Chapter 1: - Strength -
Horse hooves slammed against the dirt ground starting to increase in sound and number until it reached a crescendo, The creaking of wheels from a wagon made irritating screeches that made Zu Dai even more eager for his horse to get out of range of the irritating noise. Beside him was a woman that was whipping her horse reins in a struggle to keep up with him, he turned his head and smiled at her while she returned a struggling one and then he kicked his horse with an accompanying "Ya!"
The horse sped up and the dirt beneath its hooves kicked up into dust clouds that trailed the horse replacing its black maned tail with that of a yellowish dark cloud. Zu Dai tucked his head in and slightly peeked over the rapid bobbing head of the horse toward the target, a pole situated to the side of the road.
He pulled the reins back once he saw that he was sufficiently close enough, and began to stand up on horseback which was already difficult since it was still at high speeds but his skillful control of the horse and his own body made it quite an easy task.
Turning around he placed a thumb up as a smile spread across his face when he saw the women practically gasping for breath because of the dust cloud he generated. He turned once again and saw that his horse was slowing down some more to a more appropriate speed.
'Another win.' His horse trotted over to the pole and he turned his horse fully to face the caravan and the women who he called Bo Jiang that were some distances away. He straightened his back and did his best winning pose for them, which included him sticking out his tongue dipping his finger across it and then touching the pole.
Bo Jiang was the first to arrive next to him fuming "That was unfair, I demand a rematch." She poked his shoulder softly.
He stuck his tongue out and said "I think we need to wait until your lungs are okay from their previous… ordeal."
She chuckled which made him respond with a chuckle as well, she then continued "You're right. Oh! Anyway, How do you make Red go so fast?"
She pointed to the horse beneath him and he responded with a simple smile while simply saying "I think she just favors me." He rubbed the horse's powerful neck again as he said that. The horse snorted in reply to his compliments and he brung his hand to its glorious black mane where he scratched.
The two continued with ordinary small chatter until the caravan behind them caught up, including the other men who were on horseback that were protecting the small little caravan. Their spears almost touched the ground as they were currently holding them. The first man who Zu Dai assumed was the leader spoke, " Lad, Those were some great riding skills you have there. It almost makes it a pity that you're going to the immortals, kid we could use someone like you around here."
He waved it off while saying "I've ridden a horse since I was a child, I guess it's just natural talent with experience." Zu Dai made a half life and half truth, It was true that he had ridden a horse before but that was only one time ten years ago when Bo Jiang's father who was more in the upper echelons of the village a horse breeder came over with his horse.
He rode the horse there and even then he was exceedingly talented with riding the horse, he fell off twice while the third time he pretty much figured it out while replying to the horse breeders surprise with "It's easy once you get used to it."
This would be his second time he has ridden a horse he continued riding when the leader spoke again "Hey, we got some time on the rode here and there, think you can teach some of my lads here some of your skill with the horse there?"
He smiled calmly and then raised a finger " I won't be doing it for free…" his voice trailing near to the end…
"Oh, is that so?" He began to laugh and then he resumed "Y'know kid you're smart as hell, and wiser than me when I was a kid at least, how old were you again?��� He must've been surprised that a peasant teenager didn't jump at the opportunity to get connections with the person in charge.
"I'm turning sixteen in a couple of weeks from now."
"What about you over there?" He aimed the question toward Bo Jiang who was currently riding behind Zu Dai in wedge formation.
"Oh-umm, I'm 17 today." She was first surprised that she got included into the conversation and stuttered with her response.
He nodded his head and said "Damn, I feel old. How about this kid, I'll give you one of the spare staves that we have in the caravan in exchange for some riding lessons. I've seen your weapon of choice so you having it could help you in the competition or if you feel that yours is better you could also just exchange the stave for some good silver pieces once we get to the city."
" How about adding fifty more silver onto the staff and we might have a deal with that." He turned his head slightly while lifting a hand off of his reins to shake the Leaders hand.
The leader thought for a few moments and considered the riding skills of the rider in front of him then he said "Why not twenty-five instead?" He then raised his hand to formulate the deal.
Zu Dai gripped with ease and said "Deal."
Zu Dai considered that the stave would do himself well within the competition he also didn't really need the money but also wanted to make a simple connection to the Leader here, who he found out during the trip that people who were more business like and smart were considered his best friends.
'First checkmark off the list, make friends with someone who has a little power over traveling here.' Zu Dai was sure that the connection would do him well in the future.
The two began to make arranges for there lessons under Bo Jiang's surprised gaze, he confirmed with the Leader here that once they reach the town he would give them lessons in horse riding and such but to make things even better the leader also promised that since they were now 'friends' he would help him with martial skills if he passes the competition within the sect.
The leader and him said their goodbyes, the leader kicking the side of his horse to take the front of the caravan accompanied by half of his men to make sure that the front of the caravan isn't attacked. Horse hooves separate from theirs rapid ones hurried up to the side of Zu Dai which made him surprised at first but then he relaxed when he heard Jiang's voice.
"Why should I even be surprised anymore…" She said dejectedly she then continued "You're way too smart for your age you know? You're even able to make deals like that like it's nothing…"
Zu Dai went in deep thought for a moment and said this " Don't think too much of it, It's simply the way I am, I think quickly, I talk a lot, and i plan a lot more than the average person but that won't help me at all when I'm inside of the sect."
He continued "You're stronger than me, Don't take today's horse race and think much about it. That was all skill when you're inside of the sect ,strength is the only thing that I've heard matters so planning… thinking and talking won't help me then."
She looked at Zu Dai and muttered the words "Thank you." Zu Dai saw the meeker version of Bo Jiang and immediately jumped on to tease the ever living soul out of her.
"Y'know. . . since you're strong, I expect you to take care of me."
"What do you mean by that?"
"The same way a wife takes care of her-" He didn't get to finish his words when Bo Jiang's face went red immediately as soon as she heard the word 'wife' she immediately kicked the sides of her horse and sped up to stay with the troopers in front of the caravan.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone