Chapter 8

Perhaps a piece of unrefined gold, in a polluted environment, would become nothing more than a common stone.

Even if one’s talent is mediocre, as long as they receive sufficient support and undergo extensive training, they still have the chance to become a pillar of society. They might lack the ability to innovate, but they can certainly maintain the status quo.

The problem with Hong Lie is that everyone, including his grandfather and his wife, considers him a mediocre person. In such an environment, Hong Lie lacks confidence and has insufficient experience.

Especially self-confidence; the difference in ability between a confident person and an unconfident one is truly significant.

Hong Yu pondered on his way back, deciding to help his brother regain his confidence first. The simplest and most direct method would be to enhance his realm level.

In this life, Hong Yu has decided to act on his whims, without the mental constraints of the past. If he wants to do something, he will do it.

The name "stallion" may sound bad, but it is still enviable! "Lazy and gluttonous" is a derogatory term, but if one can become a second-generation heir and live a life of ease and indulgence, no one would refuse it.

Thinking about the past, when he would take the subway across the city just for a meal, and now, with just a command, someone would cross the city to bring a chef to cook for him—just from the perspective of a food lover, it is too blissful.

But the question is, how to enhance his brother’s realm?

...

That night, Hong Yu still slept in the small building, with the servant girl Xiaoling nervously accompanying him in the courtyard. Before sleeping, Hong Yu called for her once to get some water, and the girl’s demeanor was like a little rabbit about to be fed to a wolf, pitiful and miserable, which made Hong Yu inwardly curse the original owner.

In fact, Xiaoling was indeed anxious that night, waking up at the slightest sound, fearing that Young Master Yu would "lose control" and rush into her room in the middle of the night to do something improper.

Hong Yu, however, slept well because he knew a third-rank super expert was guarding him, ready to hold up the sky if it fell.

Hong Shen was still among the bamboo grove. That night, the stars were still shining brightly. After practicing, Hong Shen tried to connect with the vast and bright aura emitted by Hong Yu, but this time, it did not work. In his spiritual perception, Hong Yu was as clear as a bright lamp, but the feeling was gone.

Hong Shen sighed inwardly, feeling a bit greedy. Such an opportunity, if one could encounter it once in a lifetime, was already fortunate.

Just as he was about to give up, the time came. In Hong Yu’s Zhongshan acupoint, the image of the novice monk began to chant, and a golden mist spread out. In Hong Shen’s mind, there was a loud boom, and he was once again enveloped by the vast and bright feeling.

At this moment, Hong Yu, in Hong Shen’s spiritual perception, was radiating with a strong light, like the midday sun!

Hong Shen’s "Starfire Divine Furnace" had already gradually stopped, but suddenly, with this feeling, it mobilized all the martial qi in his body, surging and flowing like a mighty river!

Hong Shen was overjoyed!

Generally, during cultivation, it is impossible to mobilize all the martial qi in the body. Only a part of the martial qi continuously circulates, bringing external energy into the body, gradually accumulating and transforming into new martial qi.

During the cultivation process, only about one-tenth of the martial qi can be mobilized.

Firstly, too much martial qi requires more effort to mobilize. Secondly, the meridians cannot accommodate too much martial qi at once. However, under the influence of the feeling transmitted by Hong Yu, Hong Shen’s martial qi was easily mobilized, and the constraints of the meridians seemed to disappear, surging like a mighty river!

This circulation was so thorough and invigorating, mobilizing all the martial qi in Hong Shen’s body, making him feel as if he were being refreshed and purified.

When the stars gradually faded and the sky brightened, the vast and bright feeling receded like a tide, and Hong Shen’s martial qi gradually calmed down. He checked and found that the cultivation in the latter half of the night was equivalent to half a month’s worth of his usual practice!

However, what excited Hong Shen the most was not this achievement, but the proof that Hong Yu’s influence on him was not accidental but inevitable.

This meant that he could continue to cultivate with Hong Yu, increasing his speed by more than ten times!

Regardless of whether they were experts or novices, whether they were first-rank or unranked, who could resist such temptation? No one!

Hong Shen’s heart was surging with excitement, and he was almost ready to rush to Hong Shengri, kneel, and beg for the general’s favor to allow him to always follow Young Master Yu. However, having grown accustomed to obeying military orders, he suppressed this impulse and did not leave his post without permission.

Inside the small building, Hong Yu was unaware of the tremendous impact his two nights of dreams had on the third-rank super expert. He stretched and sat up from the bed.

Outside, Hong Xi had already risen and, together with Xiaoling, prepared hot water for Hong Yu to wash.

"Master, the old master has sent someone to convey a message, asking you to have breakfast with him in the morning."

Hong Yu pouted, somewhat unwilling. In the original owner’s memory, the old master never showed him a good face. Not being beaten was already a favor.

Recalling his first meeting with Hong Shengri, it was not pleasant either, and Hong Yu subconsciously did not want to go.

"Just say I’m not feeling well today, and bring me some breakfast to eat here."

"This..." Hong Xi hesitated, and Hong Yu glared at him: "What’s the matter?"

"Yes, I’ll go right away."

Hong Yu waited in the small building for about the time it takes to burn an incense stick. Not only did Hong Xi return, but Hong Shengri came with him!

Hong Shengri, a man of war, exuded a heavy killing aura. Even without intentional effort, Hong Yu could feel it from dozens of yards away. He instinctively shrank his neck and darted towards the window.

Hong Shengri roared: "Hong Shen, stop him!"

Hong Shen stood outside the window with a bitter smile: "Young Master Yu, you can’t escape from the old master’s grasp."

Hong Yu was dejected. Turning his head, he was met with a mountain-like, iron-hard aura. Hong Shengri, with the Sun-Seizing Treasure Saber at his waist, stood before him with his hands behind his back, his face as stern as water.

Hong Yu chuckled: "Grandfather."

Hong Shengri glared at him: "Brat, what’s wrong with you?"

Hong Yu clutched his stomach and tried to run downstairs: "Grandson’s stomach hurts, I need to go to the toilet!"

Hong Shengri appeared in his path, and Hong Yu collided with him, falling back with a thud. Hong Shengri sternly said: "Hold it in!"

Hong Yu was speechless: "Grandfather, you’re so cruel!?"

Hong Shengri coldly snorted: "Brat, I’m telling you, for the next three months, you must stay at home and improve your martial skills. Don’t disgrace our Hong family at the Xiushan Autumn Festival!"

After saying this, he looked out the window: "Hong Shen, watch him!"

"Yes!"

Hong Shengri, with his hands behind his back, stomped away, his footsteps making one think of an ancient giant beast.

After a few steps, he suddenly stopped and turned, looking at Hong Shen with surprise: "You..."

Hong Shen quickly followed, and the two left Hong Yu’s small courtyard. Hong Shengri suddenly turned: "You broke through to the middle stage of the third-rank last night. Normally, it should take at least half a month to consolidate this realm. How did you manage to consolidate it in just one night? Consolidating a realm is not difficult, but you’re too fast."

Hong Shen thought for a moment, bowed to Hong Shengri, and formally requested: "General, I humbly request to become Young Master Yu’s personal guard!"

Hong Shengri’s eyes widened in surprise: "Hong Shen, do you know what this means?"

A third-rank super expert is absolutely a top-tier expert. Each top-tier expert has their own dignity and pride, which cannot be erased even if they are subordinate to someone. Otherwise, they would not be considered experts.

It is precisely because of this pride that third-rank super experts almost never become personal guards. What does a personal guard mean? In simple terms, it’s a subordinate. Even if you are a third-rank super expert, you are still a subordinate, just a super-fighting subordinate.

For example, if Hong Yu, the second-generation heir, goes out with Hong Shen, a third-rank super expert, as his personal guard, not everyone in Wudu City recognizes Hong Yu. If he gets into a conflict with a street thug, and Hong Yu himself is a waste, would Hong Shen intervene?

As a personal guard, you must intervene.

But a third-rank super expert against a street thug...

That’s why even Hong Shengri did not use a third-rank super expert as a personal guard, only calling on Hong Shen and others when needed.

Hong Shen gritted his teeth and nodded: "General, I understand. I have thought it through. You saw me consolidate my realm in one night, and it’s all thanks to Young Master Yu."

Hong Shengri’s eyes flashed with intense surprise, and he grabbed Hong Shen, who, despite being a third-rank super expert, had no resistance against the second-rank Hong Shengri!

"What did you say?! Did Hong Yu have an effect again last night?"

Hong Shen replied: "Exactly. General, Young Master Yu is now different from before. Even if he doesn’t achieve much in cultivation in the future, he is still a treasure of our Hong family!"

Hong Shengri released Hong Shen, put his hands behind his back, and began pacing.

After a while, he slowly raised his head and looked at Hong Shen: "If that’s the case, I can’t give you an answer now."

Hong Shen was disappointed but understood it was to be expected.

If he became Hong Yu’s personal guard, he would likely monopolize such benefits. Whether others would be jealous aside, from the perspective of the Hong family’s development, such a decision could not be made rashly.

"I understand."

Hong Shengri nodded in relief: "Rest assured, I will not treat you unfairly."

"Thank you, General."

"Also, keep this matter strictly confidential. Without my order, even Young Master Yu himself cannot know a single word!"

This is to prevent the wastrel from boasting and getting himself into trouble.

Hong Shen knelt down with a loud thud: "General, rest assured, Hong Shen would rather die than speak!"