4 Fooling

"So, you were separated from your group and woke up unconscious near the Area of Crazed Demon Cave because of a beast tide? Hmm…" Hei Jiao, a middle-aged man in his fifties, questioned lazily. He's the person in charge of this village and the surrounding mortal settlements of Hei Tribe.

"Yes, Senior," Fang Huo replied calmly. He didn't know if his lies could be seen through or if the person opposite him had that kind of Gu. He could only place his bet on luck and lie his way out.

Hei Jiao looked at him for a few minutes then waved his hand at Xian Xia.

"Explain the rules and give him food and a place to stay."

"Thank you, Lord." Xian Xia and Fang Huo bowed their heads and left hurriedly. Xian Xia couldn't bear the pressure from a Gu Master, while Fang Huo didn't want to get exposed.

On their way, Fang Huo could see the excitement and anticipation shining from Xian Xia, as if he couldn't wait to get his hands on something.

"You seem excited, brother?" Fang Huo questioned awkwardly. While the language and slang seemed no problem and came instinctively to him, he still felt uncomfortable after each word he uttered.

'I need to get used to these small things.'

"You don't know, little brother… I've been dying here. Do you know why Lord Hei is present in this village?" Xian Xia shook his head and asked, smiling.

Fang Huo shook his head to indicate continuing.

"Lord Hei is here to select guards from this and the villages surrounding to bring to the Hei Tribe. If we prove the tribe of our strength and loyalty, they'll even help us awaken as Gu Masters."

"And I'm one of the elite candidates in this village," he spoke proudly.

"I see, is it possible for me to participate in it?" Fang Huo narrowed his eyes and asked with a slight smile.

"You? Haha, forgive me for being blunt, brother, but seeing how thin you are, it isn't possible for you to even pass the first round," Xian Xia looked at him with slight disdain and spoke laughingly, not even trying to cover his disdain.

'What do you mean slim? You Northern Plains brute! It's you who's looking like a savage,' Huo tried to hide the twitch in his lips by smiling gently. He didn't want to comment on this.

"Anyway, to your question. Anyone can participate in this as long as they are not criminals or against the Hei Tribe."

Fang Huo nodded and pushed this thought to the back of his mind. This isn't urgent. He wanted to eat and rest before thinking about other things.

Soon, they reached a two-story wooden building. Xian Xia informed the maid to take care of him and left.

"I'm guarding the village entrance, little brother, I can't be away for long. Then I'll see you tomorrow, take care of yourself."

Fang Huo nodded tiredly and entered the house alongside the maid. The maid then guided him to the bathroom. At first, she wanted to help him in the bath, but he refused. After cleaning himself up and changing back into his black battle suit, he went to the dining hall and ate the food that's already been prepared.

'Staying hungry isn't new; I already did that many times in the drill. But worrying constantly about safety and a new environment sure is crazy.' While he is physically tired, mentally more than tired. The first thing he did after eating is go into the guest room the maid prepared for him and enter into a deep sleep. There are no nightmares or dreams. It doesn't matter whether he lost everything or not. Every soldier is prepared to die the moment they step into a battlefield.

Trauma can be viewed as a battle scar, and it's up to each one to decide whether to conceal and heal it or embrace it as part of themselves.

Luckily, he is the latter.

…

Thump.

Xian Xia covered his stomach and fell on the hard rock ground. His entire body could be seen full of sweat.

Grunt.

"Fang Huo, you really hid yourself! Who would've thought you'd be a hand-to-hand fighting expert?" Xian Xia spoke with slight shock after the pain subsided a little.

It's been two weeks since Fang Huo entered their village, and he is a nice kid. Always helping out others and asking curious questions to know more about the current situation and village. But who would've thought he would ask one of the prime candidates for a sparring and beat him up just at the start of his second week. From then on, Fang Huo often received challenges from his competitors. Surprisingly, he never lost a match.

'It's because you brutes never focused on techniques,' Fang Huo scoffed at him in his mind and replied with a gentle smile.

"You overestimate me, Brother Xian. I've been trained by experts my entire life to awaken my Primeval Sea in the Caravan. Unfortunately…" Wiping the crocodile tears at the edge of his eyes, he turned around to hide the smirk and continued, "I'll avenge my fellow brothers and sisters one day! This is my promise as a Northern Plainsman," shouting with unwavering determination he walked away.

Xian Xia watched the slowly disappearing figure on the horizon and felt newfound respect and amazement. He muttered while cleaning the dust on himself,

"Well said, Fang Huo. A Northern Plainsman should be this brave and 'loyal'."

On the distance, Fang Huo let a grin and thought,

'Hmm… Today's performance should be enough to fool that Hei Fool.'