Chapter 76 (1/2)

Chapter 76

Translated by: Fahmi

Edited by: M2t5, Zehamas

Lightning is naturally white, and sometimes possesses a purplish tinge, but never black. However today, a flash of black lightning flashed across the gra.s.s field outside of the college.

The candidates watched as the black horse bolted out of the band of colts with incomparable speed. It was a stunning scene, the other candidates were awkwardly trying to ride their horses, while the red-s.h.i.+rted girl stood outside the fence with a tear stained face.

They watched Ning Que ride the black horse; his body bent like a defoliated leaf. These examinees just couldn’t understand what Ning Que had done to this unruly black horse, to suddenly turn her obedient and show her amazing true strength.

The gra.s.s field of the college stretched quite far, but the area fenced off for the examination location was not that large. Before the red clothed girl had realised what had happened the test had already ended. The black mare had leapt ahead of the rest of the examinees with a ridiculous velocity and had reached its destination in nearly half the time it took the others. Everyone was astonished.

Ning Que jumped off the horse’s back and wiped away the sweat on his forehead. He patted the back of the black horse in satisfaction before slapping the horse’s’ b.u.t.t, ordering her to leave.

The black horse was relieved, it was as if she could go back to her peaceful world after experiencing h.e.l.l. She happily rubbed Ning Que’s shoulder before charging away from him. The horse didn’t even look back as it ran away faster than when it had ran in the test.

The candidates at the entrance of the pen gazed at Ning Que in silence, as if they were looking at a monster. They were tempted to ask how he managed to tame the black horse, but they couldn’t formulate any words, and just stood there, staring in awe as he pa.s.sed them.

Ning Que felt the piercing gaze of the others on him. He frowned, and closed his eyes as he walked towards the location of the archery examination. If he managed to get the attention of the examinees and examiners he might be able to make up for his terrible academic results. He did not wish for this attention, but if he didn’t achieve outstanding results in these two subjects, he would never pa.s.s the testing.

He had extensively prepared for the past few years, spending his entire savings and even gave up his status in Chang An City. If he didn’t make it at the end and fail to get selected into the college, his past tolerance would turn into sorrow. Nonetheless, he wouldn’t accept this fate; he would create a sensation to pa.s.s the test.

Just as he had decided to leave the hall, a young lady blocked his path. The girl possessed deep eyebrows and bright eyes. She was quite splendid in her red robe fastened by a tight belt. Her body emitted a refres.h.i.+ng scent, while her face bore light traces of tears.

“How did you do that?” The red clothed girl asks, enraged. “Why did she refuse to follow my orders?”

Ning Que thinks deeply before replying straight faced, “Maybe my personality is better?”

“Personality?” The girl replied, dazed before rapidly following up with, “What do you mean?”

“I mean, maybe I have a better luck.”

Ning Que spread his hands, smiling innocently and then politely requested her to move aside. He then ran toward the archery hall.

The girl looked at him blankly. She was the daughter of the General, Yun Hui, and was pretty and open-hearted. She was so famous in Chang An City that n.o.body dared to give her a perfunctory reply. She only realised that Ning Que had left moments after he had escaped. She turned around and fiercely glared at his back. She stomped her foot, “Who is that?”

The candidates had researched him, and one of the candidates reached out and told her, “Someone looked at the names list and found his name was Ning Que. He was recommended by the military, but he doesn’t seem to have a special background, don’t pay him any mind Miss Si Tu.”

The girl in the red robe was displeased, “If he doesn’t have an unusual background how could he control that black horse?”

“Maybe, it does because of his good luck?” The young man replied awkwardly.

The other young man dressed in purple walked forward, furrowing his eyebrows as he gazed at Ning Que, “He might have gotten the military recommendation from a frontier fortress, which would explain his good riding skills. However I don’t agree that he doesn’t have a background. Out of the one hundred candidates, he was the only one to bring a personal maid. This embarra.s.sed the crown prince. It’s obvious that he has lived a pampered life. It could be possible that he is a n.o.ble from Qing he City.”

What is so great about Qing He City? It isn’t even in the dominion of the first emperor.” Miss Si Tu became serious requesting, “Sister Wu Cai, could you check his origin and background? I wish to know how this happened.”

Not far away from the n.o.bles from Chang An City, there were several candidates recommended by the military who were standing together. A retired captain in his early thirties shook his head as he told his companions, “He couldn’t have accomplished this with luck. If he received a military recommendation like we did, he must have served in the frontier armies. But he is so young, to have gained these skills…”

As if to prove the man’s hypothesis, a violent scream echoed throughout the examination hall. People panicked as the once tame black horse brutally stomped his hoof, kicking the man who mounted him heavily. The burly candidate fell awkwardly to the turf in shame.

Ning Que didn’t know of this conversation, but if he knew that the captain had praised his ability, he might also appraise himself, “I do have three secret weapons.”

His archery, riding and weapons skills were quite good. These skills are his best by far, sharpened by his time surviving in the jungle. He had the confidence to survive combat with a combatant of the Lower level of Dong Xuan. It was too simple for him to handle the archery examination.

These tests were different from the academic test, and didn’t compare his results to those of other candidates. Therefore, he showed his full strength, attempting to surpa.s.s as many others as possible. He held his bow and arrows one hundred steps away from the target. He seemed to not even consider the targets, just aiming and shooting with unfailing accuracy.