[Wuxia] Embroidered Robes and Cloud-like Hair (Complete) - 20

Chapter Twenty-Four: Subduing the Horse and Becoming a Hero

Jiang Tiantao stopped, knowing he had reached the exit. He first listened intently; although he could hear women talking inside, it seemed quite far from the small door. He then gently pushed, and the small door opened easily; surprisingly, it wasn't locked from the outside. Peeking out cautiously, he first saw some flowerbeds and small bamboo groves, seemingly a backyard garden. Behind a clump of bamboo trees was a magnificent, ornately decorated vermilion-lacquered residence, quite different from the small courtyard where he, Huangfu Xiang, and the Poisonous Lady lived.

Inside the residence, the lights were bright, and several women's figures appeared on the snow-white window paper. The women's voices could be heard inside. Jiang Tiantao, seeing this, concluded that this secluded courtyard with its back garden must be the elegant residence of Shen Qifeng, the Golden-Faced Nezha. He wanted to go and take a look, but feared there might be spies lurking in the garden. However, remembering that the Poisonous Lady had escaped through this place, he also worried that she might be inside the residence.

So, he carefully surveyed the garden, and using the flowers, trees, and bamboo as cover, his figure moved like a wisp of smoke, already reaching the back window of the hermitage. He dared not leave any marks by poking a hole; he only needed to hear the voices to know whether the woman inside was the Poisonous Maiden. Listening intently, he could hear at least four or five people inside, and judging from their conversation, he determined they were all maids, discussing matters concerning themselves. Jiang Tiantao felt very disappointed and resolved to go back and wake the beautiful maid curled up on the ground, to find out how she had been drugged.

Just as he was about to leave, a maid suddenly exclaimed in surprise, "Where did Yuemei go? Why hasn't she returned yet?"

Another maid said in a shrewd tone, "Hmph, that little vixen! She's probably off spying on the young master of Jiugong Fortress..."

Yet another maid interjected, "Oh dear, I heard that young master is dashing and incredibly handsome..."

Before she finished speaking, several maids exclaimed excitedly at the same time, "Really! Let's go before the mountain lord returns!"

Jiang Tiantao was startled upon hearing this, knowing they were about to come out. He turned and ran back to the small gate as fast as he could. Entering the secret passage, he moved swiftly, thinking that if the maids entered the passage and saw the beautiful maid lying on the ground, they would surely scream and go to ask the mountain lord to release her pressure points. Suppose that he released the beautiful maid's pressure points now, and when she woke up, although he would be secretly shocked, he would never dare let Golden-Faced Nezha know.

In a flash, he was before the beautiful maid lying on the ground. Without hesitation, he stretched out his arm and palm, skillfully clapping her hands. He then swiftly retreated, slipping into the wall door of his own bedroom. He lifted the bronze horse on the ground, which immediately creaked. Simultaneously, the stone table, which had sunk into the ground, slowly rose, instantly returning to its original position and cleverly concealing the wall door.

Jiang Tiantao immediately held his breath, pressing his right ear to the crack where the stone table met the wall, intently listening for any movement in the secret passage. Sure enough, a terrified scream suddenly came from the passage, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps, gradually fading into the distance. Jiang Tiantao knew that the beautiful maid named Yuemei had awakened and fled in panic. He was certain that the maids who had been talking earlier would not dare to return.

Therefore, he cautiously glanced into the small hall outside. Based on the silence, he concluded that the green-clad boy had not entered again. As his emotions gradually calmed, his mind and intellect became increasingly clear. He was now certain that all the secluded courtyards and villas were equipped with peepholes and secret passages, but Golden-Faced Nezha might not have planted any spies.

As for the beautiful maid known as Yuemei, perhaps it was her own private action, not an order from Shen Qifeng to spy. Secondly, the Poisonous Lady's escape through the secret passage seemed simple, but it was actually part of a larger conspiracy. The Poisonous Lady was certain that the black-clad man who rescued her was no match for Jiang Tiantao, and after defeating him, Jiang Tiantao would inevitably search the hall. At that time, the mechanisms in the walls, the secret passages, and the peepholes would all be discovered by Jiang Tiantao. Placing guests in houses with peepholes and secret passages was a major taboo in the martial arts world; once Jiang Tiantao discovered the secret passages, he would certainly confront Golden-Faced Nezha and Shen Qifeng. As the saying goes, "When two tigers fight, one will surely be injured, or perhaps both will be wounded." In that case

, she would not only avenge Jiang Tiantao's excessive pressure but also appease the hatred of Golden-Faced Nezha for banishing her from the mountain. Jiang Tiantao, considering this, felt that the Poisonous Lady had ample time to restore the gate when she escaped; her intention in letting him know where she escaped was undeniably cunning. As for Huangfu Xiang's sudden appearance, it must have been after he left the hall, when she took the opportunity to ask the Great Flood Mountain Lord to go to the inn to rest early. Because Golden-Faced Nezha Shen Qifeng was the leader second only to the leader of the Three Hairpins Gang, he specially sent her to the back village as well. He thought that Huangfu Xiang, on her way to the inn, had likely asked the guide where Jiang Tiantao's inn was, and only when she discovered it was in the small courtyard next door did she decide to change clothes and come to provoke him. Perhaps, before coming to the courtyard, she had heard his struggle and the Poisonous Lady's cries, and therefore, in her willfulness, deliberately let the Poisonous Lady go.

The thought of the escaped Poisonous Woman ignited a surge of anger in Jiang Tiantao's heart, along with a hidden anxiety about where he could find that vile woman. Lost in thought, he pulled the covers over himself, completely losing interest in the martial arts tournament the next morning and the competition for the "Jade Lion." His frustration and anguish eventually caused him to drift off to sleep.

He didn't know how much time had passed when a deafening bell rang out, its sound echoing through the mountains and reaching the night sky. Jiang Tiantao awoke with a start, threw back the covers, and sat up abruptly. He rushed to the door and saw that the small hall was still brightly lit, but he had no idea what time it was. Just then, a young boy in green rushed in from the side room, looking flustered.

Upon seeing Jiang Tiantao, the young boy immediately reported respectfully, "Reporting to the young master, the heroes who camped halfway up the mountain have begun to enter the stronghold."

Jiang Tiantao asked urgently, "What time is it now?" The

boy replied respectfully, "It's already dawn."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Tiantao immediately ordered, "Quickly fetch water for washing your face." The boy respectfully agreed and turned to run down the hall steps.

Jiang Tiantao stepped outside the hall and felt the fresh air and cool breeze on his face. Looking up at the night sky, he saw only the morning star and the waning moon, not a single cloud in sight. He unconsciously glanced at the right courtyard and found it quiet and dimly lit; Huangfu Xiang seemed not to have gotten up yet. As he was observing, the boy brought water, and then two middle-aged men brought in a sumptuous breakfast.

At this moment, the second bell rang. Jiang Tiantao quickly washed up and ate breakfast immediately.

A moment later, a figure flashed at the courtyard gate. Meng Lechang, the leader of the Red Flag Altar and an old man in purple robes, led representatives from the three altars in, all smiles as they hurried in. Upon seeing him, Jiang Tiantao immediately stood up and greeted them with a smile as he led them out of the hall.

Upon seeing Jiang Tiantao, Meng Lechang, the leader of the Red Flag Altar and an old man in purple robes, immediately stopped. After the representatives of the three altars behind him stood at attention, he clasped his hands in a respectful greeting and said, "The martial arts competition is about to begin. On behalf of our mountain lord, I, along with one leader from each of the three altars, respectfully invite the young fortress master to attend and provide guidance."

Jiang Tiantao returned the greeting with a humble smile and said, "I will go when the time comes; there's no need for you four to come."

Meng Lechang hurriedly added, "The banquet has just ended, and my mountain lord still needs to personally supervise the setup of the venue. I cannot personally invite you; I hope the young fortress master will forgive me."

Jiang Tiantao laughed heartily and said, "Not at all, not at all. Mountain Lord Shen is too polite. Since the time has come, let's go!" With that, he stepped down the hall steps, and the four men, including Meng Lechang, quickly moved to either side, following closely behind Jiang Tiantao, heading towards the courtyard gate.

Outside, the lights were bright, but the place remained deserted, with no one in sight. As Jiang Tiantao passed Huangfu Xiang's courtyard, he peeked inside and noticed that most of the lights were off, and the atmosphere was very quiet. He concluded that Huangfu Xiang had already left. Just then, he heard the purple-robed elder, Meng Rongchang, say regretfully, "Miss Huangfu suddenly went down the mountain around midnight last night."

Jiang Tiantao was startled and immediately asked, "What for?"

Meng Rongchang smiled awkwardly and said, "According to Miss Huangfu Xiang herself, she suddenly remembered a very important matter concerning the gang that she had to decide personally. Because time was extremely urgent, she had to rush back to Dongliang Mountain overnight." Jiang Tiantao understood immediately, but feigned ignorance and simply said "Oh," before continuing on his way.

At this time, the morning stars were sparse, the moon had already set in the west, and dawn was breaking in the east. The sounds of a bustling crowd could be faintly heard from the direction of the village gate. Jiang Tiantao, while advancing, was also thinking about how to slip away, but remembering that Zhu Caidie and Zhang Shitou were still with him, he hesitated to leave. Passing two courtyards and several rows of long houses, he arrived at the imposing and magnificent main hall.

The hall was filled with people, brightly lit, and bursts of hearty laughter could be heard from time to time. When Jiang Tiantao was still seven or eight zhang away from the back hall door, he saw Golden-Faced Nezha and his group come out to greet him. Zhao Peifeng, Wei Changshun, the middle-aged scholar Chen Yun, and other leaders of the various levels of Dahong Mountain were all radiant and excited, seemingly a little tipsy, but Zhu Caidie and Zhang Shitou were nowhere to be seen. Upon seeing Golden-Faced Nezha and the others, Jiang Tiantao immediately quickened his pace slightly, and a humble smile appeared on his handsome face.

Golden-Faced Nezha clasped his hands in a fist salute and laughed heartily, "Young Master, you look radiant! You must have slept well last night."

Jiang Tiantao had no time to consider whether Golden-Faced Nezha already knew what had happened the previous night, but he had a principle: if Golden-Faced Nezha didn't ask, he wouldn't say a word. Seeing Golden-Faced Nezha ask with a hearty laugh, he quickly clasped his hands in a fist salute and said with a smile, "The Mountain Lord is right. I only woke up from my dream when the bell rang just now." Upon hearing this, everyone burst into laughter.

Jiang Tiantao walked closer and greeted Zhao Peifeng, Wei Changshun, and the others. Entering the hall, the remaining dishes had already been cleared away, and the heroes who had attended the all-night feast had already left the hall. Jiang Tiantao, concerned about Zhu Caidie and Zhang Shitou, went to the back of the hall alone and saw Zhang Shitou, completely drunk, curled up in a drunken chair, his mouth agape, making a rumbling noise. But the beautiful and cunning Zhu Caidie was still not in the hall, presumably having gone to the hotel to rest. Having discovered Zhang Shitou, Jiang Tiantao felt much relieved. He even hoped that Zhang Shitou would feign drunkenness and give up on subduing the wild "Thunder Leopard."

Just then, the third bell rang, its sound shaking the hall and deafening. Immediately, a commotion of people and the neighing of horses erupted from the square outside the hall. The Golden-Faced Nezha immediately clasped his hands and laughed heartily, saying, "The martial arts competition is about to begin. Please take your seats on the platform in front of the hall." As he spoke, he glanced at Zhao Peifeng and the others, and then specifically gestured to Jiang Tiantao with a respectful gesture of invitation.

Just as everyone was leaving the inner hall, a panicked shout suddenly arose behind them. Jiang Tiantao looked in the direction of the sound, his starry eyes suddenly brightening. He didn't know when, but Zhu Caidie was already standing in front of Zhang Shitou's drunken chair, and the intoxicated Zhang Shitou had just jumped down from the chair. When Zhu Caidie saw Jiang Tiantao looking at her, her face darkened, and she looked up at the gauze lanterns hanging in the hall, presumably still unhappy about Huangfu Xiang's matter.

Jiang Tiantao smiled helplessly, thinking that Butterfly Sister was really petty, and walked straight towards the hall door. Golden-Faced Nezha, Divine Whip Zhao Peifeng, and the others, seeing this, were all puzzled as to what this unmarried young couple was arguing about.

Before even reaching the hall door, they saw several rows of seats arranged on the platform outside, and many heroes had already found their seats. By this time, dawn had broken, and distant mountains and nearby peaks were all bathed in the misty light of day.

Jiang Tiantao stepped out of the hall, his starry eyes sweeping across the square, and his heart skipped a beat. He saw a sea of people, surrounded by heroes from all over the land, a cacophony of voices, a surging, and incredibly imposing scene. In the center of the square, a large open space nearly a hundred feet long and several tens of feet wide was enclosed by a red rope. Within the space were high railings, deep moats, and narrow, deep, sharp passageways, presumably for martial arts competitions. In the center of the open field, there was a small arena, roughly eighty or ninety feet in diameter, marked by a white circle. On either side stood a weapon display, filled with various weapons. This small circle was presumably for the heroes to compete.

Jiang Tiantao, surveying the area, arrived at the front row of the grand chairs draped in brocade robes. The Golden-Faced Nezha immediately gestured for him to sit. Knowing that modesty was pointless, Jiang Tiantao readily accepted the chair. However, the second chair beside him belonged to the beautiful Butterfly Sister, whom the Golden-Faced Nezha had so earnestly invited. Zhu Caidie sat down without any hesitation. At the same time, anyone could see that she sat beside Jiang Tiantao with undisguised delight.

Only after Zhao Peifeng and the other prominent figures in the back rows had taken their places did the Golden-Faced Nezha return to his own grand chair. By this time, a sliver of dawn had appeared on the eastern horizon, making the entire scene and the faces and clothing of the heroes in the distance clearly visible. The vast, flat, green valley, from the sides of the main hall's platform to the entire area, was packed with heroes from all walks of life who had come to watch the spectacle. At first glance, there seemed to be no fewer than four or five thousand people.

The Golden-Faced Nezha, heavily intoxicated, glanced around. The clamor of the crowd, and the surrounding heroes, seemed surprised by the sheer number of people. He stood before his large chair, his expression solemn, a hint of smugness in his eyes, and slowly raised his right hand. Just as the Golden-Faced Nezha slowly raised his hand, a clear, sharp horn sounded in the air behind him, accompanied by the rapid beating of drums.

Jiang Tiantao and the others turned around and saw dozens of horn and drummers standing side by side on the towering ridge of the outer hall, all dressed in bright, uniform attire. At this moment, the thousands of heroes in the square fell silent, their gazes, like a sea of stars, all focused on the Golden-Faced Nezha. As

soon as the crowd quieted down, the Golden-Faced Nezha abruptly lowered his hand, and the horn and drum sounds ceased abruptly. Then, his eyes flashed with a sharp light as he slowly scanned the entire audience, before proclaiming loudly, "Before the martial arts tournament begins, I, Shen Qifeng, would first like to thank all the seniors, friends, and heroes who have graced our mountain

with their presence." He then clasped his hands above his head and shook them repeatedly. Upon seeing this, the crowd erupted in enthusiastic applause and murmurs. Golden-Faced Nezha lowered his hands, and once the applause subsided, he continued, "As for the rules and regulations for this martial arts gathering, I am confident that you have all already read the notice issued by our mountain to all heroes, therefore, I will not repeat them here." He paused, and the crowd began whispering amongst themselves, clearly indicating that many had not yet seen the notice.

Golden-Faced Nezha continued, "Before the gathering begins, I would like to extend a special invitation to our mountain's first guest to meet with everyone." At this, the noise in the hall immediately subsided, and all eyes returned to Golden-Faced Nezha.

Jiang Tiantao knew that the Golden-Faced Nezha was referring to him. Although he felt slightly displeased, he thought it was a rare opportunity to meet so many heroes from all over the land. Before he could finish his thought, the Golden-Faced Nezha had already gestured for him to proceed. Jiang Tiantao nodded and smiled modestly, naturally rising from his chair.

At this moment, the silent crowd of heroes immediately stirred with commotion and murmurs upon seeing Jiang Tiantao stand up. The Golden-Faced Nezha glanced at the entire crowd with a knowing smile, then raised his voice, saying, "Gentlemen, this young hero in blue robes, a scholar's cap, and the Radiant Star Sword is none other than Jiang Tiantao, the only son of the revered and highly respected Jiang Tiantao, the Land Dragon Hero, and the newly appointed Young Master of Jiugong Fortress."

As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd shimmered, heads twitched, and suddenly erupted in a thunderous cheer, shaking the mountains and valleys, resounding like the echoing of bows and the chimes of the peaks. Just as the heroes cheered, a sudden burst of dawn light appeared on the eastern horizon, bathing the entire mountain in a golden glow. Jiang Tiantao, witnessing this overwhelming display of enthusiasm, felt his blood surge and his expression become excited, his whole body boiling with excitement. He knew that the heroes' fervor stemmed entirely from their admiration and support for his father, Jiang Haohai, but it also stirred within him a surge of ambition and pride.

In a moment, he clasped his hands above his head in gratitude for the enthusiastic cheers from the surrounding heroes. Shen Qifeng, the Golden-Faced Nezha, though the lord of a mountain, had never witnessed such a unified cheer, and a pang of envy rose in his heart! At the same time, compared to the heroes of the Three Mountains and Five Peaks, he, the lord of a mountain, was utterly insignificant, and a sense of shame and inferiority arose within him.

Zhao Peifeng, the Divine Whip, watched all this with a smile in his heart. Thinking of his younger brother Jiang Haohai, with such a son, he felt utterly gratified, and his wish had been fulfilled.

Zhu Caidie, whose face had always been frosty, smiled for the first time like a lily in bloom, her expression revealing boundless pride. For Jiang Tiantao, whom she had deeply loved since the dawn of her heart, was now a renowned figure in the martial arts world, famous throughout the land.

Jiang Tiantao lowered his hands, seeing that the cheers of thousands of heroes continued unabated, and could only clasp his hands above his head again to thank the crowd for their hospitality. In this situation, he couldn't say anything, as he was also a participant in the gathering, only being honored as the first guest by the Golden-Faced Nezha because he was the lord of a fortress. The thunderous cheers of the crowd finally subsided, and Jiang Tiantao slowly sat down. When he saw Zhu Caidie beside him, her cherry lips blooming in a radiant smile, his previously depressed mood instantly lifted, and he nodded and smiled, the misunderstanding cleared up.

At this moment, the Golden-Faced Nezha announced loudly again: "The martial arts gathering will now begin immediately, but before the first horsemanship event, I would like to ask you all to see something." As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd fell silent, all eyes turning to Shen Qifeng in confusion.

Then, the Golden-Faced Nezha, Shen Qifeng, waved his hand to the left, and a deep shout immediately came from behind the crowd several dozen feet away. A crisp crack of a whip rang out, followed by the heavy thud of wheels. Through the gap created by the parting crowd, four snow-white horses pulled a large, four-wheeled cart. On the cart lay a colossal object covered in red silk, its vibrant color and striking contrast against the rising sun. On either side of the cart stood ten burly men, chests puffed out and bellies protruding, exuding an air of arrogance.

Two drivers at the front wielded twelve-foot-long whips, lashing them through the air while shouting commands. The four snow-white horses, heads held high and neighing angrily, galloped faster and faster, circling a small semi-circle before rushing towards the hall steps. At this moment, although there were thousands of people present, an absolute silence fell over the crowd; apart from the rumble of the wheels, no other sound could be heard. Jiang Tiantao frowned slightly, momentarily unable to discern what was covered by the red silk.

The charioteer skillfully parked the large carriage before the hall steps, then rose, faced the Golden-Faced Nezha Shen Qifeng, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and proclaimed loudly, "The Jade Lion has arrived; we respectfully request the Mountain Lord's decision."

Zhao Peiqi and the others were stunned upon hearing this, and a commotion immediately arose among the surrounding heroes. The Golden-Faced Nezha smiled smugly and immediately ordered, "Remove the red silk." As soon as he finished speaking, the two rows of burly men standing on the carriage bowed simultaneously, responded loudly, and then tore down the twelve-foot-wide red silk.

Upon seeing this, the heroes' eyes lit up, and many exclaimed in surprise! On the carriage lay a pure white Jade Lion, weighing about a thousand pounds, holding a ball. The Jade Lion's eyes were wide open in anger, its mouth agape, looking extremely fierce, but its claws, teeth, and tail had all fallen off or eroded, and the long fur on its neck was no longer clearly visible.

The Golden-Faced Nezha continued loudly, "Gentlemen, this jade lion is the one I found on the cliff of this mountain. Now, I invite you all to witness for yourselves whether unparalleled martial arts are inscribed on its body." Upon hearing this, the crowd stirred with another commotion and discussion.

The Golden-Faced Nezha turned to Jiang Tiantao, Zhao Peifeng, and the others, gave a slight bow, and asked with a deliberately humble smile, "Would you like to come down the steps and take a look?"

Judging from the erosion of the lion's body, anyone could see that even if there were any inscriptions, they would likely be too blurred to read. Therefore, they all humbly shook their heads and said in unison, "No need."

The Golden-Faced Nezha smiled smugly to himself, then waved his hand sharply to the two charioteers on the carriage and shouted loudly, "Circle the arena once!" The two charioteers respectfully responded, cracked their whips, and with a crack of the whip, all four horses neighed and galloped away along the red rope.

Jiang Tiantao had no interest in watching the pointless circling of the arena, so he smiled warmly at Zhu Caidie beside him and asked in a low voice, "Die-mei, what brings you and Brother Zhang Shitou here from Fanjing Mountain to attend Master Shen's martial arts gathering?"

Zhu Caidie smiled happily and said softly, "We were sent by our master to visit Master Wuzhen at Tianmen, and we only came here after that."

Jiang Tiantao nodded in understanding. At this moment, the four-horse carriage carrying the jade lion that had circled the arena returned to the hall. Seeing that there was no way to continue the conversation, Jiang Tiantao shook his head, feeling much better, and hurriedly said, "We'll take our leave around noon and return to Fanjing Mountain together."

Zhu Caidie was overjoyed upon hearing this, looking at Jiang Tiantao affectionately and agreeing repeatedly. Then, the two of them simultaneously looked at the silent Zhang Shitou, and upon seeing him, they couldn't help but laugh. It turned out that Zhang Shitou had fallen asleep in his chair again.

Just then, shouts of help to move something rang out from the front of the hall. Jiang Tiantao and Zhu Caidie turned their heads simultaneously and saw twenty burly men standing on the carriage, having already lifted the jade lion, weighing over a thousand pounds, off the four wheels along with the massive wooden platform, and laboriously placed it on the ground. Then, facing the Golden-Faced Nezha, they bowed and leaped onto the carriage. With a shout from the driver, the four horses galloped swiftly into the passageway cleared by the assembled heroes.

Once the carriage was in the passageway, the Golden-Faced Nezha immediately addressed the heroes, proclaiming loudly, "The jade lion I found has been examined by all of you. Anyone with discerning eyes can see at a glance that it could not possibly contain any unparalleled martial arts techniques..." Upon hearing this, the heroes immediately erupted in discussion and commotion.

Shen Qifeng, the Golden-Faced Nezha, smiled smugly, glanced around the room, and, seemingly unwilling to let the heroes continue their discussion, continued loudly, "If any of you still have questions, you can come closer to the Jade Lion during the midday break and observe it carefully. The first item on the agenda is a horse as a gift." With that, he turned to his left and raised his right hand high. As

soon as Shen Qifeng raised his right hand, the gap in the passage that the heroes had cleared earlier was filled with the shouts of burly men working together. Then, with a creaking sound, the twenty burly men, each with a long rope hanging from their waist, pushed out a huge iron cage equipped with four iron wheels. Inside the cage was a tall zebra, its coat entirely yellow with black stripes, a sight rarely seen in the Central Plains.

The heroes were immediately abuzz with excitement, and their discussion of the Jade Lion was completely replaced by talk of the zebra. The large, yellow-haired, black-striped zebra in the iron cage, upon seeing the clamoring crowd, immediately raised its head, bristled, and leaped into a rage, neighing loudly and kicking the cage with its hind legs. Seeing this display, many of the heroes paled and gasped in astonishment.

Jiang Tiantao frowned, secretly worried about Zhang Shitou, who had boasted so confidently the previous night. Upon seeing the zebra in the cage, Zhu Caidie excitedly exclaimed, "Brother Tao, if we could ride a horse like this in the martial world, we'd definitely attract attention everywhere!" Jiang Tiantao, knowing Zhu Caidie's personality, didn't say anything more, only offering a faint smile.

Just then, twenty burly men pushed the iron cage into the arena. Golden-Faced Nezha first glanced at Zhang Shitou, who was drunk on the chair, then addressed the crowd, proclaiming, "The wild horse you see here is the Thunder Leopard mentioned in the notice to all heroes. Whoever subdues this horse and crosses the deep ditch, high railing, and Ten Thousand Knife Alley will become the Thunder Leopard's master. Those interested in this horse are welcome to enter and give it a try."

A moment later, the square was filled with a clamor that grew louder and louder. Seeing that no one had entered, Golden-Faced Nezha glanced contemptuously at the completely drunk Zhang Shitou. Zhu Caidie, seeing this, was furious and turned to call out to Zhang Shitou. Her delicate body trembled, but the alert Jiang Tiantao immediately grabbed her hand.

Just then, the Golden-Faced Nezha faced the assembled heroes and arrogantly proclaimed, "Friends who wish to demonstrate their skills, feel free to tame your horses. If you unfortunately find yourself in danger, the twenty brothers who pushed you through the cages are all equipped with lassos and will protect you."

As soon as he finished speaking, a loud shout rang out from the southwest corner of the crowd: "I have a few questions for you, Lord Shen!" Before the shout subsided, a figure leaped out from the crowd.

Jiang Tiantao and Zhu Caidie looked in the direction of the voice and saw that the person who had leaped out was a burly man with broad shoulders, a thick back, and a thick head, dressed in a dark gray, tight-fitting outfit. As soon as the burly man reached the center of the arena, the Golden-Faced Nezha immediately asked humbly, "Please ask me whatever you wish to ask."

The burly man raised his thick eyebrows, pointed to the zebra cage not far away, and said in a deep, indignant voice, "I'll ask you first: is this martial arts gathering you're holding today a competition between people, or a battle between people and beasts?" The golden

-faced Nezha laughed loudly with disdain, saying, "Didn't you hear me announce that this project is a free horse?"

The burly man continued in a deep voice, "Such a wild and ferocious horse, with a fiery temper, is no less than a wild beast. Who could subdue it?"

Golden-Faced Nezha laughed again and said, "A true master with profound skill and superb martial arts would have nothing to fear, let alone a wild horse, or even a lion or tiger."

The mighty man's tiger eyes lit up, and he immediately asked in a deep voice, "May I ask if you, Lord Shen, can subdue this horse?"

Golden-Faced Nezha was taken aback by the question, and his sallow face immediately turned red. If he said he could subdue it, he was afraid that the heroes would ask him to perform in public; if he said he could not subdue it, he was afraid that the heroes of the world would laugh at him. Just as he hesitated, the burly man in the arena let out a contemptuous laugh, then arrogantly proclaimed, "It's rumored in the martial world that Master Shen has mastered unparalleled martial arts, making him a top-tier master of our time, with skills no less than the leaders and grandmasters of various sects. It seems the rumors are unfounded; he's not even as good as me, the Mighty Arhat Chi Xinnan..."

Upon hearing this, Golden-Faced Nezha was immediately enraged and retorted sharply, "Are you confident you can subdue this horse?"

The burly man smiled arrogantly and said, "If I could subdue this wild horse, what glory would Master Shen have?"

Golden-Faced Nezha, filled with shame and anger, lost his reason in his drunken state and glared angrily, saying, "You need not worry about my reputation. If you can subdue this horse, you will be in charge of all three banners of the Great Flood Mountain headquarters through Gaolan." As soon as he said this, the crowd of heroes was shocked and immediately stirred up a commotion.

Jiang Tiantao frowned upon hearing this, knowing that the heavily intoxicated Golden-Faced Nezha had been forced to resort to this desperate measure to regain the face he had just been humiliated with. The burly man in the arena, with a solemn expression, asked, "Lord Shen, do you stand by your word?"

The golden-faced Nezha laughed angrily and said, "Although I am not the current sect leader, I am still the master of the Three Altars. How could I break my promise in front of all the heroes of the world?"

The burly man praised him loudly, then calmly said, "I, the Mighty Arhat Chi Xinnan, although I am not skilled in horsemanship, I still have the ability to subdue a wild horse."

The golden-faced Nezha smiled coldly and said with utter contempt, "Very well." He paused, then sternly ordered the twenty burly men on either side of the iron cage, "Release the horse!" At his command,

the twenty burly men leaped onto the iron cage. Five men pulled out the five iron bars on the cage door, while the others untied the lassoes hanging from their waists. Upon seeing this, the surrounding heroes all paled slightly. Judging from the fact that the burly men had all leaped to the top of the cage and dared not stand on the ground, the ferocity of the wild horse inside was evident. The Mighty Arhat, Chi Xinnan, seemed somewhat uneasy as well, but he remained in his position, waiting for the right moment.

The zebra inside the cage, seeing the burly men leap to the top, had already gone mad, occasionally standing upright and trying to bite the iron beams the men were standing on. The heroes exchanged pale glances, all sweating for the "Mighty Arhat." The iron cage opened, the zebra pricked up its ears, let out a furious neigh, and with a powerful thud, charged out like lightning, rushing straight towards the Mighty Arhat in the arena, as fierce as a tiger unleashed.

The entire crowd fell silent. Although there were thousands of people, not a single one uttered a sound; all eyes were wide open, watching the scene unfold. Seeing this imposing display, Jiang Tiantao's brows furrowed even more deeply. He was certain that it would be no easy task for the mighty Arhat in the arena to subdue this beast-like wild horse. Before he could finish his thought, the wild horse had already charged towards the mighty Arhat, letting out an angry neigh and lunging to bite the strong man's left shoulder. The mighty Arhat had been waiting in ambush. As soon as the wild horse opened its mouth to bite, he dodged and leaped eight feet to the side. But before his feet even touched the ground, the wild horse suddenly lowered its head, letting out a low neigh, and charged sideways with incredible speed and force. The crowd of heroes gasped in surprise, many exclaiming in astonishment!

The mighty Arhat, Chi Xinnan, was truly taken aback. He roared and slammed his feet into the ground with a powerful downward thrust, leaping into the air. The wild horse missed its target, then let out another angry neigh, suddenly standing upright in human form, its mouth snapping at the mighty Arhat's feet. Because of the wild horse's height and size, and the force of its leap, it seemed at first glance that the horse's mouth was less than two feet from the giant's feet.

The crowd of heroes was startled, and another chorus of exclamations erupted. At the same time, the Mighty Arhat Chi Xinnan's figure slid down the horse's neck and landed on its back. Upon being mounted, the wild horse went berserk, leaping and thrashing about, sometimes rearing up with its front hooves, sometimes kicking wildly with its hind legs. The Mighty Arhat gripped the horse's whiskers tightly with both hands and squeezed its legs firmly against the horse's belly, refusing to let go no matter how fierce the wild horse was.

The crowd of heroes, seeing this, were greatly encouraged, and suddenly a thunderous shout, like a clap of thunder, erupted in cheers. This thunderous shout instantly roused Zhang Shitou, who was fast asleep in his chair, completely drunk. Zhang Shitou opened his eyes and saw a man riding a strange, ferocious horse in the arena. Enraged, he leaped from his chair and roared, "Where did this wild fellow come from, daring to beat me, Zhang Shitou, to it?" With that, he leaped down the hall steps, unleashing his martial arts skills, and charged towards the arena.

Jiang Tiantao, fearing Zhang Shitou might get hurt due to his drunkenness, cried out in alarm, "Brother Shitou, please come back!"

Zhu Caidie, still remembering how Shen Qifeng, the Golden-Faced Nezha, had looked at Zhang Shitou with disdain, dismissively tried to stop him, saying, "Brother Tao, let him go! A man's word is his bond."

The Golden-Faced Nezha was already worried that the powerful Arhat on horseback would subdue the wild horse; seeing Zhang Shitou charging towards the arena only exacerbated his unease. Zhu Caidie's words only intensified his anxiety. Only then did he realize his drunken slip of the tongue; he shouldn't have acted rashly in his anger, making a desperate promise to gamble away the throne of the Great Flood Mountain Lord.

Just as Golden-Faced Nezha was filled with anxiety, the thousands of heroes surrounding them suddenly erupted in terrified screams. Golden-Faced Nezha, regaining his composure, couldn't help but smile triumphantly. The wild horse that had been leaping wildly suddenly rolled to the ground, pinning the mighty Arhat on its back. Jiang Tiantao, with his innate chivalrous spirit, abruptly stood up from his chair. At the same time, many of the surrounding heroes drew their weapons and rushed into the arena. The twenty strong men standing on the iron cage, though shouting in unison and brandishing their lassos, were too far away to dismount, their shouts echoing in vain. But Zhang Shitou, still slightly drunk and swaying, had already leaped forward.

Seeing the wild horse spring to its feet and lunge to bite the powerful Arhat on the ground, Zhang Shitou glared with his bloodshot eyes and roared, "You beast, how dare you harm a man!" With that shout, he leaped towards the wild horse.

Like a maddened beast, upon seeing Zhang Shitou's attack, it abandoned its bite on the Arhat, let out a furious neigh, and suddenly lowered its head, charging at Zhang Shitou. Relying on his thick skin and invulnerable martial arts skills, Zhang Shitou, instead of dodging, reached out to grab the horse's neck.

The assembled heroes were astonished and erupted in cries of surprise. Even Shen Qifeng, the Golden-Faced Nezha, who had just calmed down slightly, felt a chill run down his spine at Zhang Shitou's desperate display. With a clang of the scales, followed by a muffled groan, Zhang Shitou's short, round, drum-like body was knocked to the ground by the wild horse, his body rolling like a giant ball of flesh a good ten feet away.

The crowd, who had just stopped screaming, cried out in panic again. Golden-Faced Nezha smiled smugly, but when he saw Jiang Tiantao and Zhu Caidie also laughing gleefully, his expression changed drastically. Meanwhile, the Mighty Arhat, who had leaped up from the ground, saw Zhang Shitou knocked down and roared, charging towards the wild horse again. Seeing another attack from behind, the wild horse neighed angrily and turned to attack the Mighty Arhat.

Zhang Shitou, having rolled a full ten feet, roared, sat up, and stared wide-eyed, looking around as if still searching for the wild horse. Anyone could see that Zhang Shitou was dizzy and disoriented from the impact. But seeing that he hadn't been knocked unconscious and was even able to sit up and look for his horse, the crowd of heroes all cheered him on. Zhang Shitou knew the heroes were encouraging him, and his spirits lifted. Just then, he noticed the wild horse charging at the burly man from before. With a shout, he leaped up and charged at the horse again.

The Mighty Arhat had lured the horse over to prevent it from harming Zhang Shitou, but now that the wild horse had actually turned and charged, he was at a loss, only able to leap left and right, dodging the horse's fierce attacks. Seeing this, Zhang Shitou shouted, "Useless fellow, get out of here! I'll cover Zhang Shitou!" With that shout, he leaped into the air, disregarding the horse's head and tail, stretching out his arms, and charged at the wild horse.

Upon seeing this, the crowd erupted in uproar. The Mighty Arhat, who had been desperately seeking an opportunity to leave the stage, now, after Zhang Shitou's insult, seized the chance to turn and run off the field. The wild horse, about to give chase, suddenly saw Zhang Shitou leap down from mid-air, neighing angrily, and turning back. Just as the wild horse turned, Zhang Shitou sprinted down, grabbing the horse's rump and tail, simultaneously clamping its hind legs tightly with his own.

The crowd's faces paled at the sight, and amidst gasps and shouts, the wild horse, its hind legs clamped, became enraged, neighing and roaring furiously. But the stubborn and powerful Zhang Shitou, with his arms clasped around the horse's rump, refused to let go. The wild horse turned to bite, its neck inevitably twisting and its back bending, but Zhang Shitou held it tightly around the waist like a steel hoop

. It was on the verge of collapsing if it tried to kick with its hind legs, but the force of Zhang Shitou's grip was immense, and its body was positioned precisely at the back of its legs, making it unable to move freely. Seeing this, the crowd of heroes were greatly encouraged, shouting and waving their fists in unison, wildly cheering for Zhang Shitou. Their voices shook the mountains and reached the heavens. Zhang Shitou didn't care how the wild horse jumped or kicked, or whether the crowd cheered for him; he already had a set plan. He simply held on tightly to the horse's rump, refusing to let go.

Jiang Tiantao shook his head repeatedly, Zhu Caidie giggled, and Zhao Peifeng, Wei Changshun, and the others all stood up nervously from their chairs. Only Shen Qifeng, the Golden-Faced Nezha, the master of Dahong Mountain, had his brows furrowed, cold sweat beading on his skin, his hands gripping the wooden chair armrests tightly, his eyes fixed on Zhang Shitou.

Just then, the wild horse that had been rampaging wildly suddenly let out a furious neigh and crashed to the ground. The crowd of heroes immediately stopped shouting, a collective gasp erupting in astonishment. They all stared wide-eyed at Zhang Shitou, many exclaiming, "It's over!" But even a fool has his shrewdness. Just as the horse hit the ground, Zhang Shitou swiftly pulled his head back, the horse flipped over, and he popped his head out again.

The crowd gasped in delight, while Shen Qifeng, the Golden-Faced Nezha, turned ashen-faced. The wild horse rolled six or seven times, and Zhang Shitou repeated the same trick each time. The thousands of heroes, still stunned and amazed, suddenly erupted in a strange, thunderous roar, like a clap of thunder, echoing through the mountains and lingering for a long time.

At this moment, the wild horse's ears twitched violently, its eyes filled with terror. Its ferocity had subsided, but it still struggled desperately, kicking and leaping wildly. Suddenly, the wild horse let out a startled neigh, abruptly rearing up on its front hooves, using the momentum of its descent to kick its hind legs, attempting to throw Zhang Shitou off. But Zhang Shitou, clinging tightly to the horse's rump and legs, remained motionless, as if he were an extension of the horse's body. The wild horse kicked twice, its front hooves rearing up again. Just as the horse's hooves were about to fall, Zhang Shitou, with the strength of a tiger, suddenly landed on both feet, roared, and forcefully pulled the wild horse's hind legs back up.

The wild horse let out a startled neigh, a loud crash followed, and amidst the flying dust, the horse lay askew on the ground. The shouts of the heroes, still unabated, erupted in another deafening roar. After pulling the horse down, Zhang Shitou lunged forward, reaching out to grab the wild horse's shoulder and whiskers as it leaped up.

But before he could even mount the horse, it let out a startled neigh, unleashed its hooves, and galloped in panic towards the heroes in the southwest corner. Upon seeing this, the heroes in the southwest corner waved their hands and shouted fiercely. The wild horse, already frightened, reared up, turned abruptly, and charged back towards the heroes to the north. The heroes to the north waved and shouted in unison, and the wild horse, not daring to advance, galloped south.

At this moment, the thousands of heroes present were excited, as if in a frenzy, their cheers reaching the heavens. Zhang Shitou, holding the horse's whiskers with one hand and its neck with the other, one leg crouching on its back and the other wrapped around its belly, had no chance to climb onto the galloping wild horse. Because the wild horse was moving at incredible speed, the crowd was terrified, fearing it would rush into their ranks. They hastily drew their gleaming swords and weapons, shaking them and shouting wildly.

The wild horse, terrified, suddenly went berserk, head held high, ears pricked, tail and whiskers erect, galloping wildly along the edge of the red rope. It was incredibly fast; only a dark shadow could be seen beside its belly, Zhang Shitou's face and hands no longer discernible. The crowd of heroes was ecstatic, almost frenzied, waving their arms, leaping, and shouting encouragement. Just then, the wild horse, galloping through the arena, reached a high fence eight feet high and about ten feet wide. With a long neigh, it leaped into the air. The crowd, amidst their frenzied shouts, erupted in another wave of panic and rage.

The golden-faced Nezha, seeing this, paled as a board, his face paling again. The wild horse leaped over the eight-foot fence, and ahead lay a deep ditch more than two feet wide. Before it could even stop, with a thunderous roar, it soared into the air. The crowd of heroes had never witnessed such a thrilling and spectacular scene. Though their voices were hoarse, they continued their frenzied shouts, growing ever louder.

Jiang Tiantao's sword-like eyebrows furrowed slightly, a smile spreading across his handsome face as he slowly shook his head, thinking: "The old saying goes, 'Fools have their own kind of luck,' and that's absolutely true." Zhu Caidie was overjoyed, almost jumping up from her chair.

Just then, the shouts of thousands of heroes suddenly fell silent, the situation on the field instantly changed, and the painstakingly planned Golden-Faced Nezha's hopes rested on this final hurdle. The thousands of people around him stared wide-eyed, mouths agape, their gazes fixed on Zhang Shitou, who was clinging to the side of the horse's belly, each one holding their breath in suspense. The wild horse, having leaped over the deep ditch, continued its ascent, head held high, whiskers bristling, charging towards Sharp Knife Alley, thirty feet away.

Just then, someone in the crowd shouted, "Quickly, get on the horse! Quickly, get on the horse!"

But Zhang Shitou, who had never ridden a horse before, only felt the deafening roar, the rushing wind, and the earth seeming to collapse. He couldn't hear anyone else's shouts. The distance of over thirty zhang was covered in the blink of an eye. The wild horse, Thunder Leopard, raised its head and let out a long neigh, its expression almost crazed, and leaped into Sharp Knife Alley. The crowd's faces changed drastically upon seeing this, filled with shock!

Just as the crowd uttered their exclamations of shock, a clanging sound came from Sharp Knife Alley. Simultaneously, with the wild horse's charge, countless broken blades shot out, their cold light gleaming, a horrifying sight. The two-zhang-long Sharp Knife Alley was covered in the blink of an eye. Zhang Shitou, clinging to the right side of the horse's belly, was not mangled beyond recognition. He lay dead in Sharp Knife Alley, still tightly pressed against the horse's belly, only his clothes on his back torn in more than ten places, but his back muscles remained completely undamaged.

As the crowd watched, a sudden, thunderous roar erupted. The wild horse, Thunder Leopard, seemingly at its wit's end, ran half a lap, its speed gradually slowing. Reaching the high railing, it stopped running and obediently trotted towards the iron cage in the center of the arena. Seeing the horse had stopped, Zhang Shitou twisted his waist, leaped onto its back, raised his hands, and laughed heartily. The crowd erupted in a hero's cheer. Zhang Shitou, extremely pleased, clasped his hands above his head, bowed repeatedly, and grinned widely, oblivious to his own joy.

The wild horse stopped automatically before the cage. Zhang Shitou dismounted, slapped its whiskers, pointed to the cage door, and proudly shouted, "Go in!" His shout was immediately followed by a burst of laughter that echoed throughout the valley.

The wild horse, Thunder Leopard, truly obeyed him, neighed softly, and went inside. The burly man standing atop the cage immediately closed the door.

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