Chapter 3 : Surviving Beneath the Hoof
Chapter 3: Surviving Beneath the Hoof! A Knight’s Affairs!
“Stop!”
“Hold it!”
At the critical moment, two voices rang out simultaneously.
Laforin stepped forward, his powerful body turning into a blur as he charged toward the frenzied stallion.
But just as he arrived, he discovered that the white horse’s movement had suddenly halted.
At this moment, Arthur stared at the brand-new horseshoe before him, still reflecting a cold gleam.
His legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the ground—sitting in his own urine.
The tension Laforin had been holding finally eased.
Just a little more—
Just a little more, and the son of Count Xilin would have died in his stables.
At this moment, Laforin looked at the once-crazed stallion now frozen mid-air like a statue, a trace of astonishment appearing in his eyes.
“Calm down, Little White. Come here.”
The boy’s voice came again from the entrance.
Laforin turned to look.
The white stallion, as if hearing an irresistible command, stepped gracefully toward the doorway.
Its previously raised head gradually lowered, coming to rest before the boy.
“Haven’t I taught you? Other than on the battlefield, you’re not allowed to hurt people.”
The white horse circled the boy aggrievedly, then stopped with its head in front of Leo.
Laforin was stunned—he had not been the one to stop this disaster, but this boy.
Watching the youth gently stroke his white horse, Laforin’s eyes widened slightly. “My horse? Since when… has it become this obedient?”
Leo picked up the reins and led the white horse toward Laforin, performing a solemn knight’s salute. “Honored Sir Laforin.”
At this time, two other horses nearby also broke free from the squires’ hands and obediently moved to Leo’s side.
Laforin turned his head and glanced at Burton, who had come up beside him.
Faced with this scene, neither of them knew how to react.
Even Luka, the old stablehand, had never made these horses so obedient.
“You are Leo Laide, the son of Lord Rang Laide of Blackwater City.” Laforin stepped forward and, for the first time, carefully examined the boy before him.
“Yes, sir.” Leo handed the reins back to Arthur, who was still collapsed on the ground. “Little White doesn’t like being pulled roughly.”
“Oh… oh…” Following the reins in his hand, Arthur saw the tall white horse that had nearly killed him moments ago staring at him.
That terrifying memory surged back into his mind. He abruptly threw the reins aside and scrambled backward, leaving a clear trail of urine on the ground.
Laforin cast a sidelong glance at this timid count’s son, then turned back to Leo.
With interest, he squeezed Leo’s shoulder. “I didn’t expect the son of Rang Laide to have such talent in horsemanship.”
At this moment, Burton, who had been shrinking back, chimed in, “Indeed, Sir Laforin. This child from Blackwater City truly has a knack for raising horses.”
“Raising horses? Is that what a knight calls it—raising horses?” Laforin raised his tone, no longer paying attention to the old steward, and continued looking at Leo. “Little Leo, take these horses to the back courtyard and tie them up.”
“Yes, sir.” Leo untied the remaining three horses in the stable, then skillfully placed his thumb and index finger into his mouth and let out a sharp, resonant whistle.
Hearing the whistle, all six horses lined up neatly before Leo in a row.
They then followed behind him in orderly fashion as they exited the stable.
“Young Master Leo, well done.” At the entrance, Guard Charlie lowered his voice and gave Leo a knowing look.
Leo smiled and nodded, then turned his attention back to his panel.
If not for the Mount Control skill, Arthur would already be dead.
Just now, he had acted on instinct and shouted.
The instincts from his previous life would not allow him to watch a child be trampled to death by a horse.
Even though Arthur had been somewhat arrogant, in truth, he had never done anything to harm him.
“Just childish behavior from a noble brat.”
Having lived two lives, Leo would not dwell on such trivial matters. He had more important things to focus on.
Leading the horses all the way to the back courtyard, he tied them up.
At this time, Laforin, along with Burton and the three squires, also arrived.
Arthur stood awkwardly beside Leo, holding his still-dripping trousers.
Laforin stroked his rock-like chin as he looked at his four squires. “During this period, you were meant to familiarize yourselves with the horses. It seems some of you took it to heart, while others treated it as mere background noise.
Little Leo, starting tomorrow, you will go to the training hall to begin practicing Swordsmanship.”
Laforin then looked at Arthur and the other two, his expression darkening. “As for you three, continue caring for the horses. Luka will come guide you. This time, anyone who doesn’t learn properly can get out of the castle.”
With that, Laforin left with Burton.
Leo did not linger and headed straight toward the dormitory.
Inside the stable, only Arthur and the other two squires remained, standing there awkwardly and at a loss.
Arthur suddenly stomped hard on the ground, splashing droplets of urine in all directions.
As the son of Count Xilin, he had completely lost face this time.
On the side, the lean squire Eddie revealed a trace of viciousness in his eyes. “Arthur, should we find a chance to teach that country bumpkin a lesson?”
“What did you say?!” The tall Arthur strode up to Eddie and grabbed him by the collar. “We didn’t take care of the horses properly—what does that have to do with him? Leo just saved my life. Are you saying I, the eldest son of the Xilin family, am the kind of ungrateful villain who repays kindness with hostility?!”
Arthur’s strength was astonishing—he lifted Eddie off the ground with one hand.
Frightened, Hogg hurriedly stepped in to mediate.
“I was wrong, I was wrong, Arthur.” Only after Eddie begged for mercy did Arthur release him.
“Remember this! The Xilin family always repays its debts of gratitude! Leo is my lifesaver—anyone who dares target him is making an enemy of me, Arthur. Brr—so cold!” A gust of wind blew past, and his soaked trousers made him shiver uncontrollably.
“Let’s go. Starting tomorrow, we’ll properly learn how to care for horses.”
After this incident, Arthur had been stirred into determination by Leo.
The Xilin family never lagged behind others!
The face he lost today, he would reclaim through his own strength.
Although Leo had begun learning Swordsmanship before him, Arthur had already trained with the sword for several years.
In Swordsmanship, no matter how hard Leo tried, he could never catch up.
Arthur strode forward proudly, though his wet trousers clung to his legs, making his movements somewhat awkward.
However, he did not notice that behind him, Eddie had clenched his fists tightly.
Driven by jealousy, a faint and hidden malice flickered in his eyes.
……
On the other side, Laforin led Burton back to the original large stable.
The doors of the stable were tightly shut, yet faint breathing sounds could be heard from within.
Earlier, dozens of his men had already carried it inside.
Listening to the muffled, drum-like breathing, a look of intoxication appeared in Laforin’s eyes. He turned to Burton and said, “You may leave. I want to take another look at it.”
“But the madam and the young lady have already prepared a welcoming banquet…”
“Have them postpone it for a few days.” Laforin sounded somewhat impatient.
“This…” Burton dared not argue. “Very well, Sir Laforin…”
“Also, inform the young lady—starting tomorrow, she will teach that Leo Swordsmanship.”
“The young lady?!” Burton’s eyes were filled with shock.
Previously, the squires’ Swordsmanship had always been taught by instructors.
Laforin’s daughter was a renowned genius in Swordsmanship.
It was even said that once her breathing technique advanced further, she might achieve greater accomplishments in Swordsmanship than her father.
“Do as I say.” Laforin pushed open the doors. “Burton, if you were Leo, you probably wouldn’t have stepped in to save a rival who looked down on you, would you?”
“This…” Burton did not know how to answer.
Laforin walked inside, and the heavy iron doors creaked shut.
“This is called compassion… explaining it to you is useless. Matters of knights—you wouldn’t understand.”