Firmament Sword

With that, Xu Luo turned and walked away, paying no mind to Huo Lin’s reaction. He felt as refreshed as if he’d eaten ice on a hot summer day, a satisfying coolness spreading from the inside out.

The feeling was simply unbeatable!

To lecture the Huo Family Patriarch’s own grandson while posing as one of the family’s wastrel young masters—and to leave him utterly speechless at that. Seeing that handsome face, no longer shy but twisted in a grimace, made Xu Luo want to roar with laughter.

Huo Wanchong, Huo Wanhua, Huo Wanyu, Huo Jinyin, and Huo Jinshan could only shoot Huo Lin an apologetic glance before silently turning to follow Xu Luo.

The well-meaning looks from Huo Wanchong and his men did nothing. In fact, Huo Lin’s hatred now extended to them as well.

Staring at Xu Luo’s back, Huo Lin clenched his fists so tightly that veins bulged on his forehead. The innocence in his eyes was gone, replaced by a look of utter venom and hatred. His expression was ferocious as he gritted his teeth and muttered, ”Huo Feng... you just wait!”

Huo Dong also stared daggers at the figure who had brought him such immense humiliation, swearing an oath in his heart. ’I will find a chance to cripple Huo Feng!’

”Young Master Feng... wasn’t that a bit too much?” Huo Wanchong walked to Xu Luo’s side and said cautiously. ”No matter what, Young Master Lin is the Patriarch’s own grandson and is deeply favored by him...”

”Oh? Are you saying I was wrong?” Xu Luo glanced at Huo Wanchong, a half-smile on his face. ”So I should have just let them bully me? He clearly wasn’t strong enough but insisted on playing the hero, only to get slapped around by Huo Dong, beaten to a pulp, or even crippled. That wouldn’t have been too much, then?”

”That... I didn’t mean that. What I mean is...” Huo Wanchong chose his words carefully. ”Since both the Patriarch and the Ancestor intend to cultivate you, Young Master Feng, making too many enemies... isn’t good for your future!”

These were the words of a steady and experienced man. Huo Wanchong knew very well that whether the five of them liked it or not, they were now branded as Huo Feng’s men. From now on, they could only do their best to help Huo Feng rise to power.

If Huo Feng failed to secure his position, the future of the five of them in the Huo Family would come to a halt. No one would ever place them in important roles again.

That was why, despite his deep dissatisfaction, Huo Wanchong had spoken up.

Huo Jinshan, however, sneered. ’If this kid really has no future,’ he thought, ’then maybe... I should find a chance to get rid of him!’

Although Xu Luo was currently in the guise of Huo Feng and couldn’t use any of his own abilities, he was still alerted when he sensed killing intent. He glanced calmly at Huo Jinshan, but deep down, a murderous intent of his own began to stir.

He was very clear about who he was, and even clearer about his purpose in coming to the Huo Family!

He wasn’t some young master of the Huo Family. He was Xu Luo! The mortal enemy of the Huo Family!

Xu Luo smiled faintly and said, ”Since you all understand, then there’s no need for me, Huo Feng, to waste my breath explaining. You’re right, what I did might seem a bit unwise. To immediately and publicly provoke the Patriarch’s grandson right after being named a successor will surely draw criticism from many.”

Huo Wanchong and the others nodded repeatedly. ’So you do understand,’ they thought. ’We thought you had no idea!’

Xu Luo continued, ”But have you considered the consequences if I hadn’t fought back today? Yes, you showed up at the critical moment, so they didn’t dare to continue. But if that’s how it ended, the entire Huo Family would be saying that Huo Feng is a spineless coward. How could someone who lets a side-branch member like Huo Dong walk all over him compete to be the family’s successor?”

As he spoke, Xu Luo looked at the pensive Huo Wanchong and the others and said lightly, ”Not to mention, the five of you looked down on me from the very bottom of your hearts.”

”Er...” At this, all five men, including Huo Wanchong, felt their faces burn with shame. At the same time, their perception of this young man, Huo Feng, changed drastically.

”Young Master Feng... to be honest, when I first received the Patriarch’s order, I truly didn’t understand. I’m sure Young Master Feng can understand how I felt.” Huo Wanchong looked at Xu Luo with a sincere expression. ”But now, I understand why the Patriarch made this decision! Please rest assured, Young Master Feng. From now on, we will do our utmost to assist you!”

Huo Wanhua, Huo Wanyu, and Huo Jinyin all nodded in agreement. Huo Wanyu said in a low voice, ”That’s right. Please rest assured, Young Master Feng. We’ve lived long enough to know right from wrong. We will certainly assist you properly in the future!”

Although Huo Jinshan was filled with reluctance, he had no choice but to declare his position as well. ”I was disrespectful to you before, Young Master Feng. Please forgive me. I will assist you properly from now on!”

”Haha, with all of your help, how could I fail?” Xu Luo laughed happily. ”Don’t you worry. As long as you follow me with all your hearts, I will not treat you poorly. Let me be honest with you. The main reason the Patriarch and the Ancestor sent you to my side this time is related to Beidou’s Eighth Star!”

Everyone was stunned. These matters were on a level far too high for them to normally be privy to. So, when they heard Young Master Feng bring it up, their shock was inevitable.

”This isn’t the place to talk. Let’s find somewhere else, and I’ll explain the details to you,” Xu Luo said, taking the lead and heading towards his own manor.

...

”Young Master Lin, we can’t just swallow this insult! We have to find a chance and get rid of that bastard!” Huo Dong was so angry at Xu Luo he could have coughed up blood. Back at Huo Lin’s residence, Huo Dong was still agitated and unable to control his emotions.

”Exactly! That Huo Feng is way too arrogant! What right does he have? He’s just a piece of trash who barely reached the Fifth Layer of Transformation Realm by relying on Spirit Medicine! Why should he get the favor of the Ancestor and the Patriarch?” said the sharp-tongued youth with the grating voice. ”The way I see it, he must have used some trick to fool the Ancestor and the Patriarch! As long as we find a chance to expose him, reveal his true colors, and let everyone see what he really is, I’m sure the Patriarch and the Ancestor will stop trusting him!”

”That’s right. The kid must have used some method to deceive the Ancestor and the Patriarch. I heard... he met Beidou’s Eighth Star and came back alive. That’s his biggest trump card.” A man who looked like a middle-aged scholar mused, ”But according to what I learned from Huo Wanzhang, it seems Beidou’s Eighth Star is incredibly strong. With Huo Feng’s strength, it’s absolutely impossible for him to have escaped alive... so, I suspect he...”

”Betrayed us?” the sharp-tongued youth frowned, then a flash of excitement appeared in his eyes. He said loudly, ”That must be it! The guy must have surrendered to the enemy, become a lackey for that Beidou’s Eighth Star, and promised to feed them intelligence! That’s the only way they would have spared his life. Otherwise, Beidou’s Eighth Star would never have let him go!”

”That’s certainly a possibility! Let’s go to the Patriarch right now and expose him!” Huo Dong said excitedly, immediately standing up to leave. He couldn’t stand this humiliation any longer and wished he could expose Huo Feng’s ugly true nature to the public right away.

”Wait.” Huo Lin waved a hand, his face grim. ”Right now, there’s no evidence to prove that Huo Feng has any connection to Beidou’s Eighth Star. If you go rushing over like this, you’ll only get yourselves into trouble and gain nothing!”

”Then what do we do?” the sharp-tongued youth asked with a frown.

”For now, we can only wait!” the middle-aged scholar said. ”Wait until Huo Feng can’t hold back and exposes himself. Then, we’ll capture him in one fell swoop. With both witnesses and material evidence, let’s see what he has to say for himself then!”

”That’s right. We wait. If he really did surrender to Beidou’s Eighth Star, he’ll slip up sooner or later!” Huo Lin said coldly.

”But... what if he didn’t?” Huo Dong asked.

”Then... we’ll *make* him have,” Huo Lin’s voice was filled with a chilling coldness, his eyes glinting with venomous hatred. Then, his expression returned to normal, and he once again became that shy young man.

...

”Patriarch, Young Master Lin did indeed have a small conflict with Huo Feng. That Huo Feng is quite cunning; he knows how to use the resources around him. Young Master Lin lost face and had to suffer in silence.” A plain-looking middle-aged man stood before the Huo Family Master, softly reporting on the events that had just transpired outside.

The Huo Family Master’s profound eyes flashed with wisdom. He gave a faint smile. ”No matter. I believe Lin’er has a sense of proportion. This Huo Feng... has the Ancestor’s favor. Now is not the time to deal with him. The future of the Huo Family... will sooner or later need to be led by someone with a real mind and real strength!”

”Your subordinate understands.” The middle-aged man nodded, then said, ”Then, regarding Huo Wanchong and the other four...”

”If they are smart, they will naturally know how to protect themselves. If they aren’t smart enough... hehe.” The Huo Family Master said nothing more, only giving a faint smile.

The middle-aged man across from him trembled slightly, then said with a smile, ”The Patriarch is brilliant!”

The Huo Family Master waved a hand, dismissing him. He added, ”Report everything that happens between them to me immediately. But remember... do not interfere! After all... the Ancestor might be watching.”

”Understood!” The middle-aged man’s body trembled slightly as he replied in a solemn voice.

After the middle-aged man had left, the Huo Family Master spoke to the empty air. ”Shadow, do you think this Huo Feng... will truly become a threat to Lin’er?”

From the air came Shadow’s hoarse voice, like scraping metal. ”In terms of strength, he’s certainly no threat. But his methods... are quite brilliant. He seems arrogant, but he’s very shrewd. He knows how to use his resources and, more importantly, how to leverage his position! In that respect... Young Master Lin is far behind.”

The Huo Family Master let out a long sigh and said lightly, ”Forget it. If he truly has that ability, then what does it matter if he becomes the Huo Family Master?”

”Such magnanimity, Patriarch!” the voice of Shadow in the air praised.

The Huo Family Master, however, could only smile wryly in his heart. ’This isn’t magnanimity. I’m just afraid the Ancestor is listening in the shadows!’