Chapter 10: Herb Mountain Pavilion

Herb Mountain Pavilion

"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.

How could Huo Long make himself known throughout the empire so quickly if not? 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.

"Does anyone know who that child is? Not even a prince would be enough Marquis Li personally escort them."

"Maybe it's a relative. Doesn't Marquis Li have a nephew around his age?"

"But that's clearly a girl. The son of the legendary Duke of Snow should look like him, not like that."

"Then maybe it's an illegitimate child. Marquis Li doesn't have a spouse, right? So maybe this is Marquis Li's love child."

Xue Bai became annoyed as the surrounding conversations and gossip became increasingly distorted. Yes, while he didn't look like his father and was a little feminine-looking, the gossip was getting out of hand. One man even thought he was a concubine that his Uncle was raising.

So, just as Xue Bai was going to reveal his identity, Li Huo stopped him.

Confused, Xue Bai asked, "Why are you stopping me? These rumors are getting out of hand. Don't you need to protect your reputation?"

Li Huo swept his gaze over the crowd before asking something else in return, "How do you think your father got his reputation as the Duke of Snow."

While Xue Bai was confused at such a question, he still subconsciously replied, "Because of his Ice Element Marital Veins, right?"

Shaking his head, Li Huo answered, "Yes, while his Martial Veins were another reason. It was mainly because of his temperament. His face was always cold as snow. It was almost as if he didn't have any emotions. Nothing fazed him, whether he was fighting a battle or walking through the Palace. Pairing with his Ice Martial Veins, after he was given the duke title, the emperor gave him the extra title Duke of Snow."

After waiting for Xue Bai to digest the information, Li Huo continued, "While yes, these rumors could get out of hand or damage my reputation, if you attempt to deny them or look embarrassed in public, it would only look like you're hiding something. So just ignore them and wait for something else to reveal your identity. The truth can't be hidden forever."

Hearing his Uncle's words, Xue Bai was enlightened. Yes, just like in cultivation novels, the protagonist never bothered to explain themselves. Instead, they just did what they wanted and let other people reveal it.

"Thank you, Uncle Li. I'll take your words to heart." Xue Bai expressed his gratitude with a bow. Those words helped Xue Bai understand this world better.

Seeing Xue Bai so willing to learn, Li Huo smiled and thought, 'It seemed those two are raising a good kid. It's nice my matchmaking wasn't in vain.'

So Xue Bai did as Li Huo said, ignored the surrounding gossip, and continued to walk forward with pride. He was, after all, the heir to a Duke. Even if the crowd didn't know who he was, Xue Bai still had an image to keep.

Eventually, the group of people disbursed after noticing Marquis Li wouldn't make a statement.

Noticing this, Li Huo turned to Xue Bai, "See look, they already left. If you tried to defend yourself, they would've spent hours making you attempt to convince them about your true identity. And even then, some still wouldn't believe you. After all, you don't look like Brother Xue one bit."

"You can't say that like it's my fault. It's not like I want to look like this, either. Most of the people who see me think I'm a girl." Xue Bai sighed. It was too much trouble being beautiful. He finally understood how women felt.

"I still can't believe someone as manly as Brother Xue could make someone like you. But, hopefully, you'll grow out of it. A tan and some muscles should even you out. If not, just get a sign saying you're a boy. It would help more than your looks." Li Huo joked.

After some more back-and-forth talk, the small group of people eventually made it to the business zone entrance gate.

The gate wasn't as tall as the outer city walls, but it was still over 5 meters tall. At the entrance, there were four guards wearing armor with the Duke Estate symbol imprinted on it. They stood ramrod straight, eyeing every visitor and checking for any suspicious individuals. However, at the site of Li Huo, the four immediately bowed and yelled out, "Welcome, Marquis Li."

Healing that the Marquis himself was in their vicinity shocked the surrounding crowd. But Li Huo just waved them off and continued walking with Xue Bai and the Wang twins.

Funny enough, as Xue Bai's group entered, the same gossip emerged again. However, it didn't reach the same conclusion. Instead, the crowd collectively agreed that Xue Bai was a hidden love child that Marquis Li took out for a stroll.

It was fortunate that Xue Bai was around to hear it, as he probably would have lost it.

Finally, in the business zone, Li Huo asked, "Alright, Nephew Bai, we are here now. What did you want to do here."

"Do you have a medicinal herb show around here? I want to buy a book about herbs. Mother spends all day with them. I want to see what makes them so fascinating." Xue Bai replied.

"While we do have one, surely your mother has a medicinal herb book at home? Why buy one here? The one your mother has would be better than the ones available at the shop." Li Huo looked surprised at Xue Bai's answer.

"You're right. Mother does have them, but she keeps the books locked up like Fort Knox. So I can never even see them let alone read them."

"Fort Knox?"

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"Uncle, I think you're getting old. You've already started to hear things."

"I'm in the Domain Lord Realm and have a lifespan of more than 500 years. So how could I be getting old in my nineties."

"You should be asking yourself this, not me, Uncle Li."

As Xue Bai continued trying to convince Li Huo was hearing things, they made it to the city's biggest medicinal herb shop. It was called Herb Mountain Pavillion and served as the best seller of Medicinal Herbs throughout the entire Dukedom. The Pavillion master was actually his mother, Li Rou. However, as she spent most of her days at her herb garden, she was really more of a figurehead.

The small group entered the pavilion and immediately noticed its interior design. It was built simply. The first floor was an expansive room with kiosks and small private rooms for customers everywhere. However, almost every kiosk was occupied, showing just how busy the pavilion was.

Xue Bai looked around and couldn't see any items available for sale, so he asked his Uncle, "Hey Uncle, where is the merchandise? I can't see a single herb here. Are they on a different floor or something?"

"Yes, you're right. The herbs are on the second floor for window shoppers. This floor is mainly for buying information and people like you who are here to buy books." Li Huo explained with a smile before continuing, "If you want to buy a book about different types of medicinal herbs and their uses, then go to that kiosk. They'll help you."

"Uncle, before I go, I don't have any money. Can you give me some Spirit Stones?" Xue Bai shyly asked. He had planned to make the Wang Twins pay as their boss, but now with a tycoon like his Uncle with them, he asked him instead.

Not expecting a prestigious heir to a Duke to be broke, Li Huo started laughing. "Hahaha, Nephew Bai, this is your territory. One order from you can destroy a family. Who would dare take payment from their Lord's only son."

"But won't they think I'm a tyrant by taking their goods without paying? This is my first public appearance. I don't want to have a bad image." Xue Bai asked. He wanted to be sworn brothers with Huo Long if he had a bad image in the empire, and Huo Long might kill him out of righteousness.

"Don't you have your identity token? Show them that your mother keeps a tab here, which your father pays at the end of the month." Then, still laughing, Li Huo explained.

Nodding, Xue Bai went to the counter, where he was greeted by a beautiful young girl who was the receptionist.

The receptionist seeing Xue Bai walk here, was instantly smitten. Though Xue Bai was 15 years old mentally, he was experiencing everything around him for the first time. So to an outsider, he looked like a kid seeing the outside world for the first time. Coupled with his beauty, the receptionist almost fell in love instantly.

So putting on her best smile, she smiled and asked, "Welcome, Young Miss, to Herb Mountain Pavillion. Do you already know what you would like to buy, or would you like me to explain it to you?"

Seeing the receptionist light up at him, Xue Bai sighed. Sure enough, he wasn't a protagonist, and there were no face-slapping scenes. He wanted to be looked down upon by everyone, then pull out the identity token and shock them, but this receptionist looked at him like he was the epitome of beauty.

"Yes, I would like to buy a medicinal herb encyclopedia. What's the best type you offer here? Price isn't a problem." Xue Bai said.

"Our best one has ever known herb up to Low Earth Grade. However, it was extremely expensive. Are you sure that you want it, Young Miss?" With the clothes Xue Bai was wearing, it was apparent he was wealthy, but the book in question cost almost 10 million Spirit Stones. The receptionist didn't think Xue Bai had enough and tried to persuade him to buy something else.

"I think this should cover it." Then, expecting that he had to show his identity before getting the book Xue Bai pulled out the identity token that he had prepared earlier.

It was a small silver medallion with the Duke Symbol on it. However, on the back, it had his given name engraved on it.

The receptionist initially thought Xue Bai would pull out a spatial ring. However, after seeing the Medallion, she became confused.

'When I said it was expensive, I meant in spirit stones, so why are you handing me a large silver coin' She thought. However, the receptionist was highly trained, so she still took the Medallion before saying anything aloud.

And as she finally looked closer, the receptionist was glad she didn't say anything.

'Oh my god, that is the Duke's Symbol! Who is this young lady? Doesn't the Duke only have a son? How would a little girl get his Medallion?'

But keeping her thoughts to herself, she bowed and respectfully said, "Yes, Esteemed Miss, this will certainly cover it. I will put the bill on Duke's tab. Give me one second. I will go retrieve the encyclopedia immediately." As the receptionist turned to rush to the storage room, she heard Xue Bai's voice come from behind.

"Miss, I don't think you looked at the Medallion correctly. Look at the back first before you go get the book." Xue Bai wanted to reveal his identity here, so he corrected the girl since she was still calling him Young Miss.

"Don't worry, Young Miss. I saw the Duke's symbol on it. I know you have the Duke's personal Medallion."

"No, that's the front of the Medallion. Look at the back. The fact that you're still calling me Young Miss means that you haven't seen the back of it yet."

"What do you mean by that, Young Mi.." The receptionist couldn't finish her sentence as she finally saw the character Bai written on the back.

'Bai? Isn't that the name of the Duke's son? But then who is this girl, and why does she have the Young Duke's Medallion?' As the receptionist's mind was reeling, she finally recalled what Xue Bai said. 'The fact that you're still calling me Young Miss means that you haven't seen the back of it yet.

'Oh my God, he's the Young Duke!' When it finally clicked, the receptionist was astonished. 'The Duke is such a behemoth of a man. Shouldn't his son at least look somewhat like him? The Young Duke looks like a dignified Young Miss!'

"I'm so sorry Young Duke. This servant didn't know your identity. Please forgive me for calling you a girl all this time."

"It's fine. You can make it up to me by spreading the word so it doesn't happen again." Xue Bai waived her off with a smile. Even he thought he was a girl. So the receptionist didn't do anything wrong.

Seeing that the Young Duke didn't look angry, the receptionist sighed in relief. 'Thank the heavens the Young Duke is so understanding. I heard the Young Duke of the Wang family annihilated a small clan because a child sneezed at his birthday party.'

"Then this servant will go and retrieve the encyclopedia." The receptionist then bowed and continued to go to the storage room.

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