The Prime Minister’s Darling-Chapter 1551 - 753 The King Returns! (Part 1)_3

Gu Jiao saw Gu Changqing from a distance.

Gu Changqing was with the Crown Prince and it was inconvenient for him to come over. He exchanged a glance with Gu Jiao for a fleeting moment before following the Crown Prince into the camp.

The Han Family’s descendants had privileged status.

As such, while others were standing in line, Gu Changqing had already gone ahead to familiarize himself with the field.

Ye Qing said to Gu Jiao, "I won’t go in, I will wait for Young Master Xiao outside."

The people from National Master Hall did not involve themselves in military power, so escorting Gu Jiao to the entrance was the limit; accompanying her further into the selection might give others a pretext for gossip.

Gu Jiao nodded.

After Ye Qing left, Gu Jiao patted the head of Hei Fengqi and said, "Are you ready?"

Hei Fengqi, eager to move, took a few steps forward and snorted twice heavily, as if responding to Gu Jiao.

With the corners of her lips curled, Gu Jiao tightened the reins and focused on the path ahead. "Let’s go!"

...

The preliminary selection took place on a training ground west of Hei Fengqi Camp. The process was simple; there were five artificial iron bridges in the center of the field, each five feet wide and twenty feet long, with chains on both sides where flames blazed.

At first glance, they looked like six bridges engulfed in roaring fire.

Contestants had to ride their horses across the fire bridges, then pass through a small path laid with gunpowder, make a sharp turn, and jump onto a wooden platform about the height of a person.

Those who remained on the platform advanced to the next round.

It is worth mentioning that throughout the process, the cavalry could not dismount for any reason, or they would be disqualified.

Gu Jiao drew lots; competitors were grouped in sixes, and she got number thirty-six, in a morning group.

Gu Changqing was number six.

Gu Jiao entered the arena just as he finished his round. Riding Hei Fengqi, with both riding skills and martial prowess beyond doubt, his advancement was a foregone conclusion.

Gu Jiao was not so lucky—she faced both the Han Family and the Geng Family contenders in her first round.

Han Che from the Han Family rode a fierce and agile Hei Fengqi. The contestant from the Geng Family was a member of a collateral branch, but also a rare expert.

His horse, though not a Hei Fengqi, was nonetheless extremely brave and fierce.

Plus, with his strong inner strength, he could stabilize his mount when necessary.

The other three were also formidable experts, and two of them had even spent a large sum of money to borrow the Han Family’s Hei Fengqi.

While others’ preliminary selections were in normal mode, Gu Jiao’s match was straight into hell mode from the start.

Gu Jiao felt a toothache coming on.

Standing on the first track, Han Che spoke with arrogant pride, "Is one person not coming? How long do we have to wait? I think they’re not merely afraid, but wish to forfeit. I advise the rest of you to forfeit as well. Vying with our Han Family for Hei Fengqi, how confident are you in yourselves? No, how mistaken are you?"

The Geng Family expert spoke coldly, "Hmph, spare us the talk! Let the actual competition reveal the truth!"

Han Che sneered, "Overestimating your abilities!"

He had chosen a Hei Fengqi that was the most fiery next to the new Hei Fengqi King; this level of challenge wasn’t even as formidable as their daily training.

He was sure to win!

No sooner had this thought crossed his mind than he felt his mount shuffle around under him without any command issued.

The Geng Family expert’s warhorse took a few steps too.

The other two Hei Fengqi also seemed restlessly shifting.

"Don’t scare my horse!" the Geng Family expert said to Han Che.

Han Che replied irritably, "If you’re scared, stay away from me!"

I suspect it’s your inner strength that startled my horse!

The unease among the horses began to intensify.

Not only the mounts that were about to compete but also those waiting or at rest beside the track started to become agitated, as if sensing some kind of suppression emanating from their bloodlines.

Han Che furrowed his brows.

Within a second, a powerful aura of killing intent enveloped him from behind, and at almost the same moment, he heard someone exclaim, "Hei Fengqi King? The Han Family’s Hei Fengqi King has come!"

Hei Fengqi King?

His fifth uncle was here?

Han Che quickly turned around.

However, instead of his fifth uncle, he saw a youth whom he would recognize even if he turned to ashes — a youth!

The youth, riding the Hei Fengqi King that once belonged to the Han Family, approached them step by step like a returning king, with a sharp and piercing gaze.