Chapter One: Why Not Do It

Summer in Wushi was so unbearably hot that one wished to strip naked and lock oneself inside a refrigerator. In the northern district, beside a garbage dump, stood a makeshift building, propped up with bamboo poles and resembling a Mongolian yurt. In front of the structure hung a battered, weathered wooden sign, upon which five crooked characters proclaimed: "Celestial Horse Circus."

"Did you find it?" Inside the circus, an old man puffed on his dry pipe, watching as Qin Tian busied himself. At that moment, Qin Tian had his head inside a tiger’s mouth, apparently searching for something—a scene that, if witnessed, would surely frighten any onlooker out of their wits.

"Found it," came Qin Tian's muffled voice from within the tiger. Soon, he withdrew his head, clutching a beer bottle. After putting the bottle away, he gave the tiger a smack on the head. "Look at you! Drool all over my neck. Still dare to swallow random things in the future?"

"Rawr..." The tiger, far from appearing enraged as one might expect, looked at Qin Tian with aggrieved, wide eyes—more like a big cat than the king of beasts.

"Go play elsewhere," Qin Tian waved his hand, and the tiger immediately trotted off, tail high. "Old Kong, when are we moving? There’s too much trash around this dump. Big Tiger, Big Wolf, and Big Monkey keep swallowing things they shouldn’t."

Qin Tian washed his hands and wiped them dry with a towel, glancing at Old Kong, who was still puffing away. Fifteen years ago, Old Kong had adopted three-year-old Qin Tian from an orphanage. For fifteen years, they’d wandered the land, making a living with this circus. Old Kong always claimed to be a celestial zookeeper, boasting of great abilities. And, in truth, he was quite skilled. Qin Tian had learned much from him, though nothing that could make them rich.

Business had only grown harder over time. People now preferred to watch circus performances indoors, with air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter. As expenses outpaced income, their once-fifteen-person, twenty-animal troupe had dwindled to just Qin Tian, Old Kong, and the trio of Big Tiger, Big Wolf, and Big Monkey.

"Let’s eat first," Old Kong tapped out his pipe.

"Cabbage boiled in plain water… again," Qin Tian sighed at their meal. They’d been eating nothing but boiled cabbage for two months; just the sight of it now made him nauseous. He glanced at the animals’ bowls—beef and bananas. Old Kong insisted that as long as the humans were full, that was enough. The animals, though, could not eat poorly, since they were the ones earning their keep.

"Old Kong, can I have a taste of beef? We haven’t performed in ages, it won’t matter if they eat a little less, right?" Qin Tian swallowed hungrily.

Whack. Old Kong rapped Qin Tian on the head with his pipe. "You want to steal the animals’ food? Are you even human?"

Qin Tian nursed his head, thinking: Am I human? Not sure. But you really are a dog.

"If you want better food, earn it yourself," Old Kong said, tossing a bowl of plain rice in front of him.

Qin Tian curled his lip. If money were that easy to earn, they wouldn’t have fallen so low.

Just then, chaotic footsteps sounded outside. Uniformed men burst in, or more accurately, tore through the ragged cloth at the entrance—there was no door.

"Hands on your head! Don’t move!" barked Lin Jian, the local enforcement captain.

Qin Tian jumped, unsure what was happening, but did as told.

"You’re two months behind on your site rental. When are you going to pay?" Lin Jian asked coldly.

"Old Kong, what’s this about?" Qin Tian looked to Old Kong in confusion.

Old Kong’s eyes darted, and suddenly he cried out, "Ah! I’m dizzy, must be low blood sugar. I can’t—oh, I’m fainting!" With that, he collapsed onto the table in front of a stunned Qin Tian.

"Kid, I’m taking the fainting route first. The rest is up to you," Old Kong mouthed toward him.

Damn it! Old Kong, you traitor! Qin Tian cursed Old Kong’s entire family in his heart—then realized Old Kong was his only family left. Wasn’t he cursing himself? What a loss!

Qin Tian’s eyes rolled, and he also cried out, "Ah! I—" But before he could finish, Lin Jian cut him off sternly.

"You’re not allowed to faint!"

"I… I…" Qin Tian stood there, hands raised, utterly miserable.

"The lease is here. We’re just collecting lawfully, no force, but you’ll have to come with us. If you really have no money, we’ll have to auction off everything here," Lin Jian said.

"Fine. Let me lock up the animals first, then I’ll go with you." Qin Tian took a deep breath.

Only then did Lin Jian's men notice the tiger, wolf, and monkey huddled behind a tattered cloth—and were terrified.

"You three cowards! The authorities are here and you didn’t even try to scare them off," Qin Tian scolded, smacking each animal before locking them up.

All three looked wronged, as if to say, "It’s not our place to scare them." Qin Tian glared, making them even more aggrieved.

Under the wail of sirens, Qin Tian was taken to the station.

Once the coast was clear, Old Kong cracked open one eye, surveyed the empty room, and finally got up. Just then, footsteps sounded outside again. Thinking Lin Jian and his men had returned, Old Kong quickly feigned unconsciousness.

The ragged cloth was lifted. A middle-aged man entered, flanked by two bodyguards. Seeing Old Kong slumped on the table, he frowned—drunk?

"Is Old Mr. Kong here?" called the man.

Jiang Tianxiang had fallen into a rival’s trap and was about to compete in a high-stakes horse race. Though he could ride, he knew he was no match for his opponents and had sought out experts everywhere. Days ago, he dreamed that there was a master named Old Kong at a circus by the dump outside the city. Desperate, he came to try his luck—and found the circus, though its condition was less than impressive. If the old man were truly a master, why was his circus in such a state?

"Hmm? You’re Jiang Tianxiang?" Old Kong sprang up from the table and in a flash appeared beside Jiang Tianxiang, startling him and his bodyguards.

The bodyguards were shocked by the old man’s speed. If he’d wanted to harm Jiang Tianxiang, it would have been over!

A true master—without a doubt!

Jiang Tianxiang was in awe. The dream, it seemed, had not lied.

"Yes, are you Old Mr. Kong?" Jiang Tianxiang asked.

"Indeed. I won’t waste words. It was I who sent you that dream last night. I have urgent business elsewhere. Find Qin Tian—he’ll help you win the competition. Just keep him close and don’t let him starve, that’s all," Old Kong said.

"Who is Qin Tian?" Jiang Tianxiang asked.

"My grandson."

"And where is he? Could you introduce us?"

"He’s probably at the police station right now. Find him yourself," Old Kong replied.

Jiang Tianxiang frowned. The police station? Was he in trouble? Could such a person be reliable?

"Don’t doubt me. If I say he can do it, he can. Go now—I must pack my things and leave," Old Kong urged.

"Very well," Jiang Tianxiang said, gritting his teeth. He’d at least meet this Qin Tian.

Escorted by his bodyguards, Jiang Tianxiang got in his car, wanting to ask more questions, but when he turned around, the circus behind him had vanished—without a trace.

"What in the world…" Jiang Tianxiang rubbed his eyes. Was he seeing things? The bodyguards exchanged glances.

"Quick! To the police station! We’ve truly encountered a master this time!" Jiang Tianxiang urged the driver.

High above, Old Kong watched Lin Jian’s car speed off, took a deep breath, and for once allowed a trace of sorrow to show.

"Xiao Tian, I have to leave for a while, but I’ll come back for you. The Jiang family’s conditions aren’t bad; this is a good background for you. You’d best make something of yourself!"

"And besides, Jiang Tianxiang’s daughter, Jiang Yingying, is the most beautiful woman in Wushi. I’m playing both god of wealth and matchmaker," he added with a grin, his usual irreverence returning.

At the police station, Lin Jian and his team treated Qin Tian decently—after all, he wasn’t a criminal. Qin Tian cooperated fully, explaining their situation. When he mentioned giving the meat to the animals while he went without, many were genuinely moved.

"You’re good people," Lin Jian said.

"Then can you let me go?" Qin Tian asked hopefully.

"Debts must be paid, so no," Lin Jian replied with a wry smile.

Qin Tian rolled his eyes. Was this a “good person” card?

"Captain Lin, someone outside wants to see Qin Tian—says he’s here to vouch for him," a team member reported.

"Oh? Let’s see," Lin Jian nodded.

Soon, Lin Jian returned, his expression odd. He patted Qin Tian on the shoulder. "You can go."

"I can?" Qin Tian was stunned.

"Someone’s waiting for you outside. Go see for yourself," Lin Jian said.

Puzzled, Qin Tian walked out to find a sharply dressed middle-aged man.

"You’re Qin Tian?" Jiang Tianxiang looked him up and down—nothing special to see.

"I am. And you are?" Qin Tian asked, more bewildered than ever that this man knew his name.

"Jiang Tianxiang. Can you train horses?" Jiang Tianxiang asked.

"Of course. Why?"

"Ten thousand a month—if you win the competition in half a month, a hundred thousand a month!" Jiang Tianxiang, recalling Old Kong’s otherworldly abilities, decided to trust Qin Tian completely.

Qin Tian’s eyes widened—ten thousand a month, and up to a hundred thousand? Such an offer, in his own field, delivered right to his door?

If he refused, he’d have to be a fool.

"I’ll do it! Why wouldn’t I?"