Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 238: Our Ah Jun
Just as Zhou Cangyan had said, Chao Junyu had never once thought of giving up!
Even as his hands bled from gripping the reins and his arms felt like they were about to be torn from their sockets, he kept his legs clamped firmly to the horse’s belly. With one hand tightening the reins and the other cracking the whip, he pressed his body low. Whether the horse was bucking, rearing up, or bolting madly, Chao Junyu remained stuck to its back like glue!
"Heh, this kid’s got some real skill."
Kong Yu squinted, his eyes fixed on the training grounds.
Song Lianhe was so nervous her palms were sweating. She recalled the original novel stating that Chao Junyu was a master at taming horses and the primary reason Zhou Junlin’s light cavalry was invincible.
’But right now, I don’t care if he wins that top credit or achieves fame and success! Just like any parent, I don’t need my child to be rich or powerful. As long as he can live a safe and peaceful life, that’s the greatest blessing of all!’
Another half-incense stick of time passed. The fiery steed on the field gradually slowed its pace, no longer struggling so fiercely against the youth on its back. Soon, it began to gallop around the grounds, moving in time with his rhythm.
"He did it!"
The Escort Masters from the Qiongqi Escort Agency burst into cheers. "This kid is incredible!"
"Hahaha! He really brought honor to our Escort Agency!"
Song Lianhe shot to her feet, so excited she gave the youth on the field a thumbs-up. "Ah Jun! Ah Jun, Ah Jun! You’re the best!!"
The man beside her slowly lifted a pair of aloof, cold eyes.
He stared at her for a moment before looking away.
The youth sat atop the tall, black steed, looking valiant and majestic. For a moment, Song Lianhe could even picture the dashing, handsome gentleman he would become in a few years.
A wave of motherly pride washed over her, filling her with relief and joy!
Now that Chao Junyu had tamed the lead stallion, Zhou Cangyan immediately announced that the entire stable would be put under his management.
Kong Yu was not having it!
"What’s the meaning of this? Are you just going to cast me aside now that I’m no longer useful? I’m still right here! You were the ones who begged me to come tame these horses for you! I am the great master of a gang! It was your good fortune that I deigned to lower myself to help you!"
Zhou Cangyan glanced back, his chillingly indifferent eyes sweeping over him as if he had only just noticed his presence. He turned to a Shadow Guard and ordered, "Since he’s useless, kill him. I do not keep idle people here."
Kong Yu froze on the spot, then erupted into a stream of curses. He hurled every foul word he could think of, his tirade rivaling that of the most shrewish fishwife in the market.
’Since transmigrating into the book, this is the first time I’ve ever heard someone so skilled at cursing up a storm!’
’I even have reason to suspect that the Fengming Gang has grown to its current state all thanks to the empire Kong Yu built with his sharp tongue!’
As she listened, she couldn’t help but remark with a sigh, "Ah, if only Chun Hua were here."
’It would have loved this.’
’I had wanted to listen a while longer, treating it as a lesson in local culture and customs.’
The man walking ahead of her suddenly stopped. He glanced back at her, and when he saw her listening with rapt attention, his brows knitted in displeasure.
He then walked back, reached out, and covered her ears as if to protect her from hearing something filthy.
"Don’t... Don’t..."
Ignoring her struggles, Zhou Cangyan simply led her away.
"Zhou Cangyan! You get your ass back here!"
Just as Kong Yu’s tantrum was reaching its peak, a mocking voice suddenly sounded beside him. "They’re already gone."
The man who had been throwing a fit gradually quieted down. He then let out a yawn, lazily got up from the ground, and dusted off his clothes.
He lifted his gaze toward the youth still mounted on the lead stallion in the training grounds. "That kid’s not bad."
Zhong Shimin stepped closer. "The Young Master’s intention is for you to take him as your disciple."
Kong Yu’s expression flickered. "Heh heh, haven’t you heard? The reason I’ve developed a body immune to all poisons is because I enjoy feasting on young boys."
Zhong Shimin nodded. "Oh, I’ve heard. Besides feasting on young boys, I’ve also heard that Master Kong has a fondness for all sorts of ’whips’—ox whips, sheep whips, tiger whips..."
Without another word, Kong Yu threw a punch straight at his face.
Zhong Shimin easily dodged it.
"Zhong Shimin! You brat, ever since you joined Tiger Beak, you’ve become a real insidious bastard!"
The man replied unhurriedly, "I’m no match for Master Kong."
Kong Yu didn’t argue, stepping aside with an impatient look on his face. "Three months, at most!"
"Half a year."
"Four months!"
"One year."
Zhong Shimin met Kong Yu’s stubborn, gloomy gaze and casually took something from his robes, tossing it over.
"And I’ll add this."
It was a wooden box.
Kong Yu eyed him suspiciously. After a moment’s hesitation, he opened it.
It was a human ear.
The blood had dried, and a turquoise earring dangled from the lobe.
He froze for a second, then clutched the box and burst into laughter.
"Oh, Senior Brother, Senior Brother, I told you long ago, you can’t beat me!"
Zhong Shimin said, "Although you failed to lure Zhou Junlin into the Gesano River region, the people of the Fengming Gang grew restless. Just as we anticipated, your Senior Brother did indeed collude with outside forces to seize the position of gang master. This sparked public outrage. That is his severed ear."
He added, "I have fulfilled my promise. What about yours?"
The box snapped shut with a CLICK. Kong Yu’s expression turned frigid. "Half a year!"
Zhong Shimin’s lips curled. "Deal."
He turned and called Chao Junyu over, pointing to the slovenly man leaning against a tree trunk with his arms crossed. "Pay your respects to your master."
Chao Junyu was taken aback.
"This is your lady’s wish."
Chao Junyu’s gaze sharpened. Without a second thought, he dropped to his knees with a THUD and performed three loud kowtows. "Master!"
Kong Yu had the most disdain for such excessive formalities. In his eyes, titles like master, disciple, senior brother, or junior brother were all things that could be sold out for profit or survival!
He turned and walked away lazily. Zhong Shimin shot Chao Junyu a look, and the latter quickly scrambled to his feet to follow.
’I’ve heard my lady mention that this man’s skill in taming beasts is unparalleled. He doesn’t look the part—more like a beggar or a street thug—but whatever my lady says must be right.’
"Do you know how to sweep, do laundry, and cook?"
"...I do."
"Have you not eaten? Louder!"
"I DO!"
"In that case... go roast two pork knuckles first."
"Yes, Master..."
After handing the boy over to Kong Yu, the rest was no longer Zhong Shimin’s concern.
Zhong Shimin shifted his gaze just in time to see a young woman in a pink dress. She had her head tilted up, speaking to a tall man in black robes with a carefully fawning expression.
A moment later, her expression changed, and she began stamping her feet in anger.
The man suddenly bent down, scooped her up, and placed her in the carriage. Before she could protest further, he swung his long legs up as well, his tall figure completely obscuring her from view.
Zhong Shimin lowered his eyes, concealing all the emotion within them.
No expression could be seen on his black-masked face.
On the carriage, Song Lianhe was still arguing her case.
"You know full well what kind of person Kong Yu is! Handing Ah Jun over to him is like throwing a sheep into a tiger’s den! Our Ah Jun is a very, very good boy!"
The man sat across from her. The carriage was spacious enough for him to rest one hand on the small rosewood table, his fingers tapping lightly on its surface. The Bone Ring on his finger was particularly eye-catching. When he lifted his gaze slightly, his light brown eyes fixed on her, cold and proud like a wolf on a snow-capped mountain.
He murmured, "Yours?"
