Chapter 356: Chapter 318: Hard to Say Who Suffers More
"Yu Wenye!"
At this moment, the Imperial Guards closest to the Bright Gate hadn’t yet seen the person in front of them clearly, but Wang Shaoji, standing on the red steps, at such a distance, recognized this hated yet nightmarish figure at once.
Yu Wenye!
He actually appeared here!
But—how could he appear here?!
Even though he had shouted his name, Wang Shaoji still couldn’t believe his eyes.
He gripped his long sword tightly and took a few steps down the stairs, as if wanting to confirm, to wake up from this sudden nightmare. But as he approached, when he could clearly see those cold eyes, the sharp and icy blade seemed to pierce through his body instantly.
Wang Shaoji was suddenly frozen.
This figure, like a god descending from heaven, was truly Yu Wenye.
He was dressed in black, atop a dark steed, with only four white hooves—commonly known as Black Cloud Stepping Snow. Man and horse seemingly emerged from the night; yet, unlike the darkness of the night, his face was excessively pale. No one knew if it was due to the tension of the moment’s crisis or some other reason, but his gaze remained cold, except when looking at that thin figure covered in blood, his eyes showed a hint of blood red.
As if tainted by her blood red attire.
"Ru Yi..."
These two words, softly yet heavily spoken from his mouth, locked their gazes through thousands of soldiers and horses.
For a moment, the world was vast and eternal.
But the next moment, Shang Ruyi gently lowered her eyelids.
Her gaze indifferent, her expression wooden. Although something seemed to strike her heart just now, that feeling was immediately frozen by the icy blood flowing through her, rendering her numb.
She merely looked down at her blood-red garment and the long sword still dripping with blood in her hand.
Everything... was over.
Seemingly sensing the scent of death on her, Yu Wenye furrowed his brows. Seeing the Imperial Guards and Jiangdu Palace guards slaughtered with corpses strewn everywhere, blood mist rising, almost engulfing that thin figure, Yu Wenye suddenly let out a low shout: "Drive!"
In an instant, the horse beneath him shot forward like an arrow from a bowstring, charging directly through the Bright Gate, galloping across the square.
Wang Shaoji came to his senses immediately.
He shouted: "Stop him! Kill him!"
At his command, the Imperial Guards, who were still somewhat stunned and unresponsive to the night’s events, suddenly came alive. No matter what was happening, killing the enemy was in their nature, especially on such a night where blood must pay for their actions!
So, watching Yu Wenye and his horse charge into the crowd, everyone roared as they surrounded them.
But faster than them was Cheng Qiao.
After bursting through the Bright Gate with his men, the first thing he did was rush into the crowd, splitting the Imperial Guards down the middle. The troops automatically divided into two sides, clashing with the Jiangdu Palace guards, unknowingly leaving an open path in the middle. However, this path was anything but smooth; rather, it was a river of blood, with countless bodies sprawling haphazardly on the ground.
Yu Wenye didn’t spare it a glance and charged straight through.
However, the closer to the steps under the main hall, the more Imperial Guards there were.
These people swarmed him like ants, their swords and blades shining with a cold light in the night, like a devouring shield.
Yu Wenye’s pallid face was illuminated by the cold light, as well as the rising blood-red killing intent in his eyes.
In this moment, he showed no fear.
When a squad of troops ahead blocked his horse, he suddenly pulled the reins. The Black Cloud Stepping Snow beneath him let out a long neigh, leaping agilely into the air, its white hooves seemingly stepping on clouds, leaping over the heads of the crowd!
These people were completely unprepared, feeling a black cloud pressing down, shrinking their necks in fright.
Behind them, another squad was charging forward, only to suddenly find themselves in darkness, as the agile horse leapt out from above, the few at the forefront changing faces in fear. As they let out terrified screams, they were heavily stomped in the chest by the hooves, then crushed to the ground.
"Ah—!"
Several screams echoed, their chests pierced through, swiftly losing their breath.
Blood spilled across the ground.
But this was just the beginning. The horse landed amidst the densest group of Imperial Guards, but they were so stunned by the spectacle that they didn’t have a chance to react. They only saw the man atop the horse brandishing his sword like a rainbow. The flash of the blade passed before them in an instant, and suddenly, they felt nothing.
The Mo Blade swept through like the wind, claiming a wave of heads in an instant.
With this, the Imperial Guards were utterly intimidated.
In their paralysis, the Jiangdu Palace guards had already reached them, aiding each other and killing them wave by wave, cutting a bloody path before them.
At last, there were no barriers between him and her.
At this moment, Yu Wenye finally shouted: "Ru Yi!"
This shout, like thunder from a clear sky, echoed to the high heavens.
He was calling her to come to him.
But Shang Ruyi stood still on the steps, staring blankly at him, her eyes clearly dyed a blood-red by the fresh blood, yet without a hint of warmth, without even a trace of emotion at this moment.
Yu Wenye felt a heaviness he’d never felt before, formless yet weighing on him like a massive stone, making it even difficult to breathe.
But still, he shouted, "Shang Ruyi, come here!"
"..."
She remained motionless.
Although she did not move, Wang Shaoji, standing not far away and struck speechless by the scene just now, finally moved. Upon realizing that Yu Wenye’s plan was for this woman, he immediately let out a sinister laugh and rushed towards Shang Ruyi.
The long blade in his hand even swung towards her head.
"...!"
Yu Wenye’s eyes nearly burst, watching Wang Shaoji’s blade about to strike Shang Ruyi. Suddenly, he shouted fiercely, raising the Mo Blade in his hand and hurling it with all his strength—
In an instant, a bolt of lightning shot from his hand.
Wang Shaoji only saw a flash of white light before his eyes, unable to even react to what it was, and felt a heavy blow to his shoulder. Then, his whole body was lifted and heavily slammed to the ground.
A wave of agony surged from his shoulder blade.
He couldn’t help but let out a miserable scream, "Ah——"
He had been forcibly pinned to the red steps by the Mo Blade thrown by Yu Wenye!
And Yu Wenye’s hand was now empty.
Although the surrounding imperial guards were shattered by the scene just now, seeing him without a weapon quickly rekindled a glimmer of hope in their hearts. Thus, they began to wave their swords and rush toward Yu Wenye once more.
This time, Cheng Qiao’s heart nearly split apart!
For he had come to protect Yu Wenye in his rescue of Shang Ruyi, this unparalleled second son the army truly feared, but now without a weapon and surrounded by blade-bearing threats, this was akin to sending a lamb into the tiger’s mouth.
He could only shout, "Second Young Master——"
The words "Retreat quickly" were almost out of his mouth.
But this time, Yu Wenye did not retreat. He didn’t even tussle with those around him, instead lifting his head to look at that entirely indifferent, frail figure among the crowd, revealing a touch of ruthlessness in his gaze, and fiercely pinched the horse’s belly, "Hyah!"
He directly charged toward the direction of the main hall!
"Second Young Master!"
Cheng Qiao shouted in fear, but it was too late to stop him. He could only lead the troops behind him to continue charging, though they couldn’t keep up with Yu Wenye’s pace.
Closer and closer!
He was getting closer and closer to Shang Ruyi!
The steed galloped like lightning, the swift wind cutting across his face and body like blades. Soon, as the smell of blood rose around him in waves, he knew this wasn’t wind like blades but the imperial guards’ blades and swords attempting to stop him striking his body. Yet at that moment, he couldn’t feel the pain, only seeing those blank eyes ahead, that cold, indifferent expression, reminding him of that night she questioned him—
It was unclear who was in more pain.
But he still had many things to say to her!
With that thought, Yu Wenye gritted his teeth, spurring his steed amidst the excruciating pain coursing through his entire body, finally reaching the bottom of the red steps.
And when just a few steps away from the stairs, he suddenly jerked the reins, the horse’s head nearly twisted by him, letting out a mournful neigh as it spun around.
At the instant the horse turned, he spread his long arms, scooping Shang Ruyi entirely off the steps, holding her tightly in his embrace.
The blood from both of them merged at that moment.
The intense smell of blood was even more piercing than the blades and swords. Yu Wenye felt the pain almost turning his vision white, but he gritted his teeth and emitted a low roar from his throat, like the roar of a beast, "Ah——"
Shang Ruyi only felt a dizzy whirl, her entire being seemed to be lifted into the air.
In fact, she was indeed flying for a moment.
And in the next moment, she landed steadily on the horse’s back, in an embrace filled with blood.
Yu Wenye held her in his arms, tightly grasping her with both hands, as if afraid the slightest trace of her would slip away. Only when he felt her shivering did he finally exhale a long breath.
"Hold steady!"
He whispered in her ear.
But the person in his embrace made no move.
She didn’t even struggle, just sat woodenly in his embrace, no matter how tightly he held her frail body, he couldn’t feel any trace of her.
Yu Wenye’s heart sank.
Yet he had no more words to spare, only using one hand to tightly bind her waist, then looping the reins around his palm, once again spurring the horse, "Go!"