The Long Family's Tiger Skin

"Director of the Jingwu Bureau personally driving... tsk, tsk..."

Chu Sheng lounged sideways in his seat, his fingertips stroking the newly acquired Zhan Yue.

Up ahead, Lu Huaimin held a cigarette in one hand and the steering wheel in the other.

It had been who knew how many years since he had last driven. Who would have thought that this time, he would be playing chauffeur for a young man?

There were only the two of them in the car. Lu Huaimin flicked away some ash and teased, "It's my honor to drive for Young Master Chu."

"Tell me, what kind of monkey business did you pull? How did I suddenly become some young master?"

"What, you don't like being a noble young master?"

"I like it well enough, but I don't feel secure about it."

Chu Sheng knew he had Dragon Martial Academy behind him, but he was only a student. How could he possibly be called some young master?

That was a form of address reserved for the children of Noble Clans.

He did not have those qualifications.

"I only found out today that your entry into the Jingwu Bureau wasn't arranged solely through Dragon Martial Academy."

"The higher-ups have always kept a tight leash on this matter, especially the age restrictions. Eighteen seems to be some sort of taboo. Dragon Martial Academy alone probably couldn't wade through so many checkpoints."

Chu Sheng frowned.

He could not understand why eighteen was such a taboo.

No hair on one's lips, no steadiness in one's work?

Or had there once been some eighteen-year-old predecessor who did something earth-shattering and left the higher-ups with psychological trauma?

Lu Huaimin took a drag from his cigarette and continued.

"Headquarters called me today. That's when I learned that the Long Family had also lent a hand."

"So, strictly speaking, you entered through the Long Family's back door."

Upon hearing that, Chu Sheng immediately understood Lu Huaimin's intentions.

The identity of a specially recruited student from Dragon Martial Academy might not be enough to intimidate others.

But if he had the Long Family at his back, it would be entirely different.

The Long Family of Dongyun Province was one of the Federation's most elite Noble Clans, possessing a powerful bloodline passed down since time immemorial.

Moreover, the Great Xia Federation's first Head of State had also borne the surname Long.

When the first Starry Sky Aliens descended,

she had led people to drive them back.

Chu Sheng still clearly remembered

the colossal dragon in the textbook that blotted out the sky and covered the earth.

As well as the dazzling golden blood flowing over its body...

So Lu Huaimin's purpose in doing this was to put another layer of BUFF on him.

Or rather, to drape another tiger skin over himself.

It felt great,

but what if the Long Family found out?

He had absolutely no connection to the Long Family.

"Are you sure the Long Family would be willing to lend me their tiger skin? They won't come after me afterward?"

Lu Huaimin shook his head like a rattle-drum.

"Of course I'm not sure. My surname isn't Long.

But even if they come looking, they'll only come after you. They can't pin it on me.

I merely made a reasonable inference based on the facts. At most, I was trying to flatter the Long Family. They wouldn't punish me over something like that, would they?"

As he spoke, Lu Huaimin revealed an exceedingly clever smile.

"They will, brother."

Chu Sheng took out his phone and waved it. The screen showed that it was recording.

It had already been recording for nearly ten minutes.

In other words, he had started recording the moment he got into the car.

"You sly old bastard, I really have to hand it to you..."

Lu Huaimin laughed awkwardly. "Delete it. I was just messing with you. The Long Family won't bother with such a trivial matter at all."

"Besides, you're a Dragon Martial Academy student, and your talent is so monstrous. If the Long Family finds out, they might even acknowledge it."

Chu Sheng ignored him and directly dialed Long Liang's number.

It was late at night, and he would be disturbing someone's sweet dreams.

But if it was good news, that was another matter entirely.

"Who are you calling?"

"Long Liang, the Dragon Martial Academy teacher who brought me here."

!!!

Lu Huaimin slammed on the brakes, his face filled with astonishment.

"You fucking kidding me?!"

The call was answered within two seconds. Chu Sheng made a gesture for silence.

"What happened?" Long Liang's voice on the other end was extremely alert.

Before leaving, he had told Chu Sheng to call him if anything happened.

Calling this late at night could only mean something major had occurred.

"Nothing much. I just advanced again. I'm very happy, so I wanted to tell you."

Long Liang was instantly no longer sleepy. "Second level?"

"Sixth level. I expect to reach the peak of the Qi Sea Realm before the National College Entrance Examination."

"..."

A long silence followed.

To be honest, Long Liang really wanted to ask whether Chu Sheng had been drinking.

Calling in the middle of the night just to spout nonsense.

At most, it had only been four days since he advanced to the first level of the Qi Sea Realm.

Four days, and he had risen six levels!?

If that were true, I'd eat a person alive!

Lu Huaimin spoke from the front.

"Brother Long, I can testify. It's true, absolutely true. Chu Sheng isn't lying."

On the other end of the phone, breathing instantly became incredibly ragged.

Chu Sheng was one thing, but now even Lu Huaimin was saying it.

So it was real!?

"I understand. I'll apply to the academy and get you a guardian, someone specifically assigned to protect your safety."

"Do you want a man or a woman? Any restrictions on age or marital status?"

A guardian?

Though he had never had one before, judging from the name, it was basically like assigning him a bodyguard.

This was acceptable.

A noble young master naturally needed a bodyguard to look the part.

"A man. He has to be male both physically and mentally. As for age... the older, the better. Preferably the kind with missing teeth."

As always, women came with too much bullshit.

There was no need to even consider a female bodyguard. Eight times out of ten, it would turn into some harem development again.

As for wanting someone old, that was purely because it would better highlight his grandeur.

A noble young master paired with an old servant was a perfect match.

"Mm... huh!?"

Long Liang froze on the other end.

It was not the first time he had applied for guardians for geniuses.

Other talented youths all demanded women, and they had to be young, beautiful, and unmarried.

But Chu Sheng wanted a toothless old man...

Chu Sheng asked doubtfully, "There isn't one? Someone with teeth is fine too..."

"There is. At the latest, your guardian will be in place within three days."

Three days was practically the travel time from Dragon Martial Academy to here.

Chu Sheng nodded, very satisfied with Long Liang's efficiency.

Then, he hung up.

Lu Huaimin let out a long breath. "You scared me. I thought you were planning to complain."

"Didn't expose it, did I? I'll say something once it gets exposed."

Chu Sheng strongly agreed with something Lu Huaimin had just said.

That was, with talent as heaven-defying as his, the Long Family might actually acknowledge this matter.

But right now, he was not quite qualified enough.

After all, someone who had not grown up did not count as a genius.

If he said it openly, no matter how highly Long Liang regarded him, he would have to report it to his family, right?

Maybe the Long Family would immediately issue a clarification.

But if he did not say it openly, once Long Liang and even the Long Family learned of it, they might simply keep one eye open and one eye shut.

Neither admitting it nor denying it.

After all, his talent was right there for all to see.

Chu Sheng had called Long Liang precisely to prove how terrifying his talent was.

To increase the chance that the Long Family would keep one eye open and one eye shut.

Speaking of which, this was similar to a piece of news he had heard about in his previous life.

Borrowing the defibrillator from an ambulance.

If you openly borrowed it and even filmed it on your phone, then you could not blame them for handling things according to the rules.

They could not possibly risk being disciplined or even fired for your sake, could they?

But if you simply took it directly, there was not much the medical staff could do, was there?

Knowing there was a risk yet making someone else bear it was unjustifiable no matter how one put it.

Of course, Chu Sheng had no intention of bearing that risk himself.

Wasn't Lu Huaimin right here?

Lu Huaimin asked doubtfully, "If it gets exposed, what are you planning to say?"

Chu Sheng waved his phone.

"Isn't there a recording? When the time comes, I'll say you forced me."

"Damn—"

On the road, Lu Huaimin suddenly recalled an amusing story he had heard earlier.

"I heard that when the Jingwu Bureau was first established, it even had requirements for surnames."

"Guess what? They didn't want anyone surnamed Chu!"

"So you really have your BUFF maxed out..."

After waiting a long time without receiving a response, he looked through the rearview mirror and saw that Chu Sheng had long since fallen asleep.

Having been busy from early morning until the next day's dawn, Chu Sheng was exhausted beyond measure.

By the time they reached Shengze City, it was already morning.

Chu Sheng was jolted awake by a sudden brake.

In his haze, he heard a woman sobbing bitterly beside his ear.

"Please, my lords, help seek justice for my son."

"He didn't commit suicide. He was killed by his classmates..."