"Is the Ninth Young Master in?"
A deferential middle-aged man walked in.
Hong Kun was actually a little puzzled. A mont ago, the Third Elder had suddenly found him and directly ordered him to clear out a courtyard of the highest standard. Then, he was told to co to the area where the side branches lived, find Hong Yu, and settle them comfortably into that courtyard.
Hong Kun was the Grand Steward of the Hong Family, a position of no small status. He usually served the Elders and the various young masters. When had he ever co to the side-branch area?
But he didn't dare defy the Third Elder's command in the slightest.
However, just as he arrived, he heard a screech like a dying pig from outside the door. This made Hong Kun especially perplexed, and he wondered if the Third Elder had given him the wrong address. But after checking and re-checking, he confird the address was correct and could only brace himself, knock, and enter.
Hong Yu frowned. "And you are?"
Hong Kun's face imdiately broke into a wide smile as he walked in. "You must be the Ninth Young Master! My na is Hong Kun. The Third Elder sent to receive you!"
"I am Hong Yu. Thank you for your trouble," Hong Yu said with a smile.
'This young man doesn't have the arrogance of the other young masters!'
Hong Kun thought to himself, his impression of Hong Yu improving considerably. He smiled. "Not at all. You can just call Hong Kun."
"Elders deserve respect. I should call you Uncle Kun," Hong Yu said.
A smile appeared on Hong Kun's face.
He was quite pleased that Hong Yu had addressed him as 'Uncle Kun'. As Hong Kun was thinking this and preparing to say more, an ill-tid voice interrupted his thoughts. His brow furrowed, and he cast a displeased look toward the source of the sound...
Zhang Ting was lying on the floor, her face a ss of snot and tears. "Who the hell are you? What Ninth Young Master? There's no young master here..."
The smile on Hong Kun's face vanished instantly.
'Who the hell...?'
'In this entire Hong Mansion, besides a few Elders and the Patriarch, who would dare speak to like that?'
Hong Kun's face darkened. He snorted coldly. "What are you? How dare you cause trouble in the Ninth Young Master's ho?"
"I'm the head of the Artisan Workshop, and my man is Hong Jun," Zhang Ting snarled, scrambling up from the floor.
"Hong Jun?"
Hong Kun paused for a mont, then rembered the Little Steward that Hong Lin had asked him to promote. His expression turned even uglier. 'Damn it, I'm the one who promoted your man, and you, his woman, dare to curse to my face?' The Grand Steward's authority was on full display. He slapped Zhang Ting across the face. "You brainless, stupid woman. Get the hell back ho, right now, and tell that bastard Hong Jun to co see ."
"You... you dare to hit ? Ah, I'll kill you..."
Zhang Ting howled, clawing wildly at Hong Kun.
"Get lost!"
Enraged, Hong Kun sent Zhang Ting's corpulent body flying with a kick. "Get lost and tell Hong Jun my na is Hong Kun," he bellowed. "Have him report to within one double-hour, or he'll face the consequences."
Hong Kun dusted off his hands, turned around, and put on a genial smile. "Ninth Young Master, are you able to leave now?"
"We can leave anyti!"
Hong Yu called for Yun ngyao to co out.
Led by Hong Kun, the two of them boarded the magnificent Golden Carriage waiting at the door. Staring at the glittering vehicle, Hong Yu couldn't help but feel emotional. Once upon a ti, carriages like this were only for the high-and-mighty Elders and young masters. He never thought he would have the chance to ride in one himself!
"Wow, Big Brother, this carriage is made of gold! It's so beautiful!" Yun ngyao's eyes widened as she curiously examined the vehicle.
Hong Kun smiled. "This must be Miss ng Yao, correct? This carriage is the Third Elder's personal transport. He said there wasn't ti to build a new one, so he's giving this one to Young Master Hong Yu."
"What? This is my big brother's now?" Yun ngyao asked in amazent.
Hearing this, Hong Yu, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.
'This Third Elder... toward ...'
'He's really treating well!'
But Hong Yu didn't get carried away. He knew very well that he was receiving this treatnt entirely because of his strength and talent. If one day his strength and potential were no longer worthy of these things, he was certain the Third Elder and the family would abandon him without a second thought, kicking him to the curb.
'Strength. Everything cos down to strength!'
Hong Yu's mind was clear as he helped Yun ngyao into the carriage.
Hong Kun took the reins, and the carriage sped away.
From beginning to end, Hong Yu didn't spare another glance for Zhang Ting and her cronies. He trusted that Hong Kun would handle the matter to his satisfaction. Besides, Hong Yu really had no desire to look at those shrewish, unreasonable old won any longer. The re sight of them was nauseating.
After Hong Kun had departed, the won from the Artisan Workshop, including a dazed and confused Zhang Ting, were all dumbfounded...
"Th-That's the family's highest-grade Golden Carriage?"
"My heavens! Only a few young masters and the Elders are allowed to ride in the Golden Carriage. How could Hong Yu and Yun ngyao..."
"I think I heard that man say the Third Elder gave the Golden Carriage to Hong Yu?"
"A-And I think he called Hong Yu the Ninth Young Master?"
"We're finished, we're finished! I rember who Hong Kun is now. H-He's the Grand Steward! In the entire Hong Mansion, his authority is second only to the few young masters, the Elders, and the Patriarch... We actually offended the Grand Steward?"
Zhang Ting was utterly devastated. The thought of how she had just railed at the Grand Steward made her head buzz, and she fainted from sheer terror...
...
「Rain Listening Pavilion.」
Located in the residential area of the Hong Mansion's Direct Lineage Disciples, it was one of the highest-standard courtyards available.
In the entire Hong Mansion, besides the courtyards of the Elders and the Patriarch, only the residences of the forr Four Kings and Hong Hu's own courtyard could compare. However, in all these years, the Hong Family had never produced another genius comparable to the Four Kings, so the Rain Listening Pavilion had remained vacant.
But today, the Rain Listening Pavilion welcod its new master.
"Young Master Hong Yu, this is your residence," Hong Kun said with a smile.
"Uncle Kun, are you sure this place is for ?" Hong Yu blinked.
The Rain Listening Pavilion before him occupied four or five hundred square ters, with an exquisite smaller courtyard of over a hundred square ters out front. If this were on Earth, it would be a high-end luxury villa! In comparison, the dilapidated courtyard Hong Yu had lived in before was a veritable slum!
Even knowing how highly the Third Elder regarded him, Hong Yu found it hard to believe.
Hong Kun chuckled. "The Third Elder said that this Rain Listening Pavilion is rely a reward for Young Master Hong Yu's advancent into the Ten Great Celestial Prodigies. As for the other rewards, the Third Elder is still preparing them. They will likely be delivered this evening."
"There's more?"
Hong Yu was speechless.
He now finally understood why those young masters and ladies of the Direct Lineage were always so high and mighty, looking down on the disciples from the side branches.
'Just think about it...'
'If you lived in a huge villa and drove a luxury car made of gold, would you even spare a glance for so poor loser struggling to survive?'
'The two are on completely different levels!'
Hong Yu shook his head and looked at Yun ngyao. "Yaoyao, do you like it here?"
"Mhm!"
The little girl nodded excitedly.
Hong Yu smiled. "As long as you like it!"
Hong Kun said, "Young Master Hong Yu, you and Miss ng Yao should head inside first. I still have so matters to attend to."
Hong Yu naturally knew what matters Hong Kun was referring to.
On the way here, he had already told Hong Kun about how Zhang Ting had slandered Yun ngyao.
Watching Hong Kun leave, Hong Yu looked at the magnificent Rain Listening Pavilion before him, a small ripple in his heart. "Yaoyao, this is our ho now!"
Yun ngyao nodded emphatically, looking at Hong Yu earnestly, her dark eyes twinkling like stars. "I told you a long ti ago that Big Brother is the best!"
"Haha, you little rascal..."
The two of them chatted and laughed as they entered the Rain Listening Pavilion.
News that the Rain Listening Pavilion suddenly had a new master spread quickly.
When everyone found out it was Hong Yu who had moved into the Rain Listening Pavilion, the news spread like wildfire through the residential area of the Direct Lineage Disciples, stirring up a fierce storm.
That evening...
Dozens of Direct Lineage Disciples, unwilling to accept that a side-branch disciple they had always looked down on had suddenly beco the Ninth Young Master and risen above them, ca to the Rain Listening Pavilion. Egged on by a few troublemakers, they indignantly threatened to throw Hong Yu out.
But as soon as they arrived, they saw Hong Yu sparring with the Tiger Instructor in the small courtyard.
The Tiger Instructor's reputation was imnse; it was said that his strength was second only to the Hong Family's Patriarch.
Logically, Hong Yu shouldn't have been able to withstand a single move from him. Yet, Hong Yu was able to exchange dozens of rounds with the Tiger Instructor. Watching the youth, swift as wind and lightning, sparring majestically with the god-like Tiger Instructor, the group of indignant Direct Lineage young masters scurried away with their tails between their legs.
Although they knew the Tiger Instructor had certainly suppressed his cultivation, the formidable strength Hong Yu displayed during the spar was more than enough to intimidate them.
In the small courtyard...
"No more, no more! You rascal, this Body Technique of yours is too bizarre. If I want to beat you, I'd have to use the Power of my Primordial Spirit. Otherwise, you're just leading by the nose," the Tiger Instructor said, waving his hand. He plopped down on a nearby stone chair and savored the clear tea that Yun ngyao handed him.
Taking a small sip, the Tiger Instructor clicked his tongue in admiration. "Yaoyao, your tea-making skills are in no way inferior to those so-called tea masters in the clan!"
Yun ngyao smiled sweetly, two small dimples appearing on her cheeks. "If Uncle Hu likes it, you can co by often in the future!"
"I'd love to co by often. I'm just afraid I'd be disturbing you two lovebirds!" the Tiger Instructor said with a mischievous chuckle.
"Uncle Hu, you're so an! I-I'm not talking to you anymore."
Yun ngyao's face turned beet red. She stomped her foot and ran off.
Hong Yu, who had been about to ask Yaoyao to pour him a cup of tea, rubbed his nose in frustration. "Uncle Hu, aren't you a little too disrespectful for an old man?"
When others were present, Hong Yu would naturally call him Tiger Instructor, but in private, the Tiger Instructor insisted that Hong Yu call him Uncle Hu. Although Hong Yu didn't understand why the family's strongest guardian favored him so much, he knew the Tiger Instructor ant him no harm and naturally didn't refuse.
The Tiger Instructor laughed heartily. "Did I say sothing wrong? Don't tell you don't like that little girl Yaoyao?"
"Uncle Hu..."
Hong Yu gave him a reproachful look.
The Tiger Instructor roared with laughter. "Alright, alright, I won't say any more." He glanced at the sky. "Okay, it's getting late. I have to get back to drilling that group of young masters and ladies. The final tournant is in three days. You should rest well these next few days and get yourself in peak condition."
Hong Yu nodded.
After the Tiger Instructor left, Hong Yu went inside.
He knew deep down that he had all of this because of his strength. The mont he no longer possessed enough strength and potential to be valued by the family, he had no doubt they would kick him to the curb. To gain sufficient status and respect, strength was the only reliable thod!
Sitting cross-legged on the bed, the figures of Lin Hai, Lin Tao, and Hong Hu appeared in Hong Yu's mind.
He knew very well that, given his relationship with these people, a fierce struggle was inevitable in the upcoming final tournant. The brief confrontation earlier had allowed Hong Yu to feel a hint of pressure from Lin Hai and Lin Tao, and that was without even ntioning the even more unfathomable Hong Hu...
'Winning first place in the martial competition won't be easy!'
Hong Yu let out a long breath, his gaze becoming incomparably deep and resolute...
'Everything cos down to what happens in three days!'
User Comments
0 comments from readers