Heaven rewards diligence, but there are always fairies plotting against me.

Caught off guard, the tall and strong Li Feiqiang was slapped so hard that his head turned to one side and he stumbled back four or five steps.

"Thump, thump, thump!"

A deathly silence fell over the air.

Everyone stared wide-eyed, their faces filled with shock and disbelief.

Li Feiqiang hadn't even made a move yet, and this newcomer who had just entered the manor dared to slap a senior guard first.

This isn't just arrogant, it's downright...incredibly cool!!

"You...you scum, how dare you lay a hand on me?"

Li Feiqiang covered his rapidly swelling cheek, his eyes filled with disbelief and horror.

Chu Chang calmly withdrew his hand and said with a smile, "This was self-defense."

"You're talking nonsense!" one of Li Feiqiang's henchmen roared.

"He just raised his hand and released enough true energy to injure people," Chu Chang said, scanning the entire scene.

"The family rules strictly forbid private fights, but as a guard, it's perfectly reasonable for me to take necessary self-defense measures when faced with a threat. What, do I have to wait until he smashes my skull open before I can fight back?"

These words left everyone speechless.

Indeed, Li Feiqiang's posture just now made it look like he was about to kill someone.

But Chu Chang's thoughts went far beyond that.

His slap just now was not only to establish his authority, but also to conduct a practical test.

This Li Feiqiang seems to have reached the fourth level of Body Tempering, but when I casually pulled him out just now, he actually showed that his foundation was unstable and he couldn't even properly dissipate the force.

Looking at myself, after mastering the "Mountain Moving Force," my brute strength combined with my extremely Yang physique clearly overwhelmed my opponent!

With that, he felt much more at ease.

Now that things have completely fallen apart, there's no need to hide anything anymore.

He's determined to get first place in this nursing selection!

Originally, Gu Ling Shuang told him that as long as he could be selected as a guard, he would receive a cultivation technique as a reward.

However, the rewards for the top ten are even more generous.

The first place winner, in particular, received two cultivation techniques as a reward.

In addition, there is a reward of fifty taels of silver and a bottle of body-tempering pills!

"You...you're talking nonsense!"

Li Feiqiang wanted to explain, but his mouth was tied in knots, and he was unable to defend himself.

"What's going on? Making such a racket so early in the morning, what kind of behavior is this!"

A sharp voice came from behind the crowd.

The guards who were watching changed their expressions and quickly stepped aside, making way for a wide path.

A group of people walked in with an impressive air.

The leader was a young man dressed in a dark gold robe and a jade belt.

His face was slightly gloomy, and his eyes revealed an undisguised wickedness.

This person is none other than Gu Tianyi, the son of the First Elder Gu Bahu.

Among the younger generation of the Gu family, he is the only qualified and long-time contender for the position of Gu Ling Shuang's heir to the family headship.

"Young Master! You must do me justice!"

Seeing his backer arrive, Li Feiqiang, ignoring the burning pain on his face, immediately went to Gu Tianyi and exaggerated, saying, "This kid... not only forcibly occupied the house that was originally promised to me, but also, relying on the young lady's backing, he launched a sneak attack on me when I wasn't paying attention! Look, he's beaten my face to a pulp!!"

Gu Tianyi's gaze instantly turned cold, locking onto Chu Chang like a venomous snake.

He scoffed, his tone contemptuous: "A sneak attack?! Hah, our young lady is getting more and more outrageous. She brings just any Tom, Dick, or Harry home, and even appointed guards for this kind of scum? She's utterly disgraced the Gu family!"

He abruptly pointed at Chu Chang and shouted sternly, "Guards! This boy has openly committed violence and launched a sneak attack within the manor. According to clan rules, anyone caught fighting in the home is to be severely punished with fifty strokes of the rod and have one leg broken. Seize him!"

At his command, several powerful bodyguards behind him stepped forward with sinister smiles. These men were all experts at or above the fifth level of the Body Tempering Realm.

"Gu Tianyi, if you've gone blind, you can get it treated. But with so many eyes watching you in this courtyard, you're not completely blind yet!"

Just then, a voice as cold as an icy spring came from the end of the corridor.

Everyone turned to look and saw Gu Ling Shuang, dressed in a purple outfit, walking towards them.

The hem of her long dress swayed slightly as she walked, and the cold and arrogant aura of a superior instantly dissipated much of the oppressive feeling brought by Gu Tianyi.

Chu Chang breathed a sigh of relief.

He had just seen Gu Ling Shuang not far away and knew she would definitely help.

She walked straight to Chu Chang's side and coldly glanced at the entourage that had surrounded her.

When she swept her gaze over them, all the attendants took a step back in unison.

This aura is far stronger than Gu Tianyi's.

"Chu Chang was acting in self-defense. Li Feiqiang struck first, and everyone present can testify to that." Gu Ling Shuang looked at Gu Tian Yi with a mocking smile on her lips.

"It seems that Gu Ling Shuang is significantly more assertive than Gu Tian Yi."

Chu Chang thought to himself.

Indeed, Gu Ling Shuang is stronger than Gu Tian Yi.

Gu Tianyi's confidence stems from his father, Gu Bahu.

If it weren't for the fact that there was still a Supreme Elder holding the Gu family back, Gu Bahu would have wanted to take the position of family head long ago.

However, as the Supreme Elder grew older, Gu Bahu's faction became increasingly arrogant.

Gu Tianyi glanced around, knowing he wouldn't get the better of him anytime soon. He snorted coldly and said, "Since Miss has spoken up, Chu Chang, I'll let you go this time! Let's go!"

"Hmph!" Li Feiqiang covered his still throbbing face, glared venomously at Chu Chang, and then left with Gu Tianyi.

He secretly vowed to break Chu Chang's bones during the guard selection later.

On the bluestone path leading to the high platform of the martial arts arena, Gu Ling Shuang walked ahead, turned her head and whispered, "Chu Chang, don't participate in the guard selection later."

Chu Chang was slightly taken aback: "Why?"

"This assessment was a competition among all the guards under the age of 25 in the manor, with nearly a hundred participants. The fighting on the stage was chaotic and unpredictable, and in the end, only the top ten were selected."

A hint of worry flashed in Gu Ling Shuang's eyes, "You just humiliated Li Fei Qiang, and he will definitely not let it go. On the arena, he will definitely join forces with the Grand Elder's faction to attack you, and may even... try to kill you."

Chu Chang sensed the protectiveness in her words and felt a warmth in his heart.

It seems his help hadn't been in vain; the young lady still takes good care of him.

He shook his head and calmly said, "Young Miss, to be honest, I want to get first place."

Gu Ling Shuang abruptly stopped, her beautiful face darkening. "I don't like people who boast. You've only been in the manor for a few days. Most of the guards have practiced martial arts since childhood, and Li Feiqiang has been immersed in body tempering for many years. What makes you think you can compete for first place?"

She thought Chu Chang was trying to show off in front of her!

"Young Miss, why do you think I'm boasting?" Chu Chang met her gaze without flinching. "You haven't even witnessed my true strength, so how do you know I'm incapable?"

Looking into Chu Chang's confident eyes, Gu Ling Shuang felt a slight tremor in her heart.

"When I first met you, you seemed unremarkable..." Gu Ling Shuang frowned in thought.

"But you know, my physique is special! After practicing the 'Mountain Moving Strength' that Madam Lin gave me these past two days, I feel incredibly powerful. For example, that slap just now wasn't just a lucky sneak attack; I genuinely felt that his movements were too slow and his strength too weak!"

"Is that so..." Gu Ling Shuang fell into deep thought.

Just now, like everyone else, she subconsciously thought that Chu Chang had succeeded by taking advantage of Li Feiqiang's lack of vigilance.

But looking at Chu Chang's confident expression now, could this kid's progress really have reached such a terrifying level?

Gu Ling Shuang suddenly smiled. That smile was like a red plum blossom quietly blooming in the snow of winter, its coldness revealing a breathtaking beauty.

"Alright, since you have the courage, I'll allow you to go on stage." Gu Ling Shuang's smile faded, and she said seriously, "I will secretly arrange for two guards to watch over you on the stage. If you really can't hold on, admit defeat immediately; saving your life is the most important thing. If you can really win first place, I promise you will receive an extra reward."

"Thank you, Miss." Chu Chang clasped his hands in thanks, a slight smile playing on his lips.

He not only wanted to win first place, but also wanted to make Li Feiqiang understand that some faces can't be slapped once.