At the archery range, the whooshing sounds of arrows tearing through the air came and went like rain. One black arrow-shadow after another crossed Liu Zili's field of vision, tracing faint arcs before slamming into the black curtain wall two hundred meters away, sending ripples bursting across its surface.
She stood quietly beside the wooden rack holding the horizontal spears, her eyes following the arrows to the right before snapping back to chase the next one.
"Haa..." Jiang Qiu took a deep breath. The [Black Flood Dragon] bow hung at his left hip as his right hand reached into the quiver and came up empty. "I'm out of Dunjian arrows."
He shook his right arm, whose muscles felt as though they had been soaked in hydrochloric acid. Just as he lifted half a foot to move, a rapid set of footsteps came running from afar.
Tap tap tap.
Liu Zili came over carrying several dozen Dunjian arrows that had been left beneath the black curtain wall. Shallow dimples appeared on her face, and her almond eyes were as clear as water-filled jewels—brighter than ever before.
Clatter.
The slender arrows dropped into the quiver, filling the empty space.
"Thanks."
A faint warmth flowed through Jiang Qiu's chest, turning into heat that slipped past his lips. "Take a break. I'll teach you how to practice the spear."
"Okay."
Liu Zili nodded, took the [Black Flood Dragon] bow from Jiang Qiu, and jogged lightly toward the distant wooden rack. She returned carrying two long spears.
Thrust, jab, whoosh—
The sound of spearpoints tearing through the air rang across the empty archery range. Liu Zili twisted and turned like a nimble flood dragon, much like Jiang Qiu had when he had first begun learning the Ancient Martial Arts Spear Technique—only stronger. The contours of