I'm Ornn, and I'm about to be beaten to my knees by the Man-eating Horse Girl!

"Tama-senpai! Keep stirring! Don't let her stop! I want to see if the big sister who got spanked by senpai will get excited and her tail will stand up!"

Tamamo's eyes began to twitch. She put down the little girl she was holding and turned to look at the crowd of onlookers.

The kids were about to try their old trick and run away again when a sudden clap of thunder rang out in the clear sky. Almost simultaneously, everyone felt a slap on the drum.

Meanwhile, the figure of the horse with the tuft of hair had appeared outside the encirclement of the crowd at some unknown time!

Komiyama Komi's expression shifted slightly. She looked at Ashina standing beside her and shook her head helplessly, saying, "Using your domain to beat up a junior's drum... maybe only you, Tama, would do something like that."

"You can't do this kind of bullying anymore, okay?"

Two puffs of hot air shot out from Tamamo's nostrils as she proudly shook her head and said, "This isn't bullying the weak, it's a lesson from a senior!"

"Gu Mei! We're different now! As long as we're here! As long as we're watching them! We can use our own unique domain!"

The girl turned to look at her trainer and Uncle Nantian beside her.

She raised her fist and said confidently, "I will definitely win the Autumn Emperor's Prize this year!"

Nantian Longsan smiled and nodded, then said, "Good! It's good that you have ambition!"

"But for now... why don't you come with me to the door to get the ingredients we need for tonight's cooking?"

Tamamo Cross's previously rather bold expression froze. She shrugged, put her hands behind her head, and asked, "Ingredients? Didn't I already go to the nearby market to get all the ingredients this morning? Why do I need to go get more ingredients now?"

"Hehe... It's more like fruit than food."

Ryuzo Minamida, along with Tamamo Cross and Komiyayama, arrived at the ranch gate and quietly waited for his friend to arrive.

As the sun gradually sank in the west, fiery red sunset clouds filled the sky.

Soon, accompanied by two distinctly different engine sounds, a rather ornately decorated car and a somewhat dilapidated tricycle pulled up together in front of the ranch gate.

Yoshinoda jumped off the tricycle and waved to Nanada Ryuzo, who looked surprised, saying, "Yo! Ryuzo! You didn't actually need to wait for me at the door; I could have just brought it in."

"Oh, right, these two behind me are the Central Training Officer and his supervisor who helped me a lot today. As for the specifics... well, it's a bit complicated. I'll tell you later!"

He looked at the wide-eyed horse girl and asked with a smile, "Hmm? Xiaoyu, why are you so surprised? Do you know them?"

Tamamo's eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at the smiling Orn, her hand trembling as she pointed at him, seemingly lost in utter shock.

After a long while, she finally came to her senses. To Orn's surprise, her first question wasn't why Orn was there, nor what his purpose was, but rather a very unexpected one.

She asked, "You!! Oguri... Oguri didn't come, did she!?"

Chapter 174 Staying Overnight

Ornn was somewhat confused by Tamamo Cross's flustered expression. It took him a while to understand her logic.

So he said with a smile, "What? Do you have some complaints about Oguri? Are you not welcoming her?"

Tamamo crossed her arms in front of her chest and muttered, "No, no, of course I'm very close to Oguri! We're roommates! How could we not be close!"

At this point, she changed the subject, saying, "However... it's just that if Oguri comes, we don't provide dinner here!!"

Seeing Tamamo Cross's wary expression, Nanta Ryuzo generously said to Orn, "Haha, it's alright. Since she's Tamamo's roommate, how could we adults not welcome her?"

"Sir, if you don't mind, we do have some simple food here. If you don't mind, then..."

Before he could finish speaking, Tamamo Cross grabbed Uncle Nantian's hand and said anxiously, "Uncle! No! No!"

"If we let the [Monster of the Reed Feathers] into this Wild Brocade Ranch, it'll be like inviting a god in but getting rid of him in the end! Uncle! You won't even be able to pay everyone their severance pay!"

Nantian Longsan looked at Lu Mao and asked in a low voice, "Is it really as strange as you say? I can understand that Ma Niang has a big appetite, but we're not short of food here, are we?"

"Could there really be a horse girl in the world that can eat a mountain? Haha, Xiaoyu, I've seen quite a few mountain spirits and monsters in legends, this kind of thing that defies science is definitely fake!"

"But!!!"

"Oh, Xiaoyu! Our ranch may be poor, but we can't forget how to treat our guests properly!"

He chuckled and patted Tamamo Cross's head, speaking in a tone as if comforting a child: "Isn't there an old saying, 'Isn't it a pleasure to have friends coming from afar?' Not even providing a dinner for your guests is a dereliction of duty on the part of the host!"

"Besides, I don't see the girl with the reed hair you mentioned with this gentleman. Maybe... she didn't actually come?"

Listening to the older man's analysis, Tamamo Cross finally seemed to wake up from her daze.

Yeah! Oguri didn't seem to come with Ornn, did she? But aren't trainers and their assigned supervisors usually inseparable? Why are they like this now...?

Seeing Tamamo Cross deep in thought, Uncle Nantian looked up and extended his hand to Orn, saying, "Hehe, I am the vice-director of Nojin Ranch, Nantian Longsan, nice to meet you!"

"Since you are Xiaoyu's friend and helped Brother Tianzhu, then you two are naturally friends of the ranch as well. You can just call me Uncle Nantian!"

Orn also extended his hand to shake hands, saying, "Okay, Uncle Nantian, like Komiyama-senpai over there, I am a Central Trainer. This is Fujimasa March, one of my current trainers."

Uncle Nantian laughed and said, "Alright, then everyone, don't stand at the entrance. Just park your cars on the side of the road. It's different here than in big cities; there's no such thing as parking spaces. Just don't block the middle of the road."

"Come on in! Bring the fruit and come in!"

The group took the fruit that Yoshinoda had brought and headed deeper into the ranch.

As they walked, Uncle Nantian explained, "This ranch hasn't had this many outsiders in a long time. The last time there were so many people was when Xiaoyu left the ranch and headed to the central region."

"Time flies! In the blink of an eye, Tama has become one of the best horse racers in Japan. Haha, we're getting old too!"

Komiyama Komi glanced at the three enormous black watermelons that Minamida Ryuzo was carrying on his back, then at the small bag of oranges she was holding, and her eye twitched involuntarily.

With a wooden frame slung over his shoulder, on which sat seven black watermelons, Orn exclaimed, "Uncle, you're not old at all! Your energy is far better than some of my colleagues and seniors!"

"Several of the seniors I know look like they've been inhaling high-value crops. They have a cigarette in their mouths every day, brew a cup of goji berry tea, and practice Tai Chi and other health-preserving practices."

"This doesn't look like a young person in their twenties or thirties at all; it looks more like an elderly person in their forties or fifties with deteriorating health!"

Nantian Longsan frowned and couldn't help but ask, "Really? Are all the young people in the central government like this? This is unacceptable!"

"Back when I was in my twenties or thirties, carrying a 200-pound load on a shoulder pole was a piece of cake! How come kids these days are so weak?"

"The harm to the little pony girl... is immeasurable!!"

Orn nodded in agreement, saying, "Yes, apart from a few seniors, most people are like that. It's truly a sign of the world going to the dogs!"

Komiyayama switched the oranges to his other hand, and as he listened to Orn and Uncle Nantian's critique of contemporary society, he couldn't help but sigh.

As a seasoned trainer who has already trained two cohorts of outstanding students at Central Tressen, she naturally understands the secrets involved.

However, based on the unspoken rules among trainers at Central Teresen Academy, she didn't choose to warn Orn, but seemed to be waiting for something.

The reason lies hidden within these special rules.

This unspoken rule was established a long time ago; specifically, it was a rule set up fourteen years ago by Hidetoshi Miyazaki and Eito Nase, along with the then student council president, Shinichi.

The reason for establishing this rule is unknown. Why the rigid Nagoya Sword Saint and the Central Tereson Vice Dean would agree to such a rule is also unknown, but this rule has simply been passed down through the ages.

The unspoken rule is: new trainers must not disclose any information about senior trainers, such as their travels abroad, studying abroad, disappearances, or long-term business trips, to them.

Once a newly recruited trainer has served three years at the central level, if he hasn't been forced into marriage, sent abroad, studied abroad, disappeared, or been sent on long-term business trips, then he is qualified to learn of these harsh realities.

Komiyama Komi only learned about the dark side of Treson from Trainer Okino after the first batch of students graduated. This terrifying truth made her break out in a cold sweat, and it took her a long time to calm down.

Looking at Ornn, who was still full of energy and vitality, Komiya thought to himself, 'Hmph... wait until you've been a trainer for another year, then I'll see if you're still in this state.'

Ryuzo Minami and Orn, however, were completely oblivious to Komiyama Komi's mutterings. The two chatted and laughed, seemingly as if they had known each other for a long time.

With the addition of melon-growing uncle Yoshinoda and witty commentator Tamamo Cross, the atmosphere became even more heated.

Uncle Nantian then invited, "Hehe, young brother Orn, it's getting late. After dinner, why don't you stay here for the night?"

"The young lady just participated in a competition today. If she rushes back tonight, she probably won't get enough rest. And if that delays tomorrow's training, that wouldn't be good either, would it?"

Orn looked at Fujimasa March beside him and asked, "March, what do you think? It's already six o'clock in the evening, why don't we stay here for the night?"

"I'll tell Oguri and the others later, and also tell them that Tamamo is here too..."

Before he could finish speaking, Tamamo Cross suddenly interrupted, "Ahem, no need to tell Oguri we're here! We'll give Oguri a surprise later! You can't tell her, okay?"

Ornn glanced at Tamamo Cross, but she turned her head away, her gaze fixed on the setting sun that had already sunk behind the mountains.

He nodded and said, "Okay, then I'll keep it a secret for you for now."

"But remember to tell her next time you see Oguri."

The girl with the reed-feathered hair nodded, the cool evening breeze ruffling her gray hair.

She said softly, "Okay, I will."

"We... will tell her."

Chapter 175 Even if I starve to death, I'd jump off this cliff...

Nantian Longsan wanted the two of them to rest in the reception room, but Orn insisted on helping out in the kitchen.

Seeing that he couldn't refuse, Uncle Nantian led Orn towards the kitchen.

"Sigh, cooking is always such a huge undertaking, but thankfully we have enough manpower here, so we can at least manage."

Ryuzo Minamida pushed open the kitchen door and saw Yoshinoda and two unfamiliar middle-aged women already preparing ingredients.

Uncle Nantian continued, "Those two are my wife and sister-in-law. Usually, the three of us are the ones preparing the food."

"With only three people, the time was a bit too tight,"

“Sometimes Yoshino and his kids would come to help, but they were so clumsy in cooking that we usually had to kick them out in the end.”

Upon hearing this, Yoshinoda, who was chopping vegetables, immediately became displeased.

His hands moved swiftly, the cleaver cutting through the vegetables as he cursed, "Go away, go away, I'm not as pathetic as you make me out to be!"

"I just don't know how to control the heat when I'm cooking, but you're making it sound like I can't cook at all!"

"If we have to say something... Tamamo's trainer is the one who can't cook at all, right? At least Tamamo can make takoyaki, but her trainer is completely hopeless at cooking!"

At this point, Yoshinoda looked at Orn and asked with a smile, "So, Orn, can you cook?"

"If you don't know how, there are several chefs here who can teach you! I hope the ladies won't mind?"

The two women smiled and nodded, saying to Orn with goodwill, "Young man, these days men should really learn to cook."

"Look at you, so tall and strong, such a handsome young man! If you could also learn to cook, wouldn't you be able to charm a whole bunch of girls with just one bite of your cooking?!"

The woman asked with a rather gossipy air, "Hey, young man, do you have a girlfriend now? I've heard that the marriage rate for trainers is quite high! And many of them get married in a flash!"

Another woman added, "Exactly! And they're all handsome men and beautiful women, it's so enviable!"

"It's just that I don't understand why so many trainers rush to retire from their training careers after getting married. It's really strange, they're so young, why..."

"Hehe, let's not talk about that for now. Tell your aunt, is there anyone you have in mind who you like?"

Aoun replied with a serious expression, "No, Auntie, my priority right now is my career. I won't consider such things until I've made a name for myself."

"Besides, I have some knowledge of cooking, so there's no need for you to teach me."

Uncle Nantian closed the rice cooker lid, and upon hearing Aoun's refusal, he nodded in agreement, saying, "Well done! Young people should have the drive to make a name for themselves! What's the point of talking about romance if you don't carve out your own niche in the central government!"

"But speaking of which, Orn, are you really a cook?"

Seeing Ornn nod in agreement, Yoshinoda said with a smile, "Hey, why don't we let Ornn show off his skills today? What kind of food are you good at making?"

"Me? I'm probably better at... Chinese food?"

Aoun glanced at the ingredients prepared in the kitchen and said to Uncle Nantian, "If you don't mind, I'll make five servings of Douban fish and Mapo tofu!"

"The dishes are not particularly difficult to make, but they are all very appetizing and suitable for serving to a large group of people."

The older woman brought over the white tofu from the side and said, "Oh, I do know that Mapo Tofu. I had it several years ago, and it was really delicious."

Then she nudged Nantian Longsan's waist and asked, "Honey? Why don't we let this young man give it a try? We're a bit short-handed here, so every extra person helps!"

Uncle Nantian looked at Orn apologetically and said, "This time it should have been us, the hosts, welcoming you guests, but now we have to make the guests do the work... Sigh!"

Orn reassured him, "It's alright, uncle. Guests, guests, it's all relative."

"Now that I'm cooking, it'll be a perfect opportunity for all the master chefs to test my skills!"

"Good lad! You know how to talk!"

Yoshinoda patted Orn on the shoulder and laughed, "In that case, the main course tonight is up to you! Let everyone on our ranch give it a taste!"

Everyone laughed, and the kitchen was instantly filled with a joyful atmosphere.

Meanwhile, in the lobby on the first floor of the teaching building, Fujimasa March was facing a strange atmosphere.

Since the area of ​​the Wild Nishiki Ranch is not large to begin with, every room is used to its fullest potential.

Therefore, this reception room also serves as a classroom, nursery, conference hall, and dining room.

At this moment, Fujimasa March was sitting at the south side of the table in the reception room, and opposite her sat Tamamo Cross, Unknown Horse Girl No. 1, Unknown Horse Girl No. 2, Unknown Horse Girl No. 3, Komi, Unknown Horse Girl No. 4...

Komiyama Komi seemed to have something on her mind, so she went out to make a phone call. Now, the atmosphere in the lobby had become more tense than ever before.