Last arrow!

Shang Ruyi pulled the bowstring and shot in one fluid motion, but by this time, they had already covered half of the long path, getting closer to the burning wooden stake. Even the heat radiating from the giant bonfire behind the stake was mixed with the icy wind, blowing towards them.

The clash of hot and cold made Shang Ruyi shiver.

She couldn’t help but turn her head to look at Lei Yu, who was galloping beside her. Although she had shot the second arrow faster and more accurately, and had drawn her bowstring quicker, at this moment, her last arrow had yet to be released.

At this very moment, Leia Yu also turned to look at Shang Ruyi, her gentle yet firm eyes showing hesitation for the first time.

Just in an instant, Shang Ruyi understood the pain in her eyes.

She should be well aware that Shang Ruyi valued her reputation and dignity more than life itself, and Lei Yu stubbornly wanted the other to survive, yet forced to become Ashina Zhuxie’s concubine, or rather, not even a concubine but a slave, would such an outcome really be better than death for Shang Ruyi?

Was she being too selfish to want this friend to live?

This conflict, just before shooting the last and most crucial arrow, intertwined like the wind mixed with ice and fire around the tip of her arrow, also tangled in her heart, making her increasingly painful, even her hand drawing the bow hesitated.

Should she really let her survive?

But if not, could she bear to watch her die with open eyes?

During such intense inner turmoil, to the point where even her internal organs felt entangled and she couldn’t breathe, Lei Yu glanced at Shang Ruyi again, as if seeking some answer from her.

But this glance made her heart tremble.

Galloping alongside her, aiming at the stake ahead, drawing the bowstring, preparing to shoot the last and most crucial arrow, Shang Ruyi’s eyes were cold and stern, fixated on the front.

But what she was watching was not that burning stake.

It was behind the stake!

Even though the target of this archery competition was the burning stake erected right in front of the bonfire, and the bonfire was at the center of this long path, because they needed to shoot three arrows before reaching the stake, most people, especially the nobles, including Ashina Shali, Prince Zhuxie, Lady Jiayuan, and other ministers, gathered in the first half of the path.

Only a few, those of lower status only being ordinary commoners, stood at the other end of the path.

Thus the crowd was sparse, with no guards or samurai.

In Shang Ruyi’s eyes at this moment, that was—

A road to survival!

At this moment, the blazing fire reflected in Shang Ruyi’s eyes, suddenly sparkling brightly. Although both hands held the bow tightly, and the bowstring deeply pressed into her fingertips, almost cutting her skin, the last arrow had yet to be released.

A thought in her mind burned fiercely like the fiery fire.

With these two arrows, she was already at a disadvantage, and was clearly aware that Lei Yu wanted her to survive, but regardless, she couldn’t accept such an outcome. Rather than being manipulated by Ashina Shali at will, trampling her father’s former reputation to dust, it was better to fight once in desperation!

Even if—death!

But if there was a path to survival, then the arrow in her hand might be the slight chance of survival on that path!

Thinking this, she unconsciously relaxed her hand gripping the bowstring a bit, but her legs didn’t relax at all, instead clamping the horse’s belly even tighter, making the steed beneath her gallop forward even faster.

The hooves swiftly and heavily stamped on the cold, damp grass, water droplets splashing, shaking the ground gently.

"Ruyi..."

A soft call from Lei Yu seemed to sound by her ear, but at this moment, Shang Ruyi couldn’t attend to that.

And the people around them watched her drawing the bow, not shooting the last arrow, their faces showing surprised expressions, especially the Prince Zhuxie standing behind Ashina Shali. He seemed to have keenly sensed something, his thick, dark eyebrows slightly furrowed, eyes glaring at Shang Ruyi’s galloping figure intently.

He murmured, "You couldn’t be..."

Just then, another cold light flashed like lightning in front of everyone.

It was the third arrow!

Shang Ruyi, originally focused solely on rushing forward, felt this arrow pass beside her, the cold wind stirred sweeping past her ear, lifting her temples high. In the midst of messy hair strands, she saw that lightning-like arrow heading for the burning stake, but at the last moment, it grazed the side of the stake.

With a "crack," seemingly terrified by the fierce wind stirred by the arrow, the stake, already burnt for half a day and charred, broke.

And that arrow shot into the air!

Instantly, a chorus of startled and incredulous murmurs arose around, and Shang Ruyi’s heart sank. Yet before she could react, an unusual sound came from behind.

Immediately, someone called out—

"Lei Yu!"

What happened!?

Shang Ruyi urgently looked back and instantly widened her eyes.

Lei Yu, originally sitting steadily on horseback, suddenly started to wobble. Just as Shang Ruyi turned back, Lei Yu looked up at her amidst the wobbling, lightly shook her head at her, and then one foot slipped from the stirrup—

"No!"

Shang Ruyi cried out, but Lei Yu had already fallen from the horse’s back like a puppet losing its strings!

At this moment, Shang Ruyi’s mind went blank, the entire world seemed to go dark, she watched Lei Yu fall heavily to the ground, rolling several times!

Shang Ruyi immediately dropped her bow, grabbed the reins and pulled hard.

The galloping steed, pulled so abruptly, shook its head vigorously, tearing Shang Ruyi’s tiger’s mouth open. Blood splattered, dyeing her palm and reins red, the pain made Shang Ruyi clench her teeth tightly, but she didn’t release her grip, continuing to pull the reins hard, making the steed rear up on its hind legs, front hooves kicking desperately in the air, letting out a piercing scream.

Finally, the hooves landed heavily.

And before the horse came to a halt, Shang Ruyi quickly dismounted and ran back.

"Lei Yu! Lei Yu!"

Shang Ruyi staggered to her side, seeing Lei Yu pale-faced, unconscious on the ground, Shang Ruyi’s eyes widened in rage, trying to reach out to pick her up. Just then, a figure rushed forward and scooped Lei Yu up from the ground.