"What kind of monster horse is this?"
Serena Feng was about to lose her mind.
She’d already injected the sedative and fitted the reins, but the horse was only getting wilder. It had run more than twenty laps and still wasn’t slowing down. It was as if both she and the horse were on stimulants—overflowing with energy, impossible to tame.
Serena felt like her body was about to fall apart. If this kept up, the horse wouldn’t tire but she’d be dead from exhaustion. Even with bandages, her inner thighs were burning with pain.
"Grandfather, something’s wrong with that horse." Dominic Zhai left his seat and quietly spoke behind Prince Samuel Zhai.
Prince Samuel Zhai nodded, saying little. Of course he knew there was a problem with the horse, but what good would it do to point it out now?
Southern Lyn dared to tamper with Eastlyn’s horse on Eastlyn territory because they were sure nothing could be proved. Even if there were evidence, no one would dare present it.
Prince Samuel Zhai glanced across at Su Wan, who sat poised and elegant, wearing a perfectly appropriate smile as she watched Serena Feng in the arena along with everyone else.
"Grandfather, that woman is disgusting. She looks like she’s already decided Serena Feng will lose."
"If that horse keeps up this kind of energy, Serena Feng is doomed. Look, she can barely stay seated." Prince Samuel Zhai admired Serena’s stamina, but even the strongest have their limits. Serena was already swaying, her strength running out.
"Grandfather, aren’t you going to step in? Are you just going to let a Southern Lyn woman bully Eastlyn’s people on our own turf?" Dominic Zhai couldn’t even tell if he was acting on William Wang Jinling’s orders or if he simply felt sorry for Serena Feng.
Yes, he did feel sorry for Serena Feng. Deep down, he truly pitied her.
When he first met her, she was confident, steady, and proud. The next time, she was clever, quick, and composed. That kind of woman was the type he disliked most—too competitive.
Always wanting to be first, always dreaming of rising above others—Dominic was most wary of women with such ambition, believing they’d do anything to climb higher.
He agreed to look after Serena Feng mostly to keep an eye on her for William Wang Jinling, worried she might hurt William in her climb. But as time went on, Dominic realized Serena never wanted to compete or climb; she had no choice.
She was forced. She had to climb, whether she wanted to or not.
In this world where people trample each other, he had his grandfather’s protection, William Wang Jinling had the Wang Clan behind him, but Serena Feng? She had no one.
She was just one woman. To protect herself and live with dignity, she had no choice but to fight and climb.
Serena Feng, fallen into the dust, could be crushed by anyone. If she wanted to survive, she had to learn to be strong and defend herself.
Dominic’s pity for Serena peaked when Su Wan and Princess Yara forced her into the horse-taming trial. Silently, he pleaded with Prince Samuel Zhai.
Prince Samuel Zhai sighed and lowered his voice: "Dongming, do you really think you’re the only clever one here? Look at the Crown Prince, Ninth Royal Uncle, Prince Rowan, and Prince Adrian. You think they haven’t noticed? Things aren’t as simple as they seem."
What worried Prince Samuel Zhai most was Dominic—he was so straightforward, with no subtlety at all. How could Samuel trust him to lead Eastlyn’s Divine Engine Battalion?
Without the Divine Engine Battalion, could the Zhai family even survive in Eastlyn? Samuel had already lost his son and daughter-in-law; Dominic was the last of the Zhai bloodline, and Samuel would protect him no matter what.
"Grandfather, I…" Dominic slumped his shoulders, powerless.
"Dongming, once the bowstring is loosed, there’s no turning back. The contest has begun. Unless Serena Feng dies, it won’t stop. She knew the horse was sabotaged before any of us did, but she kept quiet because some things can only rot in the belly—no matter what, they can’t be spoken aloud.
Each realm brought its own wild horse. Do you think Lyndaria’s horse wasn’t tampered with? Do you think Eastlyn’s horse wasn’t tampered with? Everyone knows, but it can never be said out loud."
"I understand, Grandfather." Dominic sat back, dejected, occasionally shooting daggers at Su Wan, but she didn’t care at all.
Serena Feng knew she was reaching her limit. If the horse didn’t stop soon, she’d be thrown—and the result would be death.
She hadn’t wanted to use the drug, since it would knock the horse out instantly and raise suspicion. But now she couldn’t hold out any longer—she didn’t care about anything except making the horse stop.
"Serena Feng looks like she’s about to collapse." Even the young nobles in the stands could see something was wrong with her now.
Everyone was sweating for Serena Feng.
Su Wan’s smile grew even brighter, lips curled in challenge, looking every bit the victor.
But just then, Serena Feng slapped the horse’s flank, shook the reins hard, and forced the Blackcloud Stallion to speed up again.
"Hyah! Hyah!"
Fast as lightning, the Blackcloud Stallion seemed tireless, its hooves pounding forward, kicking up a cloud of dust behind. At this point, no one could see Serena Feng clearly—the swirling dust blocked everyone’s view.
"Serena Feng must be crazy."
That was all anyone could think.
Racing at that speed, Serena Feng had to pull out the handkerchief and get it to the Blackcloud Stallion’s nose—a task far from easy.
After drawing out the handkerchief, Serena flattened herself against the horse’s back, wrapped her arms around its neck, and pushed the cloth forward. The horse tossed its head wildly as Serena shook the handkerchief—if the wind caught it, the drug would take effect.
The moment she pulled out the handkerchief, Serena held her breath—if she inhaled the drug herself and passed out, it would be utterly humiliating.
Amid the pounding hooves, Serena Feng suddenly heard the sound of fabric tearing.
Rip… rip…
It wasn’t loud, but it was piercingly sharp.
"My clothes tore? How is that possible?"
Serena was distracted for a split second; the Blackcloud Stallion gave a violent toss, and she screamed as she was thrown from the horse.
"Serena Feng fell off!"
That was certain.
With a swish, everyone stood up—even the Emperor rose—peering through the swirling dust, trying to spot Serena Feng or the Blackcloud Stallion.
But the dust was too thick. People could only vaguely see a shadow dart by, and then—thud!—a sound that made everyone jump.
"What was that sound? Where’s the Blackcloud Stallion? Why is it gone?"
It was the sound of the Blackcloud Stallion collapsing.
Serena Feng clutched her head, rolling across the arena several times before finally stopping. After a brief blackout, she came to, her mind foggy—so she bit her tongue hard.
The pain snapped her back to reality. She realized her situation: scrapes everywhere, clothes in tatters, and the worst was her back—her torn clothing left her skin exposed to the ground, sand and gravel ground into her flesh.
Yet at that moment, Serena couldn’t feel the pain—all her attention was on her torn clothes.
Serena bit her lip hard, refusing to let herself cry.
Her clothes barely covered her—how could she face anyone like this? The gossip from her wedding day had only just died down; would it all start again? Was she about to face the world’s scorn and contempt once more?