CHAPTER 136: CHAPTER 136: NIGHT RAID

"The Turkic soldiers are here!"

Amid the campsite, someone shouted loudly, and suddenly, countless arrows rained down from the sky like a torrential firestorm showering the campsite.

"Watch out!"

Lei Yu shouted and pushed Shang Ruyi to the ground. Caught off guard, Shang Ruyi’s head hit the ground heavily. Although it wasn’t too painful, it made her vision flash white, and when she turned her head, she saw two arrows crossing where she had just been standing!

How dangerous!

Before she could feel relieved, the cries of pain surrounding them interrupted her thoughts. They looked around and saw countless people falling from the arrows. More arrows, ignited with fire, hit their tents. Soon, the linked tents caught fire one after another, engulfing most of the campsite in flames!

The entire campsite, unprepared, erupted into a sea of screams and chaos. Some quick-witted people immediately found horses to escape, but the panicked crowd was frantically running in every direction. In the chaos, countless were trampled or killed.

"Quick, we need to leave now!"

Lei Yu’s face went pale. Though she was raised in a military family and trained by her father, she had never been on a real battlefield or experienced such a sudden attack. What made her more uneasy was that after the camp’s shouts broke the silence of the night, she clearly heard galloping hooves and the sharp cries of Turkic people from the northern grasslands.

It really was the Turkic people, sneaking up under cover of night!

She grabbed Shang Ruyi off the ground, her palms sweaty, only to feel them clutched tightly by another equally sweaty hand.

Looking closely, Shang Ruyi was staring at her intensely.

"Don’t be afraid, quickly get your men on horseback!"

"..."

She, calling for her not to be afraid at such a time?

At any other time, Lei Yu might have rolled her eyes or sneered, but now, Shang Ruyi’s voice unexpectedly gave her some strength. She nodded forcefully, turned to take another look, and said, "Everyone is heading towards the main gate. It will soon be congested. You quickly take your men and exit from the side of the camp!"

Shang Ruyi realized this too, nodded in agreement, and turned to run towards her part of the camp.

While the main camp was in chaos, the second wave of Turkic arrows flew at them like fiery meteors.

Shang Ruyi dodged as she ran back, and Mu Xian had already prepared the horses. The guards mounted their steeds, and seeing Shang Ruyi return, they immediately brought her horse over. She swiftly mounted and said to everyone, "The main gate is blocked. We’ll leave from the side. Be careful, avoid the arrows, and don’t trample on anyone!"

"Yes!"

Just as Shang Ruyi was about to leave with everyone, a figure flashed in her mind.

Instinctively, she turned back and saw the innermost part of the campsite, where the luminous king’s tent was already in chaos. It seemed someone was shouting something loudly, but by now, no one cared.

Her heart tightened, and Mu Xian and his men had already run a distance, noticing her standing still. They shouted, "Young Madam, hurry up!"

"..."

Shang Ruyi looked at them, then back at the king’s tent.

She gritted her teeth and shouted, "Go ahead, I’ll catch up soon!"

With that, she turned her horse and galloped towards the king’s tent. Though the shouts of Mu Xian and Tushere echoed behind her, they were soon swallowed by the surrounding chaos.

Galloping, Shang Ruyi finally reached the enormous king’s tent.

Until now, they dared not approach here. It was only at this moment that they saw the full view of the king’s tent, an immense structure spanning dozens of feet. It was even more spacious than some large houses, with its entrance open wide in four directions. Dozens of torches around it illuminated the scene like daylight.

But by now, the rushing crowd had knocked down the tall torches. Sparks ignited the tent’s corners, and more arrows with flames fell from the sky, burning countless holes in the tent roof. Soon, the king’s tent was engulfed in flames.

At this moment, a group of Imperial Guards emerged from inside.

These people, tall and broad, formed layers around a central figure, tightly surrounding him. Mounted soldiers escorted them, making it impossible to see inside. But it was clear; they were guarding His Majesty the Emperor.

She immediately spurred her horse forward: "Sirs, you can’t go through the main gate anymore. The camp’s main gate is blocked!"

Upon hearing this, the tallest person at the front raised his head, frowned, and glanced at her, "Is it you?"

In the torchlight, Shang Ruyi recognized him and frowned, "Is it you?"

Wang Shaoji.

At this moment, Shang Ruyi didn’t have time for their quarrel and shouted, "General Wang, head southeast! There are no fences there yet, and fewer people, allowing His Majesty to leave quickly."

Wang Shaoji sneered: "How dare you presume to direct His Majesty’s movements? Stand aside!"

"General Wang!"

"I told you to stand aside! His Majesty is the True Dragon Emperor. Why would he abandon the main gate for a side gate? If you don’t move, then see if I—"

As he spoke, he drew the treasure sword at his waist. Shang Ruyi, frightened, tightened her reins and backed away a few steps.

Just then, an eunuch rushed out from the center of the crowd, speaking hurriedly to Wang Shaoji, "His Majesty has decreed that Young Madam Yu Wen’s suggestion makes sense. General Wang, let’s quickly change course!"

"This—"

Wang Shaoji’s face showed a moment of anger but he couldn’t argue. He shot a fierce glare at Shang Ruyi and commanded his men: "Move, head that way!"

He turned his horse, and the mounted troops followed toward the side gate.

Shang Ruyi sighed with relief but immediately tensed again, as she now clearly saw the direction from which the flaming arrows came. A large group of riders was charging at them, the Turkic cavalry’s speed much faster than their chaotic retreat. There was no time for any further distractions.

She quickly turned her horse, bypassed the Imperial Guards, and galloped ahead.

But as she rushed forward, she suddenly felt a tingling sensation on her back, as if a familiar, burning gaze was fixed on her.

Instinctively, Shang Ruyi turned to look, but she only saw a sea of heads and the firelight continuously cutting through the sky. The flickering light made it impossible to see clearly. She had no time for anything else and immediately galloped away.