Chapter 319: Chapter 291: Took This Arrow Head-On!
A rider burst out of the blizzard with a momentum like thunder that couldn’t be covered by ears.
The night was as dark as ink, and the glow emitted by the entire Luoyang City spread a large curtain of light behind the rider. Although the figure atop the horse was indistinguishable, Shang Ruyi recognized almost immediately from the outlined silhouette—
It was Yu Wenye!
At this moment, her heart leaped to her throat. She opened her eyes wide, in disbelief, staring ahead, while in the firelight, that person slowly raised his head, and his bright and stern eyes in the dark locked onto hers in an instant.
As their gazes met, Shang Ruyi’s breath caught in her throat.
By this time, the people around had also recognized the person ahead and began shouting loudly, "Second Young Master, that’s the Second Young Master!"
"Hurry, go and support the Second Young Master!"
"Second Young Master, we’re coming!"
Just as these people were about to whip their horses and charge forward, they suddenly saw several figures springing out from the dense night behind Yu Wenye. They too were on horseback, racing through the storm like lightning, with a stance like hunters that won’t let go of their prey.
Shang Ruyi immediately recognized the horseman closest to Yu Wenye, less than fifty steps behind—Hua Ziyang, the Divine Archer known as "Little Li Guang" from Wanggang Village!
At this moment, as he raised his head, he also saw the people charging towards them from the front and instantly realized someone was here to support Yu Wenye. His gaze darkened, and he surprisingly let go of the reins with both hands, then swiftly drew a longbow from his back, pulled an arrow from the Arrow Tube, quickly nocked it, and aimed the gleaming arrowhead at the galloping Yu Wenye.
He was about to act!
This moment, everyone around panicked. They didn’t have time to draw their weapons, and even if they did, it was too late to save Yu Wenye in such circumstances. Shang Ruyi felt her heart pounding in her chest like thunder, her eyes turning red as she shouted at the still galloping Yu Wenye, "Feng Chen, watch out!"
Yet, that person remained unmoving.
At this instant, Shang Ruyi felt her heart sink.
She clearly remembered back in Yanmen County, even when alone amidst thousands, standing against Ashina Shali, who wielded a whistling shot and commanded respect across the grassland, Yu Wenye, holding a Divine Arm Bow, never lost an edge and could even triumph in a long-distance duel.
Just now, he merely needed to take out his Divine Arm Bow—or even an ordinary bow and arrow would suffice to not lose to Hua Ziyang!
Why was he not moving at all?
Was he willingly setting himself up for slaughter?
As Hua Ziyang’s arrow grew steadier, though his mount raced wildly and the storm raged, the arrowhead’s glint no longer flickered, being aimed squarely at its target, Shang Ruyi’s eyes almost burst as she cried out with all her might, "Yu Wenye!"
The rider on the horse remained still.
Almost simultaneously with her shout was a sharp whooshing sound piercing the air.
A flash of lightning shot swiftly from Hua Ziyang’s hand, so fast that it was impossible to trace its path in the storm with the naked eye, and a dull thud sounded from the wind.
Yu Wenye on horseback made no evasive action; his tall figure jolted violently.
He, was hit by an arrow!
No, he wasn’t merely hit; he took the arrow head-on!
At that moment, Shang Ruyi’s heart almost split open as she frantically spurred her horse, leading the people behind her forward. Finally, just before she almost collapsed from exhaustion and fell, she reached Yu Wenye’s side.
But, she didn’t stop.
Now wasn’t the time to stop and tend to him, Shang Ruyi shouted hoarsely, "Quick, protect him!"
In fact, she needn’t have given orders; Mu Xian and the others had already turned their horses from a distance as Yu Wenye sped past, forming a protective arc behind him; though not as swift, Shang Ruyi also caught up to Yu Wenye after them.
In the instant they brushed past each other, her whole body suddenly stiffened.
Because it was at that moment she clearly saw, there wasn’t just Yu Wenye on the horse.
There was another person, held securely in his embrace, so tightly and comprehensively shielded that they hadn’t even noticed before, and Hua Ziyang’s arrow had been entirely unable to harm the person in his arms.
Shang Ruyi’s eyes widened, staring at that pale and delicate face.
It was Empress Jiang!
At this moment, another pair of cold, sharp eyes looked at her, but Shang Ruyi found herself too exhausted to meet them as she took a deep breath, turned her horse’s head and followed behind him, the snow, whipped by the wild wind, crazily lashing her face, yet she felt neither cold nor pain, only continued to ride on instinct.
Even so, the sound of hooves behind her grew closer.
Hua Ziyang hadn’t given up!
Though her mind was in chaos, even more so than the shifting figures and falling snow in front of her, miraculously Shang Ruyi regained her calm. She knew that to get an answer, she had to quickly escape this mess; and to escape the mess, she must deal with Hua Ziyang!
With this thought, she spurred her horse and glanced back.
That one glance met Hua Ziyang’s gaze full of obvious astonishment. He had clearly not expected to encounter Shang Ruyi here,
and in the moment their eyes met, Shang Ruyi shouted, "Hua Ziyang, have you forgotten your agreement with Liang Shide?!"
"..."
"If you harm us today, not only will Liang Shide’s people not spare you, but how will you report back to Xiao Yuansui?"
Upon hearing this, Hua Ziyang’s body instantly shuddered.
Shang Ruyi’s heart pounded hard.
Actually, she was only guessing that it was Xiao Yuansui from Wanggang Village who proposed not to alarm the Yuwen Family and not to harm their people; she wasn’t certain at all. The request on Liang Shide’s side didn’t come directly from him but from the Lei family father and daughter. In retrospect, Liang Shide might not actually have intended to cross Wanggang Village over this reason, but saying so posed a certain threat to Hua Ziyang.
Indeed, after hearing her words, Hua Ziyang slowed his pace.
As he slowed, those riding with him all followed suit, and soon lagged far behind her group.
Shang Ruyi exhaled deeply, yet dared not relax, as she frantically rode alongside those around her, quickly outdistancing the pursuers. By the time she turned her head again, the darkness of night had already swallowed those figures whole.
She returned her gaze slowly, covered in cold sweat.
Then, with some difficulty, she lifted her head to look at Yu Wenye riding ahead, and it was only then that she saw clearly, the familiar broad and straight back had been struck by three arrows!
Blood flowed from the wounds, staining the horse’s back red.