Chapter 289 (1/2)
”That's impossible! If the fourth recording tablet was destroyed, Fang Zhengzhi's name would disappear along with it!” One of the officials refuted what the compet.i.tors were thinking.
”Then what's going on? Where is the fourth recording tablet?”
”Could it be that Fang Zhengzhi removed the entire stone?!” One of the talents voiced his guess.
”Impossible! The recording tablet is stuck 10m into the ground. Even a Rewind State cultivator would not be able to remove the tablet.
”Does he have some treasure?”
”I don't think someone like him would have any treasure?”
”No matter how he did it... we can't just sit here and wait right?”
”Yes, as long as we find Fang Zhengzhi, everything will be solved!”
”We must stop him!”
”He's already at the third recording tablet. If we chase him, we may not be able to catch up to him. He may even take home the champions.h.i.+p.”
”We can go the opposite way and intercept him!”
”Yes, we will just run one more round!”
All of the other compet.i.tors quickly formulated a plan. Then, they leapt on their stallions and ran towards the first recording tablet.
Xiang Tianying and Tang Zhongming's expressions darkened.
One more round?
Did they have the time to do that?
”Fang Zhengzhi!” Xiang Tianying clenched his fist. He was furious but helpless. If he waited here, his chances of winning were virtually none.
If he chased, he still stood a chance.
Stopping was a death sentence!
”Charge!” Xiang Tianying and Tang Zhongming hollered almost simultaneously. Their battle stallions shot out like arrows from a bow.
”That fella hid everything from me when he saw me. He didn't even leave a note! How evil!” Ping Yang pouted and tightened her grip on the reins. The Snow Jade shot forward.
Fang Zhengzhi knew that the result would cause an uproar. When he had seen Xiang Tianying and Tang Zhongming, he knew exactly what would happen.
Dig up the tablet?
He had thought of it but it was impossible.
The Heart Protection Mirror had limited s.p.a.ce. Furthermore, in order to put it inside, he needed to hold it in his hand.
Could he hold the recording tablet in his hand?
Clearly not.
He decided to employ an easier and more efficient method.
The roads in this hunting grounds were quite complicated. There were multiple paths within it.
As the royal hunting grounds, this place was not usually open to the public. It was only opened during events like this one.
In order for the compet.i.tors to recognize the path, there were aids and stones placed to point in the correct directions. This was to prevent the compet.i.tors from taking the wrong path.
However, this played right into Fang Zhengzhi's hands.
After he scouted the territory around the fourth recording stone, he made a tiny adjustment at one of the junctions.
In order to prevent an accident, he walked on the path he wanted the others to take, patiently waiting for the other compet.i.tors to come.
Then, he saw Xiang Tianying and Tang Zhongming.
Xiang Tianying and Tang Zhongming were not locals and did not know these grounds well. Seeing the directional stone and Fang Zhengzhi on the path was enough for them to fall into the trap.
They ran around Fang Zhengzhi and shot away.
Ping Yang, the Ninth Prince, as well as the other compet.i.tors all saw Xiang Tianying and Tang Zhongming take that path. Consumed by their desperation for a good ranking, they would not suspect the small adjustment Fang Zhengzhi made.
Fang Zhengzhi also greeted Ping Yang to distract her from checking out the surroundings.
As such...
Everything fell into place naturally.
Ping Yang and the Ninth Prince would lead everyone down the wrong way. Seeing Fang Zhengzhi come from the opposite direction would cause enough of a distraction. No one would suspect the small change he made at the fork.
When everyone took the wrong path...
No one would think that the wrong path was wrong.
Fang Zhengzhi was quite proud of what he did. Firstly, he did not destroy the recording tablet. Destroying it would have caused many problems for him.
Secondly, he had not s.h.i.+fted the recording tablet. As such, he was not actually breaking any of the rules.
Thirdly, when everyone reached the finish line, he would have reached the third recording tablet. By that time, no one would chase him from the direction of the fourth recording tablet.
Who would realize the error of their ways?
With things all falling into place, what is preventing him from getting the first place?
Fang Zhengzhi was in no rush. He knew that he still had to solve one more thing. Only by doing that would the first place be his.
He continued to admire the lush greenery around him as he urged his horse along the path. He enjoyed the sounds of nature around him. Every so often, he would grill a rabbit.
After inscribing his name on the second recording tablet, he did not continue walking further. He made a fire by the side and began grilling a rabbit...
At the finis.h.i.+ng line, all of the spectators saw Fang Zhengzhi's name light up on the second tablet. All of them felt uneasy.
”He had crossed the second recording tablet?”
”He will win as long as he records his name on the first tablet!”
”He cannot pa.s.s the first tablet!”
Ever since the start of the compet.i.tion...
No one would have guessed this result.
Fang Zhengzhi was riding an inferior Mud Striped Horse. His compet.i.tors were all riding superior stallions.
In the end...
Fang Zhengzhi was about to accomplish the impossible.