Longevity Martial Arts: I have a Mysterious Water Snake Avatar
Chapter 55 - 54: Provider? Bloodsucker! (Seeking Investment and Follow-up Readers)

Chapter 55: Chapter 54: Provider? Bloodsucker! (Seeking Investment and Follow-up Readers)

In a cool, well-ventilated small room, Hong Yuan sat quietly, enjoying the refreshing air as he awaited instructions from his Senior Brother Zhu Wushang.

Senior Brother Zhu Wushang had brought him into the small room a while ago. However, Hong Yuan had no idea what his senior brother was hesitant about; he looked like he had something to say but was struggling with whether or not to voice it.

TAP, TAP.

Zhu Wushang sat in a wicker chair, tapping the desk with one hand, lost in thought. The gray and white teacup on the mahogany desk shook with the tapping, yet not a single drop of the full cup of tea spilled.

After a long while, Zhu Wushang spoke.

"Yuan, how old do you think Master is?"

Hong Yuan pondered for a moment, recalling the appearance of Master Lin Daoyan. Master Lin Daoyan, with his middle-aged appearance, looked to be around forty-five years old. But since his senior brother had asked, Master’s actual age was surely much greater. After all, for a Fifth-Order Martial Artist, looking younger than one’s actual age was quite common.

"Sixty years old?" Hong Yuan said hesitantly.

"Guess again," Zhu Wushang shook his head and chuckled lightly.

"Eighty?"

"No, not eighty. Master is already one hundred and forty-seven this year!"

Hong Yuan suddenly looked up, shock evident on his face as he gazed at his senior brother. Huh?! Could it be a joke? Is my Master an old monster!?

"There’s no need for surprise," Zhu Wushang said. "When Master was young, he was incredibly fortunate and prematurely possessed some of the traits of a Martial Saint. However, Master is ultimately not a Martial Saint, so his Life Span extension methods are limited."

"If he cannot become a Martial Saint before turning three hundred, Master—"

Upon hearing this, Hong Yuan mostly understood what his senior brother was conveying. Yet he still didn’t grasp why his senior brother felt the need to discuss Master’s Life Span. One should speak respectfully of elders, and Zhu didn’t seem like the reckless type.

Sure enough, Zhu Wushang’s tone changed. "Yuan, what I am about to tell you is for your ears and mine alone."

Once Hong Yuan nodded affirmatively, Zhu Wushang shared the reason.

"Ever since Eldest Senior Brother failed in his attempt to ascend to the Immortal Aperture, Master established a resource prioritization hierarchy among us Disciples."

"He believes that all things strive; without striving, one cannot cross the river."

"Therefore, he would rather allocate surplus resources to truly exceptionally talented Disciples than to those who are merely ordinary."

"In the first cohort, Bai Ge and Mo Jiuyou were competitors!"

"Now, in this cohort, you and Zhao Gonghe are competitors!"

Hong Yuan understood. Although he didn’t know what Eldest Senior Brother had done to make Master change his educational philosophy, it was still best for him to follow the rules. This way, he might gain more resources from Master.

Zhu Wushang, seeing the look of understanding on Hong Yuan’s face, nodded in satisfaction. Compared to Zhao Gonghe, the scion of a Sect family, Zhu Wushang favored Hong Yuan more. In Hong Yuan, Zhu Wushang saw reflections of his own two senior brothers.

At this moment, Zhu Wushang recalled the tragedies of his two senior brothers and thus decided to give Hong Yuan a few more words of advice.

"Yuan, your talent is extraordinary, far surpassing ordinary people. However, I still hope you won’t be too reckless in your pursuit of Martial Arts. Those sayings about burning everything for a moment of ascendance—just listen to them and that’s all."

"You must walk your own path; no one else can make decisions for you. If you proceed step by step, you should be able to become a Fifth-Order Martial Artist."

"A Fifth-Order Martial Artist can already be a figure of authority in a part of the Phoenix Creek Sect!"

Zhu Wushang spoke to Hong Yuan earnestly and at length, his words heartfelt, if a little extensive.

While Hong Yuan was still digesting the information, Zhu Wushang announced that Hong Yuan was now a Second-Order Casting Master and that he would report this to their Master.

A Second-Order Casting Master...

Hong Yuan suddenly snapped back to reality. He had succeeded? He truly had succeeded!

A doubled monthly stipend, rewards from Master, the Myriad Silence Origin Skill achieving minor proficiency, evolving into an Ice Armor Python...

Many thoughts flashed through Hong Yuan’s mind in an instant.

Zhu Wushang, meanwhile, picked up the gray and white teacup and took a gentle sip, allowing Hong Yuan time to process everything.

Hong Yuan was indeed digesting the vast amount of information Zhu Wushang had shared. Once he gradually regained his composure, he began to consider how he and Zhao Gonghe should interact.

Soon, Hong Yuan had a general plan. Compete without breaking; seek progress with stability.

Hong Yuan understood that competition with Zhao Gonghe was inevitable. Both were from the same cohort, and both wanted their Master, Lin Daoyan, to prioritize them for resource allocation.

Everything would depend on performance!

Hong Yuan would definitely not yield; this was an unavoidable part of growing stronger.

Only providers wouldn’t be met with hostility; becoming a leech would inevitably lead to conflict!

Wherever there are people, there will be conflict and intrigue.

Longevity Martial Arts, Longevity Martial Arts... it still contains the word ’martial’ after all!

Hong Yuan considered whether standing out too much would provoke resentment, but then he remembered that his rise was bound to offend people.

Therefore, might makes right.

A fist means power!!!

「At dusk, the A06 workshop appeared particularly desolate.」

The official Disciples and cultivating Disciples who worked as blacksmith apprentices had all clocked out and left the A06 workshop. Only the residual warmth from the forges attested to their presence.

At this time, a few blacksmith apprentices were still busily finishing their tasks in the A06 workshop; Zhao Gonghe was among them.

Zhao Gonghe wasn’t there because of urgent work; he simply wanted to see Hong Yuan’s final result and whether he had successfully become a Second-Order Casting Master. He wouldn’t be satisfied until he witnessed the final outcome!

"Oh, Yuan, you really know your medicinal cuisine? Help me prepare some next time, will you?"

"Of course, Senior Brother! Just leave it to me. My cooking skills are top-notch!"

When Zhao Gonghe saw Hong Yuan and Zhu Wushang emerging from the small room, laughing and talking, he instantly understood that Hong Yuan becoming a Second-Order Casting Master was now a certainty.

In that moment, Zhao Gonghe completely abandoned all unrealistic notions. He decided to take an unconventional path to surpass Hong Yuan, planning to win favor with Lin Yiru in this bloodless contest, and thereby with their Master.

Take the circuitous route!

Every snake has its path, and every mouse its own way.

Yuan, a temporary lead means nothing. The one who laughs last is the one who’s truly happy.

CLATTER.

Zhao Gonghe tossed aside the iron tongs in his hand and strode towards the pitch-black street.

「At night, the White Frost Stone House exuded a touch of loneliness, yet the bright red lanterns hanging outside also gave it an air of vitality.」

In the study, Zhu Wushang meticulously reported Hong Yuan’s progress as a Casting Master to their Master, Lin Daoyan. Master Lin Daoyan listened to Zhu Wushang’s report while lightly tapping the unrefined red copper-iron horse-chopping saber Hong Yuan had forged that afternoon.

TING, TING-TING.

The series of pleasant metallic notes drifted out, reaching Lin Yiru’s boudoir.

Lin Yiru, who was in her boudoir researching the Second-Order recipe for the Genuine Pill, felt a stir in her heart and headed towards her father’s study.

When Lin Yiru arrived at the study and listened by the window, her father, Lin Daoyan, and Zhu Wushang exchanged a knowing look. While discussing Hong Yuan, the two men subtly wove in other comments—mainly praising Hong Yuan’s ability to endure solitude—hoping to dissuade Lin Yiru from her ambition to participate in the Sect’s grand competition and her competitive nature.

A Second-Order Casting Master? Does that mean that money-grubbing Hong Yuan is already a Second-Order Martial Artist!? Lin Yiru covered her mouth, astonished.

Forging weapons was a task that particularly tested one’s temperament, even more so than refining pills.

And here she was, still struggling in the First-Order Pharmacist realm! What kind of monster was Hong Yuan!?

Based on Lin Yiru’s understanding of Hong Yuan, he shouldn’t be the type to endure such solitary and tedious tasks. He should be out causing massacres, wreaking havoc everywhere for Energy Stones.

Within the Sect, kill, kill, kill!

"Wushang, bring Yuan here tomorrow," Lin Daoyan instructed.

"I understand, Master," Zhu Wushang replied.

Outside the window, Lin Yiru’s eyes suddenly lit up.

The blacksmiths in the workshop were all tall and powerfully built, with extraordinary physiques.

And Hong Yuan was a Second-Order Martial Artist! If she could recruit him for her team, wouldn’t they completely dominate at the Sect’s year-end grand competition?!