Chapter 523: How About We Have a Horse Race?

The journey continued, this time heading toward North Mang. The target was Tuoba Pusa, the last enemy of Nangong Pushi.

North Mang was the grassland Empire confronting Liyang, possessing eight prefectures: Guse, Longyao, Dongjin, Xihe, Jinchan, Yuchan, Baoping, and Juzi, ruled by the Empress Murong. It blended nomadic ferocity with Central Plains Sinicization, showing significant North-South divergence, presenting an overall martial, merit-based, rugged, and diverse appearance.

The terrain was mainly composed of grasslands, Gobi desert, and mountain ranges, with extreme diurnal temperature variations—scorching hot during the day and bitterly cold at night. Winters were long and severe, frequently featuring blizzards and sandstorms, resulting in a harsh living environment.

All people in North Mang were soldiers; men practiced archery from childhood, and many women were also skilled in combat on horseback. Martial contests were prevalent in the Jianghu, often involving setting up odds where participants bore the consequences themselves, reflecting the Jianghu rule that swords have no eyes and life or death is determined by fate.

Yu Xian led The Women as they stepped into the territory of North Mang. Upon entering the grassland, they saw the horizon where the sky met the earth, an endless expanse of lush green grass undulating like ocean waves, stretching as far as the eye could see.

As the wind passed, the blades of grass rustled softly, mixed with the faint sounds of distant herders’ calls and the low mooing of cattle and sheep, forming a picture full of wildness and vitality.

The air was saturated with a unique scent combining fresh grass, earth, and livestock manure—primitive and rugged, completely unlike the gentle moisture of Jiangnan in Liyang.

Yu Xian reined in his steed. The horse beneath him snorted and nervously pawed the ground, seemingly sharing a touch of curiosity and wariness toward this unfamiliar land.

“The scenery of this grassland is indeed vastly different from the water towns of Jiangnan. It lacks a bit of delicate grace, but possesses a more stirring, vast, and boundless grandeur,” Ning Zhongze said with a smile, riding beside Yu Xian.

Gazing into the distance under the blue sky and white clouds, herds of cattle and sheep dotted the green carpet like scattered pearls. Occasionally, an eagle circled high above, its sharp gaze sweeping over everything on the grassland.

In the distance, yurts resembled white mushrooms, swaying slightly in the wind, with thin wisps of cooking smoke rising to merge with the clouds at the horizon.

“That’s right! On such a vast grassland, how about we have a horse race?” Huang Rong suggested, imagining the sheer exhilaration of galloping across the plains.

“Giddy up!” Before Huang Rong’s words even faded, Yao Yue’s steed shot out like an arrow loosed from a bow. Her dark hair streamed wildly in the wind, and her sleeves flapped loudly.

She didn’t even look back at the others, leaving behind only a resolute and dashing silhouette, clearly intending to prove herself through speed.

“Damn it! Yao Yue, you have no martial ethics!” Dongfang Bai immediately spurred her horse in pursuit!

“Sister, wait for me!” Lian Xing followed closely behind!

“This track isn’t just for you few! Giddy up!” Wu Xingyun was unwilling to be outdone, and Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, Chrysanthemum followed closely behind.

Ning Zhongze and Huang Rong exchanged a look and chased after them.

Li Mochou raised an eyebrow at Little Dragon Girl, “Race?”

Little Dragon Girl glanced at Li Mochou, then directly showed her the back of her head. “Senior Sister, if you don’t catch up, you’ll lose!”

Li Mochou smiled and gave chase.

“Sisters, let’s go!” Zhong Ling shouted excitedly, charging ahead first.

Wang Yuyan, Mu Wanqing, A Zhu, and A Bi immediately followed.

Jiang Yuyan, Murong Qiudi, Zhang Sanniang, and Lin Shiyin also whipped their mounts and sped away next.

Li Hanyi, Ye Ruoyi, Yin Luoxia, and Nangong Pushi exchanged smiles; without needing words, the four of them galloped off together.

Li Qingluo, Dao Baifeng, Qin Hongmian, Gan Baobao, Dai Qisi, and Min Rou lagged slightly behind, but they too urged their mounts forward, chasing the figures ahead.

“Brother, little brother, hurry up, hold on tight! We’re last!” Yu Xiangling, holding Yu Anling on Huo Huo, urged her siblings to hold onto the Fire Kirin tightly.

Seeing that Yu Chenrong had already gripped the Fire Kirin tightly, Yu Chenning immediately shouted: “Huo Huo, let’s go!”

Immediately, the Fire Kirin shot out like a red lightning bolt. The Four Little Ones clung tightly to its neck, screaming excitedly. Its fiery red mane exploded in the wind, and its speed was by no means inferior to those fine horses.

Pei Nanwei was eager to join, but her body was weaker, and she certainly couldn’t match the other sisters. So, despite yearning for it, she did not chase after them.

Yu Xian raised his hand, and Pei Nanwei flew up from her horse, landing in his arms.

“I’ll carry you!” Yu Xian whispered in Pei Nanwei’s ear while she was still recovering from the shock. Then, he gently squeezed his thighs against the horse’s belly. The steed beneath him seemed to gain sentience, letting out a loud neigh, its four hooves churning like an arrow loosed from a bow as he chased after the crowd ahead.

Pei Nanwei only felt the wind whistling past her ears and the scenery blurring rapidly on both sides. Her heart pounded violently from the sudden speed, and she instinctively burrowed into Yu Xian’s embrace.

She could clearly feel the warm body heat and steady heartbeat coming from his chest. That reassuring aura instantly dispelled the slight panic in her heart, replacing it with an unprecedented sense of excitement and thrill.

Ahead, the figures of the sisters transformed into streaks of flowing color across the grassland. Their clear laughter and the neighing of the horses intertwined, merging with the vast heaven and earth.

For a time, dust flew up across the grassland. The crisp sound of hooves mixed with The Women’s joyous laughter, breaking the silence of the plains, unfolding like a flowing painting across the vast expanse.

However, just as The Women were having fun, a contingent of nearly a hundred riders galloped rapidly toward them.

The horsemen were all burly, wild men, clad in leather armor and wielding curved sabers at their waists, their faces etched with ferocity.

The one-eyed leader saw The Women speeding across the grassland, a greedy glint flashing instantly in his eyes. He waved his hand sharply, and the big men behind him immediately fanned out to encircle them, letting out strange ‘ho-ho’ cries. The sound of their hooves made the ground tremble slightly.

When The Women saw so many people surrounding them, the smiles on their faces vanished instantly, and displeasure flickered in their eyes.

Yu Xiangling also knew that these suddenly appearing people had interrupted them, and the shouts of those men annoyed her greatly! Thus, she gently patted the Fire Kirin.

The Fire Kirin immediately understood, leading the children directly to the front of The Women. It glanced lightly at the group of big men, then let out a roar that shook the grassland. The sound was like muffled thunder rolling across the earth, carrying an ancient, primeval pressure that seemed to solidify the very air around them.

The horses beneath the big men instantly became restless and agitated, rearing up and letting out terrified whinnies. No matter how tightly the men on their backs pulled the reins or shouted sternly, they could not quell their mounts’ fear.

A few timid ones were even thrown off their horses, landing awkwardly on the grass.

The one-eyed leader’s expression changed drastically. He could feel the terrifying power contained within the giant red beast, a presence that ordinary people like them could never contend with. The greed in his eyes was instantly replaced by terror, and the hand holding his curved saber began to tremble slightly.