Chapter Two: I'm a Master Horseman

Qin Tian got into Jiang Tianxiang’s car, and during the drive, he learned the whole story—Jiang had first found Master Kong, and it was only at Master Kong’s suggestion that he had come to look for Qin Tian. As for Jiang Tianxiang’s far-fetched claim that Master Kong had appeared in his dreams, Qin Tian believed it. After all, Master Kong could even understand the language of animals; he was a truly remarkable old man.

When Qin Tian learned that Master Kong had already left due to some urgent matter, he frowned and decided to go check the outskirts of the city first. When he arrived at the dump, he found that the entire Celestial Horse Circus had indeed vanished.

Qin Tian guessed that Master Kong must have encountered some trouble and, not wanting to implicate him, had left without a word but had also arranged a good place for him to stay.

“Old man Kong, that wasn’t very loyal of you, leaving without even discussing it with me,” Qin Tian sighed.

“Old man Kong, I’ll become stronger as soon as I can. If anything happens, we’ll face it together in the future.” Qin Tian patted his chest, where a book given to him by Master Kong rested. In three days, when he turned eighteen, he could begin his training.

Over an hour later, Jiang Tianxiang brought Qin Tian to a high-end villa complex, where the homes were the stuff of ordinary people’s dreams.

Jiang Tianxiang led Qin Tian inside, where they were immediately met by two young women coming out.

“Dad, is this the expert you mentioned?” Jiang Yingying frowned, while her close friend Shen Xiaoqing looked Qin Tian up and down with a skeptical gaze.

Upon seeing Jiang Yingying, Qin Tian was utterly stunned. He silently cursed his lack of education—he couldn’t find words grand enough to describe her beauty, so all he could do was inwardly exclaim in shock.

Jiang Yingying noticed Qin Tian’s gaze linger on her and instantly looked disgusted.

“This is Qin Tian. He’ll be helping out with the horses from now on,” Jiang Tianxiang introduced.

“Oh. I’m going to the stables,” Jiang Yingying replied indifferently, pulling Shen Xiaoqing along as they headed out.

“Wait, take Qin Tian with you so he can get familiar with the place,” Jiang Tianxiang interjected, seizing the opportunity to test Qin Tian’s ability.

Jiang Yingying quickly understood her father’s intent and nodded in agreement.

“Qin Tian, Yingying and her friend are heading to the stables. You should go along and have a look,” Jiang Tianxiang said to him.

Qin Tian smiled and nodded, fully aware of Jiang Tianxiang’s intentions but choosing not to say anything.

Soon after, he watched the two girls drive out in a sports car; realizing it was a two-seater, he was left dumbfounded. Where was he supposed to sit?

“Here’s three hundred yuan and the address. Take a cab,” Jiang Yingying said, rolling down the window and handing him three bills and a slip of paper.

Qin Tian frowned, but he wasn’t annoyed. In his current sorry state, it was only natural that others looked down on him. When he finally revealed his true strength, it would be their turn to be astounded.

He took the money and the address, walked to the gate, and hailed a taxi.

“Take the expressway?” the driver asked after checking the address—it was quite far.

“No, don’t,” Qin Tian replied, unconcerned about making the girls wait a bit longer.

“Off the expressway, it’s two hundred,” the driver said.

“Alright! Let’s go!” Qin Tian flicked the bills in his hand, pleased to have made a hundred yuan already.

Two hours later, at the Imperial Horse Club on the outskirts of Wu City.

“Why isn’t that guy here yet? Did he run off with the three hundred yuan?” Shen Xiaoqing wondered.

Jiang Yingying frowned as well. Even if he took a slow taxi, he should have arrived by now.

“Yingying! I knew you’d be here!” an excited voice called from behind her.

Jiang Yingying didn’t have to turn around to know who it was—Jiang Feng, the eldest son of the Imperial Group. The Imperial Horse Club belonged to his family, and his father, Jiang Qiurong, often bet on horses with Jiang Tianxiang.

“Oh great, the annoying fly is back,” Shen Xiaoqing teased, never one to indulge Jiang Feng.

Jiang Feng frowned slightly, surprised to find Shen Xiaoqing here. Her family was influential and mysterious—his father had warned him not to provoke her.

“Yingying, how about a match?” Jiang Feng suggested.

“Our horse needs to conserve its strength. We’re not playing with you,” Shen Xiaoqing replied, pulling Jiang Yingying away.

“Come on, just a warm-up,” Jiang Feng stepped forward to block them.

“Get lost!” Jiang Yingying barked.

“Jiang Yingying, do you really want to refuse a toast and drink a forfeit? From today on, move your horse out! We’re not boarding it here anymore!” Jiang Feng sneered.

Jiang Yingying’s expression changed. Move the horse? Where would she keep it? There was no feed at home.

“So? Will you race or not?” Jiang Feng grinned.

The Jiang family was wealthy, but horses were just a hobby—they’d bought one, but always boarded it at the club. Jiang Tianxiang would hardly build a stable just for one horse.

“Of course, we’ll race,” a voice broke in as Jiang Yingying hesitated—it was Qin Tian.

“And who are you?” Jiang Feng asked, displeased by this unexpected interloper.

“Me?” Qin Tian glanced at Jiang Yingying and Shen Xiaoqing. “I’m the stable master, here to look after the Jiang family’s horses.”

Shen Xiaoqing burst out laughing.

“Stable master?” Jiang Feng was taken aback.

“Stop joking! Don’t embarrass us if you lose!” Jiang Yingying grabbed Qin Tian, frowning.

“Don’t worry. Victory is certain,” Qin Tian flashed a broad, confident grin.

“Fine! Go ahead then!” Jiang Yingying gritted her teeth. After all, they’d brought Qin Tian to test him—now she’d see what he was capable of.

“So, are we racing or not?” Qin Tian asked Jiang Feng.

“Of course! But let’s raise the stakes—if you lose, you crawl between my legs!” Jiang Feng pointed beneath himself.

“Do all rich people have such tasteless ideas?” Qin Tian replied coolly.

“What, scared?” Jiang Feng taunted.

“No. But what do I get if I win?” Qin Tian asked.

“If you beat me, I’ll crawl between your…” Jiang Feng started, but Qin Tian cut him off.

“No need for that. I’m not interested in such nonsense. If I win, you give me a million yuan,” Qin Tian said.

“Deal! No problem!” Jiang Feng thought Qin Tian would ask for something unusual, but it was just money. Money was nothing to him!

“Are you stupid? At least ask for ten million! This sucker has money to burn!” Shen Xiaoqing whispered to Qin Tian.

“Don’t worry, a million is just the beginning,” Qin Tian replied with a smile.

He went to the Jiang family’s stable and saw the horse. Honestly, Qin Tian knew nothing about horses, but that wouldn’t stop him from winning the race.

“Hey there, what breed are you?” he asked the horse.

The horse neighed a few times, and Qin Tian nodded seriously.

“Yingying, this stable master you hired must be an idiot—chatting with the horse? Hahahaha! And you can tell at a glance, it’s a purebred Akhal-Teke,” Jiang Feng mocked.

“You’re sure it’s purebred?” Qin Tian looked at Jiang Feng.

“Either you’re blind or you’ve got water in your brain. It’s obviously a crossbreed, yet you call it purebred?” Qin Tian replied.

“My family runs a horse club. As if I could be wrong!” Jiang Feng sneered.

“Ten million, bet it’s not purebred. You in?” Qin Tian smirked.

Jiang Feng hesitated, sensing something was off, but he was sure it was a purebred Akhal-Teke.

“Bet it is, then!” Jiang Feng said. He couldn’t believe he could be mistaken.

“Great! Let’s get an expert to verify,” Qin Tian laughed. Ten million, as good as won!

The horse had told him itself it was a cross between an Akhal-Teke and a Mongolian horse—how could that be wrong?

“No need. It’s a crossbreed. My dad’s purchase contract says so,” Jiang Yingying interjected.

“Yingying, don’t lie just to take his side!” Jiang Feng protested, feeling uneasy. In fact, he didn’t know the horse’s full history—its performance had always been mediocre.

He immediately had the staff pull up the horse’s records, and was stunned to find it was indeed a crossbreed. The Akhal-Teke blood had nearly erased all Mongolian traits.

“Remember, you owe me ten million,” Qin Tian grinned.

“Want to win it back? Let’s bet ten million on the race,” he added.

“Fine!” Jiang Feng gritted his teeth. Money was no issue—he’d win back his pride.

“Excellent,” Qin Tian thought gleefully. That would be twenty million in the bag.

He couldn’t help but marvel at how easy it was to make money off the rich—or perhaps, off fools.

At the racetrack, Qin Tian patted his horse’s back and leapt into the saddle.

“You’re riding yourself?” Jiang Yingying was surprised—usually, there were professional jockeys for that.

“Yeah, I’ll ride,” Qin Tian nodded.

“Be careful, then,” Jiang Yingying said, already somewhat impressed by Qin Tian—he’d identified the horse’s breed at a glance.

“Don’t worry. I’ll leave him in the dust at the start,” Qin Tian said with a mysterious smile.

Jiang Feng shot a look at Qin Tian, then whispered to his jockey, “Find a chance to mess with that guy!”

“Understood, Young Master Jiang,” the jockey replied.

The race was about to start. Jiang Yingying and Shen Xiaoqing headed to the stands.

“Hey horse, just stay put when the race starts. I’ll reward you later,” Qin Tian said to Jiang Feng’s horse.

“Idiot!” the jockey sneered at Qin Tian for apparently talking to a horse.

Qin Tian just shrugged.

Bang!

The starter pistol fired.

Qin Tian urged his horse forward at a leisurely pace—surely a losing tactic.

But to everyone’s shock, Jiang Feng’s horse didn’t budge! No matter how the jockey urged it, the horse stood stock still, refusing to move.

“What the…this is supernatural!” the jockey exclaimed, suddenly remembering Qin Tian’s conversation with the horse and feeling a chill.

Jiang Feng, after his initial shock, turned ashen. He didn’t understand what had happened, but he knew he’d lost ten million more!

“Yingying, your family has found a treasure!” Shen Xiaoqing exclaimed, gripping Jiang Yingying’s arm in excitement.

Jiang Yingying’s mouth formed a perfect O of astonishment.