1331th Year of Han, May 12

The Feng's surnamed Lin and Tang arrived in the border city of Garkash, region of Jiangxin, accompanied by 10 other retainers from the Tang family. With them are 20 horses, of which 5 are Purebloods bred by Lin Feng.

The Pureblood is not a real warhorse per se, it doesnt have the weight nor the belligerent nature of a warhorse. It is rather docile, and friendly, but don't let their gentle demeanor fool you. What they lack in bulk, they make up for in endurance and abnormally tough, compact bodies. Not only that, even with their light weights, purebloods are shockingly very powerful, perhaps the most powerful breed among horses, if according to the people of Taijan. They are very obedient too, even to the point of dumbness that they would even disregard threats to their lives in order to please their owners. This horse breed was selectively bred and trained by Lin Feng, and currently, it is unique to the town of Taijan.

The difficulty in breeding this horse is very high. According to Lin Feng, each and every horse can sire or give birth to a pureblood. The pureblood is the distillation of the blood of the entire equine race, that's why each horse is capable of producing a pureblood heir. Even if a pureblood foal is born, it will soon degenerate into its herds' nature and breed without human intervention and proper training. Only the stupid and dumb pureblood nature is moldable enough to follow the cruel regimen of awakening their full potential.

The Feng team is currently staying in an outpost outside the city of Garkash, and they need to change some of the horses before continuing to the camp of the Han army, one to two days trip away. Purebloods are tireless, but the other horses are rich spoiled brats so the team has no choice but to swap horses, and maybe get some bed and breakfast in the process.

The two Feng's took more than half of the team to enter the city while the remaining 4 retainers went to exchange the horses in the outpost. While the team was lining up to pay the toll in the gate, Lin Feng was listening to the news from the other people.

"Brother! Did you hear? The most beautiful oiran of Butterfly pavilion, Dilraba Dildavout has vowed to marry the expert who can defeat the Western Poison Ouyang Feng."

"What?"

"Ouyang Feng? The name's familiar... Oh, is'nt that the master who wants to discuss martial arts with the experts of Garkash this afternoon?!"

"You are correct, but there are no points for you! This afternoon's demonstration is because esteemed Master Ouyang wants to gain prestige in order to found a branch school."

"Not only that, Master Ouyang also has a talented nephew named Ouyang Ke. Young master Ouyang is one of talented trainees of the Imperial Academy. Tiger uncle begets no dog nephew indeed."

"The Ouyang Ke that is on the list of the scholars accompanying the army in this year's expedition to Stan kingdom? Those surnamed Ouyang are not simple indeed!"

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Lin Feng was curious of this so called Ouyang uncle and nephew. One of the Tang retainers next to him scoffed at the people praising Ouyang.

"Hmmmphh! I'd rather see for myself whether this Ouyang has three heads and six arms. These poor souls don't know Mr. Lin, do they Sergeant Hao?"

"They don't, Mr. He."

"They don't know Mr. Lin once saved an Imperial envoy's life, do they Sergeant Hao?"

"They don't, Mr. Huang."

"They don't know Mr. Lin shot three Hu's out of the saddle in 15 seconds, do they Sergeant Hao?"

"They certainly don't, Mr. Hou."

"Then they don't know Mr. Lin beat a man half to death, just for having rust on his sword."

"They don't, Mr. Lei."

"I bet they don't know Mr. Lin killed a captured Hu general, just for not putting up a good fight."

"...."

"What was it Mr. Lin says, makes a good fighter, Mr. He?"

"Remind me again, sarge."

"What Mr. Lin says makes a good fighter, is the ability to use a melee weapon, a ranged weapon, ride a horse, and a strong body that is able to fight in any weather, must remember that. Shush, boys!"

The team was exempted from the toll after Tang Feng showed his credentials and they entered the city unharassed. After asking the guards where the city hall was, they proceeded there to report their arrival to the governor. After being stopped in the city hall's door, they were told that only two people can enter inside. As the two Fengs continued forward, the guardsman at the door said...

"No women and children allowed!"

"What?"

"He did'nt just do what I think he did, right?"

"Oh no! Should'nt have done that, I bet somebody's gonna be unlucky real soon."

"That's okay, Sergeant Hao, you go in."

After hearing that, Sergeant Hao accompanied the older Feng inside, while not forgetting to pat the guardsman, pitying the minimum wage person for having eyes but not seeing Mt. Tai.

Lin Feng soon whispered something to the retainer named He, who by the way, was once a trader of sorts, by way of property and the like, though mostly of other people's. In other words, a thief. Mr. He scurried away into the alleyways of Garkash, probably up to no good, for no person with an upright goal would look so wretched and vile.

It did'nt take long for the two inside the city hall to return. They were told by the governor to first go to the Millenium Hotel to check in, free of charge, compliments of the Great Han Imperial Dynasty. As the governor was sending them off, he told Tang Feng to meet the other generals and commander in the banquet that will happen this afternoon in the Nanban Pavillion. After agreeing to the governor's request, Tang Feng just noticed that retainer He was missing and his eyes twitched. He then looked at Lin Feng's eyes, informing him through eye contact that he should stop making trouble.

Tang Feng's plea to Lin Feng was like a mud ox sinking into the ocean as Lin Feng just replied with an oblivious stare, so innocent and so pure, not unlike that of a newborn babe. Tang Feng lamented his godson's willful character, thinking he must have owed too much lifesaving grace to Lin Delan in his previous life.

They were accompanied by an official to the hotel. After picking two rooms, retainer Lei was sent outside the city to inform the other brothers, leaving 3 retainers and the two Feng's. After freshening up a bit, Tang Feng and Sergeant Hao left to go the banquet, leaving the two retainers and Lin Feng. Before they left though, Tang Feng looked at the bear child Lin Feng, and sighed to himself, lamenting the fact that he was not able to turn iron into steel.

After the two left, Lin Feng and the two retainers waited for the brothers outside the city to arrive. When they arrived, Lin Feng asked everybody to go to dinner, but two men volunteered to guard their stuff, so Lin Feng promised to bring them food instead. Lin Feng and six retainers of the Tang family left the hotel to eat outside.