Chapter 914: Peaceful Times

The Wei Hall of the Blood Guard in Linjiang County appeared as a grand residence from the outside, nestled in a serene area amidst the bustling surroundings, with buildings that bore the marks of age.

After presenting his badge and appointment letter to the guard, Wang Chen was swiftly ushered in to meet the boss.

Zongqi Pang Tai.

Pang Tai was a stern middle-aged man with a chilly demeanor, giving off an air of being hard to approach.

Upon reviewing Wang Chen’s appointment letter, he allowed a faint smile to cross his face. “It’s quite unusual for them to send down a newly minted silver emblem from above!”

His tone was laced with sarcasm, suggesting a deep-seated discontent.

Wang Chen maintained his composure, feigning obliviousness to the remark.

Perhaps sensing the futility of the exchange, Pang Tai glanced at Wang Chen and then set the appointment letter aside.

The leader of the Blood Guard commanded, “Go, summon Old Qiu.”

The attendant obeyed and soon a gray-haired Blood Guard, clad in Xiaoqi attire, entered the hall and respectfully greeted Pang Tai, “Lord Pang, you summoned me?”

“Hmm.”

Pang Tai nodded and gestured towards Wang Chen, “This is the new guard, Ling Zhiyuan, dispatched from above. You are to take charge of him henceforth.”

Old Qiu chuckled, “What a fine young lad! From which noble family does he hail?”

Pang Tai gave a wry smile, “Don’t underestimate Ling Zhiyuan; he is the top graduate from this term’s Iron Furnace Camp and has been awarded a silver emblem.”

Old Qiu was momentarily stunned.

The top graduate with a silver emblem being assigned to a remote county—there must be more to this story.

He felt as though he had been handed a hot potato!

However, Pang Tai left no room for refusal: “That’s settled then; Ling Zhiyuan is now under your care!”

Wang Chen calmly bowed to Old Qiu, “Old Qiu, I look forward to your guidance.”

Old Qiu managed a strained smile, “Certainly, certainly.”

With that, Wang Chen followed Old Qiu out of the hall.

The Linjiang Wei Hall was expansive, divided into three main sections, yet the number of Blood Guards stationed there was surprisingly low.

At the top was Zongqi Pang Tai, followed by five Xiaoqi, including Old Qiu, each overseeing ten guards, totaling fifty-six Blood Guards.

In reality, however, the numbers fell short.

Old Qiu informed Wang Chen that his squad currently consisted of only six guards, with two still recuperating from injuries.

The other four squads were similarly understaffed, facing a severe shortage of personnel.

Besides the official Blood Guards, the hall also employed over a hundred miscellaneous workers and guards.

Crucially, in emergencies, the Wei Hall could seek assistance from the county government.

However, troops could not be mobilized without a tiger tally issued from above!

With so few people in such a large area, Wang Chen was allocated a comfortable room as his quarters.

As for the mount he brought, it was arranged to be cared for in the stable of the Wei Hall.

Moreover, the Wei Hall provided three meals a day for each Blood Guard.

Aside from these basic benefits, Wang Chen, as a newly appointed Guard, received a monthly salary of fifteen taels of silver.

In the Da Liang Kingdom, this salary was quite substantial, especially considering that the basic wage of the Linjiang County magistrate was about the same.

Moreover, there were additional rewards during festive seasons!

Old Qiu took Wang Chen on a comprehensive tour of the Wei Hall, both inside and out, not only familiarizing him with the environment but also announcing the arrival of this new Guard to everyone.

Almost everyone was astonished to see Wang Chen, as a young man of his striking appearance was a rare sight, particularly since he was a silver emblem Blood Guard.

Reactions varied: some were amazed, some looked down on him, some observed with indifference, and some were eager to play matchmaker.

After this introduction, Wang Chen’s reputation quickly spread throughout the Linjiang Wei Hall.

“First, settle in and get to know the place. There aren’t any urgent tasks at the moment,” Old Qiu advised Wang Chen. “If you need anything, just come to me. I’ll help with what I can, but remember not to abuse your status as a Blood Guard…”

He spoke earnestly: “People like us walk on the edge of a cliff every day; one misstep and we could fall to our doom. Always remember that!”

In fact, Wang Hui had previously shared similar advice with Wang Chen.

However, Wang Chen didn’t find this elderly Xiaoqi bothersome; he recognized the goodwill in his words and promptly responded, “Rest assured, I will keep that in mind.”

“Good.”

Old Qiu patted his shoulder approvingly. “No need to call me ‘lord,’ just call me ‘brother.’ I, too, am from the Iron Furnace Camp.”

Wang Chen readily complied, “Brother!”

Old Qiu laughed heartily, “Great! Rest for now; later, we’ll head to Qingchun Tavern to hold a welcoming feast for you!”

Qingchun Tavern, the most luxurious tavern in Linjiang County, offered a splendid view of the river, though dining there was naturally expensive.

However, it was Old Qiu who footed the bill for Wang Chen’s welcoming feast, accompanied by six other Blood Guards from his team.

Even the two who were recovering from injuries came to show their support.

After a lively drinking session, Wang Chen got acquainted with all his teammates.

During the feast, Wang Chen drank to his heart’s content, consuming two large jars of strong liquor, which earned him the admiration of the Blood Guards.

This significantly improved their initial impression of him—he was no longer seen as just a pretty face.

Consequently, Wang Chen’s popularity soared.

After all, no one wanted a teammate who was all looks but lacked substance!

In the days that followed, Wang Chen enjoyed a tranquil life at the Wei Hall.

Before his arrival in Linjiang, the county had been plagued by unrest, with several mysterious incidents and disturbances caused by heretics, keeping the guards constantly on their toes.

There had even been casualties among the Blood Guards.

However, due to the Wei Hall’s robust suppression, the troublesome heretics retreated into hiding, no longer daring to surface, and the strange occurrences ceased.

Since the Blood Guards functioned much like firefighters, they didn’t need to patrol regularly, only responding to incidents within their jurisdiction, which left Wang Chen with little to do after his arrival.

Apart from his daily training, he spent a considerable amount of time replenishing his potential points.

Wang Chen obtained several prescriptions for enhancing health and replenishing blood at the largest pharmacy in the county, utilizing precious herbs from the Ling family’s secret vault.

To avoid exposure, he also rented a secluded house elsewhere in the city, visiting periodically to brew and consume his medicine.

This behavior didn’t make Wang Chen stand out, as many Blood Guards, while required to stay at the Wei Hall, also purchased or rented additional houses for personal matters.

For instance, some might have kept loved ones hidden away.

Wang Chen, of course, had no one to hide, only his herbs.

As he consumed a large quantity of herbs, his potential points continued to rise steadily while he maintained his daily rigorous training!