Chapter 72: Such Unrefined Skills

Zhou Damao quickly reported the matter to Jiang Zhengqing. Hearing his disciple's account, the Sect Master was quite surprised.

"Lin Yun agreed to it himself?"

Zhou Damao hesitated for a second. "Y-yes."

A smile spread across Jiang Zhengqing's face. "I never expected this. Truly, I never expected this."

As he smiled, tears began to stream down his cheeks. "Junior Brother Li, although you are no longer with us, you have still helped me a great deal."

He rose to his feet and patted Zhou Damao's shoulder with renewed purpose. "Damao, since Lin Yun agreed to this on his own, we must not interfere. However, I want you to have a few people keep an eye on things. Just make sure those troublemakers don't make things too difficult for him."

Zhou Damao nodded. If his Master agreed, then there was no problem. He wouldn't overthink it, even if a small part of him still felt a little unhappy about the situation.

Work in the beast pens was undeniably hard. The harsh environment was enough to make the skin of the other menial workers crawl. But when they looked over at Lin Yun, they simply couldn't understand how the boy could still be smiling.

Even if that smile was more than a little unsettling.

Just then, a coarse voice boomed from outside. "Damn it, where is everyone in the pens? Are you all dead?"

The moment they heard the voice, the other workers began to toil with frantic energy, as if terrified of its owner. Lin Yun, however, paid it no mind.

Perhaps because he received no answer, the person outside stormed to the entrance.

"You, come here."

Still, no one responded. The man's patience wore thin.

"I'm talking to you! Didn't you hear me?"

Lin Yun frowned, rising to his feet and looking toward the entrance.

"Yes, you! I'm talking to you, stop looking around," the man sneered. "You're Lin Yun, right? Go fetch my Snow-Treading Dragon Horse."

Lin Yun glanced at the man.

[Name]: Zhang Hongze

[Realm]: Origin Sea - Stage 9

[Destiny Template]: Great Wealth and Honor (Blue)

[Attributes]: A Small Man's Triumph (White), Bullies the Weak and Fears the Strong (White) [Great Wealth and Honor]: Your luck is good; you'll even make a profit from small business ventures.

[Fate]: Having bullied countless people, no one is willing to help him when he finally encounters true danger. He is killed by a band of rebels.

[Recent Turning Point]: None

From the quiet whispers of the other workers, Lin Yun had already pieced together a few things about this Zhang Hongze. He was Wu Boyan's personal disciple and was known for being arrogant and domineering. He had bullied every single worker in the beast pens. His appearance here today was almost certainly to cause trouble for Lin Yun.

Lin Yun didn't speak, silently putting the bridle on the Snow-Treading Dragon Horse. Just then, his keen ears picked up on what Zhang Hongze was muttering. Although Lin Yun didn't understand the specific commands, the horse's sudden agitation told him everything he needed to know. The man was ordering his spirit beast to make a fool of him.

Lin Yun felt his explosive temper stir. He had no desire to bicker with such a person, but if Zhang Hongze was actively trying to harm him, then he couldn't be blamed for what happened next.

Wu Boyan likely thought Lin Yun was genuinely trying to learn the Beast Taming Sect's methods. In reality, Lin Yun's own theories on beast taming were far more advanced.

After Zhang Hongze finished his command, the Dragon Horse began to grow restless. Lin Yun quickly leaned in and murmured a few words in the ancient tongue. The once-agitated horse immediately calmed down, allowing Lin Yun to lead it out of the pen without any resistance.

Zhang Hongze watched the entire process, utterly baffled. What's wrong with my Dragon Horse today? Did something happen to it?

Lin Yun led the Snow-Treading Dragon Horse outside, where a crowd of disciples had gathered to watch. A personal disciple working in the beast pens—it was the kind of trivial event that provided endless gossip fodder.

Zhang Hongze jeered, "As expected of the cream of the crop from the Flowing Cloud Sect's younger generation. You're quite the natural at stable work. My spirit beast has been very comfortable under your care."

With that, he tossed a fragmented spirit stone onto the dusty ground. "A reward from your master. Take it. You probably don't have many spirit stones left after your journey. This should be enough to feed you for a good long while."

He finished with a loud, braying laugh.

Lin Yun's eyes locked onto him.

"What are you looking at? You got a problem?" Zhang Hongze bellowed. "Don't forget your place."

He had intended to humiliate Lin Yun by having the horse act up, but it hadn't worked. No matter. Humiliating him like this in front of so many people was even more satisfying.

Lin Yun simply gave a cold smile and stood quietly to the side.

Zhang Hongze stood next to his horse and barked, "Damn it, are you blind? Get over here and help your master mount!"

Lin Yun's expression turned icy. "I only do what is required of my station."

Zhang Hongze laughed again. "That's right! You're a menial worker now. And helping your betters mount their steeds is exactly what trash like you are supposed to do." He pointed at the dejected workers behind Lin Yun. "Go on, ask them what the proper procedure is."

Before Lin Yun could ask, one of the workers scurried forward. "Heh, it's simple. You just have to kneel on the ground and let Senior Brother Zhang step on your back to get on his horse."

Lin Yun's face darkened. No matter how lowly a menial worker was, did they have to be subjected to such humiliation? This Wu Boyan was a piece of work, and every one of his disciples was just as rotten.

Just then, Zhou Damao arrived.

"Junior Brother Lin is here only to abide by the sect's rule of treating everyone equally," he said, his voice calm but firm. "Senior Brother Zhang, why must you make things so difficult?"

Seeing Zhou Damao, Zhang Hongze flinched, instinctively shrinking back. He shot a glare at Lin Yun. Hmph, consider yourself lucky today, kid. Otherwise, I would have ruined you.

With that, he turned to mount his horse.

At that exact moment, Lin Yun murmured another quiet phrase in the ancient tongue.

Hardly anyone was paying close attention anymore. But just as Zhang Hongze was about to swing his leg over the saddle, the placid Snow-Treading Dragon Horse bucked as if it had gone mad. Caught completely off guard, Zhang Hongze was sent flying.

His body sailed through the air in a perfect arc before landing squarely in a nearby feeding trough. His once pristine, jet-black hair was now caked in a sticky, gooey mess of spirit beast feed. He was a truly wretched sight.

Seeing this, many of the surrounding disciples burst into laughter.

"What are you all laughing at?!" Zhang Hongze roared. "Shut your mouths!"

The crowd quieted down at his outburst.

Zhou Damao, however, looked at Lin Yun with curiosity. Others might not have heard it, but he had been standing close. Just as the Dragon Horse went wild, he had clearly heard Lin Yun say something.

Just then, Zhang Hongze once again approached the Snow-Treading Dragon Horse. This time, however, he was much more cautious.