In contrast, what they have now killed to sacrifice the flag is a woman.

Without mentioning ancient customs, it might not seem improper to anyone, yet in front of Shang Ruyi, Ashina Shali’s heart instantly sank.

He sneered, "You do understand well."

Shang Ruyi replied, "Know yourself and know your enemy."

Ashina Shali sneered, "There is one thing you said correctly, we haven’t used fierce beasts for the flag sacrifice for a long time, and there is another thing you said even more correctly: that using you to sacrifice the flag now is indeed a bit too early."

After speaking, a cold gleam flashed in his eyes.

"I would like to see if, when I drag his woman in front of him to be cut to pieces, he can still shoot an arrow from the Divine Arm Bow!"

"..."

Shang Ruyi took a deep breath.

Not only because of Ashina Shali’s words about dragging herself to the front lines to be cut to pieces but also because he actually knew about the Divine Arm Bow.

But that’s not hard to understand.

After all, the Turkic people have already conspired with Wang Shaoji to take Taiyuan, so naturally, they have communicated. The Divine Arm Bow was originally won by Yu Wenye in a gamble from Wang Shaoji; besides, during the battle in Yanmen County, Yu Wenye was able to shoot through the sounding arrow and hit his eye from such a long distance, almost nothing but the Divine Arm Bow could accomplish that.

At that moment, a tall figure beside her suddenly stepped forward: "Father Khan."

Shang Ruyi turned to look, it was Ashina Zhuxie.

He had stepped forward suddenly when Ashina Shali mentioned the Divine Arm Bow, and after uttering the words "Father Khan," he said nothing more, his originally cold eyes showed a trace of warmth, and Ashina Shali immediately understood.

He gestured to the side.

Immediately, two soldiers came over, one holding a strong bow, the other carrying an arrow tube.

The bow indeed was a good one, but compared to Yu Wenye’s Divine Arm Bow, it was still inferior. The only thing that caught Shang Ruyi’s attention was the arrows in that arrow tube, swaying with the soldier’s steps and making a scraping sound.

That was the sound of iron plates rubbing on the arrows.

This is the sounding arrow of the Turkic Khan!

As soon as the sounding arrow appeared, the eyes of the surrounding soldiers and ministers all focused on it, even Ashina Zhuxie, whose eyes were usually emotionless, flashed with a trace of heat, though it was brief. Ashina Shali looked at him and said, "I now entrust this sounding arrow to you."

"..."

"From now on, you will use this sounding arrow, just like in the past, to go to battle, conquer more territories for our Turks, and shoot more enemies!"

Ashina Zhuxie took a deep breath and said, "Yes!"

After that, the two soldiers handed the sounding arrow to him, and he took it, gently caressed it, then turned and hung the bow and arrows on the horse he was riding.

Then, he mounted the horse.

From start to finish, he never looked up to see that heavy cavalry that had once followed him through countless battles, not even a glance.

Ashina Shali smiled contentedly, then looked down at Yiasu—just now that subtle atmosphere hadn’t affected this Young Prince at all. Instead, he said softly to Shang Ruyi, "Don’t worry, I will protect you."

"..."

Shang Ruyi didn’t expect him to say that to her, and with such a serious expression and tone.

This person... truly cares about Lei Yu.

Even if it puts him in a difficult position, even if he might stand against his beloved father, he was willing to make such a promise, although now the result is unknown, Shang Ruyi is already very grateful to him.

Furthermore, there is a trace of indescribable emotion.

Shang Ruyi softly said, "Thank you."

As soon as she finished speaking, she heard Ashina Shali’s cold voice, "Mount the horses."

Upon speaking, immediately two more soldiers led two horses over to the two of them, Ashina Shali coldly said to Shang Ruyi, "Today, I will not drag you behind the horse, but since your father has told you so much about us Turks, he should naturally also have told you what happens to anyone who tries to escape from us."

Shang Ruyi showed no fear or terror.

This is not something a sane person wanting to escape could achieve. Calmly, she mounted the horse and said to Ashina Shali, "Thank you for the warning, Khan, but I have always been clear-headed."

"..."

"If you don’t kill me, I won’t seek death."

Ashina Shali sneered and turned away.

While they were speaking, several other teams had already assembled, and in front of them on this desolate grassland was a dense cavalry formation, stretching as far as the eye could see. Besides the whistling wind, there were shouts and horse neighs, and the rumble of hooves on the ground, making the ground tremble slightly.

Shang Ruyi quickly estimated, at least fifty thousand troops.

And just now, Lei Yu said Yu Wenye led no more than ten to twenty thousand troops.

Even if they move forward immediately now, the encounter would still be only a few miles from the Turkic Yatai, within their territory, and in the grassland where the Turkic soldiers are most familiar.

In this situation, what kind of tactics are needed to win?

Can Yu Wenye win?

With this thought, she instinctively looked up, only to see Ashina Zhuxie, who had already mounted his horse and followed behind Ashina Shali, tightly gripping the sounding arrow.

He is the variable!

From being trapped in this quagmire, there has always been this illusory thought in her mind, but now, it inexplicably became more certain. At the next moment, Ashina Shali raised his hand high and waved it firmly—

"Depart!"