"Lv Gang, take Chen Beihu's body back to the Patrol Armor Bureau. Everyone gather at the Xiangyun Restaurant. I'm in a good mood today, and the food and drinks are on me. It's a welcome party for Xiaosong!" Liang Chuan Mountain laughed heartily.
"Mr. Liang is generous!"
The Patrol Guards were delighted to hear about this good fortune, and their impression of Song Changming improved significantly.
After the meal, Liang Chuan Mountain took Song Changming to the Patrol Armor Bureau to handle the necessary procedures for his promotion.
Soon, Song Changming's name was updated from the Night Patrol roster to the Patrol Guard list, under the command of Liang Chuan Mountain, without any issues.
The Patrol Guard's identity token, two sets of deep blue uniforms with armor, and a new, high-quality official saber were all handed to him that same day.
"As for the Patrol Guard's benefits, I don't need to say much. The monthly salary is six thousand copper coins, and at the end of the year, you receive a thousand pounds of rice and grain. On the first of every month, you can collect it from the Storage Officer.
The rest of the responsibilities and tasks, I assume Captain Liang will have someone brief you on them, so I won't elaborate further."
The Civil Servant in charge of personnel management at the Patrol Armor Bureau gave Song Changming a brief introduction.
Song Changming nodded and took note.
"A monthly salary of six thousand..."
Though not particularly fond of money, the pay raise still brought joy to Song Changming.
Previously, as a Night Patrol, his monthly allowance was only three thousand copper coins.
This promotion doubled his salary, and six thousand copper coins is no small sum.
Not to mention the additional thousand pounds of rice and grain at year-end, which is enough to feed him for a year.
Night Patrols don't have the perk of receiving state funds; this is a benefit exclusive to official Patrol Guards.
This is why Father Song was so eager for Song Changming to become a Patrol Guard, similar to the difference between a government contractor and a full-time employee.
With these benefits, Song Changming can easily support his entire family.
"Now that you are a Patrol Guard, you don't have to do the Night Patrol work tonight. Go prepare, and tomorrow report to Captain Liang for your formal duties," concluded the Civil Servant at the Patrol Armor Bureau, turning to leave after finishing Song Changming's arrangements.
"Yes." Song Changming carried two neatly folded sets of official uniforms, topped with his Patrol Guard identity tag and a brand-new official saber.
His previous Night Patrol saber was mostly a failed forge or a discarded blade from a Patrol Guard, and couldn't compare to the quality of this brand-new official saber.
This saber was his favorite piece of Patrol Guard equipment, even more than the armored uniform.
Returning home.
Song Changming specifically called Father Song and Song's Mother to show them the official uniform.
"A Patrol Guard's uniform?!" Father Song instantly recognized it, his graying beard trembling slightly, not daring to believe it.
He couldn't understand how his son managed to become a Patrol Guard with such ease.
Song Changming briefly recounted his meritorious deeds, which immediately filled Father Song with joy.
"Good! That's great! Changming has made us proud!"
Song's Mother, standing beside him, beamed with pride, feeling like their hopes for their son had come true.
"To become a government Patrol Guard at such a young age, who knows, maybe you'll become a Patrol Captain someday," Father Song said happily.
"Father, you don't have to visit the Zhao Family with gifts anymore," Song Changming suddenly said.
"Yes, I won't go anymore." Father Song understood what Song Changming meant.
Father Song had gone to great lengths to curry favor with the Zhao Family, swallowing his pride after being turned away, all in hopes of securing a chance for Song Changming to become a Patrol Guard.
Now that Song Changming had achieved it on his own, there was no need for such measures or self-imposed humiliation.
That night, the Song Family was full of joy, and Father Song indulged in a few extra drinks.
In Song Changming's memory, since his elder brothers were killed in battle, his parents had never been so happy.
One of the reasons he was so eager to prepare for becoming a Patrol Guard was to fulfill his parents' wishes and make them happy.
Once he started receiving the Patrol Guard's salary, they wouldn't have to worry about finances anymore.
With this, everything was worthwhile.
After dinner in the evening, taking advantage of the state of "Heaven Rewards Diligence," Song Changming continued his sword practice from earlier that day.
He estimated that after midnight, this practice state might shift, most likely changing to "Concentrated," which would reduce the effectiveness of his practice.
While practicing, he couldn't help but recall his encounter with Chen Beihu from earlier in the day.
Facing a skilled opponent was a rare practical experience, worthy of review and learning for him.
In particular, the opponent's powerful sword skill, undoubtedly at the Minor Success Realm, displayed an overwhelming Sword Momentum.
Unfortunately, the opponent was seriously injured and couldn't fully unleash the power of this sword skill at the time.
Song Changming vaguely sensed that his own sword skill was not much inferior to the opponent's.
However, he was significantly lacking in strength compared to the opponent.
The opponent's strength was either Innate Divine Power or had been cultivated through Body Technique.
This battle made Song Changming aware of his current shortcomings.
Even though his sword skill had made good progress, his yet-to-be-tempered physique was somewhat holding him back.
Without a strong and robust body, even the most intricate and extraordinary sword skill he possessed would not exert much Sword Might.
At this point, the issue reverted back to Body Refinement.
The sword skill was like a tower built layer upon layer, with its foundation being his physical body.
This foundation was his muscular physique.
Only by combining the two can one truly practice martial arts!
He had a set of the Great Strength Bull Demon Skill on hand, but hadn't formally started due to a lack of funds.
Previously, he thought that being a Patrol Guard with a significant monthly salary would be sufficient.
But considering it again, six thousand copper coins a month were nowhere near enough for his Body Refinement needs.
As he understood, just one twenty-year-old Wild Ginseng a month from the Medicine Workshop would cost over ten thousand copper coins.
A half-monthly herbal bath involved more than ten kinds of herbs, which he estimated required at least one tael of copper coins per bath.
The Bone Forging Powder, needed every five days, cost five hundred copper coins a pack, equating to about half a string a package, summing up to an additional three thousand copper coins a month.
And that's the regular quality; if he wanted high-grade Bone Forging Powder, the cost would be even higher.
Relying solely on the Patrol Guard's monthly salary, satisfying the above expenditures for Body Refinement is fundamentally unrealistic.
The only improvement over his time as a Night Patrol was the two pounds of daily meat intake, which could meet his nutritional needs.
"No matter what, I'll start practicing."
Even though he was financially strained, Song Changming had already decided to start practicing the Great Strength Bull Demon Skill.
With the daily meat intake satisfying his nutritional needs, his body wouldn't be depleted and worsen with training.
As for the Bone Forging Powder, an essential for training, he had to buy it, though he couldn't afford to maintain the recommended usage frequency of every five days.
At worst, the efficiency of Bone Forging would be lower, and the refinement results wouldn't be favorable.
But through long-term accumulation, he would eventually complete his training, though it would take more time for consolidation and refinement. This was still better than leaving the Body Refining Martial Arts unpracticed.
As for the herbal baths and the pricey Wild Ginseng, they increased training efficiency and were used for bodily nourishment. It was ideal to have them, but manageable without.