The aftermath of the Fight
After winning, Huo Long immediately fell to the ground. He had been fighting too intensely for too long and had exhausted himself.
However, just as he had let his guard down, the Squad Leader, who he had defeated first, looked enraged. Apparently not accepting his defeat, he picked back up his fallen spear and rushed again toward the defenseless Huo Long.
However, he didn't get far before three monstrous auras immobilized him. The three commanders in the barracks had taken action.
"YE FEI! Have you lost your mind?!" Huo Chen was the first to jump into the ring between the two. With his eyes almost seemingly being able to radiate fury.
He had just discovered this monster of a nephew, and now one of his subordinates wanted to kill him. Anger couldn't describe his feelings right now.
The two other commanders also quickly jumped onto the field with equally angry expressions. After all, although they didn't have the family bond like between Huo Long and Huo Chen, they had just witnessed a Qi Sea Cultivator sneak attack a defenseless mortal child.
No matter how Ye Fei could explain it, he had done an extremely taboo thing.
"YE FEI, EXPLAIN YOURSELF!" Huo Chen was still fuming, unleashing his entire Law Manifestation Cultivation Base onto Ye Fei.
Though he was being suppressed, through the tough training he received as a Squad Leader, Ye Fei could still answer. So gritting his teeth, he responded, "This brat came into our barrack to embarrass us. I needed to give our Dukedom some face."
"THAT BRAT WAS MY NEPHEW! And the Dukedom would lose even more face if news came out that one of our squad leaders murdered a mortal child!"
Hearing that, Ye Fei, at this point, knew he had messed up. He had seen Commander Huo bring the two children, but he had just thought they were potential recruits. But hearing that it was his nephew, Ye Fei gave up.
"This subordinate will accept his punishment." Knowing when to accept his loss, Ye Fei lowered his head. However, he still glanced in Huo Long's direction with a look of hatred.
'If it weren't for this brat, none of this wouldn't have happened.'
However, Huo Chen still noticed that and got even angrier, "Ye Fei, even now, you still won't repent! Do you think I'm blind and can't see your expressions!"
"Commander Li, Commander Ling, take this man away. We'll decide his punishment when all the commanders have returned." Huo Chen ordered.
Though all three of them were commanders in the Law Manifestation Realm, Huo Chen was the second strongest of all the commanders, while the two he ordered were the newest and also weakest. So he could order them to do more minor things.
"Yes, Commnader Huo." And after going to seal Ye Fei's cultivation, the two put on some metal binds on him and then left the arena.
"Nephew, are you okay." After seeing the commanders take away Ye Fei, Huo Chen went over to Huo Long and asked.
"Don't worry, Uncle, that Ye Fe didn't get to me, thanks to your help." Huo Long answered through breaths.
Huo Chen sighed in relief. He wouldn't know how to face his cousin if he had to bring his son back early with him being injured.
While the two were talking, Xue Bai, in the back, was watching with relish.
'Even before becoming a "Child of the Plane," Huo Long can still attract trouble like a magnet. He made a rational and prestigious Squad Leader ignore his reputation and career just to beat him down.'
But unable to say his true thoughts, he walked over to the Nephew and Uncle and spoke, "Brother Long, you're like a trouble magnet!"
At this, Huo Long could only smile wryly, "I don't want to be, though, Young Duke."
Xue Bai didn't respond to that and just patted Huo Long on the shoulder, laughing. 'You better get used to it. You could get three mortal enemies just by walking down the street when you awaken. A protected duel like this is child's play.'
"Enough of that. How have you and Huo Yao adjusted to the Duke Estate so far."
"Though Huo Yao has been getting shy from all the soldiers, I feel like I'm in my element. Nothing matters here except how hard your fist is. It's a refreshing change from the usual." Huo Long replied with bright eyes.
Xue Bai, seeing that, could only sigh, 'Keep your innocence for as long as possible, brother. You have a rough path in front of you.'
"Well, it's getting late. Call Huo Yao over. I'm going to take you guys to the courtyard you'll be staying at for the month that you're here."
Nodded, Huo Long picked up his spear and went to find his cousin.
On the side, Huo Chen was slightly confused, "Young Duke, you could have just let the two live here in the barracks with me. My courtyard is big enough to hold two extra kids."
"No father said that I should take care of them, so I plan to let them live in the core region near me. We have a surplus of empty courtyards there. So I plan to let them choose their own."
Shocked, Huo Chen replied, "Isn't that too good an honor? Your bodyguards were only just allowed to live there recently, and that was after years of being with you. Those two brats haven't even done anything yet, and you're letting them live there with you."
"It's only for a month, and I'm investing in your nephew. If you think they don't deserve this, train them into people who do."
Patting his chest, Huo Chen swore he would. But, though he would train the two regardless, now that the Young Duke was investing in them, he had to put in twice the effort.
After continuing the small talk a little longer, Huo Long returned with Huo Yao, both with their belongings.
"Young Duke, we are ready."
Xue Bai nodded and soon guided them to the core region. Though the two didn't know the specialness of the core region, they could see the area they had entered looked a lot more luxurious than where the barracks were.
Huo Long was the first to speak up, "Young Duke, where are you taking us? This place seems like a utopia compared to the Huo Clan."
"I'm taking you to the core region. My father said that I should treat you as I wish to be treated. So I will give you two the best treatment our dukedom can offer!" Xue Bai explained.
And though the two boys were apprehensive about receiving such great treatment, Xue Bai eventually made them cave in.
So Xue Bai ended up giving them a tour throughout the core region to let them see their options.
However, as the entire experience was surreal, and they didn't feel like they had earned it, the two just ended up sharing a courtyard near the exit of the core region. And even with Xue Bai's persuasion, they still didn't change their minds.
After giving them a key to the array for the courtyard, Xue Bai waved them off. He was excited for tomorrow and couldn't wait to sleep.
After more than a year in this new world, he would finally use a sword!