Obtaining Top Art on Family's Extermination Night
Chapter 299 - 160: He Really Dared to Come!
The snow-covered road had turned into a muddy mess under the constant trampling of horse hooves.
One of the riders complained about the mud splattering on his legs from their wild gallop as he shouted to his companion:
"Anyue City is packed to the gills right now. Even if we go, we’ll probably come away empty-handed. Why are we still going?"
"When there’s no opportunity, you can’t even try your luck.
"So now that there is one, why wouldn’t we take a shot?"
The man on the other horse roared with laughter.
"Long Qingzhi possesses the Glazed Saint Body, and that Fang Shuwen... his reputation is incredible, and I hear his Martial Arts are truly formidable.
"But for him to dare come to the Northern Domain alone? That’s a death sentence.
"One of them has flesh and blood that can be used as an ingredient in medicine.
"The other one, to have reached such heights at his age... the secrets he must carry are beyond imagination. Even the tiniest scrap that slips through his fingers would be an endless boon for us brothers!
"With a prize like that on the table, are we really not going to take a gamble? Or should we just wait and watch while everyone else picks them clean?"
"I’m just afraid we’ll end up with nothing..."
"That’s where you’re wrong. You have to take risks to get opportunities. If we don’t even go, then we’re guaranteed to get nothing."
The second man’s words were full of swagger, brimming with confidence about their trip.
But just then, the swift horses beneath them suddenly reared their heads and neighed in alarm.
The two men leaped off instinctively. They looked back to see their horses, having left them behind, turn tail and bolt.
One of the horses, in its panic, slipped and fell right into the mud. Its hooves spun like pinwheels as it kicked frantically, then it scrambled to its feet and hurried after the first horse.
This left the two Jianghu people standing there, utterly baffled.
But they soon discovered the cause.
By the side of the road ahead, they saw a large, black-and-white beast with two people sitting on its back.
It was ambling slowly forward with a leisurely gait.
The two men exchanged a look. They both felt something was off, but in the Jianghu, one couldn’t be too timid or afraid of trouble.
Especially that beast up ahead—it looked so plump and round, with a big white backside that swayed from side to side as it walked. It looked endearingly clumsy.
’It seems... it doesn’t seem like a very ferocious beast?’
Thinking this, the two men simply leaped forward, circling around the two people and the beast to block their path.
They then heard the young man on the beast pat its large head and say with a smile:
"Fang Dabao, let me tell you, everything in this world follows a certain logic.
"For instance, I teach you Martial Arts, and you let me ride you. That’s perfectly reasonable, right?"
Fang Dabao couldn’t talk, so he just grunted twice. It was impossible to tell if he had been convinced or was protesting.
Long Qingzhi sat nearby, snickering to herself.
She thought, ’Fang Shuwen really seems to be quite fond of this Iron-Eating Beast.’
Whenever he had a spare moment, he would teach it Martial Arts, and of course, he didn’t let it slack off when it came to travel, either.
Just a moment ago, Fang Dabao had been a little unwilling. Why did he always have to be the one getting ridden?
And for that, he got put in his place by Fang Shuwen.
They were now in the reasoning phase that followed the punishment.
However, Long Qingzhi wasn’t just watching. She took a purple bamboo shoot from the large bundle Fang Dabao was carrying and handed it to Fang Shuwen.
Fang Shuwen held it to Fang Dabao’s mouth. The beast opened its massive jaws, and in an instant, half the large bamboo shoot was gone.
These were all collected from the bamboo forest on the day they met Fang Dabao’s parents.
Since Fang Dabao was ’leaving home to learn a trade,’ he naturally had to make some preparations.
He was afraid he wouldn’t get used to the food and drink out in the world, so he’d brought along some rations.
Fang Shuwen had found a large piece of cloth, wrapped everything up to make a big bundle, and hung it on Fang Dabao’s body.
The beast possessed Divine Power, so carrying it was no effort at all.
Even with two people sitting on his back, it was still a breeze.
The more Fang Shuwen looked at him, the fonder he became.
He had wanted a mount for a very, very long time, and now he had finally managed to trick one into joining him. He was pleased with his new companion from every angle.
The two Jianghu people in front had no idea what was wrong with Fang Shuwen.
Seeing that he and his brother were being completely ignored, one of them couldn’t help but shout angrily:
"You there, kid! Look up!"
Fang Shuwen was surprisingly obedient and did indeed look up at the two men, albeit with a confused expression.
"Why are you two blocking our path?"
The two men were furious.
"You damn bastard! How unreasonable can you be?
"Our mounts were scared off by your... by that big cat you’re riding! Thanks to you, we’ve lost two fine steeds! Don’t you think you should compensate us?"
"Oh?"
Fang Shuwen was in a good mood, so he humored them.
"How much money are you asking for?"
Of course, he had no intention of actually giving them money, but there was no harm in asking.
The two men exchanged a look, and then their eyes suddenly fixed on Fang Dabao.
"Forget it. We’re not unreasonable people.
"We see you’ve got a nice big cat there. It’s no match for our blood-sweating steeds, of course, but... give us the cat, and we’ll turn around and leave!
"Not only that, but we can even become friends.
"Once we get to Anyue City, we can even keep you safe."
Fang Shuwen was suddenly overcome with respect and hastily cupped his fist.
"It seems I have been blind to true greatness. Might I ask which of you is Zhao Kuangtu?"
The two men froze. That was not a name one claimed lightly, and they hurriedly waved their hands in denial.
"Don’t you spout nonsense! We’re not Zhao Kuangtu."