Dignity? How Much Does It Cost Per Pound?

"Come in." Chen Hongsheng did not even ask who Huo Yuhao was or what he wanted. He simply replied calmly, then clasped his hands behind his back and turned toward the courtyard.

Seeing this, Huo Yuhao did not dare delay. He gently and quietly closed the main gate, then followed the old man ahead of him with light steps.

The courtyard paths were paved with bluestone slabs, with patches of green grass growing around them, exceptionally lush. Yet there was more than grass on the ground. Some fiery red maple leaves had fallen and blended into it, making the scene look as though flames were burning across the bluestone path.

Lightning flashed and thunder boomed in the sky as thick clouds poured rain down upon the earth. But Huo Yuhao's gaze shifted slightly as he looked at the Steward before him.

Neither of them had an umbrella. Huo Yuhao was soaked through, but when the rain came within roughly a meter of the Old Steward, it seemed to be driven away by an invisible force. As a result, the Old Steward's clothes remained perfectly clean.

With the powerful observational ability granted by his Spirit Eye, Huo Yuhao could vaguely see a ripple-like aura moving around the Old Steward. That was presumably the key to keeping the rain away.

There were no servants permanently assigned to the Falling Maple Courtyard. The Old Steward had spent most of his life in the Military Camp, so he probably did not care much for such things. In addition, after the previous servants had been executed, there was even less need for servants permanently belonging to the Falling Maple Courtyard.

The Falling Maple Courtyard was not particularly large, but its decorations were elegant and understated. The buildings were a pale yellow overall, and fragrant herbs climbed along the walls of the corridors outside the rooms. Just one breath of their scent was enough to make people feel especially relaxed.

After walking for a short while, they soon arrived before a door bearing strange patterns. A Soul Guiding Lamp radiating warm light was embedded on each side of the door. The Old Steward casually pushed it open.

The moment the door opened, a wave of warmth rushed out all at once and washed over Huo Yuhao's face. His small face, which had stiffened under the constant assault of the cold rain, suddenly relaxed.

The Old Steward walked inside, but Huo Yuhao stopped before the entrance and did not follow.

The Old Steward walked a few steps before stopping. He turned around in confusion, and his powerful voice rang out. "Why aren't you coming in?"

Huo Yuhao looked at the crimson, thick-pile carpet covering the floor inside, then at his own worn cloth shoes, which were caked in mud. He explained quietly, "My shoes are too dirty. I'll soil the carpet."

The Old Steward raised his eyelids but said nothing. After a moment, his tone softened inexplicably. "Someone will take the carpet away to be cleaned if it gets dirty. Come in. We can talk inside."

This time, Huo Yuhao did not hesitate. He followed him inside, stepping onto the clean, immaculate carpet, then closed the door. However, he only moved one step past the entrance before stopping again. He stood there properly and respectfully.

The Old Steward slowly walked to a sofa beside the fireplace and sat down. Hot air continuously poured from the fireplace, making the entire hall exceptionally warm.

"What do you want with me?" The Old Steward casually picked up the ceramic cup from the coffee table, lifted the lid, blew on the steaming tea, and took a sip.

Huo Yuhao's expression turned solemn. He immediately set down the damp bedding in his hands, then knelt on the floor, pressing his forehead against the soft carpet. In a deep voice, he said, "Please help me."

The Old Steward's hand, which held the teacup, paused. His gaze narrowed slightly as he said in a deep voice, "Your mother, Huo Yun'er, stayed by that boy Dai Hao's side for so many years. Didn't she teach you that a man's knees are worth gold?"

"My mother taught me," Huo Yuhao answered honestly.

"Then why are you kneeling?" The Old Steward's expression became extremely stern. A faint wave of Soul Power silently spread from his body, and even the flames in the fireplace seemed to suffocate, ceasing their dance.

Huo Yuhao did not hesitate in the slightest. He immediately said, "This concerns my life. When begging someone for help, the saying that a man's knees are worth gold is nothing more than empty words."

"Hmph." The Old Steward could not help laughing softly. He looked at Huo Yuhao with an unreadable gaze and said pointedly, "You certainly have a sharp tongue. But kneeling to beg for help is tantamount to throwing away your dignity. That is improper."

Huo Yuhao remained calm as he stared at the carpet. A strained smile touched his lips. "Dignity is only useful to the strong. As for me now, I'm merely a weakling who could be killed at any moment."

"Since I'm asking for help, I should make the request with the utmost sincerity. So... please help me."

Huo Yuhao lowered his head even further, pressing his forehead completely against the carpet.

When the Old Steward heard this, his brows immediately relaxed. The hall fell silent.

There was no emotion in Huo Yuhao's eyes. In his previous life, he had been an orphan without anyone to rely on. He had dropped out of school early to work, and in the end, he had merely been at the very bottom of society. He had seen and personally experienced too much. To him, dignity was not even as substantial as a steamed bun obtained when he was starving.

Some people valued dignity greatly because it was a person's final line, something that could never be trampled. But Huo Yuhao knew very well that he had no right to speak of dignity. Either he preserved his dignity, held on to that temporary bottom line, and was then killed, or he abandoned his dignity, cast aside that temporary pride, and gained the chance to become stronger.

The flames in the fireplace began dancing again. The warm yellow light of the Soul Guiding Lamps fell across the room, making their fiery shadows flicker against the scorching stone walls.

"Clack!" After an unknown length of time, a sound finally rang out again. It was the noise of the teacup knocking against the coffee table as the Old Steward set it down.

He raised his head and looked at the crystal Soul Guiding Lamp hanging from the hall's ceiling. His expression held an indescribable quality, as though Huo Yuhao's words had stirred some thought within him. After a long while, the Old Steward spoke again. "Did you fight back against those who bullied you?"

Huo Yuhao's gaze froze. He abruptly raised his head and looked at the Old Steward in confusion.

The Old Steward shook his head with a smile but did not answer Huo Yuhao's question. Instead, he asked, "If someone comes here later to demand that I hand you over, how will you resolve it?"

Huo Yuhao drew a deep breath, and a trace of relief appeared in his eyes. He knew that the Old Steward intended to help him. He clenched his fists, the stiffness in his body already easing in the warm room, and said firmly, "According to the Duke White Tiger's Mansion's Fifteenth Family Rule, if a servant oversteps their station and offends their superior, they may be beaten to death with a staff."

"Hahaha." The Old Steward could not help laughing. He pointed at Huo Yuhao. "Yes, that's exactly what you should say. Or rather, you should have said it long ago. Don't worry. If they come knocking later, this old man will protect you."

Huo Yuhao stood frozen in place as he watched the Old Steward laugh. An indescribable realization arose in his heart.

Why had Huo Yuhao not been secretly killed during the year after his mother's death? And why, when he left the Duke White Tiger's Mansion, had it seemed so easy, with not even a single guard appearing—as if the Duke's Mansion were empty?

Was there truly no one helping him behind the scenes?

At that moment, an idea arose in Huo Yuhao's heart. Could the person secretly helping him have been this Old Steward?

If the Old Steward had really helped him from behind the scenes, no matter whether the help had been great or small, the moment he had extended it, it had become an enormous kindness. A drop of water should be repaid with a gushing spring. He absolutely could not forget this.

"Come over and sit." A gentle voice rang out. Huo Yuhao looked up and saw the Old Steward watching him. Another sentence came from the Old Steward's mouth. "If you don't come sit down, it'll be very difficult for me to help you."

Hearing this, Huo Yuhao did not hesitate at all. After several quick strides, he sat on the sofa opposite the Old Steward.

The Old Steward shook his head with a smile. Seeing that Huo Yuhao's aura was weak, he left the hall after a thought.

Huo Yuhao simply sat silently in that spot. The warmth from the fireplace beside him became even more comfortable. He only sat there quietly, yet the warmth that drove away the cold seemed to drive away the hunger in his stomach as well.

Everything was so beautiful that it gave him an unreal feeling.

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