Su Li shot her a sidelong glance.
"That pose with one leg swung over me—you're pretty practiced at it."
Elena's face reddened again. Folding her arms, she headed outside, but as she passed Su Li, she stomped hard on his foot.
In the courtyard, three horses were tied to the stake beneath the Old Locust Tree.
Two were tall, pure white horses, their coats sleek and gleaming. One look was enough to tell they had been raised with great care.
The brown horse beside them was a little shorter, but its four legs were exceptionally sturdy. It was clearly built for long journeys.
Su Li walked over and patted the brown horse's neck. It snorted, then gently rubbed against his palm.
"This one's mine." Su Li swung into the saddle with crisp, practiced ease.
With the physique of a first-rank knight bolstered by his Sword Spirit Root, riding a horse now felt as effortless as sitting on a stool.
Saina stood beside one of the white horses, looking up at its back in hesitation.
This horse was far taller than the packhorses in Wading Village. The biggest animal she had ever ridden in her life was Old Buck's bad-tempered gray donkey.
"Can't ride?" Elena had already swung onto the other white horse with effortless flair. Holding the reins one-handed, she looked down at Saina from above.
Saina bit her lip, placed one foot in the stirrup, and pushed herself upward with all her strength.
The strength boost from the Family Group let her clamber up with ease, but her posture was terribly awkward. She sprawled across the horse's back like a sack hanging from a clothesline.
Elena burst out laughing.
Saina struggled to sit upright, her face flushing bright red.
Su Li turned his horse around and came up beside