Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Attracting Flies
According to their understanding of the horse before them, it was surprising but acceptable to let someone touch it, but... lying down and letting anyone ride it, obeying the coachman's orders, was a bit too much.
"Could it be that Suxiang has really befriended you and understands what you say?" Feng Jin couldn't help but ask.
Yesterday, this horse had obeyed the other's commands and played dead on the ground, which caused him to lose the bet.
"Of course!" Zhang Xuan nodded.
"What happened?" Mo Yanxue looked over.
"It's like this..."
Feng Jin hastily recounted yesterday's events in detail, mentioning only how Suxiang cooperated with Zhang Xuan while keeping silent about the bet.
"Suxiang not only doesn't resist but also obediently follows commands, doing whatever is asked of it..."
Looking towards Zhang Xuan with a hint of surprise, Mo Yanxue's eyes revealed a trace of confusion, "Could it be that you're a beast tamer?"
In this world, there were indeed those with the ability to tame beasts, but one first needed to understand their Fate, accept it... and upon confirming the fragments of the heavens, could they display various special abilities, with unmatched talent.
These individuals each had profound cultivation levels, with one in a million, yet a coachman picked at random could do this, was it real?
Unaware of her thoughts, Zhang Xuan scratched his head, looking honest and simple, "I don't know what's going on, I just feel that making these Primordial Beasts feel affectionate towards me is very simple..."
If the Library of Heaven's Path could be used, with the help of Heaven's Path zhenqi, his beast taming was indeed strong, but now... it was merely the death of spirit awakening, nothing to do with beast taming.
If he was really proficient, he would not have been beaten into a panda-eyed mess these past few days...
Naturally, he couldn't say these things outright. Otherwise, not only would he miss the chance to go to Baiyan Academy, but he might also be killed as a monster, so he could only follow the other party's words.
Mo Yanxue was taken aback, "Very simple? Are there really people born with such ability? Why have I never heard of it..."
"Who cares if you've heard of it or not, isn't it great to have this ability?"
Yu Xiaoyu jumped up excitedly, the bells on her body ringing loudly, "My father just caught a Cangbai Eagle, and despite trying for nearly half a month, it hasn't submitted willingly. When you're done with the Source Pool evaluation, lend me this coachman to make that stubborn creature obey!"
"This..."
Zhang Xuan turned to look at Mo Yanxue.
As a coachman, he couldn't just leave at will.
Understanding his meaning, Mo Yanxue nodded, "If you can do it, helping Xiaoyu out is no problem."
Setting aside the friendship between close friends, the one they were helping was the city lord. If successful, it would bring great benefits to the Mo Family.
Zhang Xuan hurriedly clasped his fists, "Yes, Miss!"
Since he was part of Burning New World and could use Spirit Awakener skills, the ability to tame beasts should also be available. If he really couldn't refuse, then at worst he'd have to burn down a couple more mountains... of course, he'd make sure to secure the benefits in advance.
"Time is running out. If we don't hurry, we might miss the Source Pool evaluation. Xiaoyu, stop dawdling and get on the horse!"
Glancing at the position of the sun, Mo Yanxue spoke no further.
Yu Xiaoyu nodded, mounted the horseback, and with a soft neigh, Suxiang slowly stood up and walked out of the courtyard with large strides.
Seeing that this horse was different from before, Mo Yanxue followed closely. After a few steps, she turned her head for a glance at Zhang Xuan, "You should come along too!"
"Yes!"
Zhang Xuan silently breathed a sigh of relief.
The first step was successful.
Although Feng Jin also mentioned he would bring him, having the young lady speak personally certainly had a better effect. Most importantly, it deepened the impression, which would make whatever came next smoother.
Outside the Mo Mansion, a luxurious carriage stood still, built entirely of solid wood, very sturdy, and decorated all around. As the wind blew, the decorations jingled, making it clear without guessing that it must belong to Yu Xiaoyu.
The young lady sat on Suxiang's back, turning her head toward the following Miss Mo, "You can ride in my carriage!"
Mo Yanxue nodded and stopped in front of the carriage frame.
Zhang Xuan glanced at Feng Jin, who was closely following behind, and chuckled lightly, "Housekeeper Feng, you should kneel down to make a step for the young lady to get on the carriage, right?"
A carriage step is a stool used for getting onto a carriage, similar to a mounting block for horses. Having been deliberately humiliated just now, given the chance, he naturally would not let it pass.
Letting him get the better of me? Not going to happen!
How could Feng Jin not understand his meaning, his face turned extremely ugly.
As the chief steward of Mo Mansion, kneeling on the ground in public, what authority would he have in front of his subordinates afterward?
While he was still hesitating, he heard the coachman's voice rise again, "Just now, you said it would be an honor for Miss Yu to step on you, and now that the young lady needs to get on the carriage, why are you hesitating..."
"You... Of course, I'll make a carriage step. Haven't I just not reached the front?"
Fearing the other party would continue, Feng Jin forcibly suppressed his anger, took two steps to the front of the carriage, and slowly knelt down, his fat trembling nonstop due to the exaggerated motion.
Without saying much about their bickering, Mo Yanxue looked at Zhang Xuan again and stepped on Feng Jin to enter the carriage compartment.
"You, this coachman, are quite amusing!"
Yu Xiaoyu, standing to the side, had also noticed the friction between them. She signalled Zhang Xuan with her hand, a deep dimple showing on her face, "Come over to help me lead the horse. I'm afraid I won't be able to control it if it gets spooked!"
"Yes!"
Zhang Xuan approached.
This fellow's nerves were probably feasted on by himself, the possibility of getting spooked was close to none. However, he also understood her intention; she obviously took a liking to him and was taking his side.
And he was willing to oblige, it was also a chance to make his presence felt.
The handsome and lofty thousand-li horse strode ahead, and the bells on Yu Xiaoyu's body jingled along the way, attracting attention from many people.
However, when they noticed Suxiang's imposing manner and the luxury of the carriage, they all knew better than to cause offense, so no one dared to come forth and provoke.
After traveling for a short hour, a huge building appeared in their sight. The tall courtyard walls could not conceal the sprawling greenery. On the signboard above the gate, four radiant characters beckoned—Baiyan Academy!
Already, a crowd was gathered outside the gate. Most of them were boys and girls around sixteen or seventeen years old.
"Xiaoyu, you're here..."
Hearing the sound of bells, a young man walked over.
He looked to be in his twenties, dressed in ashy green, his face different but bearing a resemblance to Yu Xiaoyu.
"Brother..."
Yu Xiaoyu waved excitedly.
It was no other than the eldest son of the city lord and Yu Xiaoyu's brother, Yu Feng.
"Didn't I prepare a carriage for you? Why are you riding a horse?" Yu Feng was filled with confusion.
"This is a thousand-li horse. Ordinary people would never have the chance to ride one!" Seeing her brother fail to appreciate the horse, Yu Xiaoyu pouted.
"Thousand-li horse?"
Yu Feng looked closely at the horse before him.
There was no denying that the animal's build was indeed very beautiful. With its reddish-brown coat and a majestic and upright stature, it commanded great presence anywhere it went. Nodding with satisfaction, just as Yu Feng was about to speak, his gaze fell somewhere and he couldn't help but freeze.
"This fellow... why is it attracting flies?"
Following the direction of the city lord's eldest son's pointing finger, dozens of flies buzzed around the belly of Suxiang, as if chasing after a delightful delicacy of the human world...
With a twitch of his eyebrow, Zhang Xuan's eyes involuntarily flickered, "I forgot about this. Flowers may mask some odors, but these things... they just can't be blocked..."
Bees or butterflies or the like would have been fine, but flies... even the most foolish knew there was a problem!