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Cang Hai Plays with the Qilin — Chapter 20. The Eight Steeds of King Mu. Part 2


Zhang Hai Xing stepped forward immediately, offering his own torch.

Qilin smiled as he accepted it—

And at the same time, he handed the black-gold saber back to Zhang Hai Xing.

Zhang Hai Xing refused.

“Clan Leader, you should keep the saber for protection. We feel more at ease when you’re armed.”

The other Zhang clan members all chimed in:

“Yes, Clan Leader, please keep the saber! We’re counting on you to lead us out of here!”

Qilin nodded. “Naturally.”

He raised the torch high, examining the cavern ceiling—

And discovered that it was covered in murals and inscriptions.

But—

The ceiling was too high.

From this distance, he couldn’t make out any details.

Qilin raised the saber and swung it at the massive slab of granite nearby—

And split the rock into thin, clean sheets, as effortlessly as slicing watermelon or cutting cabbage.

Zhang Hai Wang inhaled sharply.

He had been arrogant enough to draw his saber against the Clan Leader just now.

If the Clan Leader had actually retaliated—

He wouldn’t have lasted a single move.

He would have been sliced apart on the spot.

As Qilin set down the torch, Wang Cang Hai walked over—

And, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, he took the torch from Qilin’s hands—

To hold it up and illuminate the ceiling for him.

Qilin’s brows curved in a smile as he turned to Wang Cang Hai. “Wan Bao, thank you.”

But Wang Cang Hai felt a flicker of displeasure.

Right now, I’m wearing Wan Bao’s face.

You don’t actually know who I really am.

So when you’re smiling like this, thanking me—are you only directing it at Wan Bao?

Do you smile like this at everyone who’s even slightly kind to you?

It’s a good thing you’re still wearing that mask.

Otherwise, even Wan Bao would have been mesmerized by you.

The Hidden Stairway
In no time, Qilin had finished splitting the entire slab of granite—

Now, thirty-three thin stone slabs lay neatly stacked.

He strapped the black-gold saber onto his back, then raised a hand and flung the stone slabs one by one, embedding them into the cavern walls.

Each slab became a protruding step, forming a rough staircase leading upward.

However—

The ceiling was still far from reach.

Wang Cang Hai reached out and handed the torch back to Qilin. “Climb up first, I’ll pass them to you.”

Qilin nodded.

With one hand gripping the torch, the other gripping the stone slabs, his movements were swift and agile, each step firm as he climbed.

From below, Wang Cang Hai watched him intently.

Each time Qilin reached the topmost stone slab, Wang Cang Hai would toss a new one up with perfect accuracy, allowing Qilin to drive it into the rock and continue ascending.

Higher and higher—

Until, finally—

He reached the cavern ceiling.

The Mural of the Eight Steeds
“What do you see up there?” Zhang Hai Xing called out.

“A mural.” Qilin replied. “It’s the Eight Steeds of King Mu.”

He raised the torch to see more clearly—

Beneath the mural, several rows of inscriptions lined the rock.

Qilin read aloud:

“In the 209th year of the Great Zhou Dynasty, King Mu returned to the capital of Chang’an after leaving Kunlun’s Celestial Palace.

Prince Yi, his nephew, refused to abdicate the throne to him, enraging King Mu, who personally executed him. This sparked national uproar.

Prince Yi’s son fled to Xianyang with his court officials and proclaimed himself King Gong.

For three years, King Mu remained in Chang’an. The descendants of the Eight Steeds—Zhang, Xie, Huo, Qi, Chen, Li, Hei, and Hong—returned to serve under him.

In the 212th year, King Gong pretended to surrender, only to secretly launch a counterattack.

The Zhang Clan Leader, Zhang Chengshan, and his wife perished in battle, leaving behind their one-year-old daughter, Zhang Haisheng.

Overcome with grief and rage, King Mu held the child in his arms, slew King Gong, and ordered the execution of 6,100 of his followers.

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