Treasure Bow

Lu Chuan heard this and gave a bitter smile. "Dad, you make it sound easy. What about the money?"

A good bow capable of taking down a wild boar wasn't something you could make by just hacking down a mulberry tree.

The bow back required cudrania wood, and the age and heat treatment all demanded expertise. The bowstring required top-quality ox sinew, and it also had to be slowly straightened by a craftsman... Without three to five taels of silver, it was probably out of the question.

He paused and added, "The mountain tax we need to scrape together is only one tael and two qian anyway."

Lu Danian instead showed a sly expression. "Cold hard cash, of course our family can't cough it up, but... we can borrow it."

"Borrow?" Lu Chuan was truly stunned. "Several taels of silver? In the dead of winter like this, which family has surplus money to lend out such a huge sum?"

Lu Danian leaned closer and lowered his voice:

"Chuanzi, there's a matter from a few days ago when you weren't home that your dad hasn't told you in detail yet. Matchmaker Wang from Liujia Village came over and brought up a match."

Lu Chuan's brow twitched, and he vaguely understood something in his heart.

Sure enough, Lu Danian continued:

"It's the daughter of Master Liu from the east end of Liujia Village. People heard about that business with you dealing with Liu Biao a while ago, and they feel that you, a young man, have guts and spirit, and you're learning skills at the county martial arts hall, so your prospects are good."

"As for that Master Liu's family, you know them. They have dozens of mu of good fields at home and also run an oil mill. They're very well-off..."

When Lu Chuan heard this, he understood completely.

This wasn't borrowing money at all, this was wanting him to "sell himself"... or rather, to get engaged in exchange for a betrothal gift.

Having just shown a bit of skill in the village, he had already become a potential stock worth investing in, in the eyes of some people.

If he got married, never mind a single bow, Master Liu's family might even be able to help out with future expenses for practicing martial arts.

His old man wanted to settle things once and for all and, by the way, hold a grandson sooner.

He felt somewhat amused yet exasperated in his heart.

Yet after a moment of reflection, he still refused:

"Dad, Mom, I understand your intentions, but I've only just started practicing martial arts. The places where money is spent will only increase from now on, and I can't keep depending on my wife's family for relief. Wouldn't that make me a freeloader?"

"As for my marriage, it's too early to bring it up now. We can't sell ourselves just for a bow."

The light in Lu Danian's eyes dimmed a bit, and he finally let out a long sigh.

"You child have high aspirations... Your dad knows I can't persuade you."

He acted as if he had made another resolution. "But... we still have to buy the bow. Your dad will throw away this old face of mine and go to Wang the Blacksmith's to buy one on credit!"

"On credit?" Lu Chuan was genuinely surprised this time, and then a wave of pleasant surprise surged up.

"Wang's Blacksmith Shop is willing to sell on credit? Dad, you have this connection and you didn't say so earlier!"

Lu Danian chuckled. "Earlier, how would I have dared to think of this? Speaking of which, this actually took advantage of your glory, son. Now everyone in Kaoshan Village knows that our family's Chuanzi has amounted to something. Who wouldn't want to come up and bask in some of that glory? Us being able to use their bow is doing him an honor!"

Saying this, he muttered in a low voice again,

"Of course, I... still feel that arranging a match is much steadier, and we could hold a grandson sooner..."

Since they had made up their minds, the father and son walked toward Wang the Blacksmith's place at the east end of the village.

As soon as they entered, Wang the Blacksmith, who was quenching a hoe, saw it was them and smiled.

"Oh, Brother Lu, Chuanzi! How do you have time to come to my place today?"

Lu Danian smiled and stepped forward. "Old Wang, this time the old bow at home is truly past its prime, so we wanted to see if you have any suitable new bows."

"A bow? I do, I do!" Wang the Blacksmith put down his work and led them toward the back room.

"They're all hanging inside, take a look."

Seven or eight bows hung on the back room wall, varying in length and with different materials.

Lu Chuan swept his gaze across them, picked out the most conspicuous one, and it felt heavy in his hand.

Seeing this, Wang the Blacksmith quickly warned, "Chuanzi, this bow is heavy. It's a one-stone hard bow! Anyone who hasn't practiced strength won't be able to draw it..."

Before he even finished speaking, his eyes widened.

Only to see Lu Chuan supporting the bow arm with his left hand and placing his right hand on the bowstring. With the exertion of both hands, the taut bowstring was actually drawn into a full moon by him!

"My goodness..." Wang the Blacksmith drew in a sharp breath. "Slow down, slow down! A bow can't be dry-releas—"

Lu Chuan slowly released the force, letting the bowstring return to its original state. "Uncle Wang, I know. Dry releasing damages the bow."

Wang the Blacksmith stared at him in a daze and sighed.

"Brother Lu, you're blessed! How long has Chuanzi been in the martial arts hall? He already has this kind of divine strength... Truly extraordinary!"

Lu Danian also recovered from his shock.

He only knew his son had learned skills at the martial arts hall, but he hadn't expected his strength to have grown to this extent. He probably wouldn't even be able to draw this bow himself.

"Old Wang, this bow... how much silver?"

"Oh, this one," Wang the Blacksmith introduced,

"The bow arm is aged cudrania wood, the two ends are inlaid with top-quality water buffalo horn, and the string is six strands of ox sinew counter-twisted. The asking price... is three and a half taels of silver."

Lu Danian lowered his voice. "Master Wang, to not keep anything from you, things have been really tight at home lately... Look, can this bow... be sold to us on credit first?"

Hearing this, Wang the Blacksmith's mind immediately started turning.

Three and a half taels was not a small amount. On credit? In this day and age, who knew if you could pay it back?

However... his gaze involuntarily drifted toward Lu Chuan on the side.

The youth stood with a straight posture, holding that heavy large bow and looking exceptionally steady.

How long had this kid been in the martial arts hall? He could already draw a one-stone hard bow... Who knew, maybe one day he really would become a martial artist master!

If he went ahead of time and established a good relationship, it would be good to let his own kid follow him and learn a few moves later on!

Wang the Blacksmith gritted his teeth. "Done! Brother Lu, it's not a day or two that we've known each other. I trust your character! And Chuanzi is so accomplished... This bow, I'm selling it on credit!"

Hearing this, Lu Danian's face showed an expression of relief. "Many thanks, Old Wang! Let's write down an IOU right now!"

Lu Chuan also solemnly bowed to Wang the Blacksmith. "Many thanks for your trust, Uncle Wang."

A smile appeared on Wang the Blacksmith's face as he turned to get paper and brush.

Lu Chuan looked around the room during the waiting interval, and suddenly caught sight of something in the corner.

That was also a bow, with a dark bow body and several subtle cracks. The bowstring was also loose and limp.

Unlike the bows hanging on the wall, it was leaned casually there, covered in dust.

Yet that archaic shape caught Lu Chuan's gaze.

"Uncle Wang," he pointed at the corner and asked, "that bow... where did it come from? It looks quite old."

Wang the Blacksmith came back with paper and brush, glanced in the direction he pointed, and said,

"Oh, that thing? It's an old item passed down from my great-grandfather's generation. I heard from my dad it seemed like my great-grandfather performed meritorious service joining the army in his early years, and it was bestowed from above. But by the time it reached me, the years were truly too long, and it can't be used."

Hearing this, Lu Chuan felt a stir in his heart.

He stepped forward, brushed away the dust, and picked up that old bow.

[Weapon: Worn Treasure Bow]
[Quality: Mortal Grade High-rank]
[Description: A treasured bow meticulously crafted by a skilled craftsman using Century Ironwood Core and tiger sinew as main materials. Due to the passage of time and improper storage, the material has severely degraded.]
[Acquisition Effect: Can obtain Basic Archery · Perfection]
[Whether to acquire?]

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