Early in the morning, Yun Ping and Yun Hu came over for a visit.
Zhuang Hao was wearing a new set of clothes and greeted the two of them.
Although Zhuang Hao was still wearing a disguise on his face that gave him a very ordinary appearance, now that he had changed his clothes, his temperament was completely different. Yun Hu shot Zhuang Hao a few curious glances.
"Old Yun, what brings you here today?"
Yun Ping looked at Zhuang Hao and said with some embarrassment, "I have a bold request to ask of you!"
Yun Ping was probably someone from a small town, who naturally held those who're rich and powerful in awe and veneration. Yun Ping's posture was lowered.
Zhuang Hao said generously, "Old Yun, please tell me."
Yun Ping pulled Yun Hu over and said, "It's about my grandson! Actually, he has good potential, it's just that I'm not capable enough to find a mentor for him, and I can't afford to buy any training manuals for him either. This has completely stunted his progress. Gongzi is experienced and knowledgeable, and I hope that my grandson can follow you and go out to see the world. I heard your cousin is a traveling merchant, so I was wondering if you could help my grandson get a job as a guard of some sort."
For this trip, Zhuang Qian had only brought four guards with him. Although it was a small number, they were all very skilled.
Zhuang Hao smiled and said, "Of course I can, but Yun Hu, didn't you say that you want to become a mercenary and marry the leader of the mercenary group?"
Yun Hu blushed and said bashfully, "The Flying Tiger mercenary group's recruitment period already ended over a month ago. Also, they want people who have experience and have already been at the third level for two years, not those who've only broken through to the third level recently. I'm not strong enough yet, and I don't have enough experience either!"
Qi Shaorong was sitting in the carriage and thought to himself: Finding a stable career wasn't easy in his past world, and it looked like it's the same in this world too!
Zhuang Hao nodded and said, "If Old Yun trusts me, then Yun Hu can stay with me. I'll let him be my cousin's guard for a while, and later, I'll find him a mentor when the opportunity arises."
Yun Ping said gratefully, "I really can't thank you enough for this. Yun Hu, when you become a guard in the future, you must behave, do you understand?"
Yun Hu nodded and said, "I know. "
After gaining Zhuang Hao's promise, Yun Ping left contentedly.
Seeing Yun Ping leave, Yun Hu breathed a sigh of relief.
Yun Hu glanced in Zhuang Qian's direction, nudged Zhuang Hao with his elbow, and asked with some puzzlement, "Your cousin looks like a very capable person. You're just going to let me stay here like this? You don't need to ask him for permission or anything?"
Zhuang Hao said nonchalantly, "…Don't worry, this is just a small matter. I have the authority to allow it."
Yun Hu blinked and said, "Although I'm very happy, I think you're still currently living under his roof. It's better to restrain yourself a little bit, otherwise, if you end up getting kicked out because of me, then that wouldn't be so good.
Zhuang Hao rolled his eyes and said, "You think too much."
Yun Hu: "…"
Yun Hu looked at Zhuang Hao and asked uneasily, "How's your cousin's temper?" "
"Pretty good." Zhuang Hao said.
"If I stay here, can he afford to pay me?" Yun Hu asked.
Yes." Zhuang Hao said.
"Does he have enough for ten gold coins?" Yun Hu asked with both hands outstretched.
Zhuang Hao glanced impatiently Yun Hu.
Yun Hu looked at Zhuang Hao with some embarrassment, retracted one hand, and said, "Five, five gold coins every month. It can't be less. "
Zhuang Hao: "…"
"What are you talking about?" Zhuang Qian walked over and asked.
Zhuang Hao pointed at Yun Hu and said, "He wants to stay here and work as a guard."
When Yun Hu heard Zhuang Hao's words, he immediately straightened his back, like a student waiting to have his homework be inspected by the teacher.
Zhuang Qian nodded and said, "I'll get it sorted out."
In front of Zhuang Hao, Yun Hu was very carefree and outspoken, but in front of Zhuang Qian, he was very respectful.
However, after Yun Hu and Zhuang Qian talked for a while, the truth soon became apparent.
"So you're telling me that while my cousin stayed with your family, he cooked, boiled water, chopped wood, picked vegetables, slaughtered a pig, and caught fish?" Zhuang Qian said.
Yun Hu nodded and said, "Yes! Your cousin's learning ability is very strong! He was very clumsy and awkward at first, but after getting used to it, he became very good at doing those tasks!"
The corner of Zhuang Qian's mouth twitched, and he yelled in his heart: Brother, you have suffered! Brother, I'm so sorry!
"You also said that my cousin went to your house to steal clothes?"
Yun Hu nodded and said seriously, "Yes! It's not easy to make a living out here, and although his behavior was wrong, it can be forgiven."
Zhuang Qian said glumly, "So it's true, it's really true!"
Yun Hu looked at Zhuang Qian and said confusedly, "What's true?"
Zhuang Qian shook his head and said, "Nothing?"
Yun Hu looked at Zhuang Qian and said cautiously, "Will you really be able to pay me twenty gold coins a month?"
Zhuang Qian nodded and said, "Yes, if you're still feeling unsure, I can give you an advance payment of half a year." Zhuang Qian took out a purse and handed it to Yun Hu.
Yun Hu carefully took the purse, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
Zhuang Qian looked at Yun Hu uneasily and said, "This little brother, you should know that it's not good to expose any family scandals. From now on, please don't talk about my cousin's matters anymore." If the people in the Imperial Capital found out about his brother's situation, then that would probably end up as the number one topic of conversation in the city for at least a month.
Yun Hu looked at Zhuang Qian and said, "Don't worry, I definitely won't let anyone else know about this in the future."
Yun Hu walked to Zhuang Hao's side and fiercely patted Zhuang Hao's back.
"Little thief, your cousin is very generous! He seems to be a person of great bearing, how do you have such a powerful cousin! Your luck is so good. From now on, if you follow your cousin and work hard, you'll have a promising future."
Qi Heng looked at Yun Hu with interest, and said to Qi Shaorong, "Young Master, where did this silly guy come from! How funny, he seems to really admire Zhuang Qian!"
Qi Shaorong smiled and thought: Yun Hu, this simple-minded fellow, was totally worshipping the wrong person.
"This guy's sister is pretty clever." They're clearly blood-related siblings! Yet there's such a big difference in their levels of intelligence!
"My cousin is very generous. If you work for him, you'll have no problem earning enough to eat pork every day!" Zhuang Hao said.
Yun Hu patted Zhuang Hao on the shoulder and said gratefully, "Brother, thank you. When I make it big in the future, I'll definitely take you with me."
Zhuang Hao looked at Yun Hu and said, " Then I'll thank you right now in advance."
"You flatter me." Yun Hu said boldly.
Zhuang Qian sat down in front of Zhuang Hao and silently looked at Zhuang Hao. Qi Shaorong rested his chin in his hand and sat at the side, watching passively.
Zhuang Hao glanced at Zhuang Qian and said, "What are you doing? Speak?"
Zhuang Qian put on a long face and said, "Big Brother, the Zhuang Family's thousand year-old untarnished reputation is going to end up destroyed in your hands."
Qi Shaorong laughed and said, "Wasn't the Zhuang Family's reputation already ruined a long ago?" During the Hundred Schools Competitions, if Zhuang Hao hadn't tricked him at the last minute, then he could've won a much bigger victory.
Zhuang Qian shook his head and said, "It's not the same. Last time, he was just being resourceful and acted according to the circumstances, but stealing clothes is just way too disgraceful. Maybe it wouldn't be as bad if it were better-looking clothes, but he actually chose to steal poor and ugly clothes."
Zhuang Hao: " ..."
Qi Shaorong: "..." What? Zhuang Hao tricked him, how could that possibly be considered as resourceful!
The Yun Family's courtyard.
Yun Que was mending her clothes, and said with some worry, "Grandpa, you really sent Brother there to work as a guard, just like that? Will he be okay?"
Yun Ping smiled bitterly and said, "If your brother remains here his whole life, then he'll never be able to unlock his full potential. It'll be good to let him go out and explore the world a little."
Yun Que frowned and said, "But we don't even know anything about that person!"
Yun Ping looked at Yun Que and said, "If you want to have a good future, then you'll always have to take some risks. With one glance, you can tell that those two people who recently stayed with us aren't simple people. Who knows, maybe you'll be surprised by what your brother can accomplish in the future."
Yun Que smiled and said, "I hope so."
Zhuang Qian woke up early in the morning and saw Yun Hu training.
Yun Hu saw Zhuang Qian walk out, and eagerly approached him, "Young Master, you're up!"
Zhuang Qian nodded and said, "Yes!"
"Young Master, would you like something to eat? How about I go and hunt a wild boar for you? I've hunted a huge one before and it was delicious!" Yun Hu said, patting his chest.
Zhuang Hao walked out of the carriage, looked at Yun Hu, and said, "That's enough. When you were hunting for that wild boar last time, didn't you almost lose your life? Don't deliberately complicate things for yourself."
Yun Hu flushed. He walked over, dragged Zhuang Hao aside, and said, "Little white face, don't speak such nonsense in front of your cousin!"
"Why?" Zhuang Hao asked.
"Why? Your cousin is now my boss! I'm still hoping for him to increase my wages in the future. If you talk about me like that, it'll affect his impression of me." Yun Hu said.
Zhuang Hao: "…"
In front of Zhuang Hao, Yun Hu was very fierce, but when he turned to Zhuang Qian again, he had a big smile on his face.
Zhuang Qian watched Yun Hu's actions with a weird feeling in his heart. He had met many people before who would act obsequious and fawn over his elder brother, but wouldn't even spare him a glance. This was actually the first time that he's ever met someone who treated him kindly and bossed his brother around. This really felt… Strange!
"A-Qian, come here, I need to talk to you." Zhuang Hao said.
Yun Hu looked at Zhuang Hao, and said seriously, "Don't talk bad about me."
Zhuang Hao looked askance at Yun Hu and said, "Don't worry, I don't have time to talk about you."
Zhuang Qian nodded and walked towards Zhuang Hao.
Qi Heng looked at Qi Shaorong and whispered, "Young Master, where did Zhuang Hao find such a funny fellow?"
Qi Shaorong smiled and said, "Don't look down on him, that kid is actually very powerful."
Qi Heng He smiled and said, "Anybody who can make Young Master Zhuang Hao suffer like that naturally must be very powerful."
"Big Brother, what's the matter!" Zhuang Qian asked.
Zhuang Hao looked at Zhuang Qian and said, "Let's not wait anymore. We'll go directly through the Mist Forest to avoid the blockade at the borders."
"Brother, Mist Forest is overrun with wild beasts, and also contains many poisonous plants and substances. It's not very safe!" Zhuang Qian said.
Zhuang Hao nodded and said, "I know this, but it's even more dangerous to stay. My whereabouts seem to have been leaked, and I have a hunch that if we continue waiting here, then the future will be grim."
"But Brother, you and Young Master Qi can't use your abilities, and I might not be able to protect you two." Zhuang Qian said.
Zhuang Hao nodded and said, "I don't dare depend on you. Just focus on protecting yourself. Yi Fan is nearby, Qi Heng contacted him and he'll join us in the Mist Forest. Yi Fan is proficient in the art of poison, with him here, we don't need to worry about the poisonous fog in the Mist Forest. Also, my strength has already begun to recover."
"Huh, shouldn't it take a month to recover?" Zhuang Qian couldn't help widening his eyes.
Zhuang Hao nodded and said, "It's supposed to, but I've had some good fortune lately. The God-Imprisoning Ring's restriction seems to be weakening ahead of time."
Zhuang Qian breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That's great to hear. I'll go notify the others, and we'll get ready to leave."