Chapter Twenty-Six: This Is What They Call the Eastern Depot

"I know you're anxious, but hold your horses. Let me finish what I have to say."

Fatty Sun puffed on his long-stemmed pipe a few times, leisurely exhaling a series of perfectly round smoke rings of varying sizes before continuing:

"On the surface, we belong to the Eastern Depot, but in reality, we fall under the Imperial Guard system. If we ever find ourselves short-handed, we naturally draw troops from the Imperial Guard."

Li Wenxuan suddenly remembered the armor he had been issued from the warehouse. So that was it—although he held the title of Centurion of Punishment for the Eastern Depot, he was actually occupying a slot in the Imperial Guard's roster!

"For an officer of our rank—a Thousand-Man Commander—we can directly mobilize a thousand troops, but that requires approval from the Superintendent. Otherwise, it would be considered treason."

Li Wenxuan nodded. "Understood..." The Imperial Guard also suffered from "ghost soldiers" on the payroll.

"As for other matters, there’s not much to it. Roll call is at the first hour of the morning, and you clock out at the end of the ninth hour. Of course, that applies to the rank and file. We centurions don't have to follow those rules. As long as you finish your work, no one can say a word if you sleep until noon."

Li Wenxuan nodded. "What about the other centurions?"

"Are you asking about the Centurions of Punishment or the Centurions of Justice?"

"Both."

"There's only you as a Centurion of Punishment right now. As for the Centurions of Justice, apart from myself being too fat to move around, the other three brothers are all out in the field."

"Huh? Just me?" Li Wenxuan grinned, feeling a bit... like a nuclear-powered donkey!

"Hey, what’s there to be afraid of? If you can last a month here, the other three brothers and I will pool our money to treat you to a performance at the Jiaofangsi."

"There’s a benefit like that?" Li Wenxuan chuckled in surprise.

"You look quite young. Don't tell me you're still a virgin?"

"Hey, watch your mouth!" Li Wenxuan waved his hand, then added, "You've got a sharp eye!"

"Well, that’s easy enough. If you can last half a year here, the four of us will scrape together enough money for you to sleep with the top courtesan!"

"Huh?" Li Wenxuan’s face darkened. "You don't think I can live past half a year at all, do you?"

"It’s not that I look down on you, brother, but no Centurion of Punishment in our division has ever lived longer than half a year." Fatty Sun sighed with feeling. "Think about it, spending a night with a top courtesan costs tens of thousands of silver taels. Where would we ever find that kind of money?"

Li Wenxuan pursed his lips. "Then you'd better keep saving that money, just in case I actually make it past half a year."

"If you do, I’ll smash my pots and pans, steal, rob, or even sell my own body to make sure you have enough!" Fatty Sun sounded as serious as if he were taking a blood oath.

Li Wenxuan realized this guy was truly convinced he wouldn't survive six months. "What about the Centurions of Punishment under the other two Thousand-Man Commanders?"

"It’s not that extreme elsewhere. It’s mainly because our division head hates evil so much that he rubs many of those corrupt officials in the imperial court the wrong way, so..." Fatty Sun squinted his chubby eyes. "You know how it is!"

"I understand," Li Wenxuan nodded.

"Anyway, you have two days of leave to settle your home affairs. Report for duty after two days."

After saying this, Fatty Sun tapped his pipe against the table with a rhythmic *thump, thump, thump*. "Crazy Donkey! If you're not dead yet, get your ass over here!"

"Coming, Master Sun, I'm coming!" A servant, looking like a handyman, trotted over to Fatty Sun’s side, bowed with a face full of smiles. "Master Sun, what are your orders?"

"This is the new Centurion of Punishment, Li Biao. Take him out for a walk, see which residence looks decent, and requisition it as his 'peaceful dwelling.' As for other supplies, whatever he lacks, go to the market and fetch it." Fatty Sun put away his pipe. "It is a blessing for those lowly people to be chosen by the Eastern Depot!"

"Yes, Master Sun!" The short servant turned quickly to Li Wenxuan and bowed. "Master Li, I am Crazy Donkey. Greetings to you, sir!"

Li Wenxuan only then noticed the branded characters on the man’s forehead—a convict soldier?

"This guy is a Jin national. He was captured here during the Battle of Shanhai Pass quite some time ago. He’s essentially a slave in our division. Since you’re new, ask him if there’s anything you don’t understand."

"Also," Fatty Sun stood up, "Old Li, when you go out, you need to look at people with a sideways glance. Like this, get it?"

"Look at people with a sideways glance?" Li Wenxuan didn't quite grasp the meaning.

Fatty Sun tilted his head and cast a side-eye, an expression of pure murderous intent instantly appearing on his face. Li Wenxuan understood immediately—wasn't this the signature look of a villain in a martial arts movie?

"Ha! You catch on quick!" Fatty Sun patted Li Wenxuan on the shoulder, cheerfully adding, "For us men of the Eastern Depot, just not groping a lady's breasts when we walk down the street is already a mercy. In short: don't lose your stature!"

Having said that, Fatty Sun kicked Crazy Donkey without warning. The man went flying and landed face-first, nose bloodied and face bruised, yet he immediately scrambled up, grinning as he bowed. "Thank you for the favor, Master Sun!"

Li Wenxuan nearly spat out the tea he had just sipped. *People can play like this?*

"Old Li, you see? That’s a favor!" Fatty Sun laughed and turned to leave.

Li Wenxuan stood up, picked up his black iron saber, and glanced at Crazy Donkey.

"Master Li, shall we set off now?"

Li Wenxuan nodded, asking as they walked, "How old are you?"

"Answering Master Li, I am thirty-five!"

"Were you a Jin captive taken during the Battle of Shanhai Pass seventeen years ago?"

"Master Li is exactly right!" Crazy Donkey nodded, smiling.

Li Wenxuan inexplicably thought of his own body's birth mother, whose fate was very similar to this man's.

"Fine. Take me to rent a residence near the yamen. Something quiet and secluded."

"Right away, Master Li, please follow me!"

Crazy Donkey, bowing low, led Li Wenxuan out of the yamen. Riding his horse through the streets, Li Wenxuan could already feel the difference. No matter who they were or what their status, pedestrians would instinctively move aside when they saw his blood-red cloak. Even if Li Wenxuan merely lingered his gaze on a certain spot, the bustling market there would immediately scatter like birds and beasts. Street vendors were even so terrified that they abandoned their stalls and fled.

Li Wenxuan gave a dry laugh. With the Eastern Depot's reputation, did he even need to look at people with a sideways glance? *Yes, he probably did.*

"Master, what do you think of this residence?" Crazy Donkey asked, pointing to a house ahead.

Li Wenxuan shook his head. "Too expensive. I can't afford the rent."

Crazy Donkey was stunned, then put on a fawning smile. "Master Li, you’re joking. If you take a liking to this house, it’s the owner's fortune. He would beg for it!"

Li Wenxuan said, "I think that place over there looks good."

"Where?" Crazy Donkey followed his finger and was stunned, thinking he had misread the situation. All he saw were a few single-story rooms, a waist-high fence surrounding a courtyard, a patch of bamboo inside, and a small fish pond on the south side...

*This?* This was just an ordinary civilian home. Was this Master Li actually a good official? Was he really willing to pay rent?

However, just then, Crazy Donkey saw a young girl with simple clothes but a refined appearance walk out of the courtyard.

*Oh!*

He understood. How could any of these Eastern Depot dogs be good people? He was clearly eyeing a fresh, innocent girl and planning to ruin her!

Crazy Donkey’s mind raced, and he wore his usual fawning smile, looking at Li Wenxuan with flattery. "Don't worry, Master Li, I know exactly what to do!"