Chapter 79

The river that runs through Central China and Huai is the Yangtze River. The Yellow River is a different river system that flows much further north. It was a bit strange that a famous horse in the Huai market was called the son of the Yellow River Dragon.

Jeliang quickly asked about this thought.

"If it's in Henan Province, isn't it the land crossed by the Yangtze River, not the Yellow River? Then why is it the son of the Yellow River Dragon, not the Yangtze River Dragon?"

"Because the mare that carried it came from the Yellow River."

Zhang Jian sipped his tea and continued.

"…That mare was an extremely well-bred horse. Originally, one of eight horses brought from the distant Western Regions by a merchant to gift to the Yellow Army generals. Naturally, the merchant doted on them, fed them well, and raised them, and they were said to look like the Eight Steeds of Emperor Mu of Zhou."

The Eight Steeds were legendary horses that pulled the chariot of Emperor Mu of the ancient Zhou Dynasty. At this, Jeliang let out a soft "Oh" and quickly began fidgeting with something.

"…But at that time, there was a problem with the Yellow River. A river that had been calm for several years suddenly flooded, creating countless refugees. People lost their villages, homes, and families, and the area was in chaos, with hunger and disease rampant. It was a chaotic time, to the point where the Yellow Army was deployed."

"Flooding of the river. I heard that such things happen occasionally in the lands where the eastern tribes live."

At Xunma's words, Zhang Jian nodded.

"Land around such rivers is fertile and good for farming. But it's also why farmers can't easily leave, even with frequent flooding."

"Right. The eastern tribes managed to build quite large cities without the help of Central China because the land was so fertile…"

"Ah, ah! Let's talk about flood control and farming later! So, what's the connection between the flooding and the Eight Steeds?"

Seeing that Zhang Jian and Xunma's conversation was about to veer off course, Jeliang quickly interjected to steer it back. Zhang Jian smiled and continued the story.

"With the Yellow Army deployed, the chaos on the surface was calmed. But that didn't mean people could return home, and the Yellow River showed no signs of stopping its flooding… At that time, someone said it was because the Yellow River Dragon was angry. A sacrifice had to be made."

"…A sacrifice?"

Jeliang's expression stiffened slightly. The idea of a sacrifice during a disaster didn't paint a pleasant picture. But Zhang Jian continued in a calm tone.

"The Yellow Army was maintaining order, so they couldn't sacrifice a person. If they did, they would be labeled as fanatical cultists and suppressed. So, the people decided to sacrifice the eight horses the merchant had imported to appease the Yellow River Dragon. They thought that even if it wasn't a person, the eight horses would be enough to calm the Yellow River Dragon."

"And so?"

"So, in the midst of the rain, a ritual was held along the river, and the eight well-fed and well-played horses were swept away by the muddy Yellow River."

Jeliang tilted his head.

"Didn't you say that one of those eight was the mare?"

"That's right. She was the best of the eight."

"…She was swept away as a sacrifice to the Yellow River?"

Zhang Jian finished the remaining tea and set down the empty cup.

"Surprisingly, the Yellow River and even the weather calmed down after the horses were sacrificed. The merchant, who had originally intended to gain the favor of the Yellow Army, didn't achieve that, but he gained the respect of many people in the area and was somewhat satisfied. But then, something amazing happened. One of the horses, thought to have been swept away by the Yellow River, returned one day, pregnant."

"Oh…"

"But the merchant wasn't happy. In fact, he was afraid. How could it have returned after being swept away by that treacherous river? Was there really a dragon in the Yellow River? Was the foal in her belly really the dragon's child? If so, could he handle it?"

Jeliang, who had been scribbling, focused on Zhang Jian's story. Xunma, who was sitting beside him, did the same.

"The merchant, unsure if he could handle the word 'dragon,' tried to sell the mare before she gave birth. It might seem unnecessary to be so afraid, but from the perspective of someone who had seen the flooding stop after a sacrifice, he might have felt swept up in some unknown force. Perhaps he thought the flooding was to release the dragon's child into the world. If the merchant, who had sacrificed the horses for his own benefit, thought this, what about the other people in the Yellow River basin?"

Xunma nodded, as if understanding.

"No one would buy the horse…"

"That's right. So, the mare, pregnant with the Yellow River Dragon's child, eventually ended up far away, all the way to the Yangtze River. By then, she couldn't delay giving birth any longer, and thus, the foal was born. A troublemaker in the Huai horse market, whose lineage could only be attributed to the Yellow River Dragon."

Xunma and Jeliang looked at Cao Cao with admiration. But the foal, as if wondering why they were staring at him, looked indifferent and started flirting with the mares again.

"…I don't feel any dragon's majesty."

Zhang Jian, hearing Jeliang's slightly disappointed voice, recalled an old memory for a moment.

Cao Cao, born in such extraordinary circumstances, showed extraordinary behavior. Despite his ordinary build, he possessed strength and temperament that no other horse could match, becoming the leader of the herd. He refused to wear saddles and other riding gear and wouldn't carry people.

He often broke through fences, leading the herd to escape into vast fields, and single-handedly trampled and killed packs of wolves that targeted the horse market. One night, he even kicked a tiger that had leaped over the fence from the mountains, chasing it away.

But as a dragon's child or the leader of the herd, a horse raised by humans ultimately had to carry people. Or at least pull a cart. In the end, a horse is just a horse.

The horse market leader in Huai, who ended up with Cao Cao, decided to gift him to a Yellow Army general, thinking that a skilled warrior would appreciate a wild horse.

However, within two days, Cao Cao broke out of the general's stable and was eventually recaptured, only to be used as a stud.

"…So, how did you end up with him?"

Jeliang's question brought a scene to Zhang Jian's mind.

In a dim, enclosed stable, a creature was chained in a corner, unable to move freely. Trapped for a long time, it could only see the dim sunlight when a mare entered. Always fed a mixture of feed and aphrodisiacs, its emaciated body and the stench of the stable were overwhelming.

But in that darkness, there was a fierce, almost unbelievable gaze. A gaze that said, if this restraint were removed, it would run without stopping, even if its lungs burst, its legs broke, or its back collapsed. If it died in this dark, enclosed space, its spirit would still run free in the vast fields.

At that moment, Zhang Jian saw Cao Cao, looking dejected as the opposite mare turned away. Sensing his gaze, Cao Cao looked back at Zhang Jian, and their eyes met again.

Zhang Jian stood up and walked towards Cao Cao, saying,

"How did I end up with him? I bought him, so he's with me now."

While Xunma and Jeliang looked puzzled, Cao Cao, seeing Zhang Jian approach, snorted indifferently, as if wondering what he wanted. Zhang Jian chuckled and started to remove the saddle from Cao Cao's back.

At that time, Zhang Jian was just leaving his family to learn new martial arts and escape an uncomfortable home. Though he had never been interested in the harsh conditions of livestock or free-range farming, the sight of this foal's eyes and appearance captivated him.

Zhang Jian spent all his money to buy Cao Cao. He roughly put a bit in his mouth, led him by the reins, and crossed the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, heading north. When they reached a suitable plain, he simply set him free. But perhaps because he had grown attached during that short time, or because the foal, used to the horse market, was afraid of the real fields, he didn't leave Zhang Jian.

That day, the foal's name became 'Cao Cao.'

"Are you not tired of it? Be careful, don't get kicked."

With the saddle removed, Cao Cao snorted, as if worried about everything, and started flirting with the mares again. Zhang Jian, shaking his head, took the saddle and returned to the campfire.

Seeing Zhang Jian sit down, Jeliang urged him on.

"So, that's it? You bought him and rode him? The son of the Yellow River Dragon?"

"That's right."

"But that's not the end of the story, is it?"

Jeliang, thinking there must be more to the story, tried to urge Zhang Jian on. But seeing Xunma shaking his head, he realized he was being a bit rude.

"…Well, that's that. It was an interesting story. Thanks to you, I have lots of ideas for a new novel."

Zhang Jian, putting away his book and brush, smiled at Jeliang, who was regaining his composure as when they first met. It was unclear if he believed the story or if he found it interesting regardless of its truth. But at least he didn't seem to scold Zhang Jian for making things up. That much showed he was a polite person.

Jeliang, slightly disappointed, soon found his imagination sparked by the abrupt end of the story and started scribbling again. Xunma, sighing as if giving up, poured tea for Zhang Jian and said,

"Since we've heard interesting stories from the south, we should share some recent news. Would you like to hear it?"

Zhang Jian nodded as he received the tea. But Xunma, after hesitating and licking his lips, said,

"…Actually, it's not an interesting story. It's a bit scary."

"A scary story."

Zhang Jian looked up at the now dark sky and the thin crescent moon. It was the perfect moment for a ghost story. Xunma, nodding at Zhang Jian's murmur, looked at the campfire and said,

"…Recently, a terrifying rumor has been spreading around here. It's about a demon that preys on travelers and merchants."

"A demon?"

"Yes. A demon. It's said that when you're traveling through this area, at some point, gray clouds will cover the sky, and at that moment, a black horse made of smoke and a rider with a face as red as blood will appear, tearing travelers to pieces."

Though the rumor sounded a bit ridiculous, Zhang Jian didn't laugh. In such a wilderness, such rumors must have some basis.

"Hmm, bandits?"

"No, not bandits. It's a real demon. The black horse made of smoke can't be caught or harmed, and the red-faced rider is quite terrifying. He's said to have a black body with a face as red as blood, and he tears out the hearts of the travelers he kills and eats them."

A demon that eats hearts. Zhang Jian felt a sense of familiarity. Could it be those brats from the Demon Palace causing trouble here?

"If such rumors spread, the Martial Arts Alliance will step in."

"It seems the news hasn't reached Shenshichuan yet. We heard it from a village we visited yesterday. It might take a few weeks for anyone to come and investigate."

Zhang Jian nodded, wondering if the source of the rumor was the Demon Palace or just some bandits using a scary martial art to commit atrocities. Of course, with just a rumor, he couldn't know for sure.

"Actually, that's why I'm asking…"

At that moment, Jeliang, who had been fidgeting, spoke cautiously. Zhang Jian looked at him, as if encouraging him to continue.

"…It seems you, Zhang Wushi, are heading north, right?"

"Currently, that's the direction."

"Um, we're also heading north. How about we travel together until we leave this plain tomorrow? I don't really believe the demon is a real demon. It's probably bandits who have been robbing and mutilating travelers, and spreading the rumor to build their reputation. If they're spreading the rumor, they'll likely target lone travelers or small groups to avoid missing anyone."

"Three would be better than one or two?"

"Much better. What do you think?"

After a moment's thought, Zhang Jian nodded. Traveling with others for a short time seemed better than going alone. He found both Xunma and Jeliang to be good conversationalists. There was no need to fight bandits and waste energy.

After a brief chat, they went to sleep. Cao Cao, still rejected by the mares, made Zhang Jian chuckle.

The next day, Zhang Jian had to reconsider the idea that bandits were causing trouble in the area. The wrecked carriage and scattered, mutilated remains they found in the middle of the plain at noon were too horrific to be the work of humans.