Chapter 52: The Gift of a Horse from Pingchuan
Xiang Kui broke free of the ice and stepped forward, shouting, "Besides using underhanded tricks to freeze us, do you have no other skills?"
Murong Hanchan laughed and said, "Big guy, facing a powerful enemy like you, besides freezing him, do you have any other good methods?"
"This..." Murong Hanchan secretly praised him, while Xiang Kui was stunned and speechless.
The three of them then left the horse farm. Yin Xiaosheng activated his Frost True Qi to the extreme, and the extreme cold energy in his body began to backfire on his internal organs. He immediately turned pale and felt pain and weakness in his body.
Qiu Xia asked worriedly, "Brother Yin, what's wrong?"
Yin Xiaosheng said weakly, "I'm fine, it's just a backlash from the cold."
Seeing this, Murong Hanchan hurriedly activated her crimson dragon soul, placed her right palm on Yin Xiaosheng's chest, and forcefully poured in a stream of scorching true energy, temporarily relieving the pain of the cold in his body.
Yin Xiaosheng smiled and said, "Junior Sister, thank you!"
Murong Hanchan laughed and said, "Second Senior Brother, not bad at all! Your Frost Sword Technique is truly masterful!"
Yin Xiaosheng said shamelessly, "Oh dear! In the end, it was still a draw!"
Ma Pingchuan comforted him, saying, "Brother Yin, you have done your best."
"The outcome is still undecided. Who will take on the fifth round?"
A bold voice rang out, and everyone looked over to see that it was Ying Qing speaking.
Qiu Xia readily agreed, "I accept this challenge!"
Chunxiang said worriedly, "Junior sister, please be careful!"
Qiuxia smiled and nodded, then leaped into the horse farm.
Seeing this, Ying Qing then entered, wielding a pair of short-range halberds with fierce skill.
The two exchanged a greeting, glanced at each other, and then clashed their swords. The sounds of clanging and whistling swords filled the air.
Ying Qing wielded his double halberds with agility and sharpness, rotating them with precision and launching continuous attacks. Although he was adept at both offense and defense and had a steady footwork, he was still outmatched by He Qiuxia's swift movements, unique sword techniques, and relentless attacks that targeted vital points.
Facing the swift and agile Qiu Xia, Ying Qing felt the pressure and slowly began to lose ground. Qiu Xia seized an opportunity, using the ground as leverage to launch several kicks. Ying Qing parried with his halberd, but Qiu Xia kicked his arms several times. Seeing that his center was open, she leaped up and swiftly aimed her sword at his throat.
Before Ying Qing could react, a sword was already at his neck. His face was expressionless, his heart ashen, and he shook his head, saying, "You win."
Qiuxia smiled and said, "Thank you for your kind offer!" Then she sheathed her sword and walked out of the horse farm.
Ma Kaitai exclaimed with delight, "We won! We won!"
Ma Pingchuan stepped forward and asked Qiuxia with concern, "Qiuxia, are you alright?"
Qiu Xia smiled and said, "Brother Ma, I'm fine, we won!"
After five rounds, with one win, one draw, and three losses, Shi Jiquan said shamelessly, "Unbelievable! I never imagined the Ma family gang would be so full of experts."
Ma Pingchuan smiled and said, "Chief Shi, according to our agreement, you have lost. Please come inside for tea. The gang will prepare some wine later as a token of our apologies."
Xiang Kui shouted, "Apologize my ass! We lost! Why bother drinking this damn tea!" With that, he swung two iron hammers and left.
Shi Jiquan cupped his hands and said, "Young Master Ma, we appreciate your kindness, but we'll take our leave now. We'll come to bother you again when we have more money." After saying this, he bowed to everyone and left.
Ma Pingchuan pondered for a long time with his head down, then hurriedly chased after them to the village gate.
Ma Pingchuan shouted, "Chief Shi! Chief Shi!"
At this moment, everyone else followed suit.
Shi Jiquan stopped and turned around, smiling as he asked, "Is there anything else, Young Master?"
Ma Pingchuan declared boldly, "From what Chief Shi just said, it is to buy horses to quell the war. I also know that the Yongle Gang is a chivalrous gang, with all its members working the land to protect the people and safeguard the borders. I, Ma Pingchuan, greatly admire all of you heroes. We do not have enough of the two hundred fine horses we need, but I wonder if your gang would mind if we could have fifty?"
Upon hearing this, Shi Jiquan looked at Ma Pingchuan, took his hand, and said solemnly, "Young Master Ma! You are truly a chivalrous man! On behalf of the brothers in the gang and the people of Baiyun City, I thank you!" He then bowed deeply.
Ma Pingchuan hurriedly helped him up, saying boldly, "I only did my best. The bloody battle is still your responsibility."
Shi Jiquan said gratefully, "Young Master Ma, rest assured, as long as we have enough money, we will definitely pay you every penny for the fifty fine horses!"
Ma Pingchuan laughed and said, "Good! Chief Shi is straightforward."
Upon hearing that Ma Pingchuan had gifted him a horse, Xiang Kui suddenly stepped forward and laughed loudly, "You little rascal, you're not bad! I, Xiang Kui, like you and am willing to be your friend."
Murong Hanchan deliberately said, "Big guy! With a temper like yours, who would want to be your friend?"
Xiang Kui angrily retorted, "You brat! What did you say? You said I have a bad temper?!" As he spoke, his eyes widened, and he glared at her furiously.
Murong Hanchan walked to his side, crossed her arms, and said boldly, "You have a bad temper! So what? Want to hit me?!" After saying that, she raised her sharp eyebrows and looked up at Xiang Kui.
Xiang Kui gritted his teeth, his eyes wide with rage, gripped the hammer tightly, and stared at her furiously, but he made no move.
Seeing Xiang Kui's furious expression, Murong Hanchan found it amusing from the bottom of her heart. She patted Xiang Kui's belly and loudly proclaimed, "A bad temper won't get you any friends. You should make friends like this! Right, Senior Rebirth!" After saying that, she walked in front of Rebirth and smiled at him.
Rebirth remained expressionless, but said with emotion, "Miss Murong, Rebirth is willing to be your friend."
Upon hearing this, Murong Hanchan looked surprised, and everyone else looked puzzled.
Shi Jiquan asked doubtfully, "Miss Murong? Isn't your name Xia Han?"
Reborn said, "They all wield the Frost Sword and Frost Palm, so they must be from the Murong family. And this Miss Xia Han can condense her qi into a sword, so she must be the once-famous Mu Han Chan, known in the martial arts world as the Three Wonders and Seven Skills!"
Everyone was shocked, even Qiuxia and Chunxiang were somewhat surprised.
Murong Hanchan turned to the side and smiled, "Senior is the real talent. Your past reputation in the martial arts world is nothing but empty words."
Upon hearing that Xia Han was actually the renowned Murong Hanchan, Xiang Kui exclaimed, "You brat, I never would have guessed! You're already famous throughout the martial arts world at such a young age!"
Murong Hanchan said playfully, "Big guy, no matter how famous I am, I can't outdo your temper!"
"You..." Xiang Kui bared his teeth again, his face still full of anger, staring at Murong Hanchan.
Shi Jiquan laughed and said, "Brother Xiang Kui, Miss Murong was just joking with you, why take it so seriously!"
Murong Hanchan glanced at Xiang Kui, who immediately became calm.
Ma Pingchuan smiled and said, "Chief Shi, please lead your brothers into the hall for tea. The gang..."
Shi Jiquan hurriedly said, "No, no, no, Young Master Ma, the sooner we return, the less the brothers in the gang will worry."
Ma Pingchuan said softly, "Alright then, just wait a moment, I'll have someone gather horses and bring it over."
Ma Pingchuan arrived at the back stable, where Ma Heng was instructing people to drive the horses into the stable.
Ma Pingchuan laughed and said, "Uncle Ma, what are you doing?"
Ma Heng laughed and said, "I thought I was going to lose, so I picked out the best horses. I didn't expect you to win, so now I have to go back in."
Ma Pingchuan said solemnly, "Uncle Ma, I have already promised to sell them fifty fine horses. You can take fifty of them."
Upon hearing this, Ma Heng said sadly, "But these are all top-quality horses."
Ma Pingchuan: "It's alright, what they want are warhorses."
Although Ma Heng was unwilling, it was Ma Pingchuan who made the decision. In a short while, fifty top-quality horses were brought out.
During this time, Murong Hanchan somehow found some roasted sweet potatoes, lay half-reclined on the thatched shed at the village gate, and began to eat them with relish.
Ma Pingchuan laughed and said, "Chief Shi, here are fifty fine horses. Please take a look."
Shi Jiquan glanced at it and said, "Very well, thank you again, young master!" He then ordered someone to urge the horses forward.
Shi Jiquan cupped his hands and said, "Young Master, we'll meet again!"
Ma Pingchuan returned the greeting, saying, "Until we meet again!"
The group walked out of the village gate but did not find Murong Hanchan on the thatched hut.
Murong Hanchan called softly, "Big guy!"
Upon hearing this, everyone turned around and saw that Murong Hanchan was sitting on the gate of the village, smiling sweetly at him.
Xiang Kui looked puzzled, raised his sledgehammer, and asked, "You brat! What are you up to now?"
Murong Hanchan smiled, tossed him a roasted sweet potato, and said boldly, "Save it for the road! Don't let yourself get too small! Hmm?" She still twitched her sharp eyebrows.
Xiang Kui looked at the sweet potato in his hand, then swung the iron hammer at Murong Hanchan and turned to leave.
Murong Hanchan then boldly proclaimed, "Reborn senior! This is for you!" and then tossed out a roasted sweet potato.
Although the reborn man was blind, his sense of qi was extremely keen. With a casual grab, he had the sweet potato in his hand.
Reborn said, "Thanks, little girl!"
Then, the group rode away in a grand procession.
After everything was settled, Ma Kaitai and his son were extremely grateful to everyone. Ma Kaitai, in particular, personally prepared a sumptuous banquet to thank Murong Hanchan and the others.
Because everyone was tired from their journey, Ma Pingchuan had made arrangements in advance. Since Xie Yunfeng mentioned that he was in a hurry to return to the mansion, he also made sure everyone rested so that they could set off early the next day.
...
The sound of horses' hooves echoed through Majiazhuang. After a night's rest, the weather was clear and sunny. Murong Hanchan and her group were all ready to depart, waiting to bid farewell to Ma Pingchuan and Qiuxia.
Ma Pingchuan: "We wanted you to stay a few more days, but you insisted on leaving, so Qiuxia and I couldn't force you to stay. We can only wish you a safe journey!"
Murong Hanchan smiled and said, "Brother Ma, when we come again next time, please remember to send the red invitation to our Murong residence in advance when you get married!"
Qiu Xia blushed and lowered her head, avoiding looking at the crowd.
Ma Pingchuan laughed and said, "Of course, we certainly won't forget you all!"
Chunxiang bid farewell to Qiuxia, saying, "Junior sisters, please take good care of yourselves!"
Qiu Xia smiled and said, "Senior sisters! You too, take good care of yourselves!"
Murong Hanchan declared boldly, "The clouds and fog will eventually disperse; we will meet again in the future!" With that, she spurred her horse and rode away.
Xie Yunfeng: "Take care, and see you later!"
Yin Xiaosheng: "Take care, both of you! Goodbye!"
Chunxiang gazed at the two of them with deep affection, then rode away on her horse.
As Ma Pingchuan and Qiu Xia watched the crowd depart, Qiu Xia gazed at Chunxiang's retreating figure with reluctance. Ma Pingchuan then gently embraced her, saying it comforted her.
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