Chapter 599: 599

Chapter 599 Lonesome Cowboy

Until today, Zhang Heng had only two horse-riding experiences—colt he rode in the park when he was young . These colts were usually led by experienced staff and walked around the area at speed close to ten miles per hour .

In other words, this was the first time he chose a horse as a means of transportation . He was looking forward to the scene of riding a horse . From a safety point of view, Zhang Heng decided to do it step by step .

So he picked the shortest and thinnest brown horse with a hair loss problem . Compared to the other horses, it looked relatively docile . When approached, the steed showed no resistance, and as it lowered its head to eat, Zhang Heng walked to its side .

He tried to stroke its back, to which it sneezed and shook its body twice . Seeing that Zhang Heng didn’t intend to leave, it stopped moving around and continued its hay meal . Zhang Heng made up his mind . He knew that wasn’t as good of a horse as the others . No matter how good the horses were, their potential could only be fully realized if they met the right owner . For Zhang Heng, there was no other horse more suitable for him than this tame brown horse .

Riding a slow horse came with its own advantages, including a lower risk of falling . After choosing his mount, Zhang Heng released the other horses, saving them from being roasted along with the bar . Instead of rushing to Lincoln County, he rode his new horse in the town for two laps to relive the feeling of riding a horse .

He still remembered a little bit of what he learned from the park . For example, he was not supposed to put his feet into the stirrups too much . This was to prevent the rider from being dragged like a rag doll when he fell . Zhang Heng also remembered the staff teaching him something about holding the reins right, but he could not remember it anymore . Other than that, he also could not remember the correct way of sitting on a horse as well . There was one thing he could recall, a little bit about starting and slowing down the horse . After spending some time practicing riding the horse, he managed to do it, but he was still not very skilled .

After all, he was just a novice who had to rely on himself to learn how to ride correctly . Thanks to his excellent balance and controllability, he did way better than most beginners . After practicing for a while, Zhang Heng felt good enough to embark on a journey . Putting on a felt hat, grabbed the reins, and set off in the direction of Lincoln County .

In the vast Gobi, a cowboy with two guns was riding his galloping horse under the scorching sun . It looked like a scene from a movie . However, it all depended on how one defined galloping . In fact, the horse was only moving a little faster than walking .

However, there was nothing much to complain about since Zhang Heng did not need to walk across the Gobi on his own legs . At the same time, he did not dare let the horse run free as well . The first reason was that he had to prioritize his safety, and the other was to prevent the horse from dying before it got him to his destination . If that happened, Zhang Heng would have to walk all the way to Lincoln County . A man and a horse had now officially embarked on a voyage to Lincoln County .

When the sun had reached its zenith, Zhang Heng managed to find a slightly cooler spot . He then got off his horse and filled himself up with some water and food . After making a rough estimation, he figured it would take him at least five days to reach Lincoln County at the current speed . There was more than enough food to get to the destination, save the water supply that was only enough to last him and the horse three days . One could survive without drinking water for a day or two .

According to the now-deceased Rich, there were other mining towns along the way to Lincoln County . To get there, however, some detours would have to be made . If he included the detour time, he might just arrive at Lincoln County seven days later .

Fortunately, Zhang Heng was not in a rush .

After lunch, Zhang Heng and his horse carried on the journey again . This time they traveled for another five hours . The scenery in the Gobi was magnificent . However, a little monotony would set in after looking at it for a long time .

Zhang Heng started to feel his muscles becoming sore after sitting on the saddle for so long . The saddle’s friction didn’t make things better, giving him significant discomfort on both of his thighs . And this was only his first day .

It was said that when the railway hadn’t yet been constructed, cowboys would sometimes go on a trek for several months, leading their herds behind them . During this period, they had to look after thousands of cattle, guard themselves against wolves, vipers, and sometimes face ambushes from Native Indian tribes . Even after the railway network’s initial construction was completed, the sale of live cattle still required the cowboys to travel a great distance .

Those who excelled in this job were the real warriors . It was no wonder cowboy culture gripped the hearts and minds of the United States for so many years .

Then, last night, Zhang Heng’s lonesome trip to the west was interrupted . At that time, he had just set up a bonfire and finished cooking . As he finished up the last of his cornmeal, he heard the sound of a horse galloping .

Zhang Heng then quickly took out the Filter Lens . When the mysterious stranger entered the Filter Lens’ effective range, he could clearly make out the uninvited guest’s appearance . It was a middle-aged man with a mustache and appeared to have spent some time in the desert . He looked dusty and dirty, but it did not hide that he was a handsome lad .

However, the first thing Zhang Heng noticed was the badge on his left chest . Unfortunately, it wasn’t a badge that would leave anybody relieved . The Wild West was lawless-one could never trust anyone except for the guns in their hands . Even a handful of sheriffs or bailiffs were working among grey areas . Such individuals were even more dangerous than real gangsters .

Zhang Heng did not say a word . Instead, he drew the Colt revolver from his waist .

The stranger’s reaction was also rapid . He subconsciously took out his gun when he saw Zhang Heng drawing his revolver . However, the distance between the two was about 60 meters, and their surroundings were dark . With the help of the Filter Lens, however, Zhang Heng would shoot at him first .

He waited for him to pull out his gun before pulling the trigger . Considering that his opponent might be a good guy, the first shot only served as a warning . The bullet hit the gun in the man’s hand accurately, forcing him to drop it .

“Oh-oh, relax, friend, I am a marshal, and I have no malicious intent towards you . ” The man pulled the rein and stopped his horse from moving forward . Zhang Heng was impressed by his equestrianism .

“Is there anything I can do for you, Mr . Marshal?” Zhang Heng was calm when he talked to him . However, he did not put away the gun in his hand .

The bailiff understood why Zhang Heng was so vigilant . He, too, would have drawn his gun before he talked . In this wilderness, one could never be too careful . Zhang Heng did nothing wrong there .

He raised both his hands and to tell Zhang Heng that he had no intention to hurt him . He then brought his horse closer to the bonfire . And he finally had a clear look at Zhang Heng’s appearance . He was taken aback, “Are you an Indian?”

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