Prince Jin maintained a calm deanor as he lifted his tea cup and took a sip.
Qilin, Qilin, bearer of heavenly fate.
If your kite is gone, would that not also be the will of the heavens?
The sudden turn of events left everyone stunned.
"Oh no! Prince Changsun’s kite!"
The Hanlin Academy Chief Scholar exclaid in shock.
His voice had barely fallen when a Hunting Eagle, like a Star Hamr slicing through the heavens, unhesitatingly ramd into a golden eagle more than twice its size.
The golden eagle veered off course, letting out a piercing screech as it ferociously pecked at the Hunting Eagle.
The Hunting Eagle lost feathers from its body with every strike, yet fearlessly shielded Lu Yuan’s kite.
At that critical mont, Lu Qi suddenly drew his large bow and loosed an arrow at the Hunting Eagle.
The arrow was about to strike when a sharper, swifter arrow arrived in a flash, splitting Lu Qi’s arrow in two.
The unexpected unfolded in an instant.
Taking advantage of the mont Lu Yuan was rescuing the Hunting Eagle, Lu Qi turned and shot an arrow at Lu Yuan.
Snap!
Lu Yuan’s quiver fell to the ground.
"Well done!"
King Qi clapped his hands in glee.
The military generals gasped one after another, chills running down their spines.
"What an excellent use of the ’voice East, strike West’ tactic! No wonder he’s the nephew of the Great General. Such unexpected and precise timing—you can’t help but admire it."
"Without arrows, even the Houyi Bow is useless."
"Indeed, this round’s outco is decided."
Listening to the generals’ discussion, the civil servants found no grounds to object.
Drawing the Houyi Bow was certainly astonishing, but victory was determined by who could sever the other’s kite string first.
This challenge, after all, had been set by the Imperial Grandson himself.
Zhang Qufeng, who had been holding his tongue all day, finally burst out with smug triumph: "Serves him right for shooting himself in the foot! If he hadn’t tried to show off, he could’ve won ages ago. Now look at him—about to lose!"
Prince Rui sternly instructed, "Qi’er, quickly shoot down his kite!"
Prince Ming rose to his feet. "You dare—"
Prince Rui, rarely one to spar publicly with his brothers, interjected: "Sixth Brother, General Hu just said that if you can’t seize the Houyi Bow, shooting the kite string with your own bow is also valid. Yuan’er did not refute this."
He continued, "What should’ve been his fallback now ends up benefiting Qi’er instead. Perhaps this is the will of the heavens."
King Qi laughed gleefully, enjoying the misfortune. "Yes, heaven’s will indeed. It seems Qi’er is blessed with destiny. Only a true Qilin can win in the end!"
Lu Zhaoyan sneered coldly. "Are you so certain? Would you like to take another look?"
"Hah, see your own son’s loss?"
King Qi’s mocking words froze on the curve of his lips.
Lu Yuan’s white horse neighed sharply, lifting its head like a king.
Only then did King Qi and the others notice—with astonishnt—that clenched between its teeth was a single arrow.
Monts ago, there hadn’t been one. When had this happened?
Lu Zhaoyan smiled faintly. "Voice East, strike West? That old trick of yours, my son’s toyed with it countless tis, and now you’re parading it around like it’s so marvel."
Since Lu Yuan had seized the Houyi Bow, everyone’s focus had been fixated entirely on him.
The only distraction had co from the sky battle between the Hunting Eagle and the golden eagle.
Which ant, if Lu Yuan had hidden an arrow, it could only have been during that mont.
Lu Qi decided on the ’voice East, strike West’ strategy only after seeing the Hunting Eagle. But Lu Yuan had stashed the arrow well before Lu Qi even began.
Lu Yuan had anticipated Lu Qi’s anticipation.
The gathered civil and military officials, finally coming to terms with it, were rendered speechless and humbled.
"Thanks, little brother."
Lu Yuan accepted the arrow the white horse passed him and once again drew the Houyi Bow.
Amazingly, even after firing one arrow with the Houyi Bow, he managed to pull it to full draw yet again!
What imnse strength this required!
Even General Hu had never consecutively pulled the bow to full draw twice.
Duke Jiang’s eyes widened in shock. "I must bring him ho! I must bring him ho! He must be my grandson!"
Prince Fu uttered with exasperation, "For him to grow up to this point—it’s truly a miracle..."
Lu Yuan and Lu Qi simultaneously released their arrows, each targeting the other’s kite string.
Everything hinged on this last mont.
As the kites soared higher, they resembled two ethereal birds in the sky. The strings tethering them seed less visible to the eye and more grasped by instinct, judgnt, and calculation.
Two sharp sounds sliced through the air.
In the blink of an eye, the anxious wait stretched into what felt like eternity.
"Look! The kites are flying away!"
"Whose—whose—whose kite is flying away?!"
"It seems... it seems both kites have flown off!"
"Both have flown away?" ng Qianqian furrowed her brows, rising to the balustrade of the Emperor’s Platform. Looking into the vast sky, she murmured, "How could this be?"
"Wait, so Prince Changsun and the Commandery Prince both hit their targets? Then... who’s the winner here?!"
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