Transmigration: Children of The Plane

Commander Huo Chen

Xue Bai continued the archery practice for another nine months until it was a year exactly. He had grown tremendously under his mother. So much so that it had scared Li Rou, but she still kept the illusion that Xue Bai was average to stimulate his growth.

However, though he had become a great archer, his passion didn't lie in archery. So on the anniversary, he planned to ask his mother again to let him practice swordsmanship.

Xue Bai, now eight years old, didn't look any different from a year ago besides his hair growing longer and him going from 1.1 meters to 1.2 meters tall. He stood in the archery field in the same attire he usually wore, a tight-fitting all-black training outfit that didn't have sleeves. The original his mother gave him had sleeves, but after practicing for a few months, he found it better not to have sleeves when shooting, so he asked Xiao'er to modify them.

"Mother, I want to learn swordsmanship from father. I will still continue to practice archery, but I always have planned to follow in my father's footsteps, and archery was only something to assist and not my main path." Xue Bai spoke calmly and firmly

If he were indecisive or sounded weak, his mother would say no. So he spoke as he did.

Looking at her son, that was trying to look strong and manly, Li Rou giggled. And after having her laugh, she spoke, "Why do you want to learn swordsmanship, your talent in archery is already heaven-defying. What if you waste your time in with the sword."

"Using the sword is cooler than archery!" Xue Bai shouted.

"..." Li Rou had no words. What other words would she expect from an eight-year-old? And last year, she was worried an old fossil had taken over her son's body.

"Go tell your father about this. I don't know anything thing about swordsmanship. Also, if he asks, tell him you have my consent." Not knowing how to respond, Li Rou just waved off Xue Bai.

"Thank you, mother!" Xue Bai ran off almost instantly. He had spent the last year in this field for sometimes ten hours a day. He wanted nothing to do with it anymore.

Before going to his father, Xue Bai went to his room and bathed. He was still sweaty from his training, and his clothes were sticking to him too well. So he called Xiao'er to ready a bath for him while he went to get a towel and a change of clothes.

Since Xue Bai was used to people bathing him during his time in the hospital, he let Xiao'er bathe him at first. But he soon got apprehensive about it and started to clean himself. He was in a new body with complete mobility, so he thought that he should do these things by himself.

His bath was a medicinal herb that was concocted to help him recover quicker while also strengthening his physique. While he couldn't cultivate yet, having a stronger body would always help. And the herbs were painless to absorb. So Xue Bai could take a nap mid-bath and still absorb all the medicine. Which he usually did.

After waking up and changing into a new set of clothes, Xue Bai went to his father's office to ask about his swordsmanship training.

However, when he went to his father's office, he found it to be empty. Thinking he was in a meeting with the commanders, he walked over to the Main Hall only to find that vacant as well. So he went back to his mother to ask where his father was.

Xue Bai had found her leaving the training field and saw behind her that all the archery equipment was gone. Presumably, she had put it in her spatial ring. So after asking him where Xue Feng was, she replied.

"Oh right, I forgot, the Emperor had called all the Dukes over for a meeting. But he should be back by next week. So I guess you can take this week as a break from training. I'll send your father the message that you're moving on to swordsmanship then."

Now with nothing to do for the week, Xue Bai thought he should prepare for when the plot of the game starts. He had planned to give Huo Long and his clan a year to adjust to their new environment in the outer regions of the empire. And now that a year had passed and he had nothing to do for this week, he thought he should pay the protagonist a visit.

The only problem was getting permission from his mother to travel that far away from home. While the Huo Clan were a subordinate family, they lived so far away that the only contact Xue Feng had with them was through Commander Huo and his annual home visits.

And with his father being powerful and high in standing, he certainly had enough enemies who would want to kill Xue Bai should he ever leave the safety of the Dukedom.

After thinking, Xue Bai thought that the only way to build a relationship with Huo Long was to accompany Commander Huo back to his clan. Every commander under Xue Feng was at least in the Law Manifestation Realm, with Commander Huo being no exception. And adding along with the Wang Twins, that should be enough protection.

Commander Huo's annual home visit was also coincidently a few days from now. Xue Bai only needed an excuse to accompany him.

Thinking this far, Xue Bai asked, "Then Mother, can I go out of the estate?"

Li Rou had started to walk away when she saw Xue Bai in thought, but after hearing him call her, she turned around. Then, thinking for a moment at his question, she replied, "If you want to go to the city, just find Big Brother Huo to accompany you if you want to."

"No, Mother, I don't want to go to the city. I wish to explore some of The Empire. I have been cooped up in our Dukedom for too long. I want to see some of the outside world." Xue Bai spoke to the shock of Li Rou.

"No, not a chance. Your father and I have too many enemies. If you leave the Dukedom, there won't be anyone to protect, and you'd be killed almost instantly." Li Rou shot down the idea almost instantly.

Xue Bai was still a mortal. Just the aftershocks of cultivators fighting at her level could turn him to mush. Killing him purposely would be even easier.

Xue Bai knew what his mother would respond with, so he replied with his ready argument, "Then give me a protector. While Father is out currently, his commanders are still here. I could take one of them as a bodyguard with me. While you guys might have enemies, experts stronger than a commander would never waste their time to come and kill me, a mortal. Most experts that could rival a commander are constantly watched, so if one tries and moves against me, you could warn the commander with me."

Li Rou heard this and thought for a moment. Xue Bai was right. Every commander under Xue Feng was in the Law Manifestation Realm. The requirement to become a Marquis Family was to have someone in the Law Manifestation Realm. So each commander could potentially be a patriarch of a Marquis Family. So having someone at that level leave their home to come and kill Xue Bai was unrealistic.

"But which commander would you go with? All of the commanders are busy with their duties currently." Li Rou replied, somewhat swayed by her decision.

"Doesn't Commander Huo return to his clan in a few days? I'll accompany him. At the same time, I can see how our subordinate clan is going. Though they have declined and aren't much of use to us, they are still our subordinates, so we should at least check up on them." Xue Bai began to strike the iron while it was hot after seeing his mother being swayed.

"Bring Commander Huo over first before we continue this conversation. It would be useless if we agreed, but he doesn't. I don't want to force someone to protect you. " Li Rou had agreed, but she wanted to ensure Commander Huo would protect Xue Bai even if it meant delaying his return home.

Since Xue Bai didn't know where Commander Huo lived or even what he looked like. He relayed his mother's command to a nearby guard. And very quickly, Commander Huo arrived.

Commander Huo wasn't in the game as he had died before the plot began. But his appearance was shown in various pictures throughout the Huo Clan mansion, so Xue Bai knew what he looked like.

As a Commander, he wore a set of luxurious armor with the Duke Symbol etched onto the heart guard. But since he was in the Duke Estate, he didn't bother to wear the helmet, which showed a man with a clean-shaven chin but with long and wild hair that he didn't bother to straighten out. Since he didn't have a beard covering it, you could see his chin had a sharp jawline. And with his above-average face, he was definitely something women would be after.

He was currently being led by a maid over to Xue Bai and Li Rou, and after getting within earshot, he knelt and spoke, "Huo Chen is reporting to the Mistress and Young Duke!"

After motioning that he could stand, Li Rou spoke, "Commander Huo, it seems it's time for your annual return home, correct."

While he didn't understand where his mistress was going with it, Huo Chen still replied, "Yes, Mistress, I plan to stay for a week this time. I've heard my older cousin has birthed a great child, and I plan to teach him how to use a spear while I'm there."

"Then my request is simple, take Bai'er with you and serve as his bodyguard. Since my Husband is currently in the Imperial Capital, we decided to let Bai'er gain some experience managing the subordinate families and want him to explore some of The Empire simultaneously." Li Rou explained.

"While I am fine with that, Mistress, you do know my Huo Clan doesn't have anything to offer the Young Duke during his stay?" Huo Chen replied, confused.

"As long as this trip gives Bai'er some practical experience, it'll be worth it. So do you agree or not?"

"Yes, Mistress, this subordinate agrees." Huo Chen accepted. It didn't bother him much bringing Xue Bai with him. He was confident in his strength and knew that not many people even dared to attack Xue Bai in The Great Xuan Empire.

"Then it's settled. Also, since you are taking Bai'er with you, you may take a Bear Griffin as a mount instead of the usual carriage." And after sorting out the details, Li Rou left.

Alone with his new bodyguard, Xue Bai cupped his fist and spoke, "Then I'll be in your care Commander Huo."

Cupping his fists back, Huo Chen replied, "It's my pleasure to be your escort, Young Duke."