CHAPTER 502: CHAPTER 429: KILL—THEM—FOR—ME!

Yu Wenye’s pupils suddenly contracted.

Watching Xue Xian charge forward on his horse, getting closer and closer, he took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and also spurred his horse forward. Just as the Yanyue Blade, swinging fiercely, was about to strike him, Yu Wenye raised his sword with both hands, blocking it once again.

A resounding "clang" was heard.

Just like before, Xue Xian’s blade was blocked by the unyielding hilt in Yu Wenye’s hands. However, this time, Xue Xian’s arms were not bounced back. Instead, he gripped his sword and pressed down hard.

Instantly, it was like Mt. Tai was pressing down, causing Yu Wenye to sink slightly.

Standing on the city wall and witnessing this scene, Shang Ruyi’s pupils were suddenly filled with silent panic. Having watched the previous horseback battle, she understood that the warrior’s strength on horseback comes from the lower part of the body, and most importantly, the two legs gripping the stirrups. That is where the strength of warriors on horses originates.

If that grip loosens, the warrior is almost powerless on horseback.

And Yu Wenye — she clearly remembered he had always had cramps in his legs. Back at Yanmen Pass, it was because of this that Ashina Shali managed to escape. Even though she was concerned about this ailment and had given him milk every night, ever since they "turned against each other," she had stopped doing so.

Now it seemed that Yu Wenye’s legs were starting to cramp involuntarily again.

Moreover, it wasn’t just his legs.

For a person on horseback, waist strength was also crucial. Like his two counterattacks earlier, conducted in a flash, they relied on waist strength; his waist was indeed flexible and powerful, surpassing ordinary people.

But just a moment ago, Shang Ruyi vaguely felt that his waist seemed to soften for an instant, which made his entire body sink.

Could it be—

Shang Ruyi was so tense that she forgot to breathe. Her hand, already worn to the point of bleeding at the fingertips, gripped the parapet tightly, eyes fixed intensely on the battle below.

Had Yu Wenye’s strength really failed him?

Just as her heart was about to leap out of her throat, a low sigh suddenly came from beside her.

"Yu Wen’s second brother, are you a bit tired?"

Shang Ruyi looked down and saw Shantong’er had somehow come to her side, also holding the parapet, staring in a daze at the combat below.

Due to vomiting earlier in the day, Cheng Qiao and the others had immediately taken him down to rest, and so he hadn’t joined the recent expedition. Unexpectedly, the child had woken up, come up to the city wall by himself, and was anxiously watching the battle below.

His words further intensified the unease in Shang Ruyi’s heart.

She asked, "You can tell?"

Shantong’er looked up at her, worry filling his pale face, weakened by vomiting, and said, "His strength seems to be much less than when he first went out to battle."

"..."

"I only now realize, back when Yu Wen’s second brother fought me at Wanggang Village, he wasn’t using his full strength."

"..."

"Otherwise, I’d hardly have survived three moves under him."

"..."

"But now—"

Shang Ruyi’s heart sank as she suddenly said, "Don’t say any more!"

Shantong’er was startled, looking at her somewhat grim face and then around, he immediately understood as well.

Although he didn’t understand the charge of disturbing the morale of the troops, discussing the general’s condition during battle could inevitably make those around worry. If the morale began to waver, the troops would be hard to manage.

Shantong’er quickly closed his mouth.

But after thinking for a bit, he looked up at Shang Ruyi again and quietly said, "Sister Ruyi, I want to help him."

At that moment, both of Shang Ruyi’s hands were on the parapet, her deep dark eyes were locked on the battleground below—Yu Wenye, after a period of stalemate, suddenly swung away the Yanyue Blade pressing down on him, and with a backhand slash aimed at Xue Xian’s lower abdomen, which was difficult to attack but also hard to defend. Yet Xue Xian, unhurriedly, flicked his sword hilt upward, deflecting this strike.

Immediately after, they exchanged several knife blows, the piercing screeches of metal clashing filled the entire Fufeng.

Shang Ruyi said in a deep voice, "No."

"...!?"

Shantong’er widened his eyes in shock, looking at her: "Why?"

Although Yu Wenye had not visibly fallen behind, he still fought fiercely as if invigorated, so much so that the soldiers watching below couldn’t tell something was wrong and continued to cheer for him, even exchanging curses with the soldiers of the Longxi Army on the opposite side. But those standing on the city wall could see clearly.