"This is just speculation," Lu Zhi rubbed his forehead. He had thought it was a simple horse-raising trial, but it was full of traps. "If the horse enters the tomb alone and is not recognized by the Horse God, and fails to pass the trial, our mission will be considered a failure."
Wang Cao Tian was shocked. "So, no matter which path we choose, there is a risk."
"But how do we leave? Do we have to sacrifice the horses?" Wang Cao Tian, reluctant and sad, patted Little Black. "I, I don't want Little Black to die."
Jiang Yue pursed her lips and said nothing.
Lu Zhi glanced at the Horse God and said, "You have been led into a misunderstanding. The tomb is the resting place of the Horse God. The so-called curse must have been cast by the Horse God. She only gave us two choices, but she didn't say we had to choose."
"What we need to do now is to find out how the Horse God will lift the curse. If we have triggered the Horse God's taboo, how can we obtain her forgiveness?" Lu Zhi finished in one breath and looked at the Horse God. "Am I right?"
After hearing Lu Zhi's words, the Horse God's gentle eyes turned completely cold. She said, "Become horse-people, and you will all live."
Jiang Yue and Wang Cao Tian were so startled by the aura the Horse God suddenly exuded that their hair stood on end.
Lu Zhi sighed. "There is no choice at all. She will not allow humans to leave the tomb alive."
"Did you two notice? In many legends, there is only the saying 'centaur,' but here, there are 'horse-people' everywhere. The horse is before the human, the horse is superior to the human, the horse rides on the human, instead of being ridden by humans..."
Lu Zhi said slowly, "This Horse God loathes humans."
Ba Bi Q walked behind Lu Zhi and nudged his back with its horse head. It said, "I do not hate humans, nor do I like humans."
Jiang Yue and Wang Cao Tian simultaneously exclaimed, "Holy crap!"
"I really didn't mishear. Ba Bi Q can really talk," Jiang Yue asked excitedly, "Can my Little White talk too?"
"Awoo awoo awoo, can my Little Black also talk?" Wang Cao Tian turned around and urged Little Black to call him Daddy.
Lu Zhi felt amused and helpless. He asked Ba Bi Q, "You're not even pretending anymore?"
Ba Bi Q tilted its head, its eyes pure and innocent. "I don't know what you're talking about?"
Lu Zhi smiled. "The first day, when you asked me what color horse I liked."
Ba Bi Q huffed arrogantly and shyly, "You, you know everything?"
Lu Zhi asked with a smile, "Wasn't it deliberate?"
Ba Bi Q said, "Because it was too boring! You are the first person I've seen. The people who came before couldn't see me, and their answers were not what I liked to hear. Moreover..."
Lu Zhi tilted his head. "Moreover, what?"
Ba Bi Q stared at him intently. "Nothing. I wanted to accompany you to complete the trial."
Lu Zhi looked at the Horse God and sighed, "There is no choice at all. Our only choice is to defeat the Horse God. Do you think we have that ability now?"
"They don't, but you do," Ba Bi Q's voice was cute and innocent. "You try it."
Lu Zhi felt amused and helpless. This was like willingly walking to his death.
"No way? Is it really true? We have to fight the Horse God?" Wang Cao Tian looked as if the sky was about to collapse. "How can we possibly defeat a god?! Are you joking?"
Jiang Yue put her hands on her hips and let out a long howl to the sky. "I knew this divine tower wouldn't be so simple. It's going all out right from the start?"
The Horse God, who had been silent, suddenly said to Ba Bi Q, "Foolish! Humans only trample on us. You, as a god of our race, are helping humans to bully your own people!"
The dejected faces of Jiang Yue and Wang Cao Tian suddenly brightened. Jiang Yue asked, "Lu junior, did I hear correctly? Ba Bi Q is also a Horse God?"
Lu Zhi nodded helplessly, "I'm not sure either, but it seems so. Do you still remember Shen Qi saying one yin and one yang, one good and one evil?"
Wang Cao Tian's eyes sparkled as he stared at Ba Bi Q's tender pink fur. "Standing on the side of humans, it must be a righteous god!"
Ba Bi Q said to the Horse God, "I don't like your methods. Horse-people are too ugly."
The Horse God angrily crushed the stone tablet under her hooves. "What do you know? Why must we horses be ridden by humans? Why can't we horses ride humans and be in charge!"
Lu Zhi: ...These lines are a bit chuunibyou.
Jiang Yue and Wang Cao Tian: ...
"It reminds me of something," Wang Cao Tian said, looking at the Horse God with a complex and sympathetic expression.
Jiang Yue nodded in agreement.
Lu Zhi roared dramatically, "Why, why was I born poor? Why do others enjoy three generations of wealth without working? It's unfair!!!"
The Horse God: ...
Ba Bi Q laughed merrily.
"How dare you mock my great undertaking and refuse to submit to me! You are useless, die!" The Horse God, enraged, stamped her hoof. Black hoof prints descended from the sky, smashing fiercely towards the three of them.
Ba Bi Q retaliated furiously, shouting, "I've tolerated you for a long time, you tasteless creature! Our bodies are already perfect and flawless. Why must we merge with humans and become ugly horse-people? I refuse to be an ugly monster!!!"
As it spoke, golden, resplendent hoof prints collided with the black hoof prints. The resulting shockwave exploded, shaking the entire mountain. Debris rained down from above, leaving Lu Zhi and the other two in a sorry state.
"Quick, take the horses and move away," Jiang Yue yelled while pulling the white horse to the side.
Lu Zhi stood by a large rock and waved. "This way."
The two of them quickly ran over, leading the horses.
"What do we do now?" Jiang Yue never expected such an outcome.
Wang Cao Tian punched a large rock that was about to hit them and hastily said, "We need to get out quickly. If the mountain collapses, we'll all die here."
Lu Zhi frowned, observing Ba Bi Q and the Horse God fighting each other without yielding. However, Ba Bi Q was clearly at a disadvantage.
The Horse God even threatened with disdain and arrogance, "Foolish! I wasn't going to find you, but you came to my door. In that case, don't blame me for completely absorbing you!"
With that, the Horse God suddenly stopped in mid-air. Her snow-white fur instantly turned pitch black. Black threads extended from a giant vortex behind the Horse God, firmly locking Ba Bi Q in place.
"Damn it, how dare you!" Ba Bi Q cried out in panic. "I don't want to merge with you, I don't want to become an ugly monster."
The Horse God's horse face seemed to twist, and she said resentfully, "Today, I will completely melt you and create a glorious future for horse-people!"
Lu Zhi was alarmed. It seemed the Horse God's will was stronger than Ba Bi Q's. If Ba Bi Q were completely absorbed and merged, and the Horse God became the dominant consciousness, it would be bad for humans!
Thinking of this, Lu Zhi suddenly covered the divine brand, bit his lip, and uttered a very chuunibyou and embarrassing line: "My god, please grant your most devout follower strength!"
In a hotel bedroom far outside the divine tower, Shen Qi's dazzling golden-red, silver-ringed pupils stared towards the holy island. He crossed his arms and rested his chin on his lips. Suddenly, the corners of his mouth curled up, and he murmured, "My lord, your wish shall be granted."