I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, So I’ll Max Out My Defense

Chapter 1053: Chapter 1054: Third Young Master of the Han Family
 

Li Xiaobai turned his head and saw a young cultivator dressed in a deep blue robe rising from his seat at a roadside stall, staring at him with a look of astonishment.

“Young Master, weren’t you going to Ice Dragon Island to participate in the martial competition for marriage?”

“How come you’ve returned?”

The young man had a youthful naivete about him, barely of age, clearly one who hadn’t yet been hardened by the harshness of reality, a tender fledgling.

“On this trip to Ice Dragon Island, this Young Master represents not just himself but the prestige of the entire Icy Frost Sect. Naturally, such a show of force cannot be neglected; I must select a few servants to attend to me on the way, and in addition, prepare some betrothal gifts. Once this Young Master wins the championship and embraces the beauty, the marriage can be directly arranged.”

“That’s the vision and grandeur befitting a Young Master. Children should look more and ask less!”

Li Xiaobai turned back to face the youth and spoke indifferently. Although he didn’t recognize the other party, he couldn’t show any sign of weakness. It was necessary to intimidate him.

“Prepare betrothal gifts?”

“Win the championship?”

“Young Master, have you been stimulated by something outside? Do I need to report this to the Sect Master?”

The young man’s eyes grew even more astonished as he looked at Li Xiaobai as if he were a monster. Since when had this Young Master become so arrogant? He hadn’t even participated yet and he was sure of taking first place?

Keep in mind that the other two Young Masters of the Icy Frost Sect were also preparing to head to Ice Dragon Island. Could it be possible that he thought he could defeat his two elder brothers as well?

“Short-sighted fool, can the summer insects speak of ice? Stand aside and mind your stall. Children shouldn’t meddle in adults’ affairs!”

Li Xiaobai scolded the young man, then walked away with the Huo Family members in tow, no longer paying any attention.

A hint of a different color flashed in the eyes of the young man at the stall as he murmured to himself, “The Young Master has returned, and this is a big deal. I must hurry and report to the eldest Young Master!”

“Uncle Huo, did you recognize that young man just now?”

On their way, Li Xiaobai asked. He wasn’t familiar with Han Buzhu’s life or connections, so he didn’t dare to converse too much with the cultivator.

“I have no idea about the internal situations of the Icy Frost Sect. The network of relationships involving an Icy Frost Sect Young Master certainly isn’t small, but most people are merely nodding acquaintances. Besides, in the sect, Han Buzhu is just from a concubine lineage, always suppressed by the legitimate wife’s lineage and unable to turn things around. I suppose not many cultivators pay much attention to him. You don’t need to worry too much about being exposed.”

Uncle Huo pondered.

In his mind, Han Buzhu was a classic example of someone who bullied the weak and feared the strong. He strutted around arrogantly in front of ordinary cultivators within the sect, but as soon as he encountered the eldest and second Young Masters, he’d instantly lose his nerve, not daring to even let out a fart. This wasn’t just a gap in cultivation level but an enormous chasm in status and position!

“So, it’s like that. It seems that matches my impression of Han Buzhu, a typical idle playboy who has never achieved success. It’s quite easy to play that role.”

Li Xiaobai nodded; this kind of character was easy to portray since he most likely didn’t have any close friends, probably not even one, reducing the risk of his identity being uncovered.

A few minutes later.

The group ascended the hills and arrived near the sect entrance.

The Icy Frost Sect truly lived up to its reputation as a formidable power, its gate as thick and solid as a city wall, entirely crystalline and translucent, carved out of ice that hadn’t melted for thousands of years, emitting a bone-chilling coldness upon approach.

Li Xiaobai surmised that this mountain gate must be a Magic Treasure, a treasure refined with icy frost, and placed here it was highly likely related to the Sect Protection Array.

A group of disciples was standing guard in front of the gate, some bored and lethargic, gathering in twos and threes to shoot the breeze.

“Who goes there?”

One of the disciples noticed someone approaching and immediately stood up and shouted.

But upon getting a clear look at the newcomer, his body shivered, and he said in a trembling voice, “Young Master Han!”

“What? The Third Young Master has returned!”

“Didn’t he leave a letter a few days ago expressing displeasure with the family’s decision and deciding to go to Ice Dragon Island to take part in the martial contest for marriage? Why has he suddenly come back?”

“Could it be that he got cold feet?”

Seeing this, the other cultivators also quickly stood up, not daring to be negligent, and respectfully saluted Li Xiaobai, “Third Young Master!”

Li Xiaobai raised an eyebrow, “You recognize me?”

Disciples: “We do!”

“Since you recognize me, then let me pass without delay. I’ve brought a friend with me. If you slight my friend, I’ll take it out on you!” Li Xiaobai said indifferently.

“Should we… inform the other two young masters?”

The guard disciple hesitated, “The other two young masters of the legitimate line must be kept informed of all the movements of the young master from the concubine’s line within the sect. They have issued a strict order, and we dare not disobey. Every word and deed of Han Buzhu within the sect must be controlled and decided by the other two young masters.”

“Oh? And why should I inform them?”

“Are you someone who works for my two brothers?” Li Xiaobai asked with interest, his gaze fixed on those disciples. In an instant, a cold sweat broke out on the backs of the guards. For some reason, making eye contact with Li Xiaobai filled them with a sense of fear they had never felt before.

Previously, Third Young Master of the Han Family was arrogant and domineering, often issuing orders to these servants. But today, there seemed to be something different about the young master; with just one glance from him, they felt like they were being preyed upon by a starving tiger. A strange thought even arose within; if they chose to appease the other two young masters by hassling Han Buzhu further, this young master might just kill them on the spot.

“No, not at all. Please, Young Master,” the disciples stammered, nervous and flustered as they moved aside and bowed to let Li Xiaobai in.

“Well done, a reward for you!” Li Xiaobai said haughtily, tossing a Storage Bag and proceeding through the sect gate with Uncle Huo and the others.

Once Li Xiaobai and his company had walked a fair distance, the gate-guarding disciples finally exhaled in relief. They couldn’t understand why, but they found the Third Young Master Han extraordinarily terrifying today!

The leading disciple stepped forward to pick up the Storage Bag from the ground, and his breathing quickened when he glanced inside.

“Boss, what’s wrong? How much did the Third Young Master give?”

The others, curious, drew closer, and upon seeing the contents of the Storage Bag, they exclaimed, “Holy shit, ten thousand top-grade Immortal Stones! Since when has the Third Young Master been so generous? We’re rich!”

“It’s a shared fortune, boss. Come on, divide it up quickly; we can’t hog it all to ourselves!”

…

Meanwhile, Li Xiaobai and the Huo Family wandered within the sect. The temperature climate inside the sect was suitable, not as cold as in front of the mountain gate.

The sect’s cultivators gathered in twos and threes before various stalls to trade goods, a common scene of commerce among cultivators both within the sect and in the outside world.

At this moment, Uncle Huo was completely impressed with Li Xiaobai. Not only had he impersonated someone else upon his arrival, but he had also acted with such bravado that he forced the mountain gate disciples to give in. It was as if he was born to be an actor. If not for knowing the full story, he would have almost believed that Li Xiaobai and Han Buzhu were the same person.

“We need to find the location of Han Buzhu’s dwelling, and it would be best if we could encounter one or two acquaintances,” mused Li Xiaobai. This aimless wandering wasn’t getting them anywhere; they had to ask around.

“Well, isn’t this the Third Young Master? Weren’t you saying you were going to rely on your own abilities to go to Ice Dragon Island? How come you’ve come back after just a short outing?” Right as he was about to make a move, an effeminate, grating voice reached his ears. His eyes lit up at the sound; necessity had brought a guide right to him.