Chapter 669 Fall from Grace
The last arrow!
Shang Ruyi drew the bow and nocked the arrow in one smooth motion. But by this time, they had already run halfway across the long road and were getting closer and closer to the burning wooden stake. Even the heat emanating from the huge bonfire behind the stake, mixed with the cold wind, blew towards them.
The contrast between hot and cold sent a shiver down Shang Ruyi's spine.
She couldn't help but turn her head to look at Lei Yu, who was also galloping on horseback beside her. Although Lei Yu had shot his second arrow faster and more accurately than her and had drawn his bowstring faster, she was still hesitant to shoot her last arrow.
Even at this moment, she turned to look at Shang Ruyi, and for the first time, a look of hesitation appeared in her gentle yet firm eyes.
In just a moment, Shang Ruyi understood the pain in her eyes.
She should have understood very well that Shang Ruyi valued her reputation and dignity more than her life, and that she was forced to become Ashina Zhuxie's concubine, no, not even a concubine, but a slave. Was this outcome really better than death for Shang Ruyi?
Isn't it too selfish of her to want this friend to live?
This inner conflict, like the intertwined winds of ice and fire entangled around the tip of her arrow, also entangled her heart before she fired the final, most crucial arrow, causing her increasing pain and even making her hesitate to draw the bow.
Do we really want to save her life?
But if not, could he just stand by and watch her die?
In this extreme state of turmoil, so much so that his internal organs felt tangled and he could hardly breathe, Lei Yu glanced at Shang Ruyi again, as if trying to get some answer from her.
But that one glance sent a shiver down her spine.
Shang Ruyi, who was also galloping along with her, drew her bow and nocked the arrow at the wooden stake ahead, preparing to shoot the last and most crucial arrow. At this moment, her eyes were cold and fixed on the front.
However, what she was looking at was not the burning wooden stake.
It's behind the wooden stake!
Although their target for this archery competition was the burning stake standing directly in front of the campfire, which was in the middle of the long path, most of the people, especially the nobles, including Ashina Shali, Prince Zhuxie, Lady Jiayuan, and other ministers, gathered at the front half of the path to see the result of the competition, since the two people had to shoot three arrows before reaching the stake.
Only a small number of ordinary people of relatively low social status stood on the other side of the long road.
Therefore, the crowd was sparse, and there were no guards or warriors.
In Shang Ruyi's eyes at this moment, that was also—
A way out!
At that moment, the raging flames reflected in Shang Ruyi's eyes, flashing brightly. Although she had drawn her bow with both hands, the bowstring had dug deep into her fingertips, almost cutting through her flesh, but she hesitated to shoot the arrow.
A thought suddenly ignited in my mind, burning like a raging fire.
With those two arrows fired, she was already at a disadvantage and understood that Lei Yu wanted her to live. But no matter what, she could not accept this outcome. Rather than being manipulated by Ashina Shali and having her father's former prestige shattered, she would rather fight to the death!
Even if it means death!
But if that is a path to survival, then this arrow in my hand may be the glimmer of hope on that path!
Thinking this, she unconsciously relaxed her grip on the bowstring, but her legs remained firm. Even as everyone around them stared intently at them, especially at the longbows in their hands, she squeezed the horse's belly tightly, and the steed beneath her galloped forward even faster.
The horse's hooves moved swiftly and heavily, treading on the cold, damp grass, splashing water droplets and causing the ground to tremble slightly.
"As one wishes……"
She seemed to hear Lei Yu's soft exclamation, but at this moment, Shang Ruyi couldn't care less about that.
Those around her watched as she drew her bow and nocked an arrow, yet hesitated to fire the final shot, their faces showing surprise. In particular, the Zhu Xie Prince standing behind Ashina Shali seemed to have keenly sensed something; his thick, dark eyebrows furrowed slightly, and his piercing eyes stared intently at Shang Ruyi's departing figure.
He murmured, "You wouldn't..."
Just then, another flash of cold light, as swift as lightning, streaked across everyone's eyes.
It's the third arrow!
Shang Ruyi was focused on running forward, but the arrow just barely passed by her side. The gust of cold wind swept past her ears, making her hair fly wildly. Amidst the messy hair, the lightning-fast arrow shot towards the burning wooden stake, but at the last moment, it grazed the side of the stake.
With a "crack," seemingly startled by the gust of wind stirred up by the arrow, the already charred wooden stake, which had been burning for half a day, snapped in two.
And that arrow missed its mark!
Immediately, a chorus of surprised and incredulous gasps rose from the surroundings. Shang Ruyi's heart sank, but before she could react, she heard a strange noise behind her.
Immediately, someone shouted—
"Thunder Jade!"
What's going on?!
Shang Ruyi hurriedly turned around and her eyes widened immediately.
Lei Yu, who had been sitting steadily on horseback, suddenly began to sway. Just as Shang Ruyi turned her head, she looked up at Shang Ruyi, and gently shook her head at her amidst the swaying and jolting, then slipped one foot off the stirrup—
"No!"
Shang Ruyi exclaimed in surprise, but Lei Yu had already fallen off his horse like a puppet without strings!
At that moment, Shang Ruyi felt her mind go blank, and the whole world seemed to darken. She watched as Lei Yu fell heavily to the ground and rolled several times!
Shang Ruyi immediately dropped the bow and arrow in her hand, grabbed the reins and pulled hard.
The steed beneath her, which had been charging at full speed, was suddenly pulled hard by her reins. The horse's head swung violently, tearing open Shang Ruyi's hand and causing blood to splatter out, staining her palm and the reins. The intense pain made Shang Ruyi grit her teeth, but she did not let go. She continued to hold the reins tightly, pulling the steed off its back. The horse kicked its front hooves violently in the air and let out a long, mournful neigh.
Finally, the horse's hoof landed heavily.
Before the horse had even come to a complete stop, Shang Ruyi had already swiftly dismounted and run away.
"Thunder Jade! Thunder Jade!"
Shang Ruyi staggered to her side and saw Lei Yu pale and unconscious on the ground. Shang Ruyi's eyes widened in shock. Just as she was about to reach out and pick her up, a figure suddenly rushed up and lifted Lei Yu up from the ground.
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