Chapter 39: The Untamed Steed and the Deceived Disciple

Ah Ling proved not as easily swayed as Qin Yangjun had imagined.

Had she pressed further, Qin Yangjun would have found himself at a loss for words.

A subtle disquiet stirred within Ah Ling, though she couldn’t quite articulate the source of her unease.

She could only gaze at Qin Yangjun, her face clouded with suspicion.

“Miss Ling,” Qin Yangjun began, his voice earnest, “this matter directly impacts the safety of my junior sister, and indeed, your own junior sisters as well. I have no conceivable reason to deceive you.”

Despite his words, Qin Yangjun conspicuously unfurled the golden-threaded fan in his hand, feigning a need for a breeze.

The presence of demonic cultivators in Luohe Town was undeniably true, yet according to the novel’s narrative, they ought to have long since retreated by this point.

Their headquarters, deeming their progress too sluggish, had already recalled them, intending to dispatch a fresh contingent of forces.

When Yu Lingyue eventually arrived in the book, she merely discovered the remnants of their abandoned formations and the grisly aftermath of their presence.

Thus, it was highly probable that Yueyao and her companions would only stumble upon the lingering traces of the demonic sect’s encampment.

This precise knowledge was why Qin Yangjun intended to leverage the situation to mislead Ah Ling.

Ultimately, the profound anxiety for her junior sisters’ well-being eclipsed the lingering questions in Ah Ling’s mind.

“Then I shall return to them at once,” Ah Ling declared, “and instruct them to steer clear of Luohe Town.”

“Precisely!” Qin Yangjun exclaimed. “Your speed far surpasses mine, making you the most fitting person for this task!”

“Very well!”

Without another word, Ah Ling spun on her heel and departed, her figure quickly vanishing from sight. As Qin Yangjun watched her receding back, he covertly clenched his fist in triumph.

‘Excellent!’

The primary reason he had arranged for them to be paired was precisely because of her guileless nature.

With anyone else, such a deception would undoubtedly have proven far more challenging.

Qin Yangjun surreptitiously rubbed his hands together, his thoughts now singularly focused on locating the Icefire Jade-Scaled Steed.

Guided by the compass of his memory, Qin Yangjun spent approximately fifteen minutes before pinpointing the location of the Icefire Jade-Scaled Steed, just as the sun began its ascent.

Before him lay a serene lake, where the dawn’s first light pierced through the delicate veil of mist clinging to its surface, casting a shimmering arc of light that resembled a resplendent rainbow bridge.

Across this ethereal bridge, Qin Yangjun’s gaze landed upon a magnificent, towering steed, its powerful form encased in lustrous scales.

This majestic creature bore a pair of horns upon its head, its mane a vibrant, blood-red hue. Its scales, catching the light, gleamed with an alternating scarlet and azure luminescence, emanating an untamed, primal beauty from every inch of its being.

Qin Yangjun’s eyes sparkled with fervent admiration.

‘To ride such a steed would surely be a display of immense prestige.’

Just then, the Icefire Jade-Scaled Steed across the lake detected Qin Yangjun’s presence, instantly adopting a combative posture. A powerful snort from its nostrils abruptly jolted Qin Yangjun from his reverie.

“Wait…” Qin Yangjun called out, raising a hand. “I am not your adversary.”

No sooner had Qin Yangjun’s words faded than the Icefire Jade-Scaled Steed unleashed a piercing neigh. Its right foreleg struck forward, and in an instant, the shimmering lake surface transformed into a frozen chasm, while a searing pillar of flame surged directly towards Qin Yangjun.

Qin Yangjun’s pupils contracted almost imperceptibly as he channeled his spiritual energy, executing a sudden, powerful leap. The inferno of the fire pillar narrowly brushed past his feet.

The moment Qin Yangjun’s feet touched the ground, a blizzard of ice cones materialized behind the Icefire Jade-Scaled Steed, filling the air.

Just as the magnificent creature prepared to launch another assault, Qin Yangjun landed and raised his right hand, revealing a surprising sight.

Clutched in his palm was a flower radiating a pure white luminescence, and from it, a unique, intoxicating fragrance began to waft, swiftly pervading the entire area.

To Qin Yangjun’s astonishment, the previously rampant Icefire Jade-Scaled Steed fell utterly silent, its eyes locked with an intense, unwavering stare on the small blossom in his hand.

This was no ordinary bloom; it was a White Yang Flower, a true treasure of heaven and earth, boasting a venerable age of over a millennium.

Such divine treasures held an irresistible allure for all demonic beasts, and even the formidable Beast King was no exception to its potent charm.

Observing the Icefire Jade-Scaled Steed’s cessation of hostilities, Qin Yangjun immediately understood that his strategy had proven effective.

Enticing it with a heavenly treasure was a far simpler endeavor than attempting to forcibly subdue it.

Consequently, he meticulously enveloped the White Yang Flower in his grasp with a delicate layer of spiritual energy, then slowly extended it towards the Icefire Jade-Scaled Steed.

Initially, the Icefire Jade-Scaled Steed regarded the offered White Yang Flower with a measure of caution. Yet, after several inquisitive sniffs, it ultimately succumbed to the overwhelming temptation, devouring the blossom in a single gulp.

As the creature consumed the White Yang Flower, Qin Yangjun sensed that his plan was indeed progressing favorably.

While Qin Yangjun himself lacked the skill of alchemy, his spatial storage bag nonetheless held a considerable collection of ancient heavenly treasures. For cultivators, such rare artifacts were often considered a valuable form of currency in their exchanges.

With a flourish, Qin Yangjun produced all the heavenly treasures from his storage bag, arranging them into a tempting heap before him.

This sight caused the Icefire Jade-Scaled Steed’s eyes across the lake to gleam with even greater intensity. After ascertaining that Qin Yangjun presented no danger, it strode across the water’s surface, arriving directly before him.

“I know you understand me,” Qin Yangjun began, his voice a coaxing whisper. “Simply acknowledge me as your master, and all these heavenly treasures are yours to feast upon. What’s more, once I return to the Yuqian Sect, I possess even greater treasures. What do you say?”

The Icefire Jade-Scaled Steed, however, offered no reply. Instead, it merely plunged its head into the pile, beginning to devour the treasures with gusto.

As he watched the celestial treasures rapidly diminish, the smile on Qin Yangjun’s face stiffened. The sheer quantity of these items would have been sufficient to fund an entire auction at a mid-sized auction house.

Now, however, they were all being reduced to mere horse feed, and even Qin Yangjun, despite his resolve, couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret.

Nevertheless, having committed to the offering, Qin Yangjun harbored no regrets. This proximity finally afforded him the opportunity for a closer inspection of the Icefire Jade-Scaled Steed. Its scales were indeed strikingly beautiful, prompting Qin Yangjun to instinctively extend a hand.

Yet, with a resonant snort, a sudden burst of flames erupted, compelling his hand to retract instantly.

“You’ve consumed so many of my treasures,” Qin Yangjun exclaimed, a hint of exasperation in his tone, “and a simple touch is forbidden?!”

The Icefire Jade-Scaled Steed cast a profoundly disdainful glance at Qin Yangjun before resuming its lavish meal.

Qin Yangjun’s brow furrowed, a silent admission that this creature truly lived up to its title of Beast King, proving far less amenable to taming than he had initially presumed.

However, precisely as Qin Yangjun prepared to sweeten his offer, he abruptly noticed the Icefire Jade-Scaled Steed unearthing a small box from amidst the scattered treasures.

Qin Yangjun’s expression flickered with alarm. He then frantically rummaged through his own storage bag, and as his search concluded, his heart seized with a sudden, dreadful certainty.

‘No, it can’t be… The Heavenly Emperor Dragon Spirit Pill!’

“Wait!” Qin Yangjun cried out, his voice sharp with urgency. “That cannot be consumed!”

As Qin Yangjun prepared to lunge forward, a massive horse hoof loomed, magnified, directly before his eyes.

He swiftly dodged, narrowly evading the strike. The instant he regained his balance, he witnessed the pill from the opened box vanish into the Icefire Jade-Scaled Steed’s maw.

Qin Yangjun watched, his heart aching with dismay. Yet, with the pill already swallowed, there was no possibility of retrieving it.

‘Well, what’s done is done. No pain, no gain, as the saying goes.’

“Now then…”

Before Qin Yangjun could complete his sentence, an acute sense of peril abruptly seized him. A colossal ice spike erupted from beneath his feet with terrifying speed.

The assault was so swift that Qin Yangjun had no opportunity to react, instinctively triggering his Great Weak Water Art.

This abrupt turn of events was utterly unforeseen by Qin Yangjun.

His eyes wide with incredulity, he stared at the Icefire Jade-Scaled Steed.

“You!”

Another torrent of flames erupted, directly engulfing Qin Yangjun’s form.

Simultaneously, the disdain in the Icefire Jade-Scaled Steed’s eyes deepened, its gaze seeming to articulate a silent taunt.

‘You? You dare to be my master?’

Having sated its hunger and dispatched the troublesome human, the Icefire Jade-Scaled Steed prepared to depart. Just as it turned to leave…

A hum!

Suddenly, a resounding sonic boom tore through the air, causing everything to tremble violently. The very atmosphere seemed to solidify, and an immense, suffocating pressure emanated from behind the steed, instantly pinning it to the spot.

Then, a voice, resonant and chilling as that of a demon from the deepest hell, reverberated from every direction.

“Oh, splendid… truly splendid indeed…” the voice boomed. “Not only did you devour my possessions, but you dared to attempt to slay me… A beast truly remains a beast; reasoning with you is futile. My interest in taking you as my own has utterly vanished. Now! I shall feast on horse meat!!!!”

📚 Also on NHV Novels

Mistaken for the Dark Deity

DramaFantasyTransmigration

Read Now →
Not interested