Flying Clouds II

The horses in the dust began advancing toward the bend.

The leaders were still Black Swordsman and Slashing Blade. The two horses fought fiercely for position, driving the pace faster and faster, and had opened a gap of two lengths over Between Legacies at the head of the pace-setting group.

"Black Swordsman and Slashing Blade are fighting for the lead, and the pace they've set is clearly much faster than normal."

After helping Ning Fei mount, Zheng Xing had also come over to the jockey stand. Seeing how the race was unfolding, he frowned, looking uneasy.

Zhang Jun frowned and asked, "Will it affect Flying Cloud Colt?"

Zheng Xing shook his head. "Hard to say. Their pace is fast, but look—Between Legacies, at the front of the pace-setting group, clearly hasn't been affected. He's maintaining the group's pace and has effectively taken on the role of the pacesetter."

That was true. Between Legacies was steadily running a length ahead of the pack, with no intention of chasing after them.

Zheng Xing took a sip of water. "The concern now is whether those two horses up front will still have enough left after going all-out like this. If they don't slow down after a lap, Flying Cloud Colt, with his stalker style, may not be able to catch them."

"Still, two horses fighting for the lead like this will most likely end up slowing down on the final straight, or even in the bend. All we can do now is watch Ning Fei and hope he doesn't act rashly."

Zhang Jun silently nodded.

After entering the bend, the pack's positions did not change much. However, the gap between the two front-runners battling each other and Between Legacies behind them had widened to seven lengths.

Flying Cloud Colt was still running second in the stalking group. To cover less ground through the bend, Ning Fei guided him to around the fifth path from the rail, leaving an open lane between him and the number four horse at three and a half paths out.

"Pah! (>ρ" Ning Fei spat out the mud and sand that had flown into his mouth. That was the bad thing about mud-track races—running behind other horses meant eating dirt.

Using the turn of the bend, he raised his head and looked ahead. The two horses that had broken away were fourteen or fifteen lengths ahead of him, while the horse in third was five lengths ahead.

At that moment, Du Wei, riding Black Swordsman, had a dark expression. Before the race, the trainer had instructed him to make a break for it, slow down and recover on the backstretch, pretend to be spent at the third bend, then accelerate uphill at the fourth bend.

But with a crazy horse beside him fighting for the lead, where was he supposed to recover on the straight?

凸(艹皿艹)

Du Wei turned and glared at Slashing Blade's jockey on the outside.

Luo He, on Slashing Blade's saddle, had gone completely pale.

ε(┬┬﹏┬┬)3

He had never wanted to run out front at all, but Slashing Blade had suddenly gone crazy. No matter how hard he pulled, he could not hold him back.

After losing the tug-of-war at the final bend, Slashing Blade had charged forward all the way. Now Luo He could only keep pushing, avoid draining Slashing Blade's stamina any further, and pray that he could finish the race.

He could already imagine his master's furious scolding after the race. Wuwuwu~〒▽〒

Feeling Du Wei's glare, Luo He turned and glanced at him. He silently increased the force of his urging, pretending he truly intended to make a breakaway run together with Black Swordsman.

Du Wei cursed under his breath and slowed slightly according to the trainer's instructions. "I'll bet you can't finish the race, brat!"

"Black Swordsman is currently at the head of the field. Wait, Black Swordsman has slowed down! Slashing Blade is leading now, while Black Swordsman is gradually dropping back!"

The commentator cried out in surprise, while sighs rose from the stands.

"Three lengths behind is Between Legacies. One length behind... one length behind, at the head of the stalking group, is the number four horse Dora Shido. Flying Cloud Colt is alongside him on the outside, while on the inside is..."

As they were about to enter the straight—the front-runners had entered it while the stalkers were still in the bend—Ning Fei looked ahead.

Black Swordsman was holding roughly a nine-length lead over Between Legacies, who was effectively leading the main pack, but the gap was gradually closing. Slashing Blade had already opened a two-length advantage over Black Swordsman.

Ning Fei frowned inwardly. Slashing Blade was from Trainer Li's stable next to his father's stable, and often trained with his father's horses.

Ning Fei knew Slashing Blade's usual running style and temperament. He had a violent temper and normally raced near the front. Now that he had gone so far ahead, had Luo He failed to hold him, or had they changed his racing style?

Never mind. The gap is too wide. Even if Slashing Blade slows down, Black Swordsman may not be able to catch him. Just in case, I'll follow Shadow Hunter's example and accelerate uphill over a long distance. Flying Cloud Colt has enough stamina to handle it anyway!

Having made up his mind, Ning Fei let Flying Cloud Colt run on the straight for a while before guiding him farther outside, avoiding the horses on the outer edge of the pace-setting group and finding a good position for entering the third bend.

"Halfway through the race, one thousand meters in sixty seconds flat—at least two seconds faster than the normal time for Group C! What incredible speed! Has Slashing Blade really changed tactics to make a breakaway run?"

The commentator's voice carried into the stands. Sitting beside Slashing Blade's owner, Trainer Li cursed with a dark expression, "Breakaway run, my ass. It's obvious that brat couldn't hold him! o(一︿一+)o!"

As they entered the third bend, a horse on the outside of the pace-setting group suddenly shifted one path outward, revealing an opening. There was not a single horse ahead of it.

(☆▽☆)

Ning Fei's eyes lit up. He urged Flying Cloud Colt and slipped into the gap. After advancing several strides, the way suddenly opened before him. Though horses flanked him on both sides, there was nothing ahead except Between Legacies on the inner side and the two distant leaders.

"Flying Cloud Colt! Flying Cloud Colt, who had been tenth in the pack, suddenly makes his move! He merges into the pace-setting group through the bend and moves up into eighth!"

"The field enters the fourth bend. Slashing Blade is still leading—so it really was premeditated! Four lengths behind is Black Swordsman, then another five lengths back is Between Legacies, one length behind..."

"Flying Cloud Colt is moving so quickly! He's already up to fifth in the pack. Apart from the three leaders, there's nothing in front of him!"

"Great position! ╰(°▽°)╯" Zheng Xing watched Flying Cloud Colt gradually move toward the front and leaped up from his chair in excitement, startling Zhang Jun so badly that his hand shook.

(>﹏<)

"Calm down, calm down." Zhang Jun grabbed Zheng Xing and pressed him back into his chair.

Seeing that only three front-runners remained ahead, with the farthest no more than nine lengths away, Ning Fei was delighted.

"After making a breakaway run for seventeen hundred meters, Slashing Blade's stamina must be exhausted. He definitely won't be able to raise his speed on the final straight."

"Black Swordsman must have slowed down on the straight to recover, but that doesn't matter. His finishing kick is practically nonexistent. Flying Cloud Colt can catch him. There's only this one left."

Ning Fei shifted his gaze to Between Legacies. He was the only remaining opponent. Once Flying Cloud Colt passed him, victory would be in hand given Flying Cloud Colt's ability!

Ning Fei clenched the reins and urged his mount with all his strength. A dense burst of whipping suddenly rang out, interweaving and growing louder.

Upon entering the straight, Luo He glanced back. There were still about seven lengths between them. Could there be a chance? His eyes lit up as he raised his whip and brought it down.

Slashing Blade's body shuddered, fury blazing in his eyes. "I'm already too tired to move, and this bastard still dares to hit me! I quit!"

((‵□′))

His previously excited body was like a car slamming on its brakes, instantly losing all power. He even veered toward the outside.

"Hey, hey, hey! No!" Luo He cried out, pulling on Slashing Blade's reins as another tug-of-war began.

Du Wei urged Black Swordsman forward. His eyes lit up at the sight, and he immediately pushed harder.

"What a chance! Black Swordsman, go!"

In just a few dozen meters, Black Swordsman passed the slacking Slashing Blade. Du Wei's heart leaped with joy, only for him to feel two gusts of wind sweep past as two gray figures appeared before him.

Between Legacies and Flying Cloud Colt passed Black Swordsman one after the other like two shooting stars.

Then Flying Cloud Colt's stride grew wider and wider. In only a few strides, he caught Between Legacies.

There was not even a moment when they ran side by side. Flying Cloud Colt directly widened the gap.

"Black Swordsman in front! Black Swordsman in front! But Flying Cloud Colt and Between Legacies are coming! Will it be Flying Cloud Colt or Between Legacies?!"

"It's Flying Cloud Colt! It's Flying Cloud Colt! Flying Cloud Colt on the outside takes the lead! Between Legacies is on the inside, followed by Black Swordsman!"

Thousands of eyes in the stands focused on the black-and-gray figure at the very front, and time seemed to freeze for an instant.

Ning Fei checked from the corner of his eye. No horse was catching up. Relieved, he loosened the reins, and Flying Cloud Colt maintained his original pace.

"Flying Cloud Colt wins! Flying Cloud Colt wins! Four lengths behind is Between Legacies, followed one length later by Black Swordsman."

Ning Fei rode Flying Cloud Colt toward the weighing room. As he passed Luo He, whose face was completely gray, Slashing Blade had only finished sixth after veering on the final straight.

He gave Luo He a sympathetic look.

"You couldn't hold him, right? Good luck from here on out."

Luo He tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Thanks. Congratulations."