What’s happening?

As a hint of doubt arose in the Wolf-faced Prince’s heart, suddenly, the cavalry pursuing ahead shouted with joyful surprise: "There’s light! We’re getting out!"

Everyone quickly lifted their heads, seeing specks of light shining through the dense foliage in front.

This vast and seemingly endless cold fir forest was finally coming to an end!

Once out of the forest, the cavalry’s advantage could be fully realized. By then, no matter where those archers escaped to, they would be immediately caught.

And they could figure out just who they truly were!

Thinking of this, the Wolf-faced Prince was overwhelmed with joy and swung his scimitar, shouting, "Charge!"

His soldiers were thrilled, spurring their horses into a wild gallop, finally breaking through the densest foliage along the forest’s edge, as if piercing through a barrier, roaring out.

Beneath was a gently sloping dirt hill, and below the hill was an open grassland, though not boundless, approximately a hundred or so zhang wide. On the other edge of the grassland was a towering forest, beneath which a white winding trail frequently trodden by travelers stretched, leading straight to the narrow mountain pass at the foot of two mountains.

But, there wasn’t a single person around!

The Turkic Cavalry, having burst out of the forest intending to wreak havoc, were suddenly stunned, pulling their reins tightly to stop their warhorses, eyes wide with surprise at their surroundings—

What’s going on?

They thought that once out of the forest, those archers who had ambushed them would have nowhere to run, yet there wasn’t a single person here? Could those people have some heaven and earth escaping ability, vanishing in such a short time?

Just as they were somewhat panic-stricken, a gust of wind swept past; it was the Wolf-faced Prince who also dashed out of the forest, his swift figure like lightning, rushing to the front of the group, pulling the reins tightly as his steed let out a long neigh and stopped abruptly at the edge of the hill.

He lifted his head, his sharp gaze sweeping around.

At this moment, the man following closely behind him reached his side. Like the surrounding bewildered Turkic soldiers, he was confused, looking around for ages without spotting a shadow.

He immediately asked, "Prince, what should we do?"

"Don’t panic!"

Though the Wolf-faced Prince was utterly shocked, this was not the time to get anxious. The opposing side had evidently prepared thoroughly, embedding archers in the forest. If he failed to remain calm now, he might fall into their trap.

Moreover—

Suddenly lifting his head, he surveyed the surroundings. They were no longer at the planned location.

According to their original plan, after restocking grass at Shouyang, they were to continue eastward to reach Taiyuan City. However, rushing into the forest following the archers, there was no time to check the map. Judging by the sunlight and orientation, they seemed to be heading southwest, nearing—

Qi County.

Just as a bright thought flickered through his mind, an unusual gust blew from ahead. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

The Wolf-faced Prince immediately raised his head, looking forward.

Having grown up on the grassland, living alongside horses since childhood, he was more attuned to the smell of pastures, horse breath, and wind direction than anyone. Earlier, sensing the sharpness in the wind, he detected an unusual aura in the forest; now, he felt another anomaly in the wind.

Only, it was somewhat different from before.

The man who had been closely trailing him knew well the Prince’s keen insight, so he immediately rode forward, whispering, "Prince, have you discovered something? Is there an ambush ahead?"

Just as he finished speaking, several riders suddenly charged out from the mountain pass between two mountains!

Everyone abruptly widened their eyes.

Though quite distant, the Turkic people’s eagle-like eyes clearly saw that the riders wore dark blue garments identical to those of the archers who ambushed them in the forest!

Moreover, following these riders, a large troop emerged grandly from the pass!

Indeed, an ambush!

Those people had previously ambushed them in the forest, luring them here, now confronting them with a large force; they had stumbled into the enemy’s trap. If they didn’t act now, letting the enemy strike first would lose them the initiative!

The man immediately raised his scimitar to shout, but the Wolf-faced Prince suddenly halted him: "Wait!"

"Hmm?"

The man paused, glancing at him in surprise, unsure why the Prince wanted to delay when it was clearly time to act, thinking perhaps they should wait for the enemy to attack before responding. Which in battles was unheard of.

Urgently he said, "Prince, we can’t wait any longer!"

The surrounding soldiers, already burning with fury, eagerly requested to fight: "Prince, let’s charge!"

"Don’t give them a chance!"

"Charge quickly!"

Amidst the fervent emotions, an arrow appeared seemingly from nowhere, like lightning, shooting swiftly, striking the leader of the opposing riders, who fell from his horse without a sound!

Panicked by the arrow, those around him lifted their heads urgently, immediately spotting the large troop of cavalry on the hill.

They too were thrown into panic—

"Enemies, enemies!"

"Prepare for battle quickly!"