The Mysterious Ming Dynasty: My Embroidered Uniform Guards Use Spear Techniques to Break All Laws

Zhou Chengye: "You came to see me today because of the Embroidered Uniform Guard's internal procedure for identifying extraordinary individuals."

Chang Yuan was startled: "Identifying extraordinary individuals? Me?"

Zhou Chengye nodded: "That's right, it's you!"

"The document sent to me stated that your marksmanship was only average before, but during the first raid, your marksmanship suddenly became extraordinary, hitting the target every time and getting headshots every time."

"This must have been an ability that was awakened during the battle."

He looked Chang Yuan up and down and said decisively, "There's no mistake, you have the aura of immortals on you. You have indeed drawn in the Qi and transcended the mundane."

Chang Yuan thought of the entry "Eating Qi" and the spiritual source that could upgrade the entry, and accepted Zhou Chengye's judgment.

He couldn't help but ask, "Then what's the process of identifying extraordinary individuals?"

Zhou Chengye explained, "The power of extraordinary individuals far surpasses that of ordinary people. If their will is not firm, they can easily be devoured by this power and become the seeds of great calamity."

"One of the duties of the Eastern Garrison of the Embroidered Uniform Guard is to deal with superhumans who have committed heinous crimes."

"But when dealing with such evil people, the extraordinary members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard have seen too much bloodshed and evil, and those with weak minds will fall into depravity."

"The corrupt Embroidered Uniform Guards are familiar with the methods of the government and the Embroidered Uniform Guards. They have a strong sense of counter-surveillance, and their methods are more cruel and their harm is more devastating."

"Therefore, the Holy Emperor Shizu set a rule to screen the character of newly emerging extraordinary individuals within the Embroidered Uniform Guard, which greatly reduced the possibility of the emergence of corrupt individuals."

"This screening process has been in operation for over three hundred years and has long since become a fixed routine."

"A typical thousand-household office would house a few particularly hated individuals, such as a loan shark, a greedy clerk, a butcher who monopolizes the market, or a lecherous doorman..."

"In short, it's a character that everyone can encounter, and that everyone hates."

"When a new superhuman awakens within the Embroidered Uniform Guard, lure these people to provoke him and see how he deals with these scum."

Chang Yuan asked curiously, "Can you discern a person's character by dealing with scum?"

Zhou Chengye replied, "Of course."

"If someone possesses extraordinary power but dares not lay a hand on a petty person, it proves that this person is weak-willed and unfit for great responsibility."

"If someone kills you after being provoked, it means they've been blinded by their sudden power, and we'll arrange even more rigorous tests for them later."

"If one can have a sudden awakening during the mission, one can return to the ranks of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and be promoted quickly."

"If someone takes advantage of their extraordinary abilities to become even more ruthless, and even shows a tendency to kill innocent people, it means that this person will most likely fall into depravity after becoming stronger."

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard will naturally arrange for stronger superhumans to deal with it as soon as possible, so as to avoid leaving any hidden dangers."

"If they still act after calmly thinking it through, it means they have excellent character. They will be assigned to me by the commander to be tested again to confirm whether they can control their power and whether they will lose control of their emotions."

Chang Yuan asked curiously, "Then, Commander, what extraordinary abilities do you possess that allow you to conduct the final verification for other extraordinary individuals?"

Zhou Chengye said, "Didn't I already say that I am a miscellaneous cultivator?"

"I awakened my extraordinary 'businessman' ability through cultivation. I am best at doing business, reading people's minds, and manipulating other people's emotions."

Chang Yuan asked again, "Then when I sensed your murderous intent just now, were you faking it?"

Zhou Chengye nodded smugly: "Yes."

"I will see the fear born from the dead man's head transform into hostility towards you, and then twist that hostility into murderous intent."

"The killing intent in these two transformations is very weak; it's used to test a newcomer's sensitivity to danger."

"I didn't expect you to not only sense it, but also react so violently that you almost shot me in the head."

"That's terrifying!"

Chang Yuan apologized expressionlessly and without sincerity: "I'm sorry."

Zhou Chengye: "I don't see any remorse in you at all."

"But it doesn't matter anymore. This was my task, and now that it's done, you can leave."

"Don't worry, you passed the test perfectly and are a perfect fit for our Embroidered Uniform Guard."

"If it's not necessary, then let's not meet again."

Following the typical formula of vernacular novels, Chang Yuan, an orphan with handsome looks and powerful awakened abilities, is the standard protagonist.

The protagonist will grow rapidly, enjoy a smooth official career, rise quickly to become a peerless genius.

But Heaven will also arrange many trials and tribulations to test one's will, strain one's muscles and bones, starve one's body, empty one's mind, and disrupt one's actions, so as to strengthen one's resolve and increase one's abilities.

In this process, the ones who truly pay the price are never the protagonist, but those around him.

Zhou Chengye is over thirty and understands that he is not the main character, so he doesn't want to have any contact with Chang Yuan.

Chang Yuan nodded at Zhou Chengye, then suddenly smiled and shook his head: "I have a feeling we'll meet again in the future."

Zhou Chengye's face paled slightly: "Pah! Pah! Pah! It's not up to you!"

"Nothing is forbidden! Nothing is forbidden!"

Chang Yuan walked away with a smile.

He left the house, mounted his iron horse, revved the engine, and drove all the way back to the Zhangde Prefecture Thousand Household Office.

He parked the iron horse in its original spot, ignoring the jolting sensation in his backside, and went straight to the Qianhu Building.

As expected, the journey was smooth and unimpeded, and they were led directly to the residence of the Commander-in-Chief.

As the commander was signing the papers, he asked without looking up, "Do you know Zhou Chengye's identity now?"

Chang Yuan bowed first, then replied, "Yes, Commander, I have checked the waist token of Commander Zheng Feng."

Qianhu looked up in surprise: "He showed you his badge, how did you do that?"

Chang Yuan looked slightly embarrassed: "After sensing the murderous intent, I mistook Commander Zheng Feng for an enemy and held a gun to his head..."

Lord Chiju laughed heartily: "You actually scared that rascal! That's quite remarkable."

"As expected, businessmen are most afraid of direct violence."

"The most unscrupulous ability of a 'merchant' is that they talk about being able to sell anything and buy anything, and about the principle of equivalent exchange, but in reality they exploit loopholes in contracts, provoke their partners' emotions, and ultimately buy low and sell high."

"Even I didn't expect that kid would actually hide his real weaknesses in his fake persona, and with all those layers of protection, he completely ignored them after a single missed attack. He's incredibly cunning."

"Chang Yuan, you have passed the examination. From today onwards, you are an extraordinary member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. After the Southern Garrison Command verifies your qualifications, you will be promoted to the rank of Commander-in-Chief and enjoy the treatment of a centurion."

Chang Yuan bowed again and said, "Thank you for your care, Commander."

The commander waved his hand and said, "No need to thank me, these are the rules."

"The reason why the Embroidered Uniform Guard was able to continue for five hundred years and was promoted by Emperor Shizu to replace the Eastern Depot and Western Depot is because everyone from top to bottom followed the rules."

"You'll have to practice martial arts seriously from now on."

"Those who are extraordinary can enjoy the treatment of a higher rank, and correspondingly they have to carry out more difficult tasks. Raiding the Blood Spirit Cult altar can only be considered the simplest level one."

"No matter how amazing your marksmanship is, a lack of physical strength is a fatal weakness."

Chang Yuan solemnly replied, "Your subordinate obeys!"