Chapter 148

Zhou Yu said, "It's nothing. To better hone his specialty, he won't object."

"Speaking of which, the few of you should also find yourselves guards."

Liu Long smiled and said, "What do we need guards for? Could anyone we find possibly be better than us?"

"First, having a guard represents official recognition of your status and standing."

"Second, you can't possibly go twenty-four hours without sleeping. Having a guard is good for keeping watch through the night."

"Third, communications and the like are much more convenient with a guard. Minor issues get filtered out right away, so you don't have to handle everything personally."

"Fourth, none of us are the settling-down type; we certainly won't hole up here every single day. Having a guard is also good for taking care of our families."

Zhou Yu ticked off four points in a row, making Liu Long roll his eyes.

"As for the matter of guards, I'll speak with the others, and we'll pick our own people. Just don't get upset if we pick someone good and you don't like it," Liu Long said after a moment's thought.

Zhou Yu shrugged. "It doesn't matter to me. Over on my side, Liu Haishan is quite enough."

"You go on to the sparring arena; I'm heading back. Do as you see fit. I'm in no mood to keep watching. They're all too poor—about the same as I was at fifteen or sixteen. Without real combat experience, they lack that certain edge."

Liu Long laughed and cursed, "Get lost already! Do you really wish you lived in a war-torn country?"

Zhou Yu laughed heartily and walked away.

Liu Long returned to the training ground.

Down in the arena, the challenges against the ten reigning champions had already begun.

Liu Long walked over to Liu Hu and said, "Xiao Hu, if you have your eye on someone, you'd better go have a word with Chief of Staff Yan first. No matter what, that's the Chief of Staff's man; a basic level of respect must be shown."

Liu Hu nodded and went off to discuss the matter with Yan Qing.

Liu Long then spoke to Wang Hao about the matter of a guard. Wang Hao expressed that he wanted one of the leaner, more unassuming men in the arena.

Liu Long was slightly puzzled, failing to understand why he would choose someone so unremarkable among the ten. Although that man had been the sixth to fall from the bottom during the chaotic melee just now, he was simply too ordinary. Liu Long hadn't paid him much attention at all.

Wang Hao explained that the man likely had long-term experience with firearms, and his reaction speed and situational awareness were astonishing.

Wang Hao felt that the man must have been a sniper's spotter, which would make him a perfect match.

Liu Long sighed with helpless resignation. "Why are you so obsessed with guns? I really don't get it. Bullets are a one-time consumable nowadays; once they're gone, they're gone. Instead of properly training your hand-to-hand combat, you're still thinking about firearms."

Wang Hao's reply was blunt: "My gun is my life. Unless there's absolutely no other choice, I will never abandon it."

Liu Long had no choice but to say, "Have it your way. Zhou Yu doesn't care anyway, and I can't be bothered to interfere."

By this time, Liu Hu had finished talking with Yan Qing. Upon learning that Liu Hu also practiced hard Qigong and could guide Li Hu, Yan Qing was naturally more than willing to agree.

Having obtained Yan Qing's consent, Liu Hu could barely contain his eagerness as he hurried over to Li Hu's side.

"Your name is Huzi too, right? My name is Huzi as well. Why don't you follow me from now on?"

Li Hu looked at Liu Hu and asked, "Follow you? What's in it for me? Is it better than following Zhou Yu?"

Liu Hu replied, "I know you practice external martial arts, and so do I—better than you, in fact. I can teach you. Zhou Yu doesn't know hard Qigong, you know."

Li Hu asked, "Then can you beat Zhou Yu?"

Liu Hu's face darkened with a twitch. "I can't beat him. But he can't do anything to me either."