Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Amidst the clamor, Shen Muyun felt an inexplicable irritation. Was such a frenzy truly worth a victory that was hardly essential? Yet, he had little time to ponder. This was a hard-won triumph, one that secured the Shen family's crucial contract. Worth it, indeed.

Himi, experiencing an extraordinary surge of pain, bolted forward almost instantly, charging wildly. The horse let out a skyward whinny, accelerating significantly. The distance between the two riders, which had been widening, now began to shrink. Hearing the commotion behind him, Zhou Shiqing turned, startled to see Shen Muyun closing in. The finish line was within reach—to lose now would be utterly humiliating.

"Damn it, wasn't this supposed to be foolproof? It wasn't easy to bribe the racetrack staff. What trick did Shen Muyun use?" Zhou Shiqing gripped the reins, watching Shen Muyun cross the finish line. He dismounted abruptly, kicking a nearby wooden post in frustration, and shot several venomous glances in Shen Muyun's direction.

Himi, proving its mettle, surged across the finish line. The crowd's cheers instantly ignited the atmosphere, and excited discussions filled the air.

"Did you see that? A madman has his own way of winning! I always said that Second Young Master Shen would pull through. Who was it earlier talking about that bet—200,000 or something? Said everyone would get a share? Where are they now? Probably vanished like cowards."

"Come on, did you see what Shen Muyun did? His horse hasn't even slowed down. Who knows what'll happen next? There's wire fencing ahead—if he crashes into it..."

"Pfft, a victory is a victory, no matter the means. If he dared to do it, he must have been prepared. Just wait and see. As for Young Master Zhou, wasn't he about to win? Wow, intense! Live races are truly the most thrilling—you never know the outcome until the very last moment."

Amidst the chatter, Shen Muyun had no time to discern their words. He clung tightly to the reins, his body swaying violently from Himi's frantic gallop. At this speed, dismounting was impossible. The sedative would soon take effect, and the wire fence was now visible ahead. He tugged hard on the reins, but Himi showed no sign of turning.

Shen Liuyun and Lu Huainan watched from the stands, initially believing Shen Muyun had a clever strategy, but now it seemed he was acting with utter disregard for the consequences.

Lu Huainan leaped off the platform and casually mounted a horse. "Liuyun, go find a doctor. I'll chase after Muyun."

Hearing this, Shen Liuyun nodded, frowning at the chaotic scene, and headed for the exit.

Lu Huainan took a detour, having roughly estimated Himi's speed and trajectory. Perfect timing—he could intercept them.

Shen Muyun tugged the reins again, but nothing could stop Himi now. The horse's shaking grew more violent—a clear sign the sedative was taking hold of Himi's senses.

"Brother Yun! Brother Yun! Over here!"

Shen Muyun glanced sideways and saw Lu Huainan, who had somehow caught up. He felt a slight sense of relief. "When did you get here? Be careful—the speed is too high."

Himi's energy was nearly spent, its movements growing increasingly erratic. Lu Huainan knew he had to act fast.

Before Lu Huainan could reply, Himi stumbled, on the verge of collapse. Quick as lightning, Lu Huainan forcefully pulled Shen Muyun onto his own horse. Exhausted, Himi then collapsed forward, dropping to its knees on the ground, blinking innocently.

Shen Muyun looked at Himi with a pang of guilt.

"Huainan, quick—where are the racetrack veterinarians? They're nowhere to be found! It's injured and needs immediate treatment. Can it still run?"

"You're still worrying about Himi? Check if you're hurt first, Brother Yun. Losing the race isn't a big deal. Why were you so desperate?"

Shen Muyun paused. Why indeed? For the contract? Perhaps not entirely. It was more likely his sheer competitiveness driving him.

He collected himself and checked for injuries. Fortunately, thanks to Lu Huainan’s timely appearance, he seemed mostly fine.

Many in the audience had witnessed the spectacle. Those from influential families, always hungry for gossip, now had plenty to discuss.

"Hey, hey, hey, did you see that? Young Master Lu—where did he come from? Look, Young Master Lu is holding Second Young Master Shen. How intimate! Could there be something between them? No wonder Second Young Master Shen declined the engagement with Miss Lu. They certainly know how to play games."

"He leaped right down from the stands. The Lu and Shen families have been close for generations—it's not that unusual. Let's not jump to conclusions. This kind of relationship isn't something we should speculate about. Unless you're not afraid of being silenced—I still value my life."

"How is it not unusual? Miss Lu made a scene before. I heard she went to the Shen family recently demanding answers or something, but the brothers avoided her. Perhaps there's something shady going on between these two old families."

"Enough gossip. What matters is that everyone's safe, and the horse is innocent. Something seemed off earlier—like someone set up Young Master Shen. The horse's condition in the second half wasn't right. We should probably thank Young Master Lu."

Lu Huainan brought the horse to a gradual stop. Shen Muyun let out a long breath and dismounted first.

He looked up at Lu Huainan. "Thank you so much for this."

"Don't mention it. I had a feeling something was wrong. Glad my intuition was right. As long as you're not hurt."

Shen Muyun was still shaken. This body, frail to begin with, now felt his heart pounding and head dizzy. But he could still hold on.

Lu Huainan waved. "The doctor should be here soon, along with the veterinarian you're so concerned about. Himi's injuries aren't too serious. I'll head to the stables and be back shortly."

As Lu Huainan walked away, Shen Muyun finally collected himself. Of all the people, why him?

The system chose this moment to appear before Shen Muyun, glowing excitedly. "Ding dong, Master Host! You're amazing! You actually pulled through. You're truly the most incredible host. I'll have to boast to other systems—my selection skills are top-notch."

"System, enough self-praise. You're first-rate at standing by idly. If it weren't for Lu Huainan, would I be broken-legged in the ICU today? Or would this mission have ended, and you'd be looking for the next sucker?"

The system flew around Shen Muyun, inspecting. "Master Host, you're wronging me. How could I stand by? We systems have self-preservation protocols, but they're still in development—not very stable yet. They must be used cautiously, and only once, in life-or-death situations, to maximize effectiveness."

Shen Muyun understood: the system was all talk, no substance.

"Dear Master Host, the system detects fluctuations in Lu Huainan's fondness—+5 points. Could there be something between you? In human terms, this is a 'hero rescuing the damsel.' Well, that usually refers to men and women, but whatever. No other term fits. Could you be falling for him?"

The system was blunt, as always.

Shen Muyun's face turned green. What nonsense! Shouldn't this just be friendship between family friends? Why drag in these wild speculations?

Seeing Shen Muyun silent, the system mused, "There are so many stories of heroes rescuing damsels, and often the beauty repays with devotion. It's my favorite trope. Master Host, you don't seem ungrateful. You once promised Young Master Lu something. Could it be that you two..."

Shen Muyun cut it off. "System, if you have something useful to say, say it. Otherwise, go to sleep or check on Himi's injuries. He got hurt for this victory. I don't have time for your nonsense."

"Master Host, don't worry. Himi's injuries aren't serious. You struck a pain point, and there wasn't much bleeding. Your aim was precise. As for the sedative, it'll wear off with rest. Animals heal far better than humans. Himi will recover soon."

Hearing that Himi hadn't suffered irreversible harm, Shen Muyun finally relaxed.

"Muyun!"

Shen Muyun turned to see Shen Liuyun and Lu Huainan running toward him, accompanied by a doctor who seemed familiar despite the mask.

The system whispered in his ear, "Master Host, given the original body's physical condition, after such excitement, you ought to faint now. It fits your persona. Warning: out-of-character, deviation from original character, plot divergence. Beep..."

"Is there no other way?"

The system fluttered its wings. "They'll be here in five seconds. Five, four, three..."

Before the countdown ended, Shen Muyun unwillingly let himself collapse against a nearby tree. "Agh..."

Unfortunately, he grazed his back wound, clenching his jaw against the pain.

Seeing him faint, the group rushed over.

"Muyun, how are you feeling?"

"Brother Yun, Brother Yun, you were fine just a moment ago!"

Shen Muyun remained motionless, listening. "Bingo, Master Host, nailed it. Keep it up. Best of luck."