OFTLHFRO C112

Chapter 112: Now It’s Your Turn

“Ah!”

Huo Xu let out a miserable scream, clutching his eye as he staggered several steps back, nearly falling to the ground.

It had all happened too quickly. Huo Yi hadn’t even seen how Luo Mingchen struck.

He knew well that Huo Xu was a full head taller than him, yet Luo Mingchen had managed to send him retreating with a single punch. It was simply unbelievable.

Huo Xu had no time to think about that. His voice turned vicious as he shouted:

“Beat him for me!”

Seventeen household guards surged forward at once.

Luo Mingchen rolled his eyes. He didn’t even need to use water ropes—just fists and kicks. With the simplest moves, he unleashed the most terrifying suppression.

Before long, the courtyard was littered with bodies.

Seeing Huo Xu and Huo Yi’s faces twist with terror, Luo Mingchen flashed a brilliant smile.

“Now it’s your turn.”

“Ah! Monster!”

Every hair on Huo Xu’s body stood on end. He turned to run after shouting, only to be snared back by a water tendril and slammed onto the ground on all fours.

Luo Mingchen stepped on his chest, looking puzzled.

“Brother, why are you running? Didn’t you say you wanted a meeting gift? I haven’t even finished giving it.”

Huo Xu had no idea how he’d been dragged back. Eyes wide with fear, he stared at Luo Mingchen, never having imagined this fellow was actually a martial arts master.

“Let me go! If Mother finds out and tells Father, you won’t be able to bear the consequences!”

Hearing that, Luo Mingchen paused, then burst out laughing.

“You’re already grown, yet when you can’t win you still run off to tattle? Aren’t you ashamed?”

“You—!”

Huo Xu’s face flushed red. He didn’t know what to say. And he couldn’t understand where Luo Mingchen’s strength came from—just one foot pressed against his chest, and he couldn’t move at all.

When Huo Yi saw clearly that Luo Mingchen’s ability resembled water ropes, even the thought of escape died in him. With such a strange skill, even if he tried to run, there was no way.

“Brother-in-law, my elder brother was merely playing a joke. A man should be magnanimous—why be so petty?”

At these words, Luo Mingchen lifted his eyes, amused by the strange form of address, and said cheerfully:

“Magnanimity depends on who it’s directed toward. Clearly, you two don’t qualify as people. Besides, you were the ones begging me for a meeting gift. Of course I have to give it, or else you’ll spread it around outside that I’m stingy. Come now, move your hand aside a little, so I can hit symmetrically. It’ll look better that way.”

This last part was directed at the Huo Xu pinned under his foot.

Huo Xu glared up at him, teeth gritted.

“Father won’t let you off!”

“Oh?”

Luo Mingchen said carelessly:

“Move your left hand. If I blind you, I won’t take responsibility.”

Huo Xu: “…”

“Although, if I really did blind one eye, then I’d have to blind the other too—for symmetry, it would look better.”

Not willing to sit and wait for doom, Huo Xu struggled. Luo Mingchen’s fist came down again, and another scream rang out. But the punch had landed slightly off.

So Luo Mingchen struck twice more before finally releasing him—leaving Huo Xu covering his eyes, sobbing in pain. Luo Mingchen turned his gaze to Huo Yi.

“Will you come over yourself, or shall I do it personally?”

Huo Yi frowned.

“I have done nothing to you.”

“Clicking his tongue, Luo Mingchen said:

“Brothers are meant to share both fortune and hardship. If I only give him a gift and not you, won’t people say I’m petty? Hurry along, don’t dawdle.”

Huo Yi: “…”

There was really no need for this.

But Luo Mingchen did not look like he was joking. Afraid of being hit even more, Huo Yi clenched his teeth, stepped forward, and closed his eyes.

Luo Mingchen did not hesitate, gifting him with two panda eyes as well.

“Scram.”

So Huo Yi had no choice but to drag along the still-cursing Huo Xu, gathering the battered guards who could still stand, and left.

Once outside, Huo Yi’s gaze changed, his fists clenching tightly.

This debt—he would settle it sooner or later!

After watching them leave, Huo Yuhui’s taut nerves finally eased. Taking his younger brother and sister’s hands, he trotted over to Luo Mingchen’s side.

Huo Xiang exclaimed excitedly:

“Little Daddy is amazing! Just a few swipes and you knocked them all down!”

Luo Mingchen chuckled.

“That was nothing.”

They were merely ordinary people, not even comparable to those in this world who possessed inner strength.

Speaking of which, it was precisely because inner strength existed in this world that he could freely wield his water ability.

At first, Luo Mingchen had considered hiding it. But then Huo Yan had told him—some martial experts of immense inner power could freeze an entire city with their cold energy, turning everyone in it into shards of ice in an instant.

By comparison, his ability was really nothing much.

If anyone asked, he could just say he had learned it from some martial arts manual. If pressed further, he would claim it was a secret skill not to be taught outside.

Since his power resembled inner strength, and martial arts in this world were divided into many sects and lineages, tossing out a random name would suffice.

As for that time in Yuanzhou Prefecture when he produced so much fruit in front of commoners—those people would likely take it as mere sleight of hand. And with most of their attention focused on the invading enemies, it wasn’t much of an issue.

Besides, the moment the matter ended, they had left. No one there even knew him. At most, Yuanzhou would be left with a fleeting legend.

In the end, even if Luo Mingchen had struck harder today, it would not matter.

After all, their goal was not to play the role of a useless weakling, but rather to act as someone with ability—yet hot-tempered, easily provoked.

Inside the study.

When Huo Yuntao received word from his subordinates, the hand holding the scroll tightened.

“Oh? Truly?”

The guard with head bowed replied:

“Without a doubt. Both young masters’ eyes were beaten black-and-blue, and the seventeen guards they brought were all injured.”

After a brief silence, Huo Yuntao let out a cold laugh.

“It seems I underestimated him.”

The guard pressed his lips together.

Who would have thought a pale, refined young man could fight so fiercely, with such tremendous strength?

“With him here, His Majesty will surely feel more at ease.”

Huo Yuntao, however, wasn’t particularly concerned.

Even if Luo Mingchen could take on a hundred alone—what about a thousand? Ten thousand?

And what of several hundred thousand?

The battlefield was not child’s play. Personal strength alone could never win a war.

Hearing this, the guard lowered his head even further.

After a long pause, he cautiously asked:

“Does the General wish to check on the two young masters?”

Huo Yuntao shifted his gaze from the scroll to the man’s face. After a moment’s thought, he said:

“Find some medicine and send it over. Remind them not to provoke the people of Qiuyue Courtyard again. If they delay my plans, I won’t mind sending them to the frontier.”

“Yes.”

After the guard left, Huo Yuntao massaged his brow with faint irritation.

Those two sons—he had indeed barely managed them.

Had even one of them been promising, he wouldn’t have had to let Huo Yan be brought back.

For now, the most important thing was for Huo Yan to go to the frontier and hold the line for a while. Once his leg ailment was cured, he could return to the field again.

Therefore, that person had to possess sufficient strength.

People said he played favorites, but the truth was—even if those two sons went to the frontier together, they might not hold out even a month, let alone half a year.

Thus, the stronger Huo Yan was, the happier Huo Yuntao became. He needed Huo Yan to buy him time.

Military power—absolutely could not be allowed to fall into another’s hands.