C281 I Am the Boss and You Are the Second

Chu Yi was left utterly speechless.

Despite his thick skin, forged over five thousand years at the Immortal Demon Temple, there were still words that Chu Yi couldn't bring himself to utter!

What did it mean to be as handsome as everyone else?

This, this, this...

It was at this moment that Chu Yi took a serious look at Reinhard.

Before, Reinhard's exceptional talent was acknowledged, but to Chu Yi, he was merely a symbol, not someone he had paid much attention to.

But now, things had changed.

Reinhard had claimed to be as handsome as Chu Yi, and failing to scrutinize him now would be like admitting to a lower standard of attractiveness.

Chu Yi could negotiate on other matters, but he was determined to maintain a firm grip on his own aesthetic appeal!

And then, Chu Yi saw it.

Reinhard's golden hair was a rarity in the Western world.

That alone added significantly to Reinhard's appeal.

But when it came to the true measure of his looks...

Chu Yi examined him over and over, and while Reinhard's features weren't immediately striking, upon closer inspection, he was undeniably handsome.

Indeed, a man of great charisma.

Yes, even by Chu Yi's exacting standards, Reinhard deserved the title of handsome. Of course, what truly set him apart was his temperament.

Chu Yi recognized that Reinhard was the kind of person who commanded respect, a figure who stood above the rest.

It wasn't that Reinhard scorned others; he was simply exceedingly proud, disinterested in associating with those he deemed inferior.

This was both arrogance and conceit.

But all of this was predicated on something.

It all rested on the foundation of Reinhard's formidable strength.

Reinhard was no longer just a promising youth. Chu Yi was convinced that if Reinhard were to unleash his full power, he could likely stand toe-to-toe with the pinnacle of the Diamond state or even those at the Half Step to War God Level without fear.

Thus, Reinhard was rightly a strong man, not merely a prodigy.

Such a formidable and even terrifying young man naturally possessed an exceptional aura.

Moreover, with Reinhard's strikingly resolute features, calling him handsome was certainly justified.

But him...

Chu Yi compared Reinhard's visage and aura to his own.

Yes, there was still a gap.

The gap was significant.

Chu Yi felt the difference between himself and Reinhardt was substantial.

"Cough, cough. What's on your mind?" he asked.

Chu Yi wasn't just a little fed up; he was utterly exasperated with Reinhardt.

First, Reinhardt recited ancient poetry, then he listed similarities between them. Chu Yi wouldn't believe there was nothing amiss there, not for a second!

Reinhardt, not one to be petty, responded with enthusiasm, "I believe that there are few in the world as exceptional as the two of us..."

He paused, reconsidering his words. "No, what I mean is, we are truly one of a kind!"

Chu Yi frowned slightly at Reinhardt, and after a brief silence, he said, "Although you're somewhat exaggerating..."

"In essence, it's true..."

Cage stood by, mouth agape, struggling to find the right words.

"Exactly, that's the gist of it!"

"And so, I think we are a perfect match, destined to be together!"

Damn it!

Chu Yi's speed was beyond belief, and in a flash, he was dozens of meters away from Reinhardt.

He had never moved so fast, not even when facing the most formidable demons.

Chu Yi's gaze at Reinhardt was indescribable.

I saw you as a man, and you were thinking of my body?

Reinhardt was taken aback by Chu Yi's reaction. Turning to Cage, he saw his childhood friend also looking scared.

Initially baffled, Reinhardt quickly caught on.

A mix of red and black flushed his determined face.

Finally, Reinhardt said through clenched teeth, "I'm not into men..."

Despite his declaration, Chu Yi kept his distance, and even Cage seemed unconvinced.

Reinhardt was frustrated.

Chu Yi might not know, but Cage, don't you know me at all?

Reinhardt didn't hold anyone else responsible. Upon reflection, he realized his recent remarks were indeed riddled with ambiguity.

"It's true, mastering the language of the Huaxia civilization is no easy feat."

Reinhardt had merely intended to flaunt his eloquence, but it had backfired spectacularly.

"Ahem, let me clarify what I meant."

He knew he needed to clear things up quickly, or his reputation would be at stake.

"I believe that, in the whole world, monstrous geniuses like us are nearly extinct, aside from you and me!"

"With that in mind, it's even more important for us to join forces and grow closer."

"I've already told you, that's not what I meant!"

Chu Yi and Cage moved even further apart.

Reinhardt was fuming with frustration.

Nonetheless, he composed himself and, with the most earnest look, said to Chu Yi, "What I mean is, let's become sworn brothers!"

"From this point forward, I'll be the big brother, and you'll be my right-hand man. Together, we'll reign supreme over Earth, trample the Milky Way underfoot, and conquer the universe!"

Reinhardt spoke with fervent enthusiasm.

Chu Yi, on the other hand, gave him a peculiar look.

Me, your right-hand man?

Cage's expression was beyond peculiar; it was downright bizarre.

Cage knew more than the others.

But his knowledge was the very reason for his odd expression.

Cage was well aware of Reinhardt's previous assessment of Chu Yi.

While Reinhardt recognized Chu Yi's exceptional talent, he was somewhat dismissive of Chu Yi himself.

Reinhardt's view was that although Chu Yi's talent was nearly on par with his own, Chu Yi's upbringing would likely prevent him from achieving greatness.

That was essentially Reinhardt's opinion.

The only person Reinhardt truly admired was Lee Zi.

Connecting the dots...

Damn!

Holy crap!

Is this the infamous "I think your wife is beautiful, so let's be brothers" scenario?

If that's really what this is...

Reinhardt's face was drenched in sweat.

If this issue were to escalate, the repercussions would be immense.

As Reinhardt pointed out, Chu Yi was in no way inferior to him. Should this situation actually arise, the consequences would be severe. It would transcend a dispute between two elite families, potentially straining the relationship between the Oleini and the Adirang Region over matters of pride.

At that thought, Cage broke out in a cold sweat.

"Reinhardt..."

Reinhardt gave Cage a puzzled look, wondering why his friend appeared so drained.

"Cage, you really need to exercise some restraint in the future."

Cage paused, then it dawned on him.

His cheeks flushed with embarrassment. If he were capable of taking Reinhardt on, Cage would certainly teach him a lesson!

But there were more pressing issues at hand.

This was about more than just a feud between two powerful families; it was about the safety of countless lives!

In that moment, Reinhardt felt an unparalleled sense of nobility.

"Look, Reinhardt, we need to strategize for the long haul!"

Being Reinhardt's constant companion, Cage had picked up many idioms from the Adirang Region.

Regrettably, Reinhardt simply waved his hand, clearly not interested in further discussion with Cage.

He turned to Chu Yi with a grave and earnest gaze.

"Second Brother, what do you make of my proposal?"

Chu Yi's mouth twitched slightly. Finally, he inhaled sharply and, with a look of utmost sincerity, said to Reinhardt in a measured yet serious tone, "Scram!"

Reinhardt was taken aback, his expression momentarily awkward.

He had never been spoken to in such a manner before.

As Cage braced for Reinhardt's wrath, Reinhardt surprisingly broke into a grin. "Good, that's the spirit I admire in my second brother!"

"I concur with that!"

Chu Yi's mouth continued to twitch.

'This guy must be out of his mind.'

He's about to make me his sworn brother and wants me to be his second in command?

'What the hell!'

'If I include my time at the Immortal Demon Temple, I'm old enough to be your ancestor!'

Chu Yi felt a sense of weariness confronting such an extraordinary individual. Lee Zi's wounds were still healing, and despite Fairmoor City's security being significantly tighter than usual, Chu Yi couldn't shake off his concern.

It seemed pointless to continue engaging in idle chatter with Reinhardt when he could be using that time to cultivate and look after Lee Zi. Thus, he resolved to cut the conversation short.

"You're insane," he muttered, and in the blink of an eye, Chu Yi had vanished.

Reinhardt's face, for the first time, betrayed a flicker of something unusual. "Hmm, not bad at all..." he murmured.

Cage observed Reinhardt, puzzled. This behavior was uncharacteristic of the Reinhardt he knew. In the past, anyone who dared to treat Reinhardt with such disrespect would have been met with a swift and stern response.

"Let's head back," Cage suggested, deciding it was best to escort Reinhardt away. Something about Reinhardt was off today, and Cage didn't want to risk any unpredictable incidents. The last thing he wanted was for Reinhardt to end up causing serious harm.

With a slight nod, Reinhardt agreed, and the two departed.

In a room at the sanatorium designated for relatives of patients, Chu Yi's gaze was tinged with bewilderment. He might not have known Reinhardt or his history, but there was no denying the man's undeniable strength and potential.

What could drive such a formidable figure to behave in this manner? After much contemplation, Chu Yi concluded that dwelling on these questions was futile.

While Chu Yi put the matter out of his mind, Cage was growing increasingly concerned. "Reinhardt, what's going through your head?" he asked, his voice laced with urgency.

Reinhardt merely curled his lip, keeping his reasons to himself.

"Is it because you've taken a liking to Lee Zi that you want to become brothers with Chu Yi?" Cage finally voiced his suspicion.

Reinhardt's expression tensed, and then, with a burst of anger, he exploded, "Go to hell!" The air thundered with his rage.

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