Normally, beauty and ferocity cannot be mentioned in the same breath. As the elders say, flashy moves that look good are never powerful, while truly powerful techniques are inevitably fierce and brutal.
Yet Xie Jingxing was an exception. Born with striking good looks and an air of effortless charm, when he crouched low on his horse, spear at the ready, he resembled a valiant war god. The iron-blooded aura honed on the battlefield made it impossible for anyone to look away. Strength and beauty, elegance and ruthlessness—he was like a magnificent wolf, exuding a noble and terrifying presence that stirred the heart.
His purple robes flowed like lightning across the sky as his steed galloped wildly beneath him. Under his influence, the entire crowd seemed to surge with excitement, their blood boiling with the rhythm of the horse’s hooves. He possessed a strange charisma, one that could make people soar with exhilaration.
Xie Changchao and Xie Changwu kept their eyes locked on the purple-clad youth, splitting apart to flank Xie Jingxing from both sides, attempting to encircle and crush him. It was a shameless tactic—two against one.
Gasps erupted from the spectators. Fu Xiuyi remarked, "Xie Jingxing is truly a promising talent of the Xie family."
"Where’s the mystery you speak of?" Prince Zhou chuckled. "He’s so unruly, even Xie Ding can’t control him. He’s probably just another troublemaker."
Fu Xiuyi smiled without responding. Though Xie Jingxing appeared reckless, he was certainly no pushover. In the face of absolute strength, schemes and tricks were useless. The reason Xie Jingxing flaunted such a carefree attitude was precisely because he feared nothing. And what made him fearless? Confidence, most likely.
Unlike Prince Zhou’s arrogance or Jing Wang’s caution, Fu Xiuyi judged people comprehensively. His advisors included all sorts—scholars of great learning, seemingly unremarkable individuals, fallen high-ranking officials, and even irredeemable criminals. He valued talent above all else; character and demeanor meant little to him.
A dazzling figure like Xie Jingxing—how he wished to recruit him! But alas… he hailed from Marquis Lin'an Manor. And the Lin'an Hou residence… well, it wouldn’t remain standing in Ming Qi’s lands for much longer.
Setting aside his regret, Fu Xiuyi turned his gaze back to the youth on the field. Xie Jingxing weaved effortlessly between the Xie brothers’ pincer attack, swift as a serpent. No matter how tightly Xie Changwu and Xie Changchao tried to encircle him, he slipped through with ease. Their once-seamless dual spear techniques now looked riddled with holes under Xie Jingxing’s deft maneuvers, almost comical.
Only through competition could superiority be determined. And in this fight, the difference in skill was glaringly obvious. The Xie brothers were no match for Xie Jingxing.
"My heavens," Bai Wei gasped, covering her mouth. "Young Marquis Xie is clearly toying with the Xie brothers!"
"Indeed," Yi Peilan marveled. "Compared to him, their horse spears seem like mere posturing."
If even the women could see it, how could the men miss it? Xie Jingxing could have ended the fight in a single strike, yet he deliberately prolonged it, wearing down Xie Changwu and Xie Changchao bit by bit. Like a lion playing with its prey, he took his time tormenting them.
"Young Marquis Xie is truly extraordinary," Feng Anning remarked. "The Xie brothers’ horse spears were their pride, yet now, the difference is like heaven and earth. They’ll likely suffer a crushing defeat today."
Shen Miao lowered her gaze to the chessboard before her.
No, this couldn’t be called a crushing defeat. It was only the beginning.
She placed a white piece slowly, instantly capturing two black stones. A small blank space appeared on the board.
On the field, Xie Changwu and Xie Changchao finally snapped. After being toyed with like monkeys for so long, their anger and humiliation boiled over. Xie Jingxing had deliberately humiliated them today, making them realize how poorly they had performed. A surge of murderous intent rose in Xie Changwu’s heart as he glared viciously at the purple-clad youth.
The young man on horseback was breathtakingly handsome, his faint smirk unbearably striking. From birth, he had been the favored son of Marquis Lin'an Manor. Yet, he scorned even that privilege—whether it was the title of Heir Apparent or Xie Ding’s favoritism. He was like the king of beasts, a tiger blocking everyone’s path! How could they not hate him?
In his utter desperation, Xie Changwu’s carefully maintained facade finally shattered. With a roar, he gripped his spear and charged straight at Xie Jingxing. At the moment they passed each other, he viciously drove his spear into the flank of Xie Jingxing’s horse!
The crowd gasped in shock!
In a horse spear competition, no one ever attacked the opponent’s mount. Horses were steeds—such an act could easily cause severe injury. Falling from horseback could mean anything from a month’s recovery to broken limbs or even death. After all, Verification was merely an assessment tool for students; there was no need for such brutality. This had never happened before.
Xie Changwu’s actions were utterly despicable.
Xie Changchao was momentarily stunned by his brother’s move, but he quickly understood. Without hesitation, he urged his horse toward Xie Jingxing’s fallen form—intending to trample him to death!
Were these two brothers insane? The entire crowd shared the same thought. Forget whether this violated Ming Qi’s laws—if anything happened to Xie Jingxing, how could the Xie brothers escape Marquis Lin'an’s wrath?
The women shrieked, the men gasped, and the faint-hearted covered their eyes. Even the usually delicate Feng Anning screamed in fright.
Shen Miao’s wrist paused as she lifted her gaze to the youth on the field.
The Xie brothers were truly unworthy opponents. This move was utterly foolish. And Xie Jingxing… would never let this opportunity slip.
The black steed let out a long, pained whinny, rearing up on its hind legs before collapsing, never to rise again. Before anyone could react, Xie Jingxing leaped gracefully into the air, his movements ethereal, like an immortal descending from the heavens. With a flick of his spear, he sent Xie Changwu crashing to the ground. In the same motion, he picked up a pebble and flicked it with precision, striking Xie Changchao’s horse in the knee. Xie Changchao, unable to dodge, tumbled down.
In mere moments, both brothers had been unhorsed. Xie Jingxing lazily planted a foot on Xie Changchao’s shoulder while pointing his spear at Xie Changwu’s head, his smirk widening.
"Daring to ambush your own elder brother… how utterly overestimating yourself."
Author’s Note:
My son is so handsome (w)
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