"Well, MC is..." Chapter 124 The sounds of swords clashing echoed all around. Fresh blood flowed as swords cut through flesh, and countless people cried out in agony. Ning Shu gritted her teeth. From the corner of her eye, she could see the Tartar horses trampling over the bodies of Great Yong soldiers.
An indescribable sorrow and hatred welled up within Ning Shu as she charged towards the advancing Tartars, whipping her lasso towards their faces. The barbs pierced their skin and even tore out some of their eyes.
"Forward, forward..." Finally, the distant hoofbeats of approaching horses arrived. The long-awaited rescue party had finally appeared.
A Great Yong general led his troops, and upon seeing the corpses strewn across the ground, he immediately shouted, "Prepare for battle!"
He Lianying had not brought many soldiers. As he observed Ning Shu, drenched in blood save for her bright eyes, he gave a brief glance and ordered his troops, "Retreat."
The Tartars quickly retreated behind He Lianying, facing off against the Great Yong soldiers. Ning Shu wiped the blood from her face, even her nose filled with the heavy, revolting scent of blood.
She couldn't afford to let her guard down, keeping a wary eye on He Lianying. Her hand trembled slightly as she held onto her whip. He Lianying casually smiled at Ning Shu, despite clearly being injured. Apart from a slightly pale complexion, he appeared not to be in pain at all.
He was indeed fierce, even to himself.
He Lianying pointed at the captured Tartars and said nonchalantly, "Release our North Mongolian warriors."
Ning Shu chuckled. Didn't he understand the situation? She couldn't help but retort, "What if this princess refuses? What's the point of your strong North Mongolian soldiers? Our Great Yong will use ten lives to trade for just one of your Tartars. If ten won't do, then we'll use a hundred."
He Lianying's pupils dilated momentarily before he burst into laughter. Throughout their exchange, his gaze had grown brighter, and in the end, his laughter held an appreciative tone. He Lianying traced his finger along his lip.
"Who would've thought that such a steadfast character exists in a place of prosperity, where people wallow in indulgence? Not even the border generals of Great Yong dare address His Highness this way. Jiayi, you shouldn't have been born in Great Yong. You're a woman meant for the open plains."
Ning Shu merely sneered. To avoid marrying you, she'd endure any price.
At this point, Ning Shu wasn't confident in accomplishing her mission. In the face of national conflicts, individuals were too insignificant. She needed to assist the original host in escaping this man.
Seemingly, the power of the story was too strong. Despite managing to escape the forced marriage, this He Lianying had become fixated on her.
Men were all base creatures, desiring what they couldn't have. When he had married the original host, he treated her abominably. Now, he actually wanted her to leave with him? It was practically spitting in Great Yong's and Li Wen's faces.
Perhaps He Lianying was attempting to undermine Great Yong's morale. Imagine a scenario where a nation's princess runs off with the enemy's prince, following a humiliating peace treaty. It would be a massive embarrassment.
Her reputation would be forever tarnished.
Ning Shu sneered, "Your North Mongolia is a land where rulers act unworthy of their station, and subjects lack decorum: a place bereft of the Three Principles and Five Virtues. How can a place like that suit an incorruptible princess? He Lianying, crawl back into the hole you came from. Begone!"
He Lianying's face grew increasingly pale, and upon hearing Ning Shu's final words, he was so enraged that he coughed up blood. Of course, a shameless character like He Lianying wouldn't be angered to that extent. It was the poison acting up.
"You truly did poison me." He Lianying wiped at the black blood at the corner of his mouth.
Ning Shu spread her hands and shrugged innocently. "This princess is honest and never lies."
He Lianying stared intently at Ning Shu's face, examining it minutely. Eventually, he chuckled heartily. "Princess Jiayi, prepare yourself. This prince will not rest until I obtain you!"
"I'm truly scared," Ning Shu patted her chest. "I just enjoy seeing you frustrated yet unable to possess this princess."
"Let's go..." He Lianying coughed up another mouthful of blood, then ordered the North Mongolian soldiers to retreat.
He Lianying turned his horse around, preparing to leave the captives behind. Ning Shu laughed coldly. Did he think he could come and go freely on Great Yong's soil?
She grabbed her bow and arrow, drawing it back into a full moon shape. The tip of the arrow shimmered with cold light as it aimed at He Lianying's back.
She released the bowstring, and the arrow flew straight towards He Lianying.