The way Uma Musume looks at me is so scary!

Are you trying to say that I've been infected too?

Seeing that Minami Sumire was still being stubborn, Xiu Xingmeng smiled and extended her hand.

"Welcome back to the world of Uma Musume Pretty Derby."

Minamino Sumire turned her head away with a disdainful look, but still took Xiu Xingmeng's hand.

"I'm just unwilling to accept it."

This was just another instance of Minamino Sumire being stubborn, but it made Xiuxingmeng suddenly burst into laughter.

"I'm just not willing to accept this!"

She spread her arms and looked around. In this small Kasamatsu Racecourse, everyone's eyes were on Xiuxingmeng.

"Does one have to resign oneself to a state of depravity? It is precisely because of the unwillingness in one's heart that one must rise up and strive to catch up, isn't it?!"

"They clearly wanted Kasamatsu Tresson to stand tall in the world of horse racing once again, they clearly wanted to reach the top, they clearly studied equipment every day, and everyone had their own kind of unwillingness to accept defeat!"

"So why give up?! They're just prestigious families, let's bring them all down!"

Trying to imitate the opera from her memory, Xiu Xingmeng encouraged everyone. Her speaking skills were far inferior to those of the opera, and she lacked the seemingly invincible confidence of the opera.

But Xiu Xingmeng's words still stirred everyone's enthusiasm.

Her words were like a bundle of dry firewood; all it took was a spark from Xiu Xingmeng to ignite a raging fire.

"That's outrageous! Kasamatsu Tressen only has nine men. Are they going to use these nine men to fight against the entire horse racing world?"

Behind her, Minamino Sumire crossed her arms and stared intently at Xiu Xingmeng.

Xiu Xingmeng didn't turn around. She looked at the empty audience seats as if she had remembered something, and said firmly.

"One day, I will make this place a full house."

Chapter Sixty-One: A Belated Sense of Shame (Third Update)

In the classroom, Koutarou Haibara was giving a passionate lecture, while Yume Hideaki, sitting in the first row, covered her face in embarrassment.

Xiu Xingmeng knew that although she was usually a rational person, she could do unimaginable things if her emotions were aroused. Whether it was the confrontation after being provoked by the good opera or what she said at the Kasamatsu Racecourse yesterday, they were all the result of the outburst of her emotions.

Reason tells Xiu Xingmeng that she should win a few local competitions after her debut and then naturally move to the central competition, so that she can have a better training environment and more professional trainers.

However, her emotions led Xiu Xingmeng to make a bold declaration in front of everyone: she would take the central position and pull the famous family off the championship seat.

That's nothing, it just makes it more difficult. Xiu Xingmeng is already used to competing for victory under pressure.

The real focus yesterday was learning those lines from the opera!

In the first script mission, Xiu Xingmeng also said something similar to the Holy King's Halo and Yongwu, but this was based on the fact that she knew her mission was about to end, and the pressure from the good opera allowed Xiu Xingmeng to focus all her attention on winning or losing.

But things are different now. The script mission has only just begun. Xiu Xingmeng only debuted yesterday. Just thinking about having to spend a long time with the people from Kasumatsu Tresen makes Xiu Xingmeng feel like she's already sweating profusely, and even the gaze above her head is getting hotter and hotter.

"Himehoshi Yume! May I ask what the tournaments known as the Kasamatsu Two Great Championships are?"

Hearing her name called, Xiu Xingmeng stood up helplessly and looked at Haibara Koutarou, whose expression was completely different from yesterday.

"It's the Donghai Derby and the Donghai Chrysanthemum Appreciation, one is a mud track of 1,900 meters and the other is a mud track of 2,600 meters."

"Absolutely right! You're amazing, hahaha!"

Upon hearing the answer, Koutarou Haibara laughed and patted Hoshino on the shoulder, indicating that she could sit down.

After sitting down, Xiu Xingmeng felt a tap on her back. She turned around and saw that it was Anzai Suzune, who was holding a horse racing magazine and staring intently at her.

"Hey, Meng, I did some research last night, and this DK-MudX horseshoe should be perfect for you!"

"The deep serrated texture provides better traction, the thickened design reduces the impact of hard surfaces on the feet, and most importantly, it's very durable—one pair can last a long time!"

"Let's go to a physical store together after school! I know a really good one!"

Looking at the spirited saddler Lingyin, Xiuxingmeng could only smile and nod.

But wouldn't the teacher notice if she spoke so loudly in class? With that thought in mind, Xiu Xingmeng turned her gaze to Principal Haibara, only to find that he was smiling and giving her a thumbs up.

Xiu Xingmeng slapped her forehead, realizing that expecting Principal Haibara to stop her was wishful thinking.

Feeling the burning expectation emanating from Haibara's eyes, and listening to the chattering of the saddler Suzune behind her as she studied the equipment, Xiuxingmeng finally got through this restless class.

But when she tried to leave the classroom to hide from the crowd, Nan Ye Jin, who had been watching Xiu Xingmeng's seat, gestured with her lips to her two friends. Before Xiu Xingmeng could react, the two horse racing girls pulled her to the spot.

Feeling the warmth enveloping her entire body, Xiu Xingmeng raised her head. The big Xiyuan Mucao was smiling at her from above. Looking down, the pink-haired Xiaolin Feng puffed out his cheeks and hugged her legs.

"You did that yesterday and you still want to run away?"

Minamino Sumire sat on Xiuxingmeng's desk and poked Xiuxingmeng's cheek with an incredulous look.

"I just wanted to go out for some fresh air, it's not like I'm running away. Besides, I only said a few words yesterday, don't make it sound so strange!"

Surrounded by three people, Xiu Xingmeng said with a wry smile that she couldn't even raise her hands to surrender because her limbs were being held.

"Come on, I've been watching you the whole time. It's obvious you're trying to escape to some remote Amazon rainforest where nobody can find you because of what you said yesterday, hoping time will make everyone forget everything!"

Minamino Sumire pinched Xiuxingmeng's cheek and said with a smug look on her face.

"You're very observant."

"I remember you weren't like this yesterday."

Surrounded by enemies, Xiu Xingmeng broke out in a cold sweat. She looked at the smug Nan Yejin and said weakly.

"Who told you to do that?"

Minamino Sumire turned her head and said in a deliberately strange and mischievous tone.

“Even though it’s already happened like that…”

"You heartless man, sob sob sob..."

The two horse girls holding the Embroidered Star Dream, seeing Minamino Sumire say this, also spoke in the same strange tone.

"You can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want!"

Xiu Xingmeng expected to be given strange looks after saying what she said yesterday, but she never expected that these guys would make her sweat so much.

Eagerly, she moved her head forward, trying to find a helper in the classroom. When she saw Anjiang Lingyin outside the crowd, Xiuxingmeng's eyes lit up, and she said as if asking for help.

"Lingyin, you were there yesterday, you have to vouch for me!"

Unexpectedly, the saddler Lingyin lowered his head silently, his shoulders trembling as he made a gesture that resembled tears, and said.

Kasamatsu Racecourse

Slick-tongued idiot

"You've completely forgotten what happened before!"

Xiu Xingmeng was so angry she almost laughed. Anjiang Lingyin even started composing haiku.

Upon hearing this, Minamino Sumire, who was sitting at the table, silently raised the corners of her mouth and looked at Xiu Xingmeng with a smile, as if asking her if she had anything else to say.

Xiu Xingmeng gritted her teeth, her eyes darting around the classroom. Now that Lingyin had betrayed her, she needed to find another helper who could pull her out of this misery.

Soon, she saw the short, stout figure who had walked to the door and was about to leave quietly.

"Croak! Principal, help me!"

Unexpectedly, Haibara Koutarou turned around and adopted a girlish demeanor, looking at Xiuxingmeng with a resentful expression.

"That's not what you said yesterday—"

After saying that, he opened the door and was about to leave, as if he was heartbroken to the extreme. But Xiu Xingmeng clearly saw a sly smile creep onto his round face.

"You guy!"

Seeing that Haibara Koutarou had betrayed her expectations once again, Xiuxing Meng was so angry that she twisted and turned in Kobayashi Fu and Nishimoto Musashi's hands.

"Hmph, stop struggling, no one will save you now."

Nan Ye Jin looked at Xiu Xingmeng, smugly hummed twice, and then waved to her two little followers.

"Men, move the Embroidered Star Dream to the playground!"

"Oh!"

Chapter Sixty-Two: Physical Test (Fourth Update)

"What are you doing?"

On the playground, Haibara Chizuru looked speechlessly at the chaotic crowd and the hoisted-up Xiuxing Meng.

"Sir, the criminal Xiu Xingmeng has been captured and brought to the parade ground!"

Xiyuan Mucao said with a grin, carrying Xiuxingmeng in one hand and giving Haibara Chizuru a perfunctory bow with the other.

"You're really strong."

Looking at Kobayashi Kaze, who was struggling and panting heavily, and then at Nishimoto Musashi, who had almost single-handedly lifted Xiuxingmeng, Haibara Chizuru clicked her tongue in amazement.

"After all, she has to help with farm work at home, and Xiaomeng is quite light."

As she spoke, she raised Xiu Xingmeng up and down as a gesture.

"As someone who's been lifted up and down, I'm curious what you're thinking right now."

Haibara Chizuru walked around to their side, squatted down, and looked at the expressionless Xiuxing Meng with curiosity, asking her a question.

Xiu Xingmeng crossed her arms and looked dazed; if she weren't being held, she would have looked very deep and thoughtful.

"I want to go back to yesterday and shoot Xiu Xingmeng on the head because she dragged herself onto this pirate ship in a moment of emotional outburst."

Even if Xiu Xingmeng had been beaten to death yesterday, she would never have imagined that the guys from Kasamatsu Tressen would be so wild after opening their hearts. Is this the kind of enthusiasm that comes from the countryside?

"And Xifeng, I think people should still be mindful of boundaries with each other. Can you put me down?"

Xiu Xingmeng raised her head and looked at Xifeng Mucao, speaking softly.

With a thud, Xiu Xingmeng sat down on the ground. Looking at the azure sky, she realized that she still missed Tokyo, where there was a sense of distance between people.

Aside from good operas, I guess.

"Alright, stop overthinking. It's time for training. Coach Sato has already taken care of all the logistical arrangements for you."

After helping Xiuxingyuu up from the ground, Haibara Chizuru clapped her hands to draw everyone's attention to herself.

Xiu Xingmeng noticed that the track, which had been empty just a few days ago, now had distances marked with white lines, and the playground suddenly had many exercise equipment and baskets of mineral water.

On the edge of the playground, Sato Takeru, sitting on a tricycle, wearing sunglasses, gave Xiu Xingmeng and the others a thumbs up.

"If you get injured, Mr. Sato will take you to get treatment."

The sound of Haibara Chizuru chattering came from beside her, and Xiu Xingmeng asked curiously.

Did he also obtain a medical license?

"How can it be--"

Haibara Chizuru smiled and waved her hand before speaking.

"But his tricycle will get everyone to the medical center as quickly as possible!"

"Mr. Sato is the best tricycle rider in Kasamatsu Tressen!"

Sato Takeru, who was in the distance, seemed to have heard Haibara Chizuru's words. He turned to the side, looked up at the sky at a 45-degree angle, and made a gesture as if he had some dark past.

It's a pity that no one paid attention to him.

“Xiu Xingmeng, the first thing we need to train is your footwork. Your footwork is too light and floaty, which is obviously the way you run on a grass track.”

“You’ve already felt that footwork like that will cause an accident on a mud track.”

On the playground, Haibara Chizuru had already begun explaining the problems she had seen to Xiuxingmeng, and Xiuxingmeng nodded in agreement.

"If we had been a little bolder yesterday, we might have been able to widen the gap even further."

Hearing her say that, Minamino Sumire's lips twitched.

Three hundred meters is already an incredible distance, but Xiu Xingmeng actually said she could pull even further. Just how strong is this girl?

She looked at Haibara Chizuru with expectant eyes, hoping that she could be like the old coach in those inspirational movies, using sharp words to make Hidehoshi Dream settle down.

To everyone's surprise, Chizuru Haibara nodded seriously.

“Indeed, if it weren’t for the fear of accidents, I wouldn’t have had you deliberately train your footwork on the dirt track.”

"With your current abilities and performance, it's almost a certainty that you'll win a big reward at the local level and be promoted to the central government."

This answer greatly surprised Minamino Sumire, and not only her, but all the racehorse girls present except for Hidehoshi Yume were equally shocked.