Unlike the shock of others, Zhang Xuan was relieved, "Since they've all gone back... does that mean I don't have to pay compensation?"
The sum of over thirty million Origin Currency was simply beyond his means to pay, and secondly, if he really had to take that many horses back to the academy, how could he maintain a low profile? Would the School Head and the others not immediately guess that his horse taming skills were not weak?
This wouldn't do, he had worked hard to conceal his abilities for so long, he absolutely couldn't let all his efforts be wasted!
Elder Chen Yun excitedly nodded his head again and again. As this matter was smoothly resolved, he too felt a sigh of relief. Without much hesitation, he took out a stack of Origin Notes from his pocket and handed them over: "Elder Zhang, this is your compensation for taming those 27 thousand-li horses, a total of 90,000 Origin Currency!"
"Patriarch Chen, Elder Chen, you go ahead with your tasks. I'll go pay for Dao Li's feed first, and then run some errands. If there's anything you need, just come to Baiyan Academy to find me!"
After taking the silver notes, Zhang Xuan put them in his pocket and smiled as he made a polite fist-and-palm salute.
With the reward he received for taming Scarlet added to that, he had earned a whole 100,000 Origin Currency in less than two hours at the horse farm. This was more than enough to buy feed for Dao Li for over a year.
"You're a teacher from Baiyan Academy?"
Patriarch Chen Xiao had an epiphany. No wonder he was so young, with good character and high quality, and also possessed such skill. He nodded in satisfaction and said, "I have been good friends with School Head Lu for many years. If I have the chance, I will surely visit the academy personally!"
"I am looking forward to your visit, Patriarch Chen!"
Zhang Xuan nodded his head, hopped onto the numbed Dao Li, and, with his servant, headed once more towards the "A" sector.
Seeing him leave, Elder Chen Yun couldn't help but look over with a puzzled face: "Elder, isn't the monthly salary for an honorary elder of the Chen Clan two thousand Origin Currency? Why did you mention one hundred thousand?"
Instead of directly answering, Patriarch Chen Xiao turned to look at him: "What price do you think this Zhang Xuan is worth?"
Elder Chen Yun responded, "Although his beast taming level isn't bad, he's just a young man in his twenties. Directly hiring him as an elder, and what's more, as an honorary elder, I'm afraid others may not accept it... The most crucial thing is, he has incredibly strong Horse Taming abilities, but if all the horses only strictly obey his commands, it doesn't help our horse farm much!"
"Discontent? Not helpful?"
Patriarch Chen Xiao shook his head: "Those three thousand horses just now, were they thousand-li horses, were they war horses?"
"Of course not, they were just ordinary horses..." Elder Chen Yun shook his head.
Patriarch Chen Xiao continued: "Since they're not... then just now when Elder Zhang spoke, did those horses strictly obey? Was there any slacking or dragging their feet?"
Startled for a moment, Elder Chen Yun realized the implication, his pupils constricting: "Does the elder mean... his way of taming can quickly transform a number of ordinary horses into war horses?"
War horses and domestic horses are entirely different concepts.
The former, once on the battlefield, face slaughter without retreating, confront combat without fear, and obey commands from their soldiers promptly and absolutely.
Domestic horses need who knows how long to be trained to achieve that level, and more than eighty percent of them, limited by talent, could never be trained to do so no matter what.
Thinking carefully, the extraordinary obedience of the 3000 ordinary horses earlier showed they already possessed the aura of war horses!
"Exactly! With this kind of skill on the battlefield, how could we not win? The most crucial point is..."
Patriarch Chen Xiao's eyes gleamed: "The price of one war horse is five times that of an ordinary domestic horse! This means that he just needs to casually tame them, and these horses' value would skyrocket... With such ability, who in the clan would dare to be discontented? A month's pay, not to mention one hundred thousand, even two hundred thousand, is that too much?"
"Not only is that not too much, I even fear it is too little..."
It was then that Elder Chen Yun understood the patriarch's intention, so moved that his breathing became a bit hurried.
No wonder the patriarch had calmed him. Such a man must be befriended properly, otherwise, just by helping others against one's own horses, with but a single command, the Chen Clan could be bankrupted.
"Glad you understand!"
Seeing the other's comprehension, Patriarch Chen Xiao nodded, surveyed the surrounding people, and looked towards Zhou Qun, Steward Liu, and others: "First Elder, give each of them ten thousand Origin Currency!"
Even though he didn't know why the patriarch was doing this, Elder Chen Yun did not hesitate and took out the Origin Notes to pass them out one by one.
Even though they were puzzled, Zhou Qun and the others caught the notes and looked over with fearful expressions: "Patriarch Chen, we didn't really offer much help... this money, we're unworthy of it..."
"I'm giving you the money to tell you, if you obey the rules of my Chen Clan, I, Chen Xiao, am very generous!"
Patriarch Chen Xiao's voice turned icy: "If you don't obey... I also have a hundred ways to make you disappear from this world without anyone noticing."
The crowd understood the underlying message, vigorously nodding their heads: "Whatever Patriarch Chen requests, we will not decline to comply..."
Patriarch Chen Xiao said, "Then let me make my requirements clear: regarding the matter of Elder Zhang Xuan taming so many horses in such a short time, I hope you all can keep it to yourselves, and not let it out. If I find out who leaks it, I can assure you that what I just said counts 100 percent!" Follow current novᴇls on novel·fiɾe·net
"We wouldn't dare..."
Zhou Qun and the others were sweating bullets.
"Hmm, you may go now!"
Patriarch Chen Xiao waved his hand dismissively.
"Yes!" Zhou Qun and the others left in a hurry.
Watching this scene, Elder Chen Yun was full of admiration.
Truly befitting of the patriarch, to handle those obstinate Horse Tamers with such finesse: first showing benevolence and then threats, a mix of the carrot and the stick, balancing favor with intimidation. There was no need to doubt that these people would certainly obey strictly, not daring to utter half a word against his wishes.
"First Elder, you as well, it's important that the skill of Elder Zhang Xuan remains unknown to outsiders, or it won't concern us anymore... You must keep a tight lip!"