CHAPTER 138: CHAPTER 138: A FAINT AND COOL FRAGRANCE

Shang Ruyi’s heart felt as if it had fallen into an ice cave.

She understood that she was being completely targeted by those people.

At this point, it was too late to regret picking up a weapon, or to regret retaliating when being hunted. Now, she had no way out and could only carve a path for survival by herself!

Thinking of this, a surge of strength filled her heart, surrounded by fear—

To drag a few more with her even in death!

What if she couldn’t die!

Therefore, she immediately drew another arrow from the quiver with a backhand, ready to turn and shoot. But as she turned, she saw three Turkic soldiers as strong as mountains rushing at her. Even if she killed one, the other two could tear her apart.

But there was no time to think more now.

Shang Ruyi gritted her teeth, aimed the arrow at the middle one of the three, and released it, hearing the swoosh as the aimed Turkic soldier fell to the ground.

Almost at the same time, the other two Turkic soldiers attacked from both sides, reaching right in front of her.

It’s over!

These were the only words in Shang Ruyi’s mind as she closed her eyes in despair.

...

However, the expected pain did not occur.

Instead, two screams suddenly rang out as they brushed past her, making her ears buzz. Shang Ruyi hurriedly opened her eyes to see that the two Turkic soldiers had been shot in the chest and fell from their horses, just sweeping past her cheeks with a gust of fishy wind.

This is—

Shang Ruyi could hardly believe it, but she heard more arrows firing over her shoulder at the charging Turkic soldiers. Looking back, she saw two teams galloping furiously towards her.

The leaders were Lei Yu and Mu Xian!

Both of them were already covered in blood and dust, rushing forward with longbows in hand. Those two Turkic soldiers had just been noticed by them and shot down directly!

Shang Ruyi was overjoyed, quickly turned her horse around, but as soon as she moved, she heard Mu Xian shout loudly, "Young Madam, be careful!"

As soon as the words fell, a sharp sound suddenly rang in Shang Ruyi’s ear, like the most piercing howl of a night owl in a silent night. The moment this sharp whistle rang, Shang Ruyi’s heart sank.

A whistling arrow!

She didn’t even have time to respond before she felt a heavy impact on her shoulder, knocking her off balance toward the side of the horse.

"Shang Ruyi!"

In Lei Yu’s terrified shout, at the moment of falling off the horse, Shang Ruyi’s hands shook, wrapping the reins around her wrist, suspending herself on the side of the horse. But as the reins tore at her wrist, a searing pain suddenly surged from her shoulder, almost ripping her arm off, making Shang Ruyi scream in agony, "Ah—!"

Without looking back, she knew she had been hit!

That sharp sound just now, she had only heard it in her childhood, over a decade ago. It was a distinctive arrow used exclusively by the Turkic royal family called the whistling arrow. The bow used was stronger than usual, extending its range many times beyond regular arrows. More frighteningly, the arrow was fitted with a live iron piece, making a sharp scream when fired that could attract soldiers’ attention even amid thousands.

Once this arrow appeared, all soldiers would charge towards the sound of the arrow!

And at this point, the one who could shoot this arrow needed no other thought!

After the scream, Shang Ruyi was drenched in sweat, still stubbornly half-dangling on the side of the horse, her bloodshot eyes peering through tangled hair towards the back—Turkic soldiers were surging towards her like a black cloud engulfing the top, but her gaze penetrated all the tall figures, all gleaming swords, focusing on the rear of those men.

Amidst the huge army formation, a tall figure rode on the back of a Ferghana Horse, holding a strong bow in one hand and raising the other high.

And his gaze, like the wolf king on the grassland.

Cold, vicious, bloodthirsty!

Ashina Shali!

The one whom Shang Ruohong and Princess Qiancheng once conspired against to divide the Turks, now the Shali Khan uniting the Western Turks!

This raid was his revenge against the Da Ye Dynasty!

Shang Ruyi’s eyes were bloodshot, her body convulsed, unable to see the face of that person clearly from such a distance, yet the mere gaze from that person seemed to drain all her blood with its chilling stare.

Luckily at this time, two gusts of wind rushed to her side.

"Young Madam!"

Mu Xian dashed to her side, immediately leaned down to grab her arm, attempting to pull her up onto the horse.

At this point, not minding the wound on her back, feeling like dying but needing to live, Shang Ruyi gritted her teeth, using his strength to turn over and sit back astride.

Simultaneously, Lei Yu’s voice sounded on the other side, "You go quickly, we’ll cover here!"

As they spoke, Lei Yu’s crew and Mu Xian’s team rushed forward, positioning themselves around Shang Ruyi. Her heart warmed but she knew this group was nearly insignificant before the Turkic soldiers.

She shouted, "Quickly go, we all go!"

Just as she was shouting desperately, also urging her horse to charge towards the city gate, a heavy drumbeat suddenly sounded from the tower above.

Shang Ruyi instinctively looked up to see the soldiers defending the city lined up in formation, their bows and arrows aimed at the fiercely contested area outside the city gate. With a command—

"Release arrows!"

Instantly, a rain of arrows poured down, flying over their heads towards the advancing Turkic soldiers.

Immediately, painful howls erupted everywhere.

Following that, within the originally congested city gate, a troop of Imperial Guards suddenly charged out in reverse, led by Wang Shaoji, whose face was ironclad. He shouted at Shang Ruyi and others, "Hurry into the city!"

Shang Ruyi was taken aback—he, actually came to save her?

At this moment, there was no time to worry about anything else. She took advantage of the deterrent caused by the arrow rain and Imperial Guard’s charge, immediately galloping with the others toward the city gate.

And behind them, aided by the dense arrow rain overhead, Wang Shaoji led his men, fighting and retreating, also finally successfully returning within the city gates.

Finally, amid a scene of bloodshed and anguished cries, the North City Gate of Yanmen County closed heavily!

Seeing the city gates close, Shang Ruyi’s tense mood finally relaxed, she wobbled and fell off the horse.

"Shang Ruyi!"

"Young Madam!"

Shang Ruyi was groggy, only feeling countless people calling her name, reaching out to protect her.

And just before she lost consciousness, sinking into darkness, she saw a blurred figure suddenly rush forward, hugging her tightly in his arms.

On him, there was a scent of dreary cold fragrance.