Wang Shizhong was worried that his daughter would misspeak so he quickly raised his hand and glared at her. When he turned to face the others, a smile appeared on his face as he cupped his fists together and said, “Please don’t misunderstand, sir… Wild horses are difficult to tame. It must’ve escaped here from somewhere else. Since Cloud Mountain has tamed it, consider it a gift.”
“A gift?”
The words were rather unpleasant to listen to.
Lu Zhou could not care less about Wang Shizhong’s words; he only took it as a joke.
However, Yu Shangrong was greatly displeased by these words. Put aside the fact that his master was Ji Liang’s true owner, Ji Liang had helped him tremendously since their first encounter. Moreover, it was not an exaggeration to say Ji Liang had given him a new lease on life. He viewed Ji Liang as his comrade, a friend in life and in death! How could he not feel displeased when someone else insinuated they owned Ji Liang? How could he allow this?
Yu Shangrong turned around slowly to face Wang Shizhong. The usually polite expression on his face had vanished as he said, “Can you repeat your words?”
Wang Shizhong could, naturally, hear Yu Shangrong’s words that were rife with hostility. He said, “If I’d misspoken, I’d like to ask for your forgiveness, sir.”
Lu Zhou raised his hand. He looked at Wang Shu, who was seated next to Wang Shizhong, with a piercing gaze as he asked, “The horse’s name is Ji Liang. It’s my mount. Since when did it become your horse?”
“It’s my horse first! I went through great trouble to tame it, but this cursed livestock escaped,” Wang Shu said indignantly, “Forget it. I don’t care anymore. You can have it.”
Wang Shizhong cupped his fists together and said, “This is a misunderstanding. It’s only a horse. Why don’t we consider this matter resolved?”
“So, you’re the one who harmed my horse…” Lu Zhou had been looking for the culprits who inflicted those injuries on Ji Liang. He did not expect the culprit to show up at his doorstep.
Yu Zhenghai said, “This horse is my master’s mount. There’s no need for you to give it to us. Ji Liang is a wonderful steed among a million steeds. It’s blessed with intelligence. It only answers to my master. I’m guessing you wanted to claim it for your own and captured it when it was distracted and attempted to tame it, am I right?”
Wang Shu was shocked.
Meanwhile, Wang Shizhong’s expression changed slightly. However, he did not say anything.
Little Yuan’er placed her hands on her hips and said, “You’re shameless! Ji Liang has been with my master for a long time. How dare you say it’s a gift? Don’t you feel embarrassed? You’re a man, but why do you apply rouge and powder on your face? I’m going to vomit just from looking at your face!”
Wang Shu. “…”
It seems like the saying about women being nemeses of women was true.
Wang Shu swiftly removed her cap, allowing her long hair to cascade down her back. As her long hair fluttered in the wind, she said with slight contempt, “I’m Wang Shu? Who’s a man?”
“This is even more revolting! You’re a woman, but you dressed up as a man. I’m really going to throw up…” Little Yuan’er gestured as though she was going to vomit.
“You!”
Wang Shizhong turned around and said, “Shu’er, shut up.”
Wang Shu sat back down with an extremely aggrieved and discontented expression on her face. Perhaps, the children of the officials were all spoiled and lacking in discipline. They usually relied on their fathers, which certainly did not help with developing their intelligence. Most of them assumed their fathers would be able to solve all their problems.
Naturally, Wang Shizhong wanted to protect and stand up for his daughter. However, the times were different. In any case, she should have known when to behave. Hence, he hastily cupped his fists together and said, “It’s all a misunderstanding. My daughter is young and immature. She had no idea the horse belonged to Senior Lu. I hope you’ll forgive her if she had unknowingly offended you.”
Lu Zhou called out in an even tone, “Ji Liang…” His voice that was laced with Primal Qi quickly spread out.
As soon as Ji Liang heard Lu Zhou summoning it, it flew and sped toward the cloud platform.
Nie Qingyun, Xia Changqiu, and the others were shocked as they looked at the handsome steed speeding in their direction.
“It’s truly a one in a million horse.”
“This horse is extremely rare. It can only be found in the legends! I didn’t expect Senior Lu to have a mount like this.”
Little Yuan’er said haughtily, “This is nothing. My master has many more mounts.”
Xia Changqiu remembered Whitzard and nodded in agreement.
Little Yuan’e’s words naturally sounded grating in Wang Shu’s ears. She was always used to being the one who bragged in the past, but now, she had to listen to someone else brag. How could she not feel displeased?
Neigh!
Ji Liang landed on the cloud platform before he trotted over to Lu Zhou.
Lu Zhou pointed at the center of the platform and said, “Turn around.”
Ji Liang stood before the others and turned twice.
Nie Qingyun pointed at Ji Liang and said, The rear and the feet show signs of injuries. Someone must’ve healed it. It healed quite well.”
Those who had been on the battlefield could easily recognize a good horse when they saw one.
The soldiers standing behind Wang Shizhong looked at Ji Liang with eyes shining with admiration.
“Ji Liang, who else injured you?” Lu Zhou asked.
“…”
‘Is he talking to the horse?’
Ji Liang seemed to understand Lu Zhou’s words and neighed twice.
Naturally, no one else understood it.
Wang Shizhong said, “This is a misunderstanding. Shu’er is young, and she’s a girl. How can she tame a horse like this? This is all a misunderstanding!”
At this moment, Conch who was seated beside Lu Zhou said, “Master, Ji Liang said that her men were the ones who hurt it.”
Everyone turned to look at Conch.
Wang Shizhong regarded Conch with a complicated gaze. “Uh…” He wanted to protest. After all, he did not think it was fair to point fingers based on one neigh from a horse.
Lu Zhou, naturally, knew what was going through Wang Shizhong’s mind. He said, “Conch is my disciple. She understands the tongue of beasts.”
“The tongue of beasts?!”
The others were shocked by the revelation.
Xia Changqiu was filled with praise. “The ability to understand the tongue of beasts is a rare talent. I remember that in the red lotus domain, there was only one other person who possessed this talent over several millennia. Alas, that person died young and disappeared. The foreign tribesmen seem like they understand the tongue of beasts as well, but what they actually know are the methods to tame the beasts.”
Little Yuan’er said proudly, “Junior Sister Conch, show them your ability.”
“Mhm.” Conch raised the Lantian Jade Flute to her lips.
A mellifluous melody filled the air in just an instant. The tune danced on the cloud platform and spread out to the surroundings.
From the 12 peaks, the forests, the rivers, the skies, and the land, winged beasts and grounded beasts alike began to gather.
Conch’s Primal Qi surged as red energy flowed like water.
When the winged beasts heard the sound, they flew over from afar. Their bodies blocked the skies as they arrived in groups.
The Cloud Mountain disciples were shocked. How powerful would this ability be if it was used to attack a city? Although the beasts the young lady had summoned were weak, they could already see the bright future ahead of her. When she became a powerful cultivator, the beasts would be her most powerful helpers.
Li Yunzheng was also stunned by this display. Having read many old books, he knew how powerful beasts could be. He knew how great a price humans had to pay to fend off the beasts.
Soon after, the pleasant melody came to a stop after Conch ended the tune with a few rapid notes.
The beasts scattered, and the sky was clear again.
Unlike the sky, the atmosphere on the cloud platform was heavy.
Lu Zhou looked at Wang Shizhong and said, “It’s the father’s sin for not disciplining the child.”
Wang Shizhong said, “Senior Lu, it’s only a horse… I can gather all the good steed in Guannei Circuit and present them to you to atone for this matter!”
Yu Shangrong said disapprovingly, “You underestimate Ji Liang…”
“Hm?”
“Forgive me for being blunt, but to me, your life isn’t even worth Ji Liang’s life,” Yu Shangrong said.
“You…” Wang Shizhong had never been insulted in such a manner before. “Why must you force me into a corner?!”
“I have always been reasonable,” Lu Zhou said tonelessly, “You or her. Pick one.”
