirt manual.

Only after finishing everything did Lu Mian head to the lounge to find Sun Feifei.

Sun Feifei did not ask which technique Lu Mian had redeemed. She merely glanced at the greatsword on his back, a flicker of surprise passing through her eyes.

Next, Sun Feifei gave Lu Mian a brief tour of the Guard Hall and explained its general workings before finally returning to the Falcon Guard Sixteenth Squad's quarters.

Yu Hao and the others were still there.

There was also a man in his thirties with a hooked nose.

"He's our squad captain, Han Can."

Sun Feifei spoke quietly.

In fact, Lu Mian had already sensed her dissatisfaction with this captain from what she had said earlier.

"Greetings, Captain Han."

Lu Mian offered a greeting as he entered the small courtyard.

"Mm... your name is Lu Mian, correct?"

"I heard you placed in the top ten in this assessment. You have good potential."

"Now that you've joined our Sixteenth Squad, we're all brothers. We stand by one another."

Unlike Yu Hao, Han Can showed neither rudeness nor contempt. On the contrary, he seemed rather approachable.

Hearing that Lu Mian had placed in the top ten, Yu Hao's eyes shifted, though his expression remained unchanged.

Sun Feifei was a little surprised as well.

Lu Mian had never mentioned this to her either.

She herself had entered the Guard Hall by passing the assessment.

Precisely because of that, she knew just how difficult it was to place in the top ten.

Neither servile nor arrogant, Lu Mian said, "I'm happy to join the Sixteenth Squad as well."

Han Can nodded. "Our squad happens to be on break for the next few days. We won't have a patrol assignment until five days from now, so you can use this chance to familiarize yourself with the outer city."

"Oh, and you'll need to take your token to the Artisans' Hall's pharmacy yourself to collect those ten Qi-Nourishing Pills. Don't forget."

"If there's anything you don't understand, ask Sun Feifei, Yu Hao, or the others."

Lu Mian replied evenly, "Thank you for the guidance, Captain Han."

His expression barely changed throughout, exactly like those corpse collectors in the Refugee District. He seemed devoid of emotion, like the walking dead.

Han Can did not take issue with Lu Mian's tone.

The Dust-Returning Courtyard was a very unusual place.

Anyone who spent too long there was bound to develop certain peculiarities.

Lu Mian merely seemed somewhat wooden at present, which was already quite good.

He said, "That'll be all for now."

Han Can apparently had other matters to attend to. After speaking, he turned and left the courtyard.

Lu Mian glanced at the sky, then asked Sun Feifei beside him, "Miss Sun, does the Guard Hall provide three meals a day?"

Sun Feifei paused, then said, "Of course... and you can eat your fill."

At last, a trace of emotion appeared on Lu Mian's face. "Really?"

"The Guard Hall wouldn't begrudge us a little food."

"It's mealtime anyway. I'll take you to the dining hall."

Sun Feifei smiled.

She understood what it felt like to go hungry and cold in the Refugee District.

"Thank you, Miss Sun."

Lu Mian thanked her.

The two left the courtyard once more.

"He only placed in the top ten... what's he acting so high and mighty for?"

A young man with a black mole on his face snorted.

Most members of the Falcon Guard Sixteenth Squad came from established families.

Even if Lu Mian did have some talent, they would still look down on him.

Yu Hao, who had been the most arrogant and overbearing of them, said nothing this time and quietly left.

The Guard Hall's dining hall.

The moment Lu Mian entered, his eyes widened.

Sun Feifei really had not lied to him.

There were all kinds of dishes and vegetables here.

Braised ribs, beef in sauce, sliced boiled lamb, roast chicken...

Dazzled by the selection, Lu Mian took a plate of everything and covered the entire table.

Though food contained less vital essence than medicine, enough of it could still produce the same effect as medicinal ingredients.

At first, Sun Feifei thought little of Lu Mian wolfing down his food, but her eyes gradually grew wider and wider.

This fellow could really eat!

He was even more outrageous than a Starved Ghost. His stomach seemed like a bottomless pit as he kept eating!

In less time than it took to drink a cup of tea, Lu Mian had polished off every dish on the table.

If he had not been afraid of being barred from the dining hall in the future, Lu Mian would certainly have kept eating.

But he also knew not to take things too far. Too much was as bad as too little.

Eating any more would only attract unnecessary attention.

He even made a show of letting out a satisfied burp.

"Finally, I'm full."

"It's been so long since I've felt this way."

Lu Mian sighed.

"Your appetite really is astonishing, Brother Lu."

Sun Feifei marveled.

"I've been hungry for too long."

Lu Mian shook his head.

Just as Sun Feifei was about to speak, Yu Hao suddenly entered the dining hall.

"Miss Sun, you don't mind if I have a few words with Brother Lu, do you?"

Yu Hao smiled.

Sun Feifei did not dare oppose Yu Hao. After giving Lu Mian a meaningful look, she rose and left.

Lu Mian looked at Yu Hao without speaking.

Yu Hao had not expected him to remain silent. After they stared at each other for a moment, he got straight to the point. "Brother Lu, I'm currently trying to reach Blood-Qi Perfection. I'd like to buy your ten Qi-Nourishing Pills."

"Would you be willing to part with them?"

Lu Mian asked indifferently, "How much are you offering?"

As far as he was concerned, he might as well sell them if the price was right.

"Fifty taels of silver per pill."

"That's a very high price."

Yu Hao spoke with a perfectly earnest expression.

Hearing that price, Lu Mian said flatly, "A Qi-Nourishing Pill should sell for three hundred taels of silver outside, shouldn't it?"

"If you can't afford them, Brother Yu, then forget it."

He had already asked Chen Xiuzhu about the price of Qi-Nourishing Pills.

Yu Hao's expression shifted slightly. He had not expected this corpse collector to know the exact price of Qi-Nourishing Pills.

Although he belonged to an established family, it was only an ordinary one, not a major clan.

His aptitude was also average, so his family had not allocated any special resources to him.

Naturally, there was no way he could produce three thousand taels of silver at once.

"So, in other words..."

"You don't intend to show me any respect, Brother Lu?"

Yu Hao's expression turned cold.

"Your respect... isn't worth anything."

In the calmest voice, Lu Mian delivered the most hurtful words.

"Fine..."

"Fine..."

Yu Hao repeated the word twice.

Lu Mian suddenly patted Yu Hao on the shoulder and soothed him. "Don't be so angry, Brother Yu."

"Even if we can't make a deal, we can still be friends."

Yu Hao snorted coldly, rose, and left.

Watching Yu Hao's retreating back, Lu Mian wore the faintest hint of a smile.

"Brother Lu, you'll need to be careful from now on."

"Yu Hao really holds grudges."

Sun Feifei came back over.

"I understand. Thank you for the warning, Miss Sun." Lu Mian nodded.

"We both came from the Refugee District. It's only right that we help each other."

"I also know a captain in the Golden Ox Guard. He came from the Refugee District too. Perhaps you could ask him for help."

Sun Feifei spoke softly.