"Hachi..." Trevon sneezed. [Does someone think about me? It can't be my cousin, right? I still shouldn't return soon.] Trevon quickly entered the library.
[Well, Grand Master Vale had lots of painting book. Wow! This book shows how to draw different human clothes. This one shows how to draw the human leg. Oh my God! This pervert grandpa even had a book about how to draw the upper human body.]
Trevon started to read carefully. He seemed to forget what book that he was looking for in the first place.
Another three days, soon gone. This was in the afternoon around 13.00. Trevon was still painting a picture. He tried to draw the beautiful servant.
"You still need lots of practice." Grand Master Vale commented after he finished the painting. "While you can draw beautifully, it still doesn't contain the soul and the beauty. It was just a good picture no more."
"I will improve it, Master. Hehehe." These three days had been very fun for Trevon. He drew the beautiful maid non-stop. The maid was a young and cute girl. She had two dimple and large eyes.
"Isn't it time for you to return to your family? 3 days ago, Charles told me that he had prepared a special recruitment to allow you to experience a real recruitment. Little Rose also needs some rest after stuck in that position being your model for 3 days."
"Thank you, Little Rose. This is a voucher from me. You can use it on any McArthur store. Also, if you have some time, perhaps we can have some tea time together." This was one of Trevon bait technique.
"Um..." Rose felt afraid, she still thought that she was still young. She knew being close to the young master Trevon was a dangerous thing. Even she, a lowly maid, had heard the rumors multiple times. She was even afraid of being pregnant.
There was a rumor that just by his gaze, Young Master Trevon could impregnate a woman. She also had been gazed multiple times these past 3 days when she became his model. She had even purchased a pregnancy test from the doctor. She really felt that she was too young to be a mother.
"What are you doing stupid kid?" A punch was given to Trevon.
"You are not allowed to get closer to Little Rose, removed your dirty claw from her. Her father is my friend, I won't allow you to have any idea about her." Grand Master Vale took the voucher from Trevon hand and gave it to Rose. "This is an extra bonus for your work, Little Rose."
There was a shock when Little Rose received the voucher. There was a 5 spirit coins value on it. Finally, she felt at least it would be enough to raise her son if she got pregnant. If Trevon knew what this girl's thought, he might vomit blood from his mouth and ear.
There were already 2 people waiting for Trevon in the reception room of Grand Master Vale's house.
They were Jerry and another bodyguard named Jack, who followed him. The other 4 members of six-men were to help the family mission. Jerry and Jack had been told by Charles to pick Trevon up. Jack was a Top Rank 1. On any normal day, there wouldn't be too many dangers for Trevon in a crowded city.
"Where are we going?" Trevon asked Jerry. Compared to Jerry, Jack was a silent type. It was easier to talk with Jerry.
"Elder Charles is waiting in the McArthur Hall. There is a huge field in front of it, the family has rented it for the recruitment event." Jerry started to guide Trevon.
From Grand Master Vale's house into the Hall was not that far. This was why there wasn't any wagon or even carriage for Trevon. Perhaps it was also because he was no longer treated as a young master, but just another direct descendant in the management position.
Trevon looked at numerous shops beside the street. He didn't come to this place with Raina. Most of the stores were not that interesting for Trevon. As a young master of a great family, he had lots of treasure and unique items.
"This is a unique shop. Do you know what this is?" Trevon asked Jerry about one store. This store looked different from the normal store. From a distance, it even looked like a restaurant with a glass panel in front of the store.
"Let me look!" Jerry came closer to the store. The signboard was a medicine store, but this store didn't look like one. In the signboard, the was a name 'Verdant Valley Herb Hall'. Based on the name, he was 80% sure that it was an herb shop but he was afraid to report a mistake. There would a huge repercussion for him. He asked some pedestrian nearby. After some question, he got a general information.
"It is an herb store, Young Master." Jerry reported his finding.
"What kind herb store opened in such way?" Trevon wondered. Most herb stores usually chose an open store with some closed wooden cabinet behind the sales desk. The only thing on the desk was a manual scale.
"This is a new type of shop, Young Master. this is a fusion of fashion store and herb shop."
[Seems interesting.] "We will visit this place after the event." If not because his uncle was waiting for him, Trevon would love to check a new thing. As a young master, he must be in the trendiest and newest place.
In a large grass field, in front of McArthur Hall, there were hundreds of people lined. There was a long table with 4 people waiting. Numerous temporary pagodas were erected. They were all waiting for the main character, Trevon.
"Where is that stinky young master?" Raina started the grumble.
"This is still not the time. We can wait for a little. We are just doing the registration. The real test will be conducted later." Charles still drank his tea.
"That is the stinky young master!" Raina finally glared at the handsome young man who just entered the field.
"I am sorry to keep uncle waiting." Trevon showed a sorry gesture by bowing to his uncle.
"It is still not 14.00. Come and enjoy the tea." Charles invited Trevon to a tea. He asked a servant to bring more teacups for Trevon. Next to him, Raina still glared to Trevon.
"What have you learned with Grand Master Vale? The last time we had a drink, he gave you a lot of praise. He asked me to consider allowing you the path of Painter." He continued to smell the tea. "But unfortunately, the family didn't have the expertise or a plan to expand in the art business."
"I just created some painting. I feel that painting is very fun, but trust me uncle, the path of Recruiter is the main path that I want to tread."
[Who just wants to paint beautiful ladies? If I don't become a recruiter, how can I have a chance to enter that forbidden academy or hire many girls into my bodyguards.] Trevon then looked into his bodyguards, Jerry and Jack. [I should change them into beautiful girls. Hwehwehwe.] Trevon smiled. At the same time, Jerry and Jack felt shuddered.
[Our master is still a normal man, right?] the silent Jack immediately asked his friend Jerry using spiritual energy.
[I hope so. Do you think I will get pregnant from his gaze?] Jerry asked.
"..." Jack couldn't comment. Not only their young master was strange. His partner, Jerry was also strange. To protect his sanity, he might need to consider for a transfer to work as the dangerous, beast bait. Since that was the only available job on the internal board.
"Can you show me your painting?" Charles drank the tea.
[Oh no! I can't show him the painting of Rose, right? I should paint some fish or mountain or even a vase some other time. Perhaps, I can paint my bodyguards for training.] Trevon looked again into his bodyguards.
[No... Young master saw us again.] Jerry whispered to Jack.
"..." Jack really wanted to be a beast bait instead.
[Sigh... I have 3 children and some old people to support. I still need this job. I can only allow my body to be sullied.] Jerry was fake crying.
"Why? Are your paintings in your bodyguard?" Charles asked, he also wondered why Trevon looked into his bodyguards so much.
"Yes, uncle, but I am embarrassed, there are too many people here. Hehehe." A little lie could save the day.
"Well, let's me continue my recruitment training for you. I have told you about the need to judge someone well. Since the available jobs were to be your bodyguards, the criteria that we had is to have at least Primary Rank 1 cultivation. All of these people were Rank 1 warrior and there are 235 people in here, we would only accept 2."
[Wait? Men? Is it another man only recruitment?] Trevon looked into the people. He realized, there was no single woman in the crowd.
[This is a recruitment for Young Master Trevon bodyguards?] Jerry thought to himself. [Who will be the unlucky brother? Hehehe. There are more juniors to share their young master order.]
"Since they managed to reach Rank 1, they are a talented people of the community. Our next criteria is their determination. Without determination talents were useless." Charles declared it.
[It must be mean to me, Uncle. I know that, but I have no interest in cultivation. This is the dangerous path. There are tribulations. There are life and death fights. I just want to live a happy young master life.] Trevon knew this was an indirect way from his uncle to teach him.
"I will show you how to speak in public." Charles went into in front of the table.
"Gentlemen, I am Elder Charles from Recruitment Department of the Great McArthur family. I feel honored that you have come to answer our request for manpower."
Charles stopped for a bit and those crowds started to clap their hands. "Those who passed the first test had proven that they are at least Rank 1 warrior. Those who passed the first test are the best 1% of the people." Charles stopped a bit.
"But being the most talented, the strongest, or the smartest does not mean you are suitable for the job. McArthur family only wants the best of the best. We want only those who determined enough to reach their rewards. We will give lots of benefit to you. Monthly Spirit Stone! Free Housing in Great Place! Full Protection for your family! Education for your kids! A guarantee that your kids, wives, and parent would be protected, even if you die during a mission! Top Cultivation Techniques! Top Martial Arts! Top Weapons! Top Artifacts! Cultivation Resources! We can give them all to you. You have to prove that you are a hard, strong, and determined man!" Charles offered many things. The crowd cheered.
Charles proved how he can be an old elder. A bit rouse and the crowd turned so enthusiastic.
[Just wait until they know who their young master would be. Look at those poor fellows!] Only that in Jerry mind.
"If any you were weak men, soft men, or losers, you are now allowed to go!" Charles said. Of course, nobody would go.
"Good. Our second test will be started. We will do it until only 50 people last. During this test, you couldn't use any Spiritual Energy. This test didn't rank your current level cultivation. This is a test of your physique and your determination." Charles whipped his hand into the ground. A line appeared.
"This will be your starting line, you need to run from here to the wall on the other side of the field. Every time you touch the wall, you will get one point. I give you 6 hours to show your determination. Only Top 50 can join the third test." Two middle-aged men in the pavilion jumped into the wall.
"I will start in after 10 seconds. 10... 9... 8... 7..." People quickly position themselves along the line. "3... 2... 1... Start!" Charles suddenly shouted during the Start. Added with his spiritual energy the shout gave a pressure to lots of competitors. They lagged behind during their start.
Charles returned to the pavilion, he started to write lots of things in the paper.
"Do you know why suddenly I shouted and with Spiritual Energy?" Charles asked Trevon. He had picked his cup tea of again. Charles hobby was teatime. Most elderly in the top family always love teatime. It could be said from the people on the bottom till people on top tea time and wine drinking was the most popular hobby.
"You want to surprise them." Trevon said. "I never know that my uncle loves to make pranks. You should consider adding some water element to make them also wet. It will make even more surprise. Hahaha."
"You..." This was the time for Charles to open his eye. This nephew of him just showed why lots of his teacher gave up. [I might need to teach him slowly.] Charles decided.
His friend and half-teacher Vale managed to teach his nephew, why he couldn't. That friend of him even said that Trevon just needed a bit more time to become a Basic painter. A recruiter was an easier job than Painter. This was also why Alvaro picked this occupation for Trevon.
"I want to check their capabilities to face pressure. Imagine if a powerful assassin came, and they were frozen! Such bodyguards, they won't be able to protect their master." Charles tried to use a soft method.
"Listen to my uncle!" Trevon ordered to his bodyguards.
"..." Charles continued. "This is the secret test, as a recruiter, we need to prepare the secret test, and not just one. Even right now, there are people that monitored their characters. Whether they will cheat. How they perform when they were tired. You could read the book in my library about this."
"I like secrets, Uncle. I bet those other young masters in the Bluestar don't know about this. I can't wait for their face when I told them about this."
"Stupid..." Raina who had been silently listening to his father teaching was enraged.
"Brag... Brag... Brag..." 3 hits were received by Trevon. "This is a secret and you plan to share it, it will be no longer a secret then."
"Raina is correct, this is part of the family secret. Anyone who told this to an outsider will get judged based on family law." Charles added. "Look into our surroundings. Since I returned here, I had erected a sound barrier. Nobody except 3 of us hear about this secret."
Trevon was turned pale. The family law contained lots of harsh punishment. He had learned it the hard way.
Most of the punishment was beaten by planks. While it seemed easy for a cultivator, the one who used the plan was also cultivator. There was also another rule in McArthur family that the plank needed to be broken before being counted. He had broken 10 planks total, each time he couldn't play for several days.
"I promise to never tell anyone about our family secret teaching." Trevon promised.
Unlike his debauchery actions, Trevon promised were widely known in Bluestar to be true. As long as he said 'I promised', he would do that. Other than that, he would do only if he wanted to do it. There was an example, once he ran in the middle of snow for 3 hours since he had lost a promised bet with a girl. On the other hand, if somebody promised something to Trevon he would force it until he got it. This was especially if the other party was a man. The truth, he may not enforce a promised if the counterparts was a lady, a beautiful one only for sure.
Some time passed, a maid had brought another set of tea to replace the already cold tea.
"Let's us continued our lesson. What do you think that we can check from this test Trevon?"
"As you said uncle, the second most important things after talents, the determination." Trevon proudly answered.
"Anything else?"
"Is there anything else?" Trevon tried to think hard.
"You can also try Raina." Charles also encouraged his daughters. Perhaps a competition is what Trevon needs. Unfortunately, Charles might be crying blood, if he knew Trevon only competed for 3 things. They were girls, gamble, and treasure.
"Speed?" Raina tried her answer.
"Correct, that is one of the things that we can learn. Look at that man with blue robe he has a strong physique. Even without using spiritual energy he had obtained more point. But... Look at that small man with the dark-green robe!"
Charles pointed to another man. "The second man was slower than the first man. If we reduce the difference in their cultivation, the second man was actually the faster one."
Charles drank his tea again. "My question to you two, which one is better?"
"Of course, the first one, he is faster." Trevon answered.
"Do you think the same, Raina?" Charles asked Raina.
"No, I will pick the second one."
"Why?" Charles asked her daughter again.
"It is because... because... Ah... because he could be faster than the first man if we can train him." It was hard for her to make her reason. The real reason why she picked the second one was he didn't want to have the same answer as Trevon.
"You need to pick what you are sure." Charles taught his daughter. "If you don't believe in your own answer, you will only be a doll for others. In the future, both of you might need to choose between two or more options. At that time, based on your knowledge and information, you need to pick the one that you believe to be the best choice."
He continued. "If it is proved to be wrong you can learn and be a better person. If it is true, you must keep your ego and learn why your answer is right and also learn from it. Is that already the best you can do?"
Charles took some time. He allowed Trevon and Raina time to think. "If your option was chosen by someone else, and it was wrong, you will regret it. Why didn't you pick the one that you want? It might turn into your inner demons. If it is correct you won't learn anything and you won't become an independent person."
"It doesn't mean you should not listen to other people's opinions. But you must use your own knowledge to get information from other people's suggestions. Whether the suggestion is good or bad. It is your decision." Charles explained.
"Then I want to complain, Uncle!" Trevon started to complain. "I believe the best option for me is in Bluestar. I will request a transfer to Bluestar from Redwood."
"The problem is you didn't have the option Trevon." Charles smiled. "Between you and your father whose fist is bigger?"
"My father for sure." Trevon answered.
"Then you can only obey him. If you want to have your own option, grow your strength! Beat your father! You can go to Bluestar tomorrow if you can." Charles felt the chance to add some fuel to Trevon determination. He saw some light in Trevon eyes.
"If you can beat the family's fist you can even be a family leader or a grand elder! Then, you can decide the options for every member of the family. You can get all resource, get all things you want. Of course, there are other families with their own fist. This is why a family works together. By combining our fist together, we have a bigger fist to compete." Charles added some fuel while keeping a suggestion to contribute to the family.
"How can you act like the best young master in Bluestar? It is because you use our family fist. This fist contains the fist of your father, your grandfather, your grandmother, your uncle, your aunt, your brother, your sister, your elder, and your employees. This fist is called McArthur family, the strongest of the 5 great families in Rising Dragon. There will time for you to replace us old people as the pillar of this fist." Charles added.
"Yes, Father. I will become stronger and show how big my fist. I will at least become a Grand Elder of our family." Raina was motivated.
"Aih... That was too troublesome. I don't like being an elder, a grand elder, or family leader. I decide to stay in Redwood then." [Good Bye Margareth! Good Bye Cecillia!]
"Eh?" Charles felt something wrong. He remembered when he talked about his father, Trevon's eyes shone with battle spirit. Why did after an additional fuel they seem like an extinguished fire?
The ninth chapter. I want to remove the elder's teaching. Most stories sometimes add such teaching. I usually skipped that part. I consider them a brainwashing/propaganda. The stupid thing was those moral education things was destroyed by the main character in the later chapter.
9/10 Mass Release Chapter
52 Chapters in Storage
Error: 0/1.000 (Hopefully)