Chapter 752 Black Wind King Enters the Battle! (Second Update)
Gu Jiao quickly put the things down.
When the Grand Preceptor entered the room, she had already calmly sat back down on the cushion.
As she sipped her tea, she calmly glanced at the Imperial Advisor and asked, "You're back?"
Why are you talking like this is your own home?
Gu Jiao smiled.
She wasn't embarrassed; it was others who were.
The Imperial Advisor sat down opposite Gu Jiao.
It was hot outside, and he broke out in a light sweat.
Without waiting for his disciple to come and pour him tea, he poured himself a cup.
"Is something the matter?" he asked.
"I've come to discuss a collaboration with you," Gu Jiao said.
He took a sip of tea: "What kind of collaboration?"
Gu Jiao looked at him with a smile: "Does your Imperial Preceptor Hall want the Black Wind Riders?"
"No," he answered without hesitation.
Gu Jiao blinked: "Don't be so impulsive."
The Imperial Advisor glanced at Gu Jiao calmly: "Give me a reason not to refuse?"
The Imperial Preceptor's Hall does not need the Black Wind Riders; its unique way of survival has destined it to be irreplaceable.
Gu Jiao's eyes darted around: "The Black Wind Rider...it's cooler to ride, isn't it?"
Imperial Advisor: "..."
The Imperial Advisor took a big gulp of herbal tea.
You have a bit too much internal heat.
"Our Imperial Preceptor Hall does not participate in the affairs of the imperial court."
"Are you just too scared to do it?"
The Imperial Advisor looked at Gu Jiao with a puzzled expression.
Gu Jiao crossed her arms and gestured with her eyes toward the small study to the east: "I saw it all. You, the King of Great Yan, and Xuan Yuanli were once close friends, like brothers. You conspired with one brother to kill another of your brothers."
The Imperial Advisor paused in his tea-drinking motion: "Are you angry?"
Is this a tacit admission?
Gu Jiao raised an eyebrow and nodded: "The Purple Star appears, and the Emperor will emerge from Xuanyuan. You and the King are truly a pair of people, one daring to speak and the other daring to believe. Xuanyuan Li certainly never expected that he would die at the hands of his two most trusted brothers."
The Imperial Advisor remained silent.
Gu Jiao rested her chin on her hand, her elbow propped on the table, and looked at him with a half-smile: "Grand Preceptor, if it weren't for your face, I might have already attacked you."
Both Shangguan Yan and Xiao Heng have the blood of the Xuanyuan family flowing through their veins, and Xiao Jingkong may also have some connection with the Xuanyuan family. The enemies of the Xuanyuan family are her enemies.
Most people would ask Gu Jiao after hearing this, "What's wrong with my face?"
But the Imperial Advisor didn't ask.
After a moment of silence, he looked at Gu Jiao and asked, "Why do you want to compete for the Black Wind Riders?"
The topic changed a bit too quickly, and Gu Jiao almost lost her composure.
"Who wouldn't want something good?" Gu Jiao was wary of the Imperial Advisor, especially after discovering the three clay figurines. She had no intention of confiding in him.
The Imperial Advisor stared intently at her: "Do you know that once you take this step, there will be no turning back?"
I had no way out anyway.
Seeing that Gu Jiao remained silent but her attitude was very resolute, the Imperial Advisor sighed and put down his cup: "I'll take you somewhere."
...
Gu Jiao thought the Imperial Preceptor was going to take her to visit a certain place in the Imperial Preceptor Hall, but she didn't expect to end up in a military camp.
Gu Jiao got off the carriage and stood at the entrance guarded by soldiers.
The military camp is located at the foot of the mountain. The summer breeze blows gently from the valley in front of us, bringing a touch of coolness, but it can't relieve the sweltering heat.
The sound of horses' hooves could be heard from time to time on the training ground inside the military camp.
Gu Jiao felt a sudden sense of disorientation, as if she had been here before.
Ye Qing exchanged a few words with the soldiers guarding the gate, and the soldiers respectfully let him pass.
The Imperial Advisor led Gu Jiao inside.
Ye Qing followed closely behind the two.
What came into view was a huge training ground, where cavalrymen were forming ranks.
There should be another arena to the east, and a horse camp to the west... Gu Jiao thought to herself.
"There used to be a martial arts arena over there, but it was demolished later," the Imperial Advisor said.
"What about Ma Ying?" Gu Jiao asked subconsciously.
“The horse camp is still there.” The Grand Tutor pointed to the west of the training ground. “It’s blocked by cavalry and can’t be seen right now. I’ll take you there.”
Gu Jiao looked around as if in a dream: "This is... the Han family's cavalry camp?"
The Imperial Advisor said, "That's right."
Gu Jiao said, "It used to belong to the Xuanyuan family."
The Imperial Advisor paused for a moment, then said, "You could say that."
Gu Jiao was still immersed in that sudden, strange feeling and didn't pay attention to his carefully considered "You could say that."
The two arrived at the horse camp.
The so-called horse camp is the place where the Black Wind Riders are trained. Each Black Wind Rider must undergo rigorous physical screening and physical training before being assigned to a cavalry unit for further tactical training.
Being a Black Wind Rider is very tough.
"Do you see that?" The Imperial Advisor waved his hand and pointed.
Gu Jiao looked in that direction and saw a horse trainer directing two foals to rush across the fire bridge on the battlefield.
They had to rush through the raging fires on both sides.
The bridge is still the unstable kind.
A frightened foal stood motionless in the fire, whimpering pitifully.
The Grand Master said, "What you see is only the tip of the iceberg. The training intensity for the young ponies within the first year is very low and relatively safe."
Gu Jiao muttered, "This is what you call safe?"
The Imperial Advisor didn't speak, but simply gestured for Gu Jiao to look to the other side.
Over there are adult Blackwind Riders, also crossing the Fire Bridge.
The fire grew larger and fiercer, burning not only along both sides of the road but also at both ends of the bridge.
The Black Wind Riders were determined to charge into the fire without hesitation.
The Black Wind Riders not only need to overcome their fear of fire and endure the scorching heat, but they also have to hold their breath to avoid inhaling toxic gases.
The Black Wind Riders took protective measures, so as long as they were fast enough, they wouldn't get burned.
However, this is in principle; in reality, unexpected situations often arise.
The Imperial Advisor spoke again: "The first test is crossing the fire bridge."
It took Gu Jiao a while to realize that the assessment he was referring to was the assessment for the Black Wind Cavalry Commander.
Are you leaking the exam questions to me in advance?
The Imperial Advisor led Gu Jiao forward, saying, "Not a single horse can cross the Imperial Advisor's Hall."
Fear of fire is an animal's instinct, and only specially trained horses can temporarily overcome their inner fear.
The horses in the Imperial Preceptor's Hall clearly did not have this kind of training requirement.
There was a loud bang, as if something had exploded.
Gu Jiao looked in the direction of the sound and saw another group of Black Wind Riders receiving demolition training.
They must maintain their formation under the threat of explosion.
The newly arrived horses were so frightened that they scattered and ran away, causing chaos at the scene.
The Imperial Advisor pointed and said, "These are all horses that have been trained since they were three months old, but look, even they are so frightened."
Gu Jiao asked strangely, "...The second test isn't going to be about demolitions, is it?"
The imperial advisor neither confirmed nor denied it.
It seems so.
If the first two options could entice the fearless King of Horses to give it a try, then the third option would definitely not work.
"Three hundred li by bicycle," the Imperial Advisor said.
The horse king is still a baby; riding it for 300 miles would kill it.
The Grand Preceptor stopped and looked at Gu Jiao solemnly, saying, "No horse in our Grand Preceptor Hall can reach such quality, so do you understand how difficult this Black Wind Cavalry competition is? Also, I'll tell you a secret: the Han family has a new Black Wind King, five years old, a stallion, and the most powerful Black Wind King I've ever seen."
"You have no chance of winning."
"Even the eleven great families, including the Nangong family, are gone."
"Are you capable of bearing the whole truth now? If not, it's better not to know."
Gu Jiao's mind flashed back to Chen's words.
The sounds of explosions, the neighing of horses in fright, and the roars of cavalrymen filled the air, creating a scene of flashing swords and clashing metal, making one feel as if they were on a real battlefield.
The sounds of Liao Chen and the sounds of the battlefield intertwined endlessly in her mind.
Her chest felt heavy, as if some intense emotion was about to burst forth.
She clenched her fingers and said, "I want to go."
A complex emotion flashed in the Grand Preceptor's eyes: "Tomorrow is the preliminary selection, and I will have Ye Qing choose the best horse from the Grand Preceptor's Hall for you."
"No."
Although the horses in the Imperial Preceptor's Palace were fine, they were not the kind of warhorses that could fight alongside her.
...
Willow Lane.
Nan Shi's wife was drying poison when she got sleepy. While drying the poison, she had chicks pecking at the rice. Suddenly, one of them pecked its head into the sieve.
Nan Shi Niang: "..."
Damn it, I've been poisoned again!
With blood streaming from her seven orifices, Nan Shi Niang raised her head and looked towards the doorway.
"No way, this poison is causing hallucinations?"
"Mrs. Nan." Gu Jiao walked over.
Nan Shi Niang raised her hand and pinched her face; it was warm.
It's not a hallucination.
Jiaojiao is really back.
Nan Shi Niang forgot for a second that she was still poisoned and said with a smile, "Why are you back so soon? Didn't you say that Aheng's mother's injuries hadn't fully healed and that she would have to stay at the Imperial Preceptor's Palace for a few more days?"
Gu Chengfeng had already come to the house to tell them what happened at the Imperial Preceptor's Hall.
The shock that was supposed to be there has already been gone.
They were more concerned about the future of the two children.
Gu Jiao said, "I came back for something. Aren't Ayan and the others here?"
Nan Shi Niang said, "Old Meng went to walk the horses, and A Yan and Xiao Shun went to log with their master. I'm home alone. They just left and won't be back for a while. Are you hungry? I'll go make you something to eat."
“Mrs. Nan, you…”
Gu Jiao pointed to her face, which was covered in poisonous blood.
With blood streaming from all seven orifices, Mrs. Nan laughed and said, "Do you want noodles or dumplings? My cooking skills have improved a lot recently, how about I make you a pancake?"
No sooner had she finished speaking than Madam Nan collapsed with a thud!
Gu Jiao sighed, "You've been poisoned, Madam Nan."
Gu Jiao shook her head helplessly, carried Nan Shi Niang back into the house, and took the antidote from the table for her to take.
She took a bottle from her bosom and placed it on the bedside table; it contained Gu Changqing's blood.
She left a note.
She opened the drawer and counted the nutrients she had left for the Black Wind King.
There are less than two left.
Is Black Wind King still refusing to eat and relying solely on nutrients to maintain his vital signs?
Gu Jiao went to the backyard.
The red-tasseled spear stood under the scorching sun.
The Black Wind King beside him had become much thinner. He lay on the ground, completely devoid of fighting spirit, like an old horse waiting to die.
It remained unmoved even when it saw Gu Jiao approaching.
It lost its enthusiasm and interest in everything.
Gu Jiao knelt down on one knee in front of it like a knight and reached out to pat its head.
"I need you."
"You need to stand up."
"You need to return to the battlefield."
"I need you to fight alongside me."
"Not master and mount, but comrade and companion."
Black Wind King did not react.
It was determined to die for its master and could no longer hear any sounds from the outside world.
Gu Jiao was overcome with grief.
It's strange that she actually has normal human emotions.
She gently stroked the Black Wind King's head, no longer forcing it.
Everyone has the right to make their own choices.
The same goes for horses.
Gu Jiao thought she should see Black Wind King off.
She gently stroked the Black Wind King's head and softly sang a war song.
"How can you say we have no clothes? We share the same robes with you."
"The king is raising an army; let us prepare our spears and shields. We will fight together against this common enemy."
"How can we say we have no clothes? We will share the same garments with you."
"The king is raising an army; let us prepare our spears and halberds. Let us work together."
On the roof of the Xuanyuan family's house.
Liao Chen's heart suddenly skipped a beat. He put his hands behind his back, looked alone at the boundless sky, and murmured, "How can we say we have no clothes? We will share our garments with you."
"The king is raising an army; let us prepare our armor and weapons."
"To walk together with you."
In the military camp.
The soldiers sat on the ground, gnawing on cold, hard steamed buns, when someone spoke first: "How can we say we have no clothes? We share the same robes with you."
The hoarse voice sounded like it came from a broken bellows; it wasn't pleasant to listen to.
But soon people started singing along with him.
Inside the tent, General Han frowned: "What's going on?"
The lieutenant frowned and said, "It's the Xuanyuan family's war song."
The Xuanyuan family always sang war songs before going to war, and they also sang war songs to send off their comrades.
However, ever since the four great families took over the Xuanyuan family's military forces, they have never allowed the soldiers to sing the Xuanyuan family's war songs.
"How can you say we have no clothes? We share the same robes with you. The king is raising an army; let us prepare our spears and shields."
"We stand together against this common enemy!"
The Xuanyuan family's war song resounded throughout the entire military camp. The choked and hoarse voice, filled with intense sorrow, soared straight to the sky and rose above the vast sea!
Gu Jiao bid farewell to the Black Wind King and drew the red-tasseled spear from the side.
Regardless of whether Black Wind King exists or not, she must return to her battlefield.
As she walked to the door, she suddenly heard a rustling sound behind her.
Gu Jiao was stunned for a moment, then turned around and saw that the Black Wind King, who had lost his fighting spirit, was slowly standing up.
Its fighting spirit was rekindled in its eyes.
She was the only mare in the Great Yan, Black Wind King. She had a legendary life and her achievements were unmatched by any other horse.
At sixteen, it's old enough to retire from the stage of history.
Its era has ended.
However, no one knew that its legend only officially began at this moment!
We're just a few votes short, my little cuties, please help us round it up!
(End of this chapter)
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