"Wait, the Astronomical Society?"
The moment Huai Shi revealed his identity, countless spectators stared at each other, their faces masks of astonishment.
The whole venue erupted.
"He... He..."
In the VIP seating, an elderly court official, IV drips still attached, widened his eyes. He shakily pointed at the young man on the screen, so overcome by either anger or shock that he almost passed out.
I told you he wasn't one of ours! I told you, but you wouldn't believe me!
Aggrieved and annoyed, he glared at the Seven Star Group's representative, only to find the representative glaring back even more furiously.
"The Yingzhou People are too shameless!" the Seven Star representative hissed, withdrawing his gaze, and whispered to the person next to him, "Even at a time like this, they still want to blame the Astronomical Society!"
"Yes, yes." Older Cousin sighed and nodded, patting the Seven Star representative's shoulder. "They've always been like this. You'll get used to it."
The elderly court official's body suddenly spasmed. With a strangled gasp, he spurted a mouthful of old blood and screamed something hoarsely before being rushed back to the medical room for emergency treatment at Older Cousin's gesture.
"When you're old and not in good health, you shouldn't force yourself to attend events."
Older Cousin sighed and instructed his assistant, "Let the old man recover well. He shouldn't come out and get angry with others. If he gets sick from anger, it's one thing for them to try and blame us, but now they're even trying to blame the Astronomical Society. It's truly unbearable to watch, right, Minister Liu?"
"Hmm? Yes..."
Beside him, the middle-aged man, a deputy minister representing the Jinling Branch of the Astronomical Society, nodded vigorously, a somewhat guilty smile on his face.
That little brat... why does he seem more familiar the more I look at him? It feels like I've seen him somewhere before.
.
"What a refreshingly intense gaze."
On the stage, under the blazing spotlights, the Prince gazed at the young man's face, a pleased smile appearing.
"Good, come on, young man!"
He gently tugged the reins and gripped his Sword Blade. "Let's fight honorably and determine a winner!"
The iron hooves thundered.
Amidst the neighing of the White Horse, a hurricane blasted them, and the beautiful White Horse thundered forth like a train, the Sword Blade on its back slashing down.
It missed.
Yu Step!
At the critical moment, he stepped and turned, dodging the horse's charging head by moving to the left. The knife and Axe in Huai Shi's hands drew two fierce arcs through the air, slashing towards the horse's head.
CLANG!
The Sword Blade lunged; he blocked, and sparks flew.
Then, the White Horse reared up, trying to trample Huai Shi's face. Huai Shi dodged. However, as its iron hooves struck down, a hurricane accompanied by a thunderous roar erupted from beneath its stomp, sending a suffocating shockwave outwards.
Huai Shi was sent flying backward.
The White Horse halted, then surged forward as the Prince tugged the reins. Swift as lightning, its Treasure Sword snaked towards Huai Shi's throat, thrusting forth.
The distance closed in an instant.
But then, the charge abruptly stopped.
Where they had just been, a Lock Chain had appeared out of nowhere. One end was connected to the stage carpet, the other wound around the warhorse's neck.
It was tethered!
Though it looked like an ordinary carpet, it was now as indestructible as steel on the stage; neither the horse's hooves nor its pulling could break it.
The Prince raised his Sword Blade and slashed, snapping the Lock Chain.
Huai Shi's vision darkened as he felt the Source Substance tremble. The chain returned to his hand, coiling around his arm, the break mending itself.
That sword is definitely a divine-weapon-grade armament. No, when I think about it, the Prince's Treasure Sword must also be an extraordinary item, right? Just like the Prince's White Horse.
All evildoers would fall before the Prince's mighty sword, just as all obstacles and difficulties were elegantly overcome by his White Horse.
This was the White Horse Prince, as if stepping directly out of legend.
A Hero who once bore Sky's Command, destined to slay the Evil Dragon and rescue the Teenage Girl from peril.
Even if it only exists here.
Even if it exists only for this night...
"Thrilling!"
Huai Shi steadied himself, tightening his grip on his Axe, an involuntary laugh escaping him.
Pleasure, excitement, anticipation, and an innate sense of honor.
Such an opponent, such an enemy, such a Hero… such a battle was beautiful, like a dream. Just knowing the enemy stood before him filled him with indescribable anticipation.
In the quiet Orchard Gym, on the TV screen watched by dozens of muscular men, the young man's current smile was displayed.
It was as if flames ignited in his eyes.
It bore an intense glow, almost too bright to look at directly.