22 Special Privilege

"You can learn more cultivation techniques by reading it at the main house or purchasing it. Or you could attend a cultivation school."

There were many choices but everything wasn't suitable for Xu An. The first one was because most of the people there kind of despise his existence. Should he come back, it would be awkward.

Buying them required some money and Xu An only left with a monthly allowance. If he spent it all, he might die of hunger.

Cultivation techniques were expensive, even the low grade.

Attending school on the other hand… Well, he already did, but the original Xu An didn't go there for almost a month.

In consideration of his normal cultivation, he didn't attend school for such a long period, the students there probably think that he was arrogant or something.

If he came back, probably bullying was something expected.

Xu An didn't want to go there. Not because he was afraid of the bullying, he simply hated school.

Probably there's an answer in the book inside my mindscape? Xu An pondered and wanted to check it out but endure it.

There were his uncle and Arza near him. If he suddenly went in a daze and foolishly stared at the wall. His uncle would be suspicious of him.

In fact, maybe his uncle was going to make a huge fuss about it. Which was something he had to avoid.

"I guess I'll find a way," Xu An said as he grabbed the scarf hanging on the wall and put it on. It was uncomfortable to not wear this.

"Xu An, what happened to you?" His uncle asked with great concern.

Xu An confused for a short moment before realizing what he was talking about. Uncovering his neck from his scarf, he revealed a jagged scar.

From the start, this scar had already been revealed as soon as his uncle laid him down and put his scarf away. His uncle was shocked when he saw the scar.

When he saw Xu An wake up, he wanted to ask but couldn't find the right time.

"A past injury. Uncle did know I got lost in a forest when I was a child, yes?"

His uncle nodded, "yeah, you didn't come back for two years, your father told me. When you come back. You're sleeping on the outskirts of the forest and your cultivation realm has dropped tremendously. Your cultivation talent also decreased to normal."

"Un, I accidentally entered a secret realm in the forest."

His uncle's eyes expanded in disbelief, "you trapped in that realm for two years? It's a miracle you can get out of it alive!"

Xu An hurriedly denied his misunderstanding as he said, "no, no uncle. Father told you that when I'm back, I'm unconscious, right? I was in that secret realm for a few weeks. I fought with many beasts and got this injury. How I managed to get out alive was thanks to my luck back then.

"A few explorers found me dying and saved me, thus they brought me to the outside of the forest."

His uncle knew Xu An saying the truth partially, not all of it but as long as Xu An was safe. What was there more to ask for?

Covering his scar with his scarf, he felt bad for lying to his uncle.

The scar wasn't from an intense fight he got in that secret realm but it was from the original Xu An's fail attempt of committing suicide.

The first thing was to strangle his neck from Strangling Wolf. This beast was the one which attacked that mysterious boy who gave him the flower.

Before he saved him, however, the original Xu An was being strangled by this beast but when he heard a scream for help, he hurriedly killed the beast strangling him and hastily saved the boy.

"Are you hiding it because you're embarrassed about it? For a man, a scar is one's greatest honor!"

If you get it from a battlefield, I could understand but this time… Xu An let out a self-deprecating laugh in his heart

"Which reminds me, uncle. Why is there someone targeting me? I'm not an important figure in the clan, nor do I have any value in it," Xu An pondered.

His uncle pinched his chin as he replied, "maybe because they want your little brother regretting his decision for messing with them? Your little brother makes enemies left and right, it would not be weird if they are trying to hurt you."

Makes sense, Xu An accepted his speculation easily.

"Or it could be they are targeting you, kiddo." His uncle pointed his finger to Arza and the former perplexed.

Arza shot himself with his index finger, "Me?"

"That's right, your family name is Redwood, right? In my career of becoming an Infantry, I've been met with many people.

"I met a few people with the same name as yours. However, I always heard people with that name always died mysteriously.

"I guess I know why from this event alone and based on the clues I've gathered.

"A secret organization is hunting for people with the name of Redwood. Of course, what I said is mere speculation. It could be off the mark, or it could be not.

"Either way, nothing's wrong with being meticulous. Arza, the Infantry will protect your family for a while from now on."

As Arza listened attentively to Xu An's uncle, his expression was that of worry. His first thought was: Was his mother okay?

His worry evaporated as soon as Xu An's uncle said their family was going to be protected from now on.

"Isn't that good, Arza? While being protected by my great uncle, why don't you ask for his training too?"

Arza's body went stiff as he shot Xu An with a glare. 

"Uncle Xu! It's okay! You must not! I don't want to cause unnecessary trouble for you.

"It's already enough for the Infantry to protect my family. I can't say any more than this. Additionally, I'm far too weak and very unprepared to become a soldier 

"It's impossible, uncle Xu! I'll do it next time, yes, next time!" He said with a bright smile.

Xu An didn't force him as Arza seemed like a child that kept his promise albeit a bit cowardly. 

"You're a coward, huh?" Xu An blurted out with a straight face and Arza felt like crying.

His words were sharper than knives! Arza exclaimed pitifully to himself.

Xu An's uncle laughed loudly as he patted his lap, "Ahaha! Your honesty never fails me!"

After his laugh, Xu An's uncle looked at Arza and said in a carefree manner, "if you want to join the military. Just go to the nearest headquarters and show this badge to the soldier. They'll guide you."

Xu An's uncle tossed a badge with the Infantry logo carved on it and Arza grabbed it clumsily. It escaped from his hands about three times as if it was a slippery fish before he could get hold of it.

"A fast pass. Uncle, are you sure?" Xu An asked, slightly stunned. Not once did his uncle be kind enough to give a fast pass even to the core members of the clan if they wanted to join the Infantry!

Was there something special he saw inside Arza?

"I just follow my gut and it never fails! Also, with the fact you take an interest in this kid, even bringing him into the party, I do not have to worry about anything."

Uncle… Xu An was a bit teary. To think his uncle trusted him this much!

His uncle suddenly got up off the bed and as he walked to the door, he said, "well, that's the time I have to spend with you. If I have spare time, I will probably have a good time with my favorite nephew, see ya later, kiddo!"

His back disappeared from Xu An's vision as he closed the door. Xu An retracted his line of sight to Arza who looked at the badge with eyes filled with sparkles. 

Arza had changed his clothes. It appeared he used Xu An's clothes when he was still young. It looked like his little brother took good care of it.

Arza's previous build was skinny due to lack of nourishment but after a few hours, his body was like any other kid.

Xu An assumed this was because of the high quality of food in the party that could be eaten by mortals and cultivators. With rich qi that even mortals could absorb without a problem, Arza's outcome was something to be anticipated.

Speaking of food, Xu An's mouth began to drool. The food cooked by immortal chefs was undoubtedly, abnormally delicious that you fly to the nine clouds.

When he was a child, a spoiled brat to be exact. He won't eat anything except food cooked by immortal chefs and his parents didn't refuse his request.

Every day eating such delicacies but now eating a piece of bread every day. The shift in lifestyle was perhaps too much.

Fortunately, the experience of being trapped in that forest tempered the kid's mind and change his view towards the world, Xu An thought to himself.

The original Xu An, when he was a kid, was spoiled and arrogant to the very core. He was like those arrogant young masters one often found in every cultivation novel.

A person that thought the universe revolved around him, one who thought he was the protagonist of this world.

If he didn't change, he probably got his face slapped by someone.