Pride Student

Arriving at the magnificent Huachuang Tower, Master Jienan straightened his posture with visible pride.

"Are your two disciples here?" An Yi asked with curiosity.

Master Jienan smiled. "Indeed. What do you think? Quite impressive, isn’t it?"

An Yi’s lips twitched.

Lan Tuo Temple… monks…

He already had a hunch about who Master Jienan’s disciples might be.

What a damn coincidence!

"I have three outstanding disciples," Master Jienan said leisurely.

An Yi perked up. "Is Lin Chen one of them?"

"He is."

Master Jienan nodded.

Hongtian, wagging his dog head, nudged An Yi and asked, "Who’s Lin Chen?"

"That poker-faced guy you once chased around. You probably don’t remember."

An Yi paused mid-sentence, then flicked Hongtian’s head with a knuckle. "How many times have I told you? Don’t talk in public!"

"Tch! Just a bunch of snacks. Why bother?"

Hongtian scoffed but obediently shut his mouth.

He knew full well that a talking dog in this world would end up in a lab for dissection.

Master Jienan clasped his hands behind his back, radiating pride. "Though Lin Chen only trained under me for three months, he’s undoubtedly my most accomplished disciple. Now, he works as a bodyguard!"

"What’s so impressive about that?" An Yi grinned.

"His annual income is this much!"

Master Jienan raised a finger, adopting a mysterious expression.

An Yi raised an eyebrow. "A hundred million?"

Master Jienan: "..."

How dare you guess so high?! He couldn’t even keep up the act now.

"Exactly."

Master Jienan glanced at An Yi’s beat-up Wuling Hongguang and chuckled teasingly. "Xiao An, you’ve got some catching up to do."

But seeing An Yi’s unshaken expression, Master Jienan felt like he’d just performed for thin air.

"My other two disciples are also bodyguards. Though they don’t earn as much as Lin Chen, they still pull in millions annually—working right in this very building."

Master Jienan spoke with unmistakable pride.

A seven-figure salary in this world? That was undeniably upper-class.

An Yi nodded. "Oh."

Master Jienan: "..."

"Xiao An, you ought to understand—times have changed. Martial artists might be strong, but they’re nothing compared to money." Master Jienan sighed, shaking his head as he eyed An Yi’s shabby car.

In his twilight years, he’d originally planned to find a simple gatekeeping job to coast into retirement.

But now, stuck with this penniless guy, he might as well prepare to feast on the northwest wind.

At his age, he didn’t deserve this kind of suffering!

Maybe he should tactfully decline the gatekeeping offer and go live the high life with his millionaire disciples instead.

Just then, a sleek sedan pulled up in front of the building.

A bald man in a sharp suit and sunglasses—Long—stepped out.

"Boss! Long time no see!"

Long greeted An Yi warmly.

"Guess who’s here?" An Yi smiled.

Master Jienan stepped forward, clearing his throat. "Hu… it’s been a while. You’ve grown."

Long deadpanned, "I’m Long."

"Ahem, same difference. Long, you’ve grown."

Master Jienan wore a nostalgic expression.

Long squinted at him for a few seconds before recognition dawned—his face twisted in shock.

"Old thief Jienan?! Weren’t you kicked out of Lan Tuo Temple a decade ago?"

"Cough, retired… retired."

Master Jienan awkwardly corrected. "Anyway, I’m here now."

"Yeah, but why?" Long frowned.

Back then, he and Hu had been innocent young monks.

Unfortunately, they’d ended up with a shameless master.

After years under him, they’d absorbed none of Buddhism’s wisdom or martial arts’ discipline—just 80% of Master Jienan’s bad habits.

Even after the old man was expelled, the damage was done. They could never reintegrate into Lan Tuo Temple’s pure monastic life.

And so, their eventual exile was sealed.

Master Jienan beamed. "Hu and I have kept in touch. I know how well you’re doing. Long, I’m proud of you."

"Hu??"

Long stared at the old man.

Ah. So this scheming fossil was here to mooch off him in his old age?

Damn it. He’d beat Hu’s thick skull in later!

Long turned to An Yi. "Boss, if there’s nothing else, I’ll head back. I’ve recruited a batch of martial artists—our security team’s just started training."

An Yi nodded. "Good work. Keep bringing in skilled fighters. Money’s no issue—I’ve got plenty to spare."

"Boss?!"

Watching Long’s deference to An Yi, Master Jienan’s eyes nearly bulged out of his skull.

His prized disciple… worked for An Yi?!

This kid was the real deal!

Master Jienan stiffened, his face cycling through shock, delight, and finally, reverence.

Bowing slightly, he spoke with newfound respect: "Young Master."

An Yi’s expression darkened with melancholy.

That single address—Young Master—told him everything.

A chasm had opened between them, one they could never cross again.

Memories surfaced: moonlight, an old man, a fleeing hedgehog… fading into the distance.

"Young Master An, if you’re this rich, why drive that junker?" Master Jienan asked, puzzled.

An Yi smiled faintly. "To stay low-key."

Hongtian rolled his eyes.

Low-key my ass!

"Let’s go. It’s been a while since I’ve been back." An Yi strode into the building.

Master Jienan scurried after him, holding up three fingers. "Ahem, Young Master Yi… about the gatekeeper’s salary… how about this much?"

"Three million?"

An Yi considered it. Given that the old monk was a Void Realm expert—ranked in the top 50 of the Heavenly Leaderboard—three million a year wasn’t unreasonable.

With him guarding the gates, plus Long, Hu, and their team of martial artists, few in Xia would dare mess with the An Corporation.

"Fine. Three million it is."

Master Jienan froze.

He’d meant three hundred thousand.

Staring at An Yi’s nonchalance, shame washed over him for his earlier shortsightedness.

At the mention of three million, he found his life’s purpose:

To stand guard for the rise of the An Corporation!

Long trailed behind, watching Master Jienan’s hunched back. His lips moved silently.

After years apart, the cunning old fox seemed… older.

"Your… your eye. What happened?"

Long asked casually, as if it didn’t matter.

Master Jienan chuckled. "Let bygones be bygones."

Floors seven through nine of Huachuang Tower belonged entirely to the An Corporation.

Ding Renfeng strutted through the office in a tight suit, buttons straining, a Cohiba cigar in his mouth and a carton of Wangzai Milk in hand.

Employees bowed respectfully as he passed.

"Good day, President Ding!"

"Vice President Ding!"

"President Ding!"

"Mhm. Not bad."

Ding Renfeng nodded, pleased with the thriving company atmosphere.

Tomorrow, fire the guy who called me ‘Vice President.’

At the entrance, Ding Renfeng took a sip of his Wangzai milk tea and suddenly caught sight of An Yi. His expression instantly lit up with excitement.

"Boss, what brings you here?" Ding Renfeng greeted him with a hearty laugh.

"Just free today, nothing much."

An Yi glanced at the cigar in his hand and couldn't help but remark, "Still smoking those fakes?"

"Got used to it back when I couldn’t afford the real stuff. These knockoffs have this weird, sour stench—like an old lady’s foot bindings. Somehow, it’s addictive!" Ding Renfeng chuckled. Then, noticing the dog An Yi was leading, he immediately gushed, "Boss, your taste in pets is unmatched. This dog looks majestic, dignified, and extraordinary—like some kind of mythical beast at first glance."

Hearing this, Hongtian perked up his head, puffing out his chest with pride.

Who would’ve thought? After hiding his true nature for so long, this long-haired guy saw right through him.

Guess you can’t hide the truth forever!

Ding Renfeng forced himself to keep up the flattery, though his face burned with embarrassment.

This dog…

Was ugly as hell!