Ballad of the Desert

Chapter 22: Fleeing

Huo Qu Bing said "Ah" before asking "The Shan Yu of the Xiong Nu?"

I nodded and he was silent for awhile before suddenly laughing "What an exhilarating day this turned out to be. I actually beat the Xiong Nu's Shan Yu. Too bad we have to flee for our lives now."

I looked around as I urged my horse faster "This area is just open plains and we can't hide. If we can enter the Qi Lian Mountains, I'll have a way to shake them. The hundreds of miles of Qi Lian Mountain ranges, along with the help of the wolf pack, no one is more familiar with that area than me." Huo Qu Bing smiled and agreed.

The horses Yi Zhi Xie gave us are indeed prime horse flesh. After riding for a few hours, it's starting to get tired but continues to thunder ahead at full speed. But the pursuing army behind us can change horses, so they continue to bridge the distance between us.

If they don't shoot at us, we might have a shot. But if they shoot..... Just as I was thinking this, Huo Qu Bing suddenly tried to pull me on his horse to ride in front of him. I pushed him away angrily "What's faster. Two people on two mounts or two people on one? Who do you think I am? When you were practicing archery in the Yu Lin Army, I was already escaping for my life on these plains. I don't need you to use your back to block arrows for me."

Huo Qu Bing hesitated and agreed "Fine! But you can't let them hurt you." The Qi Lian Mountains are coming into view a distance away, so Huo Qu Bing and I get our energy back up. But behind us the arrows are starting to fly, though it is aimed for our horses. Looks like Yi Zhi Xie wants to capture Huo Qu Bing alive no matter what.

Huo Qu Bing uses one hand to control the horse and his other to deflect the arrows with his bow. I also use my sash to deflect the arrows near my horse. He smiled "Yu Er, help me deflect the arrows" and then he picked up three arrows in one hand and released it behind him. It flew out like shooting stars and the closest three horses whined and collapsed on the ground.

I used my sash to deflect the arrows and smiled at him "Excellent archery skill, you hit the horses directly in the forehead." Huo Qu Bing proudly winked at me "I thank my madam wife for the compliment." I coldly huffed and retracted my sash, leaving him scrambling to deflect the arrows.

Watching him fussing, I almost started to laugh, when suddenly an arrow came towards me aimed for my back. I shifted to avoid the arrow, but then a flurry of arrows continued to come towards me, all of them aimed for my vital parts. I concentrated now and used the sash to deflect the arrows. The arrows flying towards Huo Qu Bing continue to aim for his horse, and he yelled in rage "If you want to shoot, shoot me!"

When I turn back, I see Mu Da Duo with her arrow aimed at my throat. I couldn't believe it. In my shock one arrow slips through and Huo Qu Bing has no choice but to reach over and deflect it. His horse is shot, but the arrow only makes it go faster.

"Yu Er!" he angrily yelled at me. I turned and saw his expression and it immediately woke me up "I'm sorry, it won't happen again."

Mu Da Duo continues to send arrow after arrow towards me, and I continue to avoid it. Her face is expressionless and now I am also calm, my movements swift and sure. But....but I couldn't understand. Where was the person who called me big sister, where did she go? Was there only betrayal on these plains?

Mu Da Duo ordered the person next to her, who hesitated for a moment, and then also began to aim directly for me rather than for my horse. Yi Zhi Xie suddenly appeared "Duo Er, what are you doing?"

Mu Da Duo's hand shook and she didn't look at Yi Zhi Xie "Shan Yu, we want to capture Huo Qu Bing alive and use this to shake the entire Han dynasty and invigorate the Xiong Nu. But this woman is useless. We can do this to disrupt Huo Qu Bing's concentration, and it will help us in capturing him."