Chapter 77 Speed Competition

"I say, Eldest Miss Lin, why are you following me instead of taking a perfectly good road? Once we reach Cangyun Mountain, we won't be able to ride anymore. We'll have to cross mountains and ford streams on foot. What if your delicate little feet get rubbed raw and grow calluses?

"And besides, just the two of us, an unmarried man and woman—it really isn't appropriate. Things like relieving ourselves, bathing..." Tang Yan lay sprawled over his green-maned horse, wearing a miserable expression as he kept trying to persuade her. "If you still have any sense left, you can turn your horse around now and still catch up."

The two of them rode swiftly out of the city. Seeing that there was no one around at all, Lin Dongxue finally stopped holding back.

"Enough nonsense. Don't even think about shaking this young lady off. Back when you wrote me that love poem, didn't you say you had liked me for many years? Why are you trying to get rid of me now? Or were you deliberately lying to me that day?"

"Cough, cough..."

Hearing Lin Dongxue speak so boldly, Tang Yan immediately choked on his own saliva. This girl usually looked like a proper young lady from a great household. How could her words be so fierce now?

When he first wrote "Xiang Jian Huan" for Lin Dongxue, hadn't he indeed been fooling her?

But Tang Yan did not dare admit that. Besides, a graceful lady was naturally what a gentleman admired. Tang Yan's tastes were perfectly normal. Facing an open and beautiful girl like Lin Dongxue, it would be false to say he felt nothing at all.

"Fine, fine. When you're so tired you start crying, don't blame me for not warning you." Tang Yan had no other move and could only surrender.

"Hmph. Don't look down on me. Since I was little, I've suffered no small amount. I've also been to Cangyun Mountain many times."

Hearing this, Tang Yan's heart stirred again. He believed in Lin Dongxue's strength even more now. Perhaps she truly was not beneath Liu Zhi.

This year's Eastern Region Grand Competition might finally change Yun City's repeated last-place fate.

Since there was nothing else to do on the road, Tang Yan simply began chatting with Lin Dongxue.

"How much do you know about the Eastern Region Grand Competition?"

"Not much. I only know that it gathers many talents. Those who take part are all young experts their families have poured everything into nurturing. This competition will be far fiercer than Yun City's Competition Slot selection." Lin Dongxue's expression also grew solemn. "Yun City has always been at the bottom. I hope we can earn a better ranking this time."

Inside the city.

Liu Zhi and the City Lord were preparing to set off by carriage.

No one noticed that before Liu Zhi boarded the carriage, he discreetly stuffed a small slip of paper into the hand of a Liu Family guard.

"Give this to the old master. Make certain it reaches him!"

"Yes!" the guard answered in a low voice, then turned and hurried toward the Liu Family.

...

After Tang Yan and Lin Dongxue reached Cangyun Mountain, they patted their horses on the back.

Both horses were rather intelligent. They were often brought out, and they were already familiar with this road.

With a stamping of hooves and a neigh, the two horses galloped back the way they had come.

Tang Yan took a map from his robes, glanced helplessly at Lin Dongxue, and said seriously, "The route I arranged this time is actually different from what I said before. It will be even more dangerous.

"Most of what we encounter will be Third-Rank Spirit Beasts. There may even be higher-ranked ones.

"If we really run into danger, stay behind me. Once you feel my strength beginning to fail, flee at once. My movement technique is fast. Escaping with my life shouldn't be a problem."

Lin Dongxue felt deeply stifled. Why did this brat keep looking down on her strength?

Gritting her teeth, Lin Dongxue said fiercely, "Your speed is fast? Since we need to travel anyway, why don't we have a contest and see who's faster? If you lose, you'll follow behind this young lady from now on and obey my lead!"

"No contest!" Tang Yan refused at once without even thinking.

"Are you even a man?" Lin Dongxue nearly exploded.

"Yes. Always have been. Even if I don't compete with you, I still am. It's the way the body is made. I was born a man. Nothing I can do about it." Tang Yan shrugged shamelessly.

In all her twenty years, who had ever dared act so shamelessly with Lin Dongxue?

Her willow brows rose in anger. "What will make you compete?"

"If there's a benefit, I'll compete."

"You!" Lin Dongxue glared at Tang Yan in a huff.

This fellow's claim that he liked her before had to be a lie!

But she also could not stand the way Tang Yan underestimated her. She immediately said, "You want a benefit, do you? If you win, I'll let you kiss me once! If you lose, you'll obey my lead from now on!"

Tang Yan staggered and nearly fell headfirst to the ground.

This little girl usually looked so dignified and elegant. Why did she seem like an entirely different person now?

From Tang Yan's understanding of Lin Dongxue, if he did not compete with her today, this girl would likely pester him for the rest of the day. It just so happened that there were no high-ranked spirit beasts on the outskirts of the mountain range, and Tang Yan also wanted to head deeper in.

He nodded. "As you wish. You decide the rules."

"Good!"

Seeing Tang Yan agree, Lin Dongxue was eager to begin. She made a few preparations where she stood, then said, "Half an hour. When the time is up, whoever is ahead wins!"

"Fine!" Tang Yan had no objection.

Seeing Tang Yan agree, Lin Dongxue quickly said, "Start!"

With that, her supple body twisted, and she stepped into a movement technique, rushing forward.

Seeing the girl charge off without waiting for him to prepare, Tang Yan could not help shaking his head. What a shameless woman.

Lin Dongxue was dressed in fitted clothes today, fully outlining her figure. From behind, Tang Yan watched her graceful back and the curve beneath it, and his mind wavered.

In that brief moment of distraction, Lin Dongxue had already darted far ahead.

As expected of the City Lord's daughter. The cultivation resources she enjoyed were not something ordinary families could compare with. Just this movement technique she displayed had likely surpassed Yellow Rank.

Sensing the aura around Lin Dongxue, Tang Yan understood.

This girl's strength had indeed already reached Black Rank!

Tang Yan gathered his thoughts, drew up a breath of True Qi, and followed.

A few minutes later, with Tang Yan chasing at full speed, he had already caught up behind Lin Dongxue.

At the beginning, Lin Dongxue had stolen the first step, then kept her head down and ran forward for a full quarter of an hour. She had not sensed any movement behind her at all, and pride rose in her heart.

Worried that she had run too quickly and lost Tang Yan, she gradually slowed down. Turning her head, she wanted to see whether Tang Yan had caught up, muttering, "Big fool. My movement technique was personally chosen by my father. There's no better movement technique in Yun City. If you want to catch up, wait for your next life! Let this young lady see where you've gotten to..."

"Looking for me?" a voice sounded from the other side.

Caught off guard, Lin Dongxue was instantly startled.

"Ah!"

A sharp scream rang out, making Tang Yan feel as if his eardrums were about to be pierced through.

"Why are you shrieking like a ghost?" Tang Yan complained.

"You! How are you running so fast?" Lin Dongxue turned her head in disbelief, only to see Tang Yan keeping pace right beside her.

"I've been following you for quite a while. You only noticed now?" Tang Yan said, somewhat speechless.

"How did I not sense your aura?" Lin Dongxue was even more shaken.

This fellow had actually been behind her the entire time?