Chapter 14: Wang Zi Peng Leaves Behind a Letter and Departs

  Yue Fei rode a fierce horse, the horse carried Yue Fei and kicked its hooves, galloping wildly all the way. The crowd saw it and sweated for Yue Fei.

  Yue Fei grasped the reins on horseback, letting the fierce steed gallop freely. In one breath, they ran over ten miles, when a river ahead blocked their path, and the fierce steed stopped in its tracks and let out a long neigh.

  Yue Fei jumped off the horse, grasped the reins tightly, and carefully examined the horse from head to toe. He saw that this fine steed was over 3 meters long, about 2.4 meters tall, with a mane like a wild rabbit's, eyes like bronze bells, small and pointed ears, hooves round and sturdy, tail light and chest broad, legs long and belly relaxed - everything was perfect, except the horse's entire body was covered in mud, so he couldn't tell what color its coat was.

  "In front of us is a small river, why don't I lead the horse into the river for a bath." Yue Fei thought to himself.

  Yue Fei grasped the reins and led the horse to the riverbank, stroking the mane of the fierce steed as he cooed: "Good boy, let's go for a bath in the river! Look at you, all muddy, it's been a long time since you've had a good cleaning. Come on, I'll give you a good scrub."

  This horse is quite intelligent, after listening to Yue Fei's words, it obediently followed its master into the river. Yue Fei washed the horse from head to toe, washing it until it was spotless.

  "It's indeed a fine horse, with a snowy white coat and not a single strand of impure hair. Ah, my horse, from now on you'll be my best friend, I must give you a resounding name. What should I call you? With your whole body snow-white, you're worthy of being called a dragon steed, so from now on I'll call you White Dragon Steed." Yue Fei stroked the head of White Dragon Steed, muttering to himself.

  The white dragon horse seemed to understand its master's words and raised its head to let out a loud, long neigh.

  "Let's go! We're going home." Yue Fei led the horse ashore and with one leap, he jumped onto its back.

  The white dragon horse galloped again with its master and arrived at the stable in a flash.

  Yue Fei dismounted his horse and came to Zhou Tong's side, saying with a smile: "Master, it is indeed a fine horse. I see that its whole body is snowy white without any mixed hairs, so I have given it the resounding name of White Dragon Colt."

  "Bai Long Ji! Indeed a good name, sounds extraordinary. My son-in-law, as long as you like it, it's not in vain that I gave it to you with good intentions." said Li County Master.

  "Thank you for the horse, father-in-law." The father-in-law said gratefully.

  "We are all family, why bother with thanks? Old Hero Zhou, you're getting on in years too, pick a horse to ride. Let's go to Qilin Village together." County Magistrate Li said, then came over to Wang Ziyu and asked: "Ziyu, do you want to come along with your father?"

  Wang Zi Peng saw that Yue Fei had obtained both the beauty and the precious horse, and he was extremely envious. As he was pondering how to view this matter, he suddenly heard Li Xian Zhu's question.

  "Dad, I'm feeling a bit uncomfortable, I won't go, I'll visit another day." Wang Zipeng said absent-mindedly.

  Li County Master understood Wang Ziyu's mood at this moment, and it was not good to force him. He had no choice but to bring the teacher with gifts and follow Zhou Cong and others to Qilin Village.

  Wang Zipeng watched them ride away from the county town on horseback, laughing and chatting, feeling uncomfortable in his heart.

  "It seems that I was born with a humble fate, no matter where I go, I am inferior to others in both life and skill. I cannot just live a dull life as an adopted son in the county government, a man should have ambitions and make a name for himself. I must do something earth-shaking and awe-inspiring, making people look at me with new eyes. Neihuang County is too small, and with someone like Yue Fei here, I can only live a life of obscurity. It seems that this place is not suitable for me to live, I should travel the nine provinces, visit famous teachers, learn solid skills, ride the battlefield, shout orders in the wind, and make a name for myself." With these thoughts, Wang Ziyu had an idea to leave.

  "County Magistrate Li is a good official who values talent and is eager to recruit it. He didn't despise me for being a beggar, but instead took me in as his adopted son. If I were to leave without saying a word, it would be unreasonable and ungrateful. It's better for me to write him a letter to express my feelings. But the problem is, I've had bad luck since childhood, my parents passed away early, and I only learned the Three Character Classic, I don't know many characters, how can I write?" Wang Ziyu was deeply conflicted in his heart.

  "But the intention has been decided and cannot be changed. Even if I won't write a letter, I will draw a picture to express what's in my heart." Wang Zipeng decided to use drawing to express his inner thoughts.

  Li Xianzhu's study, the four treasures of the study were all there. Wang Ziyu slipped in and sat down at the desk, spread out a piece of rice paper, picked up a brush and started painting on the rice paper. He first painted a big circle, then a small circle, then a tall boy, and then a short boy. The tall boy was looking up, while the short boy was running away with his legs apart.

  Wang Zipeng finished painting and slipped out of the study, leaving without saying goodbye, leaving Li's house, leaving Neihuang County.

  In the afternoon, County Master Li brought Zhou Tong back home and first looked for Wang Ziyu, but after searching the entire Li Manor, there was no sign of him.

  "This child, where did he run off to? He left without even saying goodbye to the family, it's really too unruly." County Master Li scolded.

  "Maybe he left the Li family and went elsewhere. This morning, I saw that his face was not right, and his heart seemed unhappy, possibly because you were too concerned about Yue Fei. Zi Peng is a child with strong self-esteem, you paid too much attention to Yue Fei and ignored his feelings, so he felt uncomfortable in his heart. Why don't you go to the study and take a look, see if he left any words or messages." Zhou Dong said.

  Li Xianzhi listened and suddenly realized, and hurriedly went with Zhou Tong to the study.

  There was a painting on the desk, which was Wang Zipei's message. Li Xianzhu looked at it and felt confused in her heart.

  Zhou Tong looked at it and exclaimed in admiration, "Wonderful!"

  "Old Master Zhou, you've drawn it like this, and yet you say it's wonderful. What exactly is so wonderful about it?" Li Chun asked in puzzlement.

  "The big circle represents the outside world, and the small circle represents this small place. The tall boy refers to Yue Fei, and the short one refers to him. Compared to Yue Fei, he is too insignificant. The tall boy looks up with his head held high, representing being superior, so the short one can only feel inferior and leave." Zhou Dong explained while looking at it.

  Li Chun understood Wang Ziyu's feelings and could only let things take their course.