The Boiling Crowd

Anyone with a sharp eye could tell that the burly man had spoken in anger. His aim was to get someone to step forward, draw the bowstring, and take the shopkeeper down a peg.

The reward was generous, but...

"Sixteen, and he wants someone to draw a two-stone bow... This... This is obviously just a gimmick."

"At sixteen, his bones and sinews aren't fully developed. Forget the two-stone bow—even drawing a one-stone bow is impossible."

"Other than hunters who make their living with archery and the archers in the barracks, who could possibly draw a two-stone bow? No ordinary person could manage it."

The crowd stirred, and people began chattering. The burly man wore a mocking smile, but the shopkeeper remained utterly calm, even looking rather pleased with himself.

He had never expected anyone to draw the bow. All he wanted was a gimmick. See? It had attracted a crowd in no time.

This uncouth bumpkin was so crude and hotheaded. He'd done me a huge favor without even realizing it.

Still, you couldn't push things too far.

Thinking this, the shopkeeper reined in his smile and put on a solemn expression. He cupped his hands toward the crowd gathered around him.

"Since this gentleman has said so, if anyone can draw this bow, the master will give him ten arrows, and I, Liu Er, will add five more."

"Good heavens... A great bow, plus fifteen arrows. That's no small amount of money."

"Forget the great bow—even those fifteen arrows alone must be worth over three hundred coins."

"Over three hundred coins... That's enough to feed my family for three months."

The crowd grew restless. Some clicked their tongues in astonishment, others beat their chests in regret, and more than a few were itching to give it a try.

"If you're over sixteen, don't think you can sneak your way through. I have a bone-setting and meridian-guiding master here. If you try to cheat, you'll be in for a spell of hard time in the county jail."

Noticing some people in the crowd shifting restlessly, a glint flashed in Liu Er's eyes. He knew full well that some people wouldn't play fair.

As soon as he finished speaking, a middle-aged man in a gray robe strode forward. He stood straight as a pine, then expressionlessly cupped his hands toward the crowd.

"Th-that's Liu San. Didn't that guy join a martial arts school?"

"Gasp... A Martial Master!"

"!!!"

The burly man, who had still been bristling with anger and throwing his weight around, changed expression when he saw Liu San's impassive face. His swagger faded at once. He turned around solemnly and cupped his hands toward the man.

The man, whose name was Liu San and who seemed to be a Martial Master, merely nodded without expression, as if acknowledging him.

"Damn it..."

"Brother, this guy..." The man standing beside the hunter approached him with a troubled look, wanting to say something, but the burly man stopped him at once.

"Looks like this matter's going nowhere."

The hunter sighed softly to himself.

He'd known the shopkeeper was as sly as a fox, and he'd been angry, so he'd wanted to get under the man's skin. Who could've guessed that someone like this would be standing behind him?

A Martial Artist... Even he, a hunter who had practiced archery since childhood, wouldn't dare provoke one.

The previously rowdy crowd seemed to quiet down. Most eyes were fixed on the man standing with his hands behind his back and his eyelids lowered.

"What? Is there any young hero brave enough to step forward and try? Liu keeps his word."

Liu Er swept his gaze over the crowd. When he saw that no one dared approach, he cast a discreet glance at Liu San, who was resting with his eyes closed, and gave the slightest nod.

"Perhaps my conditions are too strict. How about this..."

Liu Er picked up another longbow from the stall. It was somewhat slimmer than the two-stone bow he had shown earlier.

"This is a one-stone bow. If anyone can draw it today, I'll give it to him all the same. But I'll leave out the arrows."

As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd that had gathered around the shop seemed to stir.

Near the left edge of the crowd.

Lin Yin discreetly studied the Martial Artist standing beside Liu Er. He couldn't make out anything special, but he could sense an inexplicable aura around the man.

It was a subtle quality, utterly different from that of an ordinary person.

Especially when the man had just swept his gaze over the crowd and briefly looked his way—Lin Yin's heart had chilled, and the hairs on his body had prickled.

Was this guy a real Martial Artist?

Lin Yin, who had been eager to give it a try, grew cautious instead.

The shop had an expert on hand. The fifteen arrows alone were worth more than four hundred coins, not to mention the two-stone longbow. Together, they were worth nearly a thousand coins.

With so much at stake, Lin Yin couldn't help but stay on his guard.

But when Liu Er announced his further conditions, Lin Yin's eyebrows lifted slightly, and a little hope stirred in his heart. Even so, he still didn't step forward to draw attention to himself.

He simply watched as one or two sturdy-looking boys in the crowd walked toward the platform under their families' watchful eyes.

"I, Zhang Da Niu, want to try the one-stone bow."

At last, someone had stepped forward, and the crowd's mood immediately warmed. The shopkeeper, Liu Er, beamed and handed the longbow to the sturdy boy without hesitation.

The next moment, the boy planted his feet, gripped the bowstring, took a deep breath, and began to draw the bow slowly.

The noisy crowd fell silent. Everyone held their breath as they watched.

Even a one-stone bow was no easy thing for an ordinary person to draw, let alone a sixteen-year-old boy. Yet what happened next left everyone there astonished.

The taut bowstring slowly gave way, like a sinew being pulled tight.

The bowstring formed half a circle and trembled faintly. Cold sweat beaded on the boy's forehead, but after drawing it halfway, he could not pull it any farther.

When he let go of the bowstring, the bright, youthful spirit on the sturdy boy's face seemed to dim.

"I can't draw it!"

Without thinking, he glanced at a man in the crowd. The man nodded, offering no criticism.

Seeing this, Liu Er smiled faintly, then stepped forward and patted the boy on the shoulder. He casually picked up an arrow from beside him and handed it to the boy.

"Your courage is commendable, Little Hero. You're stronger than you look. Perhaps in time, you'll be able to draw this one-stone bow."

The boy, who had just been feeling dejected, seemed to have found his spark again. He nodded vigorously, then headed down from the platform.

"Whoa..."

"He didn't even draw the bowstring all the way, and he still got an arrow."

Now, some people in the crowd couldn't sit still. Some nudged their children forward, while others cheered them on.

The whole gathering seemed to come alive.

Seeing this, Liu Er kept smiling and said in an even voice, "Only those who draw the bowstring at least halfway will receive a reward. Anyone who falls short gets nothing."

Despite his words, after the first boy's showing, others began lining up to try.

One after another, boys stepped forward to attempt drawing the bow. Even Lin Yin edged closer with the crowd.

One by one, the man who seemed to be a Martial Artist checked their bones. Soon, five or six boys had taken their turn, but not one succeeded. None could draw the bowstring all the way—not even halfway.

Just as Lin Yin was about to step onto the platform, a sharp cry suddenly rang out.

A White-robed youth leaped onto the platform as lightly as a nimble deer. He casually took the longbow from Liu Er, then drew it sharply before the astonished eyes of the crowd.

Whoosh—

In an instant, the crowd erupted.