"It's only right you should know his rating, since he's under your command." Wei Yuan's tone was warm: "But don't think too much about it. Don't let it affect you too much — keep it routine. And of course, remember not to spread it around."
The first sentence was fine, but the second made Li Yuchun somewhat confused.
What did Lord Wei mean? Keep it routine, don't let it affect you — was the rating too low, and he was telling me not to develop contempt or negligence because of it?
But why warn me against spreading the news? With Lord Wei's status, it wasn't like he needed to personally protect a lowly Copper Gong... Li Yuchun frowned slightly, unable to fathom the great eunuch's meaning.
At that moment, Wei Yuan opened the household registration and pushed it to the edge of the desk: "See for yourself."
Li Yuchun's gaze fell on the registration, landing on two characters in fresh vermillion: **A-plus**!
Spring Brother nearly lost control of his expression, and asked in shock: "My Lord?"
A-plus!
How could it possibly be A-plus?
In over ten years of service in the Night Watchman organization, he had never seen an A-plus evaluation. Even Gold Gongs only received an A.
What did A-plus signify?
No wonder he was told to keep quiet. If this got out, it would be a death sentence for that brat Xu Qian.
What Night Watchman wouldn't be jealous?
At the same time, Li Yuchun also noticed something odd. The aptitude test had three stages: "Wisdom," "Strength," and "Heart-Questioning."
Xu Qian was at Essence Refining. The combat stage wasn't applicable to him.
That meant he had achieved an A-plus evaluation based on only two tests.
Then, if his talent for Qi Refining were also factored in, would the rating increase? Had it already surpassed the rating system Lord Wei established?
Would Lord Wei then reassign the rating, or keep it as is?
Thinking this, Li Yuchun's heart actually warmed slightly.
Wei Yuan closed the registration and said casually: "Remember to keep your lips sealed. What did you want to report?"
Li Yuchun took a breath, chose his words carefully, and said: "I've already opened Xu Qian's Heaven's Gate. Following the rules, I collected four hundred taels from him."
Wei Yuan said: "Give it back."
Someone with A-plus aptitude already had preferential resource allocation. Charging for Heaven's Gate opening made the rating meaningless.
Li Yuchun nodded.
Wei Yuan glanced at him: "Good aptitude? How many cycles to find qi sensation?"
The effeminate man and Yang Yan, who had found qi sensation in three cycles, were interested in this, and both focused on Li Yuchun.
"One cycle." As Li Yuchun spoke, he studied the faces of the three superiors.
The three had different reactions. Yang Yan, whose expression was usually as changeable as ancient stone, showed a rare look of shock.
The effeminate man walked from the observation balcony into the tea room, his cold gaze sizing up Li Yuchun: "Impossible."
His reaction was the most intense.
And the ever-gentle Wei Yuan seemed to momentarily lose himself.
Li Yuchun lowered his head silently, immensely satisfied with the three reactions.
"Dismissed!" Wei Yuan watched Li Yuchun leave, then looked at his two adopted sons: "Any thoughts?"
Yang Yan pondered briefly: "Should we give him special treatment?"
Wei Yuan shook his head: "No need to force growth. Just watch."
Then he looked at the effeminate man and smiled: "You and he aren't far apart in age. He can't compare to you now, but that may change in the future. Good — it'll give you some motivation."
The effeminate, handsome man nodded.
Li Yuchun walked out of Haoqi Tower and passed several Silver Gongs on the way.
"Lord Li, what has you smiling like that?"
Li Yuchun instinctively touched his face and realized the corners of his mouth had nearly split to his ears.
"Nothing, nothing." Li Yuchun waved them off, walking away while laughing.
Xu Qian sent word home via a messenger, then stayed at the Night Watchman headquarters, repeatedly inhaling and exhaling as he circulated his qi.
He could clearly sense the benefits of qi circulation on his body — his cells growing more active, his spirit more vigorous.
Both his physique and strength were surging in a delightful state.
This state continued until dusk, then stopped. It meant the initial benefits of entering Qi Refining had ended.
"I feel like I could beat ten of my old self. So Second Uncle wasn't serious when he sparred with me — if he'd used his full strength, I'd probably have died on the spot."
Xu Qian casually threw a few punches, his fists cutting through the air with force. His condition had never been better.
He gathered qi into his fists, sunk his waist, and punched the ground through the air.
The ground thudded and cracked in a spider-web pattern, dust rising into the air.
...
Xu Residence.
Xu Xinnian paced back and forth in the rear hall, his brow furrowed. Xu Pingzhi sat on a chair with a grim face, saying nothing.
The Aunt glanced at her eldest daughter, who was twisting the hem of her skirt between her fingers, her eyes rimmed red, her delicate brows tightly knit.
Sensing her mother's gaze, Xu Lingyue pursed her lips and called out tearfully: "Mother..."
"Stop pacing — you're giving me a headache." The Aunt snapped at her son, then ventured: "Husband?"
"We wait. Being taken by the Night Watchmen and doing nothing is the best response." Second Uncle said in a low voice.
The Aunt bit her vivid red lip, then stamped her foot in frustration: "You could at least try pulling some strings instead of just sitting here."
Xu Xinnian frowned: "What strings? We don't even know why they took Big Brother. Now isn't the time to start making connections."
"All he does is cause trouble, cause trouble." The Aunt cursed.
Her hand hidden in her sleeve clenched into a tight fist.
At that moment, Old Zhang the gatekeeper came running in. Before he even reached the front hall, his voice preceded him: "Master, the Eldest Young Master sent word!"
Xu Xinnian was the first to rush forward. The entire family rose from their chairs.
Xu Lingyue's skirt flew as she darted to the door, staring with anxious unease at Old Zhang.
Old Zhang stood on the steps before the hall: "The Eldest Young Master says he has become a Night Watchman and won't be coming home tonight. Not to worry."
Become a Night Watchman... Xu Pingzhi and Xu Xinnian stared at each other in blank confusion.
Under the escort of Squinty-Eyes and Stone-Face, Xu Qian collected his gear at the headquarters office — a ill-fitting uniform, a badge, a bronze gong, and a standard-issue saber.
"The properly fitting uniform will take a couple of days... This bronze gong is a standard-issue magical artifact unique to the Night Watchmen." Song Tingfing chewed a sugar bean as he explained: "It has two functions: first, strapped to the chest, it serves as a shield to protect vital areas. It can withstand the full-force strike of a Spirit Refining expert. Second, striking the gong surface sends out sonic waves that can disrupt an enemy's mind, causing dizziness, headaches, and other negative effects."
*Sounds pretty ordinary. The heart-guarding mirror Song Qing gave me can withstand three Spirit Refining attacks and one Copper-Bone hit... Wait, isn't this an enhanced version of the gong?* Something clicked in Xu Qian's mind: "Made by the Directorate of Celestials?"
"Of course. Magical artifacts can only be forged by the Directorate's Fourth-Rank Formation Masters." Song Tingfeng said:
"Come check in on time tomorrow. Chief Li says you're joining our team from now on. A Night Watchman squad has a minimum of two and a maximum of four, assigned to patrol different areas of the capital. Usually it rotates every three days. Guangxiao and I just finished night patrol — these next three days we're on day duty."
"What area are we assigned to?" Xu Qian asked, slightly unwilling. Night shifts were worse than the 996 golden-rot schedule — a blow to human dignity.
"Areas are provisional. Each rotation assigns a random area. This prevents corrupt Night Watchmen from casing locations and stealing from their posts." Song Tingfeng smiled: "Stealing silver, or committing assault. Such cases are rare, but precautions are necessary."
Xu Qian nodded: "Every department has its bad apples."
At that moment, a clerk hurried over: "Official Song, Official Zhu, Silver Gong Li summons you."
*Spring Brother wants us...* Xu Qian followed his two colleagues to Li Yuchun's office.
Each Silver Gong had a private office called a "hall" — in this era, working in an office was called "holding court."
Silver Gongs rarely went out on patrol. That was the Copper Gongs' beat.
Li Yuchun's office was called the Spring Breeze Hall.
*The room is clean with no odor. Documents arranged in perfect order. Even the two teacups' blue-and-white patterns face the same direction. The potted plants are placed identically. Spring Brother really is a particular old man.*
Xu Qian scanned the Spring Breeze Hall.
In the spacious hall, Li Yuchun sat behind his desk and pushed a dossier to the edge.
"Daqing Mountain in Taikang County has reported monster sightings. It's been eating people. Go investigate. If the monster's level isn't too high, kill it on the spot. The Prefecture's Six Departments constables will assist. They're already waiting outside."
"Also, Xu Qian — you go too. Get some experience. Your 'Combat Strength' test wasn't done, right? Consider this a field exam."
Monsters eating people — what a way to start the job!
Am I lucky or cursed?