Purchasing Weapons

The next morning at dawn.

Luo Yi crawled up from the ground early.

He walked to the gathering square in Dongsheng Town, scanned the area, and after confirming no one was around, took out his bow and arrows, aiming at a large tree fifty meters away.

A "whoosh" of an arrow cutting through the air rang out. Because the hunting bow lacked power, the arrow struck below where he aimed.

He fired two more arrows in succession and found the same problem. The hunting bow left by his predecessor's father was only a Five Dou Bow, with an effective range of about thirty meters. Beyond that distance, its power dropped sharply.

Luo Yi opened his Attribute Panel and saw it was the same as when he practiced at home—shooting three arrows only added one point of progress. He put the bow and arrows away.

He walked to the largest Blacksmith Shop in town and heard the "clang clang" of hammering iron inside. Several blacksmiths in the shop were forging various farm tools.

Confirming he hadn't come to the wrong place, Luo Yi stepped inside.

The shopkeeper, resting behind the counter, saw a young man dressed as a hunter walk in.

He asked warmly, "Young sir, if you have any needs, feel free to speak up. This old man can make a recommendation based on what you're looking for."

Looking at the smiling shopkeeper, Luo Yi asked, "Do you sell hunting bows here?"

Hearing the question, and with business coming in so early, the shopkeeper quickly replied, "Yes, yes, yes! This way, honored guest."

The two walked to the area where bows were displayed, and the shopkeeper began to introduce them: "Our shop is the best Blacksmith Shop in town. Young brother, buying a bow from us is definitely the right choice."

Watching the shopkeeper's nonstop boasting, Luo Yi cut in, "Bring out a One Stone Bow and a Two Stone Bow. I'll try them first."

The interrupted shopkeeper showed no hint of displeasure. He went behind the counter, took out two hunting bows, and handed them to Luo Yi, explaining:

"These two are the best-selling hunting bows in our shop. Young brother, you can test them out first."

Taking the hunting bow the shopkeeper handed him, Luo Yi drew it easily. He felt the One Stone Bow and the Five Dou Bow made no difference to him now, so he set the One Stone Bow on the counter.

He then picked up the Two Stone Bow, drew it with half his strength, and found it quite effortless. He thought to himself, "The Two Stone Bow will be obsolete after the next upgrade at most."

"Bring out a Three Stone hunting bow. Let me try it."

When the shopkeeper heard the young man ask for a Three Stone Bow, a flicker of shock appeared in his eyes. He muttered inwardly: This man is so young and can already use a Three Stone Bow—could he be from the town's Martial Arts Hall?

Putting aside any casual attitude, the shopkeeper quickly took out the Three Stone Bow and handed it to Luo Yi with both hands.

Noticing the change in the shopkeeper's demeanor toward him, Luo Yi didn't bother guessing why. He picked up the Three Stone Bow, exerted force in his arm to draw the string, and felt this bow suited him perfectly.

"Shopkeeper, how much is this bow?"

Hearing the question, the shopkeeper said cautiously, "If you want it, sir, it'll be 6,000 copper coins."

At the price, Luo Yi felt a pang of pain. He knew ancient bows were expensive, but he hadn't expected them to cost this much.

Thinking of the powerful effect of skill upgrades, he gritted his teeth, took out five taels of silver from his chest, and handed them over.

"I don't have 6,000 copper coins. Is five taels of silver enough?"

Seeing that the customer was paying with silver instead of copper coins, the shopkeeper confirmed his suspicions and quickly replied, "Enough, sir. Five taels of silver has far more purchasing power than 6,000 copper coins. Our humble shop will throw in twenty arrows as a gift."

Luo Yi slung the hunting bow and the gifted twenty arrows over his back, feeling the single tael of silver left in his chest.

Looking at the hunting bow left by his predecessor's father in his hand, Luo Yi felt no attachment to that man.

He placed the bow his predecessor's father had left on the counter.

"Shopkeeper, do you buy back hunting bows here?"

The shopkeeper hurriedly said, "Yes, sir, we do." He carefully picked up the weapon on the counter, examined it closely, and found it was just an ordinary Five Dou Hunting Bow.

"Sir, our shop is willing to buy this bow for 1,500 copper coins. What do you think?"

Hearing that this broken bow could still sell for 1,500 copper coins, Luo Yi nodded.

After completing the transaction, he shouldered his newly purchased bow and arrows and headed toward Yunling Mountain.

He crouched by a water pit all day, only bagging four squirrels and three Wild Chickens. His fantasy of bagging a Roe Deer or other valuable animal every day was shattered.

Seeing the sky darken, Luo Yi didn't dare stay any longer. He returned to town and sold the day's catch to the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion, earning 170 copper coins.

Entering the courtyard, his younger sister had already cooked dinner and was waiting for him. After they both ate their fill, Luo Yi walked into the yard, wanting to see if the new hunting bow he'd bought today could speed up his archery skill progress.

He planted his stance, drew the bow, and nocked an arrow. The arrow shot out, pierced the Scarecrow in the corner of the wall, and lodged straight into the wall behind it.

Seeing this, Luo Yi was startled. The Five Dou Bow and the Three Stone Bow were simply incomparable.

He pulled out the arrow, whose head was fully embedded in the mud wall, and noticed the arrowhead had worn down. He didn't use the new arrows anymore.

Instead, he took out the arrows he'd used before and stacked all the Scarecrows together to ensure the arrows wouldn't hit the wall directly.

By late night, Second Uncle Luo Wei, who lived next door, was woken by the noise coming from outside.

He walked into his yard, followed the sound, and found it was coming from Luo Yi's house.

Thinking about how the deadline to deliver goods to Mister Li was coming up at the end of the month, Luo Wei cursed under his breath: "If it weren't for you waking up, I'd have had those five hundred taels of silver in hand long ago. Not only did you delay me from making money, but now you dare disturb my sleep."

Believing Luo Yi was deliberately keeping him from getting a good night's rest, the murderous intent in Luo Wei's eyes grew stronger.

Luo Yi, who kept practicing archery, had no idea someone had already set their sights on him.

He silently called up the Panel in his mind, watching as the display changed from Basic Archery (Minor Accomplishment 36/300) to Basic Archery (Minor Accomplishment 102/300).

Tonight's practice had added sixty-six points of progress; at most, it would take just three or four days for the skill to level up.

Over the next two days, Luo Yi hunted in the mountains during the day, sold his game at the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion in the evening, and practiced archery in the yard at night.

Every night, just as Luo Wei was falling asleep, he was jolted awake by the noise of Luo Yi's archery practice, and the anger in his heart grew fiercer.

On the third day, before dawn, Luo Yi rose early. Seeing on the Panel that Archery (Minor Accomplishment 238/300) was only sixty-two points from leveling up, he went to the yard and began practicing.

Still lost in sleep, Luo Wei was roused by the sounds from next door. Staring at the pitch-black sky, the murderous intent in his heart could no longer be hidden. It was bad enough that Luo Yi practiced late into the night, keeping everyone awake—now he was starting at dawn, too.

He went to the house of the younger brother closest to him and kicked the door open.

The younger brother, still asleep, was scared half to death by the thunderous crash at the door and scrambled out to see what was happening.

Opening the door, he saw Luo Wei outside shaking his foot and cursed under his breath: Showing off, huh? Love kicking doors, do you?

Luo Wei looked at the man and said, "Go notify the other brothers. Have them bring their weapons and gather at the town entrance. Today, we're going into the mountains with Luo Yi. When the chance comes, we'll send him on his way."

After giving the orders, Luo Wei didn't rush home. Instead, he sneaked into the younger brother's room. Seeing the plump woman asleep on the bed, a surge of lust flared in his gut, and he pounced on her directly.

The woman, half-asleep and half-awake, felt someone press down on her and assumed it was her own man wanting to play a thrilling game.

She closed her eyes and said, "Husband, this concubine can't see a thing. Please punish me."

Hearing this, Luo Wei blew out the oil lamp by the bedside, and the room soon filled with the sounds of their pleasure.

The younger brother, after notifying all the other brothers, returned home to find his boss lying in bed with his wife. His eyes turned bloodshot, and he was about to charge forward when Luo Wei slapped him across the face.

Staring at the red-eyed younger brother, Luo Wei said, "What, grown some balls lately? Want to fight me to the death?"

Hearing this and recalling Luo Wei's strength, the younger brother quickly backed down. "No, no, boss. Sorry for disturbing your fun. My apologies."

"Good, you know your place. Now get lost and don't ruin my mood."

The younger brother was kicked out. Luo Wei and the plump woman continued their business.

Standing guard outside the door, the younger brother listened to the sounds coming from the room. The Chopping Knife in his hand tightened unconsciously, and a flash of shame and bitter resentment flickered in his eyes.