[Chapter 40]
"I think it is time to reveal what you are here for." Lu Sheng's gaze landed on Ni Shuang, and said in a calm tone.
Ni Shaung looked stunned.
At the moment she suddenly felt Lu Sheng's temperament shift completely. If before he seemed introverted, now he looked slightly liberated. Like a reticent lion that inadvertently bared its fangs. The aura he radiated, for a moment, made her fall into the illusion that she was facing her own father, Ni Hongchuan.
A small feeling of oppressive tension rose within her.
This being her, who was an official Level 3 Martial Artist.
"I came here to ..."
After all, Ni Shuang was someone who usually directed the academy, so she quickly calmed her nerves and spoke, "I'm here to invite you, student Lu Sheng, to become an honorary disciple of our Red River Martial Arts Academy."
"Honorary disciple?"
Lu Sheng frowned, "What is that?"
"It's like any other disciple, really. You need not come every day, but of course you come anytime and whenever you feel like. All the courses and equipment are free to use. You can even have Father personally instruct you. You'll also enjoy the highest level treatment comparable to a head instructor ... In fact, the title is just nominal, you do not have any actual obligations to fulfill ..." Ni Shuang hurriedly explained. This honorary disciple title was something she had just come up with.
There had always been only honorary instructors and honorary trainers, there had never been any honorary disciples.
But Lu Sheng was too young to be hired as a head instructor, and the martial arts academy valued him mainly for his terrifying talent, so Ni Shuang came up with this title.
A seventeen-year-old Level 2 Martial Artist, with a CPI on par with a Level 3 Martial Artist.
If such a sign was put out, will the Red River Martial Arts Academy not blow up in Baihe City? How many parents would rush to sent their children to their academy? The effect of such a step was better than finding a Level 4 or even Level 5 Martial Artist to instruct.
This is what Ni Shuang thought.
"No."
Lu Sheng decisively refused.
"The treatment can be negotiated ..." Ni Frost hastily conceded.
Lu Sheng, however, turned her words around and continued, "I'm fine with an honorary membership. You can advertise that I usually come practice in you Martial Arts Academy, which is indeed true ..."
The word "disciple" involved too many implications.
The director of the Red River Martial Arts Academy, Ni Hongchuan, Lu Sheng had never even met him, how could he possibly admit to being a disciple of a person, even if it was just titular. He did not want someone using his name to swindle.
Though he had a good impression of the Red River Martial Arts Academy, at the end of the day, it was just that--a good impression.
"If you can accept it, so be it, if not, then I'm sorry ..." Lu Sheng said indifferently, "Of course I will probably still go to your academy to do tests in the future."
After all, it was closer to home.
Ni Shuang's eyes struggled for a moment and eventually softened.
"Okay, honorary membership it is. The previous terms apply here as well. Just that I want this honorary title to be exclusive to our Red River Martial Arts Academy."
"OK." Lu Sheng nodded.
This meant that in the future, the Red River Martial Arts Academy would have to pay Lu Sheng a sum of money every month, equivalent to the salary of the highest ranked instructor of their institute, which was about 100,000 yuan.
The only thing Lu Sheng needed to do was to admit to the public that he frequented the Red River Martial Arts Academy. Lu Sheng felt that it was okay to do such a business.
"Then I won't bother everyone anymore." Ni Shuang stood up and bid farewell. Although the final result was a bit different from what she expected, it was not entirely unacceptable.
Ni Frost was very clear on her part. After Lu Sheng's test results spread in Baihe City, when the time came, they would make more than what they had spent on this "honorary membership".
Speaking of which, their Red River Martial Arts Academy can also be considered lucky. The location of the academy just happened to be in the neighborhood of Lu Sheng's home which granted them this chance.
After sending Ni Shuang away, the family cleaned up.
Lu Sheng took a look at his parents who were still fiddling with the badge and check, and told them, "I'll head back to my room. Call me when it's time for dinner."
After saying that, he turned around and left.
The badge and the million yuan check seemed not to faze him as he strode back into his room.
...
Lu Qinghe was in a state of deep shock. This had begun when she was in the Martial Arts Association in the morning. When Yang Yuan had brought up the name, Lu Qinghe thought she might've heard it wrong. Or rather, she had assumed they were two people who just shared the same name.
It was the first time Lu Qinghe had seen Senior Sister Yang Yuan give such an expression. In her heart, Senior Sister Yang Yuan should be beautiful, high, and cold, always proud, always the genius, the idol she always worshiped.
But at that moment Yang Yuan displayed strong frustration, powerlessness, helplessness, and lack of confidence. It was the first time she saw Senior Sister Yang Yuan look up to a person. And that person was her own brother?
How is this possible! Even if Lu Sheng did change a lot this time. Starting from his looks, image, temperament, meal size, grades and other aspects, he had become almost unrecognizable to her.
But.
No matter how many changes he may undergo, it was impossible for him to reach such a height to make Senior Sister Yang Yuan idolize him!
Impossible! Absolutely impossible! It is definitely a similar name; just a technical error. Lu Qinghe kept telling herself this. As a result, after returning home, something even more outrageous happened.
The president of the Baihe City Martial Arts Association, Xiao Yuhe, actually personally visited home because of Lu Sheng.
Lu Qinghe knew Xiao Yuhe.
Once Baihe First Middle School held a school-wide event, the school specially invited this pivotal figure.
The principal and director on both sides were smiling, their faces full of glory, as if it was a matter of great honor to invite Xiao Yuhe.
Lu Qinghe was completely confused.
Then this big shot, who usually can only be seen on TV, cheerfully began to praise and encourage Lu Sheng, and even personally gave him a martial arts badge and a bonus ... This situation was all too familiar to Lu Qinghe.
Since childhood, every time after the examination results, the class teacher called her on stage to shower her with praise, and she'd have a face brimming with joy.
It was that kind of situation.