Sheng Jiangli laughed and said, "Then I must thank His Highness the Prince of Yan for his mercy."
"Giddyup!"
On a rough trail forty li outside Pengcheng, several fine horses galloped like the wind towards the road ahead.
They were going so fast that only a blur was left behind.
The Hu cavalrymen guarding on both sides of the mountain cliffs were all dressed in black with their faces covered tightly.
Sheng Jiangli squinted his eyes and listened to the thunderous sound of hooves approaching from afar. He silently counted in his mouth:
"Five."
"Four."
"Three."
"Two."
"One."
"Release!"
As his voice fell, Song Yinghuai's fine horse was approaching. A horse - tripping rope was quickly pulled up from both sides!
At the same time, dozens of Hu cavalrymen flew out from both sides of the mountain cliffs. Their cold blades glinted menacingly as they charged towards Ji Qian and the other two Jinyiwei officers behind!
Suddenly, the neighing of horses filled the sky. Song Yinghuai's warhorse couldn't stop its hooves and stumbled on the rope, falling forward heavily!
However, the man on the horse didn't fall with the horse. Instead, he took advantage of the forward momentum and soared into the air.
He shot up like an arrow!
He rushed towards Sheng Jiangli, the leader.
He suddenly struck out with his palm, fast and fierce. The wind from his palm was sharp, accompanied by a howling sound!
Sheng Jiangli was caught off guard. Unable to retreat in time, he was swept by the palm wind on his chest. He felt a sharp pain pierce through his chest and took seven or eight steps backward before propping himself up with his scimitar.
A hint of fishy taste welled up in his throat.
He looked up, and Song Yinghuai's cold face like an ice sculpture came into view.
Ji Qian and the others had already engaged in a fierce battle with Suobude and the others.
It was originally a situation where the enemy outnumbered them. But the next moment, Ji Qian took a moment to whistle.
The shrill whistle echoed in the valley. Suddenly, more than a dozen Jinyiwei officers in flying - fish suits emerged from both sides of the valley and began to attack the Hu cavalry from the outside!
It was a plan within a plan!
Sheng Jiangli's pupils constricted violently. He couldn't help but curse softly, "Your Highness the Prince of Yan has a brilliant plan! It turns out you saw through my scheme long ago and used it to your advantage perfectly!"
"I'm not a fraction as good as you." Song Yinghuai had a handsome face and a faint smile on his lips, but his words were cold and decisive. "You're a master at strategizing, and I admire you. But you probably don't know that the Jinyiwei has a secret stronghold in Pengcheng. I'm not alone!"
He lifted the scabbard in his hand. A long sword was so bright and dazzling that it even outshone the morning sun, making the valley as bright as day.
He stared into Sheng Jiangli's eyes and smiled warmly. "I haven't unsheathed this Iron Horse and Icy River Sword for seven years. You're lucky today to witness its unsheathing. But..."
Song Yinghuai's smile deepened. "When this precious sword is unsheathed, it must be sacrificed with human blood. Today, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you to offer your blood to my precious sword."
Sheng Jiangli's body suddenly tensed up. He gasped, "Iron Horse and Icy River!"
Song Yinghuai didn't wait for him to finish speaking. His sword was like a white snake spitting out its tongue, hissing through the wind. He spun around and swung out a dazzling light curtain, like stars falling from the sky.
Sheng Jiangli held his scimitar in his hand. The smile behind his black cloth was gone. His two eyes were like shooting stars, and his eyesight followed his gestures as he blocked.
Suddenly, the dust rolled up, like a giant dragon splitting the earth, with a terrifying momentum.
Sheng Jiangli's double - moon scimitar got stuck on Song Yinghuai's sword. He forced out a laugh, "Your Highness the Prince of Yan is so ruthless that you want to take someone's life as soon as you make a move. How can you be worthy of practicing Buddhism?"
Song Yinghuai also smiled gently, "The Buddha saves those who are predestined. I failed to send you to meet the Buddha last time. This time, I won't let you miss the chance again!"
As he finished speaking, his sword spun along the scimitar, stirring up a deafening sound that seemed to fall from the sky. It almost dragged Sheng Jiangli's hand in.
Although Song Yinghuai's long sword was as sharp as a spear and his momentum was overwhelming, it didn't damage his gentle and jade - like temperament at all.
At the moment when the cold light of the sword and the gentle breeze blew across his handsome face, he looked even more outstanding. His sword was like frost and snow, and his whole body was surrounded by silver light.
They fought each other fiercely, and there was also a bloody battle on Ji Qian's side.
The fight lasted for half an hour, and more than a dozen people fell to the ground. For a moment, the bright red blood soaked the earth in this valley.
Suddenly, Song Yinghuai's figure flashed. He was like an arrow flying out. In the blink of an eye, he was already close to Sheng Jiangli!
The long sword in his hand slashed down fiercely!
The light curtain cut off the incoming rainbow light. The dazzling sword light shot up like a gorgeous silver dragon.
Sheng Jiangli only felt a chill on his chest, followed by a sharp pain. Blood spurted out and splashed on the ground, staining the earth red.
"Boss!" Suobude roared from afar. "We can't hold on anymore!"
The black cloth on Sheng Jiangli's face was already soaked in blood. His breathing was heavy. Hearing Suobude's cry, he couldn't help but smile bitterly. "If you can't hold on, then run! Are you waiting to die?"
Suobude: ...
Wasn't he worried about Sheng Jiangli?
But now he seemed to have no time to worry about Sheng Jiangli. Half of the thirty elite Hu cavalrymen he brought had been killed or injured. They were all his brothers!
Suobude's eyes were red. He gave a secret whistle to signal a retreat.
However, Ji Qian's smile disappeared. He shouted sharply, "Attack!"
Suddenly, another row of Jinyiwei officers holding crossbows emerged from both sides of the valley. The menacing iron arrows were aimed at the Hu cavalrymen below.
They loaded the crossbows, pulled the bows, and shot.
Rows of sharp arrows howled towards them. Without hesitation, they penetrated the sword formations swung by the Hu cavalrymen and pierced through their bodies.
The arrows sticking out of their bodies were full of a strong smell of blood. The red blood on the arrowheads dripped down alarmingly.
After a round of arrows, only three or four Hu cavalrymen were still holding on.
There was nowhere to escape.
Suobude gritted his teeth in anger and tightened his grip on the scimitar in his hand.
Death was not something to be feared, but it was a pity that they were all going to die in a foreign land without saying goodbye to their families.
Sheng Jiangli's face turned pale. His long eyelashes outside the black cloth fluttered a few times. A hint of heavy bitterness appeared in his eyes, like a dim shadow covering his face.
Everyone said that it was extremely difficult to assassinate the Prince of Yan. He still held a glimmer of hope.
Now it seemed that in the end, he had lost completely to Song Yinghuai.
Song Yinghuai held the long sword and stepped forward slowly. His eyes were inquisitive. "Do you want to take off your mask now, or should I take your life with a sword and then lift your mask?"
His eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at the other person. A familiar feeling came over him.
Perhaps this person was the one he suspected...
Sheng Jiangli knelt on one knee on the ground and coughed a few times. His voice became a bit hoarse. "What's the difference?"
Song Yinghuai smiled. "There's not much difference. It's just that you can say a few more words."
Sheng Jiangli almost burst out laughing. "Then I must thank His Highness the Prince of Yan for his mercy. Maybe I should be obedient and take off my mask to live a few more moments!"
He raised his hand and slowly reached for the black cloth on his face.
Song Yinghuai saw that there was no trace of fear of death in the other person's eyes. His expression changed slightly.
This was a fearless and resourceful person.
It was a pity that they were on different sides.
Just as Sheng Jiangli's hand was about to pull off the mask, the sound of hooves thundered from behind them.
Everyone was stunned for a moment and looked in the direction of the sound.
They saw a fast - riding horse galloping towards them on the valley trail.
The lake - blue skirt of the woman on the horse fluttered backward in the strong wind, outlining her graceful figure. Her long black hair danced and curled in the wind, as if she was coming on the wind.
On her charming face like a spring flower, her eyes and eyebrows were now filled with a fierce and heroic air, making everyone unable to take their eyes off her.
But that wasn't the most important thing. The most important thing was the woman on the horse.
Song Yinghuai and Sheng Jiangli watched the approaching woman. Their pupils shrank violently at the same time.
Ji Qian couldn't help but blurt out in surprise, "Miss Caiyu?"
The second wave of arrows had already been loaded onto the crossbows, making a "click" sound as the strings were pulled at their heads.
Song Yinghuai's calm face finally showed a crack. He shouted in a deep voice, "Stop shooting!"