Chapter 1073 Something's Wrong

A streak of cold light shot out and struck the point where the battle axe and the long spear met.

With a sharp clang, the two weapons snapped apart. Caught off guard, Shi Yutao leaned back and nearly fell off his horse. Fortunately, he managed to sit up by gripping the reins tightly with his other hand. Although Shen Tu Tai's arm sank, he did not lose his composure. He steadied himself with a quick movement of his long spear and looked up in the direction from which the cold light had come.

The enemy formation slowly retreated to both sides, clearing a path in the middle. A man and a horse stood behind the crowd, holding a longbow in their hands, the bowstring still trembling and buzzing.

It's Hanako Ei!

Upon seeing him, while others might be alright, Yuwen Ye, standing on the city wall, immediately frowned.

Shen Tu Tai's eyes narrowed slightly.

Compared to Yuwen Ye, who had once suffered a "loss" at the hands of Hua Ziying in Xingluocang, he obviously understood this person better than others. After all, he was also the seventh leader of Wanggangzhai and was on brotherhood with Xiao Yuansui. Naturally, he also understood the people around him, especially this Little Li Guang.

It's clear from that arrow that Li Guang's archery skills have become much more refined than before they parted.

That arrow startled Xue Lin, who had retreated to the side. He immediately spurred his horse to Shen Tu Tai's side and whispered, "General..."

Shen Tu Tai glanced back at him, then saw that the soldiers behind him were all tense because of the arrow, each holding a sword and glaring at each other, as if they were ready to charge at any moment and fight to the death.

Shen Tu Tai immediately raised his hand, signaling Xue Lin not to act rashly.

The soldiers behind him all fell silent.

Having brought the situation under control, he slowly turned his head. At this moment, Shi Yutao had obviously come to his senses as well. He glanced at Shen Tu Tai with a slightly pale face, then immediately spurred his horse back a few steps. When he reached Hua Ziying's side, he immediately whispered, "Why are you here?"

Hua Ziying held the longbow tightly, his eyes, sharp as hawks, fixed on the familiar figure ahead. Then he looked up at the tall, imposing figure on the city wall in the distance and said, "Brother Xiao asked me to come and take a look."

Just as Shi Yutao was about to speak, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his hand.

Looking down, he realized that he had just exchanged a few blows with Shen Tu Tai. It wasn't just that his arms were numb from the shock, and both of his hands were now somewhat weak. Even the base of his thumb and forefinger had been cracked from the shock.

This was the first time since his debut that he had encountered such a disheveled opponent in battle.

The fear and panic he had just felt were instantly swept away by the stinging pain, and a surge of anger and resentment welled up in the young man's heart. He gritted his teeth and said, "Since you're here, that's good. Then we—"

Hua Ziying immediately said, "Brother Xiao said not to linger in the fight."

"What?"

"Don't get caught up in the fight; Shen Tu Tai is not someone you can take down."

"Not something I can handle? Then what did you send me here for?"

Hua Ziying turned to look at Shi Yutao. He wasn't familiar with this person and was never one to coax others, but he still patiently said, "Have you forgotten what your sister said before she left? She told you not to act impulsively."

Upon hearing this, Shi Yutao's expression changed.

He wanted to say something, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he felt as if something invisible was choking his throat. After struggling for a while, he could only say sullenly, "Don't use my sister to pressure me."

Hearing this, Hua Ziying knew he wouldn't go any further, and breathed a sigh of relief. He looked up at the front again. Although the soldiers on the other side of Hulao Pass were aggressive, Shen Tu Tai, who was standing in front, seemed very calm and didn't seem to have any intention of attacking. So he said in a deep voice, "Sound the retreat!"

Several soldiers behind him immediately began striking the bronze gong.

In an instant, a sharp sound rang out across the battlefield, and their soldiers immediately formed ranks and slowly retreated.

However, Hua Ziying and Shi Yutao did not immediately retreat with the group. Instead, they stood still, accompanied by several personal guards, protecting the main force as they withdrew. It wasn't until their men had begun to cross the Sishui River that Shen Tu Tai slowly shook the reins and took a few steps forward.

Shi Yutao's face immediately showed a tense expression.

Shen Tu Tai simply held the long spear upside down and stopped some distance away from them, then asked Hua Ziying, "Xiao Yuansui didn't come?"

Hua Ziying looked at him: "Seventh Brother, do you want to see him?"

Shen Tu Tai shook his head: "I don't want to see him. Wouldn't it be better for him to stay in Hebei? Why does he have to interfere here?"

Hua Ziying asked, "Once you take Luoyang, will you just leave it at that?"

"..."

Shen Tu Tai remained silent, and this silence was tantamount to acquiescence. Hua Ziying said calmly, "Since a battle is inevitable sooner or later, it's better to start sooner rather than later."

Shen Tu Tai chuckled and nodded, saying, "That's just his temperament."

As they spoke, most of Hua Ziying's men had already successfully crossed the Sishui River. Their personal guards quietly reminded them that it was time for them to cross as well. Hua Ziying glanced back, then turned to Xiao Yuansui, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Seventh Brother, I'm leaving. See you next time—I won't hold back this time."

Xiao Yuansui also raised his hand in a bow: "These are the words I wanted you to convey to him."

Hua Ziying nodded, then turned and left with Shi Yutao.

Only after their troops retreated to the opposite bank of the Sishui River did Shen Tu Tai turn his horse around, instructing his men to continue monitoring the situation on the other side of the river and to report any unusual activity immediately. Then, he led Xue Lin and his soldiers into Hulao Pass.

After entering the city, the two immediately went up to the city wall. Yuwen Ye on the city wall remained standing in the same place until they approached, at which point he slowly turned around.

Xue Lin stepped forward and immediately bowed to him: "Your Highness..."

Yuwen Ye looked at him calmly and said, "You've been asking me to let you lead troops into battle all this time. Today, your wish has finally come true?"

Xue Lin's originally pale face immediately turned bright red.

He gritted his teeth, bowed deeply, and said, "This humble general is willing to accept punishment."

Shen Tu Tai was about to say something, but after thinking for a moment, he shut his mouth. Yuwen Ye did not get angry, but just looked calmly at Xue Lin's lowered head, and then said, "You did not lose, so I will not punish you; but today's battle has also shown you who you are. The ancients often used 'humility to cultivate oneself, and integrity to uphold virtue' to admonish gentlemen, but it can also be used to admonish generals. Go down and think about it carefully."

"……yes."

Xue Lin stood up, bowed deeply to him and Shen Tu Tai, and then turned and left.

Watching his figure disappear into the distance, Shen Tu Tai sighed and said, "Your Highness shouldn't blame him too much. He didn't lose face or morale today."

"..."

Yuwen Ye did not respond to this. Instead, he turned around and looked at the army that had retreated to the opposite bank of the Sishui River and was gradually disappearing from sight. He suddenly said, "I feel that something is not right."