After having enough to eat and drink, the patrol continued into the afternoon, walking and stopping, with nothing else happening.
In the evening, Song Changming returned to the Patrol Armor Bureau to clock out, ending his first day as a Patrol Guard.
With his meager savings, he bought a few pounds of beef, and upon returning home, Song Changming unexpectedly found more things in the house.
There were rice and grain, meat and eggs, and even several live chickens and ducks.
"The neighbors brought these over to congratulate you on becoming a Patrol Guard. Your mother couldn't refuse, so she accepted them," Mr. Song said cheerfully, his Essence, Qi, and Spirit appearing more fulfilled than usual.
Since the decline of the Song Family, no one had looked at them straight. Now, a promising young man has emerged from the family, and their situation has changed dramatically.
Song Changming becoming a Patrol Guard represents the hope of a resurgence for the Song Family.
This hope is crucial; otherwise, a fallen family with no prospects would gradually lose their way and likely end in a bleak and desolate outcome.
No one wants to associate with a family with no hope.
Song Changming nodded without asking much, and took the beef to the kitchen.
He had already decided to start practicing the Great Strength Bull Demon Skill, and this beef would be his nutritional supplement as he began his training.
In the evening, after practicing the compulsory content of Sword Skill for a while, Song Changming began attempting Body Refinement.
Parchment paper described thirteen Body Refining Postures with text and illustrations, and more importantly, the tips for Qi Charging Body.
Coupled with the series of medicinal materials needed for Body Refinement, consistent daily practice would surely yield results.
Although Song Changming had not officially started practicing this skill for the past half-year, he never lagged in research and preparation.
He found Body Refinement quite different from Sword practice.
Sword practice focuses more on comprehension, where a flash of spiritual light can be more effective than a thousand rigid sword swings.
However, Body Refinement requires constant effort, perseverance, and sweat; body honing is not accomplished in a day, or with a moment's epiphany.
Only through gradual accumulation, grain by grain, can one achieve success.
"Let's begin."
Song Changming leaned forward, extended his left leg backward, placed his fists in front of his head, with fists facing upwards, breathing and channeling Qi like a stone ox exhaling towards the sky.
Moonlight poured over him, adding a unique gleam to his body.
Before long, Song Changming's flesh started to heat up like being in a furnace, incrementally being scorched.
The more meticulous the details of this Pile Skill, the more extraordinary the effects were.
After enough breathing cycles in each posture, switch to another posture, and repeat.
This was undoubtedly a tedious and monotonous process, but training skills always are.
In fact, having begun this Bull Demon Skill practice, Song Changming could only manage three postures in one cycle before sweating profusely, exhausted, and unable to continue.
He was considered robust among ordinary people. Still, this initial practice was so challenging, indicating that this seemingly simple Pile Skill isn't easy at all.
And this was under the enhanced effect of the 'Heaven Rewards Diligence' limited state; otherwise, the first night's Body Refinement results would have been less impressive.
Touching his stomach, he felt hungry shortly after having dinner.
It had to be said that the consumption of practicing this Great Strength Bull Demon Skill was indeed as substantial as described on the parchment.
Fortunately, he was prepared, took out the two pounds of beef he had prepared, wrapped it in wild vegetable leaves, and stuffed it into his stomach. Only then did he feel much warmer and more comfortable.
After supplementing his nutrition, he initially intended to continue practicing after resting, but his muscles and bones went limp, unable to obey, so he washed up quickly and went to rest.
[Today's Evaluation: A day of some significance, Lifespan +3, acquired limited state 'Concentrated']
"Indeed."
Today, working under Lv Gang, was a relaxed state of half-slacking and idling, partially compensated by diligent practice in the evening, but today's evaluation still fell by one grade.
The state of Heaven Rewards Diligence was lost.
Fortunately, the state of being Concentrated was also good, not only adding some lifespan but also providing some bonuses for practice.
The second day.
As expected, Song Changming's skin was overly tight, with muscle soreness and slight numbness in bones.
This is a necessary process in the Early Stage of Body Refining; only after practicing for a while will these negative impacts ease.
After dressing up neatly, Song Changming went to the Patrol Armor Bureau again for his duty.
Today, he met his superior, Liang Chuan Mountain.
"Changming, this is yours," Liang Chuan Mountain said after seeing Song Changming, casually tossing over a money bag.
"What is this?" Song Changming was taken aback.
"This is the reward for capturing Chen Beihu, picked up just yesterday, all in here, one hundred silver coins," Liang Chuan Mountain said.
"So much?" Song Changming actually heard Lv Gang mention yesterday that the government's bounty on Chen Beihu reached as high as one hundred silver coins.
He only thought Liang Chuan Mountain would symbolically give him a share, with the bulk being taken by him as the Patrol Captain.
It wouldn't be unusual if Liang Chuan Mountain was greedy and gave none of the bounty to the Patrol Guards below him.
However, he hadn't expected Liang Chuan Mountain to give him the entire bounty after receiving it.
This was a whole one hundred silver coins!
Most of the time, one silver coin equaled a thousand copper coins, though the value could fluctuate due to the environment.
During most tumultuous times, copper coins depreciated, but Da Han's silver coins rarely did, being quite stable.
For example, the Patrol Captain's salary was paid in Da Han Kingdom's official silver coins rather than copper coins, showing the value of these silver coins.
These one hundred silver coins almost equaled his year-and-a-half salary, demonstrating the bounty's richness.
It could completely be considered a sudden windfall.
"Brother Lv and they also contributed. I just happened to be lucky enough to run into this achievement at the end. It would be better to share some of this reward with Brother Lv and them," Song Changming said without much thought.
"Enough with the nonsense. This rightfully belongs to you. Take it when I give it to you. I'll cover their hard work expenses from my own pocket, and their contributions will be counted; you don't need to worry about it," Liang Chuan Mountain waved his hand.
This was his business as the Patrol Captain, so Song Changming shouldn't worry.
Hearing this, Song Changming said no more and put away the heavy silver bag.
It must be said, the timely arrival of this money was quite helpful.
His Body Refinement required substantial money spending, and with prudent management, these one hundred silver could support him for a long time.
About a quarter of an hour later, the Patrol Guard team gathered in the small courtyard.
Including Song Changming, there were eleven people.
Originally, it was a fifteen-member team; however, one guard was killed, and four were injured at home recovering, leaving only eleven.
Today remained uneventful, and Song Changming continued to patrol the streets with Lv Gang.
Thereafter, while familiarizing himself with the Patrol Guard's duties, and bonding with his colleagues, in the evening, he pursued both sword practice and Body Refinement.
About ten days later.
[Great Strength Bull Demon Skill: Basic level (0/100)]