Chapter 34

Chapter 33: The Heavenly Horse Disciples (1)

The Youyuan Palace, located on the outskirts of the main campus, is one of the largest gardens.

Raise your head slightly, and you can see the Tian Shan mountain range (天山山脈) covered in glaciers. Look around, and you can enjoy the well-cultivated soil, beautiful wetlands, and the natural beauty of the landscape.

In particular, artificial ponds have been created throughout the area, where the sound of water can be heard, and the surrounding stone walls and landscaping.

Well-pruned bonsai and ornamental trees.

And a three-zhang-high wall has been installed to prevent anyone from seeing inside.

Swish.

In the midst of this beautiful scenery, a young nobleman was looking down at a teacup.

Dressed in neat blue robes, he sat alone in the pavilion, lost in thought.

“What happened?”

After some time had passed, the fourth disciple, Kunma, who had been feeling the gentle breeze from the other side, spoke.

Then, a man who had been hiding his body appeared before him like a falcon.

Kunma's confidant, Tianguang (天光), had arrived.

“There’s a problem.”

“A problem?”

“Yes. During the pursuit, some people noticed our presence.”

“Did you... leave any traces?”

“Don’t worry. I blew up Huagushan to erase all evidence of our existence.”

“Hiss.”

Huagushan (化骨散).

A highly toxic substance that dissolves flesh and bones into blood water.

The fact that he used it indicates that the situation was extremely urgent.

“I can’t believe it. The Yin Ying Team, composed of peak experts, was defeated...”

Kunma’s expression hardened, and Tianguang, sensing this, added,

“They are experts not found in the Taihuang Pavilion.”

“Of course.”

The Yin Ying Team is one of the core units trained as Kunma’s intelligence agents.

All are peak experts, skilled in tracking and evasion, making it almost impossible for them to be caught.

Yet, they were defeated.

This could only have happened with the involvement of super experts.

“Lord, the timing is peculiar. Why did you place someone to monitor the Taihuang Pavilion master at this time?”

“The information must have leaked.”

“That can’t be... Didn’t you take extra precautions this time?”

“Precautions...”

Kunma made a subtle expression and then let out a bitter laugh.

“Tianguang, how many of my followers are still around me now?”

“My lord, that...”

Tianguang couldn’t immediately refute and bowed his head.

It was already a well-known rumor on the main campus.

As Kunma’s influence weakened compared to the other Heavenly Horse disciples, various side effects began to emerge.

More and more people, both openly and secretly, were being bought off.

At this point, it was almost meaningless to try to identify them.

Kunma spoke calmly to the bowed Tianguang,

“I’m sorry to you all. For following a weak lord like me.”

“No, we believe without a doubt that you, Kunma, will achieve the grand plan.”

“The grand plan. Indeed, I once envisioned such a future.”

Kunma didn’t hide his disheartened expression.

While it might seem uncharacteristic for a Heavenly Horse disciple to show such weakness, Tianguang understood.

The Heavenly Horse disciples.

Their power, influence, and the officials they had bought far exceeded Kunma’s.

Some even openly claimed that certain elders within the headquarters bowed to them.

“By the way, what happened to the one who gave me the incriminating information?”

“I sent a second-level guard. He will take the entrance exam at Wuguan Island today.”

“Hmm.”

Kunma quietly turned his gaze to the distant mountains.

The vast peaks and mountain ranges, known as the Tian Shan mountain range for their perpetual snow, made him feel like he wanted to rest alone there.

Then, Tianguang’s voice brought him back from his thoughts.

“I’m worried. If the information from the map that man gave us is false...”

“Tianguang, have you ever seen Shuhui in person?”

When Kunma met his gaze, Tianguang quietly bowed his head.

“I’ve only heard about him from you, my lord.”

“I see.”

Kunma picked up the teacup on the table.

He swirled the tea and then spoke.

“I did some investigation, and it seems there was a reason why Shuhui was disliked by the Taihuang Pavilion master.”

“...?”

“He apparently entered the Taihuang Pavilion master’s office without permission and tried to steal martial arts techniques. He was caught in the act.”

“How... a mere subordinate could do such a thing.”

It was not just bold but insane.

To think of sneaking into the office of the highest authority in the territory, not even a direct superior.

“However, there was something quite suspicious about the process. The Taihuang Pavilion master didn’t immediately take action when he found out. Why?”

“I don’t know.”

“Do you know what happened to the squad members who followed Shuhui?”

Without answering, Tianguang listened intently, and Kunma continued,

“They all died. At the hands of the Huashan Sect.”

“...!”

Tianguang’s eyes widened.

He had heard that some third-rate warriors from the main campus were attacked by the Huashan Sect not long ago.

Coincidentally, those who died were Shuhui’s subordinates.

If so, the content of the secret conversation in the map might be credible.

“What if all of this was planned by the Taihuang Pavilion master?”

A natural suspicion arose.

Only Shuhui, the squad leader, survived, and he gave the map to them.

Thus, Kunma sent the Yin Ying Team to investigate the Taihuang Pavilion master, and they all ended up dead.

“We can’t be certain yet.”

“What do you mean...?”

Hiss.

Kunma drank the already cold tea.

Then, he gazed at the slowly flowing water in the pond and said,

“The map Shuhui gave us. It contains the Taihuang Pavilion master’s handwriting about a secret meeting with the righteous factions. This is a matter that could shake the main campus’s rules, far too heavy for a mere subordinate to handle.”

Given that Shuhui’s subordinates died, it’s likely that the map is genuine.

This is a situation that cannot be ignored.

And it presents a significant opportunity for Kunma to increase his influence.

“Given the circumstances, it’s more natural that the Taihuang Pavilion master realized the map was missing after Shuhui went to the Thousand Days Hall.”

Kunma was speculating on the Taihuang Pavilion master’s actions based on the assumption that this was the truth.

It’s unlikely that a subordinate and the Taihuang Pavilion master would have a secret meeting with such important documents.

It’s more plausible that the Taihuang Pavilion master was prepared for any eventuality after the map was lost.

“Then, why did you send Shuhui to Wuguan Island?”

Tianguang naturally wondered as he listened.

After all, Shuhui was now a disposable asset.

He was curious why it was necessary to send him to Wuguan Island with a sword and medicinal herbs.

“I made a promise. He asked for a chance to become stronger.”

“With his skills, passing the Wuguan Island exam is almost impossible, isn’t it?”

“Probably.”

The sword and medicinal herbs were the bare minimum.

They were far from enough to pass the exam, especially since the successful candidates at Wuguan Island were already selected from among the experts.

“Even if it’s impossible, if he survives, if he can survive...”

He looked up.

“Perhaps I can also gain some energy through him.”

‘Ah!’

Tianguang finally understood the real reason his lord sent Shuhui to Wuguan Island.

Perhaps he saw himself in Shuhui.

The weight of being a Heavenly Horse disciple, unable to advance or retreat.

A similar situation to his own, where he had to find a way to break through.

Whistling sound—

The gentle breeze and a small whistle made Kunma look up.

It was a signal from the guards.

Someone was coming.

“Unwelcome guests are arriving.”

Sure enough, three people were walking from a distance.

Shalma, Mahou, and A Ling.

His senior brothers and sister, the Heavenly Horse disciples.

* * *

“This is...”

Shuhui raised his head.

A place he had only seen with his eyes as he passed by.

He had once lost himself in the beauty of the scenery for a while.

This was not one of the five pavilions (五閣) where the Taihuang Pavilion was located, nor the nine parties (九黨) responsible for daily operations.

It was not even one of the four academies (四院) or eight halls (八殿).

It was an independent palace (宮) where only the Heavenly Horse and his disciples, and their loyal followers, could reside.

“Ah, ah!”

At that moment, the man on his shoulder started struggling.

It seemed that the man, who was wrapped in a cloth and carried, had regained consciousness.

Thud!

But Shuhui punched him, and he quickly quieted down.

Then, he continued walking.

When the long wall disappeared and