"She's obedient enough. If she listens, then she can be taught!"
Zhang Xuan nodded in satisfaction.
This girl was arrogant and overbearing, prone to picking fights and to crying. He had no desire to take her on, but the significant factor in his decision was Dao Li.
After Suxiang demonstrated determination with death, her spirit had been captured with the help of the Moyun jade stone during his lament 'the living mourn the dead'. To resurrect her, he needed another horse as a vessel, and the one before him was the most suitable 'Chosen Horse'.
A thousand-li horse, strong-boned, battle-tested... from any perspective, it was perfect.
"Teacher Zhang, I have brought Dao Li to you..."
Upon his return, Liu Mingyue's eyes flashed with a cold sneer before she respectfully bowed with a fist cupped in her other hand; the coachman holding the horse hurriedly did the same.
Pleased, Zhang Xuan's gaze fell upon Dao Li, who was tall and impressive, majestic and powerful, with even more presence than Suxiang, standing out even among thousand-li horses.
"Teacher Zhang, since you like horses so much, why don't you take it for a ride?"
Seeing the intense look in his eyes, Liu Mingyue snorted coldly within and, containing her excitement, extended the 'kind' invitation while secretly gesturing to the coachman not too far away.
The coachman caught on, stepping back a little and discreetly signaling Dao Li with his hand.
As if unaware of their subtle movements, Zhang Xuan smiled slightly and approached Dao Li.
He had seen the horse the day before but from a distance; now, observing it up close, it was clear that the creature's body was free of any stray hairs, its breath long and even, its tendons strong, an obvious sign of great stamina and formidable strength.
As he drew near, Dao Li raised its head and neighed, as if encountering an enemy. Killing intent flickered in its round eyes – the coachman and Liu Mingyue could hide and feign innocence and even disguise it, but a horse, no matter how clever, could not conceal such a thing.
Capturing this hint of intent, Zhang Xuan understood their motive and smiled slightly, "I was too embarrassed to say anything before. Believing that all creatures have spirits, since it's come to this, I won't hold back..."
Once Suxiang's spirit entered Dao Li's body, the latter's spirit would be usurped, effectively erased... He had felt some reluctance before, thinking it cruel to kill another thousand-li horse just to resurrect Suxiang, but now, seeing this attitude, his sense of guilt disappeared.
You want to kill me, so my response is only fair.
With that thought, he wasted no further words. His palm gently lifted, touching Dao Li's forehead, and at the same time, his mind communicated with the Suspended Realm. The Moyun jade stone immediately appeared in his view.
The previous day at the City Lord Residence, he had taken his time touching Suxiang's belly, all to take this artifact into the new world. Otherwise, he would have had no way to frame Housekeeper Feng.
The Moyun jade stone was an artifact that could store spirit. It could even hold the killing intent from battle, so naturally, it could also hold spirit. Thus, when he let Suxiang "Demonstrate Determination with Death," he had already planned for a more suitable resurrection!
With a mental command, the spirit of Suxiang within the Moyun jade stone was separated and fell into the palm of Zhang Xuan. While touching Dao Li, it quietly entered the horse's mind.
In an instant, Dao Li's eyes bulged with shock. However, this shock did not last long before it dissipated, replaced by a surge of excitement and agitation.
The spirit of Suxiang successfully devoured that of Dao Li, taking its place!
From the initial approach to the usurpation of the spirit, it all took less than ten breaths. Liu Mingyue and the coachman by her side noticed nothing, especially the former, who saw Zhang Xuan approach, ready to mount at any moment, her hands clenched with excitement she signaled once more to the coachman not far away.
Understanding her, the coachman bowed with his fist in the palm of his other hand: "Teacher Zhang, if you want to ride, I can get the horse to kneel now. If not, there's a flaw on one of its legs I need to inform you about first..."
Zhang Xuan looked over.
"Yes, I accidentally hurt it while feeding a few days ago; I scratched its skin. With proper rest, it will recover completely in a few days..."
The coachman explained as he walked toward the back of Dao Li, soon reaching the spot he had indicated with a finger.
Where his finger pointed was concealed by the horse's body. To see it clearly, Zhang Xuan would have to move behind the horse. This was precisely what Liu Mingyue and the coachman had planned, aiming to make Zhang Xuan move there to be kicked by Dao Li.
Didn't you get recruited into the school for your beast-taming abilities?
Kicked by a horse, I see what face you still have to recruit students…
"The horse's skin has been scratched, which indeed has a great impact on its appearance, let me see..."
Zhang Xuan didn't refuse and took two steps toward the spot the coachman pointed at. Sure enough, he saw a fierce wound on the back leg of Dao Li. It wasn't too big or too deep, and it looked like it had been cut recently, clearly a trap designed to lure him over.
Seeing him really fall for it, Liu Mingyue's eyes sparkled with excitement as she gave the coachman a third signal with her eyes.
The coachman nodded, glanced at Dao Li not far away, and waved his hand gently.
This had been pre-arranged with the horse, that once this gesture was made, it would immediately raise its hoof and frantically kick at the Miscellaneous Duties Teacher.
However, after he made the gesture, Dao Li didn't move at all, as if he hadn't seen it.
The coachman and Liu Mingyue were both stunned.
Fearing that the horse hadn't seen it, the coachman repeated the gesture, but Dao Li still didn't react.
"This wound isn't deep, it should heal quickly..."
As if he hadn't seen their little signal, Zhang Xuan suddenly exclaimed, "No, there is something wrong with this wound, Mingyue, come and take a look, this doesn't look like it was accidentally bruised, instead, it seems intentionally cut with a knife..."
Called by the teacher, Liu Mingyue couldn't refuse and came over to look.
Knowing exactly what had happened, as she had cut the wound herself, she gave an awkward smile and said, "It does look a bit like that, but the wound isn't big, it should be okay..."
While speaking, she gestured to the coachman.
The coachman nodded and, fearing Dao Li couldn't see clearly, took a few steps towards the horse and waved his hands repeatedly.
That's when Dao Li seemed to have seen the signal clearly. With a neigh, it suddenly lifted its hind leg, and with a "whoosh!", it kicked out.
Before Liu Mingyue could react, darkness loomed before her as a massive hoof appeared right in front of her, blotting out the sky.
The girl was sent flying backward, landing with a bruised nose and swollen face on the ground, looking nothing like a beauty.
The coachman stood frozen on the spot.
He had wanted the horse to kick Zhang Xuan, so how did it end up kicking the miss? It was over now, completely over...
"Kicked the wrong one..."
Pulling Dao Li's ear, the coachman couldn't help but mutter under his breath. Before he finished, he saw the thousand-li horse suddenly turn around and present its hindquarters to him. Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on NoveI-Fire.ɴet
Without time to react and just like Liu Mingyue, the coachman was sent flying with a "bang!" and crashed into the ground not far away.
Dao Li called out excitedly, as if to say… I got it right this time, didn't I!
Kick it right my ass...
Her body trembling, Liu Mingyue's tears started to flow, beasts are just not reliable...