“This Jing Ming was recruited by my little sister and has gone through many hardships along the way. We’ll place him in the Blood Rain Guard for observation for a year or two to see if he’s worth our full attention,” Fei Qing thought to himself. He really needed some capable people.

The current ‘Xu Jingming’ wasn’t loyal enough, and his strength was still lacking. He needed more polishing.

“Jing Ming, you used to be a guard for my Fei family,” Fei Qing began. “And I personally recommended you into the Blood Rain Guard. Everyone will see you as one of my people. After entering the Blood Rain Guard, you must be cautious in your actions. Most importantly… you cannot disgrace me!”

“Understood, sir,” Xu Jingming immediately addressed him as such.

“Go, prepare to take office in three days,” Fei Qing nodded slightly.

“Subordinate takes his leave.” Xu Jingming respectfully retreated.

After walking out of the pavilion, Xu Jingming couldn’t suppress the joy on his face: “Spending several months to get on the Fei family’s bandwagon was really worth it.”

He waited for more than a month to join the Fei family. Then he went through two months of hardships! Xu Jingming was quite satisfied with the final result of so much effort. He was a captain right after joining the Imperial Capital Blood Rain Guard! As long as he made contributions, he could become a centurion!

In Lanyue City, first-rate experts were rare! Adding up the three major gangs, the Blood Rain Guard, and the hidden experts, there were barely more than ten.

But the Imperial Capital, as the core of the entire Blood Rain World, was where all the top forces gathered, including Cosmic Citizen players. The number of first-rate experts was more than a hundred times that of Lanyue City, and only super-first-rate experts could be considered top-notch.

“According to the detailed information about the Imperial Capital that I collected on the virtual world network, the Blood Rain Guard captains in the Imperial Capital are almost all first-rate experts. There are a total of four Blood Rain Guard prefectures in the entire Imperial Capital, with about 40,000 people! Nearly 2,000 first-rate experts.”

“Ordinary Blood Rain Guards are mainly second-rate experts. Only some clerical and other special positions, or those with strong backgrounds, are exceptions,” Xu Jingming thought. “And in addition to the 40,000 Blood Rain Guards, there are 200,000 auxiliary guards! The auxiliary guards are generally also ranked experts.”

“More than 200,000 ranked experts!”

“This is the strongest violent army in the entire Imperial Capital, and it is directly controlled by the ‘Emperor,’ the highest ruler of the entire empire,” Xu Jingming sighed inwardly. Although this force was strong, it required a strict procedure to mobilize.

It wasn't something anyone could easily mobilize.

If Fei Qing wanted to save someone, he would have to ask Wang Jiuyan, the Southern Prefecture’s Town Prefect, to lead a group of elite subordinates himself.

As for arranging Blood Rain Guards to protect relatives for a long time, that was doing private work! A major taboo!

Even with Fei Qing’s status, sending more than 10 first-rate experts and over 50 second-rate experts to protect his relatives was already pushing it. Among these experts were the two top-notch first-rate experts, Guard Lu and Guard Chou, who could rival a super-first-rate expert in combination.

Xu Jingming sighed, “In the entire Imperial Capital, various forces are lurking, but the Imperial Capital is still stable because of these 200,000-plus ranked experts. Even Cosmic Citizen players find it difficult to cause too much trouble and are suppressed by the Blood Rain Guard.”

*******

Two days later, in the evening.

“Lord Jing, this is your official uniform, and this is your identity badge. Lord Jing can go to the chiliarch headquarters to take office tomorrow.” Someone from the Fei family brought the official uniform and other items into the room and said, “I will take my leave now.”

Xu Jingming looked at the official uniform placed on the table.

It was a set of official uniforms mainly in black, with some blood-colored water droplet patterns on it.

Xu Jingming put on the official uniform and boots, and his whole person also had a bit more baleful aura. He picked up the identity badge next to him. The badge was black overall, with golden patterns. The style and color of the badge could be used to determine his identity.

The front of the badge had the words “Southern Yi Chiliarch Headquarters, Jing Ming” on it, and the back was densely covered with small characters.

“I was assigned to the Southern Yi Chiliarch Headquarters?” Xu Jingming understood.

“Brother Jing.” Qiu Tong, also wearing an official uniform, walked over and said with a smile, “Where were you assigned?”

“Southern Yi Chiliarch Headquarters, as a captain.” Xu Jingming shook the badge in his hand. “Sister Qiu Tong, what about you?”

Qiu Tong also took out a badge from her waist: “I was assigned to the Southern Prefecture Headquarters’ Prison Administration. I’m only a second-rate expert, so I’m only a vice-captain at most! I heard that the Blood Rain Guard captains… are almost all first-rate experts! There are only a handful of exceptions who get promoted.”

“Southern Prefecture Prison Administration? That’s where the money is,” Xu Jingming praised.

“Yes, Lord Fei is indeed taking good care of me,” Qiu Tong was also very satisfied.

The Blood Rain Guard of the Southern Prefecture was divided into six chiliarch headquarters and the ‘Southern Prefecture Headquarters.’ The six chiliarchs each had their own jurisdiction, while the Southern Prefecture Headquarters had much more power. Wang Jiuyan, the Southern Prefecture’s Town Prefect, was in charge of affairs there.

Those imprisoned in the Southern Prefecture Headquarters’ prison were all serious offenders! Naturally, there was a lot of money to be made.

“Following Senior Sister Xinlan to the Imperial Capital, I originally wanted to see the legendary Imperial Capital’s elegance and not have lived this life in vain, but who knew I would become an official,” Qiu Tong said happily. “A vice-captain is a sixth-rank official.”

“Yes, you’ve become an official.” Xu Jingming also sighed with emotion. He had never been an official in real life, but now he was an official in the Blood Rain World. It was a rare experience.

He, as a captain, was also a sixth-rank official.

“Let’s go, let’s go see Brother Luo,” Xu Jingming said.

“He needs to recuperate well. There’s still time before he takes office,” Qiu Tong said. “But his official uniform should have been issued as well.”

…

The next morning.

Xu Jingming and Qiu Tong left the Fei family together and went to take office separately.

Xu Jingming wore his official uniform underneath a blue robe and carried a spear pouch on his back as he walked along the way. It took him half an hour to reach the Southern Yi Chiliarch Headquarters.

“Here.”

Xu Jingming looked at the huge Southern Yi Chiliarch Headquarters in front of him.

The Southern Yi Chiliarch Headquarters had a thousand Blood Rain Guards and five thousand auxiliary guards! It could accommodate several thousand people to handle affairs, so the Southern Yi Chiliarch Headquarters naturally occupied a large area. The buildings were mainly in black, which made people feel apprehensive.

“The Blood Rain Guard is, after all, the strongest army that suppresses the capital, supervises the officials, and deters the various rebellious forces,” Xu Jingming sighed inwardly. “The Blood Rain Guard has small rank, but great power.”

This was also the reason why he chose this path.

Great power! Only then could he get ‘ten thousand gold’ faster.

“But even if I become a Blood Rain Guard, ten thousand gold… is still an astronomical figure,” Xu Jingming thought to himself.

“Halt, who goes there?” The guards at the gate of the chiliarch headquarters were heavily guarded. The guards saw the official uniform that Xu Jingming was wearing under his blue robe, and their tone was very gentle.

Xu Jingming took out his identity badge and showed it.

“Captain!” A Blood Rain Guard sitting in the distance to rest had sharp eyes and glanced over before rushing over with great enthusiasm. “Zhang Ke, the vice-captain of the second team of the seventh centurion in the Southern Yi Chiliarch Headquarters, greets the captain.”

“Zhang Ke?” Xu Jingming looked at the burly man in front of him.

Zhang Ke immediately scolded the guards to the side: “Open your eyes wide and see clearly. This is the newly appointed Lord Jing!”

“Lord Jing.” The guards were all respectful.

“These are all auxiliary guards, guarding the gate.” Zhang Ke immediately explained, “Captain, let’s first pay our respects to the chiliarch, and then pay our respects to the centurion.”

“Okay,” Xu Jingming nodded.

…

The highest leader of the Southern Yi Chiliarch Headquarters was the Chiliarch Li Qing. Li Qing looked like a white-faced scholar. It was said that Li Qing had served as a Blood Rain Guard Chiliarch during the reign of the previous Emperor! Now that the current Emperor had ascended the throne, Li Qing was still able to maintain his position as chiliarch.

Xu Jingming first met Chiliarch Li Qing, said a few words, and was dismissed.

Then he met his direct superior, Centurion Zhao Defang.

“Sir, I’ve just arrived in the capital and I’m a little short on funds, please don’t be offended,” Xu Jingming placed a tael of silver on Zhao Defang’s table.

Zhao Defang glanced at the one tael of silver in front of him, frowned, and said indifferently: “Since you’re short on funds, you don’t have to be so polite. Take the silver back.”

Xu Jingming looked a little embarrassed.

“Take it back!” Zhao Defang said coldly.

“Yes, yes.” Xu Jingming took the one tael of silver. “Tonight, I’m hosting a banquet at the Wenxiang Tower to entertain my colleagues. If you have time, sir…”

“Leave.”

Zhao Defang didn’t wait for Xu Jingming to finish speaking and directly reprimanded him.

“Yes.”

Xu Jingming could only retreat.

Zhao Defang was fair-skinned and had a long beard. Watching Xu Jingming leave, his expression turned gloomy: “This newcomer is so insensible! One tael of silver? Is he sending alms to a beggar?”

Outside in the corridor.

Xu Jingming and Zhang Ke walked side by side.

“What, captain, you only gave one tael of silver?” Zhang Ke’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“I’m poor, there’s nothing I can do,” Xu Jingming shook his head.

“You should have said so earlier, our team could have chipped in,” Zhang Ke said anxiously. “I told you before, this Zhao Defang is very greedy. When you visit him for the first time, you have to take out at least fifty taels! He’ll only be satisfied with a hundred taels.”

“I can’t satisfy him,” Xu Jingming said casually.

As soon as Zhang Ke heard Xu Jingming’s tone, he immediately made some guesses: “This newly arrived captain became a captain as soon as he arrived! He’s so neglectful of the Centurion… it seems he has backing and isn’t afraid of this Centurion at all.”

Of course Xu Jingming wasn’t afraid!

Behind him was Fei Qing! The highest leader of the Blood Rain Guard’s Southern Prefecture was Wang Jiuyan! Xu Jingming had already seen the relationship between Fei Qing and Wang Jiuyan.

What’s more…

Fei Qing personally promised that as long as he made contributions, he could be promoted to centurion! There was no need to doubt the credibility of someone of Fei Qing’s status.

Did Xu Jingming still need to curry favor with a centurion?

“Give fifty taels of silver? You won’t die from being full! My salary is only fifty taels a month,” Xu Jingming was reluctant to give it at all. He only took out ten taels of silver to deal with it because he didn’t want to be too disrespectful. Since he didn’t want it? Of course, he would obediently keep it.

…

“Everyone, I’m hosting a dinner at Wenxiang Tower tonight, you must all come,” Xu Jingming enthusiastically invited the captains in the chiliarch headquarters.

“Definitely, definitely.”

“Make sure there’s enough good wine.”

The Blood Rain Guard captains in the chiliarch headquarters were very polite, and Xu Jingming soon left.

“This Captain Jing became a captain as soon as he joined the Blood Rain Guard. He must have some background.”

“That’s right? We all started as ordinary Blood Rain Guards, accumulated merit, and slowly rose to become captains.”

“I heard that Centurion Zhao is in a very bad mood! He came to the chiliarch headquarters today just to wait for Captain Jing to send him benefits, but obviously, Centurion Zhao is not happy.” The captains chatted, and a lot of information proved one point—this Captain Jing has a big backer behind him! He’s not afraid of Centurion Zhao at all!

******

In the morning, the second floor of the teahouse had been reserved.

“Our second team has two vice-captains and thirty ordinary Blood Rain Guards, and they’re all here today,” Zhang Ke said enthusiastically.

“Captain, this is the brothers’ respect for the captain.” Another vice-captain, Qian Yan, was a portly man, and he presented a silver note.

Xu Jingming took a look. It was a fifty tael silver note! And it was free of ‘text ciphers.’ There were indeed some silver notes free of ‘text ciphers.’ Anyone could exchange such silver notes, regardless of who got them! They could be used as cash.

However, for real large amounts of wealth, there would be text ciphers for security.

“Captain, this is the auxiliary guards’ respect for the captain.” Zhang Ke also took out a fifty tael silver note free of ‘text ciphers.’ “Our second team is in charge of more than a hundred auxiliary guards. The auxiliary guards need to patrol the area under their jurisdiction and have their own duties. So let me hand it over on their behalf.”

“You’re thoughtful,” Xu Jingming nodded and put the two silver notes in his arms.

Strictly speaking.

As a Blood Rain Guard captain, he had 32 Blood Rain Guards and 165 auxiliary guards under his command! He was in charge of a large area around him.

“Continue to do what you’re supposed to do,” Xu Jingming looked at the Blood Rain Guards and said, “In my team, there’s only one sentence: don’t be afraid of trouble! As long as it’s within our authority, don’t be afraid to be tough, and I’ll take care of everything.”

Fei Qing had said not to disgrace him.

Of course, he couldn’t be soft in his actions!

“Yes, Captain.” The Blood Rain Guards were immediately boosted in morale. This was the kind of captain they wanted! If the captain was soft, they would be even more unable to stand tall.

…

After drinking morning tea, Xu Jingming took the two vice-captains to stroll around the area under his jurisdiction.

“Actually, the Blood Rain Guard’s mission is very light, but it’s also a little heavy,” Zhang Ke introduced. “There are more than 20,000 households in the area we’re responsible for. Many trivial matters are handled by the auxiliary guards. But some major events… require us Blood Rain Guards to come forward.”

“For example, some big thieves, rebels, and insurgents must be dealt with by us,” Zhang Ke said. “Our brothers are scattered in key places and have to monitor some important places, imperial relatives, civil and military officials, wealthy families, and large gangs. We need to keep an eye on them!”

“Of course, there are only three officials in our jurisdiction, and there are only two families that can be considered wealthy families. The gangs are not worth mentioning, and there is a ‘Star Sword Sect,’ which also needs to be closely monitored.”

“Of course, they will all come to offer a greeting gift today!” Zhang Ke sneered, “In the entire Imperial Capital, there are only a few top wealthy families that we can’t afford to offend, and a few powerful princes that we can’t afford to offend… Most officials and families tremble when they see us. If they anger the Blood Rain Guard, they will be asked to eat a few days of prison food at worst, and their families will be destroyed at worst.”

“Don’t say it so harshly,” the portly Qian Yan said with a smile. “Harmony brings wealth, harmony brings wealth.”

“Those wealthy families will only be harmonious with us when we have a knife in our hands,” Zhang Ke sneered. “Captain, you also need to be careful of some forces in this Imperial Capital. If you offend them, we might disappear on our way home. We’ll disappear without a trace.”

Zhang Ke explained many things in detail and explained some potential rules.

Xu Jingming listened and compared it with the information he had collected on the virtual world network, gaining a clearer understanding of the entire Imperial Capital.

At this moment, there was a group of wealthy family children riding horses in the city, and the pedestrians were dodging to avoid them.

“Hmm?”

The wealthy family children saw the three people in the distance.

Zhang Ke and Qian Yan were both Blood Rain Guard vice-captains and were well-known in the area. The one they were following seemed to have an even higher status.

“It’s the Blood Rain Guard.”

“The Blood Rain Guard is ahead.” These wealthy family children were so frightened that they immediately restrained their horses and obediently went to the side of the road.

As long as they had sufficient reason, the Blood Rain Guard captains could directly arrest people of ‘fifth rank and below’! These wealthy family children might have fathers with official positions. But most of them were commoners, and if the Blood Rain Guard arrested them, they would lose a layer of skin even if they didn’t die.

Xu Jingming led the two vice-captains and walked in the middle of the street, feeling the Blood Rain Guard’s deterrence as he watched the wealthy family children obediently dodging to the side of the street.

“This Blood Rain Guard… is really walking sideways in the Imperial Capital,” Xu Jingming thought to himself.

“Captain, let’s take a walk around our area,” Zhang Ke said with a smile. “In a while, Captain, you’ll be collecting money until your hands are soft.”

“The captain has just taken office, and their greeting gift is indispensable. I will help the captain keep an eye on them. If there’s too little, we’ll make them spit it out ten times over,” the portly Qian Yan said, but there was a fierce glint in his eyes.