Serena Feng had no intention of taking first place, so in the final five hundred meters, she deliberately slowed her pace.
The glory of the Peach Blossom Festival meant nothing to her—it wouldn’t even add a touch of color to her life. Rather than claiming the title herself, she’d rather let someone who needed it more take first place.
With Serena intentionally holding back, Sun Yijin and County Princess Winton closed in from left and right.
Ah...
Both Sun Yijin and County Princess Winton gasped, their eyes red with emotion.
As they drew closer, they realized the wounds on Serena’s back were far more severe than they’d imagined.
The skin on her entire back was gone, sand and mud stuck to the raw flesh, and as her horse moved forward, the mixture of blood and grit fell away—horrifying to witness.
Just watching her made their own backs ache in sympathy.
“Serena, are you alright?” Even County Princess Winton, who usually avoided her, couldn’t help but ask.
“It must hurt so much,” Sun Yijin murmured.
This is the price of freedom.
Not everyone can afford to pay it, so all she can do is watch Serena challenge both worldly convention and royal authority.
Serena understood instantly and smiled: “It doesn’t hurt. It looks bad, but there’s no damage to muscle or bone—it’ll heal quickly.”
How could it not hurt? The whole patch of skin is gone. Serena, with your back like this, how will you ever marry? Your husband’s family will surely torment you over these scars." County Princess Winton blurted out, voicing the harsh reality for women of their era.
“Winton, you’re joking. Even in the entire Eastlyn Empire, maybe all Nine Provinces, I doubt there’s a man who’d dare marry me.” Serena answered without a trace of self-pity—just honest realism.
That was exactly why the scene was so heartbreaking.
“Serena, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it.” Winton apologized, face flushed with embarrassment.
“It’s fine. There’s only three hundred meters left. Winton, aren’t you going to sprint ahead?” Serena didn’t want to talk more and gave a prompt.
“Ah, okay, I’ll go first. Serena, hurry up!” Winton squeezed her horse’s belly, raised her whip, and prepared to dash ahead.
But just then, Serena caught a cold glint out of the corner of her eye. Instinctively, she turned her head and saw a sudden arrow shot from a small side path on the right—aimed straight at her.
"Serena, watch out!" County Princess Winton shouted urgently.
Serena saw it too; turning her head, her eyes went icy cold.
She couldn’t believe it—Princess Serenity was actually sending assassins in the final three hundred meters.
If that’s how it is, don’t blame her for fighting back.
Serena gripped the reins with her left hand and reached for her gun with her right, but just as she was about to fire, Sun Yijin suddenly whipped Serena’s horse and surged ahead, blocking her path.
"Serena, live well."
Thwack—the arrow flew from the shadows, striking Sun Yijin square in the back.
"Sun Yijin!" Serena yanked the reins and called out in shock.
The sudden turn of events left Serena no time to react; she could only watch as Sun Yijin took the arrow meant for her and fell to the ground.
Serena panicked. She had never imagined someone would get hurt saving her.
Ignoring the fact that her horse was still running, Serena yanked the reins hard. The horse neighed and reared, and before it even stopped, Serena was already off the saddle, rushing toward Sun Yijin’s fallen body.
County Princess Winton was terrified too.
The Peach Blossom Festival always had its share of accidents, but this year’s were far too many.
"Sun Yijin, don’t scare me." Serena half-kneeled on the ground, carefully checking Sun Yijin’s pulse. Only when she confirmed there was still breath did she let out a sigh of relief.
"Sister! Sister!" In the distance, Sun Yici dashed forward like a madwoman, but Serena had no attention to spare.
She only knew that Sun Yijin couldn’t die—at least not because of her. Otherwise, she’d never be able to live with herself.
Even though Serena hadn’t needed saving, Sun Yijin had still sacrificed herself for her.
"Serena, what are you doing? Hurry, help me lift her!" Winton saw Serena hovering over Sun Yijin without moving and thought she’d frozen in fear. She reached out to pick Sun Yijin up herself.
"Stop! Don’t move her." Serena jumped, quickly stopping Winton.
"Serena, what’s gotten into you? Sun Yijin needs a doctor—we have to get her help!" Winton was cowed by Serena’s sharp tone, but still protested, face full of questions.
"I am a doctor. Winton, don’t move her yet—let me check first. I need to assess her injuries and see if it’s safe to move her. If you cause secondary damage by moving her carelessly, who will take responsibility?"
Once Serena confirmed Sun Yijin wasn’t in immediate danger, she regained her composure.
No amount of dirt could hide the sharpness in her eyes.
Winton was cowed by Serena’s words and didn’t dare move.
Serena ignored her, holstered her gun, and activated the Smart Med-Pack. The diagnosis appeared instantly.
Back trauma, chest bleeding, lung contusion, severe concussion, fractured ribs, facial wounds, massive blood loss—emergency care was needed or her life would be at risk.
Serena exhaled, drew a small surgical blade from nowhere, and sawed off the arrow shaft, leaving the arrowhead inside Sun Yijin’s body.
Winton froze, suddenly unable to speak for reasons she couldn’t explain.
After stowing the blade and quickly treating Sun Yijin’s wounds, Serena turned her over.
"Ah..." Winton clapped her hands over her mouth and burst into tears.
Sun Yijin’s face was covered in blood, and her forehead had a gaping wound—the culprit was a stone.
Sun Yijin was ruined!
"Sister!" Sun Yici arrived just as Serena turned Sun Yijin over, collapsing in grief.
"How could this happen? How could this happen? Sister..."
Serena offered no comfort. She simply lifted Sun Yijin up: "Winton, lend me your horse."
Without waiting for a response, Serena mounted with Sun Yijin in her arms. Just as she was about to ride off, Princess Serenity arrived on horseback, surrounding her with a squad of guards.
"Serena, what are you doing?" Serenity demanded coldly, eyes flashing.
"I’m saving a life." Serena’s voice was calm, showing no hint of retreat before the princess.
"Saving? More like killing! Serena, put Miss Sun down." Serenity ordered, and her guards raised their blades toward Serena.
"Princess Serenity, I won’t repeat myself. I’m saving her—move aside, or don’t blame me for what happens." Serena’s voice was full of defiance, giving Serenity no face at all.
Right now, nothing mattered more than saving Sun Yijin.
"Serena, how dare you speak to me like that! Guards, seize her!" Serenity snapped.
With a wave, Serenity sent her guards charging forward.
"Don’t move!" Serena barked, drawing her gun and firing a shot at Serenity’s horse.
Shouting means nothing—only real power decides everything.