Early the next morning, Huo Lei and Jin Shan finished breakfast, then rode away from Blazing Fire Academy on swift horses as Huo Feng, An Jun, Lin Yin, Huo Wushuang, Huo Wu, and the others saw them off.
Huo Lei and Jin Shan headed south. They did not travel quickly, for one simple reason: Huo Lei was not practiced at riding. Fortunately, he was a Soul Master and a quick learner. With Jin Shan's guidance, he soon mastered the basics.
Huo Lei urged his horse alongside Jin Shan's. "Teacher, where is Death Grand Canyon?"
"In the Star Luo Empire, between two mountain ranges," Jin Shan said evenly. "Once we cross the southern border of the Heaven Dou Empire, it won't be far."
"The Star Luo Empire?" Huo Lei exclaimed. "That's so far! About how long will it take us to get there?"
"That's hard to say. It depends on our speed. At the pace you're riding now, at least half a month."
"Then we'd better hurry!"
"Hyah!"
Impatience surged through Huo Lei. He gripped the reins in his left hand, cracked the whip with his right, and squeezed the horse's flanks with his legs, all in one fluid motion. His mount whinnied and burst forward.
A faint smile touched Jin Shan's lips as he watched Huo Lei ride away. He cracked his whip and swiftly caught up.
Huo Lei and Jin Shan rode hard for ten days before finally reaching Roman City, the closest city to Death Grand Canyon.
Jin Shan glanced at the sun sinking toward the horizon, then turned to Huo Lei. "Brat, we'll stay in Roman City tonight. Tomorrow morning, I'll take you into Death Grand Canyon."
"Okay," Huo Lei replied at once.
They found a hotel and took adjoining rooms, separated by a single wall. After