บท 3: Chapter 3 The Cursing Suxiang
Feng Jin did not hold refugees in contempt; those labeled refugees were almost always fugitives, beggars, or vagrants, basically the powerless, unlearned, and incapable "triple withouts." Becoming subordinates in the Grand Mansion, far from being a disaster, was rather a stroke of luck for them.
He had thought that the simpleton before him was just like the rest, with his greatest achievement being the ability to raise a horse, yet he had confidently articulated all these reasons.
If the Suxiang really were to die, as the housekeeper who had him captured, he indeed bore an inescapable responsibility and would definitely face repercussions. A brief suppression was one thing, but once he lost the young miss's trust, and with the subordinates he had once bullied waiting to turn the tables on him, the so-called losses would become unbearably heavy.
After giving Zhang Xuan a cold glance, Feng Jin narrowed his eyes and approached Suxiang, reaching out to touch it.
Not feeling worried before the touch, but after, his body trembled so much he could hardly stand.
Not just stiff, but damn cold…
You're telling me this damn thing is alive?
Alive my ass!
A twitch at the corner of his mouth, he looked toward the coachman not far away and saw him looking back, "Have you made up your mind, Housekeeper Feng? I'm just a refugee, unlike you, the esteemed housekeeper of Mo Mansion. It really isn't worth it to get into trouble over a refusal to bet..."
Although he was furious at being threatened to his face, Feng Jin also knew that the other man spoke the truth. He nodded immediately, "Fine, I'll take the bet. If you can bring Suxiang back to life, I'll take you to Baiyan Academy. If you fail… even if the young miss doesn't give the order, you'll be chopped into pieces and die without a whole corpse."
"Thank you, Housekeeper Feng!"
With a shout, Zhang Xuan slapped his palm on Suxiang's forehead, "Stop sleeping, get up quickly..."
With a twitch of his mouth, Wu Xiang called out, "Acting so theatrically when it's already become so stiff, I'd like to see how you salvage this…"
He spoke with such conviction that it seemed he had some great method.
That's it?
I could do that too!
Before he had finished speaking, Suxiang suddenly opened its eyes and, with a "whoosh!" leapt to its feet, "Hiss hiss~~" snorting vigorously as it shook its head and tail, full of vigor and vitality, not at all stiff like before!
"How… how is this possible?"
Feng Jin was completely dumbfounded.
If he had merely seen the horse dead, he might have had his doubts, but he had just touched it himself, finding no heartbeat or pulse. And then, just after the other man's words, it had sprung to life…
What on earth happened?
Wu Xiang was also stunned—okay, I guess I can't do that…
"How did you do it?"
He couldn't help but ask.
Zhang Xuan smiled and said the answer he had prepared, "Suxiang was fine all along, it just knows me well and was acting along."
The Way of Spiritual Awakening, whether it exists in this world or not, was better left unsaid for now.
Wu Xiang couldn't help but interject, "Impossible! As a young thousand-li horse, Suxiang is incredibly proud. Even the young miss has to coax it gently to ride it; how could it listen to you and act in your play…"
Before he finished his sentence, he saw the recently standing Suxiang Horse nuzzle its chestnut head against Zhang Xuan's leg, indescribably docile, like an obedient golden retriever.
Wu Xiang: "???"
He had fed the horse before; it was always snatching food and occasionally kicking people wildly. He couldn't stand it and handed it over to this guy, hoping the other would embarrass himself. After just a few days of caring, it had become this close…
Feng Jin: "Acting along with you?"
Zhang Xuan's face once again showed his simple honesty, "Yes… this fellow is very obedient. Just stroke its forehead, and you can become friends with it, then it will start to listen to you."
"Really?" Wu Xiang's eyes widened, feeling confident again.
"Don't believe me? You can come and try!" Zhang Xuan gestured invitingly.
Seeing Suxiang standing still, motionless and without any sign of life, Wu Xiang turned his head towards Feng Jin and took a deep breath after seeing the housekeeper nod, then approached the horse.
This horse was too important for the young miss. If he could also make it obedient, he knew well that his status in the Mo Family would be on the rise, soaring to great heights.
With extreme caution, he extended his hand towards it, but before his palm could touch Suxiang's face, the fiery red steed suddenly turned around.
Bang!
Two massive hooves kicked his chest hard. Before Wu Xiang could react, he flew seven or eight meters away and crashed heavily to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood with a "wah."
"You tricked me..."
Struggling to get up, Wu Xiang's vision darkened.
Alright, that still doesn't work...
He knew full well what was going on; the other party was obviously angry that he had snitched, allowing the horse to take its revenge.
But the horse's cooperation was just too good!
Just as he was about to curse, he saw Zhang Xuan and the Suxiang Horse not far away, both opening their mouths. Although no sound came out, he could clearly make out their lip shape—Idiot!
"..."
With a twitch of his mouth, Wu Xiang couldn't hold back anymore, pointing at the Suxiang Horse full of anger, "Housekeeper Feng, it's insulting me..."
It was acceptable for Zhang Xuan to insult him, but a horse? Was there no justice left in the world? Were there no laws?
Housekeeper Feng covered his forehead, "Shut up, do you not think you've embarrassed yourself enough?"
A horse insulting people?
Are you having a mental breakdown?
"I..."
Wu Xiang rubbed his eyes vigorously. The Suxiang Horse stood quietly behind Zhang Xuan, without any abnormalities, as if it really hadn't just opened its mouth to insult someone—it must have been his mistake.
Ignoring this man, Zhang Xuan looked earnestly toward the fat man not far away, "Housekeeper Feng, does the bet from earlier still count?"
"Of course!"
Feng Jin felt like he was on the verge of grinding his molars to dust, "Since the Suxiang listens to you, then take good care of it. Make sure to deliver the young miss on time for the assessment tomorrow, and don't delay the journey."
Knowing that to stay here would only lead to further humiliation, Feng Jin turned and left. When he was about to exit the yard, he looked at Wu Xiang, "Aren't you hurrying up?"
"Yes, yes!"
Wu Xiang nodded repeatedly, glancing back as he walked, still unable to figure out just what had happened.
Just as he was about to leave the stable, he saw from a distance Zhang Xuan slapping the Suxiang Horse on its face angrily, with a tone full of tough love, "Who told you to insult people just now? Don't you know the rules? Remember your place, you're just a horse..."
"..."
Wu Xiang rubbed his eyes again—Zhang Xuan and the Suxiang Horse were still standing calmly in their spot, both smiling at him.
"This is really crazy..."
After several misperceptions, Wu Xiang no longer trusted his own eyes, so he shook his head briskly and left in a hurry.
It was only then that Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief, "I bet this guy won't dare to say anything now, no matter what happens; nobody would believe him!"
The scolding of the Suxiang was naturally an act for the other party to see, the purpose being to make him doubtful, so that if any other issue arose, he would hesitate to lodge a complaint...
After all, the crisis was not entirely resolved.
Spirit Awakener skills can make a dead horse stand up as if it were alive, making it difficult for anyone to notice any issues for a short time. But dead is dead, and with the scorching weather of the late hot season, it probably wouldn't make it to tomorrow before starting to rot!
Once it starts to stink... even the most foolish person would realize there's a problem that can no longer be concealed.
Gurgle gurgle gurgle~~
As he was struggling with how to deal with the current situation, his stomach embarrassingly started to growl.
Having been robbed by that guy several times, he hadn't eaten for days, and after all this exertion, he was now hungry enough to eat a horse.
"Instead of letting it rot, might as well... eat a bit?"
Since the horse was already dead, instead of waiting for it to rot, it would be better to have a full meal first.
However... if he ate it directly, and if the young miss wanted to ride it tomorrow, missing a leg or an ear would be very easy to spot...
If he didn't eat, the hunger was unbearable, and if he happened to be the first ruler of the Source World to die of starvation, that would be even more shameful...
"Eating some of the innards shouldn't be noticeable, right!"
Soon, an idea popped into Zhang Xuan's head. He then walked into the kitchen, fetched a sharp knife, and threw it to the Suxiang Horse, waving his hand impatiently, "Carve out your heart, lungs, liver, spleen, and kidneys, roast them for me to eat. I'm too kindhearted to do it myself..."
Suxiang Horse: "???"
Are you sure that was human speech?
(New author, new book, please collect, recommend, give a monthly pass, tip, and promote — let me, Lao Ya, dance on the pole for you!)
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