It hurts!
Serena Feng's pain was so intense that tears streamed down her face.
Her inner thighs were already red, swollen, and torn from all the friction—far from a minor injury. Even the slightest touch made her eyes water with pain, and this wild, chaotic ride was pure torture.
Right now, Serena felt as if someone were slicing into the flesh of her inner thighs with a knife. The smell of blood was overwhelming—partly the horse's, but mostly hers.
She’d lost count of how many times she’d wanted to ease her legs just a little, hoping to relieve the agony burning through her thighs. But that was only a fantasy. Instead, she had to squeeze the horse’s belly even tighter.
If she loosened her grip, she could fall at any moment—and that was a risk she couldn’t afford, because her life was on the line.
Her trouser legs were soaked—partly with sweat, but mostly with blood. Her blood.
Drip, drip. Beads of blood fell, instantly absorbed by the dust on the ground, then trampled deep into the earth by the horse’s hooves. No one saw it, and even if they did, most would simply think it was sweat from the Bloodsweat Charger.
Besides, even if they knew it was Serena Feng’s blood, so what? Would anyone call a halt? Out of everyone present, would anyone step forward to shield Serena Feng?
No one!
Not a single person would stand in front of Serena Feng. No one would call a halt just because she was in pain or injured. At best, those present might spare her a little sympathy, but afterward, nothing would change.
Is she aggrieved?
Serena Feng truly felt aggrieved. But what good did it do? Not only was there no one to help her—there wasn’t even anyone to comfort her.
Heaven knows how much she wished someone would hold her and say, "Serena Feng, don’t worry. I’m here for you."
"Serena Feng, that's just wishful thinking." Clenching the reins in her teeth, Serena freed one hand, trying to fish out a sedative from her sleeve.
With the horse running wild and her hand rubbing along its neck, even just grabbing the sedative felt as hard as reaching for the stars. The only saving grace was that this side faced the inside of the arena, with her back to the stands.
"What is Serena Feng doing? Why isn’t she taming the horse already? Why does she keep hugging its neck? Is she scared stupid?"
"Serena Feng, are you a pig? Hurry up and tame the horse!"
Is Serena Feng so exhausted she’s out of strength? If that’s the case, it’s a loss—she’s so close to taming the horse, it’d be a shame to fail now. If she loses, she’ll have to hand her hands over to Princess Yara Valen.
......
The old saying goes: 'Spectators see clearly, players are lost.' But Serena Feng thought, these spectators are nothing but pigs and dogs.
All these people ever do is cheer when she performs well, sigh when she struggles, and then—without knowing right from wrong—criticize her and toss out a few cold remarks. What else do they ever do?
Tame it?
Hmph. It’s easy to talk big when you’re standing safe on the sidelines. If you’ve got the guts, why don’t you come down here and try wrestling with this untamed Bloodsweat Charger yourself?
The reins had chafed her lips until they bled, and her teeth were loose from the horse’s violent thrashing. Sweat poured from her forehead like water. After fumbling for ages, Serena finally managed to find the sedative, but the drugged handkerchief was nowhere to be found.
Serena let go of the reins and bit off the protective cap on the needle.
"Pah!" The taste of medicine made Serena’s tongue go numb, but when she spat, it was a mouthful of blood.
Serena didn’t have time to look; she simply jabbed the needle into the horse’s neck.
The horse screamed in pain, rearing up on its hind legs and stretching its body—standing upright right where it was.
"Ah!" Serena slid down the horse’s side, screaming as she let go of the syringe and clung desperately to its neck. The raw flesh of her inner thighs burned like someone had poured chili water onto open wounds—blinding agony.
Serena Feng, be careful!
Those who truly cared about Serena Feng all shouted it in their hearts, each one sweating with worry for her, wishing they could leap from their seats and hold her tight.
The rest of the crowd just cried out in shock: "Ah!"
The timid ones even covered their eyes, terrified of seeing the wild horse trample Serena Feng to death.
For a moment, they all seemed panicked, but when the horse’s forelegs hit the ground and Serena Feng was still on its back, the crowd cheered loudly again, acting as if they’d been with her all along—sharing her worries, her fears, her shocks.
But no matter how much outsiders pretend to empathize, they can never truly feel what it’s like for the person in the ring—just as someone who’s never faced death will never know how terrifying it is.
No matter how loudly they shout, they’ll never understand the terror and helplessness Serena Feng felt in that split second.
The instant the horse reared up, Serena Feng thought she was dead—about to be trampled to death. That feeling of death closing in made her whole body go cold.
Luckily, she refused to give up. Luckily, she feared death. Luckily, she reacted fast enough to snatch her life back from the brink.
This fright and shock may not have cost her half her life, but it wounded her spirit. Still...
She still had another horse to tame.
The mental and physical strain of taming a horse is far beyond what ordinary people can imagine. Princess Yara Valen and Su Wan knew this well, which is why they insisted she tame two horses in succession.
Even if she saved her hands, she might not keep her eyes. The saying is true—nothing is more poisonous than a woman's heart.
Serena Feng swallowed hard and slowly sat up straight. One hand gripped the reins tightly, the other clung to the horse's mane. No matter how wildly the horse ran, she refused to let go—even when the pain in her inner thighs made her want to kill someone, she dared not move an inch.
She let the horse run on and on. Serena knew that no matter how restless or difficult this horse was, after a while, once the sedative took effect, it would be tamed.
Of course, it wasn't just the sedative—the drug only calmed its rage. The real reason the horse submitted was because it had lost to Serena in their contest of wills.
As the horse ran, Serena searched for the syringe and needle she'd dropped earlier, but after several laps, she couldn't find a trace.
"Probably crushed by the horse. The needle must be buried in the mud. As long as no one else finds it, that's good enough for me," she thought.
Sure enough, after a while, the horse's mood gradually calmed, and its speed slowed down.
"It's tamed! Your Majesty, Serena Feng has tamed Southern Lyn's Bloodsweat Charger!" exclaimed a white-haired elder, his joy obvious as he shouted and leapt with excitement.
No one expected it—a young woman like Serena Feng had managed to tame the famously fierce Bloodsweat Charger. It was no easy feat!
"Ha ha ha! Excellent, excellent! Reward her—she shall be richly rewarded!" The Emperor shouted, delighted.
Not only had Eastlyn's prestige been raised, but they now possessed Southern Lyn's Bloodsweat Charger—a horse never meant to leave their borders. It was truly something to celebrate.
"How can this be? Serena Feng actually tamed the Bloodsweat Charger." Princess Yara Valen's expression shifted from smug pride to calm, then to anxiety and dread, until finally she looked utterly defeated.
The Bloodsweat Charger had left Southern Lyn's control—a devastating blow to their cavalry.
Su Wan was just as shocked, her worry doubling. She beckoned a bodyguard with a finger and whispered instructions in his ear. The guard's eyes flashed, then he grew serious and nodded, quietly slipping away while no one was watching.
At that moment, everyone's attention was on Serena Feng, riding out of the taming ring. No one noticed Su Wan's subtle move—except for Nolan Dongling.
To outsiders, he seemed indifferent and inattentive, but in reality, Nolan saw everything. As soon as Su Wan's bodyguard slipped away, his own eunuch received orders and followed.
Serena Feng rode the Bloodsweat Charger forward. Though exhausted and in pain, her face showed pride and confidence, almost as if she were showing off.
She didn’t need anyone’s sympathy or pity. The suffering and effort she’d endured didn’t need to be known—people only needed to see her shining brilliance.
Forcing herself to ignore the pain in her legs, Serena Feng dismounted nimbly and dropped to one knee before the Emperor.
To outsiders, the gesture looked cool and elegant. Only Serena knew that those two movements had torn her wounds open again—the stabbing pain was more than most could bear.
Serena Feng bowed her head and declared in a strong, clear voice, "Your Majesty, I have lived up to expectations and successfully tamed Southern Lyn’s Bloodsweat Charger."
"Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Serena, get up quickly!" The Emperor was overjoyed, repeating his praise three times. Seeing Serena Feng so full of spirit, with no sign of exhaustion or defeat, his delight doubled. "Serena, you’ve tamed the Bloodsweat Charger. I must reward you—handsomely!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I am honored, but this is simply my duty. If Your Majesty insists on rewarding me, please wait until I have tamed Southern Lyn’s Blackcloud Stallion as well." Serena Feng looked provocatively at Princess Yara Valen.
Princess Yara Valen’s face was ashen, her spirit broken, her eyes filled with tears—fear and worry mingled together.
She was just like Serena Feng—neither of them could afford to lose.
The difference between victor and loser was painfully clear!
Ha! Just to see Princess Yara Valen looking so crushed, Serena Feng felt all her suffering had been worthwhile.
If she won, she would bask in glory, flaunt her pride, and let the world see just how brilliant and unyielding Serena Feng truly was. If you can’t match her, don’t provoke her.
As for pain and tears—she could go home and lick her wounds in silence.
"Ambitious! I approve!" If the Emperor had only hoped for luck before, now he was ninety percent certain of victory.
Serena Feng showed no sign of exhaustion. Seeing her brimming with energy, the Emperor believed she might truly tame the Blackcloud Stallion.
"Thank you, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!" Serena Feng bowed again. As she stood, Su Wan stepped forward, ready to order Southern Lyn’s Blackcloud Stallion released, but Serena spoke first:
"Miss Su Wan, I’ve just tamed Eastlyn’s Bloodsweat Charger. I’m exhausted and thirsty. Surely you don’t mean for me to tame two horses back-to-back, do you?"
"And if I do? What then—are you afraid, Miss Feng?" Su Wan snapped, furious that Serena had stolen her line.