Ordinarily, beauty and ferocity could not be mentioned in the same breath. As the elders said, flowery fists and embroidered legs—beautiful techniques were never powerful, while truly powerful techniques were inevitably fierce.

However, Xie Jingxing was different. He was already handsome and dashing, but when he crouched on horseback with the lance before him, he resembled a valiant war god. That iron-blooded temperament forged on the battlefield made it impossible for anyone to look away from him. Strength and beauty, handsomeness and ruthlessness—he was like a beautiful wolf, possessing a breathtaking nobility and courage.

His purple robes flowed like clouds and lightning, his steed galloping and soaring beneath him. Under his influence, everyone in the venue seemed to become exhilarated with the sound of hoofbeats. He had a strange charisma that could inspire people to soar with him.

Xie Changchao and Xie Changwu followed the purple-clad youth closely with their eyes. They also separated, apparently intending to encircle Xie Jingxing from left and right, hoping to surround and annihilate him. This was truly a shameless approach—clearly two against one.

The crowd exclaimed in surprise. Fu Xiuyi said, “Xie Jingxing is truly a promising talent of the Xie family.”

“How can he be as mysterious as you say?” The Prince of Zhou smiled. “So unruly, even Xie Ding can’t control him. I fear he’s just a troublemaker.”

Fu Xiuyi smiled without speaking. Although this Xie Jingxing appeared unruly, he was certainly no pushover. In the face of absolute power, schemes and plots were useless. The reason Xie Jingxing displayed such a carefree and unrestrained attitude was precisely because he had nothing to fear. And what made him fearless… was probably self-confidence.

Unlike the Prince of Zhou’s arrogance, and different from the Prince of Jin’s caution, Fu Xiuyi’s assessment of a person was always comprehensive. Thus, among his advisors, there were all types of people—those with broad learning, those who appeared quite unremarkable, fallen officials from good families, and even notorious criminals. He employed people based solely on their abilities; character, temperament, or attitude toward affairs were not important to him.

Someone as brilliant as Xie Jingxing—how he wished to recruit him for his use. But alas… he happened to come from the Lin’an Marquis’s household. And the Lin’an Marquis’s household certainly couldn’t exist in Ming Qi’s realm for too long.

Setting aside his regret, Fu Xiuyi continued to observe the young man on the field. Within the encirclement of the two Xie brothers, Xie Jingxing darted nimbly left and right, like a snake. No matter how airtight the Xie brothers’ encirclement appeared, he always slipped through with ease. The two brothers’ previously flawless coordination with double lances, after a few parries from Xie Jingxing, appeared full of holes—truly comical.

Competition reveals superiority and inferiority. From the very process of the fight, who was better and who was worse, who was superior and who was inferior, was almost immediately apparent. The two Xie brothers were truly no match for Xie Jingxing.

“Heavens,” Bai Wei covered her mouth and exclaimed, “Young Marquis Xie is toying with the two Xie brothers.”

“Indeed, in comparison…” Yi Peilan also marveled, “The Xie brothers’ horseback lancing seems merely for show.”

Facts that even the women could discern were certainly not missed by the men’s section. Xie Jingxing could deliver a killing blow with a single strike, yet he deliberately wore down Xie Changwu and Xie Changchao bit by bit. Like a lion that had caught a rabbit but wasn’t in a hurry to devour it, preferring to play with and torment it instead.

“Young Marquis Xie is truly remarkable,” said Feng Anning. “The horseback lancing of the two Xie brothers is their greatest pride, but in comparison, the difference is like that between clouds and mud. They will likely suffer a terrible defeat today.”

Shen Miao lowered her head to look at the Go board before her.

No, how could this be considered a terrible defeat? This was just the beginning.

She slowly placed a white piece, instantly capturing two black pieces. A small space appeared on the board.

On the platform, Xie Changwu and Xie Changchao had finally been provoked to anger. They had been toyed with like monkeys by Xie Jingxing for some time, feeling both furious and humiliated. Xie Jingxing was deliberately making it impossible for the two brothers to leave the stage with dignity, knowing how poorly they had performed. A murderous intent suddenly arose in Xie Changwu’s heart. He glared fiercely at the purple-clad youth before him.

The young man on horseback was exceptionally handsome, his half-smiling expression quite eye-catching. From birth, he had been the pride of the Lin’an Marquis’s household. Yet despite this, he still disdained the household. Whether it was his position as the heir or Xie Ding’s favoritism… he was like the king of the jungle, a tiger, tyrannically blocking everyone else’s path to survival! How could one not hate him!

Under extreme embarrassment, the perfect mask that Xie Changwu had always maintained finally began to crack. He let out a great shout, grabbed his lance, and charged straight at Xie Jingxing. In the moment they passed each other, he viciously thrust his lance into the rump of Xie Jingxing’s horse!

The entire audience was shocked!

In horseback lancing competitions, no one had ever attacked the opponent’s horse. Because horses were mounts, doing so could very possibly injure the opponent. Falling from horseback could result in light injuries requiring a month’s recuperation, or severe ones like broken arms or legs, or even a broken neck and death. These were common occurrences. After all, the examination was just a means to evaluate students—there was no need for such bloodshed, so such situations had never occurred before.

Xie Changwu’s actions were truly those of a petty man.

Xie Changchao was also startled by Xie Changwu’s move, but he quickly understood. Almost without hesitation, he drove his horse toward Xie Jingxing.

He intended to trample the fallen Xie Jingxing to death!

Had these two brothers gone mad? Everyone had only one thought—setting aside whether this would violate Ming Qi’s laws, but even within the Lin’an Marquis’s household, if the Marquis learned of this and Xie Jingxing suffered any harm, could the two Xie brothers escape?

The women’s section erupted in cries of alarm, while the men’s section drew in sharp breaths. Those faint of heart had already covered their eyes. Even Feng Anning, this delicate girl, screamed in fright.

Shen Miao’s wrist paused, and she looked up at the young man on the platform.

The two Xie brothers were indeed no formidable opponents. This game of chess was played terribly, and Xie Jingxing… was destined not to let this opportunity pass.

The black stallion let out a long neigh, its two front hooves suddenly rising high, almost standing upright, then struggling frantically. The purple-clad youth twirled his lance beautifully in his hand, then, with a kick against the horse’s flank, he twisted the lance horizontally, tripping the two charging horses forcefully. The stallion fell to the ground and did not rise again.

Before the crowd could react, Xie Jingxing’s toe lightly touched the ground, and without a word, he leaped into the air. His figure was otherworldly, as graceful as an immortal descending from heaven. His lance extended and turned, flipping Xie Changwu to the ground. With his other hand, he casually picked up a pebble, flicked it with a flourish, and hit the knee joint of Xie Changchao’s horse. Xie Changchao couldn’t dodge in time and fell.

Both brothers were unseated from their horses in the span of a brief moment. Xie Jingxing lazily placed one foot on Xie Changchao’s shoulder, while his other hand pointed the lance at Xie Changwu’s head, saying with a half-smile, “You even dare to sneak attack your brother? Truly… overestimating yourselves.”