“So, Mas—Young Master, what are we going to do now? Are you finally going to show me the secret?” Min Li asked eagerly, practically bouncing behind Jin Yu.
A chuckle slipped from Jin Yu’s lips. “Step three—no anxiousness. A calm heart is essential.”
“Yes, Young Master!” Min Li immediately straightened up like a devout disciple, hands clasped behind his back and posture rigid.
Jin Yu nodded with satisfaction. Now this… this is the young master life I dreamed of.
He gestured grandly toward a young warrior passing nearby. “You.”
The young man paused, then hurried over with a bow. “Young Master.”
“Get me two strong horses.”
The warrior blinked, hesitating. “Young Master, I… um…”
Jin Yu’s brows twitched. “Wha—?”
Before he could finish, Min Li exploded.
“HOW DARE YOU HESITATE WHEN MY MASTER SPEAKS?! DO YOU WANT TO CARRY YOUR HEAD IN YOUR HANDS?!”
Jin Yu flinched. Haozi, beside him, visibly winced.
The poor warrior looked even worse. He dropped to his knees, trembling and nearly crying. “Th-that’s not my intention, Young Master! I just… I don’t have the authority to—”
“YOU DON’T WHAT?!” Min Li’s voice grew even louder. “YOU BRAT! YOU DARE TREMBLE IN FRONT OF THE HEAVEN’S CHILD? YOU THINK YOU’LL BE SPARED?!”
His face twisted in righteous fury, and he looked just about ready to kick the guy.
Jin Yu: “…”
Why does he sound more like a young master than me? And the worst part? He’s not even pretending!
Haozi: “…” Is this guy mentally stable?
“Ahem,” Jin Yu coughed, trying to gather what was left of his dignity. “That’s… enough. Just lead the way.”
“Y-Yes, Young Master!” the warrior scrambled to his feet and practically ran ahead, not daring to look back.
“Brat,” Min Li spat before gliding after him like some aristocrat straight out of a sect drama.
Jin Yu gave him a sideways glance. Is his head okay?
Haozi silently stared at Min Li’s skull, clearly wondering the same thing.
----
A few minutes later, they arrived at an impressive estate nestled beside a vast, open training field.
The air was filled with the earthy scent of hay and sweat, punctuated by the occasional snort or hoofbeat.
Before them stood an enormous, reinforced stable—no, not a stable, a miniature fortress of polished darkwood and engraved stone columns.
Golden harnesses and silk banners fluttered in the breeze, marking it clearly as a high-class horse hall, one worthy of noble bloodlines like the Jin family’s.
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A long stretch of open field extended beyond it, fenced with jade-tipped posts and lined with rune-inscribed stones meant to suppress beasts or flying escapees. Dozens of spirited horses, lean and muscular, were being trained or brushed down by servants in matching tunics.
“Here it is, Young Master,” the teenage boy said, bowing low and motioning respectfully toward the entrance.
“Thank you—” Jin Yu paused mid-reply, noticing the boy’s trembling form and guilt flashing across his features. He instinctively reached for his pocket to give him a coin... only to remember he had neither coin nor pocket.
Right. No Earth jeans here.
Before the silence grew awkward, Min Li stepped forward with practiced flourish and drew out a glimmering gold coin from his spatial pouch. He placed it in the boy’s hands with exaggerated grace. “Here. For your service.”
The boy stared at the coin in disbelief, eyes darting between the shining gold and their faces.
“You dare refuse?!” Min Li barked.
“N-No!” the boy stammered, tears welling in his eyes as he dropped to the ground in full kowtow. “Thank you, Young Master! Thank you! Thank you!”
“You should be grateful,” Min Li declared, lifting his chin with haughty pride. “After all, my master’s generosity is as vast as the heavens! Now scram.”
“Yes, yes!” the boy stammered, bowing again before scampering off.
Jin Yu raised a brow. “...Isn’t it just a coin?”
Min Li looked at him like he’d asked if water was wet. “Young Master, to someone born in a dragon-guarded palace, it may seem like pocket lint. But to him? That coin can feed his entire family for a year.”
Jin Yu paused mid-step, eyes widening slightly. “That much?”
“Yes, Young Master.” Min Li offered a reverent nod before falling into step behind him as they entered the grand horse hall.
Inside, the scent of spirit herbs and warm leather filled the air.
Dozens of servants and warriors were tending to horses or testing saddles. Conversations fell to a hush as they entered, and many turned to watch curiously.
“Now who the hell’s in charge here?” Min Li’s voice boomed across the chamber. “How dare you keep my master, Heaven’s Chosen, standing under the sun without welcoming him properly?!”
A group of warriors instantly scattered, giving them wide berth. Nervous murmurs rippled through the air.
A middle-aged man, initially scowling at the interruption, turned—and froze. His eyes caught the luxurious attire, noble posture, and unmistakable aura of power.
He hurried over and bowed. “Young Master... are you here to ride the horses or take them out for a journey?”
“Horse ride, your mother!” Min Li snapped. “Bring out your finest stallions before I start counting!”
Influence Points +100 (Anger)
Jin Yu: “…”
Why does he keep dragging my name into these insults? Did anyone see me say that? No? Good.
“Yes, right away,” the man said quickly, bowing again and vanishing deeper into the facility, the edge of irritation buried under the fear of offending nobility.
In a secluded chamber at the back of the estate—more like a sparring hall than a resting room—a man was dancing with a spear. His movements were fluid and sharp, precise as a predator’s. The weapon hissed through the air like it wanted blood, each strike clean enough to split bone and sky alike.
An overwhelming aura flooded the room: calm yet suffocating. The aura of a Transcendent realm expert.
Jian, the stable master from before, entered the room hesitantly. “Master… Young Master Jin Yu arrived. He’s asking for the best horses.”
The spear stilled in mid-air, not with a jerk but a perfectly timed stop. The man lowered it and looked over, a smile tugging at his lips when he noticed Jian’s scrunched face.
“Still brooding over that insult?”
Jian sighed. “He called my mother.”
The man laughed lightly and waved it off. “Don’t take it to heart. He didn’t mean it. Give them the best we have... aside from my own, Uncle Lin and Old Master’s steed. No need for trouble.”
“Yes, Master.” Jian bowed, still scowling, and left.
The spearman gave one final glance toward the direction of the noise, then resumed his dance, spear slicing the air with ghostlike sharpness.
----
The horses brought to them were nothing short of majestic beasts.
Broad-chested and towering, the three stallions snorted thunderously as they approached, their hooves cracking against the earth like war drums. Their glossy black coats gleamed like polished obsidian under the sunlight, muscles rippling beneath their skin with each powerful stride. Fire danced in their eyes, wild and untamed—a spirit only worthy of someone bold enough to ride them.
Even Haozi couldn’t hide his amazement. “Damn… those aren’t just horses… they look like they were born to trample mountains.”
Jin Yu smirked and vaulted onto one with ease. The stallion responded with a proud neigh, tossing its head, mane whipping like a banner in the wind.
Min Li hurried up to the second horse, eyes sparkling. “Such magnificent creatures! Worthy of my master, naturally!” He mounted in one fluid motion, then looked at Jin Yu reverently. “Young Master, shall we fly?”
Jin Yu: “Let’s… just ride.”
"Hop on " Jin Yu said to Haozi that was looking hopefully at the remaining horse. With the go-ahead,He immediately climbed up, albeit clumsily,he gripped the reins tightly,lest he fall off midway.
With a loud and powerful neigh, the stallions kicked off and galloped down the dirt path, wind howling around them as the they surged forward like bolts of living lightning.
It wasn’t long before they crossed paths with another group of riders. A trio of armored young men and a woman, all mounted on decent steeds, approached from the opposite direction. Their leader, a silver-haired youth with a hooked spear strapped to his back, raised a brow at the sight of them.
“Ho there!” he called. “Didn’t expect to see anyone racing down this stretch—”
Before he could finish, Min Li yanked his reins and brought his steed to a stop, pointing dramatically. “Silence! Speak respectfully before the Heaven’s Child, my master Jin Yu!”
The group reined in, blinking in surprise.
Jin Yu: “…Here we go again.”
The silver-haired youth frowned. “Heaven’s… what?”
Min Li’s chest puffed out. “This man beside me has shattered limits you couldn’t begin to imagine! Your strongest realm? His stepping stone. Your sect’s secret technique? His morning warm-up! So I suggest you address him properly—if you don’t want your Qi shattered just by being ignored!”
The trio exchanged glances. Even the woman leaned sideways to whisper, “Is this guy serious?”
Jin Yu rubbed his forehead. “Min Li…”
“Yes, Young Master?” he turned instantly, ready to obey any command.
“…Never mind.”
Haozi, a few paces behind, sighed. Why do I feel like the world is going to misunderstand him more and more?
The silver-haired youth narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Jin Yu. But the raw confidence in Jin’s posture—and the sheer presence of the stallion beneath him—gave him pause.
After a tense beat, the youth inclined his head slightly. “Very well. Apologies if we disrespected your… master.”
Min Li nodded smugly. “As you should.”
Jin Yu simply waved his hand. “Move along. We’re busy.”
The group passed, still whispering behind them, and Min Li beamed with pride.
“You see, Young Master? That’s the power of a proper follower. Soon the world will bow!”
Jin Yu: “…”
Haozi: He’s not wrong, but… it’s still weird.
