The next day, dawn had just broken.
Jiang Yuechu, uncharacteristically, woke up early.
Since she couldn't sleep anyway, she simply got up and performed a set of Yin-Yang Horizontal Hand in the courtyard. Her fists stretched out, and she slowly inhaled and exhaled until the heat within her body completely subsided before she stopped and stood still.
Just as she was about to return to her room, the courtyard gate was gently knocked.
"Lord Jiang."
A somewhat unfamiliar voice came from outside the gate.
Jiang Yuechu was a little puzzled and walked over to unlatch the door.
Outside the gate, several burly men with broad shoulders and thick waists were respectfully waiting, carrying shoulder poles and lifting chests and cages.
The one leading them looked like a tall, thin accountant.
"Lord Jiang, this humble one is from the Commandery Office Treasury, specifically here to deliver your monthly salary."
With that, the tall, thin man bowed respectfully and gestured for the men behind him to carry the items in.
"Salary?"
Jiang Yuechu was slightly taken aback, then remembered that today indeed seemed to be the day for salary distribution.
She hadn't paid much attention to the Brigade Commander's salary, only vaguely recalling that she had received a hundred taels when she was promoted.
As for other things, she figured they wouldn't be too little either.
But when those men carried all the items into the courtyard, Jiang Yuechu couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
Good heavens.
A hundred taels of silver were neatly stacked, gleaming brightly.
Forty shi of rice were piled up like a small mountain, occupying nearly half a corner of the courtyard.
The units of measurement in this world were slightly different from her previous life.
One shi was about a hundred catties, so forty shi was four thousand catties.
In addition, there were one hundred and twenty catties of fine pork and beef, more than a dozen bolts of high-quality silk, several jars of aged wine, and various miscellaneous items like oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar.
Jiang Yuechu's courtyard was instantly packed full, presenting a scene like New Year's.
Seeing Jiang Yuechu's astonished expression, the tall, thin man quickly and carefully explained, "Lord Jiang, you are now a Sixth-Rank Langjiang. One hundred taels of silver, forty shi of rice, one hundred and twenty catties of meat, and these seasonal silks and wines are all standard allowances each month."
He paused, then added, "Ordinary Demon Suppression Guardss need to collect it themselves from the treasury, but Lord Jiang's status is distinguished, so naturally, we humble ones deliver it to your residence personally."
Jiang Yuechu nodded, indicating that she understood.
Seeing that she didn't ask further questions, the tall, thin man bowed again and led his people out.
With the courtyard gate closed, Jiang Yuechu looked at the wealth filling her courtyard, feeling a bit helpless for a moment.
An ordinary family could live comfortably on three to five taels of silver a month.
Her hundred taels of silver, forty shi of rice, one hundred and twenty catties of meat, plus the silks and wine, were enough to support ten families for a year and a half.
Even though she was now a Core Formation Realm cultivator and could eat a lot, how could one person eat so much?
Moreover, she didn't often eat at home; she was either out on official business or freeloading at Wei Qing's house.
Such a large amount would probably last her for half a year... Jiang Yuechu sighed and, adhering to the principle of not wasting, began to put these things away.
Anyway, the Jingyao Workshop had good security, and no petty thief had ever dared to visit this area. She casually tossed the hundred taels of silver into a half-old wooden box in her room.
Then, she moved the forty shi of rice, bag by bag, into the woodshed.
Next was the meat.
She cut the meat into large chunks, salted them, hung some under the eaves to air-dry, and chopped some to prepare for simmering into meat sauce.
As for the dozen bolts of silk and several jars of aged wine, she also moved them into the house.
The silk could be kept for herself to wear or exchanged for some money.
The wine... she didn't drink much, but it could be kept for entertaining guests.
After a flurry of activity, the small courtyard finally regained some tranquility.
Jiang Yuechu clapped the dust from her hands, glanced at the sky, and her stomach uncooperatively rumbled.
Never mind.
She wouldn't go out for breakfast today.
Rolling up her sleeves, Jiang Yuechu entered the kitchen, set up the pot, scooped two ladles of rice, cut a large piece of meat, chopped it into mince, threw it into the pot, and then grabbed two handfuls of greens.
Soon, a steaming pot of savory meat porridge emitted an enticing aroma.
Jiang Yuechu sat on a stone stool in the courtyard, holding her bowl, and spooned the porridge into her mouth, bite by bite.
The porridge was hot, the meat was fragrant, as for the vegetables... she had bought them half a month ago, and they were a bit wilted, so the texture wasn't great.
She pondered as she ate.
She didn't need to worry about the Commander position.
It was just a title for now, and it wasn't even announced to the public. It would be a long time before she reached the Zhonglian Realm.
Currently, there were only two most important matters.
First, it was time to go out and hunt Demons.
If the people from Baosha hadn't suddenly arrived, she wouldn't have stayed here for so long.
She knew her own capabilities; without Dao Cultivation to support it, her so-called talent was just a castle in the air.
With her current Core Formation Realm cultivation, she might be able to easily handle a strong opponent of the same realm in a one-on-one fight.
But what about one against ten?
Or even more exaggerated, if the enemy was insane and sent a hundred Core Formation Realm cultivators to deal with her... Thinking of this, Jiang Yuechu's eyes sharpened slightly.
In this world, there was no shortage of examples of the many bullying the few. Her current cultivation was far from enough to allow her to rest easy.
At the very least, she needed to first enter the Dianmo Realm.
Second, the true situation of Baosha Temple needed to be investigated as soon as possible.
Now that she had killed Forgetting Dust, there was absolutely no room for reconciliation with Baosha.
Jiang Yuechu was never one to sit back and wait for death.
Since there was enmity, how could she wait for the other party to come knocking?
Instead of passively responding... it was better to strike first.
With this thought, Jiang Yuechu quickly finished the porridge in her bowl and got up to clean up.
It was time to go out... Heaven Character Camp.
Jiang Yuechu stepped inside, noticing many new faces today.
When she entered, those people only glanced at her, nodded as a greeting, and then returned to their own affairs.
To be able to enter the Heaven Character Camp, strength, talent, and luck were all indispensable. Few people would cause trouble just because the other party was a woman.
Li Qingyuan and Shi Chongyue were about to leave the camp. Seeing her, they immediately came forward to greet her.
"Miss Jiang."
Li Qingyuan clasped his fists, his tone as gentle as ever.
Jiang Yuechu politely returned the greeting and casually asked, "Where are you two going..."
Li Qingyuan smiled and explained, "I'm accompanying Brother Shi on a trip. He's preparing for a Breakthrough to Core Formation, and needs some special items. I'm going with him to find them."
Upon hearing this, a trace of almost imperceptible disappointment flashed in Jiang Yuechu's eyes.
"Oh... then you two be busy."
She responded perfunctorily.
So they weren't going to slay Demons... Seeing her seem dispirited, Li Qingyuan thought for a moment and suddenly said, "Miss Jiang, do you have time? Regarding the Black River White Flood Dragon incident last time, The Department has found some clues that we haven't yet explained to you."
Jiang Yuechu paused, turned her head, and raised an eyebrow slightly: "White Flood Dragon?"