That very night, Xingyun Liuge and Chihaya Yui received an enthusiastic invitation from Cuihua and the other Chinese horse girls. The hosts and guests got along splendidly.
The next morning, Sir Cheung sent his butler early to cordially invite the two of them to meet and talk.
Originally, there would never have been such a meeting. But who could blame him, after Xingyun Liuge had sung a song like that?
Sir Cheung treated them with great warmth, even inviting them to stay a few extra days so he could properly play host. There was no hidden agenda. He simply wanted to thank Xingyun Liuge for singing that song.
Although the date of Hong Kong's return had already been decided, there were always people clinging stubbornly to the past, and that was harmful to normal relations between China and Britain. Not that Britain minded such a situation. Stirring trouble was what they had always done best.
Xingyun Liuge's sudden rise was no different from slapping certain British bureaucrats across the face and then spitting on them for good measure—and there was nothing they could do about it. Her actions were personal, and she was currently registered as a horse girl from Japan's Tokai region. They could not even lodge a proper protest.
What were they supposed to do, use their official status to bully a single horse girl? That would only make them lose face before the entire world.
Still, seeing how clear-eyed and unguarded Xingyun Liuge and Chihaya Yui both looked, Sir Cheung chose not to dwell on the song. Instead, he offered them a warning.
"From the interviews yesterday evening, it seems Miss Xingyun plans to enter the UAE Derby next. In that case, let me wish you success in advance. But while your strength is undeniable, the dirt in the Emirates is rather different from ordinary dirt tracks, and there will also be British horse girls watching you closely. It would be wise to proceed with caution."
The UAE Derby was a 1900-meter dirt race, and most British horse girls specialized in turf. Even so, a small number of them were quite strong on dirt as well. And after Xingyun Liuge had so openly refused to give the British any face yesterday, it was entirely possible that some particularly aggressive rivals had already marked her as a target.
That brought up one important difference between Japan and Britain or America.
Japan had many local Tracen schools, and the only true gathering place for horse girls was Central Tracen. As a result, horse girls there usually did not really come together until their Classic year, meaning they were not especially skilled at "working together."
Britain and America were different. They had fewer local Tracen academies, and horse girls often formed groups from childhood onward. They were very good at "working together."
That was why on Western tracks, it was common to see a front-runner deliberately disrupt the pack's rhythm, while a closer hidden within the field released pressure at just the right moment—all for the sake of helping an ally using a pace-pressing or stalking strategy take the victory.
And once things entered the realm of "international competition," horse girls from the same region could cooperate even more ruthlessly.
"After the sensation you caused, Miss Xingyun, what you are likely to face next will no longer be a single horse girl fighting alone, but rather a whole British 'legion' of them."
More importantly, the average level of British homegrown horse girls was much higher than what Hong Kong had to offer. Some of those from famous lineages had mastered strange and uncanny powers at an early age.
For instance, some possessed skills that could cause their rivals to hesitate coming out of the gate. Others wielded terrifying finishing speed that only revealed its true power in the stretch.
"I know it sounds almost fantastical, but I think it is better to believe such things may exist than not. I've personally watched several editions of the British Triple Crown. I've seen miraculous come-from-behind victories, and I've also seen underdogs crushed beneath the tactics of the great stables…"
Racing was a sport full of wonder, but it was also unspeakably cruel. For a grassroots racer to rise to prominence was unimaginably difficult.
So why was Sir Cheung telling Xingyun Liuge all this?
Not just because of that song, but also because he had seen something shining in her—a spirit that kept chasing dreams under crushing pressure, even when merciless rules tried to grind them down.
He was only a lawyer. He could not help her much with training. The only thing he could offer was information, and whatever support he could give to help her continue her pursuit.
He believed that even strangers, even long-separated wanderers far from home, could still unite and move bravely forward so long as they carried sincere hearts.
Xingyun Liuge was deeply grateful for the information. In return, she said, "Mr. Cheung, Emerald River is your daughter. She may not have achieved much yet, but I do think she has talent. She just blooms late. I have a few insights about running that might be able to help her."
"How could I trouble you with that? But if Miss Xingyun says so, then I do have a somewhat half-formed idea…"
Once again, both sides left the meeting thoroughly satisfied.
After that, the two girls boarded their return flight, preparing to head back to Kasamatsu Tracen and recover for a couple of days. That mysterious emperor had said she had a surprise prepared for them. Xingyun only hoped it would be a pleasant surprise, and not some kind of shock.
Nagoya International Airport.
Perhaps Chihaya Yui had developed some resistance, or perhaps good news had simply put her in good spirits. In any case, she did not get airsick this time, and was finally able to take care of her horse girl properly.
Meanwhile, the pale green-haired girl beside them was completely limp, looking as if all life had drained out of her.
It was none other than the newly transferred Emerald River.
Compared to letting the girl study on her own, Sir Cheung preferred having her observe things up close. Whether she actually learned anything would depend on her own aptitude, and he had no intention of forcing the matter. He had even paid a generous "tuition fee" in advance.
Of course, Emerald River had not come alone. Sir Cheung had arranged for both a personal maid and a butler to accompany her. The idea was that under no circumstances would she become a burden on either Xingyun Liuge or Chihaya Yui.
While the group was still discussing what vehicle to take, horse girls, faculty, and trainers disguised as ordinary travelers suddenly unfurled banners and broke into a wildly enthusiastic celebration of Xingyun Liuge's triumphant return. Streamers and gold confetti went everywhere, causing Chihaya Yui to cry out, "Honestly, don't make trouble for the airport staff!"
But it was fine. The regional racing association had already coordinated everything in advance, and the entire Tokai region felt honored by what had happened.
Before this, Japan had been losing international races to European and American horse girls so often that they could barely even defend home soil. Now Xingyun Liuge had rewritten history. How could they not be excited?
The association president was practically strutting around with his nose in the air.
"Oh? Isn't that so-and-so? Fancy meeting you here. By the way, did you hear that our Tokai region produced a horse girl who won an international GI? That's right—Xingyun Liuge. Even the Emperor herself personally came to try poaching her, but failed. Yes, that Emperor."
The presidents of the other regions outwardly said things like, "Are you insane? What kind of illness is this?"
But inwardly, they were overjoyed.
The JRA had spent astronomical amounts of money and still failed to accomplish it. Meanwhile, NAR had done it. What a beautiful thing that was.
What, Xingyun Liuge was registered under the Tokai region and had nothing to do with them?
Please. Wasn't Tokai part of NAR?
They were all brothers. If Tokai had done it, then the whole of NAR had done it. Perfectly logical.
Compared with NAR's barely concealed ecstasy, JRA's side was much quieter. Of course they wanted the prestige of an international GI title, but those old men were hardly going to admit fault.
Though they were grinding their teeth with jealousy, they still said in internal meetings:
This was merely the first year the Hong Kong Gold Cup had been brought into alignment with international racing. It was different from other international events. Its systems were not yet fully mature. The field was small. It—
They very nearly went so far as to say it "didn't count," but in truth they wanted that international GI title desperately, so they could not quite bring themselves to say it aloud.
Unlike a hollow title that only sounded impressive, the first internationally recognized Hong Kong Gold Cup really had been imperfect in many ways. But it was still an officially recognized international GI. More than that, Xingyun Liuge had broken the record there—by a margin so enormous that it might stand untouched for ten years, or even twenty.
And while JRA was still arguing itself in circles, a few days later—
Sunday, March 6, 1988. Nakayama Racecourse.
Wakaba Stakes — 1800 meters, dirt, sunny, slightly heavy track
"She crosses the line!" the female host cried excitedly. "Xingyun Liuge! Xingyun Liuge from the Tokai region storms home with an overwhelming advantage! She even slowed down before the finish, strolling across it as if she were out for a leisurely walk. But even now, second place is still nearly twenty lengths behind!"
"She's too strong—far too strong! Her performance is practically declaring that a GII race is nothing at all!"
"She is a war goddess on dirt!"
The host had thought her own commentary was already exaggerated—until she looked over at the woman sitting beside her, a former colleague recently promoted up from the Tokai region.
The female commentator drew in a breath, gripped the microphone, and roared, "Rejoice! A new king has been born! She is the one who unites dirt aptitude and turf aptitude, who dominates Nakayama Racecourse, who crossed the seas and returned in triumph—Xing! Yun! Liu! Ge!"
The host had to cover her ears and resist the urge to yell, Hey! You're way too loud!
Xingyun Liuge herself also found the woman a bit loud. And that voice sounded oddly familiar—very much like the local commentator who had once started calling her a Demon King for no reason at all. But this was Nakayama Racecourse. Surely it couldn't really be her?
She glanced up.
And, well. It really was that same person.
Still, to be fair, though the praise was excessive, "a new king of the age" at least sounded better than "Demon King." Besides, now that she had already won the Hong Kong Gold Cup, the title had at least some logic behind it.
The only problem was that this woman was absolutely shouting her head off.
Then again, perhaps that was not so bad. The louder she was, the more people would hear about Xingyun Liuge's story.
Questions swelled in the minds of the gathered reporters.
Some of them were already thinking the same thing:
With strength like this, why was she running in the Wakaba Stakes instead of the Yayoi Sho?
Everyone knew the Yayoi Sho was the single most important trial race for the Satsuki Sho, the first leg of the Classic Triple Crown. The two races were held on the same course. If a horse girl truly had the Triple Crown—or even just the Satsuki Sho—in her sights, then naturally she would do everything possible to get into the Yayoi Sho, not come here for the Wakaba Stakes.
But in the end, that did not matter.
Because they could go interview this champion right now.
They could ask the silver-haired horse girl directly:
What is your goal for the future?
With strength like this, it had to be the Classic Triple Crown, didn't it?
She might even recreate the Emperor's undefeated Triple Crown path.
Surely that was it.
Surely.
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 115)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter108)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter82)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter144)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 70
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 99
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 95
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass 99
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 92
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 47
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 44
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player 43
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 26
My patreon : patreon.com/queen_sin