Chapter 319: Let It Run Faster!

Tuan Tuan blinked, tilted her little head, and stared at him.

This little brother looks very impressive.

Harichagai, seeing that she wasn't afraid and becoming more interested, lifted his riding whip, pointed at the galloping racehorse, and said, "Come to watch the race? Be careful not to have the sand kicked up by the hooves blind you; no one will comfort you if you whine!"

Xiao Ran frowned, about to speak, but was stopped by a glance from Xiao Ningxun.

"Grassland horse racing," Harichagai raised his voice, his face proud, "is a man's game."

"Girls should be milking sheep by the river and weaving blankets in the felt house. As for the horse's back," he patted his steed's glossy neck, "it's a place for an eagle to perch."

Several nearby herders heard him and smiled benevolently.

The grassland customs are indeed like that; they didn't think his words were excessive, all laughing as they watched the proud youth tease the distant doll.

Harichagai saw Tuan Tuan's gaze shift from himself to the ram lying beside them.

The ram's wool was brown and white mixed, its size a full circle larger than an ordinary sheep, especially its pair of massive spiral horns weighing heavily atop its head, looking majestic as it lazily chewed grass.

"Uncle Xiao Er, I want to go down."

Xiao Er gently placed Tuan Tuan on the ground.

Tuan Tuan walked to the ram, extended her little hand and gently scratched its neck hair, "Ram ram, you're so big!"

Harichagai laughed.

He suddenly lifted his riding whip, snapping it in the air with a crisp "pop," drawing everyone's attention.

"Hey, Zhongyuan doll!" his voice was full of provocation, "The sheep you touched is our Conquering Fierce Tribe's 'Horn King'. What, do you intend to ride it and race me?"

The uproarious laughter grew louder.

Tuan Tuan withdrew her hand, lifted her little face, and looked at the smiling yet sharp‑tongued youth on the horse.

She pursed her lips, "Does the ram run fast?"

Harichagai was startled, then burst out laughing, "Fast? If it can outrun my Black Cloud, then after I, Harichagai, see you again, I'll walk backwards!"

His companions began howling and clamoring.

"Harichagai, don't scare the little doll!"

"How could that ram possibly beat Black Cloud!"

"Stop it! Let's go race!"

Tuan Tuan thrust her little hips, "You look down on girls, and also on the ram?"

"Fine! I'll ride the ram, you ride the pony. I'll race you!"

Harichagai was momentarily stunned, then laughed heartily, as if he'd found great amusement.

He lifted his riding whip and pointed toward a shallow stream winding across the meadow, "I'll let you run the distance of three riverbeds first! So, dare you?"

"Alright!"

Harichagai's smile tightened.

He had only been joking, never expecting this fair‑skinned Zhongyuan doll to actually dare to accept the challenge.

The surrounding laughter gradually faded, and the herders exchanged surprised glances.

"Girl," a weather‑worn old herder couldn't help speaking, "Harichagai's Black Cloud is the fastest horse within a hundred‑mile radius; your ram, though strong, could never…"

"Old man," Harichagai interrupted, his youthful competitiveness fully ignited, "She should do it herself! On the grassland, a spoken word is like an Arrow shot out!"

He flipped off his horse, walked to Tuan Tuan, lowered his head and looked down at her, "Do you really want to race?"

Tuan Tuan nodded, her little hand again resting on the ram's warm neck hair, "Mm!"

"Fine!" Harichagai pounded his chest, "But the Conquering Fierce Tribe's horse races aren't just about speed."

He turned and pointed to the far end of the meadow, where a red flag was planted on a Flagpole, and beneath it a lively black goat was tethered.

"Do you see that goat? That's this year's good omen," a sly glint flashed in Harichagai's eyes, "From the start line to the red flag is ten li; the first to arrive must stay on the mount, catch that goat, and bring it back alive to win!"

The crowd murmured softly.

"Harichagai!" the old herder frowned, "This rule is too… for the little doll."

"The grassland eagle never spares its prey!" Harichagai lifted his chin, his gaze blazing at Tuan Tuan, "If you're scared, you can concede now, bow to me, say Harichagai is great, and I'll pretend nothing happened."

Xiao Ran's teeth ached with anger, "That kid!"

Xiao Ningxun gently restrained him, his gaze falling on Tuan Tuan and the ram, "Tuan Tuan has her own ideas; we'll follow her."

Tuan Tuan blinked, seeming to ponder the complex rules.

She looked down at the docile ram, then at the restless black goat far away.

"You mean," she counted on her fingers, "run fast, also catch the ram, and bring it back?"

"Exactly!" Harichagai flipped onto his horse; Black Cloud seemed to sense its rider's fighting spirit, rearing its head and neighing, "How about it? You can still concede now."

Tuan Tuan ignored him.

She wrapped her arms around the ram's sturdy neck, rubbing her little face against it.

She whispered into the ram's ear, "Ram, can you outrun that pony? And bring that black goat back, okay!"

The ram turned its head, its damp nose nudging her cheek, and from its throat came a low, gentle "baa—".

Tuan Tuan laughed.

She turned to Harichagai, "I won't concede; I'll race you!"

The meadow boiled over with excitement.

Harichagai, the tribe's top rider, was set to battle a Zhongyuan child riding a ram!

The herders automatically cleared a large area, and the old chieftain shook his head, laughing, "Nonsense! Truly nonsense!"

Harichagai tightened the reins; Black Cloud rose upright, its front hooves barely touching the air, a divine steed beyond compare.

He glanced at the ram sluggishly standing nearby and at Tuan Tuan, perched on the ram's back, her little hand clutching the ram's massive horn, a smile tugging at his lips.

"Hey!" he shouted, "Don't say I'm bullying you! I'll give you the distance of three riverbeds!"

Tuan Tuan, however, shook his head, looking serious: "I don't need you to make way!"

"Yangyang said, it won't take advantage of you!"

Ha Ri Cha Gai was stunned, then burst out laughing: "Good! You've got guts!"

An old man walked up in front of the two riders, raising the ox horn in his hand.

"Woo—"

The horn blew a long note.

The black cloud shot out like an arrow released from the bowstring!

Hooves shattered the grass scraps, dirt flew up, Ha Ri Cha Gai lowered his body, almost merging with the horse's back, and galloped like a gust of wind toward the distant red flag.

The surrounding spectators shouted in unison: "Ha Ri Cha Gai! Ha Ri Cha Gai!"

Meanwhile, Pan Yang stepped forward at a leisurely pace.

Xiao Er shouted: "Hold on, miss!"

Pan Yang didn't run fast, even looking quite leisurely.

The four hooves landed steadily; Tuan Tuan on its back swayed lightly with its steps, clutching the sheep's horns tightly and replied: "I know, Uncle Two!"

"This..." someone couldn't help muttering, "How are we supposed to compare?"

"Looks like we're going to lose badly!"

Xiao Ran stamped his feet anxiously: "You little brat! Make it run faster!"