CHAPTER 504: CHAPTER 429: KILL—THEM—FOR—ME! PART 3

But at this moment, all dissatisfaction and frustration were shattered by the sound of the drums!

This young madam, valiant and heroic, stirred the winds and clouds with the drumbeat, further alarming the people on the opposite side of the battlefield into a state of panic. This delighted them greatly, and some even began to shout loudly, "Young Madam!"

At the same time, others were shouting, "Great General!"

For a time, the shouts for the two mingled and entwined on the battlefield, gathering together and making the drumbeat echo through the heavens.

In the midst of the fervent atmosphere, Yu Wenye could only feel an indescribable power continuously flowing from his heart, from the drumbeat, from the slightly trembling ground, and from all directions at once, filling him up. Calmly facing the fight, he sidestepped to evade the blow Xue Xian delivered while simultaneously pressing his legs together, causing the steed beneath him to dash forward two steps, passing Xue Xian by.

Just when everyone thought he was going to entirely evade the opponent’s successive attacks, they saw him suddenly turn around just a few feet behind Xue Xian, and with the same trick, he struck again at the Life Gate Acupoint on Xue Xian’s back in reverse.

Xue Xian was somewhat infuriated by this move.

He reversed the grip on his long knife, forcefully striking down Yu Wenye’s Mo Blade, the sharp blade once again missing its target, only creating another scar on the saddle of his back.

At the same time, Xue Xian urged his horse to follow, wielding his knife to strike towards Yu Wenye’s shoulder.

Shang Ruyi looked at the person below engaged in fierce combat. Though the two were quite a distance apart, she seemed to feel the conviction in his heart and resolved to deliver her strength to him through the intangible rhythm of the drum.

Hence, she gritted her teeth, swinging the heavy drumsticks, and ceaselessly struck the drumhead.

The drumbeat thundered.

Yu Wenye couldn’t see the scene atop the city tower; he didn’t even look back. But it was as if the drumbeat stirred a tide in his heart, the surging tide continuously welling up strength, allowing him to wield that heavy Mo Blade with deftness. In an instant, he had exchanged dozens of blows with Xue Xian on his racing horse.

This time, neither of them halted their horses nor engaged in a stalemate, instead continuously wielding their long knives at each other. Amidst an unceasing clang of metal, they urged their horses lightly, one red and one black, resembling intertwined roaring flames and thick smoke, sprinting along the broad open space outside the city gate.

The dense drumbeats, like rapid rain, at this moment merged with the sound of horse hooves, further stirring the heartbeat of the warriors in battle.

The riders did not pause for a single moment.

The two sat firmly on their horsebacks, separated by a mere few inches, their long knives wielded like two bright circular arcs, stirring a bloody wind. Before long, their horses had run far, reaching the Xiao Lin River.

At this moment, the setting sun blazed, the battle raged fiercely.

The once relatively calm river surface suddenly reflected the two steeds and the figures of two people fervently battling on horseback. At this moment, man and shadow, water and fire, reality and illusion, were intertwined, composing a stunningly beautiful scene.

The thunderous drumbeat outlined this picture, evoking a spirit that resounded through the mountains and rivers!

As they watched the two battling at such a distance, the drumbeat was hard to transmit, and wielding the heavy drumsticks was hardly easier than those wielding swords and knives in battle. With one fierce pounding after another, Shang Ruyi’s arms began to feel sore and numb.

Yin Changyue and the others beside her softly suggested, "Young Madam, let us—"

"No need!"

Not even waiting for them to finish, Shang Ruyi firmly interrupted them.

At this time, she didn’t have the strength to waste words, she needed to channel every ounce of her strength into the drum, conveying it through the drumbeat to Yu Wenye!

"Stand back!"

At a fierce shout, those around dared not speak further, hastily retreating to the side.

Shang Ruyi bit the tip of her tongue, almost tasting her own blood’s salty taste, her exhausted arms swinging like rolling wheels, persistently striking the drumhead, causing even the wooden frame beneath it to shift, almost toppling over.

Shantong’er, with sharp eyes and quick reflexes, hurried forward a step, grabbing the wooden frame tightly beneath.

The rumbling drumbeat made his thick, sturdy arms begin to numb as well, yet he clung on tightly, teeth gritted, as the drumbeat excitedly echoed like muffled thunder across the clouds and ground, reaching the hearts of those engaged in the fierce battle by the riverbank!

At this moment, the two rode along the riverbank, treading the water, splashing up sprays of half a man’s height. Coupled with the sun setting on the horizon, the blood-red twilight emitted its last warmth and brilliance, making the splashes look like rising flames.

The two fought fiercely amidst that glaring light and surging waves!

This scene heated the blood of all who watched!

Amidst the shouts echoing through the heavens, the two fought fiercely along the Little Forest River for nearly a hundred rounds. Their horses galloped back along the long road towards the city gate, quickly returning to Fufeng’s gate.

When Shang Ruyi exhausted her last bit of strength to pound heavily on the drum, producing a deep and resounding sound like a collapsing mountain, Yu Wenye shouted out, slashing fiercely. The dazzlingly bright blade and sharp edge caused Xue Xian to lean backward, and even the steed beneath him seemed visibly intimidated at this moment.

The horse took several steps back.

Then, Xue Xian’s figure suddenly swayed, nearly collapsing.

This sudden turn of events greatly shocked the forces on both sides, causing them to think he was injured and about to collapse. The Longxi Army almost rushed forward regardless, but upon seeing, a look of alarm appeared on Xue Xian’s own face. He quickly clutched the reins in his hand to steady himself.

Yet he, nonetheless, swayed ceaselessly.

He wasn’t injured, the one injured was—

"Red Steed!?"

Xue Xian called out quietly, speaking not of another but the crimson steed beneath him.

Only then did the crowd realize, to their astonishment, that this entirely crimson steed, just now treading water by the riverbank, was now dripping wet. But the dripping water was unexpectedly bright red!

It was blood!

Drop by drop, it fell beneath them, already dyeing a small area of the ground red!

Upon seeing this scene, Xue Xian was greatly alarmed and hurriedly checked front and back, only to find the blood was flowing from beneath the saddle on horseback, where the injury was located.

It was exactly where—previously, Yu Wenye’s strikes to the Life Gate Acupoint were blocked by his knife, leaving marks on the saddle.

His strikes had not only cut Xue Xian’s saddle but had injured his horse time and again in places Xue Xian couldn’t see!

And because this was an entirely crimson steed, when it bled, it wasn’t noticeable, until it was completely revealed, and by then, the horse couldn’t hold on any longer!

"You—"

Xue Xian suddenly understood, raising his head to look at Yu Wenye.

So, this was his plan.

And Yu Wenye’s expression remained cold and stern as before, but he, drenched and dripping all over, exuded a powerful, almost overwhelming aura of killing intent!

That aura had already shattered their morale, leaving the steed beneath Xue Xian teetering on the brink!

"Red Steed!"

Xue Xian’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, and in yet another incredulous shout, the horse finally let out a wretched neigh and crashed to the ground!

At this moment, Yu Wenye’s expression turned grim. His battle-worn, numb arm fiercely rose, his Mo Blade aimed at the disoriented opponent. Reflecting the last ray of blood-red light of the sunset, it emitted a bloodthirsty voice.

"Kill—for—me!"