Chapter Ninety: Contest of Strength (Twenty-Four)

The main force was in pursuit, chasing with a frenzy bordering on madness.

The thousand-some warriors of the Yue Division and the Turkic Blue Wolf Riders had all lost themselves to rage. The Yue Division, among the largest tribes on the northern grasslands of Yinshan, was accustomed to commanding a degree of respect even from Liu Wuzhou. Yet now, a young Han boy had come and gone as he pleased, breaking through their lines, setting their camp ablaze—treating their territory as if it were his own backyard.

And he’d done it twice in a single day!

If they allowed him to escape again, what face would the Yue Division have left to stand upon the grasslands? They had only just unified nine clans; should word spread of this humiliation, those clans might rebel, and the Turks would surely look down on them, perhaps even seize the opportunity to plunder. The Yue Division might soon find it impossible simply to survive. Even if the Heng’an Eagle Cavalry arrived to support them, they’d rather die than let this Han youth live!

If Xu Le could hear the thoughts burning in the hearts of the Yue Division warriors, he would simply apologize. His only intention had been to rescue Luo Dun... that the Yue Division suffered so greatly was pure accident.

The Turkic Blue Wolf Riders, meanwhile, were driven by another purpose.

Xu Le had captured Zhang Wansui!

They could not allow Zhang Wansui to fall into Liu Wuzhou’s hands, nor could they let the secret of the Zhibi Division’s alliance with Wang Renqiong be exposed. Otherwise, Zhibi Luoluo and Zhibi Sili might never escape the boundaries of Yunzhong.

Zhibi Sili, his face smeared with blood, spear in hand, charged at the forefront. No longer jovial or easygoing, his eyes blazed with fury as he shouted and cursed, urging everyone to speed up—no matter what, they had to catch Xu Le!

Ahead, Xu Le and his companions did not look back, only drove their horses harder. The Yue Division’s camp was not far from the low hill fortifications outside Yunzhong City; even if they chased all the way to the city gates, they might not catch Xu Le in time to kill him and retrieve Zhang Wansui.

Zhibi Sili roared, “Loose your arrows! Kill them!”

At this point, even silencing Zhang Wansui was acceptable.

With his command, the Yue Division warriors and the Blue Wolf Riders drew their bows, the twang of bowstrings filling the air. Arrows clustered thick as a forest, arcing through the night toward Xu Le and his companions.

Xu Le heard the bowstrings vibrating behind him, but did not look back. Instead, he pressed his heels hard into the horse’s flanks. Now, all he could do was gamble that the arrows would miss.

Tunlong let out a long, piercing neigh, and its speed increased yet again.

Luo Dun and Bu Li, riding alongside, did not look back either. They hunched low and urged their mounts onward.

Arrows tore through the air, falling like rain, but missed Xu Le and his companions by the slimmest margin. Those with stronger bows only managed to graze past the three, never coming close enough to strike.

Mounted archery suffers from weak bow strength and poor aim. The rain of arrows proved ineffective; Zhibi Sili’s eyes burned with rage.

Not far ahead lay the low hill fortifications outside Yunzhong City. From here, one could see the tiny silhouettes atop the stockade walls. The thunderous roar of hooves echoed from the front.

The armored cavalry of Heng’an Eagle Cavalry had emerged once more!

The Yue Division warriors regained some clarity, remembering how they had been routed earlier by Yuchi Gong’s archers. Many instinctively pulled back on their reins; their exhausted mounts reared up, front hooves flailing. With so many behind, collisions ensued, and several warriors were thrown from their horses.

The Blue Wolf Riders clustered close to Zhibi Sili, preparing to seize the young Khan and turn back.

Zhibi Luoluo followed, but remained at the rear of the main force. This shrewd Ah Xianshe of the Zhibi Division had always prepared two options: if Zhang Wansui could not be retrieved, they would abandon the Yue Division and flee Yunzhong’s perilous territory at once.

Hearing the thunderous hooves, Zhibi Luoluo shouted orders to his personal guards, “Retrieve the young Khan—we’re leaving!”

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Suddenly, a line of flickering lights appeared ahead of Xu Le—armor reflecting firelight.

A mass of Heng’an armored cavalry surged from the darkness toward him.

Luo Dun, who had been clinging to his horse in silence, finally straightened and cried out in joy, “We’ve truly escaped!”

He had prepared himself to die in the Yue Division’s camp, never expecting that Xu Le would storm in with Bu Li that night, rescue him by some miracle, and flee—only to be met by the Heng’an cavalry’s support.

Even now, Luo Dun felt as if he were still dreaming.

Xu Le, atop his horse, was not nearly as excited. Inwardly, he gave a bitter smile.

This mass of Heng’an cavalry was not here to support him...

He glanced down at Zhang Wansui, who was slung across his saddle, battered and dazed.

He was fortunate to have captured such a talisman...

Luo Dun’s jubilation suddenly turned to horror. The Heng’an cavalry, light riders in front, drew their bows. A row of gleaming arrowheads flashed; in the next moment, they released, and a volley of arrows flew straight at Xu Le and his companions!

Luo Dun shouted to Bu Li beside him, “Watch out!”

The old chieftain, in an instant, seemed to recover the agility of his youth. He slid from the saddle, yanking the reins. His horse whinnied and turned sideways, and Luo Dun concealed himself behind its body.

Bu Li was even quicker; his small form nearly disappeared beneath the horse’s belly, shielding himself completely.

Arrows came whistling toward them. Both Luo Dun’s and Bu Li’s mounts were struck, blood spraying as the horses screamed and collapsed. Bu Li quickly leapt free of his fallen steed, but Luo Dun, having spent all his strength to hide in the stirrup, could not escape in time. He was dragged down by his horse, tumbling to the ground, unable to rise.

Bu Li cried out, “Grandfather!”

Using both hands and feet, the small figure rushed toward Luo Dun, intent on shielding him from the next volley.

Xu Le, meanwhile, spun his lance, the shaft vibrating as arrows struck it, scattering in all directions. One arrow grazed his shoulder, drawing blood.

Since entering Yunzhong, he had faced death several times, but this was the first time Xu Le had been wounded.

After deflecting the arrows, Xu Le grabbed Zhang Wansui and exposed his face in the firelit night.

“Wang Renqiong has colluded with the Zhibi Division. Zhang Wansui is my captive—I act under the orders of Liu Yingji!”

In that moment, Xu Le recognized Yuan Junwei among the Heng’an cavalry before him. He had not expected them to unleash a volley of arrows without question or attempt to capture him for interrogation.

He was simply too young and inexperienced, underestimating the ruthlessness of these great men.