Forced Kill

"Archery Mastery..."

Golden light seemed to flicker in Lin Yin's eyes as the bowstring in his hand drew into the shape of a full moon.

The string, enough to make ordinary hunters tremble, remained utterly motionless in his grasp.

His pupils shrank to pinpoints, reflecting the towering tree trunk a hundred meters ahead.

His breathing was steady, his eyes seemingly without the slightest ripple.

Unlike the usual stance for drawing a bow and nocking an arrow, Lin Yin's arm instinctively extended slightly outward. It was only a tiny adjustment, but in the next instant, the arrow burst forth.

"Twang—"

The ox-tendon bowstring gave a deep hum, and the arrow nocked upon it shot out like a streak of black lightning.

A dull thud came from the distant tree trunk as the black arrow embedded itself straight into its center.

Yet that single arrow was far from the end.

The next moment, Lin Yin did not pause. Drawing arrows, nocking them, firing—he completed it all in one fluid motion, shooting four arrows in succession.

Amid the dense woods, only a series of whooshes could be heard.

Then, from top to bottom, four arrows could be seen neatly lined up in the center of the target tree trunk.

If other hunters witnessed such miraculous, rapid-fire archery, they would surely think they had seen a ghost or deity.

Hitting a target from a hundred meters away might involve a measure of luck for an ordinary person, but four arrows fired in one seamless succession were like the legendary divine archer who never missed a shot!

"Whew—"

Lin Yin looked at his handiwork and let out a long breath, his expression calm.

He had long discovered that his Heaven Rewards Diligence Destiny was not merely limited to breaking through bottlenecks. During training, it could also subtly "optimize" his skills.

Optimizing a skill was not the same as altering it. Rather, it made the most correct adjustments according to the individual, allowing the skill to merge perfectly with its user.

Thus, Lin Yin's Archery Mastery was now even more formidable than that of archers who had undergone specialized training.

Whether it was his posture, the essentials of breathing, or his grasp of the surrounding environment, everything was the Combat Technique best suited to him!

"Today... is the last day."

Lin Yin looked expressionlessly at the bow in his hand.

The reason he had chosen to break through in archery was because it was the fastest way to improve his strength.

After all, the Vajra Stake Technique was a profound Inner Strength cultivation method. Compared with a basic skill like Basic Archery, its difficulty was on an entirely different level.

Even though Lin Yin had trained day and night, after half a month, he had only barely pushed his progress to three-quarters.

Trying to break through in just two short days was as difficult as climbing to the heavens.

"Perhaps those so-called Great Medicines could speed up my progress."

Quietly burying that thought deep in his heart, Lin Yin passed through the dense forest and looked toward the distant town.

The night was deep. Langshi Wine House.

"Come on, let's see what that brat has decided."

"Haha, I'd bet he wouldn't dare go back on his word before Master Tiger!"

"That brat dares go back on his word?"

A fierce glint flashed through the eyes of Li Sihhu, who reeked of alcohol and walked with an unsteady gait.

He had done plenty of killing and robbery, and he had committed no few acts of confiscating households and exterminating clans.

If that fellow dared defy him again and again, he would not mind letting his broadsword taste blood today.

"Haha, Master Tiger is incredible!"

"I'd bet that brat doesn't have the guts."

The three attendants beside him, arms slung over one another's shoulders, felt a chill in their hearts, but hurriedly forced smiles and flattered him.

They all knew their boss's methods were ruthless. After all, the title Smiling Tiger had not been bestowed for nothing.

Hearing their flattery, Li Sihhu's lips curled slightly, and his mood improved.

"Once we hand that fellow over to Steward Wang, I'll treat you brothers to the pleasure house!"

"Master Tiger, how generous!"

The attendants cried out one after another, their eyes blazing with excitement.

The pleasure house was a place only wealthy young masters, important figures in town, or rich men could visit. How could petty lackeys like them ever afford such a place? Naturally, they had long yearned for it.

Hearing this, the group became even more eager and quickened their pace, clearly unable to wait any longer.

Tonight, they would knock on that family's door.

As for drink causing trouble, none of them cared in the slightest.

Along the way, the crowds parted before them.

Passing through the bustling market, they unknowingly arrived outside the town.

A deep, shadowy alley came into view.

For some reason, a gust of cold wind suddenly swept through the alley, making the drunken brutes shudder.

The lackeys cried out from the cold, instinctively pulling their open cloth shirts tight.

Only Li Sihhu was unconcerned. Compared to these underlings, he believed that having learned Inner Strength from his big brother had filled his Qi and Blood, leaving him utterly unaffected.

Yet after only a few steps, his brow suddenly furrowed, and a bone-chilling cold rose from the depths of his heart.

Startled, his drunken haze cleared somewhat.

Li Sihhu stopped and looked around. This sudden change went unnoticed by the other three, who continued onward with their arms slung around one another's shoulders.

Driven by their drunkenness, they sensed nothing amiss and did not even notice that their boss had stopped.

He looked at the few men ahead, arm in arm, then at the alley behind him, swallowed by darkness. It was empty and silent. From time to time, an unknown bird swept overhead.

It all seemed like a false alarm.

Li Sihhu shook his head, his mind still somewhat muddled by the alcohol.

"Heh, looks like I've been too sensitive lately."

This was Black Scorpion Gang territory. Who would dare lay a hand on him here?

Li Sihhu smiled and shook his head, mocking himself. Just as he was about to turn around, another cold wind suddenly rushed toward him from the front.

The wind came strangely, and even carried a sound...

"Whoosh..."

Huh?!

Li Sihhu's heart turned cold, and his drunkenness vanished completely. His eyes flew wide as he stared into the darkness ahead, where a glint of silver seemed to flash.

A terrifying arrow instantly pierced through Li Sihhu's twitching neck.

Skin, Flesh and Blood, and finally Bones—all were pierced in an instant by that arrow carrying tremendous force.

"Ugh—"

Before his cry could leave his mouth, Li Sihhu's burly body slammed against the alley wall with a bang.

He stared ahead in disbelief, seeming to struggle to see who had ambushed him.

Yet he could neither roar nor groan. Before he could even glimpse his enemy, arrow after arrow came like life-reaping sickles.

Squelch... squelch... squelch...

Limbs, torso, chest, and finally, his head.

Endless darkness swallowed Li Sihhu's consciousness, and the bloodshot pupils in his eyes instantly lost focus.

In the darkness came faint rustling sounds.

Before long, a nimble figure suddenly darted out of the darkness. It was Lin Yin, Bow and crossbow in hand and a quiver on his back.

He sprang to Li Sihhu's side and briskly pulled the arrows from the dead man's body.

Thud!

Li Sihhu collapsed facedown on the ground as Lin Yin swiftly searched him.

Before long, he pulled out a black cloth pouch. At that very moment, he faintly heard movement from the alley behind him.

Knowing that the followers had come to their senses, Li Yin turned to flee. But before leaving, he took the chance to viciously kick Li Sihhu's neck, where blood was gushing out in streams.

Crack—

The sound of shattering bone rang out clearly in the darkness.

With a flash, Li Yin vanished without a trace.

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