Chapter Seventy-Six: A Mask Is More Than Mere Ornamentation—Those Lofty Figures Above Will Never Understand!

Fan Sha felt as though he were dreaming. First, an audacious commoner came to challenge him, then that person led the most infamous mad unicorn from the stables. The creature was called a madman for good reason—its horn had pierced more than a few keepers—and such ferocity was expected only in wild unicorns. No one could explain why a unicorn raised from birth in the stables was so violently temperamental. Even a master equestrian like Fan Sha could not tame it.

To gain the unicorn’s approval was no simple feat. It had been half an hour since Ruby mounted its back, and even a seasoned veteran like Fan Sha would have felt his organs shaken loose. Yet the commoner seemed glued to the saddle, stubbornly refusing to fall.

“Is that enough?” Ruby patted the now somewhat subdued beast and asked, knowing this was a test—a test of his worthiness to ride upon its back.

The crimson unicorn neighed, a grudging acknowledgment. This human had not lied; he truly possessed the right to forge a partnership.

In the following minutes, Ruby galloped across the arena, seeking the feeling of the ride. Despite being a unicorn, the method of control was little different from riding a horse. As their rapport deepened, the unicorn’s movements grew wilder, seeking out obstacles to leap over. When confronted with the five-meter barrier Fan Sha and his companions had just crossed, it bounded effortlessly atop the obstacle, surveying the other unicorns below with regal disdain.

“Mr. Ruby, I’ve found the unicorn’s records,” Ryan announced, having watched Ruby intently. In his eyes, Ruby was capable of anything—riding was surely the simplest of tasks. When Ruby dismounted to rest, Ryan handed him a towel with a grin.

“Come to think of it, I don’t know your name yet,” Ruby said, wiping sweat from his brow. He suddenly realized he did not know his companion’s name, even though Fan Sha’s unicorn bore a noble title like Venus.

“It’s called Red Bean,” Ryan replied.

“Red... cough,” Ruby almost laughed, but managed to restrain himself. He feared another tense duel with Red Bean might ensue. The shrewd unicorn knew precisely what Ruby was thinking; instead of using its horn, it nudged him playfully with its long muzzle.

“I heard the keeper who delivered it named it. The newborn unicorn looked just like a giant red bean. But this Red Bean is peculiar—its temperament is wild. You’re likely the first person to tame it.”

Ryan explained to Ruby in detail. Throughout, Red Bean fixed Ryan with a murderous glare; yet, the beast’s bloodline restrained it from violence. It could only hope to kill him with its stare.

“Taming is not quite the word—collaboration fits better. I need its help, and perhaps it desires a rider who will let it run free. I look forward to working with you, Red Bean,” Ruby said, stroking the unicorn’s neck, a spot that brought comfort. Hearing its name, Red Bean turned its head in embarrassment, its former ferocity now replaced with awkwardness.

“Thank you for waiting, Mr. Fan Sha. We can begin,” Ruby declared, approaching Fan Sha, who had been observing from the sidelines. Though the noble’s words were sharp, his temperament was fair; he had given Ruby plenty of time.

“If you think taming Red Bean means you’ll beat me, you’re sorely mistaken. By breed, my Venus is of a higher grade than yours, commoner!” Fan Sha, though surprised by Ruby’s talent, possessed his own pride. Having claimed countless victories, he felt no threat from a novice rider. Venus and Red Bean locked eyes, each unwilling to yield.

“Watch carefully—this is the starting line, the finish is behind that mountain. Whoever crosses first wins. No objections?” Fan Sha led Ruby to the starting point, handed him a map, and carefully explained the route, refraining from bullying the newcomer.

“I’ll serve as judge. When this magic orb explodes, you start—understood?” Ryan walked to the edge of the arena, conjuring a white sphere. Fan Sha felt Ryan looked familiar, but couldn’t place him. Before he could ponder further, the orb detonated, signaling the start.

At the signal, two shadows—one crimson, one white—shot forward like twin streaks of light. In an instant, Ryan lost sight of them. Red Bean and Venus chased each other, neck and neck at first, but soon Red Bean began to lag, the gap widening.

“Don’t worry, your abilities are far greater than this,” Ruby whispered encouragingly, patting Red Bean’s neck. The unicorn, puzzled, wondered if this human did not care about winning. Quickly, it understood Ruby’s intent. As Ruby pulled the reins to the right, Red Bean spotted a rocky hillside. Though it hesitated briefly, it charged up without fear.

From the outset, Ruby never believed he could win a head-on contest. Venus was a battle-hardened champion, while Red Bean, though gifted, lacked rigorous training, having only run laps around the arena. To win, he had to take an unusual path.

“Ha! As expected, just pretending. A commoner is still a commoner—how could he possibly beat... me?!” On the other side, Fan Sha was nearing the finish, glancing back repeatedly for Ruby, but saw nothing. Confident victory was in his grasp, he set a boastful expectation.

But fate does not favor the boastful. With barely ten meters to go, sunlight suddenly vanished. At first, Fan Sha thought it was a strange cloud, but when he looked up, he saw the silhouette of a unicorn soaring overhead, snatching victory by a hair’s breadth as it crossed the white line.

“Well done,” Ruby praised, gently stroking Red Bean’s head. Turning to Fan Sha, he saw both master and servant wearing identical expressions—mouths agape, eyes wide with disbelief.

“Impossible! How did you come down from that side?” Fan Sha cried out in shock. He knew the little hill well; others had tried to cut across it only to lose their teeth. The slope was strewn with rocks and dotted with sparse trees—no rider, no matter how skilled, could master it.

“The rules never said shortcuts were forbidden,” Ruby replied, unwilling to explain how he managed it. He could hardly reveal that he carried the collective experience of every equestrian on earth, aided by Red Bean’s extraordinary jumping ability. Truthfully, the bouncing felt more like riding a rabbit.

“No, I mean...” Fan Sha stammered.

“In any case, you lost,” Ruby said.

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Red Bean: Perhaps my speed isn’t truly triple. Maybe it’s just because Ruby isn’t wearing a mask.