"Come in," Chen Hongsheng said calmly, without even asking who Huo Yuhao was or why he was looking for him. He then put his hands behind his back and turned, walking towards the courtyard.
Seeing this, Huo Yuhao didn't dare to delay. He quietly closed the large gate and followed the old man with light steps.
The courtyard's path was paved with blue stone slabs, with a few green grasses growing around them, making them exceptionally verdant. But there was more to the ground than just grass and stone. Some fiery red maple leaves had fallen and blended with the ground, creating a scene that looked like flames were burning on the stone slabs.
Lightning flashed in the sky, and thick clouds poured rain onto the earth. Huo Yuhao's gaze shifted slightly as he looked at the butler in front of him.
Neither of them had an umbrella, and Huo Yuhao was soaked to the bone. However, when the rain approached the old butler, about a meter away, it seemed to be dispersed by an invisible force, keeping his clothes dry.
With the powerful observation ability brought by his Spiritual Eyes, Huo Yuhao could vaguely see a rippling aura around the old butler. This was likely the key to keeping the rain away.
There weren't any permanent servants in the Fallen Maple Courtyard. The old butler had spent most of his life in the military, and it seemed he didn't really like having servants around. Coupled with the deaths of the previous servants, it made him even less inclined to have servants permanently assigned to the Fallen Maple Courtyard.
Fallen Maple Courtyard wasn't particularly large, but the decor was quite refined. The buildings were all a pale yellow, and the walls of the corridors outside were covered with a fragrant herb that emitted a refreshing scent, instantly relaxing anyone who inhaled it.
The two of them walked for a short while before arriving at a door with peculiar patterns. On either side of the door were soul guide lamps that emitted a warm light. The old butler casually pushed the door open.
In an instant, a wave of warmth surged out as the door opened, washing over Huo Yuhao's face. His small face, which had been stiffened by the cold rain, suddenly relaxed.
The old butler walked inside, but Huo Yuhao stopped at the door and didn't follow.
The old butler took a few steps and paused, turning around with a puzzled expression. His voice was full of energy as he asked, "Why aren't you coming in?"
Huo Yuhao looked at the floor inside the room, which was covered with a fiery red, fluffy carpet. Then, he looked down at his own dilapidated cloth shoes, which were covered in mud. He explained in a low voice, "My shoes are too dirty; I'll soil the carpet."
The old butler raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything. After a moment, his tone softened inexplicably. "The carpet will be cleaned if it gets dirty. Come in, let's talk about whatever it is inside."
This time, Huo Yuhao didn't hesitate. He followed him in, stepping onto the clean and tidy carpet. Then, he closed the door but only stood one step inside the doorway, not daring to move any further. He stood there respectfully.
The old butler slowly walked over to a sofa by the fireplace and sat down. Hot air constantly emanated from the fireplace, making the entire hall exceptionally warm.
"What do you need?" The old butler picked up the ceramic cup on the tea table, lifted the lid, blew on the tea that was still steaming, and then took a sip.
Huo Yuhao's expression became serious. He put down the wet bedding in his hands and knelt directly on the ground, his forehead touching the soft carpet. He said in a deep voice, "Please help me."
The old butler's hand holding the teacup paused. His eyes narrowed slightly, and he said in a low voice, "Your mother, Huo Yun'er, has been with Dai Hao for so long. Hasn't she taught you that men have gold beneath their knees?"
"Mother taught me," Huo Yuhao replied truthfully.
"Then why are you kneeling?" The old butler's expression was extremely serious. A faint ripple of soul power emanated from him, and the flames in the fireplace seemed to suffocate, ceasing their dance.
Huo Yuhao didn't hesitate at all and said directly, "It concerns my life. Seeking help from others, the saying about men having gold beneath their knees is just empty words."
"Hmph." The old butler couldn't help but laugh. He looked at Huo Yuhao with a strange look in his eyes, and his words were full of hidden meaning, "You are quite sharp-tongued, but kneeling to ask for help is equivalent to abandoning your dignity. It's not appropriate."
Huo Yuhao remained calm, his eyes fixed on the carpet. A strained smile played on his lips as he said, "Dignity is only useful to the strong. As I am now, I'm just a weakling who could be killed at any moment."
"Since I'm asking for help, I must be as sincere as possible. So... please, help me."
Huo Yuhao lowered his head further, his forehead pressed completely against the carpet.
The old butler's brow relaxed slightly upon hearing this, and the hall fell silent.
Huo Yuhao's eyes held no emotion. In his previous life, he was an orphan, without anyone to rely on. He dropped out of school early to work. He was, at the end of the day, at the very bottom of society. He had seen and experienced a lot, and to him, dignity wasn't even as important as a steamed bun when he was starving.
Some people value dignity, because it's a person's final line, never to be crossed. But Huo Yuhao knew very well that he had no right to talk about dignity. Either he kept his dignity, held his ground for a short time, and then got killed, or he gave up his dignity, abandoned it for a time, and won the chance to become strong.
The flames in the fireplace began to dance again. The warm, yellow light from the soul guide lamps cast their shadows, constantly highlighting them on the hot stone walls.
"Bang!" After an unknown amount of time, the sound finally returned. It was the sound of the old butler putting down his teacup, the cup clinking against the tea table.
He looked up at the crystal soul guide lamps hanging from the hall's ceiling, his expression carrying a hint of confusion. It seemed that Huo Yuhao's words had stirred something within him. After a long while, the old butler spoke again, asking, "Did you fight back against those who bullied you?"
Huo Yuhao's eyes froze. He abruptly raised his head, looking at the old butler in confusion.
The old butler shook his head with a smile, but didn't answer Huo Yuhao's doubts. Instead, he asked, "If someone comes looking for you later, how will you handle it?"
Huo Yuhao inhaled deeply, a hint of relief appearing in his eyes. He knew the old butler intended to help him. Clenching his fists, the stiffness in his body had eased within the warm room. He spoke in a low voice, "According to the fifteenth family rule of the White Tiger Duke's Manor, servants who commit insubordination can be executed by flogging."
"Hahaha." The old butler couldn't help but laugh, pointing at Huo Yuhao. "That's right, that's exactly what you should say, or rather, you should have said it a long time ago. Don't worry, if they come looking for you later, this old man will protect you."
Huo Yuhao stood there, stunned, watching the laughing old butler. A strange realization dawned on him.
Why hadn't Huo Yuhao been secretly killed within a year of his mother's death? Even when he left the White Tiger Duke's Manor, he seemed so relaxed, not even a single guard appeared, as if the Duke's Manor was deserted.
Was there really no one helping behind the scenes?
At this moment, a thought arose in Huo Yuhao's mind: could the person secretly helping him be this old butler?
If the old butler was truly helping behind the scenes, regardless of the size of the help, as long as he had helped, it was a tremendous kindness. One should repay even a drop of kindness with a fountain of gratitude; this could not be forgotten.
"Come, sit down." A gentle voice spoke. Huo Yuhao looked up and saw the old butler watching him. Another sentence came from the old butler, "If you don't come and sit, it'll be hard for me to help you."
Hearing this, Huo Yuhao didn't hesitate at all. He dashed forward a few steps and sat down on the sofa opposite the old butler.
The old butler shook his head with a smile. Seeing Huo Yuhao's weak breath, he turned and left the hall.
Huo Yuhao just sat silently in that spot. The warm flow coming from the fireplace beside him was even more comfortable. Huo Yuhao simply sat there, but the warmth that dispelled the cold seemed to dispel the hunger in his stomach as well.
Everything was so beautiful, it made him feel a little unreal.
-------------
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(End of Chapter)