Chapter 32 Saying Goodbye

Saying Goodbye

Laying in the bath, Xue Bai was in bliss. The new recipe that Zhou Beizhan had bought was not only more beneficial to his adolescent physique but also gave a feeling of pleasure when absorbed.

He had told his mother about it when he first used it. But she said that it was because one of the ingredients in it was also used to make aphrodisiacs. But thankfully, it was the ingredient that gave the euphoric feeling, not the lust drive, so Li Rou marked it safe for him to use.

The only downside was that since it was easier to absorb, the bath ended faster as a result. So after about ten minutes, the originally green-colored bath water had turned back into clear spring water.

Though he was saddened it ended, Xue Bai still got out of the bath. Then, having a towel ready right next to his bed, Xue Bai started to dry himself.

"Xiao'er, bring me a change of clothes!" Xue Bai yelled outside.

He knew that she was waiting outside for him.

And sure enough, her voice came from outside, "Which outfit would you like, Young Master?"

"Bring me the light blue one with the snowflakes on it." Xue Bai answered.

Out of all of his outfits, he liked that one the most. Everything about it matched his tastes, from the comfort it gave while he wore it to its color.

After receiving the order, it didn't take long for Xiao'er to return with the aforementioned outfit.

But, unlike usual, she didn't leave immediately and let Xue Bai change by himself.

"Xiao'er, you can leave now. I'm going to change." Xue Bai reminded.

However, Xiao'er still didn't leave. Instead, a fidgety and anxious look appeared on her face. This was somewhat alarming to Xue Bai because in the nine years that he had known her, she never lost her cheerful look.

Concerned Xue Bai asked, "Xiao'er, what's wrong with you?"

At first, she didn't respond, but after hearing some more concerned words from Xue Bai, Xiao'er mustered up her courage and asked what had been weighing on her mind.

"Young Master, will you always need me?"

Thinking for a moment, Xue Bai then responded, "Maybe not forever, but I will need you for a very long time Xiao'er. So for the foreseeable future, I will need you."

However, that was the wrong answer as Xiao'er started to tear up after hearing that.

"Why? Are you going to throw me away, Young Master?" Xiao'er asked with tears glistening in her eyes.

Stunned, Xue Bai didn't know what to say. He had just wanted clothes, and now naked in a towel, he had to deal with his maid crying her eyes out.

Though Xue Bai wasn't sure how to calm down a crying woman, he knew the basics and started to say what she wanted to hear.

"Xiao'er, I will still have you by my side even if I don't need you. What I meant by not needing you is when I get stronger than you in the future. When I do, you don't have to protect me anymore and can live your life peacefully by my side."

Those words seemed to help the maid's conflicting emotions a bit. However, there still was some doubt remaining in her eyes.

"You're not lying to me, right, Young Master?"

"Of course, why would I lie to you? Besides mother and father, I've been with you the most. How could I abandon you? I'm not a heartless monster."

After hearing that, a smile appeared on the maid's face. So wiping away her tears, she said, "Then, while you still need me let Xiao'er do these simple things."

Hearing her phrase it like that, Xue Bai couldn't refuse. And though he was sure that he had fallen into a trap from the beginning, fearing she would cry again if he pointed it out, Xue Bai let it slide.

After letting Xiao'er change him, Xue Bai raced off to the inner region. Today was the day that the Huo Clan members would leave the Duke's estate and go back home.

Xue Bai wanted them to stay a little longer. However, Huo Long would undergo his first attempt at awakening his Martial Veins soon, and his father wanted to create a large event out of it. So he called them back home, saying that they could always return.

Since it wasn't too far away, Xue Bai arrived relatively quickly at the barracks.

Though Huo Long was only with the soldiers for a month, with his talent and tenacity, he gained a very good reputation there. Bonding with a lot of the soldiers there. Especially with his uncle being a commander, many people assumed that Huo Long would be one in the future as long as he awakened a High Yellow Martial Vein. So with no one wanting to offend the potential Commander, they all built good relations with Huo Long, hoping it would bear to fruition in the future.

The matter of Ye Fei was also forgotten, with only the commanders really knowing what happened to him. Xue Bai's parents also knew what had happened. However, since Ye Fei was only a squad leader, they left the punishment to the commanders.

Xue Bai only learned what happened recently, and knowing it made him smile.

The commanders decided to cripple Ye Fei and banish him from Snow Wind City graciously. Normally something of that seriousness would be grounds for execution. Though the family was declining, Huo Long was the heir to a Marquis, while Ye Fei was a commoner.

However, throughout the entire trial, Ye Fei looked at Huo Long with a look of pure hatred, even when Huo Long asked for him only to be crippled.

'This is the perfect setup for a villain! Even if I messed with the plot line, he would still get stepping stones along the way.'

Learning about that was very helpful to Xue Bai, and he wrote it down in his journal.

"Brother Long, have you packed everything up?" Xue Bai asked.

Huo Long was the center of attention at the entrance of the barracks, but after seeing Xue Bai walk up, the surrounding soldiers all parted.

"Young Duke, you don't have to call me Brother Long." Huo Long said awkwardly. After about two weeks into his stay, he could tell that Xue Bai was trying to become friendly with him. Though he wasn't sure why he still felt undeserving of the friendship, so he tried to make Xue Bai continue to call him Huo Long, but to no avail.

Though Xue Bai noticed this, he ignored it, saying, "You've lived in my home for more than a month. So calling you brother is something natural."

"Then why not call Huo Yao, brother?" Huo Long retorted.

Xue Bai didn't answer this and merely coughed in response.

"Enough of that, Brother Long. You still didn't answer my question."

"Yes, me and Huo Yao are already prepared to leave. We are waiting for Sister Siyan to come."

Xue Bai nodded. Huo Siyan surprised him during her visit here. She had shown incredible talent in archery, which was surprising because, in the game, she had only used a sword.

And besides Huo Siyan's talent in archery, Li Rou also loved her personality, so she let Huo Siyan stay with her throughout the stay. However, she wasn't accepted as a disciple, sadly, as the girl's talent was too low for Li Rou's criteria.

As the two were talking about Huo Long's stay, a voice came from behind.

"Sorry for making you wait, Young Duke, Brother Long." Huo Siyan had arrived.

"It's fine, Sister Siyan. The Young Duke and I were having a nice conversation." Huo Long replied, which was followed up by Xue Bai's nod.

"Well, now that you're here, Siyan, we can finally leave." After sensing Huo Siyan arrive, Huo Chen strolled out from the barracks, ready with his mount.

After seeing their ride come, the group of three walked over to leave.

"Goodbye, Young Duke. We will keep this favor engraved in our hearts." Huo Siyan thanked with a slight bow.

Huo Yao, still afraid of Xue Bai, only bowed deeply before hopping on the Bear Griffen himself. Of the three, he had the most gains from this trip. Huo Yao had arrived at the Duke's estate at the 7th stage of the Blood Exchange Realm but now was at the 1st stage of the Muscle Nourishing Realm.

Huo Yao had bet with some soldiers and won their resources, allowing his cultivation to skyrocket three stages in the month he stayed.

Lastly, Huo Long gave Xue Bai a deep look before saying, "Young Duke, while I don't know why you insist on calling me brother, at this point, I feel disrespectful by not reciprocating. So if we meet again, I'll call you Brother Bai."

After saying so, Huo Long turned around and went over to Huo Chen to be lifted onto the mount.

'Yes! It worked! Though he's suspicious, it still worked! Now I just gotta trick him into becoming sworn brothers.' Xue Bai's mind was rejoicing

However, on the outside, he kept a calm face waving at the Bear Griffen that was flying away.

After the mount was out of sight, Xiao'er on the side spoke, "Young Master, why do you want to be brothers with that Huo Long so much? While he is the heir to a Marquis Family, their family is declining."

"Xiao'er, you must never bully the poor youth!"

Not knowing how to respond, Xiao'er changed the subject, "Young Master, I heard that Duke Yan gave birth to a beautiful daughter that's your age. Why don't you try and be friends with her?"

'Stupid woman, how dare I steal the Protagonist's future wife. I want to become a God, not die in my twenties.'

"I don't wish to look for a woman this early on. I want to focus on cultivating for now."

Slightly annoyed at Xue Bai dodging her questions, Xiao'er asked again.

"Young Master, come on, tell me what's so special about that kid."

"You'll know in the future, Xiao'er. Until then, I'm leaving you in the dark." Xue Bai responded mysteriously.

Annoyed at the response, Xiao'er humphed and turned around, leaving Xue Bai by himself.

Seeing his maid back with her signature look Xue Bai smiled and thought. 'This world is great!'