Chapter 291
Epilogue
Under the flying hooves of the horse, the ground rapidly fades towards the back.
With three of his brothers Wu Zhuo, Teng Yi and Jing Jun, Xiang Shaolong is riding at full speed on the fresh and crisp gra.s.sland that stretches as far as the eye can see.
Under the blue sky and white clouds, about half a mile in front of them, a herd of nearly one thousand wild horses are startled and instantly fled towards the north.
The four men started shouting. Squeezing the abdomen of their horses to change directions, they continued the pursuit.
Xiang Shaolong and his fellow riders divided themselves into two teams.
One team started flanking the wild horses from the side, forcing the leading alpha horse to change their flight path while the other team persisted in hounding the horses from the back.
After a short chase, the herd is intimidated by their horsewhips and had no choice but to jump into the river and swim towards the opposite sh.o.r.e.
Reining his horse to a stop, Xiang Shaolong thundered: "Kids! It is time to display your talents."
On the opposite sh.o.r.e, more than a hundred men suddenly appeared with ropes in their hands, enthusiastically waiting for the horses to walk right into their arms. Among them are Wu Guo, Wu Yan Zhe, Zhao Da and Liu Chao.
Observing his brothers and men capturing wild horses with plenty of excitement, Xiang Shaolong praised: "First Brother is truly talented in picking a good territory. This location comprises of countless rivers and streams which is useful for farming and drinking. With bountiful water supply, fertile soil and limitless grazing gra.s.s, this is a piece of paradise."
His eyes scanning the endless fields around him, Wu Guo inhaled a breath of fragrant gra.s.s smell and chuckled: "When I first came here, I did not feel good because I have this impression that we are forced to come here, like a self-imposed exile. But after living here for so many years, only death can force me to leave this place."
Jing Jun suddenly barked to the men on the opposite sh.o.r.e: "That pure white horse! I want that pure white horse!"
Teng Yi was tickled: "This fellow, Dan’er has given him three sons and two daughters and yet, he himself is like a kid who has never grown up."
At evening time, the men are satisfied with a rewarding day and started riding back to the hunting camp.
Ji Yanran, Qin Qing, Wu Tingfang, Zhao Zhi, Tian Zhen, Tian Feng, Zhou Wei, Shan Lan, Lu Dan’er and the other ladies are sitting on a slope, overlooking a group of more than thirty boys and girls aged between ten and fifteen years old. The children are riding their horses and playing polo on a gra.s.s meadow.
The air is filled with laughter.
One of the children is Xiang Bao’er.
He is much more brawny compared to the other kids. Wearing a beautiful cap made from eagle feathers, coupled with his thick brows and large eyes, he is already an outstanding character.
At this moment, he happened to bend down from his horse and use his mallet to dribble the ball. Under his skillful maneuvers, no one could s.n.a.t.c.h the polo ball from him.
Beneath their feet, like a s.h.i.+mmering green carpet, the boundless gra.s.s prairie seems to extend all the way to heaven.
A distance away, more than a hundred tents are cl.u.s.tered together. As the smoke rises from the cooking stoves, more than ten ladies are starting a fire and preparing a meal for their husbands and sons to enjoy later.
Nearby, the two men Tu Xian and Xiao Yuetan are sitting on the ground and chatting idly with each other. Occasionally, they would throw a glance at the polo-playing children.
The game is now reaching a point of excitement and the spectating ladies clapped and cheered nonstop. Among them, Wu Tingfang and Lu Dan’er cheered the loudest.
Out of the blue, Qin Qing nudged Ji Yanran who is sitting down beside her. She joyfully exclaimed: "Hubby is back."
s.h.i.+fting their gaze to the edge of