xymnovel Chapter 112 Jade Lion Illuminated at Night
Chapter 112 Jade Lion Illuminated at Night
Chapter 112 Jade Lion Illuminated at Night
The smoke of battle had not yet dissipated on the battlefield outside Changli City.
Hou Cheng led a group of soldiers to inventory the spoils in the ruins of the Xianbei camp. Swords, spears, and armor were piled up like small mountains, and horses, cattle, and sheep were scattered all over the mountains and fields.
He was looking down and rummaging through a pile of scattered saddles when a soldier suddenly stumbled over from the direction of the main tent at Huaitou, his voice trembling.
"Sir, come quick!"
Hou Cheng frowned and followed. Half of Huai Tou's tent had been overturned, and more than a dozen dead horses lay scattered in the temporary stable behind the tent, obviously left behind during the rout.
Hou Cheng walked around the horse carcasses, about to say something, when suddenly he stopped, the words stuck in his throat.
Deep inside the stable, a horse is tethered.
The horse was pure white, without a single stray hair, so white it looked as if it had been carved from a single piece of white jade.
Its mane, like silver threads, hangs down the side of its long neck. Its four legs are straight as iron pillars, and its hooves are as big as bowls, with glossy black surfaces.
It stood there quietly, surrounded by the scattered horse carcasses and the messy saddles.
It seemed to be standing in its own palace, its neck slightly raised, its deep brown eyes looking at the newcomer without fear or apprehension.
The morning light shone through the broken clouds and fell on it, making its white fur shimmer with a faint silver light.
Hou Cheng held his breath. He had seen countless fine horses, but he had never seen one like this before.
The horse stood amidst the pile of carcasses, yet it was as clean as if it had just stepped out of the snow.
Its skeleton is not large, but it has an indescribable symmetry, as if all the proportions in the world have been perfectly gathered on this body.
"Quick, bring it out!"
Hou Cheng lowered his voice, as if afraid of disturbing something sacred.
The soldiers stepped forward to untie the reins, but the white horse did not move an inch. It only snorted, and its white breath turned into a cloud of mist in the morning breeze.
Only when the reins were untied did it begin to walk, following the soldiers out at a leisurely pace.
Each step was light and steady, the horse's hooves making almost no sound as they landed on the gravel.
Hou Cheng personally took the horse and walked quickly towards the city gate.
He walks very fast, his heart beats faster than his steps; only one person is worthy of such a horse.
"My lord!"
Hou Cheng shouted from outside the city gate, "Look what I've brought you!"
Liu Bei was gazing into the distance when he heard the sound and looked up to see Hou Cheng leading a white horse and striding towards him.
The horse lowered its head slightly as it stepped over the threshold, but once inside, it raised its neck again, its gaze calmly surveying its surroundings with remarkable agility.
Liu Bei immediately recognized the horse's extraordinary nature. He quickly descended from the city wall, walked to the horse, and gently stroked its neck.
The white horse's coat was as smooth as satin, warm to the touch, and one could feel the blood flowing beneath its fur.
"What a fine horse!" Liu Bei's eyes lit up.
Hou Cheng grinned and said, "That Huai Tou fellow certainly knows how to enjoy life, hiding such a fine horse."
"7
"This humble general recognized it at a glance; only our lord deserves to possess such a horse!"
"You're so kind, Zi'an!"
Liu Bei also loved this horse, but he felt there was someone more deserving of it!
"Zilong!" Liu Bei suddenly called out towards the door.
Zhao Yun was returning from his patrol outside the city, his silver spear slung over his shoulder. Upon hearing the summons, he strode into the city gate.
As soon as he entered, his gaze fell on the white horse, and he stopped in his tracks, almost unable to move!
Flowers for a beautiful woman, BMW for a hero!
Who among those who have conquered battlefields wouldn't want to own a peerless steed?
Liu Bei laughed and said, "Zilong, you have made great contributions in this battle. This horse is for you!"
Zhao Yun was stunned. He stood there, looking at the white horse and then at Liu Bei.
"Captain, this—this is far too valuable!"
Liu Bei waved his hand: "Horses are meant to be ridden. I'm used to riding my Green Horse, and it would be awkward to switch to another one."
"Your riding skills are excellent; only when you're riding it can this horse truly shine!"
He handed the reins to Zhao Yun: "Give it a try!"
Zhao Yun had mixed feelings, but he was increasingly grateful and finally took the reins.
The white horse seemed to sense something, and immediately raised its head alertly, pawing the ground restlessly with its front hooves, and emitting a low neigh.
Zhao Yun, however, remained calm and patient. He slowly reached out and gently stroked the horse's forehead, then followed the mane downwards. His movements were steady and patient, and he murmured a few times as if talking to the horse.
At first, the white horse turned its head away and ignored it, but after a while, it gradually quieted down, its nostrils flaring as it sniffed Zhao Yun's palm.
As everyone watched with bated breath, Zhao Yun suddenly pressed down on the saddle, flipped himself onto the horse, and moved with clean, swift movements, his white robe drawing an arc in the air.
The white horse suddenly reared up, its front hooves off the ground, and let out a long neigh, its momentum like a silver dragon emerging from the water, trying to throw the person on its back off the saddle.
Zhao Yun squeezed the horse's flanks with his legs and loosened the reins. As if on command, the white horse suddenly exerted force with all four hooves, transforming into a white lightning bolt and shooting straight out of the city gate.
The moment the white horse stepped onto the grass, it seemed to be completely awakened to its wild nature, needing no further encouragement, and galloped away on all fours.
The horses' hooves thundered, their footsteps striking the grass with a dense, deep drumbeat; one hoof landed, and the next was already airborne.
It was so fast that you could barely see its hooves; all you could see was a white streak flashing across the horizon.
The wildflowers and tall grass on the lawn were swept to both sides by the strong wind, as if the water surface had been cleaved by an invisible blade.
The white horse galloped faster and faster, the gaps between its four hooves in the air becoming longer and longer. From a distance, it looked as if it wasn't running, but flying close to the tips of the grass.
A white light appeared ahead, followed closely by a silver shadow. The wind blew the grass, making it impossible to clearly distinguish between the horse and the person.
Zhao Yun remained motionless on his horse, as if he had become one with the white horse.
The man and his horse galloped across the wilderness, their white robes and silver armor reflecting the sunlight. The white horse was as white as snow, and the silver spear gleamed coldly. As they traversed the grassland, they were like a white rainbow piercing the blue sky, so fast that it was dazzling.
Liu Bei stood at the city gate, gazing at that heroic figure from afar, his eyes filled with admiration.
After galloping for several miles, Zhao Yun spurred his horse back to the city gate, gently pulled on the reins, and the white horse stopped and stood firmly.
The white horse's chest rose and fell slightly, its breathing even and powerful, yet its eyes still shone brightly, showing no sign of fatigue.
Zhao Yun dismounted and stroked the white horse's neck. The horse turned its head and nuzzled his hand affectionately.
Zhao Yun raised his head, smiled slightly, and clasped his hands in thanks to Liu Bei, saying, "Thank you for your generous gift, Commandant. This horse is entirely silver-white, like the bright moon shining on snow."
"In its first test, it moved silently, steady and agile—truly a fine horse. I would like to name it!"
He paused, patted the white horse's neck, and a rare hint of youthful joy appeared in his eyes: "Let's name it the Jade Lion of Night!"
As soon as he finished speaking, cheers erupted from the surrounding crowd.
The white horse seemed to understand its name, raising its head and neighing, its four hooves pounding the ground alternately, its silver mane flying in the wind, truly a magnificent and extraordinary steed.
The man standing beside the horse, holding the reins, was dressed in silver armor and a white robe, his hand on his sword and his head held high. The sky blended him and the snow-white steed into one.
It's like a painting, and out of the painting emerges a valiant young general on a white horse with a silver spear.