Commander Zhang Ye
"Xiao'er, do you want me to call the Wang Twins?" Xue Bai asked as he followed the maid.
"No! Those brutes will ruin today's d- our afternoon." Xiao'er responded while almost exposing her plan
'She was clearly going to say date wasn't she?' Xue Bai thought mentally.
Xue Bai thought about exposing her but decided against it and let the girl think she had the upper hand.
"Then who is going to protect us? A beautiful girl like you is bound to be kidnapped if they are left alone. Even if we are in Snowy Wind City, someone would risk it for the chance of getting stunning beauty like you." Xue Bai complimented.
Hearing his words gave Xiao'er clashing emotions. She was happy to be complimented but also scared of being kidnapped. The conflicting emotions made her stop walking and think about what to do.
"Then, Young Master, should we get the Wang Twins?" Xiao'er asked as fear started to appear on her face.
"Xiao'er, I'm joking. Why are you getting so scared." Xue Bai laughed, "Who in Snowy Wind City doesn't know what I look like? Besides, Father has a Squad of Shadow Guards that follow me whenever I leave the Core Region. We'll be safe. Come on."
Both relieved and annoyed, Xiao'er merely humphed before continuing her way out of the Duke Estate, Xue Bai in tow.
The pair didn't take long to reach the edge of the Estate, where they were met by a huge bumbling crowd.
As the core of the entire Dukedom, the Duke Estate saw a lot of foot traffic daily. Whether it was aspiring teenage cultivators trying their luck to enter the patrol guard or curious trying to see the legendary Duke of Snow, the estate entrance was always filled with people.
"Young Master, should we get a carriage?" Xiao'er asked.
This was her first time going to Snowy Wind City without supervision, and she couldn't decide on whether to walk or get a carriage.
"Xiao'er, today is your day, so you choose." Xue Bai answered.
"Then… We'll get a carriage. I heard that people get ambushed on their way to cities. So we should be safe in a carriage." Xiao'er responded after a moment of thinking.
'God, this girl is too naive. How has she not been tricked yet?' Xue Bai mentally thought.
As the two were conversing, a robust gentleman in armor approached them. His armor was clearly one that belonged to the Dukedom as branded on the heart guard was a snowflake.
"Young Duke, are you also coming to Snowy Wind City." The man, still in armor, asked.
Looking up at the man once again, Xue Bai noticed that he had on the armor made specifically for commanders. But since Xue Bai didn't know all of the 10 commanders, he was clueless about his identity.
"Yes, I am commander. Why would you like to take us along with you? We happen to need a carriage," Xue Bai responded with a smile.
"It would be my honor, Young Duke." The commander said.
During the conversation, Xiao'er was crouched behind Xue Bai, scared of the tall armored man.
Acquiring a ride with ample protection, Xue Bai turned around and pulled onto the hand of Xiao'er.
"Come on, we got a carriage, and we have enough protection not to get ambushed!" Xue Bai said with a bright smile.
Still wary of the commander, Xiao'er merely nodded softly in reply to Xue Bai.
"Commander, forgive me for being ignorant, but what's your name? I haven't yet seen all of the commanders, you being one of them." Xue Bai asked as he followed the man.
"There is no need to admonish yourself, Young Duke. Us commanders are your subordinates. You knowing our names is only a grace from you, not a right. My surname is Zhang, and my given name is Ye, Young Duke." Zhang Ye responded as he guided the two to his carriage.
"Zhang? Could you be from the Zhang Clan under us?" Xue Bai asked curiously.
pαпdα-ňᴏνêι·сóМ Under Xue Feng were three subordinate Marquis Clans, the Zhang Clan, the Huo Clan, and the empty Marquis estate of Li Huo. Though Li Huo was only a subordinate in name as they were brothers-in-law.
The Zhang Clan was the first clan that bannered itself under Xue Feng after his promotion to Duke as Xue Feng and the Zhang Clan Patriarch got along exceptionally well. Adding on to the fact that the Zhang Clan was full of martial art fanatics, the Zhang Clan Patriarch took the opportunity to join Xue Feng's Dukedom so his descendants would have the lofty goal of the Legendary Duke of Snow whenever they cultivated.
"Yes, I am Young Duke." Zhang Ye answered wryly.
"You don't have to answer this, but why did you join our Dukedom? Surely the Zhang Clan would have enough resources for your growth." Xue Bai asked curiously.
This Zhang Ye was another unmentioned mob in the game, and Xue Bai knew nothing about him or his background.
Zhang Ye looked conflicted for a moment before he responded, "It's because I offended the Young Marquis of our clan. And after years of suppression, I decided to join the Dukedom. This way, I could have the resources for my growth but also have safety, as even in the clan manor, I didn't feel safe."
Seeing his expression, Xue Bai only nodded in response, obviously not wanting to touch upon a soft spot for the man.
After a few more minutes of walking in silence, the group of three reached Zhang Ye's carriage, where a chauffeur awaited while meditating.
The carriage was standard and inexpensive looking. However, the Duke Symbol branded on the side made everyone know that it was carrying someone special.
Sensing Zhang Ye's approach, the chauffeur opened his eyes and spoke, "Master, you're here. I thought you were getting delayed by something."
"Old Ye, I was delayed. We have guests that will be riding with us on our trip to Snowy Wind City." Zhang Ye answered.
Old Ye was an old man with a long white beard. And though Xue Bai couldn't see his cultivation, Xue Bai knew that it had to be at least above the Qi Sea Realm to be a chauffeur for Zhang Ye.
"Young Duke!" Old Ye at first thought it was a friend of Zhang Ye, but after seeing Xue Bai's doll-like appearance, he quickly jumped off of the carriage and bowed respectfully to Xue Bai.
"It's fine, Senior Ye. You can continue doing your job." Xue Bai waved him off.
Though Xue Bai loved the authority that came with his new identity, it often got repetitive, and he came to find it displeasing.
Complying with the order, Old Ye said, "Young Duke, please don't call me Senior. I can't handle the repercussions. This old man would like to live out his years. You can call me Old Ye as Master does."
"Then I won't be polite." Xue Bai responded calmly.
Another political skill Xue Bai learned over the years was to call anyone by a respectful title even if it wasn't needed. Not only did it give Xue Bai a humble appearance, but it gave him an amicable feeling which also eased the following conversation.
Even in cases like Old Ye and Xue Bai calling him senior, Xue Bai made the man smile for a moment. After all, being called Senior by the continent's next big prodigy would bring a smile to almost anyone.
"Young Duke, you can ride in the carriage. Old Ye and I will sit in the front to guard you and this Miss here." Zhang Ye spoke respectfully.
Though Zhang Ye wasn't sure of the identity of Xiao'er, he assumed it to be either Xue Bai's personal maid or a maid that Xue Bai brought along for eye candy. But either way, Zhang Ye didn't dare to offend the girl, so he politely called her Miss.
"Alright, Xiao'er and I will be in the carriage. You can notify us when we get to Snowy Wind City." Xue Bai agreed with the arrangement and hopped into the carriage.
Inside, Xiao'er finally opened her mouth and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Young Master, that man looks so scary! How can you talk with him so casually?" Xiao'er asked in awe.
Exasperated at her words, Xue Bai pinched the maid's nose before responding, "Zhang Ye is one of Father's most loyal and strongest subordinates. So why would I be afraid of him?"
Moving away while holding her red nose in pain, Xiao'er angrily responded, "Then what if the man is a spy? And he is getting close to you so he can assassinate you!"
Xue Bai, hearing her words, wanted to pinch her nose again even harder, but seeing her look so wary, Xue Bai knew it wouldn't be possible. So he just looked at her like one would a stupid person and didn't answer.
"Young Master, don't look at me with those eyes. I could be right about my guess!" Xiao'er spoke angrily as she saw Xue Bai's face.
She was unwilling to admit her words were stupid and doubled down.
"Xiao'er, you do know that the carriage walls aren't soundproof, right? Zhang Ye doesn't have a noise-canceling array built onto it as ours does. So he can hear everything you're saying from the outside." Xue Bai finally spoke up as he clasped his forehead.
Xue Bai was right. Zhang Ye and Old Ye heard everything from the outside and were both stifling their laughter in respect.
Listening to Xue Bai's words, Xiao'er quickly held her mouth with her palm as if it would take back the words she spoke.
"Oh no! Young Master, what do we do? What if he decided to kill us now?" Xiao'er still believed in her words and was starting to look frightened.
"Xiao'er, you need to stop reading those novels. Your imagination is too wild." After that, Xue Bai couldn't be bothered by the maid any longer.
"Commander Zhang, Xiao'er, and I are comfortable! You can start to drive the carriage!" Xue Bai opened the window and yelled out.
And with a pouting Xiao'er, a tired Xue Bai inside the carriage set off to Snowy Wind City.
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