They were just about to walk out of the wood when a riding instructor bringing some men with him arrived in haste. At first they were surprised at the sight of Ling Zhang and the others, and then as their eyes fell on Jiang Yu carried on a student's back, their faces changed drastically and they all asked about what had happened.

A student gave them an account of the accident. Ling Zhang didn't stay to listen but just directly left.

It was when that student got to the part about Ling Zhang that the others noticed his absence. All their faces grew somewhat unnatural.

The riding instructor said, "Go back right now. Someone has sent for a physician."

The student carrying Jiang Yu on his back clenched his teeth and resumed walking forward. Fortunately, the riding instructor perceived that the student was running out of strength and carried Jiang Yu himself.

Jiang Yu on the riding instructor's back saw Ling Zhang's receding back in the distance, an inexplicable look on his face.

As Ling Zhang walked out, he found that most of those frenzied horses had been brought back under control, but a small number of them were lying on the ground – obviously they'd been directly killed.

Yuwen Jin and the others, on seeing him walk out, ran up and clustered around him all at once. Yuwen Jin asked, "Brother Zhang, just now it was so dangerous for you to rush in there. Are you hurt?"

Ling Zhang lightly swung his right arm. "I'm fine. Where's that student?"

"He's been transferred to a physician," said Yuwen Jin.

"Brother Zhang, you killed a horse with a single palm strike back there. That's so badass," Yuwen Jin added.

"It's nothing. I just have great strength." However, right now his arm was aching dully. Having killed a frenzied galloping horse with a single palm strike twice in a row, he felt his right arm not only throbbing painfully but also trembling, but the tremble was not very noticeable, so Yuwen Jin and the others hadn't observed it.

But not all of them were unobservant. As Zhao Jiusi's eyes fell on Ling Zhang's right arm, a knowing look appeared in his eyes. He urged, "Don't just stand here. Go back straight away and see a physician."

Yuwen Jin agreed, "Yeah, yeah. You should let the physician examine you, to be on the safe side."

There were a lot of injured students, but most of them had merely suffered minor traumas. Only two had been rather seriously wounded: the one who had been dragged by a horse, and Jiang Yu.

It was impossible to keep news of Ling Zhang rescuing Jiang Yu from coming to more people's knowledge, but most students, on hearing that Ling Zhang had killed a horse with a single palm strike, had a shocked and scared look on their faces. After all, even their riding instructors were not powerful enough to do such a thing.

Of course, there were also a few inharmonious voices...

"Jiang Yu's horse was from the Western Regions (the area west of Yumenguan, including what is now Xinjiang and parts of Central Asia) and of a well-known breed. His grandfather specially bought it and gave it to him as a birthday present, but Ling Zhang struck it to death just like that? Isn't he too cocky?"

The speaker was Zuo Yuanping, whose face was full of indignation, as if Ling Zhang had just killed one of his relatives.

Yuwen Jin and the others were not happy to hear this, the former rolling up his sleeves with the intention to beat him up.

As luck would have it, the riding instructor carrying Jiang Yu on his back returned, and everybody shifted their gaze to Jiang Yu and Ling Zhang.

Ling Zhang's eyes darted to them, a chilly expression on his face. Jiang Yu, instead of looking at Ling Zhang, fixed Zuo Yuanping with a stare and said coldly, "Shut your mouth."

Zuo Yuanping was stunned. Some words had sprung to his lips but he clenched his teeth and held them back as he saw the look in Jiang Yu's eyes.

Soon Jiang Yu was also transferred and before long people of Jiang family arrived and took him home.

This was such a major incident that the principal had a terrible scowl on his face after being informed of it. When it came to his knowledge that it was Ling Zhang who had rescued two students, especially when he heard one of them was Jiang Yu, a flicker of surprise crossed his face, but he was still very grateful to Ling Zhang. Had anything worse had happened to these two students, particularly Jiang Yu, he would definitely be removed from principalship.

But he still hastened to Jiang family immediately.

Yuwen Jin made a remark heavy with sarcasm. "He acts like Jiang family were his natural parents."

"Ling Zhang," someone called.

"Eek? Professor Li? Why did he come here?" Yuwen Jin turned to look at the man.

Ling Zhang walked up to him. He couldn't address him as 'grandfather' in the presence of outsiders, so he also called him Professor Li.

"Are you okay?" Ji Yin glanced at Ling Zhang and then his eyes moved to his right arm. "You hurt your arm?"

"I feel a little exhausted, but I'll be fine after having some rest at home," said Ling Zhang, but in fact he had a conjecture that his bone was slightly injured, for it had just begun to sting terribly.

Ji Yin seemed to have come to know what the problem was, but he couldn't help heal Ling Zhang's wounds under this identity, so he said, "Go back right away. Have a physician carefully check out your arm."

Professor Gu also arrived in haste, accompanied by Feng Zhangshi. They made arrangements for most students to go back home as a measure of expediency, and the cause of these horses suddenly falling into frenzy must be ascertained.

Ling Zhang wanted to say something, but after a brief moment's thinking, he refrained from doing so.

Firstly, his speculation would not necessarily turn out to be the truth; secondly, investigators would surely look into that place. It was inappropriate for him to talk about this, and he might end up arousing people's suspicions.

After he got into the horse-drawn carriage heading home, Miao Shiba had Ling Zhang take a pill. "This is high-quality medicine prepared by a military surgeon. It helps ease pain and restore strength."

Ling Zhang nodded. He did feel much better.

Having mobilized all his internal energy twice, he was now drained of not only physical strength but also internal energy.

Back there on the hill the situation had been dire. Had he used his powers with more deftness, he might have avoided causing such serious consequences, but at that time he hadn't really had enough time to give it more thought and had adopted the most direct and most violent method.

Yuwen Jin was also in the carriage. He had also just come to know that Ling Zhang had hurt his arm. "Brother Zhang, why did you go to Jiang Yu's help?"

"There's nothing more important than human life." Ling Zhang gave an answer in a soft voice.

"But previously he schemed against you trying to frame you," said Yuwen Jin.

Ling Zhang kept silent for a few moments, a thoughtful look on his face. It was inconvenient for him to tell Yuwen Jin that Jiang family had already paid the price. Moreover, back then when he'd rushed to Jiang Yu's rescue, these thoughts flitting across his mind had been rather vague. In the final analysis, he had acted following his heart.

"I don't really regret having done that. If some day he messes with me again, I surely wouldn't go easy on him," said Ling Zhang.

He was not the kind of person who would requite ingratitude with kindness, but he did have his own principles and line in the sand.

...

They returned to the residential compound to find that the physician had been waiting. It was a court physician.

Ling Zhang's bone had indeed sustained an injury, but the court physician told him that as he was young and of strong constitution, he'd fully recover after proper treatment and enough rest.

Yuwen Tong, face sullen, had someone see the court physician out, personally decocted the medicine, watched Ling Zhang drink it and then asked, "Why did those horses get out of control?"

He didn't ask Ling Zhang why he'd rescued Jiang Yu. He knew Ling Zhang too well to ask such questions.

Ling Zhang told Yuwen Tong about Snowflake's unwillingness to go to the brook for a stroll. "I suspect that those horses went mad after consuming something beside the brook, but this is just my speculation. I don't really know it for sure.

This was probably not aimed at me. Snowflake was fine. Horses running wild were not in the majority, and their riders don't seem to follow some particular patter either."

Ling Zhang had specially observed the situation at that time.

Yuwen Tong inclined his head. He definitely would hold an inquiry into this incident and get to the bottom of it.

Seeing Ling Zhang lying in bed pale-faced, Yuwen Tong kept feeling something weighing his heart down, which was why his face was rather sulky.

Ling Zhang reached out his unharmed hand to hold Yuwen Tong's. "The court physician said that I'd fully recover after some rest and proper treatment."

Besides, currently what concerned Ling Zhang more was whether the horse race two days later would be held as scheduled. If their plan fell through because of this, their golden opportunity to get out of their passive position and take the initiative would be wasted.

Yuwen Tong, seeing he was still dwelling on the horse race, looked at his right arm and remarked, "You're not in a fit state to ride anymore."

Ling Zhang said, "I just hurt my arm, not my legs."

Aware of what Yuwen Tong was worrying about, he assured him, "I won't be using any strength of my right arm – I'll just be pretending to. The purpose of our plan is to lure the enemies out anyway. If I'm not getting any prizes in it, so be it. Besides, given how smart Snowflake is, I won't have to use much strength."

Yuwen Tong had originally wanted to take a hard line on this, but his heart softened without him noticing as he saw that Ling Zhang was gazing at him, eyes gleaming with expectation tinged with cautiousness. "Let's just wait and see whether the horse race would be held as scheduled."

Ling Zhang bobbed his head, secretly wishing the principal would be more insistent and wouldn't back out.

...

In the residential compound of Jiang family.

Jiang Changfeng, seeing the bruises and lacerations on his grandson's back, appeared extremely sepulchral. Jiang Yu was the apple of his eye, and he favored Jiang Yu more than any other grandson of his. Never once had Jiang Yu come to any harm under his watch, but now he had returned with wounds in every part of his body. Jiang Changfeng was nearly infuriated out of his mind.

The principal, who had been standing in the living room of Jiang family for quite some time without a single person coming to receive him, came to realize that this time he might have to suffer severe consequences.

In Jiang Yu's bedroom, his mother sitting at his bedside was sobbing, "My poor son, it wrenches at my heart to see you like this. It was that damn crazy horse and that so-called horse race that did this to you. What am I supposed to live for had anything worse happened to you?"

"I'm fine, mother. These wounds will heal in a few days." The crying of his mother was giving Jiang Yu a headache.

Jiang Yu's father Jiang Shennian, who had been staying at home unemployed, was also wearing a terrible scowl. By some bad luck, he had been discharged from his position and been hiding at home, not daring to go outside or meet any visitors. He had thought that the situation couldn't get any worse, but unexpectedly, after merely a couple of days, his son had been caught in this accident. Jiang Shennian was only too anxious to eat the principal alive.

"How did a healthy horse suddenly come to run wild? Did anybody tamper with your horse, by any chance?" said Jiang Shennian.

Jiang Yu thought for a few moments and then shook his head. "I don't think so. Apart from mine, many others' horses ran wild as well."

Jiang Shennian's face was sullen. "Maybe that was just a deceptive trick of the culprit."

Jiang Changfeng was more composed than him. "Since there were so many horses involved, it would be much easier to ascertain the truth. Yu'er, tell us again how it happened."

Jiang Yu, after thinking back for a few moments, gave them a full account of the incident for a second time.

Jiang Changfeng asked, "You mean it was that Ling Zhang guy who saved you?"

With a mixed expression on his face, Jiang Yu kept silent for quite a while and then replied, "Yes."

"Tell me again how he saved you," said Jiang Changfeng.

Jiang Yu didn't refuse. He carefully replayed the incident in his mind and then told his family the whole story once again, but he skipped some details: his falling into Ling Zhang's arms twice, for instance.

Jiang Shennian sniffed, "Does this Ling Zhang guy have to get involved in everything?"

Jiang Yu's mother, unaware of the history between her son and Ling Zhang, merely observed, "Rumor has it that Ling Zhang is arrogant and domineering. It's so surprising that he came to Yu'er's rescue."

Jiang Shennian made no remark on this, as if in his eyes what Ling Zhang had done was a matter of course.

Jiang Changfeng said, "Since he saved your life, we owe it to him to pay him a visit and express our gratitude."

Jiang Yu looked at his grandfather, who looked back. After quite a long silence, Jiang Yu said, "I see."

On hearing that they were going to visit the Ling Mansion to express their gratitude, Jiang Shennian furrowed his brow. "He's just a kid. There's no need for you to personally pay him a gratitude visit. Having a couple of servants deliver some thank-you gifts there will suffice."

But Jiang Changfeng said, "He might be a kid, but Yuwen Tong is not."

Jiang Shennian sneered, "They haven't got married yet, have they? Yu'er is of far nobler birth than he is. Surely he wouldn't dare think we owe him a favor?"

Jiang Changfeng looked at his son, his face fairly displeased. "We definitely owe him a favor. End of discussion. Tomorrow I'll personally visit him and thank him, and my decision is final."

Jiang Shennian was shocked. "Father?!"

Jiang Changfeng had risen to his feet. "Let Yu'er have some rest if you don't have any other business here. The principal of the Imperial College is still waiting in the living room. I'll go and meet him. And it's about time you left as well."

Jiang Shennian still felt it unbelievable that Jiang Changfeng was going to personally pay Ling Zhang a visit to thank him. "Is father out of his mind?"

Jiang Yu's mother, however, was quite confused. "He saved Yu'er's life. What's the problem with thanking him for that? Surely, we can afford some thank-you gifts, can't we? If it weren't for the fact that I'm a woman and it's inappropriate for me to go, I would pay him a visit and express my gratitude as well. I don't care whether or not he is arrogant and domineering. Nothing would stop me from being grateful to him for saving my son's life."

Jiang Shennian was displeased with her wife's words but knew better than to quarrel with her in the presence of his son, so eventually he gave a flick of his sleeves and left.

Because of Jiang Changfeng's words, Jiang Yu's mother also didn't stay long. After a short while, she also walked out of the room.

Jiang Yu, lying in bed with an inscrutable countenance, pondered over something. Eventually, he smacked a fist down onto the bed and closed his eyes to rest, unreconciled to this situation, but no sooner had he closed his eyes than the scenes of Ling Zhang killing the horse and himself embarrassedly falling into Ling Zhang's arms twice uncontrollably started replaying themselves in his mind, which made Jiang Yu feel exceptionally awkward and ashamed. But back there in the wood, he'd already lapsed into despair; when his clothes had been caught on branches and his horse had still been dragging him forward, in particular, he had believed that his death was certain. When Ling Zhang had shown up and killed the horse, he had really heaved a great sigh of relief, feeling as if he had been reincarnated. But every time he recalled himself twice falling into...

All in all, Jiang Yu was having very mixed feelings. One moment, he felt embarrassed and ashamed, and the next, he wished he would never have to feel again for the rest of his life what he'd felt when he'd been rescued. The sense of relief and gratitude that had surged inside him at Ling Zhang's appearance was still vivid... These two contradictory and confused thoughts caused Jiang Yu's mood to fluctuate violently, which along with the painful wounds conspired to make him seem somewhat fidgety.

In the living room, Jiang Changfeng met the principal of the Imperial College but said only two or three sentences from start to finish before dismissing the principal, who wiped the sweat from his forehead while leaving.

Jiang Changfeng was sitting in a chair contemplating. Sure enough he didn't want to say 'thank you' to a youngster his grandson's age, but Ling Zhang was more than Ling Zhang – it was his backer Yuwen Tong that concerned Jiang Changfeng.

A few days ago, Jiang Yu exploiting his name had pressurized Professor Du into cooperating with him, scheming to have Ling Zhang expelled from the Imperial College, but Ling Zhang had counter-attacked and got Professor Du fired instead. At that time he had merely felt this Ling Zhang guy was not bad but hadn't given it much thought, for that had been a matter between his grandson and his classmate after all, but immediately after that, the incident of the Xiang City had incriminated Jiang family and resulted in his son's removal from office. He was positive that the riot of the Xiang City had been well hushed up. How had it come to be suddenly brought to light? Jiang Changfeng had wondered whether his son's dismissal from his post had really been a coincidence. He had suspected Yuwen Tong. Others might not know much about it, but he was fully aware of how formidable Yuwen Tong was. Someone who had not only recovered the lost territory against overwhelming odds but also reduced the Wan Kingdom to how it was today definitely had finesse and subterfuge beyond common people's imagination. Jiang Changfeng also knew very well how suspicious and wary of Yuwen Tong the emperor was.

As a result, Jiang Changfeng couldn't help but lay suspicions on Yuwen Tong, though he had no proof.

And of course he loathed Ling Zhang, who was possibly the cause of all this.

But he couldn't help but give more thought to what had happened earlier this day. It had come as a great surprise to him that Ling Zhang had saved his grandson's life.

So no matter what, he must pay a visit to the Ling Mansion to express his gratitude. Also, it was high time he had a meeting with Yuwen Tong.

...

When Jiang Changfeng arrived at the front doors of the Ling Mansion, Ling Zhang was lying in a deck chair, and Xie Shi changing his dressing said, "Had His Majesty not sent a court physician here, the treatment for your injury would have been a lot simpler, Childe Ling."

Ling Zhang said, "Wasn't it a good thing that he saved you some trouble?"