Chapter 33: Do You Really Think You’re a Peerless Genius?

Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Do You Really Think You’re a Peerless Genius?

"I’m back!" Lu Yuan shouted the moment he entered the courtyard, announcing to both families that the Dragon King, Lu Yuan, had returned!

"Young Master! Young Master!" Yaoyao put down her wooden carving and quickly ran over on her short little legs. This was the first time she hadn’t seen him for such a long time. Lu Yuan was her greatest source of security.

"Mhm." Lu Yuan patted Yaoyao’s head and walked toward the inner courtyard.

"You’re back even later than I am," Lu Ming said, appearing out of nowhere.

"What’s the point of you coming back early? Aren’t you leaving again later?" Wei Huiling grumbled. Was that really something to be proud of?

"I’m doing this for the case and the safety of the people in the disaster area," Lu Ming explained once again, giving his wife a helpless look.

"Yes, yes, yes. You’re both heroes. It’s all for the greater good of the world." Wei Huiling turned and went into the house to prepare dinner.

Lu Ming shrugged and followed her inside.

"Let’s eat first."

"Mhm." Lu Yuan nodded.

At the dinner table.

"How was the Demon Suppression Bureau today? Are you getting used to it?" Lu Ming asked with concern. In truth, he mainly wanted to know if his son was blending in well or if he was being ostracized.

"It’s great, absolutely wonderful. I really love the Demon Suppression Bureau." Lu Yuan smiled from the bottom of his heart. He had gained a lot today.

Lu Ming and Wei Huiling were quite surprised. They wondered if the Demon Suppression Bureau was really that easy to get along in. Weren’t newcomers bullied? Normally, they wouldn’t have believed it, but seeing the genuine smile on Lu Yuan’s face, they had no choice but to accept it.

"You have to understand, I was recommended by someone to get in," Lu Yuan explained, proudly raising his chin. "When it comes to riding coattails and throwing my weight around, I’ve always been number one!"

Lu Ming and Wei Huiling exchanged a glance. Indeed, Lu Yuan had been exceptionally good at riding coattails and throwing his weight around since he was little. Especially at school, where he frequently rode on Lu Ming’s coattails.

"In the Demon Suppression Bureau, you still have to rely on yourself. Your own strength is what matters most," Lu Ming lectured.

"I know." Lu Yuan nodded. "That’s why I’ve set a goal for myself. Within half a year, I will complete Bone Marrow Cleansing and Blood Exchange, and achieve Great Success in Organ Refinement."

"Ah? Half a year... Bone Marrow Cleansing and Blood Exchange, and Great Success in Organ Refinement?" Lu Ming’s eyes widened. He wondered if his son knew what he was talking about. He had told him not to slack off, but he hadn’t told him to be wildly unrealistic and blindly fantasize. At the Eighth Grade, Early-stage Bone Tempering was manageable since bones were inherently hard and could withstand vigorous tempering with Gang Qi. However, Bone Marrow Cleansing and Blood Exchange involved one’s fundamental life essence; it required extreme caution and consumed a considerable amount of time. Completing Bone Tempering within half a year would already be a good achievement. Did the kid really think he was a peerless genius?

"Never be hasty when practicing martial arts. It’s better to build a solid foundation step by step," Lu Ming advised. "Achieving it within two years is already excellent. Doing it within a year would make you an absolute genius."

"That’s right, Ayuan. Let’s take it slow. Don’t rush," Wei Huiling chimed in to persuade him. Rushing cultivation could easily lead to mistakes. She was terrified her son would suffer from a qi deviation.

"It’s a goal! A goal! Understand?" Lu Yuan sighed in exasperation. "Aim high, and you’ll achieve mediocrity; aim for mediocrity, and you’ll end up at the bottom. By setting a high target, the final outcome won’t be too bad no matter what."

He realized that if just laying the groundwork with them was this difficult, revealing his actual progress later would be even harder.

Lu Ming and Wei Huiling nodded. It made sense in theory, but his target was just too ridiculously high. In the past, they were afraid their son would amount to nothing; now, they were afraid he wanted to achieve far too much.

"Eat, eat!" Lu Yuan urged. He quickly shoveled rice into his mouth and ran outside as soon as he was full.

"Brother-in-law~" Lin Siheng called out softly, leaning over the top of the wall.

"Come down." Lu Yuan waved his hand.

SWISH. Lin Siheng quickly jumped down.

"Brother-in-law, I haven’t seen you all day. Now that you’ve gone to the Demon Suppression Bureau, does this mean you won’t have time to practice martial arts with me anymore?"

"Didn’t I come back this evening? If you can get up earlier in the morning, I can still practice with you for an hour." Lu Yuan smiled.

"In the morning? I can’t get up in the morning." Lin Siheng shook his head, looking distressed. He had a very hard time dragging himself out of bed every day.

"Where’s your second sister?" Lu Yuan quickly asked. Grinding experience points wasn’t an urgent matter. However, once it got dark, he wouldn’t be able to see his beautiful fiancée anymore.

"You only ever think about my second sister, Brother-in-law! You’re prioritizing beauty over brotherhood! You’re abandoning loyalty for benefits!" Lin Siheng glared at him.

"Nonsense, who else would I think about if not my future wife? You’re just my little brother-in-law. How can you compare to your second sister?" Lu Yuan unceremoniously shot back.

"You..." Lin Siheng was indignant. "But I practice with you every day!"

"I’m obviously the one practicing with you every day. How did it become you practicing with me?" Lu Yuan rolled his eyes.

"I say it is, so it is! Take this!" Lin Siheng clenched his fists and threw a punch straight at Lu Yuan.

SMACK. Lu Yuan casually batted it away with a palm strike, pushing him back. Did this little guy really think he could ambush his own brother-in-law? But why wasn’t the system issuing a mission?

[Your former brother-in-law suffered grievances outside today and wants to teach you a lesson to vent his anger. Naturally, you cannot accept this kind of injustice.]

[Mission Issued: Desperate Counterattack 3. Use your intelligence to establish rules and defeat him within those bounds. Reward: 800 Experience Points.]

He wondered how a Ninth Grade martial artist could possibly set rules and defeat a Fifth Grade expert. Was it even possible? Lin Siheng wasn’t the brightest, but his physical talent was absurdly powerful. A Fifth Grade Lin Siheng could probably effortlessly collapse a mountain... Of course, right now it was twenty-five years in the past, and Lin Siheng was still just a little squirt.

"Siyao, aren’t you coming out?" Lu Yuan called.

"Hehe, did Brother Yuan miss me?" Lin Siyao appeared on top of the wall.

"Chase your brother back home first!" Lu Yuan instructed.

"Ah? Brother-in-law, you..." Lin Siheng was dumbfounded. He couldn’t believe Lu Yuan was burning the bridge after crossing the river like this. Wasn’t he going to practice martial arts with him anymore?

"You, hurry up and go back!" Lin Siyao pointed her finger, bringing out her authority as an older sister.

"I..." Lin Siheng was reluctant. However, if he disobeyed and his second sister snitched on him, he might have to face a mixed doubles beatdown from their parents.

"If you want to practice, get up earlier tomorrow morning," Lu Yuan smiled. "From now on, every evening will be private time for me and your second sister."

"Private time..." Lin Siyao’s eyes sparkled.

"You... You..." Lin Siheng fumed. "I hate you both!"

He quickly vaulted over the wall and left.

[Congratulations on completing the mission... The reward of 800 Experience Points has been deposited.]

"Hehe." Lu Yuan smiled, turned around, and grabbed Lin Siyao’s hands. As expected, the only one who could defeat Lin Siheng was Lin Siyao.

"We only have fifteen minutes," Lin Siyao reminded him. It would be dark in fifteen minutes at most, and she had to go home.

"Mhm." Lu Yuan nodded. Fifteen minutes was enough. A person had to learn to be content. Just holding her hands and sitting quietly for a while was enough to satisfy him entirely.

"How was your day at the Demon Suppression Bureau, Brother Yuan? Are you getting used to it?" Lin Siyao asked.

"It was fine, pretty good!" Lu Yuan repeated what he had told his parents. He didn’t mention the wager. Sharing something like that after succeeding would bring joy, but mentioning it before succeeding would only cause worry.

"You’re so amazing, Brother Yuan," Lin Siyao praised. "I knew you would thrive and feel like a fish in water no matter where you went."

"Not necessarily. I couldn’t do it at your home!" Lu Yuan shook his head.

"Ah? Brother Yuan..." Lin Siyao felt a little sad. Her parents’ expectations were simply too high.

"Haha, I’m just joking. Things will change in a year at most!" Lu Yuan hurriedly reassured her. He was confident he could change the Lin family parents’ opinions within a year.

"Mhm, I believe in you, Brother Yuan!" Lin Siyao nodded. She had noticed Brother Yuan’s changes; he was improving by leaps and bounds.