Chapter 19: A Killing Intent Rose!

Chapter 19: A Killing Intent Rose!

Xiao Ce nodded and said, “Of course! But, let me improve some of the horse equipment first.”

Nie Bing said, “Improve horse tools? What’s on a horse besides a rein, a whip, and some other gear?”

Xiao Ce wore a mysterious expression. “That’s not for you to worry about.”

“So how much longer do you need? If you say ten days or half a month, I can’t wait,” Nie Bing said with her words.

She really thought so in her heart.

Because just before setting out, she had received a message telling her to take action.

And she had observed Xiao Ce.

She thought Xiao Ce was exactly as the rumors in town described. These past two days, he seemed to have done many things, but in Nie Bing’s eyes, the Prince was just making big promises, nothing more than an ambitious, boastful, and exaggerated person.

She decided right then to find an opportunity to act in these two days.

She was very confident that she could eliminate Xiao Ce without anyone knowing.

Xiao Ce said with a smile, “It won’t take that long, at most a few hours…”

As he spoke, Xiao Ce called over Da Lei, who was riding a horse nearby.

Taking the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone that Da Lei carried with him, he began to draw and sketch on the paper.

Making an iron stirrup in a short time was not very realistic, but making a leather stirrup was no big problem…

After he finished drawing.

Yin Pan’er came closer to look and said, “Prince, what is this?”

Xiao Ce said with a smile, “This is This Prince’s great weapon to use against the Turkic people!”

“Da Lei, take this to Uncle Zhong. I saw he brought a few aunties. Have them find some leather and make this thing as soon as possible!”

After Da Lei took the blueprint, he nodded repeatedly and left.

Yin Pan’er said doubtfully, “Can this strange thing really deal with the Turks?”

Xiao Ce looked at her and replied, “After Nie Bing and I have a contest, you’ll know the wonderful use of this thing!”

Nie Bing’s eyes glinted coldly as she said to Xiao Ce, “A contest! What stakes does the Prince plan to set this time?”

Xiao Ce said with a smile, “Still one condition!”

Nie Bing’s eyes grew even colder. “Any condition?”

Xiao Ce nodded and said, “Of course!”

Nie Bing’s gaze was like a knife. “If I demanded your life, would you obediently agree?”

Xiao Ce felt a chill in his heart as he sensed the aura emanating from Nie Bing. He thought to himself, “Why is this woman so full of killing intent… It feels like she really wants to kill me…”

But he said aloud, “Of course… Similarly, if you lose, you must agree to any condition from This Prince. How about that?”

Nie Bing still didn’t hesitate at all and said, “No problem!”

Yin Pan’er reminded, “Sister, you…”

Before Yin Pan’er could finish, Nie Bing scoffed at Xiao Ce with a disdainful look. “Pan’er, don’t worry. No matter what he comes up with, it won’t work! The way he looked just now, it didn’t seem like he knows how to ride a horse. You may not know him well, but don’t you know my riding skills? He is definitely going to lose.”

Xiao Ce sneered, “Miss Nie, don’t go back on your word later.”

Nie Bing glanced at Xiao Ce and said, “You should say that to yourself.”

Xiao Ce’s eyes shifted, and a victorious smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Yin Pan’er saw Xiao Ce’s smile and felt her heart skip a beat. Her thoughts were pulled back to that night.

That night, when she thought Xiao Ce was a eunuch who couldn’t possibly do anything to her, Xiao Ce had worn the same look and smile.

“Alright, I’ll go supervise those aunties to finish it quickly!”

Xiao Ce was eager to see Nie Bing’s expression after winning against this ice-cold beauty. He left the carriage.

…

Yin Pan’er said worriedly, “Sister, you need to be careful of him… I’ve seen that smile of his before! When he bullied me, he had that same smile… He’s definitely up to no good.”

Nie Bing looked unconcerned.

“Pan’er, rest assured. Just now, sitting on the horse, he was swaying unsteadily, clearly unable to ride. Obviously, he’s just bluffing. I’ll show you his true face in a moment! You’re just too scared from his bullying. Later, after I win, I’ll have him made into a eunuch! To avenge you!”

Yin Pan’er wanted to say something, but seeing Nie Bing’s expression, she stopped. She understood Nie Bing’s personality.

Nie Bing was the type who wouldn’t turn back until she hit a wall.

…

In another carriage, several aunties brought by Lin Zhong were very skilled at needlework.

They took less than half an hour to cut a piece of leather and make a leather stirrup according to Xiao Ce’s requirements.

To be safe, Xiao Ce had them reinforce the stitching.

A little over half an hour later, it was time for the large group to rest for a while.

Xiao Ce walked over to where Yin Pan’er and Nie Bing were resting under the shade of a tree.

“Prince, are you ready? Or have you thought of another excuse?”

Before Xiao Ce could speak, Nie Bing couldn’t wait to provoke him.

Seeing this, Xiao Ce’s lips curled up slightly. “I’m ready! Miss Nie, let me advise you once more. I really can ride a horse, and my skills are quite good! When you lose later, don’t try to weasel out!”

Nie Bing’s beautiful eyes turned cold. “I said it! If I lose, I’ll agree to any one condition! No matter what!”

Xiao Ce said with a half-smile, “Even if it’s to spend the night with me, you’d agree?”

As soon as Xiao Ce said this, the cold glint in Nie Bing’s eyes grew sharper.

Yin Pan’er’s expression also seemed a bit uneasy. She felt Xiao Ce wasn’t joking.

That night when he forced himself on her, Xiao Ce had worn this same expression.

Seeing this, Xiao Ce waved his hand. “If you don’t dare, then forget it. Let’s cancel the bet!”

Sure enough, Nie Bing couldn’t stand being provoked at all!

“Bet it is! Similarly, if you lose! I will also propose a condition! To have you made into a eunuch. Do you dare?”

Xiao Ce smiled, afraid Nie Bing might change her mind, and said to Lin Zhong who was standing to the side, “Uncle Zhong, get the horses ready!”

Then, he looked at the soldiers nearby who were craning their necks to watch the show!

Xiao Ce said with a laugh, “Everyone, this Miss Nie Bing wants to have a horse race with This Prince. If she wins, she becomes This Prince’s woman! Later, cheer for This Prince!”

“If This Prince wins! There will be plenty of wine and meat tonight!”

“Long Live the Prince! The Prince will surely win!”

…

Listening to the earth-shaking cheers.

Yin Pan’er said to Nie Bing, “Sister Nie Bing, why not forget it. I always feel Xiao Ce is up to something bad.”

Nie Bing said proudly, “Sister Pan’er, what makes you think he can beat me? By talking?”

Yin Pan’er said with worry, “These past days, you’ve seen. Everything he sets out to do, he hasn’t failed at… Later…”

Nie Bing said with a smile, “Pan’er, you’re not afraid I’ll steal your man, are you? To be honest, I don’t fancy him.”

Yin Pan’er’s small face flushed with urgency as she said, “Sister, what are you saying! That’s not what I meant…”

Seeing Yin Pan’er’s anxious, reddened face, Nie Bing said, “Pan’er, I was just joking with you. Don’t worry. Not to mention, he could never win against me! Even if he somehow managed to beat me, I would rather die than sleep with him. But, rest assured! There’s no chance he could win!”

“Sister, I’m just afraid you’re too confident and look down on him, that’s why I came to advise you! If… if you liked Xiao Ce, I wouldn’t mind at all… we’re so close… even if we…” Yin Pan’er said.

Seeing this, Nie Bing shot Yin Pan’er a look and cut her off, “Alright, Pan’er, stop right there! What are you thinking? I don’t know what kind of sweet talk he fed you! Unless I were blind, otherwise… there’s no way I would ever take a fancy to such a good-for-nothing.”

…

Xiao Ce watched Nie Bing and Yin Pan’er holding hands and talking, and from the side, he estimated the situation and tried to stir things up, “Miss Nie, are you scared? It’s still not too late for you to admit defeat now.”

He understood women with pride like Nie Bing all too well.

In his past life, he had tamed quite a few similar women.

Now, it was no different; he had it in the bag.

Nie Bing looked around and said, “I won’t bully you either. I’ll just pick any horse from your team!”

Naturally, Xiao Ce didn’t say anything, agreeing with a smile.

Although Nie Bing said she would pick any horse,

she still searched carefully for a while before choosing one.

Her movements were very graceful. Even without stirrups,

she grasped the reins with one hand, turned sideways, and leapt onto the horse in one fluid motion.

Seeing this move, she was indeed a trained fighter!

Xiao Ce, unhurried at this moment, attached the stirrups to his horse.

Then, he stepped on the stirrups and swung himself onto the horse!

Watching Xiao Ce attach the stirrups, Nie Bing truly felt a twinge of unease rise in her heart.

“Prince, how shall we compete?” she asked.

Xiao Ce said to Nie Bing, “There’s less than twenty li left. We’ll compete to see who reaches Pingshun City first! Whoever enters Pingshun City first wins!”

Nie Bing had originally thought Xiao Ce would rely on his precious steed for a short-distance race.

In that case, she would have no chance of winning.

However, if it was a long-distance race,

Nie Bing was still brimming with confidence. “No problem, Prince! If you lose, you’ll have to agree to a condition of mine! And if you try to go back on your word then, I’ll force you to do it!”

Xiao Ce agreed with a smile, “A promise is a promise! You won’t need to do anything; this Prince will castrate himself!”

With that, the two of them made ready.

Lin Zhong gave the order to start.

With Lin Zhong’s shout of “Go!”

the two of them rode their horses and galloped away, immediately kicking up a cloud of dust!

Amid the deafening cries of “The Prince will win!” from behind,

Xiao Ce rode his horse, urging it into a gallop.

This horse was a prized steed, extremely fast and with powerful explosive strength.

Coupled with the stirrups, which firmly secured Xiao Ce’s body to the horse,

he was almost standing up on the pedals!

Man and horse became one!

“Whoa-ho!” Xiao Ce let out an excited shout.

The expression on Nie Bing’s face, riding behind Xiao Ce, was not a good one…

Watching Xiao Ce’s riding posture, her face was filled with shock.

Her mind was full of disbelief; she had never seen such a riding posture before!

In that instant, she felt she had fallen into a trap.

The stirrups Xiao Ce had attached to his horse didn’t just greatly improve his balance; they also seemed to make the horse’s speed increase…

Nie Bing nearly wore out her whip from whipping, but she simply couldn’t catch up.

Xiao Ce’s horse was superior. In less time than it takes to drink a cup of tea, Xiao Ce’s figure was already out of sight.

At this moment, Nie Bing was truly panicked.

She knew very well she was definitely going to lose this time.

Since she was definitely going to lose, she naturally was not willing to be bullied by Xiao Ce.

A flash of killing intent passed through her eyes.

Usually, there were always some death warriors from the Prince of Zhenguo’s Mansion hiding nearby to protect him, and that Da Lei never left his side.

But now, these death warriors had all been left far behind by Xiao Ce!

This was undoubtedly the best opportunity to kill him.

Finding a secluded place to kill him would be effortless for Nie Bing!

Thinking of this, the killing intent in her heart grew even stronger. “Xiao Ce, since you’re in such a hurry to seek death! I’ll grant your wish!”

“Hyah!”

Nie Bing clamped her legs against the horse’s belly, whipped down hard, and the horse beneath her sped up even more!