Chapter 668 The final arrow, how about it?!
The two mounted their horses and stood on the starting line.
At this time, the cold wind became even more biting, and even carried a little bit of fine snowflakes, which felt like cold needles piercing the skin when they hit people's faces, chilling them to the bone.
But what was even colder was Lei Yu's heart.
She was never afraid of horsemanship and archery competitions. After all, she came from a military family, and her horsemanship and archery skills were better than many men's. Even when she came to the grasslands, among the Turks who were the most skilled in horsemanship and archery, she was never afraid.
But today, the skills of archery and horsemanship used to protect oneself and one's family are being used to decide the life and death of a close friend.
Is there anything more absurd than this in the world?
Lei Yu felt like laughing, but couldn't manage it. She turned to look at Shang Ruyi, who sat steadily on horseback, someone she had once shared life and death with and who was her closest friend. Standing on the horse, facing the cold wind, she seemed to feel nothing at all. Her face remained as calm as ever, and even her almost transparent eyes showed no emotion whatsoever.
She said she would rather die than lose.
Am I really going to watch her die?
Thinking of this, Lei Yu reached out and touched the cold longbow hanging on the side of the saddle. At the same time, a flash of light appeared before his eyes, and one of Ashina Shali's men stood beside them holding a torch. At this moment, under the watchful eyes of thousands, he forcefully swung the torch down—
"start!"
The two immediately spurred their horses, which had long been unable to restrain themselves, and charged out like arrows released from a bow.
This was the first time Shang Ruyi had ridden a horse on the grassland in such cold weather, facing such a biting wind. But soon, she found that familiar feeling in her memory—the cold wind was like a knife, and when it scraped across her exposed skin, it felt like it was going to cut her skin inch by inch. In no time, it made her feel cold all over, and even her blood was going to freeze.
She recalled that when she was a child, her father would wrap her in his thick clothes and ride her on horseback at full speed.
But at that time, she was the one crying and making a fuss, wanting to chase the moon.
Time has passed, and she no longer has her father's protection. What she pursues is no longer that ethereal beauty. The biting wind howls past her ears, reminding her of these truths.
A life-or-death moment!
Thinking of this, she suddenly perked up, looked up ahead, and saw the burning wooden pillar in front of her, the flames raging as if they were about to shoot straight into the sky.
That place may be the end of her life.
But even if she reaches the end, even if she dies, she must be as magnificent and intense as that flame!
Thinking of this, she grabbed the longbow hanging on one side of the saddle with her other hand and pulled an arrow from the quiver hanging on the other side of the saddle. Although the ride was bumpy, she managed to keep her balance by squeezing her legs tightly against the horse's sides and nocked the bow.
At the same time, Lei Yu, who was almost parallel to her, also nocked an arrow on his longbow.
The two men simultaneously drew their longbows, the gleaming arrowheads aimed at the burning wooden pillar ahead.
At that moment, along with the whistling wind and the resounding hooves of horses, came the deafening shouts of the crowds lining both sides of the road. The Turks were shouting and yelling incessantly—
"Little Princess, we can't lose!"
"Yes, we Turks cannot lose to this Han Chinese!"
"What are you saying? A woman like that is better off dead!"
"That's right, kill her!"
Upon hearing these words, Lei Yu's hands, which were already frozen stiff like ice, began to tremble involuntarily.
Is it really going to be a matter of losing to Shang Ruyi and forcing her to choose death?
Could I really just stand by and watch her choose death, not only not stop her, but also help her on this path?
Is it really possible?
At this moment, her thoughts were like a net, tightly enveloping her and making it almost impossible for her to breathe. In this chaotic moment, a cold light suddenly shot forward!
It's Shang Ruyi!
She gritted her teeth and, just before the taut bowstring was stretched to its limit and her fingertips were about to snap, she suddenly released her grip. She felt a gust of wind rush past her ear, and then a bolt of lightning shot out from her fingertips.
middle!
Shang Ruyi clenched her teeth, and even her heartbeat seemed to stop for a moment.
The next instant, a crisp "thud" rang out, and the arrow struck the burning wooden pillar steadily!
Her heart felt as if it had been struck by a flying arrow, suddenly pounding before she regained her breath. But at the same time, an even faster and quicker bolt of lightning followed her arrow, shooting out with a whoosh and striking the burning wooden pillar!
It was Lei Yu's arrow!
The two arrows were aimed at the target at the same time, one after the other. But Shang Ruyi could see very clearly that her arrow was shot at the top of the wooden pillar and almost missed the target by a hair's breadth, while Lei Yu's arrow hit the very center of the wooden pillar without missing by a hair's breadth!
Her heartbeat, which had finally returned to normal, skipped a beat again. She turned to look at Lei Yu.
"thunder--"
Shang Ruyi subconsciously wanted to say something, but as soon as she opened her mouth, she saw Lei Yu's eyes.
She couldn't bring herself to say it.
Lei Yu's eyes were calm and steady, as if frozen in frost, staring intently at the burning wooden pillar. Even the raging flames could not melt the coldness in her eyes, nor could they dissolve the ice that had formed in her heart.
She wants to beat herself!
No, she doesn't want to beat herself, she just wants to lose!
Although she had gone against what she had just told herself, at this moment, Shang Ruyi felt a surge of hot emotion welling up inside her, almost bringing tears to her eyes.
Lei Yu remains unchanged.
Even though they had been separated for so long, even though they were on opposing sides, even though she had experienced many unspeakable hardships, Lei Yu was still Lei Yu.
She appears so strong, even sharp, yet her heart is as soft as the spring breeze in Jiangnan.
She was still as gentle as ever.
She wanted to live on her own!
Shang Ruyi gritted her teeth, suppressing the bittersweet warmth welling up in her heart. She looked up again, and the cold wind quickly dried the tears in her eyes. She could see clearly once more that the burning wooden pillar was getting closer and closer to them.
Just then, another sharp, piercing sound rang in my ears!
"ah!"
Shang Ruyi let out a quick, low cry. Before she could even react, Lei Yu, who had just fired an arrow, didn't stop. She drew a second arrow from the quiver, drew the bow, and nocked the arrow in one smooth motion. Just as the crowd on both sides of the road began to cheer for her accurate first shot, another arrow flew from her fingertips!
The second arrow hit the target again!
"good!"
Another cheer erupted from the crowd.
Moreover, not only the Turkic soldiers and civilians around them, but even Ashina Shali, who was sitting behind the low table, couldn't help but nod in agreement.
He wasn't entirely satisfied with this daughter-in-law, after all, it was a transaction of interests, and she was Han Chinese; however, his youngest son liked her, and with the occasional whispers of his favored concubine, he readily accepted her. But, as Shang Ruyi said, people on the grasslands value strength, and those with strength earn their respect and favor—even Shang Ruohong, whom he hated to the core, Ashina Shali, deep down, both hated and respected him.
After all, not every Han Chinese has the courage of Shang Ruohong to venture alone deep into the Turkic territory and walk on the edge of a knife.
And right under his nose, the division of the Turkic Khaganate was completed.
The two women before me were, one was Shang Ruohong's daughter, with a resolute character and fearlessness in the face of danger; the other was skilled in riding and archery, no less than a man.
He did indeed harbor a certain unspoken affection for them.
If it were true, and Shang Ruyi could become the daughter-in-law of my eldest son, then at least I wouldn't have to worry about the rooms for my two sons anymore.
Thinking this, Ashina Shali's sharp eyes looked at Shang Ruyi once again.
Lei Yu's second arrow also hit the target precisely, with the arrowhead almost completely overlapping with the first arrow. The arrow shaft and fletching were quickly engulfed by flames, while the bright arrowhead shone with an even more intense light in the fire!
Shang Ruyi gritted her teeth and used her fingertips, which had been white and even numb and swollen from the first arrow, to draw the longbow again. The bright arrowhead, frozen like ice, rested on her fingertips. She gritted her teeth and, as her horse galloped forward, struggled to steady her arms, raised the arrowhead, and aimed it at the wooden stake in front of her, which had been burned into a small volcano.
Just then, a cold light flashed in the flames, piercing her eyes like sharp thorns.
Shang Ruyi's fingertips trembled, and the arrow in her hand flew out!
The arrowhead, carrying a chilling wind, suddenly grazed Shang Ruyi's cheek, and an ominous premonition rose in her heart.
Oh no!
She stared wide-eyed as the arrow shot out, barely grazing the burning wooden pillar.
The arrow missed!
Immediately, a murmur arose from the surrounding crowd. Some shouted with joy, while others showed disdain. Lei Yu, who was still galloping on his horse, also showed a look of bewilderment after seeing the arrow.
But without the slightest hesitation, she reached back with her right hand once again and drew the last arrow from the quiver!
When Shang Ruyi saw that the arrow had missed, a look of panic appeared on her face. However, this emotion only lingered for a moment before being blown away by the biting cold wind. She let out a deep breath and glanced to the side, only to see Lei Yu release the reins, raise both arms high, and draw the longbow to its full extent.
The arrow, once again gleaming with a cold light, was aimed ahead!
At the same time, Ashina Zhuxie slowly stood up from behind Ashina Shali.
His tall figure still stood out in the crowd, but his usually expressionless, cold and stern eyes were now illuminated by the flames, and his gaze became burning hot.
He opened his eyes wide, staring intently at Lei Yu, then looked at Shang Ruyi.
How was that last arrow?
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