Ma Hongjun Remains Unmoved

"What?"

"You're saying Hongjun hasn't been to Red Light Street for nearly a month?"

Having just returned to Shrek, Flender hadn't even shaken off the joy of having swindled another genius when he received this jaw-dropping piece of news.

That little fatty who used to run to Red Light Street whenever he had nothing to do hadn't stepped out of the academy for an entire month.

After hearing the news from Zhao Wuji, Flender rushed toward the dormitory where Ma Hongjun was staying.

To his utter astonishment, Ma Hongjun was walking out of his room slowly, holding a popsicle as if nothing were the matter.

"You... you brat, you're fine?"

"Teacher, are you hoping that something is wrong with me?"

"That Evil Fire... it's really resolved?"

"It's resolved, isn't it? Don't I look perfectly fine?"

Looking his disciple up and down, Flender stepped forward, uneasy, to probe him with his soul power, only to stare at the little fatty with a look of disbelief.

"What the hell, you actually overcame it?"

"Hey, your disciple here is gifted with extraordinary talent; a little Evil Fire is nothing at all."

Over the course of nearly a month, Ma Hongjun had completed two consecutive trials.

They were the ten-day trial and the fifteen-day trial, respectively.

At the same time, he had reaped nearly 50 days' worth of cultivation rewards and a 20-year increase in his soul ring age.

This was the main reason the fatty had been able to persist.

The truth was, the God's trials gave too much.

He had also discovered that the rewards increased with each passing trial, which led him to swear a lifelong oath to never visit Red Light Street again.

Little did he know, the oath he had sworn with his own lips would soon be broken.

For some reason, Flender still felt unsettled, terrified that his personal disciple might suddenly drop dead one day because of the Evil Fire.

In the months that followed, Flender kept a close watch on the fatty.

Only after discovering that the kid had no other abnormalities, save for the occasional cold bath by the village river, did he finally set his mind at ease.

Meanwhile, under the guidance of the God of Calmness, the little fatty had completed nine consecutive trials.

His soul power had successfully soared to level 17.

For someone who had just turned eight, this was already enough to be proud of.

Filled with longing for the future, Ma Hongjun began to look forward to the arrival of his next trial.

"According to the previous schedule, the tenth trial should be 45 days."

"Once this trial is finished, I'll be just about touching the threshold of a Soul Grand Master."

"I really am a genius."

Through the ice cube within his sea of consciousness, Lu Xian, who was far away in the city, naturally learned of the fatty's thoughts.

A smile curled involuntarily at the corners of his mouth.

"Little fatty, you are still too naive."

As the trial was issued, Lu Xian's smile deepened; how could he possibly let the God's trials be so simple?

At the same time, Ma Hongjun received the notification that the tenth God's trial had arrived, and he was completely immersed in joy.

But soon, he couldn't laugh anymore.

"The tenth trial of the God of Calmness: Unmoved in the Midst of Temptation."

"A true powerhouse must not only overcome desire but also learn to actively face it."

"Go to Red Light Street and chat about life with ten women of appropriate age for 72 hours, all while ensuring your thoughts are not swayed by desire."

"Time limit: one week."

"Friendly reminder: every tenth trial will be a major trial."

Ma Hongjun's mouth hung slightly open, and it took a long while before he wiped his face.

"Damn it, I was wondering why the God's trials were so simple. So this is what was waiting for me?"

"Going there is practically asking to lose half my life, isn't it?"

But the God of Calmness had already provided the explanation: every ten trials constituted a major trial.

The difficulty of a major trial was naturally much higher than the usual ones.

"I'll go, then. When has this fatty ever been afraid?"

Although the trial was extremely unreasonable, for the sake of the rewards, the fatty decided to give it a shot.

And so, under Flender's gaze—which clearly said, "Are you messing with me, kid?"—Ma Hongjun headed toward Red Light Street with the air of a man embarking on a journey from which he might never return.

The hour was still early, and Ma Hongjun arrived at Lu Xian's Broom Shop for the first time in a long while.

"Yo, haven't seen you in months. Did you find a new place to satisfy your cravings?"

Lu Xian stifled a laugh as he teased Ma Hongjun, while the completely oblivious fatty sat in the shop, his brow furrowed in distress.

"Don't tease me, Brother Lu Xian."

"I'm actually worried sick right now!"

"Out of money again?"

"That's not it. You know I haven't been to Red Light Street in nearly two months, don't you?"

Licking his lips, the fatty asked tentatively:

"Brother Lu Xian, do you think there's a way for me to chat with ten big sisters about life for 72 hours straight while still keeping my virtue intact?"

Lu Xian nodded expressionlessly, and Ma Hongjun was instantly overjoyed.

"What's the method? Tell me quickly!"

"Clatter."

A pair of scissors was tossed in front of him, and the fatty's expression stiffened instantly.

"Brother Lu Xian, what... what is this supposed to mean?"

"It's simple. Just get castrated, and you'll be cured forever, won't you?"

"No, no, no! I still need to get married; that won't work."

"I see..."

Lu Xian rubbed his chin. He hadn't expected the little fatty to come directly to him—the one who set the challenge—for a solution.

"Then how about you try preparing a few pairs of ice-cold underwear?"

As Lu Xian's terrible idea left his lips, Ma Hongjun's eyes lit up.

The method was ridiculous, but it was indeed the best solution for now.

As long as I can't perform, no one can tempt me.

There was still a week left in the assessment; he had plenty of time to prepare.

In a rush, he left the Broom Shop and headed straight for the Cold Drink Shop next door.

"Madam! I want to custom-order ten pairs of ice-cold briefs."

"What? I'm not here to cause trouble; this young master has money."

"I can pay in advance. Just have them ready for me, and I'll come pick them up tomorrow."

Listening to the voice drifting in from not far outside, Lu Xian completely lost his composure. He had just been spouting nonsense; he never expected the little fatty to actually go through with it.

Wearing ice-cold briefs for three days—how was that any different from castration?

Under the gaze of the shopkeeper, who looked at him like he was an idiot while holding the Gold Soul Coins, the fatty returned to the front of the Broom Shop, feeling immensely satisfied.

"Thanks, Brother Lu Xian. You've really helped me out a lot."

"Heh, if you think it works, then it works."

The following evening, Ma Hongjun walked toward Red Light Street with a solemn expression, carrying the ten pairs of ice-cold briefs made by the Cold Drink Shop.

He arrived in front of the establishment he used to frequent.

The madam spotted the fatty's figure from afar.

"Yo, isn't this Fatty? Where have you been these past few months?"

"Cut the chatter. I want ten!"

Hearing this, a flash of astonishment crossed the madam's eyes, but adhering to the principle that only a fool turns away money, she quickly broke into a smile and welcomed Ma Hongjun into the shop.

Soon, in a confined room, Ma Hongjun found himself staring at ten big sisters who had thoroughly grasped the true meaning of life.

"Chat... just chat?"

"And for three whole days?"

"You dead fatty, did you lose your weapon?"

Several old acquaintances teased him immediately upon hearing that the fatty intended to do nothing but talk.

We're all professionals in the field, so why are you suddenly acting like a relationship counselor?

To their surprise, the fatty ignored them entirely, opened the box beside him, and pulled out a pair of ice-cold briefs to put on.

He then sat down on the sofa, looking every bit the part of someone who truly intended to do nothing but talk.

This scene instantly stunned the ten veteran relationship consultants.

They exchanged glances, seeing only confusion in each other's eyes.

They were all manual laborers who were used to getting paid for the work they did; now that they were being paid to do nothing, they were completely at a loss.