"Thud!"
With all eyes on them, Fourth Prince Xiao Chusheng landed flat on his back, looking thoroughly pathetic.
It barely hurt, but the humiliation was immense!
"Damn it!"
Furious, Fourth Prince glared at Big Black Horse and swung a punch at him, hoping to vent his anger by killing the horse.
But Fourth Prince was only a Third-grade Martial Artist, while Big Black Horse was an Emperor Grade spirit beast, with cultivation comparable to a Martial Dao Seventh Grade Grandmaster.
"Wham!"
Big Black Horse didn't even bother to dodge. He simply flicked out a hind leg and kicked Fourth Prince flying.
"Hahaha!"
"Fourth Brother, that was so embarrassing! You got kicked away by a horse!"
"If word gets out, people will think our Xiao Family is full of useless fools!"
Mocking laughter rose all around them.
"Grrr!"
Fourth Prince clutched his chest, writhing in pain and nearly spitting blood.
Meanwhile, Big Black Horse was still sprawled on top of his Blood-Sweating Horse, going at it with gusto...
And the Blood-Sweating Horse was quite cooperative.
After all, Big Black Horse had the bloodline of an ancient black dragon, which suppressed other bloodlines. Being favored by him was an honor for the Blood-Sweating Horse.
"This Big Black Horse really mounts anything under the sun. He's the horse world's version of a pervert!"
Seeing this, Xiao Yang couldn't help shaking his head.
Big Black Horse was usually lazy, but the moment he saw a mare, he was like a horse on stimulants.
"Ninth Brother, you'd better give me an explanation!"
Unable to do anything about Big Black Horse, Fourth Prince could only take his anger out on Xiao Yang.
"Beast! You little beast, stop it!" Xiao Yang shouted.
"Ninth Brother, why are you yelling my name instead of doing something about your horse?"
Fourth Prince Xiao Chusheng snapped angrily.
"Fourth Brother, don't get the wrong idea! I was calling the little beast, not you, Xiao Chusheng... However reckless you may be, even you wouldn't mount a horse!"
Xiao Yang grinned.
"You!"
Fourth Prince Xiao Chusheng flushed red, trembling with rage.
"That's enough! Fourth Brother, stop making a spectacle of yourself!"
At that moment, Eldest Prince Xiao Junlin spoke up.
Fourth Brother was his lackey, and now that Xiao Yang had humiliated him in front of everyone, Eldest Prince had lost face too.
"Ninth Brother, you win this time! Just wait. I'll make you pay during the Autumn Hunt!"
Fourth Prince could only leave with a threat before slinking back into the crowd.
Not long after, Big Black Horse finished and sauntered back to Xiao Yang, looking thoroughly pleased with himself.
"The prince has arrived!"
Suddenly, King Zhenbei Xiao Qiankun arrived at the entrance to the West Mountain Hunting Ground, guarded by a large contingent of cavalry.
"Greetings, Father King!"
The princes bowed one after another.
"Greetings, Your Highness!"
Ning Hongye, Azure Luan, and the others also bowed.
"You may rise!"
King Zhenbei waved a hand.
"Father King, I have an important matter to report!"
Eldest Prince Xiao Junlin stepped forward, his face full of sorrow and indignation.
"A few days ago, Fourth Brother and I were meeting outside the city when divine arrows suddenly rained down from the sky! Fourth Brother and I escaped, but hundreds of our men were killed. I ask you to investigate and avenge them!"
What?!
Hearing this, Xiao Yang was stunned.
Divine arrows from the sky?
Wasn't that when he'd been testing the Sun-Shooting Bow?
He hadn't meant to, but he'd hit the mark!
"I had already noticed the incident. That powerful figure's origins are unknown, and after firing one arrow, he vanished without a trace!"
"But the Northern Territory is my domain. I will not tolerate anyone making trouble here!"
"If he shows himself again, I will show him no mercy!"
King Zhenbei's voice brimmed with overwhelming authority.
Oh no!
Xiao Yang's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't expected his own father to hold a grudge against him!
Next time he used the Sun-Shooting Bow, he'd have to do it in secret. He couldn't let anyone find out.
King Zhenbei swept his gaze over the crowd, then spoke. "As in previous years, this Autumn Hunt will have two rounds."
"First, a horsemanship contest! Whoever reaches the hill opposite, retrieves the brocade banner I've placed there, and returns here first wins!"
"Second, an archery contest! Whoever captures the most beasts in the hunting grounds will take the title!"
At this, the princes present grew eager, rubbing shoulders as they prepared to compete.
Even if winning the Autumn Hunt brought no tangible reward, they could make a strong impression on Father King and improve their chances of being chosen as his heir.
"Get ready. The first round will begin in the time it takes an incense stick to burn," King Zhenbei announced.
As soon as he finished speaking,
Eldest Prince Xiao Junlin immediately approached Xiao Yang, wearing a false smile. "Ninth Brother, looks like you've got yourself a fine horse. Are you competing for the title this time too?"
"Of course!" Xiao Yang nodded.
"Then how about we make a wager?"
Xiao Junlin suggested, "I just spent a hundred thousand taels of silver in the eastern city to build Cloud Top Heavenly Palace as my prince's residence. If you win, I'll give it to you!"
That was quite a stake!
Xiao Yang raised his brows, a little surprised.
He knew the palace had been built in lavish splendor at enormous expense. Xiao Junlin must have had a serious reason for putting it up as the stake.
"Eldest Brother, I'm from a humble household and my pockets are empty. I don't have anything to pay you with!" Xiao Yang said.
"Heh!"
Xiao Junlin's smile grew broader. "Ninth Brother, if you lose, I don't need any treasure from you. Just give me the Tiger Tally Gold Seal of the Vermilion Bird Army."
"No!"
At his words, Azure Luan, standing nearby, immediately panicked.
She stepped forward. "Ninth Young Master, the Tiger Tally Gold Seal is a token the general gave you. It can command troops, and it's incredibly important. You absolutely cannot let it fall into someone else's hands!"
"Mm."
Xiao Yang nodded. "Miss Azure Luan is right. The Tiger Tally Gold Seal is Miss Ning's heartfelt gift, and she's my dearest friend, so..."
He drew out the last word, then looked toward Xiao Junlin. "So Cloud Top Heavenly Palace isn't enough. You'll have to pay more!"
What?!
Xiao Junlin was stunned. He'd thought Xiao Yang had turned him down, only for him to change course and demand more.
Azure Luan was furious too. Her pretty face darkened as she shouted, "You scoundrel! You dare wager the token the general gave you? I won't let you get away with this!"
She was about to attack.
"Azure Luan, come back!"
Suddenly, Ning Hongye spoke.
Though unwilling, Azure Luan didn't dare disobey. She could only retreat.
"Ninth Brother, you say I have to pay more. How much more?" Xiao Junlin asked with a smile.
"One hundred spirit pills from Medicine King Valley!" Xiao Yang named his price.
"No way. I'll give you fifty at most!" Xiao Junlin tried to bargain.
"Then forget it!"
Xiao Yang pretended to turn away.
"Wait, I accept. One hundred it is!"
Though it pained Xiao Junlin, he was confident he would win. It was just an empty promise, after all. There was no way he could lose.
"Good. It's a deal! So many people here have witnessed it. No one's allowed to back out!" Xiao Yang quickly added.
Since his so-called eldest brother had volunteered to hand over a fortune, Xiao Yang wasn't about to miss the chance!
And so the wager was settled.
Nearby,
"General, why didn't you stop Xiao Yang?" Azure Luan was so anxious she stamped her foot.
"I gave him the Tiger Tally Gold Seal. What he does with it is up to him!"
As she spoke, Ning Hongye paused, a glimmer of light passing through her beautiful eyes.
"Besides, Xiao Yang must be confident he'll win, or he wouldn't have agreed! Have you ever seen him lose out these past few days?"
Before you continue