Chapter 676: Dragon Transforming Steed
Seeing the gray shadow charging toward them, Yan Liqiang stretched out his hands and caught it before it collided into Eunuch Liu.
The gray shadow was none other than a servant in Eunuch Liu’s residence. Blood was seeping out from the corner of his mouth. He looked extremely battered with a black horseshoe mark on his body. When Yan Liqiang caught the figure, the man turned his head around. He was frightened by the sight of Eunuch Liu and almost knelt on the ground. “G-Greetings, Eunuch Liu!”
“What’s going on?” Eunuch Liu frowned.
“T-The steed that you brought back… It bit the other steeds as soon as it was shut in the stable. The other rhinodrake steeds didn’t dare to mingle around with it. The steed even broke down the stable wall and escaped…” The servant spoke fearfully.
Even without his explanation, Yan Liqiang and Eunuch Liu were able to clearly see the situation in front of their eyes.
On the grass in front of a row of stables, a majestic-looking white rhinodrake steed was rushing left and right. More than ten servants from Eunuch Liu’s residence were trying their best to tie down the steed with ropes to restrain it. They surrounded the rhinodrake steed and were yelling around, but still failed to keep it under control.
As soon as Yan Liqiang laid eyes on the rhinodrake steed, his eyes lit up. “What a fine steed!” he exclaimed inwardly.
Despite the fact that Yan Liqiang had seen thousands of rhinodrake steeds in the northwestern region, this was the first time he’d seen a steed as excelent as this one. The rhinodrake steed was white, including the horns on its head. Its coat was as glossy as silk, and it dazzled under the sunlight as though it was covered by a layer of silver armor. Snowstorm Cloud was considered a decent rhinodrake steed, but this rhinodrake steed was a head taller and half longer than Snowstorm Cloud. Its body was slender while its powerful chest and limbs looked as though they were carved out of steel.
At this moment, the steed was running around in the yard. His neck and four limbs were already roped, and about ten people were pulling it. Whenever the steed moved, those people could only yell and tumble pathetically on the ground.
While Yan Liqiang was looking at the steed, two of Eunuch Liu’s servants were sent flying from its kick. They landed heavily on the grass and groaned in agony. Just when another servant attempted to jump onto its back amidst the chaos, the rhinodrake steed suddenly reared up, throwing the person off its back and onto the ground…
Eunuch Liu broke into a laugh instead when he saw the situation before him. He turned around to look at Yan Liqiang. “What do you think of this steed, Liqiang?”
“It’s a fine horse, but it might be a little too fierce!” Yan Liqiang replied.
“Hahaha, seems like you don’t know what’s good about this rhinodrake steed yet…”
“Please enlighten me, Eunuch Liu!”
“When the steed turns around, look closely at the back of its neck…”
The rhinodrake steed was running around on the lawn and within a few seconds, it turned around. Yan Liqiang instantly spotted a faint green scale-like pattern beneath the snowy white skin on the back of its neck. The discovery shocked Yan Liqiang as he recalled a saying…
“Eunuch Liu, could it be that the scale-like pattern on this rhinodrake steed is the legendary sign of dragon transformation…?” Yan Liqiang asked.
“Indeed, this is the sign of dragon transformation. It is usually present in the rarest and most expensive rhinodrake steeds. There are a total of twelve signs of dragon transformation. The first sign is the lion-like head, second is the deer-like antlers, third is the prawn-like legs, fourth is the crocodile-like mouth, fifth is the turtle-like neck, sixth is the snake-like tail, eighth is the fish-like scales, ninth is the sea serpent-like stomach, tenth is the tiger-like hooves, eleventh is the eagle-like talons, and twelfth is the ox-like ears.
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“Once the dragon transformation sign appears on a rhinodrake steed, it would gain extraordinary power. This rhinodrake steed had the eighth dragon transformation sign with its fish-like scales on its body. It has two to three times the power of a regular rhinodrake steed. As you can see right now, the moment it goes berserk, not even ten people can get close to it even if it’s been restrained by ropes…” Eunuch Liu explained to Yan Liqiang while watching the running rhinodrake steed in admiration.
“So… the gift that you were talking about is this rhinodrake steed?” Yan Liqiang asked.
“Indeed!”
“This rhinodrake steed is too precious! It’s probably one in a hundred thousand! It’s better for you to keep it as a gift for the Emperor!”
“Hahaha, His Majesty already owns a few of such rhinodrake steeds in his imperial stable. This one is too fierce. It wouldn’t let anyone ride on it and it couldn’t fit in with the other steeds. None of the horsemasters in the imperial stable could tame it. I can’t possibly give such a ferocious steed to His Majesty. It’d be terrible if His Majesty or any princes in the palace accidentally fall off while riding on it. Since you are young, strong, and capable, I decided to give it to you to see if you can tame it…”
Yan Liqiang was instantly swayed when he heard Eunuch Liu. Truth be told, he had been wanting such a rhinodrake steed since long ago, but he couldn’t find any. The weapon he used when he was mounted was the Dragon Spine Steel spear. The spear might be heavy, but he had no trouble holding it. However, if he rode on Snowstorm Cloud while holding the spear, it would be equivalent to five people riding on Snowstorm Cloud.
That made it very difficult for Snowstorm Cloud to run so it would slow down. Due to this, Yan Liqiang couldn’t bring the Dragon Spine Steel spear with him whenever he went out even though he had perfected his spear technique. If he needed to bring the spear, then he would have to specially find another carriage to transport it and it was extremely inconvenient. If this rhinodrake steed was really that powerful, then it would perfectly match his Dragon Spine Steel spear.
Thinking up to this point, Yan Liqiang grinned. “Thank you, Eunuch Liu. I shall try to tame this rhinodrake steed now!”
Eunuch Liu narrowed his eyes. “Hahaha, I am also curious to see if you will manage to tame it. If you can, then you may ride it during the next tour with His Majesty to the southern region. That’ll save some trouble for you on your journey…”
After speaking with Eunuch Liu, Yan Liqiang stopped watching from the sidelines. He directly went up to the rhinodrake steed, then waved to the servants surrounding it. “Get out of the way, let me give it a try…”
When the struggling servants heard Yan Liqiang, they were more than happy to let go of the steed and ran to the side.
The rhinodrake steed that no one could tame had seven or eight ropes hanging from it. Shaking its head fiercely on the grass, it kicked its legs, panting, and tried to shake off the ropes. When it saw Yan Liqiang approaching, the steed instinctively hissed with its neck stretched out and directly chomped at Yan Liqiang…
Yan Liqiang’s figure flashed as he evaded the rhinodrake steed’s bite first, then took out a dagger. With the wave of his hand, all the ropes tied around the steed were cut off.
His figure flashed again before he reappeared in front of the rhinodrake steed, looking at it while he sheathed his dagger. Yan Liqiang smiled as he stared into the rhinodrake steed’s shiny dark eyes. “Now we can have a good fight. If you can’t beat me, then you must obey me…”
When the rhinodrake steed realized that the ropes on it were gone, it happily circled around a spot, then reared up and let out a long neigh. Yan Liqiang wasn’t certain if it understood his words earlier or just found him an eyesore. As soon as its front hooves hit the ground, the rhinodrake steed brought its hooves down again heavily toward Yan Liqiang’s chest…
The rhinodrake steed was suddenly violent again as its hooves came down with great momentum. The servants from Eunuch Liu’s residence yelped in shock, but in the next second, a jaw-dropping scene unfolded before them. Yan Liqiang seized the steed’s forelimbs that were coming down on him with his bare hands, then flung the powerful rhinodrake steed that weighed at least six or seven thousand jin over his head. The steed flipped over in midair, then landed heavily on the grass about twenty meters away.
Dang… that’s a rhinodrake steed that weighs six or seven thousand jin. It’s not just some small kitten or puppy! All the servants from Eunuch Liu’s residence were petrified by the scene. Even Eunuch Liu was shocked. Although he had long known about Yan Liqiang’s massive strength, he didn’t expect it to be this terrifying. He didn’t see Yan Liqiang panting after performing such a feat either. Yan Liqiang’s expression didn’t even change and it looked as though he just did a slight flick, but the rhinodrake steed was sent flying over twenty meters…
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Chapter 677: Subdue
It was silent in the stable.
Yan Liqiang stood on the grass calmly. The rhinodrake steed that he sent flying snorted. It did half a roll on the ground, flattening the grass in the process, then quickly got up.
It seemed to be enraged by Yan Liqiang. After standing up, it glared at Yan Liqiang, shook its head and body quickly, then pawed its hooves hard on the ground a few times. With a long neigh, it charged headlong at Yan Liqiang. Its four hooves hit the ground powerfully, splashing soil all around as it moved with the speed and momentum of a tank.
“Liqiang, watch out…!” Little Li who was watching from a distance couldn’t help but shout.
While watching the fast-approaching rhinodrake steed, Yan Liqiang crouched slightly and lowered his shoulder. When the steed was right in front of him, Yan Liqiang slammed his shoulder hard against its chest and neck which were as strong as a durable shield.
Although the rhinodrake steed was strong, its strength definitely couldn’t be compared to Yan Liqiang who had condensed the strength of nine elephants in his Dantian from cultivating the Ten Dragons Ten Elephants Divine Technique.
Yan Liqiang didn’t even budge despite the powerful impact. Only his feet sunk completely into the soil, but the rhinodrake steed let out a whinny as Yan Liqiang knocked it down once again.
All the servants from Eunuch Liu’s residence were stunned by the scene.
This time, Yan Liqiang didn’t allow the rhinodrake steed to charge at him again and strode toward the fallen steed instead. As soon as the steed got up on its feet, Yan Liqiang punched it squarely in the head and knocked it into the ground again, then yelled, “Are you going to yield now?”
The rhinodrake steed neighed as it tried to get up again, but Yan Liqiang gave it another punch.
“Are you going to yield now?”
The aggressive rhinodrake steed tried to get up again, but was met with another blow!
“Are you going to yield now?”
The fourth punch never came. Yan Liqiang lifted his foot and stepped directly on the rhinodrake steed’s body. The powerful steed could only struggle and whine like a turtle being crushed under a huge boulder. It kicked its hooves around, making several trenches in the ground. It tried to roll over, but found it impossible. Yan Liqiang’s foot had it completely pinned against the ground.
The rhinodrake steed struggled futilely under Yan Liqiang’s foot for seven or eight minutes. Yan Liqiang only lifted his foot and allowed the rhinodrake steed to get up again when its struggles finally grew weaker due to exhaustion.
The rhinodrake steed snorted and shook its head after it got up. When it saw Yan Liqiang made no moves to assault it again, it rubbed its head up against him.
Yan Liqiang rubbed the steed on its head with a smile, then flipped over onto its back. He squeezed the steed between his legs and had it stroll two rounds on the field before stopping it again. He jumped off the steed, then walked over to Eunuch Liu with a smile. “This rhinodrake steed can be ridden now…”
Eunuch Liu looked at Yan Liqiang from head to toe, then sighed, “Liqiang, your method in taming this rhinodrake steed is certainly an eye-opener. Now I can finally understand why so many horsemasters failed to tame it. It seems like this steed will only yield to someone as powerful as you. Oh, that reminds me, this rhinodrake steed doesn’t have any name yet. Why don’t you name it now?”
Yan Liqiang thought for a while. “I have a rhinodrake steed named Snowstorm Cloud. This rhinodrake steed is as white as snow, has a scale-like pattern on its neck, and has the sign of dragon transformation present on its body. I shall name it Chasing Moon!”
Eunuch Liu repeated the name in his head, then nodded. “Chasing Moon. Hm, it’s a fine name, quite fitting for this steed. That’s quite an elegant name you have chosen for it…”
“You are flattering me, Eunuch Liu!”
“Ah, the steed isn’t harnessed yet. This won’t do!” While speaking, Eunuch Liu gave an order, “Go to the storage room, Little Li. Tell the manager to retrieve the golden black leather harness I collected from the Molo Kingdom and dress this rhinodrake steed so that Liqiang can ride this steed when both of you go back later.”
“That is very thoughtful of you, Eunuch Liu!” Little Li praised Eunuch Liu, then quickly went to retrieve the harness.
Yan Liqiang looked embarrassed. “Eunuch Liu, this is too expensive for a gift. My only intention here today was to pay you a visit. Now all this is really making me feel a little awkward…”
Eunuch Liu feigned a glare at Yan Liqiang. “Why are you being so shy with me? Back when you sent a four-wheeled carriage all the way from the manufacturing bureau to me, making me the second person to own one in the Imperial Capital aside from His Majesty, you gave me so much honor. I wasn’t shy toward you back then, so why are you being shy over only a steed now? If you will keep doing that, I’m going to get really upset…”
“The manufacturing bureau has a newly improved four-wheeled carriage now that runs much quieter and more comfortably. If you like it, I will have the manufacturing bureau specially make one for you…”
“Hahaha, now that’s how it should be. Although I am now in charge of His Majesty’s imperial stable, I have to admit that I much prefer the four-wheeled carriage you invented more than any steed. The carriage is comfortable, presentable, and provides shelter from wind and rain. It is certainly so much more comfortable than riding a steed…”
Eunuch Liu laughed heartily as he patted Yan Liqiang’s shoulder, “Don’t be in a hurry to leave. I had the kitchen prepare lunch for us. We shall have a nice drink together today!”
…
After having lunch at Eunuch Liu’s residence at noon, Yan Liqiang bid his farewell and left with all the ‘gifts’ he received from Eunuch Liu.
In Yan Liqiang’s previous life, none of the eunuchs he’d seen in films were normal. They were either extremely wicked or eccentric. Now that he had gotten to know several eunuchs in this life, he could say that he hadn’t met any irritating ones. At least the ones he met were all nice to him and they got along pretty well.
His meeting with Eunuch Liu this time was extremely necessary. In addition to maintaining the relationship between them, the tense situation between Yan Liqiang and the Emperor was also dissolved through Eunuch Liu.
When Yan Liqiang exited Eunuch Liu’s residence, he let out a long sigh of relief. With the Psychic Serpent on him this time, none of Eunuch Liu’s thoughts escaped him. Truth be told, if Yan Liqiang didn’t manage to reconcile with the Emperor, another ending would have awaited him. Although this other ending wouldn’t cost him his life, the Emperor could have easily dismissed all the efforts he had put into the northwestern region and Gan Province over the past few years with just a command…
“I guess I really have the potential to be Wei Xiaobao [1]…” Yan Liqiang laughed deprecatingly at himself while riding on the majestic Chasing Moon.
The Imperial Capital’s streets were still filled with people lining up to drink the Vitality Soup. Not only that, but the queues were also still very long and the crowds didn’t seem to thin out at all. Although the fear of pestilence still shrouded the Imperial Capital, the Vitality Soup seemed to have brought back some life to the city.
By the time Yan Liqiang returned to Deer Villa, a bucket of Vitality Soup from the Imperial Academy of Medicine had been delivered to the villa too. Little Li, who had transformed back to Eunuch Li, got everyone in Deer Villa to line up for a bowl. He also sent a big bowl to Yan Liqiang.
Of course Yan Liqiang wasn’t worried about being infected by the pestilence. Since he didn’t know how the Vitality Soup was made, he didn’t drink any. Instead, he gave the bowl that Little Li delivered to him away to the servants who brought him his dinner.
Although Yan Liqiang was in Deer Villa for the next few days, most of the news he heard was about the Vitality Soup. Apart from the Imperial Capital, the soup that the Imperial Academy of Medicine prepared was also being continuously delivered to the other capital regions. With the arrangements made by the bureaucracy, all citizens gratefully lined up to receive the Vitality Soup every day.
Time passed very quickly. In just the blink of an eye, the day for the Emperor to tour the south was approaching!
During this period of time, Yan Liqiang trained arduously in Deer Villa every day. Any spare time he had, he spent it on bringing Chasing Moon for a ride in Deer Villa’s stables. The time wasn’t too difficult to bear.
Ever since the Vitality Soup came out, the White Lotus Society had been dumping fewer and fewer blood corpses. It was unknown if they were intimidated by the power of the Vitality Soup. And for some reason, as the Emperor’s trip drew nearer, Yan Liqiang grew more uneasy. He just couldn’t stop feeling that something was amiss…
Translation Note:
[1] Wei Xiaobao is the witty protagonist from ‘The Deer and the Cauldron’ novel.
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