Staying Alive Cautiously in the Celestial Realm and Becoming the Strongest

Jiangyuan City, Capital Guard Yamen.

Although it bears the word "Yamen" in its name, the Capital Guard Yamen actually does not handle public affairs. As the highest authority of the Blood Cloak Guard in Taiping Prefecture, its existence represents the paramount imperial power.

Guided by Wei Zhengxiong, Wang Chen entered this mysterious and majestic prefectural yamen.

"Hundred Household Wei!" "Lord Wei!"...

Wei Zhengxiong's popularity and prestige within the Capital Guard Yamen were evidently quite good. After entering, he was greeted or bowed to by many people who all were extremely respectful.

The scale of this Capital Guard Yamen was vast, with an architecture that was far from ordinary, but it was pervaded by an air of stern killing intent.

"Hundred Household Wei."

As soon as the two arrived at the main hall, they were confronted by a middle-aged man with a pale face and no beard.

He was also dressed in the Hundred Households' flying fish suit, with a refined appearance and a soft demeanor, but the scar at the corner of his left eye added a touch of ferocity to him, indicating he was no ordinary character.

Seeing the man, Wei Zhengxiong squinted his eyes and asked in a brash manner, "Hundred Household Chen, what can I do for you?"

Wang Chen realized immediately that this must be the backer of yesterday's doorman!

Could it be he had come to make trouble?

All one heard was Hundred Household Chen saying with a smile, "I wouldn't dare to instruct you. It's just that yesterday my brother-in-law offended Hundred Household Wei, and I would like to express my apologies on his behalf, hoping you would be magnanimous and let him off the hook."

As he spoke, he gave a cupped fist salute.

"Old Chen!"

Wei Zhengxiong shook his head and wagged his tongue, saying, "I'm not one to talk, but your brother-in-law really isn't a good egg!"

"It's fine that he offended me; I am magnanimous and won't hold it against him, but if he offends someone of even higher status without any tact, you'll get dragged into it too!"

Hundred Household Chen's smile suddenly froze on his face.

He had just been sarcastically polite to Wei Zhengxiong, obviously trying to regain face for his brother-in-law.

Otherwise, where would his dignity lie?

Unexpectedly, Wei Zhengxiong had turned the tables completely, openly slapping him with his own roof tiles!

And in the bustling Yamen main hall, where people were constantly coming and going, many stopped to watch the excitement as Wei Zhengxiong took on Hundred Household Chen.

Then they saw Wei Zhengxiong put on a heart-to-heart manner, "Old Chen, listen to me. The gatekeeper's job really isn't suitable for your brother-in-law; it's bound to bring disaster sooner or later."

"I've heard that the latrine over there is short of a cleaner, which feels highly suitable for your brother-in-law. Offending a latrine should be no problem, right?"

No sooner had his voice fallen than a burst of irrepressible snickers sounded around them.

Wei Zhengxiong's words were incredibly damaging.

The latrine is the outhouse, and cleaning it is precisely toilet duty. He was actually suggesting that Hundred Household Chen's brother-in-law should go clean the latrine, and he said it with logic, authority, and conviction, as if he was outright slapping the other in the face.

Even with Hundred Household Chen's deep cunning, he couldn't help but become furious: "No need, I have plans of my own!"

In truth, Hundred Household Chen knew his brother-in-law was truly hopeless—given a cushy job, he won't do well either, and while it won't cause public outrage, he was also deeply unpopular in the Yamen.

Having been publicly humiliated by Wei Zhengxiong yesterday, he thought it a good opportunity to shift his brother-in-law to a different position while simultaneously giving Wei Zhengxiong a piece of his mind.

But Wei Zhengxiong was so unreservedly brash, making all of Chen's strategies unemployable!

Hundred Household Chen turned and left.

His heart was filled with hatred.

But having only walked a few steps, he suddenly turned back and gave Wang Chen a look, his gaze marked with sinister intent.

Wang Chen's expression was indifferent, as if it had nothing to do with him.

"Avoid this person when you see him in the future."

Wei Zhengxiong whispered, "He's a smiling tiger; don't get entangled with him at any cost!"

Wang Chen nodded to indicate he remembered.

Wei Zhengxiong was well-known at the Capital Guard Yamen, and he managed to process Wang Chen's employment paperwork without any incidents. Although it took some time, there were no obstacles.

Later, Wang Chen found out that in order to ensure he became a member of the Blood Cloak Guard, Wei Zhengxiong used one of his patronage slots.

Patronage is different from mere recommendation—the latter is only a suggestion and at most ensures priority admission under the same conditions.

Patronage is a guarantee made with one's own rank, assuring membership in the Blood Cloak Guard and is a benefit available to mid to high-level officials.

According to the rules within the Blood Cloak Guard system, a Thousand Household has three patronage slots, while a Head of the Hundred Households has only one.

Moreover, a General Flag has five recommendation slots, and a Junior Flag also has three; the value of each is incomparable!

Normally, such patronage slots are reserved for one's own family, like direct sons and grandsons.

Wei Zhengxiong had two sons, but he did not hesitate to give his only patronage slot to Wang Chen.

Although there were other reasons, this favor was tangible and weighty!

During the process of handling the paperwork and receiving items such as the new Guard uniform and tokens, Wei Zhengxiong also gave Wang Chen a detailed introduction to the Capital Guard Yamen.

The Capital Guard Yamen oversees a whole prefecture's affairs, including crimes of plotting treason, rebellion, corruption, and all sorts of strange and unusual matters, all handled by dispatching elite forces to arrest or resolve the issues.

The highest authority in the Capital Guard Yamen is the Capital Guard Commander, also known as the "Guard Marshal," a high-ranking official of the Second Order!

Let alone Wang Chen, a newly recruited soldier, even Wei Zhengxiong, on normal days, would rarely get to see him.

Below the Capital Guard Commander are the Tong Zhi and Qian Shi, followed by the Thousand Household, Head of the Hundred Households, General Flag, and Junior Flag.

As a Head of the Hundred Households of the Sixth Order, Wei Zhengxiong nominally commands three hundred people, but in reality, under normal circumstances, he directly commands about a hundred Blood Cloak Guards.

But this is already a significant amount of authority, for there are no weak members in the Blood Cloak Guard; at the very least, they're all Second Order Samurai!

Someone like Wang Chen, a Third Order martial master, was eligible to compete for the position of Junior Flag.

At this point, Wang Chen couldn't help but think of Zhang Weiran, who had recommended him to Jiangyuan City.

This Fourth Order Martial General, surprisingly only a Junior Flag, was somewhat puzzling.

Then Wei Zhengxiong told him that Zhang Weiran had once been a Head of the Hundred Households but was demoted to General Flag for offending his superior, and then he had ended up as a Junior Flag, the reasons behind it being very complex.

Wei Zhengxiong didn't want to say more, and naturally, Wang Chen didn't ask.

This Householder was very enthusiastic, and after leaving the Capital Guard Yamen, he found a real estate agency to rent Wang Chen an apartment nearby.

The apartment wasn't large, and the rent wasn't cheap, but it was conveniently located for checking in and going to work.

Wei Zhengxiong also arranged for someone to buy some household essentials for him.

He even considered purchasing a couple of servants for Wang Chen.

Wang Chen quickly declined.

That evening, Wei Zhengxiong once again hosted a banquet at his home to celebrate Wang Chen's official induction into the Blood Cloak Guard, commencing his life on the imperial payroll, thus stepping onto a radiant path!

The mood of the Head of the Hundred Households of the Blood Cloak Guard was excellent. He insisted on drinking with Wang Chen, and together they downed five jars of fierce liquor.

As a result, when Wang Chen returned home, he was still heavily intoxicated.

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Here is the second release, asking for monthly ticket support, thank you, everyone!