The myth begins with the Lotus Lantern

Chapter 235: Riding a Horse
A sweet dream.

I don't know if a day, two days, or even longer have passed.

In the midst of indulgence, time seems to lose its meaning.

All I know is that it's another morning.

The main gate of the Imperial Stables was wide open, and sunlight streamed in unobstructed. Everywhere there were cups, plates, and wine glasses, crooked chairs, and soup splashed everywhere. The vermilion carpet was stained black with oil, patchy and greasy, like a bald mongrel.

On the high seat, the stone monkey's light green official robe had been lifted up at some point, the hem covering his face, leaving only a pair of black official boots visible on the large seat.

Suddenly, the green-robed figure stirred slightly, followed by a long yawn. A monkey-like face emerged from under the green robe, its eyes still heavy with sleep.

The monkey rubbed his eyes, feeling the sunlight was a bit too bright, so he rolled over. Suddenly, as if he had realized something again, he looked around and became slightly more awake. The mess he saw reminded him of his previous memories.

"Well……"

The stone monkey squatted down on its seat, curled its right hand, stroked the fur on the back of its left hand, let out a soft hum that was hard to decipher, and then blew out a long breath. Instantly, a gust of wind swept through the hall, causing the tables and chairs to sway wildly and the cups and saucers to clang.

After the wind swept through, the tables and chairs were back in their places, the cups and plates were sparkling clean, and even the grease on the carpet had disappeared.

That's how convenient magic is.

After finishing the meal, the stone monkey lightly leaped onto the table in front of him, the hem of his green robe trailing on the ground. He raised his paw and scratched his cheek. He had just woken up and was already feeling a bit bored. What should he do next? The thought of visiting friends flashed through his mind, but then quickly passed. He had just had a feast, and although the stone monkey enjoyed lively gatherings, he was feeling somewhat tired. For the time being, he just wanted to be a monkey. He looked up, and the bright sunlight streamed in through the main gate, right in front of him. Half a white cloud drifted past. The morning light was perfect; wasn't it the perfect time for a spring outing?

The stone monkey suddenly became interested and decided to go out for a walk. He remembered that he hadn't ridden a horse in a long time. The water and grass by the Milky Way were lush and the water was green. This was the best time of year to see such scenery... Once the thought came to him, he became more and more excited. The stone monkey was a man of action. Once he got excited, he jumped down from the table and swaggered out the door.

Along the way, the grooms and clerks were busy going back and forth, but when they saw the stone monkey, they all stopped immediately and greeted him respectfully, calling him "Sir".

The stone monkey kept nodding, his official hat was tilted to one side, the short hat wings swaying precariously, and his green robe seemed to become more imposing.

Although the official rank of Bi Ma Wen is low, he is still a senior official in the Imperial Horse Administration. In this Imperial Horse Administration, the stone monkey is the supreme ruler.

The stone monkey wasn't in a hurry. He strolled leisurely, and the journey of several dozen miles took him a whole day. When he arrived at the training ground in the evening, the entire Imperial Stables was already packed with people. Everyone said that Lord Bi Ma Wen was in the mood to come out and search for him. They all obediently came together, not wanting to cause any trouble. The stone monkey, however, went straight through the crowd to the horse pen and released the most agile white horse with practiced ease.

The white horse was also very affectionate towards the stone monkey. The stone monkey was only half its height, so the white horse bent its front knees, snorted, and pressed its big head against the stone monkey, breathing out warm air.

The stone monkey laughed heartily, mounted his horse, and was about to leave when his eyes swept over the crowd. Looking at the sea of ​​heads, a mischievous thought suddenly arose in his mind.

With a haphazard wave of his hand, the seal representing the Keeper of the Heavenly Horses appeared in his palm. A flash of spiritual light appeared, and instantly the bridles of tens of thousands of heavenly horses were untied.

The stone monkey yanked hard on the reins, and the white horse beneath him, full of spirit, let out a long neigh. Seeing that the leader had given the signal, the tens of thousands of heavenly horses no longer hesitated, neighed in unison, and charged out of the stable with the sound of hooves echoing.

"drive!"

The white horse galloped with all its might, followed by tens of thousands of celestial horses of various colors. What sounds complicated was actually decided in the blink of an eye. By the time the crowd noticed, the herd had already broken free of the stables, causing another chaotic scene of chickens flying and dogs barking in surprise. "Hahaha!"

The stone monkey laughed even more heartily. As the saying goes, it is easier to change mountains and rivers than to change one's nature. Although he understood the principle, he had never suffered a loss before, so how could he truly take the principle to heart? After the initial novelty wore off, his true nature was exposed without a doubt.

"My lord, you mustn't!"

The herd of horses roared past, and a voice rang out, a heart-wrenching shout that couldn't even drown out the sound of hooves. It was the one who had been standing at the very front of the crowd, dressed in a green robe, the assistant to the stone monkey. The only response he received was a cloud of dust.

But the stone monkey had already taken the lead and run an unknown distance.

The Imperial Horse Stables were located in a corner of the First Heaven. There were many small government offices here, and everyone who came and went was dressed in gray, with a few streaks of blue occasionally mixed in. The stone monkey rode by on horseback. Such a big commotion was naturally known to everyone, but no one dared to stop it because of the momentum of ten thousand horses galloping. It only caused a series of exclamations.

Of course, the subsequent reports are another story.

As dusk approached, the stone monkey led the herd of horses to the edge of the Milky Way. He gently spurred the horses, and the white horse, understanding, began to gallop. Then, it let out a loud snort.

The herd of horses dispersed at the command, slowing their pace and gathering in twos and threes, grazing on the water plants. They stretched for hundreds of miles along the Milky Way, leaving only a dozen or so horses still following the white horse's steps, presumably his guards, moving at varying speeds but never straying far from him.

The stone monkey looked up as the setting sun cast its last rays, turning the western sky a blood red, while in the east, a crescent moon quietly appeared.

The Milky Way stretches for tens of thousands of miles, the lake is vast, the red glow of the sunset is reflected in the water, and a cool breeze is blowing, making it extremely pleasant.

The stone monkey looked back at the herd of horses behind him and found himself somewhat reminiscent of Flower Fruit Mountain.

The Heavenly Court may be wonderful, but it is not my home.

Before he knew it, the stone monkey was starting to miss home.

But such sadness is only fleeting, coming quickly and going even faster.

The next moment, the stone monkey suddenly shook the reins, and the white horse immediately galloped off, followed closely by more than a dozen horses. As the last rays of sunlight fell, the stars in the sky were revealed, and a Milky Way hung upside down above the Milky Way. The blood red of the river was replaced by a dark silver light, creating a different kind of atmosphere.

The stone monkey shouted wildly.

Beneath the Milky Way, the vast celestial river stretched out before the stone monkey galloped into its depths, cleaving through the light and waves. The icy water rushed against his body, soaking his official robes completely. The coolness seeped into his heart and brought him a more profound clarity.

The stone monkey was so carried away that he rediscovered his wildness and primal nature, and for a moment he felt a sense of ease and joy.

Just then, bathed in silver light, a tall, large ship was sailing towards them from afar.

(End of this chapter)