Chapter 14

The bright sun rises in the sky right on time. Its rays burned the land with its scorching heat. The heatwave floating in the air seems like it was distorting the view ahead of them, making people see an illusion of a swaying scenery around them.

Zi Li slumped weakly on the horse’s back, he was licking his lower lips dried up from dehydration. Shaking the water container and finding out that it was empty, Zi Li depressingly sigh. If only I knew, I wouldn’t have run in the direction of this hot and deserted damned place! It’s exactly like a mountain of fire! I’ve been walking for half a day and don’t even mention people, I haven’t seen a single blade of grass!

“Qu Zi!”

“Neighhh——” The horse resentfully protested for the nth time in making it clear that it doesn’t approve being called like that.

Zi Li turned a deaf ear and hugged the horse’s sweating neck tightly and said with a listless voice: “Qu Zi, I’m almost dying of thirst! Won’t it be better for you to learn repaying back your saviour who gave you a new life. If not, I will just have to kill you and drink your horse blood to quench my thirst, right?”

“Neighh——” The horse exclaimed in discontent and shakes its body wanting to throw off this master who’s starting to lose his mind. Zi Li hangs on helplessly with the best of his horsemanship but soon he looked like a gum sticking closely at the horse’s back. He then started to fumble about the vital artery of its neck.

“You won’t let me kill you? Then how about you let me take a sip?”

“Neighhh!——-” Seeing what’s going to happen, Qu Zi immediately raised its front hoofs, then dashes madly onwards. Zi Li gripped the reins tightly right away to avoid falling down his horse.

The rush of air blowing against his face carried an unbearable heat, but in this way, it also disperses the burning sensation well in most parts of his body.

Over the barren hills, Zi Li suddenly catches a shimmering sight in front of him and yelled: “It looks like an oasis ahead! Hya! Qu Zi, ran faster! Hya——” A man and his horse looked like they were galloping in a horse racing as both their eyes focuses on that woods not far ahead in a mad dash.

Once their head was shaded under the dense woods, their body felt refreshed as if they dipped into a cool spring water. It was so satiating that Zi Li can’t help but shudder.

“Good job Qu Zi!” Zi Li praises it while patting its head.

Qu Zi huffs from its nose in disdain.

“There should be a water source in this forest.” When the word ‘water’ came into his mind, every cell in his body immediately got charged up with energy.

“Qu Zi, I owe my life to you. Horses sense of smell sure is better than people.” Zi Li fawningly rub its cheeks as he spoke.

Qu Zi neighed agreeingly. Even if Zi Li didn’t take his own life seriously, the horse does. Who knows if Zi Li would really drink its blood from being extremely thirsty?

When Zi Li’s eyes flashes with green light as he stares at the back of its head, licking his dried up lips from time to time, that kind of pressure made Qu Zi absolutely horrified. Qu Zi was galloping in twists and turns inside the thick forest with Zi Li on its back. At last, they finally made their way pass the dense greenery and into the gushing clear spring.

Upon seeing it, Zi Li’s eyes greedily flourished at its magnificence. He immediately dunked his face into the edge of the spring and impatiently drinks up. The sweet and refreshing spring water made his every cell and pores freshened up and and relax in fulfillment.

He didn’t stop drinking until he was hiccuping and his stomach bulging. Only after he was contented that Zi Li lied down on the grassy bed.

Looking at the appearance of Zi Li who drunk his fill, Qu Zi can’t help but glance at him in disdain and then go to the bank of the river and bow its head to take a sip.

After taking a short rest and refilling his water container, Zi Li jumped on the horse’s back and pats it: “We have to go now, we can’t make a stop for too long!”

Pass the forest is no longer that dreadedly bare rocky plateu but round and mild hills. Zi Li also discovered man made roads on the hills that looked like smooth white silks that seems to be disappearing in between hills. Zi Li urges on his horse to follow those paths, so that before the sun sets, they will reach a small town.

“Hey, do accomodate me inside!” The attendant catches a glimpse of a travel-worned stranger pulling along a horse walking towards their inn. Guessing that the traveller would be lodging at their inn, he promptly went out and takes over the reins of the horse and greeted the person: “Sir, will you be staying for the night?”

“Yeah, I’ll be staying for a night. Don’t need an expensive room, a clean one is enough.” Zi Li replied.

“All right. Innkeeper, one room. The attendant yelled towards the inside of the inn.

“Waiter, take good care of my horse, this is a tip for you.” Zi Li was worried Qu Zi will be treated poorly so he specifically advised.

“But of course, don’t you worry sir!” After recieving the tip, the attendant became even more eagerly attentive.

As they approaches the front door, he discovered that the inside was not as big as it looks outside but it was rather clean. Perhaps it was almost the closing time of the inn so there are only few people in the diner.

The innkeeper carried the lit alcohol lamp and walked over the guest with a smile and gave his greetings: “One vacant room, please follow me sir.”

Following him to the second floor of the inn, the innkeeper opened the door at the corner of the room. Zi Li extended his head inside to take a look. The inside of the room was simple and crude with only a bed and a square table that can seat eight people, though it was clean nonetheless. Right now, he didn’t have much money on him so he can’t ask for a pricier one.

“Not bad.”

“Do you want to order a meal, sir?”

“Of course I do, just deliver it here in my room. Oh, also give me a hot basin of water.”

“Sure, please wait a moment sir.”