Chapter 4: Sharing a Ride
Since Zhao Wuji had led the last spirit ring hunt, this time it was Flender's turn to lead the team, accompanied by Yu Xiaogang.
To foster team unity, even though the trip's purpose was solely to obtain Meng Bei's third spirit ring, all members of the Shrek Seven Devils were required to join.
The Seven Devils didn't object.
Compared to the monotony of training, the chance to visit the Extreme North for a spirit ring hunt was far more exciting. Many of them had never been there before.
Given the long journey to the Extreme North, traveling on foot was out of the question.
For the first time, Dean Flender went all out and rented a batch of **Rampaging Hoof Horses** for the trip.
These spirit beast horses, standing over two meters tall, were bred for travel. After taming, they could run up to 3,000 to 4,000 li (around 930 to 1,240 miles) in a single day.
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Soon, everyone found their assigned horses.
Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing, naturally adept riders, mounted their horses effortlessly.
Tang San was also skilled in horseback riding.
Xiao Wu, though inexperienced, had a strong affinity with spirit beasts, which made her horse unusually docile. She quickly managed to ride it successfully.
When Meng Bei approached his horse, it inexplicably trembled in fear and knelt on the ground, allowing him to mount without issue.
This left Oscar, Ma Hongjun, and Ning Rongrong as the only ones yet to ride.
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Oscar and Ma Hongjun, both from commoner backgrounds, had no experience with horseback riding. They struggled to tame their Rampaging Hoof Horses, but after much effort and several tumbles, they managed to mount.
This left only Ning Rongrong.
Although she had ridden horses before, her experience was limited to the **Royal Twin-Winged Holy Light Steeds**, renowned for their gentle temperament. The unruly Rampaging Hoof Horse before her was a completely different challenge.
Feeling embarrassed under everyone's gaze, Ning Rongrong hesitated.
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"Rongrong, stand to the horse's side first," Tang San instructed. "Try to calm it down before grabbing the reins and mounting once it's relaxed."
Ning Rongrong nodded and approached the horse cautiously, following Tang San's advice.
She held the reins and reached out to stroke the horse's face in an attempt to soothe it.
However, the Rampaging Hoof Horse instinctively grew restless as Ning Rongrong neared.
These spirit beast horses retained a wild nature despite being tamed. While they wouldn't attack humans, they were still difficult to control.
As soon as Ning Rongrong grabbed the reins, the horse violently jerked its head, pulling the reins out of her hands. If she had held on tighter, she might have been flung into the air.
Even so, the reins left a deep wound on her hand, and blood began to drip.
Shaken and hurt, Ning Rongrong felt tears well up in her eyes. She had never faced such humiliation before.
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"Rongrong, are you okay?"
"Are you hurt?"
Everyone turned their concerned gazes toward her, but this only made Ning Rongrong feel more humiliated.
She forced a smile and claimed she was fine, but the blood dripping from her hand told a different story.
Looking at the agitated horse before her, Ning Rongrong felt both fear and frustration. She didn't dare approach it again but was too proud to give up in front of everyone.
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At that moment, a system prompt sounded in Meng Bei's mind.
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**[Ding! Side Task Triggered.]**
**[Side Task: Help Ning Rongrong, one of the Shrek Seven Devils, successfully mount her horse.]**
**[Task Difficulty: Easy.]**
**[Task Reward: Random 50-Year Rampaging Hoof Horse Spirit Bone.]**
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Meng Bei's eyes lit up. He patted his own horse, which obediently trotted over to Ning Rongrong.
Ning Rongrong, steeling herself, reached for the reins again, nervously closing her eyes as she did so.
When she opened her eyes, she was surprised to find that the horse before her had changed.
Meng Bei now stood in front of her on his horse, and the reins in her hands belonged to his mount.
Meng Bei smiled at her.
"Rongrong, that horse was too wild—it might not have been fully trained. Try riding mine instead."
Being the youngest among the Seven Devils, Meng Bei addressed even Zhu Zhuqing as "sister."
Meng Bei patted his horse, which knelt docilely.
Blushing, Ning Rongrong hesitated. Before she could decide, Meng Bei scooped her up with a laugh, prompting a startled squeal from her as he set her on the horse in front of him.
Without giving her a chance to dismount, Meng Bei spurred the horse into motion.
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**[Ding! Side Task Completed: 50-Year Rampaging Hoof Horse Right Leg Spirit Bone Obtained.]**
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The rest of the group followed, spurring their horses to keep up.
Riding behind, Ma Hongjun grumbled:
"I'll bet anything—judging by that move, Meng Bei must be a pro at wooing girls!"
Dai Mubai teased him, "Aren't you supposed to be our resident ladies' man? Why didn't you step in?"
Ma Hongjun chuckled sheepishly.
"Boss Dai, don't tease me. That's the eldest daughter of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. My petty experiences don't even come close."
Oscar, who had been silent, felt regret. He had wanted to help Ning Rongrong but lacked Meng Bei's confidence and riding skills.
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Xiao Wu, watching from her horse, couldn't help but pout at the sight of Meng Bei riding with Ning Rongrong. A strange sense of loss crept into her heart, as if something that belonged to her was being taken away.
**"No! My heart belongs to Brother San. Let that scoundrel go trouble Rongrong—it's none of my business!"** Xiao Wu thought indignantly, quickening her pace.
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At the front of the group, Meng Bei and Ning Rongrong rode together.
To ensure Ning Rongrong didn't fall, Meng Bei held the reins with one hand while the other rested securely on her waist.
The horse galloped, and Ning Rongrong's body leaned against Meng Bei's chest with each movement.
At first, Ning Rongrong was too scared to open her eyes. But once she realized she was safe in Meng Bei's arms, she began to relax.
The feeling of being held like this was something she had never experienced before.
Looking up at Meng Bei, she suddenly thought he looked… handsome. Still, he was infuriating!
"Meng Bei, you did that on purpose!" she exclaimed angrily.
Meng Bei laughed heartily. "Of course, Rongrong! I did it on purpose!"
Ning Rongrong was furious, unable to believe how shameless Meng Bei was.