Gou Zai Wudao Shi Lian Shen

Chapter 98 Red Guards

After leaving the armory, Lu Chen followed Zhou Lingfeng through the backyard of the county government office and arrived at the study where the registrar worked.

In the study, several clerks were organizing files. Upon hearing footsteps, they quickly stood up and bowed.

"Greetings, Lord Zhou."

Zhou Lingfeng waved his hand and walked straight to the desk.

The registrar was a thin, elderly man in his fifties with a short beard, wearing brass-rimmed glasses and flipping through the register.

Seeing Zhou Lingfeng bring Lu Chen in, he immediately put down his pen and smiled, "This must be Lu Chen, this year's martial arts champion?"

Lu Chen clasped his hands in greeting: "Greetings, Registrar."

The registrar looked him up and down, his eyes filled with curiosity.

"A young hero."

Zhou Lingfeng said, "Enough with the small talk, let's get down to business."

The registrar immediately straightened up and took out a scroll of documents.

Zhou Lingfeng looked at Lu Chen: "From today onwards, you are a member of my Great Zhou Dynasty."

"Temporarily assume the post of Red Guard."

Lu Chen's expression turned solemn, and he clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Yes, Lord Zhou."

Zhou Lingfeng nodded, signaling the registrar to register.

The registrar picked up his pen and wrote down Lu Chen's profile information on the register.

Zhou Lingfeng stood aside and slowly said, "The Crimson Guard is the lowest rank among the martial officers of the Martial Temple."

"Above are the Dragon Tiger Guard, the Black Armor Guard, the Golden Scale Guard, and the Heavenly Dragon Guard."

"Each level requires different strengths, and also corresponds to different powers, responsibilities and resources."

"With your current cultivation level at the Blood Transformation Realm, you are only qualified for the position of Crimson Guard."

Lu Chen listened attentively and nodded.

Zhou Lingfeng continued, "The monthly salary of the Crimson Valiant Guard is one hundred taels."

This amount of money wasn't much for Lu Chen at his current level. But what Lu Chen valued wasn't the salary, but the opportunity and the platform.

After the registrar finished registering, he pushed the document in front of Lu Chen.

"Lu Chen, sign and leave your fingerprint here."

Lu Chen picked up a pen, wrote his name at the end of the document, and then pressed his fingerprint.

The registrar put away the documents and took out a red copper waist token.

The waist tag felt heavy in my hand, with the words "Chi Xiao" engraved on the front.

In addition, there was a set of neatly folded red soft leather armor.

The leather armor was not thick, but it was finely stitched, with a red eagle pattern embroidered in black thread on the chest.

Zhou Lingfeng said, "These are the Red Guard waist badge and standard leather armor."

"The waist tag represents your identity; keep it safe."

"Although leather armor isn't some kind of divine weapon, wearing it on missions can at least block some swords and hidden weapons."

Lu Chen took the waist token and leather armor.

After Zhou Lingfeng waited for him to finish packing his things, he continued, "Go to the side room and wait for a moment. I'll arrange for you to meet someone later."

Lu Chen was slightly taken aback: "To see someone?"

"Who?"

Zhou Lingfeng glanced at him and said, "Miss Tang Yuqi from the Tang family of Qujiang City."

Lu Chen was completely confused. He had never met this Miss Tang before, so why did she want to see him?

"May I ask, Lord Zhou, what brings Miss Tang to see me?"

Zhou Lingfeng said, "She has taken a liking to you in the martial arts exam and intends to recruit you to the Tang family."

"In the past few days, she has sent people to the county government office twice to inquire about this."

Since you're here today, I'll let you see me.

Zhou Lingfeng added, "The Tang family of Qujiang is different from these small families in Chixia County."

"They are quite well-known in Qujiang City, with a large family business and a lot of resources available."

"The fact that you were chosen by them is actually a good path."

Lu Chen asked, "Does Lord Zhou want me to go?"

Zhou Lingfeng smiled and said, "Now that you have joined the Martial Temple and become one of my Crimson Guards, you naturally cannot go back to be a guard for the Tang family."

"But Tang Yuqi is of high status, and the Tang family has some influence in Qujiang City."

"Since she asked to see you, refusing her outright would be incredibly disrespectful."

"That's why I'm asking you to handle it."

As he said this, his tone became more cautionary: "Don't offend her."

Lu Chen nodded: "Understood."

After a while, Lu Chen was called to a side hall by Zhou Lingfeng.

The aroma of tea wafted through the side hall.

A young girl sat in the guest seat, dressed in a red martial arts uniform with a black leather belt around her waist. Her long hair was tied up high, and her eyes and brows were bright, but she did not have the delicate temperament of an ordinary young lady.

She sat there with her back straight, her eyes clear, and her every move exuded the composure and pride unique to scions of a prominent family.

It was none other than Tang Yuqi, the young lady of the Tang family in Qujiang.

Behind her stood a maid, around twenty years old, with a tall and straight figure, long arms, and a calm and composed demeanor.

Lu Chen glanced at it once, and his heart stirred slightly.

Both of them are strong.

Especially the maid, whose aura was restrained and whose figure was upright, was definitely not an ordinary maid.

Although Lu Chen couldn't sense their specific cultivation levels, he could tell from their aura and innate confidence that they were at least above him.

The prominent family of Qujiang City.

Indeed, they are far superior to the small clans of Chixia County.

Tang Yuqi then looked up at Lu Chen.

At the age of seventeen, he already possessed little of the impetuousness of youth, but rather exuded a sharpness forged in bloody battles.

Tang Yuqi nodded slightly: "Not bad."

Zhou Lingfeng introduced Lu Chen, saying, "Lu Chen, this is Miss Tang Yuqi from the Tang family of Qujiang."

Lu Chen clasped his hands in a respectful greeting: "Miss Tang."

Tang Yuqi looked him up and down and smiled, "Lu Chen, your performance in martial arts has surprised me."

"I didn't think you were a good candidate at first. I thought that guy named Li Huchen was bound to win."

"I didn't expect you to give me such a surprise at the end."

Lu Chen said, "It was just luck."

"Being able to kill Li Huchen cannot be explained away by mere luck."

She picked up her teacup but didn't drink. Instead, she slowly said, "Li Huchen has a naturally tiger-like physique, a rare quality. Even if he went to Qujiang City, he would be considered a promising talent."

"You were able to break his Tiger Roar Divine Fist while being at the same cultivation level, which shows that you have some skill."

Lu Chen remained expressionless: "Miss Tang, you flatter me."

Tang Yuqi put down her teacup, her tone becoming much more decisive.

"I don't like beating around the bush."

"I've come to see you today to ask you one question: would you be willing to come with me to the Tang family in Qujiang City?"

A slight silence fell over the side hall.

Zhou Lingfeng sat to the side, holding a teacup, without saying a word.

Qi Mengdie stood behind Tang Yuqi, her gaze fixed on Lu Chen, seemingly watching to see how he would respond.

Tang Yuqi continued, "You are now the top martial arts student in Chixia County. Chixia County is such a tiny place that there's not much of a future for you."

"Only when you arrive in Qujiang City will you realize how vast the martial arts world is outside."

She looked at Lu Chen with a very confident tone.

"If you are willing to join my Tang family, I can recommend you to my father and have you promoted directly to Silver Armor Guard."

"Silver, elixirs, and mansions—we will have no shortage of them."

"The Tang family can also provide the cultivation techniques for the Skin Refining Realm."

"Even if you perform well enough in the future, the methods of opening the tendons and strengthening the bones may not be impossible to obtain for you."

These words were spoken very directly.

The terms were very generous. Not only did they promise the Skin-Refining Technique, but they also promised future techniques for Strengthening Muscles and Bones.

Lu Chen did not answer immediately.

Although he could sense that Tang Yuqi was genuinely interested in him, Lu Chen was quite resistant to her superior attitude.

Moreover, compared to relying on the Tang family, the path of the imperial court is clearly wider.

The identity of the Crimson Guards is far more prestigious than that of the Tang family's so-called Silver Armor Guards.

At the very least, they were serving in the imperial court.

He hesitated for a moment, then clasped his hands in thanks and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Miss Tang."

Tang Yuqi raised her eyebrows slightly.

When most people say this, it usually means they're about to refuse.

As expected, Lu Chen continued, "However, I have already joined the Great Zhou Martial Temple and am temporarily serving as the Crimson Valiant Guard."

"The imperial court has bestowed upon me the skin-refining technique and also granted me a military rank."

"Therefore, I can only appreciate Miss Tang's kindness."

Qi Mengdie's eyes flickered slightly.

Tang Yuqi then turned her gaze to Zhou Lingfeng: "You're quick on your feet, Lord Zhou."

"No wonder you kept dragging me along!"

Zhou Lingfeng slowly spoke: "Miss Tang, Lu Chen is the champion of this year's martial arts examination and has the title of Martial Scholar. He is a martial arts talent of our Great Zhou."

"It is only right for him to enter the Temple of Martial Arts and take up a post."

Tang Yuqi gave a soft snort, looked at Lu Chen again, and said, "Lu Chen, have you thought this through?"

"The Crimson Guard is only the lowest-ranking military officer."

"You may be successful in Chixia County, but once you enter the Martial Temple, you'll just be a lowly soldier at the very bottom."

"They risk their lives for the imperial court, only to receive a meager salary, with no chance of ever getting ahead!"

Lu Chen remained calm and said, "This matter concerning Miss Tang has been settled, and I have no intention of changing it for the time being."

"I am honored by Miss Tang's kindness, but I may not have the opportunity to be with the Tang family for the time being."

"Hmph, ungrateful!" Qi Mengdie sneered from behind Tang Yuqi.

"You, a low-level martial artist in the Blood Refining Realm, do you even know that my young lady is already a Skin Refining Realm expert?"

"You and my young lady are separated by mountains and seas, an immeasurable distance."

"My young lady thinks highly of you, which is why she gave you this opportunity and brought you to my Tang family."

"I didn't expect you to be so ungrateful."

"Sooner or later, you'll regret it!"

Tang Yuqi didn't show much emotion. She knew very well that Zhou Lingfeng had deliberately tried to sabotage Lu Chen beforehand.

After all, he was the top martial arts student in Chixia County, and Zhou Lingfeng would definitely try to keep him.

"If that's the case, then forget it!"

"Lord Zhou, farewell!"

Tang Yuqi wasted no time and simply turned and left.

The martial arts champion from a small town is now less skilled than herself, so he's not worth her much effort.

Lu Chen watched the two leave, a slight chill running through him.

"This Miss Tang looks younger than me, yet she's already a Skin Refining Realm martial artist!"

"It seems that the Tang family is not to be underestimated."

After seeing Tang Yuqi off, Zhou Lingfeng looked at Lu Chen and said, "You handled it quite well."

"At least Miss Tang didn't get angry."

"Don't underestimate her just because she's young; you're no match for her right now!"

Lu Chen nodded and casually asked, "Lord Zhou, this Miss Tang from Qujiang City didn't come to Chixia County specifically to recruit me, did she?"

Zhou Lingfeng nodded with a smile: "Of course not."

"She came here for the Red Tide Festival a few years from now."

"The Red Tide Festival?" Lu Chen had never heard of this before.

Zhou Lingfeng said, "This matter is none of your concern for the time being, and you don't need to know about it."

"There's not much going on in the county right now, so you, the Crimson Guard, can go home and focus on your cultivation for the time being."