Li Shimin was in the middle of a beating, but the soldiers of the Song camp beside him were so terrified they were about to wet themselves.
Who in the world were these people?
After dismounting from that strange contraption, they grabbed the Emperor and started beating him without a word?
Did celestial beings greet each other in this manner?
But as they watched, some began to feel something was amiss. This wasn't a greeting; it was clearly a beating to death!
Finally, someone dared to shout, "Quick, protect the Emperor! These fiends are rebelling!"
The soldiers who had just arrived, not understanding the situation, heard this and rushed forward with their weapons.
"Kill the fiends, save the Emperor!"
"Kill~~~"
"Tsk tsk tsk~~~"
After only a few steps, they were driven back by the AKs held by Wang Xuance and the others.
Fortunately, they had aimed their guns low when firing, and the bullets struck the ground about two paces in front of the soldiers.
Seeing the bullet holes in the ground, the courage that had just been mustered vanished instantly.
"Come on, rush again and see if you run faster or I shoot faster?" Lu Benwei taunted the soldiers dismissively.
The scene instantly fell silent. Zhao Guangyi, who had seen a sliver of hope, had no choice but to accept the reality of his dashed hopes and continue his duty as a human target.
Li Shimin showed no mercy; he harbored a particular anger towards Zhao Guangyi.
Both had ascended the throne through stratagems, yet this fellow was worthy of the same posthumous temple name as himself? Damn it all, not beating him into a pulp was showing restraint!
The soldiers dared not step forward to help, which greatly worried She Saihua.
Since Yang Jiye's return to the Song Dynasty, he had been resentful of his status as a surrendered general, fearing that others would bring it up. Therefore, even if he died, he wanted to preserve his loyalty and honor.
She Saihua knew her husband's character well. If he were to know that she stood by and watched the sovereign being beaten without intervening, he would surely be angry with her upon their return.
However, as she took a step forward, she found a red-clad woman standing before her.
The woman looked directly at her, tears streaming from the corners of her eyes, her expression extremely agitated.
This left She Saihua bewildered, but the sounds of flesh meeting flesh continued from the other side. She had to speak.
"Young lady, no matter who you are, please stop. Beating the sovereign is akin to rebellion. If you do not stop, where in this vast world will you find a place to stay?"
"Thump~"
To She Saihua's surprise, the woman in red actually knelt before her.
"Grandmother~~ Guiying misses you~~"
Mu Guiying, abandoning her usual stern demeanor, hugged She Taihua and began to weep.
She Saihua was stunned. She was only in her early forties, how could someone pop out of nowhere and call her great-grandmother?
Moreover, judging by her age, this woman who called herself Guiying should be around her age!
She quickly retreated several steps and asked with a face full of confusion, "Who, who, who are you? We don't seem to know each other. Why are you doing this?"
"I, I am Guiying, Mu Guiying!"
"I am the wife of your grandson, Zong Bao. Oh, right, Zong Bao probably hasn't been born yet."
Mu Guiying suddenly stopped as she said this. She thought for a moment, wiped the tears from her eyes, and said with a smile.
"Grandmother, please wait. Guiying will dance with her spear for you!"
With that, she walked to the weapon rack beside them, pulled out a long spear, smiled at She Saihua again, and then began to demonstrate her spear techniques.
"The Yang family spear technique is renowned throughout the world. The front hand is straight, the rear hand is firm. Both the upward and downward hand movements have openings."
"Swift as an arrow in flight, returning like a thread. Quick hands and sharp eyes to pierce the face."
"Dancing spear, dazzling the eyes. Throat-locking spear, unstoppable by gods and ghosts."
"~~~~~~~"
In her hands, the long spear moved as if it were an extension of her arm, each block and thrust accompanied by a whistling sound.
Sometimes it moved in large or small circles, making it unpredictable, the spearhead like a writhing dragon, agile and extraordinary.
At other times, it shot out like an arrow from a bow, moving in a straight line, instantaneously thrusting and parrying with power like thunder and lightning, swift and fierce.
As she demonstrated the Yang family spear technique, she also recited something.
Others couldn't understand, but She Saihua's heart was churned by a storm. What she was saying was the essence of the Yang family spear technique!
She pointed at Mu Guiying in shock and said, "Who exactly are you! Where did you learn the essence of my Yang family spear technique?"
Mu Guiying did not stop her movements, continuing to demonstrate the spear technique, but her tone when reciting the essence became suddenly sharp.
"Counter-spear, even the gods cannot defend against it."
With that, her forward momentum suddenly halted. She knelt and slid, as if dodging a killing blow from an enemy behind her.
The next moment, her upper body twisted instantly, and the long spear in her hand thrust upward diagonally behind her.
The tip of the spear was precisely at the height of a person's throat!
This was the secret, unpassed-down technique of the Yang family spear, the Counter-Spear, also known as the Throat-Piercing Counter-Spear!
She Saihua was mesmerized. Could it be that these people before her were truly celestial beings?
And this woman, who called herself her grandson's wife, was an immortal maiden yet to be born?
She murmured, "You, you, you, was everything you just said true?"
Mu Guiying finished her spear demonstration, casually tossed the long spear, and it stood upright in the weapon rack. Such a feat would require years of practice.
With a smile, she walked before She Saihua and knelt again.
"Grandmother, my father-in-law is your Sixth Son!"
"My husband is your unborn grandson, Yang Zong Bao!"
Seeing her repeat such claims, coupled with the extraordinary manner of their arrival, She Saihua became certain of her earlier guess.
She pulled Mu Guiying up from the ground and pointed at Zhao Guangyi, who was still being beaten, saying, "But, but, but our Yang family's heritage is one of loyalty and integrity. Why are you treating the Emperor like this?"
"Grandmother, you may not know, but if your granddaughter-in-law hadn't returned this time, our Yang family would have been nearly wiped out!"
Mu Guiying quickly recounted the Yang family generals' experiences at Lianglang Mountain.
Upon learning that six sons had gone as reinforcements, not only did they fail to rescue Yang Jiye, but only one returned unscathed.
Especially the seventh son, who had gone to seek reinforcements, was shot to death by Pan Renmei with a volley of arrows outside Huanzhou City, riddled with over a hundred arrows, seventy-three of which pierced his chest.
The scene flashed through her mind involuntarily, and She Saihua almost fainted on the spot.
Looking at Zhao Guangyi again, the concern in her eyes had completely vanished!
Instead, it was replaced by profound heartache and disappointment.
The loyal heroes of her family were destined for such a fate. Was this the end for a surrendered general?
"Please rest assured, Madam She. Since we have come here, we will not stand idly by!"
Li Xiuning walked to the two women, took She Saihua's hand, and said with a smile.
Mu Guiying quickly introduced the companions to her.
"Grandmother, that is the Emperor of the Great Tang, Emperor Zhenguan."
"This is Princess Pingyang of the Great Tang."
"And that is the Northern Wei's famous general Hua Mulan, whom you admire most!"
"And there are several other sisters, all formidable female generals like Sister Mulan!"