An unexpected, stunning victory—the first major triumph for the Dual Cities Nation in its centuries-long conflict with the Ten Thousand Steeds Nation, and the crucial factor was the capture of eleven fine horses from the enemy! This was unprecedented in historical records.

Wu Rong and Ma Yongliang were beaming, unable to close their mouths from sheer delight. After arranging for immediate repairs to the city gates, the group gathered around the eleven horses, admiring them excitedly. Horses, they agreed, were worth ten times more than pigs; pigs lagged far behind in speed and stamina, and their controllability was abysmal—often failing precisely when most crucial. These horses, however, were different. Once riding skills were mastered, they would advance when commanded, retreat when ordered. If they could field even a few thousand cavalrymen, the Dual Cities Nation could stand supreme over both the Ten Thousand Steeds Nation and the Jin Nation.

“Lord Wu, you have achieved a monumental feat this time. The military history of our Dual Cities Nation will be forever altered because of you!” Ma Yongliang praised sincerely, reaching out to stroke the neck of one tall, spirited steed. He had fought bandits before, but this was his first close encounter with horses of this caliber.

Prefect Wu demurred politely, “Not at all, not at all. Lord Ma, your contribution is not small either. This is the result of everyone fighting in coordination. I will certainly report this matter accurately to the Emperor. However, the true hero is my sworn brother Zhao... Brother Zhao, where is my Brother Zhao?”

Prefect Wu suddenly realized a key figure was missing from the scene. If they were now admiring the eleven captured horses from the Ten Thousand Steeds Nation, the primary credit belonged unequivocally to those three individuals. If they hadn't secured the city gate, instead of viewing horses, they would now be arranging for corpse recovery.

Ma Yongliang also knew that repelling the horse bandits was entirely due to the fierce stand made by the three men at the base of the wall. But where had these three heroes gone? The scene was chaotic when the bandits retreated, and no one had noticed their departure. He called out to Centurion Yu and Centurion Tong, “You two immediately organize men to search for Divine Doctor Zhao. Whoever finds him will be generously rewarded.”

Seeing Cai Hua peeking nervously from the side, secretly eyeing the eleven captured fine horses, Prefect Wu mocked him, “Lord Cai, what are you doing peeking? We didn’t see where you were when we were desperately fighting off the bandits earlier. As the highest official in the Prefecture Judicial Office, your whereabouts during wartime will be reported in detail to the court. Furthermore, I will petition the Emperor to rule on your attempt to harm the great hero, Divine Doctor Zhao.”

Cai Hua’s head felt like it would swell to twice its size. He had watched clearly from behind the crowd; those three had indeed held off the attack of over three hundred horsemen under the gaze of everyone. The brute’s monstrous strength and the two mysterious weapons emitting white light had left him trembling with terror. He counted himself lucky that these people had slipped away quietly; if he had truly engaged them head-on, he dared not imagine how slim his chances of survival would have been. Now, everything seemed to be shifting in Wu Rong’s favor. What was he to do?

Just then, a soldier, guided by Centurion Tong, approached and reported to Prefect Wu, “Reporting, my Lord. I saw Divine Doctor Zhao and his two companions quietly leaving the Flying Eagle Prefecture, following behind the retreating horse bandits. The scene was too chaotic then, so I didn’t see exactly where they went.”

Prefect Wu sighed deeply, “It’s all my fault; I have brought harm upon Divine Doctor Zhao. Old dog Cai, you drove away my sworn brother Zhao—I am irreconcilable with you!”

Cai Hua, already guilty because of his son’s manufactured case, felt the surge of military excitement all around him. With everyone looking to Wu Rong and Ma Yongliang as leaders, if he showed any lack of awareness, even his personal safety might be at risk. Thus, he ducked his head and hastily retreated to his residence with his retainers.

Amidst his dejection, Prefect Wu’s spirits lifted again as he looked at the eleven whinnying, spirited horses. He said to Ma Yongliang, “We must report to the court immediately and dispatch an escort to bring these eleven horses to the capital. We shall request the Emperor to order the breeding of thousands upon thousands of warhorses using these eleven as the foundation!”

Ma Yongliang agreed, “Excellent, Lord Wu, you possess both courage and wisdom; this subordinate admires you greatly. To prevent the horse bandits from sneaking back to reclaim the horses, we must dispatch a large army for escort.”

A minor official in charge of pigs, standing nearby, whispered a caution, “My Lords, based on my experience raising pigs, these eleven horses are likely all male. Breeding offspring from them will be utterly impossible!”

The two lords instantly deflated upon hearing this. Unwilling to accept it, they both bent down to inspect the horses’ undersides. Guided by the pig official’s instructions, they confirmed: eleven rigid appendages standing straight up—not a single one had a udder! This was a major problem. Damn those horse bandits for only bringing males and not a single mare! How could they breed anything?

The two men slumped onto the ground. The monumental achievement that could have been recorded in history had evaporated. After a moment, Ma Yongliang tried to console Wu Rong, “Lord Wu, do not be disheartened. This is only our initial victory. Who can say we won’t capture mares later? Once we have just one mare, in time our Dual Cities Nation will be covered in horses. Although we only captured eleven males this time, this achievement is still unprecedented in the Dual Cities Nation. Therefore, I suggest that aside from repairing the gates and strengthening defenses, we should immediately write a letter reporting to the court and then send an escort to take the horses to the capital. Every extra day spent in the Flying Eagle Prefecture is another day of risk.”

Wu Rong recalled the destructive power of the bandit charge and sobered his expression. “Lord Ma’s reminder is timely. I will attend to it at once.”

＊＊＊＊＊＊Entering the dense forest, they found Ma Xiaoda astride a mare, dancing with excitement while Linglong and Zhou Ni laughed heartily at his antics. The five attendants standing on the ground watched Ma Xiaoda with helpless expressions.

Zhou Ni was the first to see us return. Seeing the blood dripping from my hand, she felt an unexpected tug in her heart, immediately leaping down from the horse and running over.

“Zhao Qian, you’re injured! Let us bandage it for you.”

Linglong quickly rummaged through her satchel and produced several pieces of fine cotton cloth.

“What happened, Master? How did you get hurt?”

Dali Wan shrank to the side, looking utterly dejected. “It’s all my fault. We were helping the soldiers defend the gate, and I showed off by challenging a horse bandit to a test of strength. As a result, a large wave of bandits broke through the gate. Brother Zhao Qian took an arrow for me. That arrow was meant for my chest, but he took the punishment for me.”

Linglong tapped Dali Wan on the forehead. “You, you! Can’t you ever let the Master rest easy? Thankfully, it only hit your hand. What if that arrow had pierced your heart!”

Dali Wan hung his head low, not daring to breathe loudly. “That bandit really was aiming for my heart. If it weren’t for Brother Zhao Qian, I wouldn't be standing here. That bandit is dead now; I smashed his brains out all over the ground, and his intestines too…”

Linglong stamped her foot. “Stop talking, stop talking!”

Dali Wan mumbled an apology and retreated to the side, not daring to show his face again. His expression of guilt made him look quite pitiful. I said to Linglong, “Don’t blame Dali Wan; he performed a great service today. If he hadn't shielded me and Yun Yao from arrows, we wouldn’t have been able to stop those three hundred horsemen. Moreover, he managed to break the leg of a key bandit, allowing us to seize the opportunity to shoot him down. Now that the bandit attack has dispersed, this counts as a major merit.”

As Linglong bandaged my wound, Zhou Ni and Yun Yao watched nervously nearby. Ma Xiaoda also dismounted, his expression serious. Linglong gently held my hand. “Even if it’s a great merit to the court, for us, we just did a good deed. In the future, Master, you absolutely must not do such life-threatening good deeds again.”

I pushed Linglong’s bandaging aside. “We have to remove the arrow first; otherwise, wrapping it is useless.” Linglong glanced at my bloody, mangled hand and said tremulously, “How do we take it out? It went right through; it will hurt terribly.”

Over two hundred bandits were dead, and nearly three hundred more were still out there. They might not have fled far and could return for revenge at any moment. Therefore, we had to leave this place quickly. Gritting my teeth, I said, “I’ll do it myself.”

I drew my military knife and had Yun Yao and Zhou Ni hold the arrow shaft. Closing my eyes and enduring the pain, I sliced off the arrowhead that had pierced my hand, then pulled the broken shaft out of the back of my hand. The sharp, bone-deep sting was so intense it made me faint! My physical stamina is truly lacking these days.

When I woke up, I was already on horseback. Behind me, a young, clear voice called out, “Xian Ge is awake! Hey, Big Sister, Second Sister, Third Sister, my Xian Ge is awake! Don’t look so glum, you’re making me feel awful!”

I didn't need to look to know the speaker was Ma Xiaoda. I hadn’t expected him to be sitting on the horse behind me, taking care of me. My wound was already bandaged, and judging by the intricate knot, the three girls must have done it. Linglong had witnessed me performing an emergency C-section on Er Danzi’s wife, so she had experience. Yun Yao knew which medicines were for anti-inflammation and external use, so I wasn't worried about the wound itself.

I opened my eyes to survey the surroundings. Seven horses were moving forward slowly. The rider behind me, Ma Xiaoda, kept fidgeting while delivering his good news. I asked, “Hey, Ma Xiaoda, why are you traveling with us?”

Zhou Ni and Yun Yao rode slowly on either side of me, their gazes full of concern. Yun Yao was one thing, but Zhou Ni’s attentiveness made me very happy. Since she knows nothing about our past relationship, achieving this level of affection today made me deeply grateful to heaven and earth.

Linglong rode at the rear. Although she didn’t speak or move forward, I knew she was also very concerned about me.

Yun Yao explained for Ma Xiaoda, “Brother Zhao, Ma Xiaoda volunteered to look after you on horseback. It wouldn’t be appropriate for the three of us girls to ride the same horse as you, and Brother Dali Wan is too heavy; riding double with you would exhaust the horse. So, we let Ma Xiaoda come along. Being light and male, he is the best person to care for you.”

Of the five attendants Ma Xiaoda brought, only the one named Jing Lue accompanied them. The others were left to walk to Feiyu County. Honestly, I had no desire to share a horse with this brat. If only I could ride double with Yun Yao or Zhou Ni—what a scene that would make, enviable to all!

Ma Xiaoda seemed to have guessed my thoughts. He deliberately lowered his voice to tell me, “What, Xian Ge, are you annoyed that I’m ruining your intimate contact with the fairy sisters? Should I get off so Big Sister can take my place?”

Zhou Ni was close by and could hear Ma Xiaoda even at a whisper. Her expression hardened. “What did you say? A dog’s mouth only spits out ivory!”

Ma Xiaoda giggled and quickly said, “Nothing, nothing, I was just talking nonsense.”

He then turned back to me and asked, “Say, Xian Ge, which fairy sister have you taken a liking to? Is it really true, like Third Sister said, that you fancy the one in Feiyu County? I wonder if she’s as beautiful as these three flower-like beauties.”

Zhou Ni’s face changed, and she listened intently. I snapped at Ma Xiaoda, “Shut your mouth! I am not your Xian Ge, call me Zhao Qian! Or I’ll toss you off this horse. You are not allowed to follow us anymore.”

Ma Xiaoda said, “If you don’t let me call you Xian Ge, fine, but why must I shut up? Could it be that all four of you like me? That’s fine; a man having three wives and four concubines is quite common.”

Seeing the unhappy expressions on the three girls’ faces, I warned Ma Xiaoda, “If you don’t stop this chatter, I guarantee you’ll have arrows stuck in your back shortly.”

Ma Xiaoda glanced back at Linglong, who was slightly annoyed. Fearing that this young girl, not much younger than him, might actually shoot a few arrows at him from behind, he immediately zipped his lips. But a talkative person can’t stay silent for long. Soon, he changed the subject, asking me, “Zhao Qian, where are you from, where did you come from, and where are you going? I just heard Dali Wan describing how you helped the soldiers defend the city gate—it was so magnificent! Can I see that laser gun? With your skills, why aren’t you serving the court?”

I replied irritably, “I am an immortal; I don’t have time for these mortal affairs. That laser gun is very dangerous; you shouldn’t look at it, child.”

Unexpectedly, Ma Xiaoda didn't fall for my bluff. He said, “Don’t lie to me. Second Sister just told me that her ability to fly isn't because a bird god possessed her, but because she has a treasure. So you aren't an immortal either. I called you Xian Ge just to tease you for fun.”

I hadn't expected this boy, though young, to be so sly. The pain in my hand was severe, so I decided to ignore him for the moment. Traveling at this tortoise pace, we wouldn’t reach Feiyu County until tomorrow. I said to the group, “Let’s speed up a bit, or we won’t make it to Feiyu County today.”

Yun Yao worried, “But your injury?”

I replied, “It’s just my hand; it’s fine. Let’s go.”

Ma Xiaoda still seemed reluctant to give up on the topic of serving the court. As we traveled, he pressed me from behind, “Zhao Qian, if you fear the court won’t value you, I can help. The news of the three of you repelling five hundred horse bandits will surely spread throughout the Dual Cities Nation soon. Then you will be heroes of the Dual Cities Nation. You can ask for any reward, any official position. How about I recommend you become a general? We are friends; I won’t lie to you…”

Seeing the five attendants Ma Xiaoda brought, I knew his status was unusual. However, I really didn’t have much time to involve myself in their local affairs. I said, “Thank you for your offer, Comrade Ma Xiaoda, but I’m not interested in being an official. I just want to find my friends as quickly as possible. You all should resolve your own local issues.”

Ma Xiaoda explained stubbornly, “How can you not be interested? A general commands ten thousand men, with five military administrators and ten centurions under his command—how can you not be interested in such a vital post? What do you want to be then? Do you want to be the State Preceptor? Becoming the State Preceptor requires seniority. Even if that’s what you want, you have to take it step by step.”

I replied, “I just want to be an ordinary person. I don’t belong to your world. Once I finish my business, I will leave. I know this concept is hard for you to grasp, but eventually, you will understand.”

Ma Xiaoda indeed found my words hard to comprehend. He said angrily, “Are you even a citizen of the Dual Cities Nation? When the country is in peril and you have the ability, why don’t you step forward? Can you bear to watch those horse bandits slaughter and pillage everywhere and just ignore it? The Dual Cities Nation is in dire need of capable generals, and you are the best candidate to defeat the horse bandits. This is your chance to establish yourself! A man should ride onto the battlefield—are you a coward?”

I knew the answer was no; you are not a coward. The courage you three showed in resisting five hundred horsemen is unmatched! Zhao Qian, the Dual Cities Nation needs you. You cannot just dust off your hands and walk away. I believe that with you here, the Dual Cities Nation can defeat the Ten Thousand Steeds Nation, defeat the Jin Nation, and defeat any nation that plots against us!”

This Ma Xiaoda, despite his youth, knew many profound truths. I reflected on my understanding of the Dual Cities Nation during this time and then told him solemnly, “What the Dual Cities Nation needs now is not war, but peaceful development.”

“What does that mean?” Ma Xiaoda asked, confused. Judging by his tone, he cared deeply and seriously about national affairs.

I said, “By development, I mean comprehensive development, including the economy, commerce, agriculture, manufacturing, and even military industry. Think about it: a nation that cannot even mint its own currency—how can you expect it to truly be capable of defeating all hostile nations? Military action must be backed by a robust economy. If the Dual Cities Nation engages in continuous warfare, its already fragile economic structure will immediately collapse. Then, how will the army be fed and supplied? If soldiers cannot be maintained, how can battles be fought? If battles cannot be won, how can the nation be defended? If the nation is unstable, how can other sectors develop? Of course, I am only citing the currency system as one example. Currently, the Dual Cities Nation’s technology in industry, smelting, minting, and carpentry lags behind the Jin Nation and the Ten Thousand Steeds Nation. It’s like a broken ship, full of leaks, which could sink at any moment. Therefore, if the Dual Cities Nation doesn’t focus on comprehensive development, should a major conflict arise, the nation will be in imminent danger. This reaction is chain-like; one break leads to the collapse of the nation. Thus, I believe the current priority for the Dual Cities Nation is to manufacture an environment of peace and concentrate on developing agriculture, industry, and the military.”

Ma Xiaoda was stunned into silence for a long moment before saying, “Is what you’re saying true?”

I replied, “Why is such a simple and understandable principle unseen by anyone here? I find everyone here quite intelligent, yet why do they lack the drive for progress? If the nation is not prosperous, the people cannot be strong. Only when the nation is rich and the people are strong will the army have combat effectiveness. When you possess a powerful army, even if other nations are invited to invade, they won't dare. Everyone can predict the outcome of trying to smash an egg against a rock.”

Ma Xiaoda pondered for a moment. “We have developed along these fixed rules for hundreds of years; no one ever said it was wrong. Perhaps, perhaps what you say has merit, but developing agriculture, industry, and the military is far easier said than done. The Dual Cities Nation faces numerous difficulties that are hard to solve…”

I interrupted Ma Xiaoda. “A leader should not focus on how many difficulties will obstruct an endeavor, but rather on how many obstacles need to be overcome to complete that endeavor successfully. If one lacks the courage to even attempt it, talking about anything else is superfluous.”

After this candid discussion, Ma Xiaoda remained silent for the rest of the way, seemingly deep in thought. It was hard to believe that despite his young age, he could be more childish than a child when playing, yet more serious than an adult when considering problems. It seems the people here mature early, much like Linglong…