Rebirth: The Time-locked Girl
Chapter 412 Worthy or unworthy of the Huo surname! [2 more - s]

Chapter 412: 412 Worthy or unworthy of the Huo surname! [2 more Chapters]

Ye Wanlan is the darling of the Archaeological Center, but to the Huo Family, she holds no value whatsoever.

The Huo Family only cares about everything related to the Divine Strategy Army, especially the Divine Strategy Spear Technique.

"I’ll teach you again, the Shen Wei Spear is Marshal Huo’s weapon, passed down through generations as the main armament of the commanders of the Divine Strategy Army." The Huo Family’s Fourth Elder’s gaze was icy and shot through the air, pressing aggressively, "Never be greedy to bite off more than you can chew, claiming what isn’t yours!"

He didn’t believe a word Professor Foo had said. How could anyone not covet such a divine weapon upon seeing the Shen Wei Spear?

Ye Wanlan’s expression didn’t change in the slightest, and her tone remained calm, "May I have the honor to know your esteemed name?"

"My name is not something you’re qualified to know," the Huo Family’s Fourth Elder declared with undisguised arrogance.

"In that case, I might as well bestow a name upon you today," Ye Wanlan said with a gentle smile. "If we remove the surname ’Huo,’ from now on, you shall be called ’Li Yilian.’ How about that?"

The Huo Family’s Fourth Elder let out a cold laugh, "What nonsense are you spouting?"

Ye Wanlan looked at him indifferently, "I’m saying you’re shameless."

These four words finally made the Huo Family’s Fourth Elder realize that Ye Wanlan was insulting him. Astonished and enraged, he exclaimed, "You wretched girl, what are you talking about?!"

He suddenly rose to his feet, seizing a stick beside him, intending to teach Ye Wanlan a lesson.

"Fourth Brother!" the Grand Elder of the Huo Family couldn’t contain his anger any longer and raised his hand decisively, "Stand down. Do you not see how you’re behaving, flaunting your seniority and parading your power here?"

With a "smack," the Huo Family’s Fourth Elder received a slap across the face from thin air.

Caught off guard, the Grand Elder didn’t hold back, and the body of the Fourth Elder somehow flew backward through the air.

Then came another "thump," as he landed on the ground.

Professor Xue’s mouth shaped into an ’O,’ barely holding back an astonished exclamation.

He had heard that each of the Five Major Families in Yunjing had martial arts legacies, and although far from the splendid jianghu scenes depicted in ancient times, feats like scaling walls and walking on water were still attainable.

Before today, Professor Xue could never have imagined that the force of a slap could send someone flying meters away.

"..."

A silence enveloped the surroundings; Patriarch Huo and the other Huo Family Elders remained mute.

"Big Brother!" the Huo Family’s Fourth Elder covered his face, incredulous, "You, how could you..."

"Justice needs to be served, not just power!" the Grand Elder of the Huo Family spoke coldly, "Fourth Brother, return to the family at once and kneel before the Supreme Elder for three days before coming out."

The eyes of the Huo Family’s Fourth Elder went wide, and he cried out in protest, "Big Brother!"

The Grand Elder of the Huo Family simply stated, "You may go. And after going back, ask yourself if you’re truly worthy of the ’Huo’ surname."

Patriarch Huo’s expression also shifted at this remark.

For the Grand Elder’s words carried immense weight; after all, bearing the name ’Huo’ was a source of pride for the People of the Huo Family.

The Huo Family’s Fourth Elder opened and closed his mouth, his face flushed with red. Taking a deep breath, he brushed past them and left, visibly fuming.

"Furthermore, after resolving this critical matter, the family shall select a new elder," the Grand Elder of the Huo Family declared authoritatively as his gaze swept around the room, "I hope the new Fourth Elder knows what their duties are. The rest of you, take this as a warning."

Patriarch Huo responded respectfully, "Understood, your words are clear."

The Jade Luan Pin made a comment, "This Grand Elder indeed seems quite reasonable and impartial."

Ye Wanlan did not express agreement or disagreement, "The Grand Elder, is as expected, a Grand Elder."

The Qingyun Pendant sighed, "If Marshal Huo were to see those bearing his name behaving like this, successors of the Divine Strategy Army, he would surely clean house."

Who would have thought that even after a century, such corruption could still thrive.

With a family like the Huo’s, numbering over a thousand members, plus guard teams and various administrative personnel, their ranks swelled to nearly ten thousand.

Such grand numbers, if indeed without a single morally corrupt member, the Huo Family would have long become the foremost international family.

"You may all leave," the Grand Elder of the Huo Family said. "I wish to speak privately with this young Miss Ye."

Professor Foo and Professor Xue looked towards Ye Wanlan, their expressions inevitably worried.

"It is only respectful to comply," Ye Wanlan nodded, "Grand Elder, this way, please."

What even the Grand Elder of the Huo Family didn’t anticipate was that Ye Wanlan would lead him directly to where Huo Jingyu’s bones lay.

The archaeological team had already set up the first layer of protection, but upon seeing the bones of his ancestor, the Grand Elder of the Huo Family was deeply shaken, his eyes brimming with tears.

Although he was already well into his seventies, Huo Jingyu’s era was still a great distance away from him.

But the blood of the People of Shenzhou is passed down; the heart remains unchanged.

The Grand Elder of the Huo Family knelt down and paid his deep respects to the large skeleton before him with three bows.

"Grand Elder, the Shen Wei Spear is right here," said Ye Wanlan. "If you can take it, then feel free to do so."

"Oh?" The Grand Elder of the Huo Family was very surprised, "You don’t wish to..."

Ye Wanlan gave a faint smile, "Please proceed, Grand Elder."

The Grand Elder of the Huo Family cautiously moved forward, bending down to lift up the Shen Wei Spear, which had broken into two pieces.

Yet at that moment, the spear might as well have weighed as much as a mountain.

Even though the Grand Elder of the Huo Family used all his Inner Strength, he still could not lift the Shen Wei Spear.

After a pause, he stood up and once again gave a profound bow towards the bones of Huo Jingyu.

"It appears that Marshal Huo’s spirit is present in heaven," the Grand Elder of the Huo Family said with some regret. "This is where he fell in battle, he does not wish to leave, so naturally, we must respect his wishes."

The legacy of the Huo Family is not just the Divine Strategy Spear Technique but also the soul of the Divine Strategy Army.

His outrage, which led to the immediate dismissal of the Huo Family’s Fourth Elder, was due to the behavior of the Fourth Elder being a stark deviation from the essence of the Divine Strategy Army.

The Divine Strategy Army protected Shenzhou and safeguarded its people. How could they succumb to those who wielded power for oppression?

What a pity that peace has lasted too long, blinding many high-ranking individuals with greed and desire.

"My heart is also filled with unease," the Grand Elder of the Huo Family murmured. "Now the Huo Family lacks competent successors. Only Yun Yi, Yungui, and Yunyan from the younger generation can barely hold the fort. But what about after them?"

Could it be that the legacy of the Divine Strategy Army was to end?

Ye Wanlan listened quietly, not answering.

After regaining composure, the Grand Elder of the Huo Family gave a fist salute, "I apologize for any trouble caused today. If Young Miss Ye ever visits Yunjing and needs anything, please feel free to find me directly."

He passed a token to Ye Wanlan.

"Thank you for your kind offer, Grand Elder," Ye Wanlan, not refusing, replied with a smile. "I shall be visiting Yunjing soon."

Though unable to take the Shen Wei Spear, the Grand Elder of the Huo Family did not leave. After all, guarding the burial site of Huo Jingyu was of the utmost importance.

The People of the Huo Family, after hearing from the Grand Elder, were all filled with regret and residual frustration.

Professor Foo, puzzled, asked in a soft voice: "How is it that Wanlan could lift it, but they could not?"

"You are indeed a fool!" Professor Xue looked at him with utter disdain, "Wanlan already said that divine weapons are sentient. Those whom the weapon does not recognize simply cannot take it away."

"But..." Professor Foo stuttered, "But surely the Grand Elder had developed the Shence Spear Technique to a very high level, right? He is also an upright person, so why can’t he lift it?"

Professor Xue stated with conviction, "It must be because of that Huo Family’s Fourth Elder, the old fraud, who ruined the Grand Elder’s fortune."

Professor Foo: "..."

Alright.

He should have known, he could never out-talk Professor Xue.

**

At this very moment, late at night, the archaeological team continued their work.

Meanwhile, a returning gang of tomb raiders were seething with rage.

"We’ve been digging for so long only for the Archaeological Center to steal our thunder!" A young man couldn’t contain his anger, "It would be one thing if it were ordinary objects, but that’s Huo Jingyu and the Shen Wei Spear!"

Even if all that remained of Huo Jingyu was a pile of rotten bones, the Global Center would surely pay a handsome price.

The value of the Shen Wei Spear added to that; they were on the verge of becoming instantly wealthy, so close.

"Boss, this is unbearable," the young man fumed the more he thought about it. "The archaeological team stole our find, we must retrieve it."

The leader of the tomb raiding gang, a middle-aged man with dark eyes, agreed, "Indeed, we must reclaim it. Never mind the bones, but we must somehow take the Shen Wei Spear."

That was Huo Jingyu’s weapon!

If auctioned off at the Global Center, it would surely fetch a fortune.

"Wait," the middle-aged man said as he drew a breath from his cigarette, "until the archaeological team’s people rest, then we’ll act."

"Yes, Boss!"

The night deepened, and the lights dimmed.

Within the blackness, there emerged the faintest sound of footsteps, imperceptible to human ears.

But Ye Wanlan could hear them.

She slowly opened her eyes, her expression serene.

Someone was coming.

Just in time to practice some spear techniques.