“Do, do!” Li Xu parried two cuts from the scout and took advantage of the opening to return a slash. This slash was open and expansive, targeting his opponent's chest, shoulders, thighs—everywhere was a potential vulnerability. However, the scout did not dare take the risk of cutting Li Xu's veins while risking his own life by being killed with a curved blade. He had to turn his blade head around and forcefully meet Li Xu’s strike.

The two curved blades clashed in mid-air, producing an ear-piercing echo that shook Li Xu’s shoulder and made him dizzy. However, he gritted his teeth and used the parried blade as a mace, swinging it back again.

"Do!" The scout once more forced Li Xu's weapon to veer off with his curved blade. His thumb ached as if pricked by needles. He had anticipated that this would be an easy opportunity since Li Xu seemed weak. However, he found the half-grown boy surprisingly tenacious, his arm strength exceeding most young men’s and his will stubborn. Several times, even when the scout thought he was close to delivering the blow, Li Xu instead forcefully struck him with his weapon.

The scouts were unwilling to make this "profit" at the cost of a life. With a shortage of medical supplies in their tribe, getting cut open meant almost the same as being killed on the spot. To avoid a mutual death, faced with Li Xu’s desperate attacks, the scout relied on his experience and tried to find better opportunities to kill.

Beside him, there were three other groups of scouts fighting smaller numbers. The scout was sure that even if he and his companions could not defeat the Xí tribe herder, reinforcements would arrive in time. As long as any one of them had an advantage over their opponents, they could subdue Li Xu, who was no match for a wild donkey.

The opportunity arrived almost instantly when a scream suddenly erupted from nearby.

"It’s Bái Xièmí!" Li Xu's mind went into turmoil. Besides Xu Dàyǎn and Asylan, only Bái Xièmí had not been facing an opponent in single combat. His martial arts were inferior to those of Xu Dàyǎn and Asylan; he could withstand a few cuts without danger but would eventually give in after prolonged fighting. The young Li Xu instinctively turned his head when his companions' safety was at stake, only to feel the wind from the enemy's blade brushing against his chest.

"Ah!" Before the curved blade could cut him, Li Xu shifted his body sideways and hid behind his steed’s belly. This maneuver required incredible agility, a skill he had seen once while observing Wí scouts dodging arrows. Acting on instinct saved him but left his balance disrupted. Struggling to regain control, he tumbled off his horse like a zombie.