Chapter 37: The Military Assessment Institute

The Military Assessment Institute wasn’t large, covering only about one mu of land, but its buildings had three floors, with red bricks and green tiles. Along with a pair of imposing stone lions outside the gate, it appeared much more grand than ordinary wealthy households’ residences.

Entering the front yard, there was no obstruction in sight—not a single person in the area. Upon entering the main hall, Lin Dong finally saw a middle-aged man in a green robe lying across a long counter directly across from the door.

When Lin Dong entered, the middle-aged man yawned boredly, continued to lie on the counter, slightly lifting his eyelids, and pushed a blood-red cylindrical stone about thirty centimeters tall slightly forward beside him.

With memories from his past life, Lin Dong naturally knew how the test worked. Ignoring the man’s attitude, he placed his right palm on the top of the cylinder and channeled his spiritual energy into it.

At the bottom of the cylinder, a faint silver-white layer slowly rose, climbing along the dense scale lines until it stopped at just over one-tenth of the way up.

“Hmm, Second Level, Second Sub-stage of the Spiritual Mobility Phase!”

The middle-aged man grunted and stretched out his right hand. “The Military Assessment Card.”

Lin Dong was stunned. He then remembered that both annual assessments and registration required a Military Assessment Card, which was still lying at the bottom of a small wooden box, wrapped in red cloth.

“Um… can I register without it?” Lin Dong asked awkwardly.

“What a hassle!” the middle-aged man snapped impatiently. “Is it an annual assessment or a registration for advancing in rank?”

“An annual assessment!” Lin Dong replied.

Annual assessments didn’t require noting down the Military Assessment Card number. The middle-aged man, unwilling to bother himself again, took out a ledger from under the counter and lazily asked, “Do you remember the number of your Military Assessment Card?”

“9527!”

“Name?”

“Lin Dong!”

“When was your registration for the Second Level, Second Sub-stage of the Spiritual Mobility Phase?”

“Seven years ago, probably on the fifth day of the sixth month in the 33rd year of Qianwei.”

The middle-aged man paused, putting down his writing brush. After glancing at Lin Dong, he continued writing.

Seven years, and he had only reached the Second Level, Second Sub-stage of the Spiritual Mobility Phase—rare even in the Great Han Nation. This showed how limited the talents of those who practiced martial arts in Xilan City were.

Registration was completed. As soon as Lin Dong turned around, the middle-aged man lay back on the counter again. Just hold on! Only one spot is left. Hopefully, it can be secured within three to five years.
After leaving the martial arts assessment institute, Lin Dong walked back the way he came. It was rare for him to go out, so he wasn’t in a hurry and strolled along the way. By the time he returned to the inn, it was almost time for lunch.
Glancing around the lobby, he saw that nine out of ten of the fifteen tables were occupied. As Lin Dong stepped through the door with his right foot, his left foot hesitated slightly before following. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted the “tiger mother” and her maid.
It had only been about two hours. They couldn’t have finished breakfast and then immediately returned to the county office to have lunch, right? Moreover, they chose the same table as before.
Lin Dong gave Thin Bamboo a signal, then walked through the lobby into the back yard.
Soon, Thin Bamboo rushed after him.
“The tiger mother still hasn’t left?” Lin Dong asked.
“Yeah!” Thin Bamboo nodded with a grin. “I was afraid she’d try to get something for free. I pretended not to know her and went to collect the payment. To my surprise, she wasn’t as bad-tempered as rumored, and she was even generous, giving ten taels of silver as a reward.”
Lin Dong frowned and pondered for a moment before asking, “How many scoundrels have we recruited?”
Thin Bamboo replied, “We’ve already gathered over fifty.”
“Act at night!” Lin Dong ordered firmly.
Thin Bamboo nodded eagerly. “Are you coming too, boss?”
Lin Dong shook his head. He had no interest in breaking things.
“Alright, go and get busy. Call Liu Xiu over.”
“Sure!”
Thin Bamboo was overjoyed. Since the boss wasn’t coming and Sixth Brother was in Qiufeng City, he would have to take charge of these over fifty scoundrels.
Leading over fifty scoundrels at once—what an impressive feat! He might not get such a chance again in his life!
Soon, Liu Xiu rushed in.
“Boss, did you call for me?”
“Mm! Why did you come back so soon?” Lin Dong remembered that he had assigned this kid to take five hundred taels of silver to the county office to keep an eye on things. He hadn’t realized it when he saw him this morning, but now he remembered.
“Boss, Kuang Tianwei went to the county office last night. As soon as he left, I followed in. After finishing my task, I rushed back.”
Liu Xiu didn’t say it outright, but Lin Dong could tell that he had accomplished the task.
Giving Liu Xiu a light punch on the shoulder, Lin Dong smiled and said, “I didn’t expect it—you’re quite capable! With five hundred taels of silver and your eloquence, a young kid like you actually managed to do it.”
Liu Xiu scratched his head, smiling sheepishly.

“Aren’t you working here to save enough money for the trip back to the capital? Merit deserves reward. Go get twenty taels of silver from the pole-bearer later, and ask him to find you a carriage to the capital.” Lin Dong said with a smile, “How about doing me a favor before you go to the capital?”
“Just tell me what you need, boss,” Liu Xiu replied, shaking his head. “I still don’t want to go back to the capital.”
“Don’t want to go back? Why?” Lin Dong was a bit puzzled. This kid came from a wealthy family—could he really have taken to being a servant? After all, he had the potential to be an excellent servant. If he were willing to stay, that would be perfect.
Liu Xiu’s delicate face grew resolute. “My master told me to search westward for a noble who could change my fate. I’ve found them now—it’s you, boss. Of course, I can’t go back so soon.”
Lin Dong was speechless. “I’m just the owner of a small inn. When did I become someone who can change your fate?”
“Stay calm in crisis, act after careful planning, be merciless to enemies, and earn the trust and respect of your subordinates, even making them willing to risk their lives for you,” Liu Xiu said earnestly. “Over the past half month, I’ve learned a lot from you. I finally understand why the noble my master asked me to find can change my fate—because this person can change my character.”
Lin Dong was stunned. His head felt dizzy. How could he possibly have the power to influence a young man’s character? Calm in crisis? Planning carefully? He was more like a time bomb. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have fought his way through from elementary school to university.
After a long while, Lin Dong said helplessly, “If you decide to learn from me, don’t blame me if you go astray.”
Liu Xiu shook his head firmly.
A dragon breaking free from its prison, ruling the world!
Whenever he thought of these eight words, he would feel an inexplicable sense of fear. But ever since meeting the boss, that fear had been fading slowly.
Liu Xiu was convinced that this boss was his noble.
Seeing Liu Xiu’s determination, Lin Dong felt a headache but could do nothing but hope that the boy would change his mind and realize that being a good person was the right path.
“Alright, you decide for yourself!” Lin Dong remembered his duties and ordered, “You’re good at speaking. The maid by the tiger lady seems interested in you too. Find a way to get them to check out soon.”

“Check out early and leave?” Liu Xiu was puzzled. He could guess who Lin Dong meant by the “tiger mother” and the “young maid,” but he didn’t understand why they should be sent away. After all, such generous guests should be the ones the inn would be happiest to see.
It was certainly inconvenient to say that having the “tiger mother” stay too long would affect the inn’s experience points for the day, but in such situations, Lin Dong always resorted to using his authority as the innkeeper.
“Do as I say!”
“Hmm!”
Liu Xiu nodded and ran back to the main hall.