Able to Bend and Stretch

County Town.

It was not far off Chen Sanshi's estimate.

The most valuable parts of the cheetah were its gallbladder and heart. The rest sold for a total of forty-six taels of silver.

After handling the goods, he hurried back to the garrison before nightfall.

"Running back and forth like this is truly a waste of time!

"I still need some means of transportation."

Chen Sanshi had been cultivating day and night lately. He rarely even practiced archery, and he had only visited the Horse Farm once.

With that in mind, he did not go home. Instead, he headed to the Military Camp.

"Neigh—"

The moment he reached the stable, the white horse grew restless and neighed, stamping its hooves again and again as if issuing a threat.

Chen Sanshi's temper flared at once.

The instant he opened the gate, the White Swan Horse bolted outside like it had gone mad.

Chen Sanshi grabbed the saddle, vaulted onto its back, and immediately cracked the whip.

Pain spurred the White Swan Horse into an even fiercer run. It used every ounce of strength to throw the man from its back.

Chen Sanshi steadied himself while using the reins to force the horse to run in the direction he guided.

With his Minor Accomplishment in Blood Refining strength, there was naturally no way a horse could resist him.

At first, the White Swan Horse struggled without cease. But as time passed, perhaps its vigor, essence, and spirit had been exhausted, or perhaps it realized resistance was useless. At last, it slowly became obedient.

Another half hour later, it was as easy as waving an arm.

The reins in Chen Sanshi's hands were like a car's steering wheel, responding to his every wish.

Skill: Horse Riding (Beginner)

Progress: (0/200)

Effect: A fine steed recognizes its owner; hearts and minds in harmony

A fine steed?

Even the System Panel called it a fine steed. Its bloodline clearly was not bad; it was simply rather stubborn.

As for hearts and minds in harmony, it was an indescribable feeling, something profoundly mysterious.

If he had to describe it, Chen Sanshi felt that although he had not known the White Swan Horse for long, it was as familiar as an old dog raised at home for twenty years. Their hearts seemed linked, and each could understand the other's intentions.

This was crucial.

On the battlefield, a martial general and his warhorse were the closest of comrades. If they worked well together, it could sometimes save their lives.

When he had read the Book of Great Sheng, Chen Sanshi remembered that Grand Ancestor Cao Xie had once been a household slave responsible for raising horses for a wealthy family. He had formed a bond with a young foal.

Later, when he was being hunted down, Cao Xie's life had been saved by that horse.

Otherwise, there would have been no Great Sheng Dynasty of the Cao family.

Having tamed the White Swan Horse, Chen Sanshi planned to return and rest.

But when they reached the stable, the White Swan Horse resisted strongly, making it clear that it did not want to live in a cramped stall.

Chen Sanshi did not mind.

His home had plenty of space, more than enough to keep a horse. He brought the fodder and stone trough home with him as well.

"Shi Ge'er looks so impressive."

Watching her man ride a horse into the courtyard, Gu Xinlan could not help but feel her heart skip a beat.

He was clearly only a banner officer, yet in her eyes, Shi Ge'er was becoming more and more like the generals from storybooks.

Famished, Chen Sanshi ate dinner, swallowed another Leopard Gall, then continued practicing his spear in the courtyard.

The wind from his spear howled like thunder, yet the horse was not afraid in the slightest. It stood beneath the osmanthus tree watching him, occasionally taking a few bites of fodder. Only when it grew tired late at night did it fall deeply asleep while standing.

After he finished practicing his spear, Lan Jie'er had also heated the water and helped Chen Sanshi bathe and change.

"I've finished treating the Tiger Skin you brought back."

Gu Xinlan displayed the tiger-skin rug. "How about I make it into clothes for you? It would definitely keep you warm in winter."

Chen Sanshi leaned against the bathing tub. "Put it on and let me see."

"Ah?"

Before Gu Xinlan could react, she heard the man add, "I mean, wear only that. Nothing else."

"Shi Ge'er..."

Gu Xinlan's pretty face flushed all the way to her neck. "Wh-who did you learn this from? Why are your tricks becoming more and more varied?"

Who would ask someone to dress up as a tigress?

The next day.

White Dew clustered like sweet fruit; in the morning, hooves scattered.

Chen Sanshi rode the White Swan Horse to the Military Camp for roll call.

After the drills ended, he went to Wang Zhi's tent and told him that Poyang might still have people from the Witch God Cult. He hoped Wang Zhi could report it to the commander and send someone to investigate.

Then, he requested another day off, preparing to head up the mountain once more.

He was determined to get the White Deer.

Not only did he urgently need a heavy bow, the White Deer itself was also a great tonic. It would improve his cultivation faster than Tiger Heart, not slower.

Even if the bait cost fifty taels, it was worth trying.

After requesting leave, Chen Sanshi had not even walked out of the tent when his subordinate Wang Li came looking for him.

"Sir."

Wang Li reported, "Someone from Tianyuan Martial Arts Academy wishes to see you."

"The one surnamed Liang?"

Chen Sanshi hesitated for a moment. "Let him in."

Since he wanted to meet him, they would meet in the Military Camp.

Before long, Wang Li led someone in, but it was not Liang Zhan himself. It was one of Tianyuan Martial Arts Academy's disciples.

"Officer Chen."

The disciple first cupped his fists in greeting, then took an exquisite Sandalwood Box from his robes. "My young master knows that you have recently been hunting deer, so he specially picked a century-old precious lingzhi from the medicinal valley.

"Additionally, my young master asked me to convey a message.

"There were some misunderstandings between him and Officer Chen before. He hopes you will accept this gift of apology, turning weapons of war into jade and silk. If you need any help in the future, my young master will certainly spare no effort."

Chen Sanshi considered the meaning behind those words.

Was the one surnamed Liang afraid of him?

Surely not.

He could understand Qin Xiong, a mere street thug, feeling fear when he saw Chen Sanshi could use a bow and arrows.

But Liang Zhan was, after all, a Bone Tempering Martial Artist. When he had fought the Witch God Cultists that day, he had been quite valiant as well.

Why would he need to apologize to a mere banner officer, a Blood Refining Martial Artist?

What an ability to bend and stretch.

This man absolutely could not be allowed to remain!

Chen Sanshi faced him as though confronting a great enemy.

He had originally planned to refuse the precious lingzhi, but when he saw Commander Wang's eyes gleaming, he changed his mind. "I'll accept it. Thank Young Master Liang on my behalf."

There truly were things about Wang Zhi worth learning from.

There was no need to speak of righteousness when dealing with such people.

Sugar-coated cannonballs.

Sometimes, you had to eat the sugar and spit out the cannonball.

Perfect.

Using fifty taels of silver to buy bait was extravagant. It would be better to use it to buy medicinal supplements and improve his cultivation.

"It's good that you accepted it."

The martial arts academy disciple sighed in relief. "Before I came, my young master instructed me that if Officer Chen refused the gift, I was not allowed to return."

"What about mine?"

Wang Zhi had held it in for quite some time. "Your young master and I are sworn friends, kindred spirits walking the same path. Is there nothing for me?"

"Commander Wang, well, this..."

The academy disciple coughed twice awkwardly. "I still need to return and report. I'll take my leave first."

With that, he hurried away without looking back.

"Pah!"

Wang Zhi cursed, "The Liang family truly are snobs. They know it's as certain as a board nailed down that you'll enter the Eight Great Camps and become a disciple of the Governor's Mansion, so they want to curry favor with you!

"However..."

His expression turned serious. "You must work harder. The more they respect you now, the greater the backlash will be if you fail the vanguard selection in the future."

Chen Sanshi naturally understood this principle.

That made it all the more important to cherish his time.

He took up his weapons, mounted the White Swan Horse, and left the Military Camp, heading straight toward Tiger Head Mountain.

With the precious lingzhi.

The odds of finding the White Deer should increase greatly.