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Finest Servant Chapter 601
🕑 Added 2023-10-28 11:13:02 +0000 UTCChapter 601 Who Are You?
His voice was decisive, leaving no room for doubt. When he spoke, his words fell on the ears of all the nomadic people present, immediately sparking buzzing discussions.
From the current situation, although Tursun had lost, the Yuezhi tribe had not managed to lead the Great Khan to the finish line either. Thus, they couldn't be considered victorious. For Yujia, dealing with a tribe that hadn't won was entirely justifiable. However, the Yuezhi were quite adaptable; they timely argued that the competition was not yet over, making a last-ditch effort. If they won, even the Great Khan couldn't find a reason to punish them. And if they lost, well, things couldn't get much worse than they already were.
The Yuezhi's quick response surprised Yujia slightly. She gave a faint smile and lovingly patted the back of her dark-colored steed. She looked at Hu Bugui and said, "Are you really confident that you can move my horse? I trust you saw what The Right Prince just did! You have but the time of a single hourglass—"
‘I have no confidence whatsoever; it's all General Lin's doing!’ Old Hu sneakily glanced at Lin Wanrong, who was hiding behind a horse, whispering something to Gao Qiu. They nodded and shook their heads intermittently, as if planning something covert.
With no other option and the sword hanging over their heads, Old Hu clenched his fists and said, "Great Khan, the Yuezhi tribe is willing to give it our all!"
"Very well, you may begin!" The Great Khan nodded, holding the reins of his horse, and said nothing more.
‘If we lose, our legs will be cut off!’ Sweat soaked through Hu Bugui's back. Frantically, he turned around and scanned his 'tribespeople.' He randomly pointed at one of them, gesturing and shouting, "You, go lead the Great Khan's horse!"
He practically dragged the man over. The surrounding nomads noticed that this was the same man who had fiercely fought The Right Prince on horseback earlier. This man had been so aggressive against Tursun but was surprisingly timid before the Great Khan. Could he also be charmed by the Great Khan's charisma?
"General Lin, we're counting on you now!" Old Hu whispered urgently into his ear during the commotion and gave him a forceful push.
The Yuezhi man stumbled, almost falling in front of the Great Khan's horse. Seeing his clumsy demeanor, the surrounding nomads burst into laughter. Yujia couldn't help but shake her head, suppressing a smile.
Amidst the laughter, the Yuezhi man remained squatting beside the horse. His eyes widened as he scrutinized the dark-colored steed's legs and hooves, not missing a single detail.
Noticing his intense focus, some of the more astute Turkic people gradually understood what was happening. Their sneers were replaced by expressions of surprise. Yujia remained silently smiling.
"Old Hu, what is Brother Lin looking for?" Gao Qiu grabbed Hu Bugui's sleeve nervously and asked.
"Oh, why didn't I think of that?" Hu Bugui scratched his head in annoyance. "He's looking for a needle!"
Gao Qiu's eyes widened in confusion. "A needle? What needle?"
Old Hu nodded, lowering his voice, "Think about it. Yujia's horse seems perfectly fine, but no matter how we frighten or beat it, it doesn't move. Why is that?"
Gao Qiu pondered for a moment, then suddenly exclaimed with delight, "You're saying she put a needle in the horse's hoof to make it unwilling to move? That makes sense, really makes sense! I never thought of that. Old Hu, you can be smart sometimes!"
"I'm not the smart one; it was General Lin who reminded me," Old Hu replied, shaking his head. "But these are all speculations. Let's see what General Lin can discover."
As the two men spoke, Lin Wanrong had already stood up, slowly shaking his head, his hands empty—evidently, he had found nothing. The surrounding crowd of nomadic tribesmen hissed in disappointment, deeply dissatisfied with the suspicion that their Great Khan would resort to such a base trick. Gao Qiu also sighed in disappointment.
Yujia looked somewhat pleased and pointed to the hourglass on the long table, saying with a smile, "People of the Yuezhi tribe, you'd better hurry; one-tenth of the time has already passed."
Lin Wanrong was already aware of the time constraint. Yujia was not just clever in words; she had not tampered with the horse's hoof. How could he find any trace of her trick? Hearing the cacophony of laughter from the surrounding tribesmen, both Old Gao and Old Hu gradually lowered their heads, the atmosphere growing increasingly heavy.
Sweat pooled in Lin Wanrong's palms; his back was already drenched. Seeing the look of triumph on Yujia's golden face—a look both foreign and familiar—he suddenly reached out to touch the back of her hand.
"How dare you!" Yujia, the Golden Khan, recoiled in shock. With a crisp snap, she was about to lash her whip at this audacious member of the Yuezhi tribe.
But Lin Wanrong seemed to ignore her angry shout. Taking advantage of her loosened grip, he grabbed the horse's reins and bent down to examine the horse's face, even smelling it a few times.
Yujia's eyes flashed a hint of surprise, and she unconsciously halted her whip mid-air. She snatched the reins back and turned the horse's head away, preventing any further contact with her steed.
Lin Wanrong paused in thought for a moment, then abruptly turned and strode away. He grabbed three or four water pouches from his horse's back and hurried back to Yujia. His movements were so swift that not just the nomads, but also Gao Qiu and Old Hu were utterly baffled.
Yujia looked at the water pouches in his hand and blinked her long eyelashes, appearing somewhat puzzled. Seeing Lin Wanrong standing next to the horse's head, he quickly opened the water pouches. The beautiful Golden Khan gasped in surprise and quickly pulled on the reins to turn the horse's head away. Lin Wanrong, however, acted swiftly; he splashed the water onto the horse's nose and mouth. The droplets splattered, wetting even the reins in Yujia's hands.
The horse shook its head and sneezed continuously, spinning around in circles. Yujia followed the horse's movements, shaking the reins and shouting angrily. Thankfully, her horsemanship was excellent, and she managed to stabilize the restless horse.
Now was not the time to miss an opportunity. Lin Wanrong exchanged a knowing glance with Old Hu, who understood immediately.
"Go!" With a gust of wind, the people of the Yuezhi tribe appeared behind Yujia in the blink of an eye.
With a crisp "snap," Old Hu lightly flicked his whip, and Yujia's horse twitched, growing increasingly restless.
No one knew by what means Lin Wanrong had managed it, but the dark-colored horse had returned to normal, allowing even an average rider to control it. Old Gao was delighted. With a "snap, snap," he vigorously cracked his whip. Startled, the young dark-colored horse spun in circles before bolting forward.
Golden Blade Khan sensed something was off. Gritting her teeth, she tightly gripped the reins, pulling on them erratically. The dark-colored horse hesitated, took two steps forward, then slowly came to a stop, seemingly out of danger.
Yueya’er was indeed clever. She realized that her tactics had been discovered. Relying on her expert riding skills, she took advantage of the moments when the Yuezhi people were driving their horses to alternate between moving and stopping. As long as the hourglass ran out, she would still be the victor.
‘Cunning girl!’ Lin Wanrong thought, irritated. He mounted his horse and slapped its rear. The Turkic horse dashed forward, quickly catching up with Yueya’er.
‘What can a lone Yuezhi tribe warrior do to me?’ Yueya looked at him with an arrogant smile.
Recalling the girl's tactics, Lin Wanrong felt a mix of annoyance and helplessness. ‘I don't believe I can't deal with you!’ He chuckled and swiftly maneuvered his horse in front of her, blocking her path.
Only half of the hourglass remained. Being blocked was exactly what Yueya’er wanted. However, her dark-colored horse suddenly let out a high-pitched neigh and took a few steps forward, nuzzling the rear end of the Turkic horse in front of it.
Yueya’er let out a surprised "Eh?" Her face changed, but what surprised her even more came next. The Turkic horse seemed irritated by the annoyance, speeding forward. Yet her dark-colored horse stubbornly followed, nudging the Turkic horse’s body and face, refusing to fall behind.
Caught off guard, Golden Blade Khan had no time to think. She quickly pulled on the reins to stop her horse. But the dark-colored horse suddenly grew furious, rearing on its hind legs and letting out a loud neigh. It spun and twisted, its violent movements terrifying to behold, as if it were trying to throw off the delicate Yueya’er.
Yueya’er's stubbornness was all the more admirable. She clung tightly to the horse's neck as it bucked and screamed. Like a small boat in a storm, she clenched her teeth, not uttering a word.
"Go!" Lin Wanrong roared, cracking his whip against the rear of his Turkic horse. The animal reared and let out a long neigh, shooting forward like a meteor. Seeing this, Yueya’er's dark-colored horse let out a neigh and closely followed Lin Wanrong.
The two swift horses, one big and one small, one black and one dark-colored, raced across the plains like a fierce wind, rustling leaves and grass as they flew by, as dazzling as shooting stars.
"Golden Blade Khan has been captured by us!" Hu Bugui led a group of young warriors in hot pursuit. In his excitement, he raised his arm and yelled, his robust voice rumbling across the grasslands like a clap of thunder.
Only the strongest and bravest could capture Golden Blade Khan, renowned for her beauty and wisdom! The Turkic people erupted in cheers, the clapping and shouting blending together, making the plains themselves seem to tremble.
Listening to the tribe's uproarious cheers, Yujia, who had endured a punishing ride on horseback, was at a loss for words. Her trusted steed was behaving as if it had gone mad, chasing after the Yuezhi tribespeople. No matter how hard she pressed her feet into the stirrups or pulled the reins, her efforts were met with fiercer resistance. Her skilled riding was useless under such unrestrained chaos; she had completely lost control of her horse. Rather, it was the horse that was carrying her, or perhaps it was the tribespeople ahead leading her in a wild gallop.
Lin Wanrong, glancing back at Yujia's fiery eyes and clenched red lips, felt a sense of indescribable pleasure. He had suffered enough at her hands today, not just battling Tursun but almost having his leg broken by Yujia. Had he not been quick-witted, he might have lost his life right here! Now, it was her turn to taste hardship.
He rode his horse at breakneck speed, not even considering stopping. The nomads on the plains saw two horses running like lightning, one after the other, and cheered joyously, oblivious to the Great Khan's predicament.
Yujia was an extraordinary talent leading the plains, with an exceptional mind and will. Despite her frantic ride, she never once thought of surrendering. Along the way, she tightly gripped the reins, relying on her proficient riding skills, constantly trying to control her crazed mount. After a while, the steed's breath grew ragged, its eyes bloodshot, and it began to falter.
Realizing the hourglass was almost out and the finish line was within sight, Yujia clenched her teeth and abruptly pulled the reins.
The horse, its nose yanked sharply, felt a burst of severe pain. Its eyes turned crimson, and it bucked wildly, mane standing on end. It leapt into the air, twisting its body like a willow leaf in a gale, completing a rapid turn.
Hearing the commotion behind him, Lin Wanrong reined in his horse and looked back. Yujia's fluttering hair and pale cheeks resembled a lotus flower scattering in the wind. He couldn't help but feel infuriated. ‘I've never seen a woman so foolish. How dare you provoke a horse in heat!’
The force generated by the horse's mid-air spin was enormous, and all her riding skills were useless. Yujia felt herself soaring like a paper lantern filled with air, becoming detached from the horse beneath her.
Before she could even ponder why the horse had gone so mad, Yujia, suspended in the air, clenched her last breath and tightly grabbed the flying mane of the horse.
Pained, the horse let out an angry neigh. It hadn't even landed when it lunged its neck forward, shaking itself violently. With the sequence of movements, Yujia couldn't hold on any longer. With a swish, she was flung sideways like a detached lotus petal whirling in the wind.
The surrounding Turkic people cried out in shock but were already too late to rescue her.
The clouds were white, the grass green, and the sky blue. Yujia, in her dazed state, slowly closed her eyes. Perhaps, the most beautiful and noble kapok flower on the plains was about to wither.
A gust of wind whizzed past her ear. The sound of galloping hooves approached swiftly. Just as Yujia felt her body almost pressed against the ground, about to tumble onto the grass, a strong arm shot out from an angle, gripping her waist like an iron clamp. The man moved with the fluidity of a sheep herder, his legs astride the horse. In one swift, sweeping motion, he lifted her by her slender waist.
"Ah!" Yujia exclaimed, her body floating upwards, as if ascending to the clouds. The burly tribesman of the Yuezhi clan held her waist in one hand and gently lifted her onto the saddle in front of him. Unconsciously, she nestled against his chest. Both riding on the same mount, they sped away.
From the moment Golden Blade Khan fell from her horse to the Yuezhi tribesman's aerial rescue, the entire sequence of actions occurred in the blink of an eye. The surprised cries of the onlookers had no time to escape their lips before the galloping Turkic steed soared through the air like a mythical creature, bypassing everyone and rushing toward the horizon.
As the vast sun descended slowly over the plains, the silhouettes of the two riders gradually melded into floating, twinkling dots in the blood-red dusk, as if sewn into the tapestry of the sky itself.
"Down!" After the Turkic steed had galloped several hundred yards and Golden Khan had settled herself, her heartbeat finally calmed. Her pretty face immediately turned cold. Turning, she delivered a heavy punch into Lin Wanrong's stomach. She was the unparalleled pride of the plains and wouldn't allow any man to disrespect her—not even this rugged Yuezhi tribesman who had just saved her life!
"Ah!" Lin Wanrong let out a pained grunt, his body involuntarily bending forward as he gasped for air, sweat pouring down like rain. Yujia, although a woman, had the strength to draw two bows; her power was not to be underestimated. The surprise attack caught Lin Wanrong off guard, leaving him reeling and his internal organs churning.
Was this retribution for his past flirtations with her? Lin Wanrong wondered, drawing ragged breaths as he bitterly smiled.
Hearing his grunt, Yujia looked up suddenly, her eyes full of confusion and bewilderment. "Who are you?" she murmured. In her soft voice, there was an almost imperceptible tenderness. Although she spoke in the Turkic language, Lin Wanrong understood her clearly.
Who am I?
Yes, who am I?
Caught in a moment that seemed like a dream yet as distant as another life, Lin Wanrong felt overwhelmed. It was as if a thousand boulders were crushing his chest, suffocating him. Yet he couldn't cry or laugh; never had he been so at a loss!
"Ah—ah—ah—" he widened his eyes, opened his mouth, and flailed his arms about dramatically. Afraid that Yujia wouldn't understand, he even scribbled a few hasty lines in the palm of his hand.
Yujia stared at him for a moment, then nodded slowly, sighing, "So you're mute."
