Marquis Li Huo
Of the twins, the older brother was named Wang Shu, while the younger was named Wang Ye. However, since Xue Bai knew them for years, he gave them nicknames that stuck.
Since they were surnamed Wang and the child Xue Bai would often forget names, he simply called them Big Wang and Little Wang, depending on their age.
Away from Xue Bai, once the Wang Twins sensed someone entering their courtyard, without even having Xue Bai wake them up, they were alert.
But since Xue Bai looked like he had a request to make, they stayed seated and waited for Xue Bai to announce his purpose in coming over to them.
And once Xue Bai started talking about his purpose in coming, the two quickly became excited.
This would be the first mission Xue Bai gave them after they became his bodyguard a few years ago.
And while most people would've thought this to be annoying, the twins didn't.
They joined Xue Feng's army with the dream of eventually becoming his right and left-hand man.
So what would happen if Xue Bai enjoyed them so much that he mentioned them to Duke Xue?
Their dream would be another step closer to being fulfilled.
The legendary Duke of Snow was a hero to them, and just the idea of being his right-hand man one day was what drove them to cultivate so diligently.
Xue Bai, seeing the twins act so excited, was confused. It was a simple outing. What could possibly excite them so much?
However, he didn't ask. Some people were just weird, and prying would only confuse him more.
After getting ready, the twins left their courtyard and went out to get a carriage.
The carriage was about the size of a large van on Earth and was painted in the same color as Xue Bai's and Xue Feng's snow-white robes.
And like his robes, each of the doors had Xue Feng's Duke emblem branded on it, the snowflake with a sword piercing through it.
Big Wang quickly hopped on the top of the carriage, preparing to protect it, while Little Wang got in the navigator's seat.
"Young Duke, you can enter now. We will set off shortly!" Big Wang spoke up as Little Wang drove the carriage to the door of their courtyard, where Xue Bai was waiting.
Nodding, Xue Bai calmly entered and left the estate, where he began his first journey into the Baishen Plane.
Destination Snowy Wind City!
As Xue Bai climbed into the carriage interior, he realized just how large it was.
Even if Xue Bai didn't include the large bed that randomly sat in the corner of the carriage's interior, there was easily enough foot room to fit ten people comfortably.
Coupled with a small desk near the bed, the inside of the carriage was basically a mobile home!
However, the carriage was destined to stay empty, as it was all for Xue Bai today.
The only others going on this journey were Xue Bai's bodyguards, and since the Wang Twins were responsible for driving the carriage and protecting it, they couldn't enjoy the inside of it.
Big Wang told Xue Bai that the journey to Snowy Wind City would take at least 2 hours. So to pass the time, Xue Bai intelligently decided to use the random bed that was behind him and directly went to sleep.
Being a dress-up doll had somewhat tired him.
Thankfully the journey was uneventful, and Xue Bai managed to stay asleep during the entire ride.
While he was deep in sleep, the two-hour journey went by extremely quickly.
Arriving at the gates of Snowy Wind City, Big Wang jumped down from the top of the carriage and gently woke up Xue Bai by knocking on the carriage door to announce their arrival.
After wiping his eyes and giving his body a good stretch, Xue Bai got out of bed.
While the Baishen Plane was in the feudal era, cultivation made everything more advanced. So even while the carriage went down steep mountains and bumpy hills, Xue Bai didn't even feel a single bump.
Because of this, he was able to get a good nap.
After he woke up, Xue Bai asked the twins to serve as his guides because while he had explored this entire world before, a city like this was a dime a dozen, and he couldn't remember much about it besides its economic worth. And since the twins were born and raised in the city, Xue Bai thought that they were perfect for the job.
So while the carriage entered the city, Xue Bai was briefed on the city and its structure.
Xue Bai learned from the two that the city had three main zones. A Business Zone where all the stores, markets, and similar shops were located. And two different Housing Zones, one for the noble clans and another for ordinary and unaffiliated people to live in.
The city lord was Li Rou's older brother and Xue Feng's sworn brother. A once famed soldier turned Marquis named Li Huo.
And since he was trusted by Xue Feng completely, Li Huo was allowed control of the city, dictating what could and could not go. For the residents living there, seeing Marquis Li was considered seeing Duke Xue since the latter rarely showed himself to the public.
Li Huo was the only Marquis living in the city, with the other nobles only being Earls or Viscounts. Barons weren't allowed to live in the aristocratic area as they were generally looked down on by the higher-ranked nobles.
After hearing their explanation, Xue Bai figured out his schedule for today's visit. First, he would visit his uncle and see if he could get some gifts from him. Then go and buy a medicinal herb book.
Alchemy was a staple skill to learn in a cultivation world, and while he could learn about plants and herbs from his mother, Xue Bai thought he should study by himself first.
While Xue Bai was an alchemist in the game, in the game alchemy was automatic. So other than knowing a few recipes, Xue Bai was a novice at the occupation.
And since Xue Bai still wanted to become an Alchemist in this life, learning alchemy early on would be great.
After that, he would try and test his luck in the Hawker's Market. He was a transmigrator, after all. While he wasn't a 'Child of The Plane,' his fortune should be unrivaled under those monsters.
Of course, it wasn't likely that he would find a Heaven-grade treasure. But he could surely find something in the Black or Earth-grade, right?
"Little Wang, take me to Uncle Li first. I haven't seen him since I was a baby. So we'll visit him before anything else." Xue Bai relayed his thoughts to Little Wang, who was driving the carriage.
"Understood, Young Duke, it shouldn't take long." Little Wang replied respectfully.
Then adjusting his route, Little Wang changed gates and went to the gate closest to the City Lord's Mansion, where Li Huo lived.
Of course, since the carriage was so noticeable, it naturally received many looks of worship as they drove through the city. However, nobody dared to stop it.
After all, it was a carriage with the Duke's Symbol, and the just person driving it was a peak stage Law Engraving realm powerhouse.
So even if it wasn't the Duke himself, whoever was in the carriage had to be someone with high status in the dukedom, messing with the person inside the nothing short of a death sentence.
And when they saw the carriage drive unimpeded into the Marquis mansion, they were even more sure of their guesses.
When his carriage finally entered the Marquis Mansion, Xue Bai asked to be let off as he thought he should walk the rest of the way. Since driving a carriage all the way to his uncle's front door would seem a little disrespectful.
Jumping out of the carriage, Xue Bai noticed the beauty of his surroundings.
While it wasn't as expansive as his home, it was just as beautiful.
Li Huo lived in the center of a city, so it was natural that he didn't possess the same scenic surroundings that Xue Feng's estate had. And also, Li Huo had only a fraction of the space the estate had.
Back home, even just the smallest Core Region was dozens of miles in diameter, and Li Huo's mansion was only the size of the Core Region.
However, Li Huo used the small amount of space that he was given and used it perfectly.
As he appreciated his surroundings, a speeding silhouette entered his vision field. Sensing an incoming being, the Wang Twins readied their swords. However, Xue Bai calmed them down.
"We are in Uncle Li's house now. Who else but him would dare to run this fast in it." Xue Bai calmly said as he motioned for them to put down the swords.
The twins realized their stupidity and obeyed Xue Bai's words. Once again sheathing their swords, the two calmed down and waited for Marquis Li to arrive, which didn't take long.
"Hahaha, my dear nephew, you've finally decided to visit me. Did that old thing at home kick you out?" Then, with boisterous laughter, Li Huo appeared in front of the three.
Seeing Li Huo appear before him, Xue Bai recognized him almost instantly as Li Huo was also, like his father, an important character in the Southern Continent's plot.
Li Huo was a tall man like Xue Feng. However, he was much skinnier, so with his height of 2 meters, Li Huo looked almost like a large log. He also sported the same wild beard as Xue Feng.
"No, Uncle Li, mother decided to teach me archery next week. So I'm just out having fun before they lock me up and make me focus on training," Xue Bai explained.
"Little Rou said that? I thought she would have looked you up forever." Li Huo looked surprised at what Xue Bai said. Then, however, he regained his composure and continued, "I guess she finally realized that protecting you like that would only hurt you in the long term."
Scratching his head, Xue Bai could only laugh wryly at what his uncle said. Indeed his mother loved to coddle him, and he was also surprised when she let him.
"Nevermind that. Now that you've come to my city, what would you like to do, Nephew Bai." Then, seeing Xue Bai's expression, Li Huo expertly changed the topic. His nephew had finally visited him, so Li Huo would let Xue Bai do anything he wanted.
"I don't know. While Little Wang explained to me how the city was structured, seeing is better than hearing. Why don't you show me around?" Xue Bai asked
Li Huo thought about it, and since he wasn't busy with much today, he agreed.
Calling a subordinate over, Li Huo explained what he was going to do. He then began to lead Xue Bai through the town.
"Since your bodyguards have already explained to you how the city is structured, I'll let you choose where you want to visit first, the Residential or the Business Zone." After exiting the City Lord Mansion, Li Huo asked.
"I'd rather not see those snobby nobles, so take me to the Business Zone." Xue Bai replied.
Hearing about nobles gave Xue Bai a weird feeling. In his memories, most nobles in The Great Xuan Empire were terribly conceited and arrogant.
Otherwise, how could Huo Long make himself known throughout the empire so quickly if they weren't?
After all, every protagonist needed stepping stones. And an arrogant and snobby young master was the best target.
"Hahaha, you speak as if you aren't one yourself. But yes, the nobles in this city are extremely arrogant. They act as if the entire world owes them money. And those ignorant nobles even teach it to their younger generation, as if they should be proud to be mere Earls or Viscounts." Li Huo laughed, finding Xue Bai's words amusing.
As the small group made their way to the business zone, the citizens of Snowy Wind City were stunned. The noble and mighty Marquis Li was talking amicably with a child. And gossip quickly started.
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