Until his clothes had grown damp by two or three parts, Wang Anfeng finally came back to himself. The Green Dappled Horse beside him had been waiting in perfect silence, its mane like disheveled hair and its pupils golden vertical slits like those of a dragon or serpent, hinting at its extraordinary nature. Wang Anfeng raised a hand and patted the horse's back, sighing:
"Looks like you'll have to come with me now..."
"Don't worry. I won't treat you badly."
The horse gently shifted its body. Wang Anfeng straightened its mane, and as his palm slid down to the side of the saddle, it touched something hard. He paused, then reached behind him and pulled it out. It was a dagger in a thick leather sheath. Its blade was thin yet resilient, gleaming like frost and snow.
The dagger's hilt had been carved with intricate patterns. Not only was it beautiful, but it was also difficult to lose one's grip on. Every detail revealed the care of the person who had forged it. A line of tiny yet perfectly clear characters had been carved onto it. Wang Anfeng examined it beneath the moonlight and murmured:
"To Xue Qinshuang of the Xue Family, on her seventh birthday. Wishing you peace and happiness."
"Xue Family... Qinshuang..."
"Xue Qinshuang..."
Wang Anfeng murmured the name under his breath. They were clearly only two simple characters, yet they filled his heart with an indescribable joy and delight. After repeating them several times, he thought for a moment, then put the dagger away. He made up his mind that when they met again in the martial world, he would return it to Xue Qinshuang.
Imagining their reunion in the future, he felt a surge of joy and could not help letting a smile appear. Yet, as though afraid someone might notice, he looked left and right. There was no one around, of course, and the smile on the young man's face only grew broader. He patted the Green Dappled Horse beside him and said:
"Horsey, horsey, I've never ridden a horse before. But with how late it is today, I definitely won't make it in time if I run there myself. Brother Huangfu and Brother Xiahou are still at the villa, and the silver needles Aunt gave me are still in my bundle. Sorry for the trouble, but take me the rest of the way."
The Green Dappled Horse naturally did not answer. It merely snorted. Wang Anfeng placed his right hand on its back, swung himself up, and landed in the saddle. This steed, which looked as fierce as fire, did not resist in the slightest. With a young man on its back, it seemed no different from carrying air, moving with extraordinary ease. Wang Anfeng lightly shook the reins and called, "Giddy-up!"
A golden flame seemed to flare in the vertical pupils beneath him. The steed broke into a run. At first, it was not particularly fast, but once it realized that the person on its back could fully withstand such speed, it let out a soft neigh. Faint lightning patterns appeared on its four hooves, and its speed suddenly surged. To anyone who had never practiced martial arts, it shot away like a streak of blue lightning.
The moon had only just risen. Before it reached the middle of the sky, the horse had already raced several hundred li, sweeping up the mountain road like the wind before coming to a steady stop before Willow Catkin Villa. Its front hooves lightly stamped the ground, and it seemed quite pleased as it gave a satisfied snort.
"So fast... Ugh..."
Wang Anfeng slid down from the horse with a pale face. Even with his formidable physical training, his legs felt weak and kept trembling when he landed. His abdomen convulsed. If One Zen Skill had not still been circulating, he probably would have thrown up right in front of the splendid plaque.
"Young Hero, are you all right?"
The two guards on duty were stunned at first, then hurried over. One reached out to support Wang Anfeng, while the other tried to take the Green Dappled Horse's reins. He was suddenly met with a fierce glare and froze stiffly in place, unable to move, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
"N-no need. Cough, cough, cough. Thank you..."
Wang Anfeng politely refused the guard who wanted to support him. He placed a hand on the horse's back and said with lingering fear:
"Horsey... you're really something..."
The Green Dappled Horse neighed. On its horse face, one could actually see a highly intelligent trace of smugness. The two guards had seen plenty of the world and were astonished as well. The guard who had tried to take the reins came back to himself, stepped back, and repeatedly praised it:
"This horse is incredibly intelligent!"
"A fine horse worth more than its weight in gold!"
The guard on the left, a man in his thirties, looked at Wang Anfeng. He had seen Wang Anfeng enter the villa that morning, so he smiled and said, "Young Hero, the moon has only just reached the middle of the sky. The Manor Lord has set up a banquet at the training ground. If you hurry over now, you won't be late. Many Young Heroes, as well as the young master who traveled with you today, are there too."
Wang Anfeng paused slightly, then clasped his fists and said:
"Thank you for reminding me, Big Brother."
He patted the Green Dappled Horse again and said, "Horsey, let's go..."
The Green Dappled Horse shook its mane. Though it had clearly been quite irritable moments ago, it now obediently followed behind Wang Anfeng toward the villa. Watching Wang Anfeng's back, the guard behind him praised him:
"What a spirited horse, and what bearing! They say he won nine matches in a row today, utterly unstoppable. Heh heh, now that's what you call a dashing rider on a fine steed!"
"You brat, if those scions of aristocratic families heard you, wouldn't they whip you with their riding crops?"
His companion glared at him, but the latter showed not the slightest sign of regret. The two exchanged a few more words in low voices. Suddenly, they heard faint footsteps approaching from not far away. The guard's left hand almost instinctively dropped to the Mechanical Hidden Weapons at his waist, and his sharp eyes fixed on that spot. The vegetation rustled as it was parted, and someone stepped out.
The two guards' taut nerves relaxed. Their hands also moved away from their weapons. The older guard on the left clasped his fists and bowed respectfully.
"Sir..."
Whoosh!
A fierce sound split the air, abruptly cutting off the guard's voice. Two streaks of cold light instantly pierced the throats of the guards on the left and right. Hot blood sprayed across the pillars bearing the plaque of Willow Catkin Villa, appearing all the more glaringly crimson beneath the moonlight.
"Hahaha, Anfeng, you finally made it."
When Huangfu Xiong saw Wang Anfeng arrive, he burst into laughter and waved him over. Wang Anfeng had carefully settled the Green Dappled Horse before Xue Qinshuang's former tower. Seeing Xiahou Xuan and Huangfu Xiong, he felt slightly relieved. There was also an empty seat beside them, clearly prepared for him, so he hurried over.
"You've got it good, kid. You left for an entire day, and the two of us were almost convinced you weren't coming."
Huangfu chuckled, then asked:
"So? Did you find Thirteen?"
Wang Anfeng paused, not knowing how to answer. He also had no idea whether the two men before him knew Xue Qinshuang's true identity. For a moment, he hesitated. Huangfu Xiong was watching him with a face full of curiosity when Xiahou Xuan, sitting upright beside him, raised his folding fan and smacked Huangfu Xiong on the forehead. He reprimanded him softly:
"Keep your curiosity in check. Is this fine wine not enough to seal your mouth?"
He then looked at Wang Anfeng with an expression of disgust.
"What a dreadful stench. The banquet is about to begin, so take your seat first. Wash yourself properly after it ends."
Wang Anfeng felt slightly relieved. Hearing this, he smiled sheepishly and sat in the empty seat beside Xiahou Xuan. The bowls and chopsticks were already laid out on the table, and a cup of clear tea gave off a faint fragrance. Unlike the others, Wang Anfeng paused slightly, his gaze falling upon Xiahou Xuan's table. A white jade teapot sat atop an exquisite brazier, giving off the same faint tea aroma. Xiahou Xuan noticed his gaze and sneered coldly:
"Looking won't make more appear. There's only this one cup."
Wang Anfeng laughed, clasped his fists, and said:
"Then thank you, Brother Xiahou."
After taking his seat, he picked up the teacup and drained it in one gulp. A warm current slid down his throat, then transformed into a hazy stream of energy that surged through his body. His originally aching muscles became suffused with vitality, as though he had soaked in a hot bath in the dead of winter. It was indescribably comfortable. Even his exhausted Internal force began to regenerate, becoming even purer than before. His expression shifted slightly in surprise.
Just then, Huangfu Xiong, seated to Xiahou Xuan's right, swept out a large hand. A long sword landed on his table. A design of a dragon roaming beneath the moon adorned its hilt. Facing Wang Anfeng's dazed gaze, he smiled and said:
"Today's matter was mostly provoked by my words. I can't give you anything for winning nine battles in a row, but you can keep this Dragon Roaming Moon Gazing Sword. A gentleman wears a sword. Even if you don't know how to use it, it'll at least help fill out your appearance. At worst, it'll make chopping wood a little easier."
Huangfu Xiong's words were utterly unabashed, and practically everyone at the training ground heard them clearly. Wang Bai's face grew even more livid. Wang Anfeng looked at the carefree Huangfu Xiong and did not stand on ceremony. He placed the sword on the table and smiled.
"Then I'll accept it without further modesty... But to be honest, this sword isn't particularly convenient for chopping wood."
Huangfu Xiong paused at that, then burst out laughing. "Exactly, exactly! Hahaha, it can only be used to fill out your appearance."
Young Master Xiahou rolled his eyes and sneered:
"Vulgar."
Clang, clang, clang—
Just then, the sound of bells rang out loudly, followed by a deep, lingering voice:
"Old Master Liu has arrived..."
Before you continue