Everyone around squinted their eyes against the sudden sharp silver light, but Yu Wenye instinctively widened his eyes, just watching that sharp gleam brush past him from behind, the startled wind making his hair fly.

It was Yu Wenqian!

As soon as Yu Wenye turned his head, he saw his Imperial Brother holding a bow in his hands, his gaze colder than the arrow’s light. That silver gleam shot out from his hands, flashed before everyone, and flew straight toward the steed beneath Wang Shaoqiu!

Immediately followed by a harrowing cry and Wang Shaoqiu’s terrified shout.

The steed was hit in the neck by an arrow and staggered, causing Wang Shaoqiu on its back to also scream and fall to the ground!

However, he reacted swiftly, releasing the reins and rolling to the ground as the steed fell, thus avoiding being crushed beneath it.

But just in that moment of chaos, almost simultaneously, another cold gleam shot from upstream, an arrow fast as lightning, yet it missed its target due to Wang Shaoqiu’s falling backward, whistling past to strike at a spot where he had been sitting!

It hit Wang Shaoji’s shoulder!

"Ah!"

A scream echoed, with Wang Shaoji’s face contorted in pain, almost falling off the horse, but having traveled all night, weary, they had wrapped the reins tightly around their palms, and as he nearly slipped, the tightly wound reins kept him hanging beside the horse.

However, his palm couldn’t withstand such forceful tearing, the skin split open, blood splattered, and he screamed in agony!

People around were instantly panicked.

Not only them, but even those around Yu Wenye were shocked and widened their eyes to look around—

Where did the arrow come from?

While everyone was astonished, Yu Wenye sensed something and turned his gaze to the river’s upstream, seeing a dense cluster of reeds on a riverbank upstream. Although many had withered, they were still dense. With eyes like a torch, Yu Wenye stared at the reeds, eventually seeing a faint, familiar silhouette slowly reveal its outline.

It was Shang Ruyi!

Unbeknownst to them, she had followed and hidden there, and in her hands, she held a longbow!

It was from their return from the Western Turks, as the horses given to her were ridden by soldiers, each equipped with a bow and arrow. However, they had not been used throughout the peaceful journey, remaining idle.

Unexpectedly, she actually—

Yu Wenye widened his eyes, looking at the slightly timid figure, appearing reluctant to reveal her "true self" before him, recalling how the two arrows were shot almost simultaneously, he gritted his teeth tightly.

At that moment, another panic-stricken voice disturbed his thoughts.

He quickly turned his head, seeing the soldiers behind them watching Wang Shaoqiu fall off the horse and Wang Shaoji struck by an arrow, and the troops led by them hurriedly ran to the opposite riverbank, while the troops hidden on Shuishen Mountain noticed the commotion, all rapidly charging down the mountain, weapons gleaming amidst the forest.

Both forces were about to clash!

A battle was imminent!

But—

Yu Wenye quickly turned his gaze to their rear, although they had brought many people, they were spread out along the way, and few managed to chase at the forefront, so only a few hundred gathered on the West River bank, whereas Wang Shaoji had left at least ten thousand soldiers on Shuishen Mountain.

This couldn’t be a winning battle!

However, with Wang Shaoji already struck and Wang Shaoqiu fallen, not seizing this moment might lead to future troubles!

Moreover, given their condition, having fled for their lives all night, they were already utterly exhausted. If they charged now, they might have a chance, but once the soldiers from the mountain arrived, their chance would be lost.

The only opportunity was—

But his arrow tube was already empty!

A tight feeling surged in his heart, Yu Wenye suddenly turned back to Yu Wenqian behind him and shouted, "Elder Brother!"

At this moment, he didn’t call him "Imperial Brother," but the term "Elder Brother" was heavier, louder than ever, causing Yu Wenqian to be jolted as if awakened from a dream. He quickly withdrew his gaze from the vague silhouette in the reeds, and upon looking at Yu Wenye, quickly became clear-headed.

He hurriedly drew an arrow from the arrow tube on the saddle and once again drew the bowstring tight!

But as he aimed at Wang Shaoqiu, his fingertip froze.

Was he really going to...

But just as he hesitated, the opponents seemed to notice the figure moving in the reeds, someone shouted, "There are ambushers, quick—"

All happened in a blink of an eye.

Yu Wenqian gritted his teeth, fiercely releasing the arrow!

As his arrow flew out, Wang Shaoqiu, soaked in the freezing river, suddenly turned, diving towards Wang Shaoji.

At this moment, Wang Shaoji’s hand was almost torn apart by the reins; as he struggled to untangle them, Wang Shaoqiu grabbed his arm.

The wounded shoulder immediately gushed blood, causing Wang Shaoji to scream in pain.

"You—"

Just as Wang Shaoji was about to angrily curse, Wang Shaoqiu swiftly dragged him to shield himself, and with a "whoosh," Yu Wenqian’s arrow struck Wang Shaoji’s chest!

Everyone was stunned at this moment!

Even Yu Wenqian was dumbstruck, his hands tightly gripping the bow and arrow, his longbow drooped to the side.

The people around the Wang Brothers screamed in terror, "General!"

"Master, you—"

"What are you doing!?"

Wang Shaoji was also astounded; for a moment, he forgot the searing pain in his chest and the deep chill piercing his heart, only turning his bloodshot eyes to see his brother using him as a shield, the same brother rescued from Taiyuan City the night before, his lips trembled in pallor, struggling to utter a word from his throat, "You—"

But it was too late now.

He didn’t have time to utter a second word before feeling himself dragged off the horse, harshly plunging into the river, the water immediately mixed with the blood flowing from him, turning pink, surging like waves and swallowing him.

Even in death, he stared wide-eyed beneath the water, watching his brother amidst the arrow rain clamber onto the horse’s back, clutching its neck in panic, shouting "retreat" desperately while charging towards Shuishen Mountain.

Seeing him no longer moving, the others also fled desperately with Wang Shaoqiu.