Bow Like Thunder, String Startled

Zhao Cheng was stunned. He looked at the Ebony Bow with clear affection, yet he did not reach for it. "Uncle Meng, a gentleman does not take what others love. I cannot accept this."

Meng Wei laughed and cursed, "Damn it, do you think I'm just giving it to you? I don't believe for a second that you can hit a bird while riding a galloping horse! Let's make this wager: if you shoot it down, you win, and the bow is yours! But if you miss, you must listen to me from now on. If I tell you to go east, you cannot go west. Do you dare?"

Zhao Cheng looked at Meng Wei and said earnestly, "I dare."

"Take the bow!"

"Yes."

Zhao Cheng respectfully took it. The moment it touched his hands, he knew it was incomparable to any ordinary strong bow, and he immediately became inseparable from it.

The bow he had used previously was already an Elite Strong Bow, and specifically a power-bow among them, with a draw weight of fifteen stone. Its effective range was one hundred paces, and its maximum range was only one hundred and fifty, though it became incredibly weak by that point.

Although one stone in the Qin State was equivalent to sixty jin, the "stone" rating for a bow did not correspond directly to weight; rather, it referred to the tension required to draw it. A one-stone bow required roughly fifteen or sixteen jin of arm strength to pull.

Therefore, even the Elite Strong Bow felt like a toy to Zhao Cheng, something he could snap with a casual flick of his wrist.

But this bow in his hands was clearly different. It felt heavy the moment he held it. Whether it was the dense, substantial texture of the bow body or the tough, thick Qianzhong Rhino Leather Bowstring, Zhao Cheng felt a faint sense that a dormant power and archery skill were about to be awakened and unsealed.

It was a feeling like a sword fanatic encountering a Longquan Sword, or a zither master meeting a Jiaowei Zither.

He lowered his head, his broad palm gripping the Ebony Bow, stroking it contentedly.

Everyone in the arena watched him in silence, clearly sensing his love for the weapon and the increasingly intense, high-spirited aura radiating from him!

It was coming!

That feeling of a true master was back!

Meng Wei's tiger-like eyes narrowed, his focus absolute.

Suddenly, Zhao Cheng looked up, a smile playing on his lips. The confidence in his eyes was as fierce as the midday sun, and the spirit emanating from his brow was like a legendary sword suddenly unsheathed!

"Zhao Cheng thanks Uncle Meng for the gift of this bow. Now, watch as I string it!"

Before the words had even faded, the horse beneath Zhao Cheng seemed to sense its master's burning spirit and began to gallop with all its might. Its speed was so great that one began to wonder if it was a top-tier steed!

In the blink of an eye, it had carried Zhao Cheng several yards away; man and horse were like a gale sweeping across the training ground!

Just then, four or five sparrows on the arena wall suddenly sensed a great crisis and took flight in a panic toward the heavens!

Zhao Cheng's eyes were like torches. He raised his face and the bow, lifting his hand to nock three arrows at once!

Then, his arms braced as steady as a mountain, and the heavy Ebony Bow instantly deformed under the pressure, curved like a full moon!

At this sight, Meng Wei's eyes went round!

Since he had acquired this bow, he had never once been able to pull it to full draw!

What a lad—to reach the limit in a single motion! What god-like strength!

But what did he mean by nocking three arrows at once? Could it be...

A thought occurred to him, and he found it inconceivable.

On the training ground, the bowstring snapped like a thunderclap!

The three arrows left the string, shooting forth like lightning!

The onlookers felt a blur before their eyes, and in the sky, three sparrows instantly exploded in a flurry of feathers, falling straight down to the ground with a thud—all of them headless!

Feathers drifted slowly across the arena. The entire place fell into a deathly silence; one could hear a pin drop.

Meng Wei's face flushed red, his breathing ragged and rapid!

To hit a flying bird from nearly two hundred paces while galloping at such speed, and to fire three arrows from one bow and hit every target!!

Even though he had mentally prepared himself, he was still deeply shocked. In the past, if a storyteller had recounted such a feat, he would have scoffed and called it a fabrication!

But today, right before his eyes, it had actually happened.

He was so excited his scalp felt like it was going to explode...

He had found a treasure!!

Strength enough to lift a cauldron, archery that startled the heavens—this was the bearing of a War God!

A brilliant star of a general was rising right before his eyes, here on this training ground, breaking through the dawn!

How could he not be excited?

Meng Wei stared fixedly at Zhao Cheng as he rode back, feeling as though the boy was glowing!

Only then did the training ground erupt into a massive uproar!

"Bravo!!"

"Divine!! Shooting a bird while galloping—such divine archery actually exists!"

"Three arrows from one bow, all hitting the bird's head! I thought such archery only existed in legends!"

"Even legends wouldn't dare claim this. Even the legendary Yang Youji only hit a willow leaf at a hundred paces, and the distance Zhao Cheng just shot from was nearly two hundred!"

"Our county has produced a god-like man! This event will surely make it into the history books. Since we serve in the same camp as Zhao Cheng, we can consider ourselves immortalized in history too!"

"It's Zhao Cheng who will be immortalized; our names won't be appearing in any history books!"

The many soldiers were incredibly excited, their faces flushed red; for anyone who had practiced archery, who wouldn't know the true weight of that shot!

This scene alone was enough for them to brag about for the rest of their lives!

Zhao Cheng arrived before Meng Wei, dismounted, stroked the bow in his hand, and offered it back to Meng Wei once more.

"Uncle Meng, this is truly a fine bow. It was a thrill to use, here, back to you!"

Even though Zhao Cheng had never seen a bow like this, he knew it must be worth a fortune; he had won the bet, but if he actually took the prize, he would be the one losing out.

The appreciation in Meng Wei's eyes deepened. He shook his head and pushed the bow back. "Do you take me for a man who breaks his word?"

"A bet is a bet, and I am convinced of your skill. This bow is yours."

"Besides, in my hands, this Ebony Bow is nothing but a pearl covered in dust. Only in your hands can it truly shine."

Hearing this, Zhao Cheng no longer declined and accepted the Ebony Bow; he truly could not put it down.

"Thank you, Uncle Meng."

"With your natural talent and strength, you have already completely surpassed the standards of the Elite Cavalry. However, according to military regulations, you must still pass an assessment before you can be entered into the military registry as a regular soldier."

"Moreover, with your aptitude, there is no point in joining the local forces of the County Court. If you are to join, we shall join the Great Qin Central Cavalry and become a Vanguard Elite! Do not be impatient; just wait a few days in peace. Uncle Meng will certainly send you to a battalion where you can earn first-class military merit."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Cheng's heart stirred. Feeling deeply grateful, he clasped his hands before his chest and bowed solemnly; this was exactly what he wanted most right now.

Meng Wei saw the anticipation and gratitude in Zhao Cheng's eyes, and a smile touched his lips, his mood greatly improved.

There was a sense of accomplishment in knowing that success did not have to be achieved by his own hand!

To discover a rare talent and refuse to let him gather dust—what was a mere bow? To lift him up to the position he deserved, to let him fight for Great Qin across the four corners of the world! To let him build his own merit and career!

This, too, was the conduct of a great man!

Meng Wei stroked the short stubble on his chin, thinking to himself, The lad must be very grateful to me right now. No need for thanks; this is what Uncle Meng ought to do.

Zhao Cheng thought for a moment and said, "Um, about that month of venison Uncle Meng mentioned..."

Meng Wei's expression changed, and he hurried away. "This official has urgent matters to attend to. You go and train; do not slack off!"

Watching Meng Wei's rapidly retreating back, Zhao Cheng was left speechless.

Wait, is venison really that expensive?