"Now, it's time to talk about your purpose," Lu Sheng said calmly, his gaze fixed on Ni Shuang.
Ni Shuang froze for a moment. At that instant, she felt as though Lu Sheng's aura had completely changed. Before, he had been restrained; now, he was slightly more open. It was like a silent lion casually revealing its fangs. The force of his presence was so overwhelming that for a brief moment, Ni Shuang even felt as though she were facing her own father, Ni Hongchuan. A sense of tension and pressure welled up within her. After all, she was a genuine Level 3 martial artist.
"I came here to..." Ni Shuang, who was used to being in charge, quickly calmed herself and spoke, "I want to invite you, Lu Sheng, to become an honorary disciple of the Hongchuan Martial Hall."
"Honorary disciple?" Lu Sheng furrowed his brows. "What does that mean?"
"It means you're a disciple, but you don't have to come regularly. Of course, if you wish to, you're always welcome. All classes and equipment are free, and even my father will personally teach you. You'll also enjoy the highest-level coach privileges... Essentially, it's just a title, with no obligations..." Ni Shuang quickly explained.
The title of honorary disciple was something she had just thought of. Normally, there were honorary teachers and coaches, but never honorary disciples. However, since Lu Sheng was so young, hiring him as a coach wouldn't be appropriate. The martial hall was mostly interested in his terrifying talent, which is why Ni Shuang had come up with this idea. A seventeen-year-old Level 2 martial artist whose combat strength reached that of a Level 3 martial artist—this title alone would surely cause the Hongchuan Martial Hall to explode in popularity in Baihe City. Parents would be fighting to send their children there. This was much more effective than hiring a Level 4 or even Level 5 martial artist as a coach.
Ni Shuang thought this was a brilliant plan.
"No," Lu Sheng immediately refused.
"We can discuss the benefits further..." Ni Shuang quickly offered.
But Lu Sheng changed the subject, saying, "Honorary member is fine. You can promote me as training at your martial hall, since that's true..."
The word "disciple" carried too many implications. Lu Sheng had never even met Ni Hongchuan, the hallmaster of Hongchuan Martial Hall, so how could he acknowledge himself as his disciple—even as an honorary one? He didn't want anyone using his name to deceive others. Though he had a decent impression of the martial hall, it was only a passing one.
"If you're okay with that, then we have a deal. If not, I'm sorry..." Lu Sheng said indifferently. "Of course, I might still visit your martial hall for tests in the future."
After all, it was quite close to home.
Ni Shuang hesitated, then relented. "Fine, then, honorary member it is, with the same conditions. But I hope this honorary title is bought out by our Hongchuan Martial Hall..."
"Agreed," Lu Sheng nodded.
This meant that Hongchuan Martial Hall would pay Lu Sheng a salary every month, equivalent to the highest-level coach, about 100,000 yuan. All Lu Sheng had to do was acknowledge that he frequently visited the martial hall.
Lu Sheng felt like this deal was quite good.
"Well, I'll leave you to it then," Ni Shuang said as she stood to leave. Though the result was a bit different from what she had expected, it was still acceptable. Ni Shuang knew that once Lu Sheng's test results spread in Baihe City, securing this honorary title would cost far more than it did now.
After all, Hongchuan Martial Hall was lucky. Its location was near Lu Sheng's residential area, so it was a case of "the early bird catches the worm."
With Ni Shuang gone, the house was finally quiet.
Lu Sheng glanced at his parents, who were still fiddling with the martial artist badge and check, and greeted them, "I'll go back to my room. Just call me when it's time for dinner."
He turned and left.
The martial artist badge and the one million yuan check that Xiao Yuhe had personally delivered seemed almost non-existent to him.
...
Lu Qinghe was in deep shock.
This state of disbelief had started when she was at the Martial Artists Association earlier that morning. When Yang Yuan mentioned that name, Lu Qinghe wondered if she had heard wrong or if the two were not the same person.
This was the first time she had seen Yang Yuan in such a way. In her mind, Yang Yuan was supposed to be beautiful, aloof, proud, and forever a shining genius—someone she had always admired. But in that moment, Yang Yuan's face displayed a deep sense of frustration, helplessness, and insecurity. Lu Qinghe had never seen Yang Yuan need to look up to someone before.
And that person turned out to be her own brother!
How was that possible?
Even though Lu Sheng had changed a lot recently—his appearance, temperament, appetite, and results were all almost unrecognizable—no matter how much he had changed, it was impossible for him to reach that level, where even Yang Yuan had to look up to him.
It couldn't be! Absolutely not! It must be someone with the same name!
Lu Qinghe kept telling herself this.
But then, something even more absurd happened when they got home.
The president of the Baihe City Martial Artists Association, Xiao Yuhe, personally came to visit because of Lu Sheng.
Lu Qinghe knew who Xiao Yuhe was. Once, during a school-wide event at Baihe No. 1 High School, the school had invited this important figure. At that time, Xiao Yuhe had sat at the center of the head table, flanked by the principals and directors, all smiling, as if having Xiao Yuhe at the event was a huge honor.
Now, Lu Qinghe was completely dumbfounded.
This figure, whom she had only seen on TV, was now praising and encouraging Lu Sheng with warmth, even personally presenting him with a martial artist badge and a check...
This kind of scene was all too familiar to her. Every time she received her exam results and was called up to the stage by the class teacher for praise, her face would shine with that same kind of expression.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。