The blood-pumping hunt belonged to the young, while Edward Carter and Peter Wright sat facing each other atop the high platform, exchanging cups of wine as they watched this contest of man versus beast.

Although there had been a brief moment of disorder earlier, Edward Carter was now quite satisfied with the performance of the Zhao clan’s convoy. However, the ranger sent to look for Gubu Ziqing reported that no one was found near Jie Zitui’s tomb, which left him greatly disappointed.

Just then—

“A deer! It’s a white deer!” someone shouted loudly.

Is there really a white elk? Edward Carter was secretly delighted and couldn’t help but stand up to look into the distance.

For foreign visitors who had come from afar, Mianshang was the site of Jie Zitui’s tomb. That loyal minister, who had cut flesh from his own body to feed his lord, ultimately met a tragic end—after retreating into seclusion, he was burned alive in a man-made fire. His story, full of tragedy, had already spread throughout the Nine Provinces.

But among the old noble families of Jin, especially those like the Zhao and Wei clans—whose ancestors had also followed Duke Wen of Jin, Chong’er, during his exile—there was far less reverence for Jie Zitui.

Was Zhao Shuai, who followed Duke Wen of Jin, a traitor? He excelled at diplomacy, winning the favor and assistance of the three overlords—Duke Huan of Qi, King Cheng of Chu, and Duke Mu of Qin—for Duke Wen of Jin. Was his contribution any less than Jie Zitui’s, who, aside from feeding Chong’er a meal by cutting his own flesh, made no other contributions?

So for the Zhao clan, the significance of Mianshang was far more than that.

Eighty years ago, the “Disaster of the Lower Palace” nearly wiped out the Zhao clan. Fortunately, the “Orphan of Zhao,” Michael Carter, survived, allowing the family line to continue.

After Michael Carter came of age, it was here at Mianshang that the new overlord, Duke Dao of Jin, held a grand military review. During this event, he promoted Michael Carter, officially granting him the position of lower minister, marking the beginning of the Zhao clan’s revival after years of silence.

Thus, the Zhao clan regarded Mianshang as a land of fortune. When the royal house declined and the six noble families scrambled to carve up Jin’s territories, Edward Carter did everything possible to bring Mianshang and its surrounding dozens of miles under his own rule.

Now, this land of fortune was showing its spirit again. Had the long-awaited auspicious sign finally appeared?

Standing by the railing on the high platform, Edward Carter raised his hand grandly. “Pass down my order: whoever captures that white deer, this lacquered Lu bow bestowed by the Son of Heaven shall be their reward!”

“The lord has given his command: whoever captures the white deer shall be granted the Lu bow!”

“Whoever captures the white deer shall be granted the Lu bow!”

The rangers relayed Edward Carter’s order, one after another, and the entire Zhao convoy instantly went wild.

All for the honor bestowed by their lord, and for the invisible struggle for the position of family heir behind that honor.

Led by the four gentlemen, the central, right, and left columns all sped up, beginning a three-sided encirclement.

Sensing danger, the clever white creature darted swiftly through the grass, like a white spot of light flickering across the yellow-green earth.

At this moment, the advantage of William Carter riding alone became apparent.

That was speed!

Formation no longer mattered. The master and his two attendants gradually overtook the main group, charging at the very front of the convoy!

No matter how skilled his three elder brothers were at driving their chariots, no matter how loudly they cracked their whips, they could not match the swiftness of a lone rider!

The galloping horse drew ever closer to the elk ahead—closer and closer—William Carter could even see the pale white spots on its body.

Stephen Ford and Matthew Hill readied their bows to aim, but before their bowstrings were fully drawn, the white deer had already entered their young master’s range. Decisive as ever, William Carter did not hesitate to draw his bow at the target.

He pulled his composite bow into a crescent shape and loosed an arrow straight at the elk’s neck!

“Hit!” Stephen Ford and Matthew Hill couldn’t help but softly cheer for their master.

Yet the white doe seemed to have anticipated this. With a cunning leap to the side, it actually dodged the arrow that had just left the string. Stephen Ford and Matthew Hill let out sighs of regret.

The white deer gave William Carter no further chance. It dashed off on all fours, nimbly leaping onto a small hill and running toward the dense woods.

William Carter did not hesitate for a moment. He squeezed his legs, guiding his horse briskly across the stream and through the woods, closely tracking the white deer’s trail.

The three elder brothers, who arrived later, stared dumbfounded at the rugged hills, the pebble-strewn riverbed, and the shrub-filled forest.

The panting foot soldiers and the supply carts already laden with game arrived one after another, but all stopped in their tracks.

John Carter sighed, said nothing, and simply ordered the driver to turn the chariot around.

David Carter looked in disbelief at William Carter and his two attendants riding off in the distance. He ordered the charioteer Paul Evans to force their way forward, but the wheels got stuck on the riverbed and in the brush, unable to move an inch. This self-important gentleman could only swallow the bitter fruit of failure, angrily throwing his bow and arrows to the ground and stomping on them a few times in frustration.

But the one who felt the most bitter was the schemer George Carter. If only he had known that riding alone was so effective, why bother racking his brains to give William Carter advice? How hateful it was to labor year after year, only to make a wedding dress for someone else in the end!

That white elk was just like the position of family heir—four sons competing, but in the end, only one could return with the prize.