Chapter 101: Riding a Horse and Colliding with Wang Tao

The two professors of “Equestrian” and “Archery” arrived, and all the students bowed respectfully to them.

Song Sheng leaned close to Li Su and whispered, “Brother Li, be careful.”

Li Su nodded slightly. “I will be cautious.”

From Li Su’s perspective, the horse prepared for him could not be swapped with anyone else’s. If something went wrong, innocent people would be harmed.

Li Su carefully inspected his horse and found a barbed hook concealed inside the saddle straps. When the horse ran, the strap would gradually tighten until the hook pierced the horse’s back.

Upon seeing the two professors, Li Su approached them to speak.

The professors of Huang Zhai held a favorable view of Li Su. To them, he was a student both gifted and diligent—the kind they most admired.

“Professor Chen, Professor Wu, greetings to you both.”

Professors Chen and Wu nodded at Li Su. “Li Su, is there something you wish to discuss?”

Li Su’s expression grew troubled. “Gentlemen…”

Wang Tao, noticing Li Su speaking with the professors, grew anxious. Had Li Su discovered something during his inspection and was now informing the professors about the horse?

The two professors smiled and nodded at Li Su. Professor Wu said, “We are aware of it.”

Wang Tao, approaching at that moment, heard this and was more convinced that Li Su had found the problem and was preparing to switch horses.

Wang Tao’s face darkened. He hadn’t expected Li Su to be so clever.

But later, Wang Tao realized Li Su hadn’t changed horses. Had he not discovered the issue? Wang Tao felt restless—did Li Su know or not?

When Li Su mounted his horse, Wang Tao’s mood settled somewhat. It seemed Li Su hadn’t found out.

Indeed, the concealed device was quite hidden; Li Su wouldn’t have detected it.

For someone like Li Su, who had never handled a horse before, mounting a wild, frenzied horse for the first time could easily be fatal.

Wang Tao secretly longed to witness such a bloody scene—it would make his blood boil.

Unless Li Su’s horsemanship was extraordinary, he would either die or be maimed this time.

Li Su did not remove the barbed hook inside. Partly because of his confidence in his riding skills, and partly because he did not want to give Wang Tao an excuse to be sent away by Director Wei.

Moreover, if he deliberately charged the wild horse at Wang Tao, the chaos would be Wang Tao’s own doing. Causing harm to others but ultimately harming himself—that was quite amusing.

***

Wang Tao could not act against the Wang family of the capital just yet, but he still had his master.

First, the two professors demonstrated and explained, then the students practiced on their own.

“It might be challenging to combine both skills, but everyone should give it a try.” Previously, “Equestrian” and “Archery” were taught separately.

The students of Huang Zhai, after hearing the professors, were eager to try.

Wang Tao was the first to take the bow and mount his horse, moving with great flair. The other students looked on enviously as he galloped and fired several arrows at the target. All hit the target but fell within the outer rings. Still, the students expressed their admiration.

Within the noble families of the capital, Wang Tao’s riding and archery were mediocre, but here, he was considered excellent.

After showing off his skills, Wang Tao stopped his horse. Professor Wu praised him.

Seeing Li Su mount his horse, Wang Tao silently withdrew his horse toward the outskirts. A mad horse wouldn’t recognize anyone; it was fine if it trampled other students, but it must not collide with him.

Li Su noticed Wang Tao’s retreat but kept him in her peripheral vision.

Fortunately, Wang Tao’s retreat positioned him in a spot with no other students around, allowing him to confidently charge ahead on his horse.

Wang Tao relied on cunning; Li Su used an overt strategy.

Li Su mounted the horse as if a novice, pretending it was his first time riding, looking quite unskilled.

Wang Tao withdrew to the back and watched Li Su through the crowd with a spectator’s anticipation.

Li Su deliberately avoided crowded areas upon mounting. With a slight movement, his horse began to rage.

Wang Tao watched Li Su without blinking, hoping to see the moment he fell.

Li Su’s expression turned panicked. The surrounding students hastily avoided him, as a mad horse was no trivial matter.

Though appearing alarmed, Li Su skillfully controlled the horse, galloping toward Wang Tao while perfectly avoiding all other students.

Wang Tao frowned as he saw the mad horse charging at him. He edged his horse sideways.

Professors Zhao and Wu anxiously rushed over to control the wild horse. Such behavior had never occurred with the academy’s horses before, so they were caught off guard.

Their faces paled. Li Su had just told them he was inexperienced in riding, and they had reassured him that with practice and his learning ability, he would master it.

They believed Li Su excelled in every aspect and planned to train his riding skills to prevent it from becoming a weakness.

Both professors silently prayed that nothing bad would happen.

***

Wang Tao’s heart raced as the horse charged straight at him. If Li Su died from the fall, so be it, but he could not afford to be caught in the chaos.

He spurred his horse to flee, but the wild horse was faster, closing the distance rapidly.

Wang Tao: “!!!” Why was the horse so mad? Why was it chasing him?

Everyone was stunned. What was going on?

Li Su found the right moment and angle, then feigned falling off the horse.

The crowd’s eyes widened in alarm.

As Li Su deliberately accelerated the horse while falling, the horse charged past him and collided with Wang Tao’s horse.

Wang Tao’s horse was startled, and before he could react, Wang Tao was thrown violently to the ground.

A collective gasp rose from the crowd.

Wang Tao hit the ground hard, feeling as if his internal organs had shifted. A metallic, bloody taste filled his throat.

Ignoring the pain, he looked in terror at the horse about to trample him. If it did, he would be crippled or worse.

The trap was meant for Li Su, but he had ridden so far away that Wang Tao was caught in the fray.

Fortunately, in the nick of time, the two professors regained control of both horses.

Wang Tao collapsed weakly, sweat pouring from his brow. He had narrowly escaped death beneath the horse’s hooves.

Li Su lay still on the ground, feeling a tinge of regret that the professors had subdued the horse before it could deliver a few kicks to Wang Tao.

“Quick, fetch Doctor Li!” Professor Wu commanded the stunned students.

The students of Huang Zhai finally snapped out of their shock. “I’ll go!” one said, quickly dismounting and running off to find Doctor Li.

Many students gathered around Wang Tao to help him up, but the moment they touched him, he screamed in pain.

After learning Li Su had no influential background, the students sided with Wang Tao over Li Su.

Only Song Sheng approached Li Su. “Brother Li, are you alright?”