Chapter Eleven: Taking Advantage of Every Inch-Começando como Guarda Imperial do Palácio, meus Avatares Dominam o Mundo(O caranguejo rasteja devagar.)

The Imperial Palace.

Liang Jin was still standing guard. For days, neither Su Lian nor Zhao Bao had appeared. He could only rely on his daily check-ins, steadily accumulating martial arts cultivation and proficiency. Finally, after completing his check-in today, Liang Jin let out a long sigh of relief: "At last, I have reached the seventh rank of martial arts!"

With the breakthrough to the seventh rank, Liang Jin felt a profound sense of lightness. Clearly, his physical conditioning had improved significantly. He then turned his attention to his status panel.

[Host: Liang Jin]
[Cultivation: Seventh Rank Martial Artist]
[Martial Arts: "Imperial Guard Long Fist" (Level 3), "Coiling Dragon Staff Technique" (Level 2), "Taiyin Palm" (Uninitiated), "Great Demon-Subduing Fist" (Level 6), "Northern Hegemon Six-Harmony Spear" (Level 2), "Bone-Melting Soft Palm" (Uninitiated)]
[Trait: Talisman Water Healing]
[Avatars: 1]
[Items: Tiger-Subduing Pill x5, Longevity Ointment x1, Bone-Strengthening Medicine x6]

Not only had his cultivation broken through to the seventh rank, but his "Great Demon-Subduing Fist" had also advanced to the sixth level. As for the Bone-Strengthening Medicine, Liang Jin had given it to Lu Qiannan of the Lu Manor and three other loyal followers, elevating them to the rank of martial artists. In this world, not everyone could become a martial artist. Only those who could generate internal energy through the arduous cultivation of their Dantian and sea of qi could be called such. This was the most fundamental requirement. Those with weak constitution and poor innate talent could never generate internal energy and were destined never to become martial artists. However, the effects of the Bone-Strengthening Medicine were miraculous; it could alter the physical constitution of even those otherwise destined to remain ordinary, allowing them to become ninth-rank martial artists. It was a pity he had so few doses; if he had more, the results would be truly remarkable.

Soon, it was time for the changing of the guard. After handing over his duties, Liang Jin joined the main force and returned to the garrison. The Imperial Guard camp was formidable and strict, filled with battle-hardened soldiers and a palpable aura of slaughter. Outsiders dared not come near, but for soldiers like Liang Jin who lived there year-round, it was nothing out of the ordinary.

Within the garrison, every ten soldiers shared a tent, led by a tent chief and a deputy. As Liang Jin and the others returned and unarmored, the tent flap lifted, and their chief, Wu Huan, stepped inside.

"Orders from above," Wu Huan announced to the group. "The guard schedule has been adjusted. We have tomorrow off, and starting the day after, we take the night shift."

Complaints rippled through the tent. Night shifts were the most grueling and the most prone to errors that invited punishment. But the mention of a day off sparked lively discussion. While Imperial Guards were forbidden from leaving the capital, it was the most prosperous city in the Great Qian Empire, and there was no shortage of entertainment.

Wu Huan’s gaze shifted toward Liang Jin. "Liang Jin, you never drink or play, you have no family to support, and you won't even bribe your way into a better post. Tell me, you bastard, why are you hoarding so much money? You’re the stingiest man in this entire tent. The brothers have a day off tomorrow—don’t you have anything to say for yourself?"

Because Liang Jin never offered bribes or groveled, Wu Huan had always found him an eyesore and seized every opportunity to target him.

Liang Jin smiled faintly and placed a tael of silver on the table. "Chief Wu is right. This silver is for everyone to buy drinks."

The soldiers cheered at the sight. Wu Huan, however, looked at the single tael with disdain. He stepped forward, patted Liang Jin’s shoulder, and said with a mocking grin, "Well, look at that! The iron rooster finally plucked a feather. But do you think this is enough to send away a beggar? Don't all the brothers here have a sweetheart in Willow Lane? Take out another ten taels, and I'll take you to Willow Lane to see the world."

The soldiers cheered even louder. The Imperial Guards, all being martial artists, were naturally full of vigor. Yet, they were not free-spirited wanderers; they were bound by strict military law and often felt stifled. Once given time off, they naturally flocked to the brothels.

Liang Jin gave Wu Huan a flat look and produced the ten taels. Seeing him actually pay up, Wu Huan became even more emboldened. "In this whole tent, you’re the most unsociable and the most clueless about how to behave. Oh, that's right, you're an orphan—no one ever taught you. Today, I'll teach you how to behave in the Imperial Guard on behalf of your parents. Take out another fifty taels, and we won’t go to some dump in Willow Lane; we’ll head straight to the Rouge Pavilion and find something high-class."

Wu Huan’s words grew increasingly unrestrained, yet no one in the tent dared to express dissatisfaction. After all, Wu Huan was the tent chief and a peak ninth-rank martial artist. He held the most power and was the best fighter among them. In the Imperial Guard, brawls were common, but the hierarchy was rigid. If equals fought, they both received lashes. If a superior beat a subordinate, there was no punishment as long as they didn't kill them. But if a subordinate struck a superior, they would be punished regardless of the outcome. During duty or wartime, such an act could even lead to execution. Thus, as long as Wu Huan remained his superior, he could treat Liang Jin with utter contempt.

As Wu Huan reached out to grab the ten taels, Liang Jin’s large hand suddenly clamped down on his.

"You won't be taking this money," Liang Jin said.

Wu Huan was taken aback; he hadn't expected this quiet, mopey brat to resist. He sneered. He was a peak ninth-rank fighter, while Liang Jin was merely an ordinary ninth-rank—what right did he have to speak like that?

The deputy, Wang Quan, chimed in, "Chief Wu, the brat isn't listening. Show him a trick or two and open his eyes!"

The other soldiers gathered around to watch. They all knew Wu Huan wanted to settle the score with Liang Jin, and it looked like the boy was in for a beating.

Wu Huan laughed. "We’re all brothers, why tear down the facade? Liang Jin, take your hand off, apologize properly, and cough up fifty taels so we can all have a good time at the Rouge Pavilion. I’ll act like none of this ever happened."

He didn't want to let Liang Jin off easily, but he had counted on Liang Jin refusing so he would have a pretext to strike. Wang Quan added, "Liang Jin, are you deaf? What are you waiting for? Why don't you kneel and apologize? I'm trying to save you, don't be ungrateful."

Liang Jin remained silent. He kept his hand pressed over Wu Huan’s, looking at him with a faint, mocking smile. Losing his patience, Wu Huan shouted to the room, "Since this brat won't listen, as his chief, I have no choice but to discipline him. Everyone watch closely, so you don't end up thinking you're bigger than the heavens!"

With that, Wu Huan sank his stance. He exerted force on his hand and shouted, "Up!"

The soldiers sat up straight, craning their necks. Wang Quan immediately cheered, "Good! As expected of Chief Wu, such majesty—"

His voice trailed off.

Wu Huan’s hand remained firmly pinned to the table by Liang Jin, showing no sign of moving an inch. A sudden, awkward silence descended upon the tent.