Chapter 28: with translation of chapter title

"I have!" Bai Jianxing took out a delicate fire striker from his bosom and handed it to Shunzi.

Shunzi lit the fire striker, slowly approached the horse's hoof, and softly comforted Chase Wind: "Good horse, don't move, I'll treat you."

But as the fire striker drew near, the animal's natural aversion to fire made Chase Wind uneasy, pulling back its leg and dodging to the side, refusing absolutely to let Shunzi touch it again.

The drumming stopped, Lu Qingjia grew anxious: "The match is about to start, hurry up!"

Shunzi sighed in resignation: "Second Young Master, why not change to another horse? Chase Wind won't let you move; even if it went out, it couldn't run."

"Another horse? Could any other horse compare to Chase Wind? You're just making me go out and embarrass myself!"

Shunzi spread his hands: "Well, there's nothing I can do about it."

Tuan Tuan wrapped her arms around Xiao Ningxun's neck and whispered in his ear: "Third Brother, hold me."

Xiao Ningxun held Tuan Tuan and walked over to Chase Wind.

Tuan Tuan stretched out her little hand and gently stroked its big head: "Chase Wind, be good, he's treating you; once you're healed, you'll be able to run fast! Little one, don't move. When I pet you, you won't be scared."

Chase Wind's big eyes looked at Tuan Tuan, her small face reflected in its dark, shiny pupils; it gradually calmed down and voluntarily lifted its leg.

Seeing this, Shunzi hurriedly lit the fire striker again, kept a certain distance, and moved the tip of the flame back and forth over its hoof.

Moments later, with a soft pat, a tiny, sharp stone fell to the ground.

Shunzi let out a long breath: "Done!"

Chase Wind lowered its leg, kicked the ground, raised its head and let out a neigh.

Shunzi picked up the stone and said: "Second Young Master, look, someone used wax to fix this sharp stone in the seam between the horseshoe and the hoof; if Chase Wind went out like that, it would only hurt more the more it ran."

"Although the horse protects its master, if it can't bear it and loses its temper, it will surely throw you off!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Qingjia's face changed: "Which bastard did this! It's practically trying to take my life!"

Shunzi urged him: "Please hurry onto the field; Chase Wind is fine now, sir, ride with confidence!"

"Hmph! To keep me from winning, they actually used such a despicable trick! Chase Wind! Let's go! Today I'll surely wipe them out completely!"

Having said that, he swung onto the horse, calling to Tuan Tuan: "Little Alliance Chief! Thanks! Come watch me race in the tent. Today I will definitely beat them!"

Tuan Tuan nodded: "You can definitely win! Go, Chase Wind!"

Lu Qingjia spurred his horse into a gallop, making it into the horse arena just as the third drum sounded.

Xiao Ningxun held Tuan Tuan, and together with Bai Jianxing, they returned to the embroidered tent.

On the field, both teams had assembled.

Lu Qingjia's team wore red riding outfits, while the opposing team wore blue riding outfits; both sides sat on their horses, eyeing each other hostilely.

The arrogant youth leading the blue team stared at Lu Qingjia's mount, Chase Wind, and said: "Is this the precious, extraordinary thousand-mile horse Chase Wind you boast about?"

He was quite skilled at horsemanship, smoothly pulling the reins as he circled Lu Qingjia once: "Indeed it's a fine horse, but sadly, your master is not worthy of you!"

Lu Qingjia's face darkened; could it be Zhou Jing'an who did this? But with no evidence, he couldn't openly accuse him now, otherwise, given Zhou Jing'an's overbearing and unreasonable nature, he would surely pester him endlessly.

"So what if I'm not worthy?" Lu Qingjia retorted sharply: "You're the one who deserves to ride that nag only fit for pulling a cart!"

"Zhou Jing'an, if you've got the skill, beat me today; otherwise, just admit defeat, so you won't embarrass yourself later by being chased and thrown by Chase Wind like a dog eating feces!"

Zhou Jing'an snorted: "Beating you isn't hard? Today I'll show you how you lose on that thousand-mile horse of yours! Lu Er, if you're not convinced, let's make a bet: whoever wins gets Chase Wind—dare you?"

Neither lowered their voices, and the Ning Prince's Mansion's embroidered tent being at the front, their bickering carried clearly into the tent.

Tuan Tuan curiously asked: "Who is that person?"

Bai Jianxing's tongue flew before Xiao Ningxun could speak, he cut in to answer Tuan Tuan: "He's the late-born son of the Marquis of Jinghai, his family treasures him to death, perpetually spoiled and outrageous, and he's always been at odds with Lu Er."

"Having heard that Lu Er obtained a thousand-mile horse, he grew dissatisfied, had his father search everywhere, declaring he must find a horse better than Chase Wind."

"Unfortunately, after many days he still couldn't find one. I heard that over this matter he flew into a great rage and destroyed his father's cherished calligraphy and paintings."

"I reckon the stone on Chase Wind's hoof was his doing!"

Xiao Ningxun remarked: "No wonder. Although polo is just a game, not a military confrontation, such underhanded tactics show the Jinghai Marquis's family education is lamentable."

Tuan Tuan only understood one sentence: it was Zhou Jing'an who made Chase Wind sick. She puffed her cheeks in anger: "Damn it! Chase Wind didn't kick him, why harm it?"

"Exactly! Exactly!" Bai Jianxing immediately chimed in: "The Little Alliance Chief is right!"

The third opening drum ceased, and on the high platform, the referee loudly announced the match rules to everyone:

"Today's polo match consists of three rounds, each limited to the burning of one incense stick; the gong sounds to start the incense, and when the incense finishes the gong sounds again to stop; whoever scores more wins!"

Lu Qingjia gazed at Zhou Jing'an's smug look, thinking, "To make me lose, you actually resorted to dirty tricks—watch me beat you fair and square!" A surge of heroic spirit rose in his chest; he raised his polo mallet and pointed at Zhou Jing'an: "Young Master, I'll bet you today—whoever wins gets Chase Wind!"

Zhou Jing'an's lips curled with a confident smile: "You've got guts! But you're destined to lose to me! Lu Er, don't go back on your word when the time comes."

The gong sounded, the referee tossed the ball to the field's center, and the youths from both teams surged forward, mallets crossing, hoofbeats instantly merging into a roar.

The horses strained to run, the sides exchanged blows, the battle was intense, and Tuan Tuan tightly gripped Xiao Ningxun's hand, watching so intently she didn't even have time to blink.

Each time the red team scored, she would cheer and jump for joy for a good while.

After the first round, the red team had three points, the blue team two.

Both sides retreated to their tents to rest briefly; Lu Qingjia rushed in, picked up the tea on the table, and gulped it down.

He wiped his mouth: "Zhou Jing'an cares most about face; today he actually made such a big bet with me—I reckon he secretly sabotaged Chase Wind! Just watch me win and leave him speechless!"

Tuan Tuan tossed a date into his mouth: "Come on! Beat him, beat him!"

Lu Qingjia nodded firmly, turned, and headed back onto the field.

The second round began; the blue team adjusted its tactics, suppressed the red team's offense, won a round, and after two rounds each side had five points, tying the match.

Soon, the decisive third round began; although the red team fell behind by one point at the start, its attack grew ever fiercer, vaguely gaining the upper hand; Xiao Ningxun smiled faintly: "Lu Er will win."

At that moment, a red team member in possession of the ball was sprinting toward the blue team's goal when two blue players quickly caught up, sandwiching him in the middle as the three rode side by side.

In the blink of an eye, a blue team rider's mount seemed to lose half a step due to uneven ground, the horse's body awkwardly bumping outward, and the rigid metal saddle bridge on the saddle struck squarely and hard against the outer shin of the red team member!

"Ugh!"

A piercing pain instantly spread through half his body; the rider loosened his grip, failed to hold the reins, and tumbled off his horse.

"Clang—!" the gong blared urgently, halting the match.

Seeing this, the other Red Team members immediately gathered around, both anxious and indignant: "What are you doing! If you can't win, you hurt people? How despicable!"