"Yes, Young Master, we managed to secure eight Earth-Horses just as you requested," Da Bai replied, wiping the cold sweat off his brow.
"Where are the horses now?" Lee Zhong interrupted impatiently, his tone sharp.
Meeting Lee Zhong's intense gaze, Da Bai replied with a tense expression, "Young Master Lee Zhong, the horses are currently at the stables. As I mentioned earlier, junior Bo An is preparing them and the carriage as we speak."
Hearing this, Lee Zhong took a step toward Da Bai, his face twisting with anger. "Do you think I don't know what you already told me? If I ask a question, I expect a proper answer!" he bellowed.
Seeing Lee Zhong seething, Da Bai froze in fear, his voice trembling as he stuttered, "No, Young Master Lee Zhong, I didn't mean it that way. I was just—"
Before he could finish, Han Fei cut him off, speaking in a calm, measured tone. "Brother Lee Zhong, let it go. Look at the bright side. While they may have failed to report back promptly, they still managed to secure all eight horses in time."
Seeing that Han Fei had intervened to save him, Da Bai swallowed nervously, a tense expression on his face, and nodded as if in agreement.
Lee Zhong glared coldly at the servant for a few seconds before turning to Han Fei. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's head to the stables."
"Hmmm. The time is near." Knowing that the hour of the attack they had discussed with their father was approaching, Han Fei nodded as he spoke.
As the two headed for the door, Han Fei turned toward Da Bai, who was standing near the table. "Go back to the house, put on your armor, and gather ten martial seniors. Quietly make your way to the Lee family stables afterward."
"Yes, Young Master," Da Bai replied, his face taking on a more serious expression.
"Then what are you waiting for? Go, hurry up," Han Fei ordered, gesturing toward the door. He then turned and followed Lee Zhong, who had already exited the room.
Once the two young masters had left, Da Bai hastily set off toward the Han family house.
A few minutes later, Lee Zhong and Han Fei arrived at the stable doors. Taking out his name badge, Lee Zhong presented it to the guards before turning back to Han Fei with a serious expression. "Let's see if everything we need is truly ready," he said, then added, "Come on, brother Han Fei."
As the pair prepared to step through the gates, one of the guards hesitated before speaking in a tentative tone. "Young Master, outsiders are not permitted inside the stables."
Stopping in his tracks, Lee Zhong turned slightly, fixing the guard with a cold stare. He remained silent for a few seconds before looking back at Han Fei. "Let's not waste time, Brother Han Fei. We don't have time to dawdle," he said, continuing forward.
The guard, too intimidated to speak further, stood frozen as the pair proceeded into the stable grounds.
A short distance ahead, they spotted four imposing Earth-Horses harnessed to a large, open carriage. The sight drew their attention immediately, and they began walking toward the carriage.
Noticing their approach, Bo An stopped what he was doing and started heading toward the two young masters. However, Lee Zhong waved a hand, signaling him to stay where he was.
Moments later, the two young masters reached the carriage and couldn't help but admire it. Seeing the horses with their heads covered in light armor, black saddles made of monster hide, and the sturdy-looking wooden carriage to which they were hitched, Han Fei and Lee Zhong circled around the carriage for a while with satisfied expressions on their faces.
"Not bad work," Han Fei remarked with a satisfied expression.
"Hmm," Lee Zhong grunted in agreement, though his demeanor was stoic, his approval evident on his face.
Seeing the young masters' pleased expressions, Bo An grinned proudly. "Young Master, Young Master Han Fei, this is currently the strongest carriage in town," he declared with confidence.
Han Fei, still observing the carriage, raised an eyebrow. "The strongest?" he echoed curiously.
Bo An grinned as he explained, "Young Master Han Fei, the saddles you see are crafted from the hide of the Black Creeping Dragon, a serpent-like monster that's the bane of martial seniors."
Pausing for a few seconds and glancing at the young masters as if to see whether they would say something, Bo An noticed that they continued silently observing the horses. Thinking, 'They probably want to hear more,' he decided to continue speaking.
"As you may know, these serpents, with their completely black bodies, including the insides of their mouths, can grow meters long and as thick as an adult man's waist. Their hides are so tough that even martial seniors struggle against them. These saddles are made from their skin."
After finishing his explanation, Bo An glanced at the young masters, his expression seeking approval. When they still remained silent, he continued enthusiastically. "As for the metallic plates on the horses' heads, they're made of interlocking leaf-shaped segments, crafted by the best saddle armorer in the nearby city."
Once Bo An finished describing the horses' head armor, Lee Zhong turned to him with a serious expression. "We understand that part. But what about the carriage? How strong is it? Could it carry something as heavy as an Earth-Horse?"
Bo An, startled by the question, thought to himself, 'What? Carry an Earth-Horse?' Despite his surprise, he confidently replied, "Young Master, this wood is no ordinary wood."
"Oh? So you're saying this wooden carriage could support something as heavy as a fifteen-hundred-kilogram horse?" Han Fei asked with a curious look.
Noticing the light armor both young masters were wearing for the first time, Bo An wondered, 'Why are they both talking about carrying something? What are they planning while wearing such armors?' Shaking off the thought, he answered, "Young Master Han Fei, I can't say for sure if it can carry something that heavy, but this carriage is made from Metallic Wood."
Both young masters looked at him with shock, their expressions betraying their disbelief. Seeing this, Bo An smiled wider and continued, "Yes, Young Master, Young Master Han Fei, you heard correctly. This carriage is made from the famed tree itself."
Their astonishment was justified. After all, this carriage had been carved from a type of wood so resilient that even martial masters struggled to cut through it.
In the martial society, Metallic Wood held a high reputation. Despite its ordinary brown color, which made it hard to distinguish from regular wood, it was incredibly rare and valuable due to the difficulty of cutting and shaping it.