"Could there be something in the forest that startled it?"
Su Xuan had heard a story. It said that horses were quite sensitive and could foresee certain dangers, even seeing things invisible to humans.
No sooner had he posed this question than several dark shadows flickered through the forest and vanished. Bursts of wolf howls followed.
"Elder Su, it seems so." The coachman hadn't seen the shadows, but he did hear the howling. He said to Su Xuan, somewhat embarrassed, "The horse must be afraid of being bitten by the wolves. That's why it won't move. Why don't we just wait here for a bit until the wolves leave, then set off?"
"No need." Su Xuan stepped down from the carriage. "You can head back to the sect. I'll walk the rest of the way myself. We're not far from the Jiudingmen, right?"
"It's not far, just over the next two mountains," the coachman said reluctantly. "But Sect Leader Qi specifically instructed me to make sure I take you there and then bring you back. I..."
