Introduction to Archery

Ten days gradually passed. Throughout those ten days, Chen Xuan had immersed himself entirely in practicing archery. From the moment he got up, he practiced archery.

Other than obtaining food, he practiced archery.

Thick calluses had appeared on both his hands.

The results were undoubtedly extremely obvious.

Zhang Shan's home.

Thud!

With a soft sound, the arrow's fletching trembled. Twenty meters away, an arrow had sunk straight into the center of a crude grass target.

Zhang Shan, who had watched all along, also showed a trace of surprise.

"Another arrow!"

Zhang Shan's rough voice rang out.

Chen Xuan did not hesitate in the slightest. He swiftly drew his bow again and nocked an arrow.

Thud!

The arrow shot out once more. This time, there was no accident either. In the very center of the grass target, the arrow's fletching quivered—it had struck the bullseye again.

"Not bad. In ten days, you actually managed to get started."

Zhang Shan nodded, looking somewhat surprised. He still clearly remembered the scene when Chen Xuan had first begun learning. In his view, Chen Xuan's talent should not have been particularly high.

By his estimate, getting started in archery should have taken at least three or four months.

Yet he had not expected Chen Xuan to successfully get started within ten days. It was enough to surprise him.

"Thank you for your instruction these past few days, Uncle Zhang Shan."

Chen Xuan smiled as he spoke, thanking Zhang Shan.

"No need to thank me. You provide food, and I teach you. That was the agreement."

"You can go back now. If you still want to learn tomorrow, bring another jin of meat."

Zhang Shan spoke calmly.

"Yes!"

Chen Xuan nodded, then bid Zhang Shan farewell and headed back home.

Watching Chen Xuan leave, Zhang Shan could not help but glance once more toward the deep mountains, fear on his face.

Back home.

His mother, Zhang Chunhua, had not returned yet.

Chen Xuan checked the materials he had laid out to dry in the courtyard. After ensuring there were no problems, he took a bow and arrows out from his room.

If Zhang Shan had been there, he would have discovered that this bow was even better than his own.

It looked extremely similar to a compound bow from Chen Xuan's previous life.

The origin of this thing was simple enough.

With the bug-like power of the Conceptual Ability, obtaining a compound bow he could make at his current stage was not much of a problem.

The only issue was that, since the bowstring was not made from animal sinew such as ox tendon, it might not last very long.

But that was not a problem for Chen Xuan. He had already prepared plenty of materials. At worst, he could simply replace it once it broke.

Thud!

Thud!

The sound of arrows shooting out soon rang through the room.

One arrow after another flew out, accurately striking the center of the target.

After firing more than a hundred arrows.

Chen Xuan switched to another training exercise.

He began to run, firing arrows as he ran.

Compared to shooting at a stationary target, his hit rate this time was lower by an unknown amount.

Thud!

Thud!

Arrows flew out one after another. He fired twenty in a row, but in the end, only three hit, and all of them landed on the outer edge of the grass target.

Seeing those results, Chen Xuan could not help shaking his head.

He stopped, breathing heavily, and could not help turning his gaze toward his Conceptual Ability.

Target: Proficient Archery (Pending Confirmation)

Configuration complete

"Loading!"

"Loading successful!"

'Path One: Fierce Mountain Hall in Green Mountain City is recruiting members. Reach Green Mountain City within twenty-four hours and offer one tael of silver to Steward Chen. You may join Fierce Mountain Hall. If you render great service, you may become a disciple of Zhang Qiushan, Vice Hall Master of Fierce Mountain Hall, and learn archery. Your archery can reach Introduction to Archery within ten days and Proficient Archery within a year.'

'Path Two: Practice shooting stationary targets for one shichen each day; practice shooting stationary targets while moving for one shichen each day. After one month, practice shooting stationary targets for one shichen, shooting stationary targets while moving for one shichen, and shooting moving targets while stationary for one shichen. After two months, practice shooting moving targets while moving for three shichen every day. Proficient Archery after three months.'

The words appeared. This was the new target configuration.

Once he had reached Introduction to Archery, Chen Xuan had naturally set his sights on a higher level of archery.

After all, with only Introduction to Archery, hunting was nearly impossible. Animals were not living targets that would stand still and let him shoot them.

As shown by the Conceptual Ability, above Introduction to Archery was undoubtedly Proficient Archery.

Compared to getting started, Proficient Archery was undoubtedly more difficult, and its training intensity was undoubtedly greater as well.

But in order to eat his fill, Chen Xuan had no intention of stopping.

After resting for around a quarter of an hour, Chen Xuan began practicing again.

First came stationary targets, followed by moving targets.

He continued until night gradually fell.

Only when footsteps sounded outside did Chen Xuan stop practicing.

By then, both his arms had become extremely sore.

At that moment, Zhang Chunhua entered the room as well.

Seeing Chen Xuan tidying up, she could not help feeling heartache.

But though Zhang Chunhua opened her mouth, she said nothing. Instead, she hurried into the room, poured some hot water, and, just as she had over the past few days, began applying hot compresses to Chen Xuan.

A few days ago, Zhang Chunhua had discovered that her son was practicing with a bow and arrows. She had also learned that he was studying archery under Zhang Shan.

She had wanted to stop him, but after considering their family's circumstances, she ultimately kept the words in her mouth.

She only felt increasingly heartbroken for her second son.

As the hot water pressed against his arms, the swollen sensation gradually faded away.

If anyone had been there, they would have discovered a hint of emerald green in the water used for the hot compress.

As a transmigrator, Chen Xuan naturally understood that such reckless training could easily ruin his body.

So, relying on the Conceptual Ability, Chen Xuan had found some medicinal herbs that promoted blood circulation, dispersed bruising, and relieved soreness.

It was precisely with the aid of those medicines that he could keep training so continuously.

The soreness in his arms gradually disappeared.

After applying hot compresses for roughly half an hour, Zhang Chunhua began making dinner.

With Chen Xuan around these days, food was no longer a fatal problem.

Relying on his bug-like Conceptual Ability, Chen Xuan could always obtain food through unbelievable means.

As a result, everyone in the family looked much better now, their complexions carrying a little more color.

Xiao Shitou's face had gained a little more flesh as well.

Yet the heaviness weighing on Chen Xuan had not lessened. Though only ten days had passed, he could already clearly feel that obtaining food was becoming more difficult.

He did not know how long these days of easily obtaining food could continue.

If he could not quickly master hunting skills, then obtaining food in the future would likely become even harder.

The system was indeed extremely bug-like. So long as he set a target to obtain food, it would certainly generate a path for obtaining food.

But whether he could safely reach that path was another matter entirely.

Just like what had happened ten days ago.