The Imperial Guard was recruiting, offering a monthly salary of thirty taels. For many, this was a fortune. However, joining the Imperial Guard wasn't just about courage and strength; agility was also essential.
"What are your names?" the recruiting Imperial Guard asked Huan'er and Xue Zi Ning.
"I am Ning An," Xue Zi Ning replied.
"I am Huan'er," Huan'er stated, using her own name.
The recruiting Imperial Guard pointed to the large stone lion by the gate. "If you two can lift this, you'll be considered qualified."
Huan'er stepped forward first. "I'll go first."
With one hand, Huan'er lifted the stone lion. Even though Xue Zi Ning knew Huan'er was strong, she hadn't expected her to lift it with a single hand.
When it was her turn, Xue Zi Ning obviously didn't possess Huan'er's sheer strength, but she managed to lift the stone lion using her internal energy.
After successfully passing the test, Xue Zi Ning and Huan'er were led into the Imperial Guard's training camp. They were assigned to the same tent. Although it was rather simple, at least they didn't have to squeeze in with many people. Inside, there were two sets of clothing on the bed, presumably for changing.
"Sister Ning..."
"You can't call me Sister Ning anymore. Call me Brother Ning," Xue Zi Ning said.
"Brother... Ning," Huan'er said awkwardly.
"You'll get used to it with practice," Xue Zi Ning replied.
Suddenly, the tent flap was lifted, and a man in Imperial Guard uniform entered. "You two must be Ning An and Huan'er who passed the initial test?"
Xue Zi Ning nodded. "Yes."
"Report to the training ground this afternoon for training. Any deviation will be dealt with by military law."
"Yes," Xue Zi Ning quickly answered.
The Imperial Guard then turned and left.
Seeing this, Huan'er said, "Brother Ning, they are so imposing."
"Naturally. The Imperial Guard is not a place just anyone can join."
Huan'er exclaimed in surprise, "I didn't believe it before, but now I do."
In the afternoon, Xue Zi Ning and Huan'er arrived at the training ground. New recruits were already standing there. Xue Zi Ning scanned the crowd but didn't see Song Jiang or the others. She figured Song Jiang and his group wouldn't be in a place like this.
Soon, the commander of the Imperial Guard arrived at the training ground. After a few words of encouragement, he ordered the new recruits to start running and training.
"Run until sunset before you can return," the commander said before leaving the training ground.
"If I knew it would be this tiring, I wouldn't have come no matter how much they paid," a dejected young man behind her muttered.
During the brief rest period, everyone collapsed onto the ground without hesitation.
Huan'er looked at the young man beside her. "You seem young. Why did you decide to join here?"
The young man said, "I'm eighteen this year, but my family is poor, and I don't have money to marry. I saw the court recruiting for the Imperial Guard, thinking it's a position with a salary, so I came. I didn't expect it to be so exhausting." The young man gave a wry smile.
"And you?" the young man asked Huan'er.
"My Brother Ning and I are here because..."
Xue Zi Ning interrupted Huan'er. "Our family is poor, and we're here to earn more money to support the household."
The young man nodded. "It's tiring, but at least the pay is quite good."
"Time's up. Get up and continue running," the Imperial Guard supervising the recruits bellowed.
Everyone stood up and resumed running.
Finally, after finishing the run, Xue Zi Ning felt as if her body had fallen apart.
Returning to the tent, she collapsed onto the bed and immediately fell asleep.
When Xue Zi Ning woke up, it was already dark. She called out for Huan'er a few times, but there was no response. She got up, lifted the tent flap, and stepped outside.
The area outside was brightly lit. Xue Zi Ning stretched and walked towards the dining area. In the mess hall, only a few steamed buns and a bowl of soup remained. She took a bun and ate it with the lukewarm soup as she walked.
"Brother Ning, why are you just waking up?" Hearing Huan'er's voice, she saw Huan'er and the young man walking towards her from not far away.
"Have you guys finished eating?" Xue Zi Ning asked.
Huan'er nodded. "We called you to eat, but you didn't wake up, so all the good food is gone. But Huan'er isn't someone who eats alone." She took out a paper packet from her sleeve and placed it in front of Xue Zi Ning.
Following Huan'er's gesture, Xue Zi Ning opened the paper packet. Inside was braised pig's head meat.
"..."
"Eat up quickly. Ye An and I specifically saved it for you," Huan'er said.
Looking at Huan'er and Ye An, Xue Zi Ning said, "Thank you."
"Brother, please eat!" Although Ye An's eyes were still fixed on the meat, he turned his head away.
Seeing this, Xue Zi Ning said, "I can't eat this much. Let's eat it together!"
After sharing the pig's head meat, Ye An became more talkative. "I heard there's a martial arts competition soon?"
"A martial arts competition?" Xue Zi Ning asked, raising her head.
Ye An nodded. "But I heard from others that the person is very formidable. Fifty to sixty Imperial Guards challenged him before and none succeeded."
"That's truly impressive," Huan'er praised.
The Imperial Guard were no ordinary people; they were all experts who could fight ten men. To be able to contend with so many people, Xue Zi Ning felt it was truly remarkable.
"But it seems unlikely this time," Ye An said with a sigh.
"Why is it unlikely this time?" Huan'er asked.
Ye An said regretfully, "I heard he was injured. How can he compete if he's injured?"
"He's injured and still has to compete? That's... that's a bit too much, isn't it?" Huan'er asked, confused.
Upon hearing this, Ye An glanced around and said in a low voice, "I heard this information. Don't spread it around outside."
Huan'er nodded. "Don't worry. Brother Ning and I are not people who talk carelessly."
Ye An nodded. "I heard that four people in the Imperial Guard were formerly from the Shadow Guard. But it seems the person they were protecting went missing or something, and they were punished and sent to the Imperial Guard. Do you think this is to punish them?"
"Where are they now?"
Ye An was startled. He looked at Xue Zi Ning, who had grabbed his collar. He froze there, and after a long while, he managed to say, "They... they should be at the training ground right now!"
"Let's go and have a look!" Saying this, Xue Zi Ning released Ye An and walked straight out of the tent. Ye An breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Huan'er. "What's wrong with your brother?"
At the training ground, the lights were bright. A man stood in the center of the field. He was dressed in dark robes, his gaze slightly cold, his expressionless, as if nothing could faze him. Even the arrow piercing his chest did not cause him to frown.
"Song Jiang, don't push yourself. Let me take over," Feng Hua said through gritted teeth, word by word.
Song Jiang's eyes flickered slightly. He looked up at Feng Hua and said, "Let me handle it alone for now. You are all also lightly injured. I can still hold on."
Hearing this, Feng Hua clenched his fists tightly and said angrily, "They are too despicable. They drugged us and ambushed us."