Chapter 1360 - 1036: A Piece of News

"You—!"

Just this one word, without even saying who it was, the fierce anger already spread to everyone’s hearts around.

A few Turkic soldiers nearby saw Ashina Zhuxie’s eyes and immediately understood, roaring angrily, "It’s them, it must be their doing!"

"Kill her!"

"This time we absolutely cannot let them go!"

As they spoke, other Turkic soldiers within the camp had already rushed up aggressively. Although Shang Ruyi’s guards were few in number, they could not just stand by and be captured. They drew their swords, and for a moment, the clanging of blades was ceaseless, the night was suddenly pierced by the bright flash of knives, stabbing painfully into the eyes.

Shang Ruyi hastily raised her hand to stop the people behind her.

But Ashina Zhuxie did not restrain his men. He just coldly looked at her, while the Turkic soldiers relied on their numbers, pressing closer and closer, appearing ready to storm into this side of the camp.

This time Lei Yu was really anxious, she grabbed Ashina Zhuxie’s sleeve forcefully: "No!"

Ashina Zhuxie immediately turned back to glare at her: "Don’t forget, you are the Turkic Queen!"

These words were like a thunderclap in the night, exploding over Lei Yu’s head, she was stunned, frozen there motionless; and after saying those words, Ashina Zhuxie turned around, eyes red, glaring angrily at Shang Ruyi, his gaze full of killing intent.

Earlier, regarding the possible trap at the Left General’s Tomb, Shang Ruyi using a stick to scheme against him, wanting him to perish in the snake’s mouth, he had intended to confront her, but didn’t feel much anger. After all, encountering that inexplicable person from the Zuo Family, encountering those bizarre events underground, after surviving through a life-and-death ordeal, her tricks seemed insufficient to kindle his fury.

Moreover, he truly cared about Lei Yu’s feelings.

But Xiazhou, it was different!

That was where he had genuinely expended military strength to attack, even leading his division south this time, aiming to take Xiazhou. With this place, not only could he gain the upper hand in future confrontations with the Eastern Turks, but also obtain resources for military operations in the Central Plains, whether in the Eastern Capital Luoyang or the Western Capital Chang’an, they would live under Turkic threat.

However, just when they thought Xiazhou was secured, a piece of cake, it was lost!

This not only defeated his people, but was a slap in the face!

And—Heavy Cavalry!

He must uncover the truth behind this incident, even if failing to find out, he couldn’t let this woman return alive!

Just as the Turkic soldiers pressed closer, Shang Ruyi and her people kept retreating, a hurried figure suddenly stepped into the middle, spread her arms to block Ashina Zhuxie, saying in a deep voice, "You can’t do this!"

Ashina Zhuxie’s eyebrows immediately furrowed.

It was Lei Yu.

She still stood in the middle of the two groups, still shielding Shang Ruyi.

Ashina Zhuxie gritted his teeth: "Didn’t you hear what I just said!?"

At this moment, Shang Ruyi slightly widened her eyes, seeming a bit surprised, yet not entirely unexpected, but looking at Lei Yu’s back, her gaze showed a trace of joy mixed with pain. And all this, Lei Yu couldn’t see, she only bit her lip tightly, her hoarse voice spoke to Ashina Zhuxie: "I know, I am the Turkic Queen."

"Then you still protect her!"

"But I am also Lei Yu."

"..."

"Before you made me your Queen, you promised not to force me, also to let me be myself."

"Be yourself? Being yourself means protecting her?"

"..."

Lei Yu turned her face slightly to look at the Shang Ruyi behind her, both of their eyes filled with conflict and struggle, especially hers. She clenched her teeth, then turned back to Ashina Zhuxie, "Me being myself means protecting my friends, ensuring my relatives are unharmed, at all times I will be this way."

Ashina Zhuxie’s brows furrowed even tighter but he still raised his hand to stop the soldiers behind him from advancing further.

Lei Yu instantly breathed a sigh of relief.

And in the next moment, Ashina Zhuxie’s eyes flashed with a trace of cold light: "You want to protect your friends and relatives, but your friends and relatives are at each other’s throats, who would you choose to protect?"

"..."

" Are you going to tear yourself in half?"

Lei Yu’s body suddenly trembled.

In fact, at this moment her heart seemed already torn in half, bleeding profusely, unbearably painful.

Just then, Shang Ruyi took a step forward, pressing close to her back. Despite the sweltering summer, her warmth made Lei Yu involuntarily shiver. The next moment, she heard Shang Ruyi whisper in her ear, "Come with me, okay?"

"...!"

Lei Yu’s heart trembled again, she widened her eyes to look at her, as if hearing a joke.

"What are you saying?"

"Come with me," though shielded behind her, Shang Ruyi seemed to feel her pain, furrowing her brows, "Otherwise if this continues, you’ll really be torn in half."

"..."

Lei Yu’s gaze suddenly became chaotic.

Whether rationally or emotionally, she always knew she couldn’t go back. From the day she followed her father Lei Yi to join Liang Shide, they couldn’t go back, not to mention she had He Du, the little one who just started babbling, now abandoned by her might be crying incessantly, waiting for his mother’s gentle care.

How could she possibly leave?

Moreover—

She turned stiffly to look at the man standing like a mountain before her.

Despite the deep night, the torches held by the gathered soldiers illuminated his face, highlighting the several ghastly burn scars on his neck and jaw—actually, Ashina Zhuxie was very handsome, even with past hate and despise, Lei Yu couldn’t deny his handsome stature. But he didn’t care at all about his appearance, after rushing out from the blazing tomb passage, he didn’t even let anyone apply medicine to his burns.

Lei Yu seemed to hear a ripping sound from her chest again, the bloody wounds almost making her faint from the pain.

And at this moment, the Turkic soldier who had just delivered the news about Xiazhou suddenly came to Ashina Zhuxie’s side, saying: "Khan, also—when we left Xiazhou, Luoyang sent a message."

Ashina Zhuxie’s brow furrowed.

He didn’t care about gains or losses in Luoyang, but that soldier suddenly bringing it up at this time was likely for some reason.

So he said: "What message?"

The soldier’s eyes flickered, suddenly unaccountably looking at Lei Yu.