Chapter 160: I'm Just a Trainer, I Don't Have Their Speed

The undergraduate department's classroom building has many empty classrooms, whether during class or after class.

It's quite suitable for giving a tour.

「This place is used for holding source energy lectures, mainly to change the horse girls' habits and apply source energy to areas other than running. 」

「The skills carved out under the Three Goddesses' name should be hard to change, right? 」

「But it doesn't hinder that everyone's source energy foundation is already solid; whether to choose another study or continue the path, it doesn't matter. 」 Qianming shrugged.

「Also, there are quite a few skills that aren't really related to horse racing, like Bai Ren's shadow, which can totally be used as a prosthetic, just like those multi-limbed characters in comics, but Bai Ren obviously doesn't plan to train in that direction. 」

「Don't say such disgusting things! I'm enough on my own. 」

Chengtian Bai Ren, feeling a bit creeped out, crossed his arms, and saw Qianming Representative walk to the classroom diagonally opposite and say: 「This is the lecture hall commonly used for economics, politics, and history; today, there's no one. 」

「And here, here! This is the medical training room; it's sealed when not in use. 」

「You're not here to investigate the haunting case, are you? 」 The gloomy-faced Chengtian Bai Ren could barely keep up with the two's pace.

More precisely, it's Qianming Representative's pace.

Aomo was merely one of the followers; let's see what condition she's actually in.

According to his usual observation and evaluation, Qianming Representative's analysis difficulty is of the rather high type, because even if she suddenly decides on a plan, she acts decisively and confidently, as if she already has a clear plan in mind, having plotted it for a long time.

In other words—she's quite good at pretending.

This is pretty much a common trait of those who are free-spirited but not crazy: they're willful and self-centered, yet hide some secrets, making you think they're just being spontaneous, not ill.

Even Huangjin Chuan sometimes has moments where it's seen as wise foolishness.

By comparison, Bi Ze appears mostly as foolish and weak-witted in his presence.

This is just a difference in purity; after all, he's just a little devil from an alien dojo, so don't be too harsh on him.

「Then, this place is for placement…」 「General Teacher, the placement room for those who voluntarily donated their bodies, it's clear, 」 Interrupting the other's speech, Aomo holds great respect for such people, and therefore does not want that casualness to appear here.

「And… I think there won't be any haunting situation here. 」

Aomo, with dark red eyes, said while glancing at the approaching Chengtian Bai Ren: 「Indeed it's an investigation, but I'm also indeed not familiar with this place. 」

「So you're giving him a tour of this place? Whatever, 」 after glancing at the smiling Qianming Representative, Chengtian Bai Ren, who couldn't keep up with the two's pace, already waved his hand, 「But since there's nothing here, where else could there be a haunting? 」

「In fact, the bodies approved for transport are also inspected, so there should be no lingering spirits; this place is basically the least likely to be haunted, Miss Bai Ren, 」 Aomo always has special knowledge reserves in this regard, 「and to prevent volunteers' bodies from being defiled by wandering souls, they usually perform source energy rituals of sanctification, purification, and divine blessing to ward off possession by spirits, which would disturb the living. 」

「Oh oh oh, I definitely heard this in anatomy class. 」

「You also majored in this? 」 Chengtian Bai Ren looked surprised.

「If I have time, I'll study, although that period was really hard to look back on. 」

「…」 Chengtian Bai Ren remained silent, recalling that Qianming Representative's later racing career could be described as bleak, indeed hard to look back on.

That was a brutal history of trying to reclaim the glory taken by Ludaofu Xiangzheng, yet constantly failing.

As the second horse girl to achieve Triple Crown after Ludaofu Xiangzheng, Chengtian Bai Ren to a certain extent 【inherited】 her predecessor's dominance on the Saichang; in her early debut, she often caused opponents' mindsets to collapse due to the excessive pressure she exerted.

This running ability was so strong that even she herself feared it; thus, before meeting Po Tian Lingxiang, she was unwilling to participate in races, and dared not give her all.

Horse racing is a brutal competition; 'one horse ahead, all horses lose their brilliance' is even the school's motto, and it's also hung on the student council's wall.

Compared to those early opponents who never recovered, Qianming Representative has already used her past deeds to prove her indomitable spirit, but this is also something Chengtian Bai Ren finds hard to empathize with.

Losses have occurred; even the invincible White Gold Star has moments of insufficient strength, and she, whom many trainers jokingly call Chengtialang, naturally also often has poor conditions.

But such a losing streak, even just putting herself in others' shoes, feels overly oppressive.

So, how can she, who is not good with words, persuade and take back her misspoken words?

Chengtian Bai Ren, once again fell into hesitation and doubt, a state usually insulated from her daily life, yet also a long-lost state.

At that time, she had Lingxiang Trainer pull her out of the mire.

And what about now?

「It's pretty hard to endure, right? 」

Well, now Lin Dun Trainer also speaks up for her, bringing her back from that train of thought.

「Hmm. 」

「Very painful, right? 」

「Yes. 」

As expected of Lin Dun Trainer, she effortlessly asks these questions in a gentle tone she herself could never produce, almost like what those lower-year horse girls chat about.

Bai Ren struggled to recall that term.

Sound!

Right!

Back then, Chengtian Bai Ren, rushing to flee from the 【workstation】, completely failed to notice why those few horse girls were summoned to the student council for questioning.

Also, I don't know what specific sound the little girl used to replace 【pleasant to the ear】.

「But we still have to grit our teeth and persevere, right? 」

「Yeah... 」

Wondering if she'd start crying next and whether she should avoid it, Chengtian Bai Ren felt a bit embarrassed listening to Qianming Representative's voice grow increasingly low, eventually even a little choked.

Then she heard Lin Dun Trainer's next line:

「But when finally freed, you threw away the books and test papers, right? Even tore them up. 」

"…?" The Lone Ranger had a bit trouble turning the corner.

「Not just that! 」 Qianming Representative suddenly lifted her head, brows flying and colors dancing, her eyes devoid of the tears Chengtian Bai Ren imagined, 「I directly found a bucket grill, used them as fuel to have a barbecue with everyone. 」

「Wait wait wait, what are you guys saying? 」

Chengtian Bai Ren was a bit unable to keep up, hurriedly interrupting:

「Books and test papers? 」

At least she was somewhat careful enough not to blurt out her own thoughts, but instead followed Aomo's reasoning in reverse, instantly grasping the disagreement in the topic.

Er... are you talking about studying medicine?

What else could it be? Qianming representative looked surprised. "Xiaobairen, haven't you signed up for the med course? Let me remind you how tough those days were." "No, no need."

It's actually studying medicine that's tough, not the lowly life at the end of a race.

Chengtian Bairen had thought she'd feel angry, but facing that smug smile, she realized she couldn't really get angry.

In the Spring Emperor Prize, she led in the latter half but fell short, finishing fourth; later, periostitis flared up, and she retired that October.

Periostitis certainly wouldn't be a reason to retire; maybe she was truly exhausted, or maybe her controversial trainer was the one who was worn out.

Chengtian Bairen had never asked, and this wasn't a question that could be easily asked.

So, being inept with words, she could only instinctively reject the enthusiasm coming from the senior, while failing to notice the senior who had hooked her shoulder; her other hand had reached back, gesturing toward the Lindun trainer to urge him to step away first.

The one who needed to steady their emotions somehow changed.

And having witnessed this scene with a hint of orange, Aomo also didn't leave space here as she wished.

Quite the opposite, he walked closer, holding two cards between his fingers.

Even Chengtian Bairen, who was only half a beat slow, suddenly showed shadowy tendrils writhing around their feet.

And she herself turned her head to look at the dark outline that had triggered the shadow's alertness.

"Huh?" Qianming representative, suddenly realizing she was the slowest to react, looked at the alert Bairen beside her, then at Aomo, who had abruptly reached out to pull her behind him and continued stepping forward to shield Chengtian Bairen as well, before finally looking ahead at the abrupt black figure on the road.

It really showed up?

She was so surprised she didn't seem like the one who started the action, but the two ahead had no time to pay her any mind.

I don't sense any hostility, how about you?

Chengtian Bairen, sheltered behind Aomo, had no intention of competing for position here; she simply walked to his side to show her resolve to fight side by side.

I didn't notice either, but that thing's otherness is hard not to be wary of.

Aomo replied softly, this sudden scare really is a cool breeze in summer, but it also makes him feel the trip was worthwhile.

That thing resembles neither a person nor a ghost; its featureless black silhouette is easily called a 'monster,' but in terms of appearance, a store's black mannequin would also fit.

Except it had a pair of horse ears on its head.

But it is indeed a condensation of negative energy; the shadow has already reacted, and the monster card twitched prematurely, as if celebrating a reunion.

After shedding that ferocious exterior, this inner form is so emaciated… could this also be part of that horse girl's spirit?

Aomo gazed at that even frail-looking outline, feeling a sigh rise in his heart.

Even if regarded as a clothing rack model, it would have to be about 1.6 meters tall.

Far short of the two Triple Crown horses in the 170-something range.

"Could it just be someone's skill?" Qianming representative muttered softly.

"That's a constructive guess, but this way of greeting might be too playful." Aomo said, not bothering with the notification that suddenly popped up at that time.

School rules probably wouldn't allow that either—releasing such a skill at random.

"I'm the student council vice president; any rule-breaking on campus falls under our responsibility!" Chengtian Bairen said coldly.

"What a grand declaration, Miss Bairen, though you also seem to have frightened the other party."

Aomo watched as the eye-related depression suddenly shifted behind him, he took off in a sprint, and in an instant his swift posture resembled David with the crystal element unleashed.

"Keep up! How dare you try to flee in front of a Triple Crown race horse girl!"

Er... but I'm just a trainer.