Quentin led the charge, galloping ahead with Beckett and Khan close behind.
The ring of fire loomed ahead. Quentin spurred his horse and leaped through effortlessly, neither he nor his horse touched by the flames, his skill astonishing everyone.
The villagers of White Miao Village were in awe. An outsider riding a horse with such ease and precision was unheard of.
Quentin moved like the wind, quickly clearing five or six rings of fire. The intense heat made even his steed sweat profusely.
Beckett and the others followed closely, each leaping through the rings and striving to catch up.
Some less skilled riders and their horses caught fire as they jumped through the rings, rolling on the ground in agony.
Quentin, swift as the wind, cleared over a dozen rings and was nearing the finish line.
Beckett was three or four rings behind Quentin, with Khan further back.
The crowd held their breath in silence. If Quentin won, he would be the first to defeat Beckett in years.
Everyone except the Black Miao Village people silently cheered for Quentin.
Beckett urged his horse on, closing the gap to just two rings behind Quentin. Beckett’s eyes glinted coldly as he pulled a small knife from his waist and hurled it at Quentin’s white horse, aiming to injure its leg and cause Quentin to fall.
“That’s so despicable! He’ll do anything to win!”
The crowd gasped in shock, worried for Quentin. It seemed Beckett would take first place again.
Just as the knife was about to hit Quentin’s horse, Quentin calmly caught it with his bare hand. With a swift motion, he threw it back at Beckett’s black horse. The knife struck true, embedding itself in the horse’s leg.
The black horse neighed in pain and collapsed, taking Beckett down with it.
Quentin continued forward, easily clearing the last two rings and securing first place.
Before Beckett could remount, Khan and other competitors from various Miao Villages overtook him, each clearing the rings.
“Wow! Is this guy really that amazing? He caught a flying knife with his bare hand and threw it back!”
The crowd erupted in cheers. Quentin had secured first place without a hitch, while Beckett’s underhanded tactics had backfired, leaving him in last place.
Quentin had stunned everyone, becoming the dark horse of the Riding the Horse competition.
“Quentin! You were amazing!”
The entire White Miao Village cheered for Quentin, with Cerys being the most excited.
The Black Miao Village people were furious, especially Wesley. His son’s dirty trick had not only failed but had also left him in last place, bringing great shame.
The leaders of other Miao Villages were secretly pleased to see the Black Miao Village finally face a setback. Rodney and Eric Shepard exchanged satisfied smiles; they had chosen the right person in Quentin.
Beckett was seething with rage. As the strongest young warrior of the Miao Village, losing to Quentin was unbearable. A murderous intent towards Quentin arose within him.
“The first place in the Riding the Horse competition goes to Webb from White Miao Village! Second place is Khan from Red Miao Village!…”
The judge announced the results to thunderous applause and cheers. The Miao girls were particularly enamored with Quentin.
The competitors returned to their respective villages to rest and prepare for the next event.
Back at White Miao Village, Cerys’ family had prepared tea for Quentin and invited him to sit down. The entire village gathered around, praising their hero.
“Quentin, you must be exhausted. Who knew you were so skilled at riding?”
Cerys praised him while massaging his shoulders.
“Quentin outshone everyone today. Soon all the girls from other villages will come to sing with you!”
“Cerys, you better seize your chance before someone else does!” Henry and his wife joked.
“Father! Mother!” Cerys stomped her foot in embarrassment.
Sure enough, shortly after, many girls from other villages came to see Quentin. Each one was beautiful, their presence dazzled the young men of White Miao Village.
The girls invited Quentin to sing with them, but he politely declined each one.
After all, he had Charlotte. Bringing back so many Miao girls would surely cause trouble with her.
“Webb is so cool; I like him even more now.”
Despite being turned down, the girls left without disappointment, their admiration for him growing even stronger. They even threw flirtatious glances his way as they departed.
“Cerys, are all Miao women this forward?”
Quentin asked.
“Quentin, Miao women are bold in love and hate. They actively pursue the men they like.”
Cerys laughed. She was delighted that Quentin had turned down those girls who came to sing with him.
In the Chieftain Base Camp:
Wesley was deeply frustrated. No matter how much he planned, he hadn’t anticipated Quentin’s emergence, which had dealt a heavy blow to Black Miao Village’s pride.
“Rodney, your White Miao Village is truly full of hidden talents!”
“With Webb being so strong, why didn’t he participate in previous Big Games?”
Wesley asked coldly, his gaze chilling.
“Chieftain, Webb used to be just an ordinary young man in our village.”
“But he has been training hard with the Guard Squad for years to bring honor to our tribe. That’s why he performed so well in this Big Game.”
“As they say, perseverance turns iron rods into needles!”
Rodney smiled.
“Congratulations on having such a talent in your White Miao Village.”
Wesley forced a smile of praise.
“Thank you for your kind words!” Rodney replied politely.
“I hope he continues to impress me in the upcoming events.”
Wesley said coldly. Quentin’s strength posed a threat to Black Miao Village. If Quentin won first place in the Big Game, it would threaten Wesley’s position as Chieftain.
He would not allow anyone to threaten his status. If necessary, he wouldn’t hesitate to eliminate any threats.