The Glory After Rebirth [ɇÇ”Ÿä¹‹Å°Šè£] Chapter 220- 222

Chapter 220: An Unsuccessful Hunt

If Yuwen Tong’s words were true, did it mean that the mastermind was really from the Wan Kingdom?

“But why do they want me dead?” Ling Zhang was thrown into perplexity. “Just because Shan Congwen was humiliated at the front gate of the imperial palace that day?”

Yuwen Tong shook his head. “Risking being tracked down to avenge a humiliation in a minor conflict? Shan Congwen won’t do such a thing as long as he’s not soft in the head.”

“Then why?” Ling Zhang was really very puzzled. How could they possibly benefit from his death?

“To frame somebody?” Ling Zhang himself shook his head first. Given what had happened earlier this day, people of the Wan Kingdom might not even be able to rid themselves of suspicions, let alone frame somebody else.

Yuwen Tong was also contemplating. Then he said, “Maybe this has something to do with the diplomatic corps of the Wan Kingdom’s long stay in the Great Yue. Since they have made their move, there are definitely traces left behind that we can find.”

Before this day, the diplomatic corps of the Wan Kingdom had been biding their time all along, touring the city every day, which had made it difficult to conduct investigation into their intentions, but now they had taken action, so there must be some leads they could find to inquire into this attack.

Yuwen Tong said, “Of course, there’s also a ten-percent possibility that the Wan Kingdom has nothing to do with this, but currently, the emperor is even more anxious to ascertain who sent the assassin than we are. The harder other interested parties try, the easier it would be for us to identify what we need.”

At this time, Ling Zhang came to a better understanding of the situation. “Was this why you had me keep the existence of the crossbow secret and provided His Majesty and the others with the assumption of a powerful weapon?”

Yuwen Tong nodded. “Yeah. With the existence of such powerful weapons in mind, the emperor, for one, would definitely suffer from insomnia, and he would also be bent on getting them.”

Ling Zhang squinted at Yuwen Tong. This guy was pretty sly.

Yuwen Tong drew him into his embrace and sighed, “Just now it was so dangerous. If you hadn’t reached the second layer of that mental cultivation method of internal energy…

Yuwen Tong didn’t finish his sentence, but he was clearly experiencing a carry-over of fear. He cuddled Ling Zhang close, unwilling to let go of him, dead silent.

Ling Zhang also hugged him. “I’m okay. Me cultivating internal energy is something of inevitability. There’s no ‘if’. Don’t think too much about it.”

From the moment he’d been reborn, the course of his life had been changed forever. After rebirth, he would want to take revenge and break off his engagement for marriage, which meant that his making Yuwen Tong’s acquaintance had been inevitable; his leaving Tanyang had been inevitable; and his living long enough to be found by his maternal grandfather had also been inevitable. Although there had been perils along the way, the prerequisite of all of them had been that the course of his life had been altered. There was no point making assumptions, and he didn’t want Yuwen Tong to bear any unpleasant thoughts in mind.

Ling Zhang consoled Yuwen Tong for another few moments, telling him that he would eventually get through these dangers unharmed. He also said, “I’ll grow stronger and stronger in the future, and I won’t allow anybody a single chance to do me any harm. I’ll go and consult my grandfather after we get back, and maybe he’ll give me some tips that’ll help me reach a higher level. Will you go with me?”

Yuwen Tong replied, “Sure.”

Ling Zhang, hearing that his tone of voice had returned to normal, felt a sense of relief and added, “Though the assassin was aiming at me, those people’s real target is definitely you, no matter who they are, so you’re the one who’s really in danger. This time we must track down the mastermind.”

Yuwen Tong’s eyes were cold and sepulchral. “We will.”

No matter who this person was, they must pay the price for this.

The two of them had rested for only a short while when Yuwen Jin and the others showed up.

“Cousin, Brother Zhang, are you okay?” said Yuwen Jin anxiously on entry.

Tao Yi, Zhao Jiusi and the others also appeared to be in anxiety. They first paid their respects to Yuwen Tong and then looked at Ling Zhang.

Ling Zhang said, “I’m fine, still in one piece.”

“I’m so glad to hear that.” Yuwen Jin heaved a sigh of relief and then hurried up to his cousin to check on him. It was after confirming that Yuwen Tong was also unwounded that he slumped into a chair on the side, raised his hand and wiped the sweat away. “I was nearly scared to death. We couldn’t go to the stands, and neither could we find out whether you were okay or not, and just now, before we came here, we were challenged for quite a while. Fortunately Guard Yao turned up and brought them here.”

Tao Yi, Zhao Jiusi and others didn’t dare behave casually as Yuwen Jin was. All of them were standing on the side, formal and unrelaxed, but their eyes were also on Yuwen Tong and Ling Zhang.

“Now the horse race has been suspended, and the principal has been summoned by His Majesty. There’s no telling whether the race will resume or not. If it doesn’t, maybe the principal will take all of us to leave after he comes out. We might not stay here long. What about you and Brother Zhang, cousin?” Yuwen Jin continued.

“We’ll wait until the guards conducting the search return,” responded Yuwen Tong.

Yuwen Jin said, “Can I stay? I just want to know who was so bold as to make an attempt on you!”

Yuwen Tong said, “Save me some trouble, will you? Someone wants me assassinated. It’s not necessarily safe staying by my side.”

“That’s yet another reason why I should stay with you – I have to protect you!” said Yuwen Jin.

Yuwen Tong looked at him, as if restraining the words that had sprung to his lips, a somewhat disbelieving look in his eyes.

Yuwen Jin, though finding the expression in his cousin’s eyes rather hurtful to him, still refused to compromise.

“Marshal, we have some kung fu skills as well, and I’m sure there’s something we can help with, however insignificant it might be!” Ji Feng ventured an offer.

As Yuwen Tong looked at them, Ji Feng and the others subconsciously straightened themselves.

“I appreciate that, but I can protect myself. You should stay close to the principal. Don’t leave the team for no good reason.”

It had been after summoning up all his courage that Ji Feng managed to make that remark, and it would take more balls than he had to contradict Yuwen Tong, so he had no choice but to obey.

“What about Brother Zhang?”

“I’ll stay. You guys may go back to the principal first.”

Yuwen Jin said reluctantly, “Fine.”

And then after another few moments’ talking, Yuwen Jin, Tao Yi and the others were escorted back to the team of students of the Imperial College by Yao Yi under Yuwen Tong’s orders. As expected, before long, the principal of the Imperial College and the president of the Oriental Rite Academy led their respective teams of students out of the hunting ground.

Then Yuwen Feng showed up, along with eunuchs delivering food.

“I personally supervised them preparing this meal. You and Childe Ling may rest assured that these foods are safe, cousin,” said Yuwen Feng.

Ling Zhang could tell that Yuwen Tong had rather mixed feelings about this. After all, currently Yuwen Tong was on quite bad terms with his uncle’s branch of Yuwen family, which was why Yuwen Feng making an overture made Ling Zhang feel that his forbearance was quite impressive.

Yuwen Tong didn’t decline Yuwen Feng’s offer. Instead, he invited him to sit down and dine with him.

Yuwen Feng, somewhat pleasantly surprised, thanked his cousin and then sat down with Yuwen Tong and Ling Zhang.

During the meal, from start to finish, Yuwen Feng didn’t mention any of his family members, not even his father. He just talked with them about this attempted assassination.

Ling Zhang noticed that Yuwen Feng seemed to have changed his attitude and given up on the idea of acting as a mediator shuttling between his family members and Yuwen Tong, but he had no idea why Yuwen Feng had made this decision.

After the three of them finished the meal, the eunuchs cleared away the bowls, dishes and meal boxes. After a short while, someone showed up reporting that the emperor requested Yuwen Tong’s presence in the stands.

Yuwen Tong, unwilling to leave Ling Zhang in the tent alone, took him along, and the eunuch delivering the message made no remarks about it.

The three of them went to the stands. The emperor and those courtiers clearly had also had their lunch, seeming in higher spirits. The reason why Yuwen Tong had been summoned was that palace guards conducting the hunt had sent someone back.

“They have an intimate knowledge of this hunting ground and have already fled,” said the King Duan.

Yuwen Tong was not surprised, for word got out several days ago that the emperor was going to come here to watch the horse race. Anybody intending to assassinate someone here definitely had scouted out the lay of the land in this area beforehand.

“I’ve decided to go back to the palace first. Mingyuan will be put in charge of supervising them continuing searching this hunting ground. What do you think, Aiqing (a term of endearment used by an emperor or an empress to address an official in feudal China)?” said the emperor.

Yuwen Tong replied, “That’s a very wise decision, Your Majesty. I second it.”

The emperor inclined his head and then gave the order to return to the city.

Ling Zhang staying by Yuwen Tong’s side followed the emperor’s guard of honor, heading for the city. Maybe because of the attempted assassination, apart from Yao Yi and other personal bodyguards, around Yuwen Tong were also many palace guards, who were clustering around him and Ling Zhang circle upon circle protecting them against potential attack.

Along the way, it was inconvenient for Ling Zhang to talk with Yuwen Tong about anything, so he just kept silent.

Occasionally he would gave Snowflake a consoling pat. What had happened on the racetrack previously must’ve scared Snowflake, but it was still willing to let him stay on its back and behave affectionately towards him, which deeply touched Ling Zhang. He decided to take care of Snowflake’s needs first after he returned, and he would also offer it some first-class fodder and a good bath as previously promised.

The traveling speed of the team was not slow, but maybe because the attack had cast a shadow on his mood, the emperor gave instructions to return to the city as quick as possible. Afterwards, Yuwen Tong was still summoned to the imperial palace by the emperor and had to leave Ling Zhang to Yao Yi and the others.

Though knowing very well that it was much more difficult to assassinate him in the city, and the mastermind, in order not to be identified, wouldn’t make another attempt, Yuwen Tong was still a trifle worried.

Ling Zhang gave his hand a little squeeze, told him to relax and then return to the Ling Mansion with Yao Yi and some others.

The first thing he did after entering the residence was lead Snowflake to the stable to fulfill his promise.

What had happened in the hunting ground had also come to the knowledge of other people in the residential compound. Even on his way to the stable, Ling Zhang was escorted by over ten guards. Though somewhat resigned, he raised no objection, for he knew that it was because they were concerned about his safety.

After feeding Snowflake some first-class fodder, Ling Zhang groomed it, which took him quite some time. Snowflake kept rubbing its head against Ling Zhang.

Ling Zhang, after bathing it, led it outside to enjoy the sunshine. It was almost dusk. Worrying that Snowflake’s fur might not dry off before dark, Ling Zhang wiped it with a piece of soft cloth.

He said to Snowflake, “It’s been a tough day for you. Though the horse race was called off in midstream, you’re still the best.”

The big thrill that he had felt when he was on Snowflake’s back in the racetrack earlier this day seemed to be coursing through him once again. Ling Zhang, eyes glinting, looked at Snowflake and said, “I’m sure there will be another chance in the future, and we will finish first place.”

Snowflake gave a neigh, as if in response to his words.

“You think so as well, right? I always know you’re a good boy,” said Ling Zhang, stroking its head.

After sunset, Ling Zhang led Snowflake back into the stable, returned to his house, took a bath, changed and then asked Yao Yi, “There’s still no news from the imperial palace? When will Yuwen Tong come back?”

“The Marshal should return soon,” replied Yao Yi.

As expected, Yuwen Tong came back before long. After return, he also took a bath and changed first, and then enjoyed dinner with Ling Zhang.

“The emperor wanted me to send some men to the Wan Kingdom to look into that weapon.”

Ling Zhang looked at him. “Does this mean that His Majesty has now fully believed that the Wan Kingdom was behind the attack?”

Yuwen Tong said, “He has a very suspicious mind after all. Even if concrete evidence is found, he would still suspect other forces, not to mention that all he has now is merely a conjecture. He’s anxious to find out what kind of weapon that thing is, so he couldn’t wait to ascertain the identity of the schemer.”

Ling Zhang bobbed his head. “He wants you to send some men to the Wan Kingdom to investigate… Surely you’re not going there as well, are you?”

Yuwen Tong shook his head. “No. I’ll have others do it.”

Chapter 221: A Pre-emptive Strike

Ling Zhang secretly heaved a sigh of relief in the knowledge that Yuwen Tong was not personally going to the Wan Kingdom. He suddenly realized that he couldn’t do without Yuwen Tong. The very thought of a separation of some time from Yuwen Tong made him feel upset.

Ling Zhang said, “That kind of weapon doesn’t exist. If by any chance the truth is found out, His Majesty would know that the assassin’s target was me rather than you. Would it be regarded as the crime of deceiving the emperor?”

Yuwen Tong said, “They themselves were the ones who drew the conclusion that I was the assassin’s target. From start to finish, that short bolt was the only thing they saw. Given the circumstances back then, if you hadn’t stopped and I hadn’t cut the second bolt in half, it indeed would’ve missed you, which is an unquestionable fact. The worst case scenario is they suspect us. Without evidence, nobody could accuse us of deceiving the emperor.”

Ling Zhang was still worried. “What if the mastermind is seized and then states their intentions?”

Yuwen Tong said, “Again, there’s no evidence, is there?”

Ling Zhang did a double take. Indeed, those people wouldn’t be able to show any proofs, because that short bolt was now in their hands.

After the two of them finished dinner, Yao Yi returned, telling them that there had been no message from the courier hostel so far, and news of the attempted assassination in the horse race had spread to the capital city. It had come to the knowledge of people in the courier hostel, but Shan Congwen, who was very poised, as yet had been behaving as usual.

Yuwen Tong asked, “What about those going in and out of the courier hostel?”

Yao Yi replied, “The diplomatic corps of the Wan Kingdom are the only customers staying in the courier hostel today. Shan Congwen hasn’t received any invitations and been in the courier hostel all day along with other members of the diplomatic corps. As regards people going in and out of the courier hostel, apart from a small band of people delivering food there in the morning, there were also a group of people going there to transfer goods at night. Both the two bands only stayed in the rear yard for a very short time. There were nobody else.”

Yuwen Tong queried, “Did you look into the background of those delivering food and those transferring goods?”

Yao Yi answered, “Yes, but nothing anomalous has been found so far. Tonight nobody has entered or exited the courier hostel except for the band of people going there to transfer goods, and the communication between them and staff members of the courier hostel were under our close watch.”

Yuwen Tong, after a few moments’ contemplation, said, “Shan Congwen’s being quiet is itself something abnormal. Keep an eye open for them. These days the emperor’s men as well as people of other sides definitely have all been staking out the courier hostel. Be careful not to be exposed.”

Yao Yi nodded. “Yes, Marshal.”

Nothing unusual happened the rest of the night. All sides were very quiet, as if waiting for someone hiding in the shadows to make their move.

The next day, Ling Zhang had to go to school. Yuwen Tong accompanied him there, and they paid a visit to Ji Yin once again.

The principal, after being informed that Yuwen Tong had come again, was almost as alarmed as the last time. Given the serious incident the day before, he started to fret the moment he heard about Yuwen Tong’s arrival. For fear that an assassin might show up in his college, he hurriedly had Feng Zhangshi instruct college security guards, who were few in number, to stay close to Yuwen Tong providing protection.

Ling Zhang, on seeing the sweat on the principal’s forehead, felt some sympathy for the principal who was clearly in panic.

The first thing Ji Yin did as he laid eyes on Ling Zhang and Yuwen Tong was also ask about the assassin.

Neither of them told him the assassin’s target had been Ling Zhang. After hearing their words, Ji Yin said, “It’s rumored that the assassin was sent by the Wan Kingdom. Was it true?”

Yuwen Tong said, “All those are just speculations. There’s no proof that the Wan Kingdom was behind it.”

Ji Yin inclined his head. Though Ling Zhang and Yuwen Tong’s arrival had come as a surprise to him, he was very pleased to see them.

Ling Zhang stated the purpose of their visit, telling his grandfather that he’d encountered some difficulties during the process of cultivating the second layer of the mental cultivation method of internal energy.

Ji Yin, after hearing it, answered all Ling Zhang’s questions one by one in the presence of Yuwen Tong and then said, “You’ve reached the second layer after cultivating for merely one month. There’s no need to hurry. You’ll naturally enter the third layer in due course. Your comprehension is very impressive, far better than that of any of your peers in the Millennium Pavilion. More haste, less speed. I suggest you maintain composure and take baby steps.”

Ling Zhang, after hearing Ji Yin’s replies to his questions, came to understand a lot that had been puzzling him previously. Feeling that he was seeing the light, Ling Zhang took Ji Yin’s advice willingly without any contradictions.

“Grandfather, it was Professor Gu who recommended you. Does he know who you truly are?” asked Ling Zhang.

Ji Yin responded, “He doesn’t. To his knowledge, I’m a scholar well-known in Youzhou. A few years ago he encountered a crisis in Shengzhou and I saved his life, which was why this time around when I asked him to help me land a job in the Imperial College, he came to my help without asking any questions.”

Ling Zhang gave a nod. “This is where you’re living, grandfather? I’m afraid people might find something out about your identity if you stay in this place for long. You–”

Ji Yin smiled, “There’s no need for such worries. If anything does happen, I can always leave and hide. You may rest assured that your grandfather is still robust and knows a thing or two about making himself scarce.”

Ling Zhang recalled what Ji Yin looked like when not wearing disguise. He was more than just robust; he was literally quite young!

“You know where I live, and given your kung fu skills, it’ll be very easy for you to find me. If trouble comes, please don’t hesitate to go to the Ling Mansion.”

Ji Yin inclined his head, very glad to receive this invitation from his grandson. “I will.”

“I’ve sent a letter back to the clan stating your request. It’ll take a couple of days for the reply to arrive.”

Ling Zhang gave a bob of his head. Even if he had got the permission already, he wouldn’t be able to depart for the Millennium Pavilion right away, for currently it was inconvenient for him and Yuwen Tong to leave the capital city.

“By the way, I heard that since yesterday the horse race was canceled in midstream, the principal consulted with the president of the Oriental Rite Academy and the two of them agreed that a second horse race shall be held in a few days. I think you’ll hear people talking about it very soon,” said Ji Yin.

Ling Zhang was amazed. A second horse race?

It seemed that the principal actually set great store by this horse race, probably because he wanted the Imperial College to win.

Unsurprisingly, after returning to the classroom, Ling Zhang heard the news from Yuwen Jin and others.

“It’s said that this time the venue is not the hunting ground in the western suburbs but a racecourse in the eastern suburbs,” said Ji Feng.

“A racecourse in the eastern suburbs? Is it broad enough?” asked Ling Zhang, privately mulling over another matter.

Those assassins’ target was him. Would they make another attempt in this race? Secretly, Ling Zhang was somewhat excited, having an intuition that this might be an opportunity to lure the enemies out.

“Yes. That’s a racecourse registered in the name of the General Zhongwu (AKA the General of Loyalty and Valor). It’s exceptionally spacious. The principal specially paid a visit to the General Zhongwu and also petitioned His Majesty before he could convince the General Zhongwu to agree to lend the racecourse to him,” Ji Feng said.

Ling Zhang nodded. He had once heard of who the General Zhongwu was, and had a general idea about why he had such a large racecourse to his name.

“This time His Majesty and those big shots won’t be there to spectate. There’ll be only students of our college and those of the Oriental Rite Academy present, so the mood will be a lot more relaxed, and the bet we made with Brother Tao and his schoolmates that day is still unfinished yet,” Ji Feng added.

Absence of those big names meant less tight security. If he were the assassin, he would definitely make another attempt.

Ling Zhang’s mind was racing. He had already thought of how he should talk with Yuwen Tong about his plan for catching the assassins this time.

“Have they fixed a date?” inquired Ling Zhang.

“In three days,” answered Ji Feng.

Three days was not too long, but neither was it too short.

…

“So what do you think?” said Ling Zhang, eyes on Yuwen Tong.

Yuwen Tong didn’t agree immediately. After all, this was too dangerous.

“There’s three days before the event. If it was really those from the Wan Kingdom that attacked me, they no doubt would take action again, for a chance has presented itself right in front of them. You and your men could take advantage of this opportunity to track them down as well, which I believe is a far better move than waiting passively, isn’t it? Also, we have a trip to the Millennium Pavilion to make with my grandfather, so it’s best if we settle this as soon as possible,” said Ling Zhang.

Yuwen Tong let out a sigh, looking at him. The price of settling this matter as soon as possible was to use Ling Zhang’s own life as bait, which was a decision he found it impossible to make.

Ling Zhang, who could understand his misgivings, said, “We’ll make watertight preparations. If that still doesn’t sound reassuring enough for you, I’ll have my grandfather go with us. With him protecting me overtly and you protecting me covertly, there should be nothing to worry about.”

Yuwen Tong was aware that Ling Zhang was trying his best to convince him, and he also knew Ling Zhang was right – it was wiser to launch a pre-emptive strike than to wait passively.

“This time we’ll be fully prepared. If we keep waiting passively not knowing when they’ll make another attempt, we might not be able to defend against their attack when it comes,” Ling Zhang added.

Of course Yuwen Tong understood this. After quite a while, he said, “Let’s do it your way.”

Ling Zhang smiled, “Then first let’s talk about the preparations we need to make. Tomorrow I’ll pay another visit to my grandfather.”

Yuwen Tong bobbed his head, walked into the study with Ling Zhang and fished out a map of the capital city. In the normal run of things, maps of the capital city were accessible to only the emperor, the commander of the city patrol and the commander-in-chief of the Palace Guards, so Yuwen Tong’s possession of this map needed to be kept secret from others.

Beside every mark on the map were minute notes, and there were even many secret alleys explicitly indicated. On seeing this, Ling Zhang came to know that drawing this map must have taken a lot of doing.

The racecourse of the General Zhongwu was located in the eastern suburbs. There was also a topographical map of the eastern suburbs, on which the location of the racecourse and its surroundings were also clearly indicated, but Yuwen Tong was still worried.

“Tomorrow I’ll pay a personal visit to that place.”

“Then you need to be careful not to be spotted.”

With the map convenient at hand, the two of them briefly consulted on the plan. Meanwhile, Yao Yi and some others were staking out the courier hostel. News of a second horse race between the Imperial College and the Oriental Rite Academy undoubtedly would spread through the whole city in no time, and maybe those living in the courier hostel would make their move very soon.

Of course, Yuwen Tong was also having other sides under constant watch, for after all, there was a ten-percent chance that the Wan Kingdom was not the one responsible for the attempted assassination.

No matter what, the truth would be revealed three days later.

At night, after Ling Zhang fell asleep, Yuwen Tong got out of bed, returned to the study and watched the map, his face somewhat apathetic, gently drumming his fingers on the table, pondering over something. After quite some time, he summoned Yao Yi and gave him some instructions in a quiet voice.

Yao Yi’s face slightly changed, but he soon collected himself and inclined his head. “I’ll do it straight away.”

The next day, Ling Zhang, under covert protection of guards, arrived at the Imperial College and paid another visit to Ji Yin, inviting him to watch the horse race that was going to be held three days later.

Ji Yin fixed Ling Zhang with a gaze, a thoughtful expression on his face. Ling Zhang held his breath, waiting for Ji Yin to ask the reason, but eventually Ji Yin didn’t ask any questions but just undertook that he’d be there.

Ling Zhang secretly felt a sense of relief, deciding to tell Ji Yin the truth after this matter was settled.

After Ling Zhang returned to the classroom, Ji Feng informed him, “Our afternoon lessons of this day and the next two have all been changed – we’re going to the Back Hill to practice riding.

“The Back Hill?” Ling Zhang had little acquaintance with the hill behind the Imperial College.

“There’s an open space there which could pass as a field broad enough for riding, though it’s not as convenient as a racecourse,” explained Ji Feng, “and there’s a wood there, which I think we’re going to circle around.”

Chapter 222: Horses on the Rampage, an Emergency on the Back Hill

There were open areas on the Back Hill behind the Imperial College, but they had to ride around a hillock, on which there was a small wood. Since the view here was just average, and the ground was rather bumpy, students didn’t typically hang out on this hill.

But this time, maybe because he had specially petitioned the emperor for resumption of the horse race, the principal had become a lot more competitive than before. Students were, in batches, taken to the Back Hill to practice riding.

When Ling Zhang and his classmates arrived, they found that there were some unfamiliar faces present, as well as some familiar ones, such as Jiang Yu and his followers.

Yuwen Jin’s face was the first to fall. Ling Zhang admonished him, “Keep your shirt on. This is not the right time to kick up a stink.”

Jiang Yu and his cronies had also seen Ling Zhang and the others. There was ill-concealed hostility in the eyes of both sides, but none of them made any provocative remarks as they had done previously. They just ignored each other’s existence.

Near the opening space on the Back Hill was a small valley with a brook flowing through it. Beside the brook were water meadows covered with grass which was horses’ favorite. A lot of students would lead their horses there for a stroll in breaks between riding sessions. Ling Zhang patted Snowflake on the hip, sending it to the meadows to have a saunter. Snowflake went there but for some unknown reason soon returned. It seemed to have taken an instant dislike to the valley and wasn’t even willing to approach it.Read more chapters at ReadNovelFull.com

Ling Zhang didn’t think much about it, believing that Snowflake just didn’t like walking with those “mediocre” horses. After all, Snowflake was of uncommon blood and would be the head horse if placed in a herd, so it was fairly haughty.

Half the afternoon passed, and all students were somewhat sweaty. A lot of them appeared rather tired.

At first there was something wrong with a student’s horse, which suddenly went restless and a trifle out of control. Caught flat-footed, the student on horseback, who had just finished the tenth lap and was sweating buckets, nearly fell off.

Someone on the side reminded him to be more cautious, believing that it was merely a minor accident, but unexpectedly, more horses grew agitated and refused to obey their riders, rearing and jumping uncontrollably. Worse still, some even started rampaging. Students on horseback failed to react in time, screaming in fright.

Ling Zhang, Yuwen Jin and the others, who had just finished a lap and were having a break, were not on their horses. On seeing this, they were all taken aback and hastened to their schoolmates’ help.

Fortunately for them, half of these horses, which had suddenly went fretful, had no students on their backs. Also, the riding instructors all reacted very quick. One after another, they helped those students dismount their horses, but those restless horses were still in fidgets and started running around madly in all directions. Some of them even hurtled into the wood.

“AAARGH!!! HELP!!!”

Cries for help came from the other side of the wood. Faces of students still suffering from the shock changed again. “Damn it. Some are still practicing. They are on the other side of the wood.”

Although a lot of horses had suddenly started fidgeting, there were also many horses unaffected, such as Snowflake.

Ling Zhang took a flying leap, landed onto Snowflake’s back and galloped forth.

The sight of this brought Yuwen Jin and the others back to their senses. They quickly went to their horses, mounted and followed Ling Zhang.

Some relatively bold students also got on their unaffected horses and followed in their wake.

The rest of the students were nearly frightened out of their minds. On top of this, there were horses rampaging all around and anyone run over or stamped by one would no doubt sustain serious injuries, so they hastily rushed towards safer areas. Riding instructors and guards were having a hard time trying to bring those horses back under control, their faces drenched with sweat.

Snowflake, galloping like the wind, soon carried Ling Zhang into the wood heading squarely towards the place where the cries had come from.

Distantly, he saw where the disturbance was happening. As he dashed up, a couple of students in their panic were running madly in his direction. When they saw Ling Zhang on horseback streaking over, their eyes lit up first and then fell fairly disappointed, maybe because they believed that Ling Zhang’s arrival wouldn’t make any difference.

“Those horses ran wild. Some were thrown off their horses and got trampled. Jian–Jiang Yu’s horse has gone mad as well. He’s still on horseback. It’s getting out of control.”

Though disappointed, those students still gave an account of what was going on.

Ling Zhang, with a frown on his face, told them, “You guys go back as quick as possible. Be cautious on you way back. Horses at the opening space have also run wild. Be careful not to be run over.”

After saying this, he yelled “Giddy up!” and tore forward with Snowflake.

On reaching the scene, he found that, unsurprisingly, half a dozen students on horseback were too scared to approach it. A black horse was chasing them like crazy, and they had no choice but to ride around trying to dodge it. A man was being dragged by the black horse, one of his feet stuck in a stirrup, unable to free himself, half-dead due to the mad horse’s dragging him.

Ling Zhang dismounted and walked straight towards the frenzied black horse.

“Stop! Don’t go over there!” yelled someone frantically.

Ling Zhang’s face grew serious as he mobilized all his internal energy and concentrated it in his right palm. While the black horse was charging straight at him, he stood still on the spot.

“Run!” One of his schoolmates shouted.

“Brother Zhang!” Seeing this, Yuwen Jin who had just arrived was thrown into such fear that his heart was in his mouth, veins standing out on his neck from the bellow.

Right at the time when the darting black horse was merely a couple of feet away from Ling Zhang and everybody present thought that he was going to be run over and trampled by it and die where he was, Ling Zhang made his move.

At this instant crucial instant, Ling Zhang threw a palm strike with all his might and hit the black horse on the head.

Bang!

In the moment when the black horse was hit by his palm, its skull shattered with a snap, as if it had just violently bumped against a wall of bronze or iron. Its neck twisted drastically due to its body that had been brought a few inches forward by inertia. After a brief moment the horse, which had breathed its last, sank to the ground with a thud.

All people who saw this scene were still holding their breath, dumbstruck, their eyes widened with shock.

What had just happened? They had thought that Ling Zhang would undoubtedly meet his end, but he had killed the black horse with a palm strike?

Right at the moment when everybody else was unable to believe his eyes, Ling Zhang had stepped up, freed the foot of that unlucky student from the stirrup and laid him flat on the ground. He was covered in bruises and bloody marks, cutting a sorry figure, which was indicating that he’d been severely wounded.

That person’s breathing was feeble but he still had a small part of his consciousness. He opened his eyes, uttered “Thanks” to Ling Zhang and then passed out.

Yuwen Jin had hurried over. “Brother Zhang!”

“Get him out of here right away. I’m afraid he won’t be able to survive without immediate medical treatment,” said Ling Zhang.

After saying this, Ling Zhang rose to his feet and resumed walking forward. Yuwen Jin wanted to block his path but knew better than to leave the injured on the ground, so he bawled, “Don’t go, Brother Zhang! It’s too dangerous!”

“I’ll be careful,” Ling Zhang replied, went through the wood and came to know what that student he’d just encountered halfway had meant by saying Jiang Yu’s horse had gone mad as well.

At this time, there were also a couple of students standing on the side, who were shouting in anxiety and fear but didn’t dare step forward, and Jiang Yu’s horse was in utter frenzy. Jiang Yu, face pale and drenched with sweat, was trying to regain control of his horse but couldn’t. After nearly being thrown off by the horse, he quickly clasped its neck in his arms, which brought the horse rampaging madly.

But what made this situation dangerous was that the area the horse had just torn into was a very dense wood. Though Jiang Yu was clinging on to the neck of the horse, his back was still badly scratched.

Ling Zhang arrived just in time to see the frenzied horse carrying Jiang Yu streak into thick woods. Quite unfortunately for Jiang Yu, his clothes were entangled in low-hanging branches, but his horse was still running, and for the moment he was unable to free his foot from the stirrup, which put him in dire danger. If nobody went to his help immediately, he would definitely end up being injured even more seriously than that unlucky student Ling Zhang had just saved.

After merely a brief moment’s hesitation, Ling Zhang dashed up.

Yuwen Tong had already helped him get his revenge for Jiang Yu’s previous attempt to frame him. Besides, this was a moment when someone’s life was hanging by a thread, and there was no time for him to give it any more thought. He swished forward and did the same thing he had done a while ago.

Blocking the path of the frenzied horse, he mobilized all his internal energy and threw a palm strike at it.

Bang!

With the sound of bones breaking, the neck of the horse unnaturally twisted to one side.

Jiang Yu had been stunned by Ling Zhang’s abrupt appearance, and with that he’d seen his horse, which was about to send him to meet his Maker, die at Ling Zhang’s hand after he gave a palm strike.

Unduly shocked, having trouble digesting what had just happened, Jiang Yu fixed his eyes on Ling Zhang.

The horse slumped to the ground. Ling Zhang, quick of eye and deft of hand, promptly freed Jiang Yu from the stirrup and then looked at Jiang Yu who was clearly in a trance. He furrowed his brow and thought, ‘Whatever. Let me just go the whole hog.’ He untangled Jiang Yu’s clothes from the branches and helped him to his feet.

Jiang Yu, drained of his energy, staggered, buckled at the knees and directly fell into Ling Zhang’s arms.

Ling Zhang, “…”

Jiang Yu, who was also terribly embarrassed, made an attempt to rise to his feet from Ling Zhang’s chest, but since his hands were badly bruised and riddled with cuts from his desperate grip on the reins, and his arms were stiff and limp as well, he was utterly unable to get himself to his feet. After merely a brief struggle, he bumped back into Ling Zhang’s chest once again and hit his nose, seeing stars.

Ling Zhang helped Jiang Yu to his feet. On feeling Jiang Yu trembling all over, he came to know that it was impossible for Jiang Yu to stay on his feet unaided, so he said, “Sit. I’ll go and get help.”

Jiang Yu didn’t utter a word. With a complicated expression on his face and Ling Zhang’s assistance, he sat down on the ground. And then, when Ling Zhang turned and was about to leave, he said, “Thanks,” in a low and deep voice.

Ling Zhang, without a pause, went to inform other students.

Jiang Yu watching Ling Zhang’s receding back recalled the close shave he’d just been through, his heart still hammering violently. Unable to regain his composure anytime soon, he simply leaned against the trunk behind him, not giving a glance at the dead horse on the side.

All the students brought back by Ling Zhang were among those who typically stayed with Jiang Yu almost all the time, but on this occasion many of his cronies were nowhere to be seen. Only a couple of them were present.

All of them were somewhat astounded at the sight of the dead horse and Jiang Yu covered in bruises and lacerations. The horse had died?

“Are you okay, Jiang Yu?” One of the students hastened up to Jiang Yu intending to help him to his feet.

“You can’t do this on your own. Someone needs to carry him on his back,” said Ling Zhang, looking at them.

Those students glanced at Ling Zhang, a somewhat complex expression on their faces. Though unaware of any details, they all knew that it was Ling Zhang who had saved Jiang Yu’s life. At this moment, after hearing Ling Zhang’s words, all of them were fairly at a loss how they should respond.

Eventually, one of the students carried Jiang Yu on his back and walked out of the wood.

Ling Zhang was walking in front, and all those behind him were as quiet as him, but for some inexplicable reason, they all followed closely in his wake until Jiang Yu was transferred out of the wood.