My dreams can simulate the future.

After leaving Hou Ming's house, Jiang Chen went straight to a large but somewhat dilapidated two-courtyard house, carrying a gift box in his hand.

He stepped forward and knocked on the door three times, announcing loudly, "Uncle Lu, Jiang Chen has come to visit."

Before long, the courtyard gate opened, and a burly young man appeared behind it; this was Lu Xiong.

Upon seeing Jiang Chen, he looked puzzled: "Brother Chen, you've come all this way, why did you bring a gift?"

Lu Xiong's talent in both cultivation and weapon crafting is not weak among rogue cultivators. However, when it comes to interpersonal relationships, he is completely clueless.

Jiang Chen smiled and said, "Knowing that Uncle Lu was injured, I naturally had to pay him a visit. There's also something else I need to discuss with Uncle Lu."

Lu Xiong scratched his head, unsure of what to say.

A somewhat weak voice came from inside the room: "Little Jiang, please come in and sit down."

Jiang Chen immediately followed Lu Xiong into the house.

The huge courtyard was extremely empty; almost everything that could be sold had been sold.

Even the tables, chairs, and benches in the house were made of the most ordinary wood, and the craftsmanship was extremely rough.

Inside the room, a middle-aged man of medium build with a pale face and a short beard leaned against the headboard.

Upon seeing Jiang Chen, he smiled weakly: "Little Jiang, thank you so much for lending Lu Xiong ten spirit stones a few days ago. It saved my whole family's lives."

My injuries haven't fully healed yet, and I really don't have the strength to get up. I hope you won't blame me.

Jiang Chen put down the gift in his hand: "Uncle Lu, you're being too polite. Our two families have been friends for decades. My grandfather is gone and never came back, so you sold me animal hides and blood at a discounted price."

Now that you are in trouble, how can I stand idly by?

"I brought some healing pills, which should be of some use to you, Uncle Lu."

Lu Hu was a little embarrassed: "I'm not able to return the spirit stones you borrowed some time ago, so how could I possibly accept your gift?"

Jiang Chen smiled and said, "Uncle Lu, you're being too polite. Actually, I came here today to discuss something with you."

"Now I have joined the Garrison Command and enjoy the treatment of a patrol guard. According to the rules of the Garrison Command, I can recruit five guards or attendants."

The attendant's status was equivalent to that of a swordsman; they were exempt from taxes for themselves and five family members, as well as the property tax for their residence, but they had no law enforcement power.

"I currently need a capable follower to protect my safety. Uncle Lu, you are exceptionally strong, and I would like to recruit you as my bodyguard."

The situation is chaotic right now, and there are a large number of raiders outside the market. Even after you, Uncle Lu, have fully recovered from your injuries, going out to hunt demons will be fraught with danger.

I'll give you twenty spirit stones a month, and I'll cover your food and lodging. What do you think?

Upon hearing this, Lu Hu's breathing became much heavier.

Twenty spirit stones a month is more than the income of most people in the market.

In the past, when he went out to hunt demons, his harvest might be much greater, but he might also come up with nothing. Moreover, going out to hunt demons was very risky, and he was always on tenterhooks.

What they had in front of them was a guaranteed income of twenty spirit stones a month, regardless of drought or flood, plus a tax exemption of about ten spirit stones. Although being a guard had its risks, compared to hunting demons, those risks were negligible.

"Young Talisman Master Jiang, this price is far too high. Not to mention a Qi Refining Level 6 cultivator like myself, even a Qi Refining Level 3 cultivator could be hired."

Jiang Chen waved his hand: "Recruiting followers requires not only ability but also character. Uncle Lu, I trust your character, and your strength is sufficient."

After saying that, he took out twenty spirit stones: "Uncle Lu, this is your salary for this month. Please heal your injuries as soon as possible."

"To be honest, the reason I asked you to be my bodyguard isn't entirely to help you. I'm being targeted now, and there's a high chance that a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator will try to assassinate me in the future."

A few days ago, there was some commotion in our Southwest Ward. An assassin at the sixth level of Qi Refining tried to kill me. If I hadn't been prepared, I probably wouldn't have survived.

They have informants within the market, but I don't trust many people. If you're hesitant to take this job, I don't know who else to turn to.

Upon hearing this, Lu Hu's expression turned serious.

"Since you are in danger, I will be your bodyguard. Ever since I broke through to the fourth level of Qi Refining in my twenties, I have made a living by hunting demons."

Over the past thirty years, I have hunted hundreds of monsters, including quite a few high-ranking first-grade monsters.

Over the years, I've encountered many cultivators who have attacked me, and most of them have died at my hands, including quite a few late-stage Qi Refining cultivators.

"If an assassin attacks you, I can kill even a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator. Even if two or three late-stage Qi Refining cultivators come, I can still buy you half an hour."

Seeing that he agreed to be a guard, Jiang Chen breathed a sigh of relief.

"Li Cheng, the squad leader of the patrol in our southwest ward, is someone I'm somewhat acquainted with. If we encounter an assassin, we only need to stall him for a short while, and the patrol will come to our aid."

"Uncle Lu, please rest and recover for the next few days. Once you are fully healed, I will take you to the garrison headquarters to confirm your identity as a guard."

Hearing this, Lu Hu breathed a sigh of relief. The pressure of holding off a late-stage Qi Refining assassin all by himself would be immense.

If you have connections with the patrol guards, things will be much easier.

"In that case, I don't have much to do. Twenty spirit stones a month is really too much."

"Being a guard already exempts me from ten spirit stones of tax; just give me ten spirit stones."

Jiang Chen now uses forty talisman papers every day, with a success rate of 30%, earning a daily profit of more than twenty spirit stones, and a monthly profit of seven or eight hundred spirit stones.

Hiring a guard for twenty spirit stones is really nothing.

"Uncle Lu, you won't need many spirit stones, but Da Xiong will. He's a weapon refiner and needs a lot of materials to practice with."

With his talent, he should be able to become a mid-level first-grade weapon refiner in a few years. In the future, we might even join the Golden Cauldron Sect together and look after each other.

We're all family, why be so formal?

After saying that, he hurriedly left the Lu family courtyard, fearing that Lu Hu would bring up the matter of reducing his treatment again.

Once outside, Jiang Chen felt overjoyed: "With Lu Hu as my bodyguard, I'm safe for the time being. Plus, Hou Ming is helping me buy and sell supplies and gather information."

With those two on the team, I can say that my initial team is complete.

Seeing him leave, Lu Hu couldn't help but sigh.

"Lu Xiong! Our family owes the Jiang family a debt of gratitude that we can never repay in this lifetime!"

Lu Xiong scratched the back of his head: "Huh? Didn't our family only owe ten spirit stones? How come we can't pay it back in a lifetime?"

Seeing his expression, Lu Hu immediately gave up hope.

"This foolish son, even if he joins the Golden Cauldron Sect, he'll probably still need Little Jiang the Talisman Master's protection."

"Forget it, I'm not going to talk about this anymore. While I'm alive, I can at least repay some of your kindness. But once I'm dead, you'll definitely owe me more and more."

What kind of fate is this? I finally gave birth to a son who could cultivate and even had talent for weapon crafting, but it turns out he's an idiot.

Lu Xiong scratched his head: "Dad, are you saying I'm an idiot?"

Upon hearing this question, Lu Hu laughed: "Thank God, it turns out my son isn't completely stupid."

No, I need to find you a smarter wife. It would be even better if she could give birth to a child with cultivation talent.

There's no hope for my son; I can only hope my grandson will be somewhat intelligent.