Ma San Readies the Horse

By the time it took to drink a cup of tea, everyone had arrived before Prince Lin's Residence.

Looking at the residence, unchanged in the slightest, Lu Shaolin felt momentarily dazed.

"King Lin? This old servant Sun Ning pays his respects to King Lin!"

Sun Ning, who stood at the gate, froze when he saw Lu Shaolin, then dropped to his knees.

"Uncle Sun, there's no need for ceremony!"

Lu Shaolin came back to himself. With a stir of Soul Power, he helped Sun Ning to his feet.

"I'll go tell everyone!"

Sun Ning turned and ran into the residence.

Lu Shaolin smiled faintly and walked inside.

He had only just reached the front courtyard when a group of maids ran out from the rear. The four women leading them were Dong Jia, Dong Linger, Nian Chun, and Nian Qiu.

The instant the four saw Lu Shaolin, their eyes reddened and tears poured down their faces!

"I'm back," Lu Shaolin said softly.

"Wah... Young... young master!"

Dong Linger burst into tears and threw herself into Lu Shaolin's arms.

Nian Qiu followed, sobbing as she flung herself into his embrace.

Dong Jia and Nian Chun were a little older, after all. They stayed where they were, pressing their hands hard over their mouths to keep from crying aloud.

"There, there!"

Lu Shaolin gently comforted Dong Linger and Nian Qiu.

After crying for a while, the two gradually calmed down. Faces flushed, they stepped back to Dong Jia's side.

"Welcome home, young master!"

Dong Jia wiped away her tears and curtsied.

"Welcome home, young master!"

All the maids called out together and curtsied.

"Hahaha! Shaolin, you've been well!"

A hearty laugh rang out from the sky.

Lu Shaolin looked up. A Dharma Golden Dragon was circling overhead. The Xia Emperor had arrived.