In the western part of the Southern Continent, four great kingdoms—Red Rock Kingdom, Fire Cloud Kingdom, Water Barge Kingdom, and Slaying Wind Kingdom—reside. Within the Water Barge Kingdom, there are 16 counties led by four states and a capital city known as Water Barge City, where the royal family resides. Currently, in one of the horse stables of the royal family, a young boy with black hair, a thin body, pale skin, and brown eyes is gathering horse dung for disposal.
This young boy, named Max, is an orphan who used to live on the streets. By some stroke of luck, he managed to secure a job in the royal family's horse stable for dung disposal. Presently, he is working diligently, determined not to lose this job. As time passes, Max grows tired and leans against a wooden pillar in the stable, audibly panting.
"Huff, Huff, Huff," Max's fatigue is more evident than usual. He eventually rises and walks over to a flask he had placed on a rock outside the stable to have a drink of water. Picking up the flask, he brings it to his mouth and takes several mouthfuls of water. “Gulp, Gulp, Gulp,…” Max drank water fastly.
"Slow down, brat, or you will choke," cautioned Uncle Ben. Suddenly, a voice came from in front of Max, revealing Uncle Ben, a 70-year-old man with white hair, smiling as he approached.
Both Max and Uncle Ben are employed in the same stable, which belongs to the 5th prince of the Water Barge Kingdom. Their duties involve cleaning and caring for the horses owned by the 5th prince. As night descends, Uncle Ben approaches Max and bids him farewell.
"Okay, boy, I am going. See you tomorrow," Uncle Ben says before leaving the stable for his home located in the outskirts of the city. Max, having lived on the streets before, now resides in the stable.
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The next morning, Max is greeted by the presence of the 5th Prince, who sits atop a white horse. The 5th prince looks at him with a cold and arrogant attitude, inquiring about Old Ben's whereabouts. Immediately, Max kneels and bows to the 5th prince, informing him that Old Ben is unwell and may not be able to come in.
In response, an aura is released from the 5th prince, causing Max to fall flat on the ground. The 5th prince, a 15-year-old genius at the 7th stage of the Sea Forming Stage, warns Max to take good care of the horse. He emphasizes that any harm to the horse, the 5th prince's favorite, will result in severe consequences, even skinning Max alive.
Terrified, Max, a mere mortal without cultivation abilities, summons the courage to handle the horse's reins and begins the task of cleaning and caring for it. Typically, Old Ben takes care of these powerful beasts due to his 8th stage body refinement cultivation.
However, with Old Ben missing, Max has no choice but to take care of the horse; otherwise, the 5th prince might actually carry out his threat to kill him. Max proceeds to clean the horse and secures it in a tidy hut. Though tired, he knows he must keep a vigilant eye on the Wind Chasing Horse, as any mishap could lead to dire consequences.
While eating lunch and monitoring the horse, Max suddenly feels a heavy impact behind his head. Before he can comprehend what happened, he loses consciousness, and with a thud, Max falls to the ground. Evening arrives, and Max awakens, groaning and touching the back of his head. However, as he comes to, he notices he's holding a large chef's knife stained with blood.
Upon checking himself, Max realizes he is unharmed, bringing a sense of relief. Yet, confusion sets in as he wonders where the blood on the knife came from and whose weapon it is. Perplexed, he surveys his surroundings only to be horrified by the scene before him. The Wind Chasing Horse, the 5th prince's favorite, lies on the ground with its neck slashed, likely long dead. The knife in Max's hands appears to be the culprit.
Fearful of the repercussions, Max understands that he's in a perilous situation. Despite the lack of alternatives, he must remain composed to think of a solution. This ability to stay calm in tough situations and devise solutions has been a quality of Max's since youth, ultimately securing him a job in the 5th prince's stable.
After regaining composure, Max reflects on the events—the blow to his head, the subsequent loss of consciousness, waking up with the knife, and the gruesome sight of the dead horse. He quickly deduces that he has been framed.