Ambushed

Uncle Kui had explained the essentials of using a bow and arrow to Meng Qingshan yesterday.

He had also recorded Archery Essentials in the illustrated guide.

Today, he had taken an Ox Horn Bow from the storeroom. First, to train his archery; second, to hopefully hunt some game in Great Green Mountain and contribute, however modestly, to the escort agency's meals during this period.

In Meng Qingshan's view, his Long Wind Heart Method had now broken through to the sixth level, and his Blood Qi Value had exceeded one hundred. Though he would still be no match for true experts, he was qualified to try seeking the Mysterious Encounter he had considered before.

Besides, three months was neither particularly long nor particularly short.

If he could gain sufficient strength sooner, the crisis facing the Changfeng Escort Agency might be resolved sooner as well.

Therefore, Meng Qingshan did not dare slack off for even a moment.

After a full day of diligent practice, his archery still lacked some accuracy, but the form he displayed was already fairly convincing.

Meng Qingshan repeatedly drew and fired his bow. Although nine out of ten arrows missed, his gains were still quite considerable.

By dusk, Meng Qingshan was laden with all sorts of prey. He dug up the wild boar he had buried yesterday and prepared to descend the mountain and return to the city.

He made his way down the mountain, soon reaching the official road.

Meng Qingshan arrived before a narrow mountain path.

The woods on either side of the path were silent and tranquil, no different from usual, yet he suddenly stopped.

Several people were silently concealed in the dense woods on both sides of the narrow path. Perhaps relying on the cover of night, they had neglected to hide themselves properly and were not as cautious as they should have been.

But in recent days, Meng Qingshan had studied Wuwei Herbal and cultivated the Long Wind Heart Method to the sixth level. His Insight had risen sharply, so such an "obvious" ambush naturally could not escape his eyes.

With a shake of his shoulders, he flung the prey from his body, then removed the Ox Horn Bow from his back. He swiftly nocked an arrow, drew the bow, and released the string. The entire sequence flowed like water, without a single unnecessary movement; every step was precise and efficient.

Even if Uncle Kui had witnessed it in person, he would likely have found it hard to believe that this was the result of Meng Qingshan's mere day of training.

Meng Qingshan pressed his lips together, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes as countless thoughts raced through his mind. "It is already deep into the night. No matter which faction these people belong to, they are certainly no good.

If I had not discovered these thieves, they would have rushed down and surrounded me when I passed by. With my current strength, and no suitable weapon in hand, once surrounded by so many people, my two fists would be no match for four hands. My life and death would be uncertain.

Rather than wait helplessly for death, I might as well strike first and catch them off guard!"

The thought had barely crossed Meng Qingshan's mind.

In the next instant, the arrow in his hand shot forth like a meteor, tearing through the air.

"Aah!"

A miserable scream echoed through the silent woods beside the mountain path.

As soon as the scream fell, Meng Qingshan heard several startled cries. "Wei, what happened to you?"

The man Meng Qingshan had shot was also thoroughly bewildered. He had watched the Kid draw closer and closer to their ambush point. Once the Kid stepped halfway in, all it would take was an order from their leader, and they would swarm out and hack the Kid to death.

Who could have expected the Kid to stop halfway and suddenly draw his bow and fire, his movements flowing as smoothly as clouds and water?

Concealed by the night, he had not even been able to see the arrow's path.

Within the space of a breath, he suddenly felt an inexplicable, piercing pain in his chest. Looking down, he discovered that an arrow had somehow "grown" out of his heart!

He suddenly let out a shrill scream of terror. Along with that wail, all the strength in his body seemed to be ruthlessly drained away, and he collapsed helplessly to the ground.

[You successfully killed Zhang Wei, an ordinary mountain bandit of Black Wind Stronghold. Obtained 300 cultivation points!]

Judging by the system prompt, they were from Black Wind Stronghold. Then he had definitely killed the right person!

At the same time, Meng Qingshan could not help feeling secretly relieved.

Fortunately, his Insight and Five Senses had greatly improved during this period. Otherwise, if he had failed to spot these thieves hiding in the dark, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

However, receiving only 300 cultivation points for this kill left Meng Qingshan both surprised and delighted!

What surprised him was that an ordinary mountain bandit from Black Wind Stronghold was worth only 300 cultivation points, even less than the wild boar on his back. That was truly rather disappointing.

What delighted him was that if this group was all of such caliber, then weren't they simply delivering cultivation points to his doorstep? It was like free fast food delivering itself!

Meng Qingshan immediately drew another arrow from his quiver, preparing to fire again.

To be honest, his Archery Essentials was still only at the beginner stage; it could not even be considered entry-level.

If he had to put it bluntly, his archery merely had the form of it. He could barely draw a bow and shoot an arrow.

His hit rate was acceptable when firing at stationary targets, but when firing at moving targets, it was largely up to fate.

If that man had not been crouching motionlessly in the woods, serving as a living stationary target, whether Meng Qingshan could have hit him with one arrow would truly have been unknown.