Chapter 4: The Guardian Recruitment Competition – A Day to Rise

[Skill: Weeding]

[Proficiency: 867/1500 Minor Mastery]

[Description: Bending over a thousand times, enduring the bitter cold and scorching heat, what can't be accomplished?]

Li Xian focused on one thing at a time, constantly honing her patience. Her physical strength and mental fortitude both improved.

"Weeding may seem like a minor skill, but it can still give me a boost."

He was a little excited, thinking that even if he mastered the art of weeding, what good would it do? It would just mean pulling the weeds faster.

In fact, that's not the case. Weeding is just the surface. As you delve deeper into any technique, the deeper aspects will be unearthed.

Li Xian was now incredibly skilled at weeding; with a gentle flick of his hands, he could pull a bundle of grass from the ground without much effort.

This manor has excellent feng shui; the wild grass grows deep into the ground and is exceptionally difficult to uproot. There are probably no more than five people in the entire manor who can achieve this level of skill.

certainly……

Only he would do such chores.

"I haven't seen my younger brother in a long time. I'll go ask Bi Hao today if I can write a letter back."

It wasn't late yet, and Li Xian had already finished weeding the area. He hurried back to the servants' quarters, and just as he was about to knock on the door, he heard voices coming from inside.

Manager Luo Fang's voice rang out first:

"Xiao Hao, you help me manage all the servants. Although it looks glamorous on the surface, in terms of status and position, you are ultimately just a lowly servant."

There are eleven servants' quarters here.

Each servants' quarters housed about a hundred people.

These hundred or so people form a "class," and each class is managed by a class leader. Li Xian is number twenty-seven in the ninth class.

Bi Hao was the head of the first class.

He appears to be very successful, but in reality, his status is no different. He is able to manage many servants only because his maternal uncle is backing him up.

But Zhuangzi was a man of great importance, and Luo Fang was nothing special.

“Uncle Luo, you’re right, I know that very well,” Bi Hao said with an embarrassed smile, thinking that Uncle Luo had come to give him a warning.

"I've come to see you today to bring you some news: Master Pang is planning to select a strong and healthy guard from among the servants."

"But if I become a bodyguard, that's a different story. I might receive a reward from the lady and be allowed to practice some rudimentary martial arts."

"Uncle Luo, is this really true? You have to help me!"

Immediately afterwards, a loud "bang" was heard from inside the room.

It was Bi Hao who was kneeling and begging.

And pour a cup of hot tea.

Luo Fang nodded secretly, took the hot tea, blew away the tea foam, took a small sip, pretending to be a big shot, but actually tasting low-quality tea.

He let out a long breath and said leisurely:

"Naturally, this is crucial to your future. To be honest, I also worked as a guard."

Later, the guard was promoted to manager. Although you are my cousin, if you truly want to get ahead, you have to fight for it yourself!

"Master Pang instructed me to pass on this information, and to have any interested servants report to him and prepare for the guard competition."

"Let me tell you first."

Bi Hao's eyebrows twitched with delight. "What do these lowly beasts have to compare with me? This guard position is definitely mine!"

Luo Fang said calmly:

"That's not how it works. The guard competition also values ​​martial arts talent, physical strength, endurance, and temperament."

Although you have some basic martial arts skills, you have never actually fought in a real battle.

Besides… those lowly beasts aren't stupid. How could they let such an opportunity slip by? Naturally, they'd fight tooth and nail to seize it, even if it meant dying in the competition. You say… you're really absolutely certain?”

“This…” After hearing this analysis, Bi Hao was not so sure, even if he was confident.

"Besides, your cousin's connections aren't enough to buy your way into the hands of the powerful. If you fail to get selected, you'll miss this opportunity," Luo Fang said meaningfully.

"Please enlighten me, Uncle. In the future, I will serve you like a slave and do anything to be filial to you." Bi Hao kowtowed three times.

“It’s simple,” Luo Fang said. “During this time, you should focus on practicing your boxing. Master the Three Talents Boxing that I’m teaching you.”

Secondly, assign those tall, strong, and energetic lowly animals to the most strenuous tasks to exhaust their energy.

"Uncle Luo, this plan is brilliant!" Bi Hao said with a beaming smile.

"That's not all." Luo Fang shook his head and chuckled. "Master Pang Da asked me to spread the news. I dare not disobey, but I can choose to mention it a few times at night when everyone is asleep. Try to let as few people know as possible."

Bi Hao kowtowed three times, "Uncle Luo, your kindness is beyond repayment."

"It's good that you remember my kindness," Luo Fang said. "There are still fifteen days until the guard recruitment competition, so make the most of it."

"Uncle Luo, let me see you off." Bi Hao helped Luo Fang out of the room.

Li Xian overheard their entire conversation and was both furious and delighted. Not daring to linger, he quickly ran back to his abandoned house.

"This Bi Hao... is clearly quite strong, yet he insists on using such sneaky tricks."

"Well, it's fine. Now that I know, I'll lie low and secretly sign up too!"

Li Xianqiang suppressed his excitement.

In the backyard of the abandoned house, he practiced "Raging Bull Fist" over and over again.

Whether we can stand out this time depends on this set of boxing techniques!

As evening fell, Bi Hao conducted his routine inspection, and Li Xian acted as if nothing had happened.

Bi Hao nodded slightly: "Not bad, not bad, you did well today. Little Li, you can go to the accounting office and collect your three-copper reward."

"Master Bi, you look radiant and have a full forehead. Something good must have happened to you, right?" Li Xian wiped the sweat from his forehead, pretending to be very tired.

"Hahahaha." Bi Hao laughed, "You've got some sense, kid. Don't ask what good thing it is, it's definitely none of your business."

"You should just focus on weeding. If you do a good job, you can get a small bonus. Thinking about other things is a waste of your brain."

His tone was contemptuous and disdainful.

As they were talking...

A thought flashed through his mind, and he looked Li Xian up and down.

This kid is quite tall, and he can do such tiring work as weeding with ease... his stamina must be pretty good.

“Little Li, there are still rows of abandoned houses and fields of weeds. How about this, you can clear the weeds from one house a day. I see you’re working quite hard, so I specifically told my cousin that if you do a good job each day, you can get a reward of three coins.” Bi Hao said very proudly.

He believed he could defeat an opponent with just a few words.

The other party should be grateful to him.

Li Xian sneered inwardly, but feigned delight:

"Master Bi, is this true? You can get three coins a day for clearing weeds from one abandoned house? If that's the case, wouldn't that be thirty coins in ten days?"

"Hahahaha." Bi Hao laughed heartily, feeling extremely pleased. "I didn't expect you, little rascal, to be so good at arithmetic."

After Bi Hao left.

Li Xian's expression returned to calm, but he secretly clenched his fist. He was determined to seize this opportunity!

"Lying dormant... lying dormant..."

"In these fifteen days, strive to practice the Bull Fist to the minor success level!"

"Only by catching Hao off guard on the day of the match will we have a chance of winning!"

"Lower-class servants will never get ahead, but becoming a bodyguard... seems like a chance to get rudimentary exposure to martial arts!"

A surge of determination rose within Li Xian, his eyes resolute and bright.

(End of this chapter)