The Master Archer and the Girls' Competition

Green, who had not slept well, was woken up once again. But this time, it was no longer Old Green waking him. The shouts from outside had roused him from his dreams.

"Kill!"

Wave after wave of shouts, accompanied by that highly sensitive word, "kill," instantly jolted Green awake. He sprang out of bed and looked around warily.

Old Green had already risen early. Seeing Green leap out of bed, a faint smile appeared on his face.

"There's no war. The castle soldiers are training. You can take a look." After saying that, Old Green pointed toward the window, signaling Green to look.

Green opened the window and poked his head out. On the training grounds below the castle, a large group of guards was drilling.

The snow on the training grounds had been cleared away, exposing the yellow earth beneath. A guard squad leader was leading his men through their training.

"Kill!" the lead squad leader shouted, slashing the longsword in his hand forward.

"Kill!" The other guards shouted in unison and made the same slashing motion. Their movements were somewhat immature and uneven, but their voices were loud, and they still carried a certain momentum.

Hearing the guards' shouts and feeling the winter wind blow against him, the last trace of sleepiness in Green's body was driven away.

Watching the guards train made Green's blood boil, and he felt an urge to join them immediately.

Old Green had clearly seen through Green's thoughts.

"Don't train with the sword today. Your body hasn't recovered yet, so practice archery first." Unaware of Green's abnormal recovery ability, Old Green had been arranging Green's training according to ordinary standards.

Peaceful days won't last long. I have to speed things up. Considering that the situation might change, Green made a decision.

Green walked over to Old Green and quietly told him about his recovery ability, which surpassed that of ordinary people. Upon hearing this, Old Green's eyes filled with undisguised shock. He kept examining Green's body with his eyes, then ran his hands all over Green's body.

After feeling Green over, Old Green confirmed that Green was not lying to him out of fear from being threatened the previous night, trying to learn the Breathing Method early.

"Green, you really are different from ordinary people. Your body has already fully met the standard. That's good, though. You can learn the Breathing Method ahead of time and have more protection in the future."

Hearing that Old Green intended to teach him the Breathing Method early, Green could not help revealing an excited expression.

"Training in the Breathing Method requires special movements and a calm state of mind. Too much has happened these past two days, so it isn't suitable for you right now. Practice archery for a while first. Once you've mostly recovered, I'll teach you personally."

"Alright, then I'll go train first." Green nodded to show that he understood, then hurried to the room next door to wash up and prepare for the day's training. The castle maids had long since prepared everything he needed.

After quickly washing up, Old Green took Green to the training grounds.

Green would not be training with the guards. Most of the guards' training was far too rough and could leave hidden injuries, making it unsuitable for Green.

Green would train alongside the baron's children and several young people selected for their potential.

Following Old Green down the castle's spiral staircase, Green headed toward the training grounds. He had gotten up rather late. Maids moved back and forth through the castle, preparing the morning necessities for the noble children.

"Good morning, Mr. Old Green. Good morning, Mr. Green!" Whenever the maids saw them, they stopped what they were doing and greeted them respectfully.

The castle maids had all been selected by the butler, Basel. They were all delicate-looking, gentle, and sensible. There would be no unruly, vicious servants among them.

Old Green and Green nodded back, signaling for them to continue their work.

Green and Old Green soon left the guest residence. Old Green found a guard squad leader and asked him to take Green to the training grounds. He then turned away to find his carriage, intending to go to his residence by the warehouse and bring some things over.

"Green, follow this squad leader. He'll take you to the training grounds."

Seeing that two castle guards followed Old Green as he left, Green was reassured that Old Green's safety was guaranteed.

Turning back to look at the squad leader Old Green had introduced, Green found that he was an acquaintance—Kalant from the night before.

Kalant wore a grayish-white shirt and dark gray trousers. His face carried the weathered look of a middle-aged man, but his body was exceptionally burly. One look at his powerful build was enough to tell anyone that he was not someone to be trifled with.

"Sorry to trouble you, Kalant."

"No need to be so polite, Young Master Green." Because of Old Green's special standing in the baron's territory, Green was also considered something of an unofficial noble, and some people addressed him as Young Master Green.

Green did not correct Kalant when he heard the title, because there was no point. In this medieval-like era, the distinction between social classes was clear. Correcting him too insistently would only embarrass him.

Led by Kalant, Green arrived at the central grounds of the castle. The entire castle was circular, and the center held its largest activity area. A large group of boys and girls was training there.

Sunlight shone across the ground. It was not yet noon, and most places were still shaded. Yet there was no trace of snow here, as the grounds had been thoroughly cleared. The entire training area was circular, with a track around the outer edge. Some boys and girls were running laps there.

Various pieces of equipment had been placed in the center of the grounds. Teenagers around Green's age were training there. Most practiced swordsmanship with wooden swords. A few held standard wooden bows and arrows, shooting at targets dozens of meters away. No one was specifically directing the training.

Kalant noticed Green's confusion and explained, "The instructor was originally Captain Os, but you know what happened last night. Everyone is training on their own today."

"I see." Green nodded in understanding. "Then I'll train by myself as well. Old Green has assigned me a training task."

"Old Green returned from the battlefield, so his experience is certainly greater than ours. Just follow his arrangements." Kalant showed his respect for Old Green and did not interfere with Green's training.

Green headed toward the archery area. The moment he appeared on the training grounds, he drew the attention of everyone present.

Since the people on these grounds were noble children and selected talented youths, personnel changes were rare. The sudden arrival of someone new naturally caught everyone's attention.

Green did not live inside the castle, but that did not mean few people in the castle knew him. In fact, Old Green's presence ensured that Green was not unknown, and those who knew him were inevitably children of the castle's upper ranks.

Before Green had transmigrated, he had come to the castle for gatherings every so often.

However, after his soul fusion changed his personality, Green had been busy training and had not visited the castle at all. Old Green had handled everything for him.

When the boys and girls present saw Green appear, they all showed surprised expressions. It was common knowledge that Green had been privately trained by Old Green. Even though everyone present was a noble child, they still looked at him with envy.

Not every noble child could learn the Breathing Method. Only those who passed strict tests could study it. Those unqualified noble children would ultimately be married off for alliances and become political sacrifices.

Green was different. He had an almost certain chance of inheriting a Breathing Method. Even if he failed to become a formal knight, becoming a knight apprentice would not be a problem. With a Breathing Method, Green could still retain a special position within the baron's territory.

"Brother Green, are you going to train with us from today onward?" A sweet, youthful voice suddenly asked him. Green looked toward its source.

It's Aishweil.

Green immediately recalled the memories in his mind. Aishweil was the baron's third daughter. Since she was a year younger than Green, and because the baron respected Old Green, she addressed Green as her older brother. Although Aishweil was the baron's daughter, her mother had merely been a commoner whom the baron had favored because of her looks. As a result, Aishweil's status was not high, and she was not valued in the castle.

Although she lacked neither food nor clothing and had some money to spend each month, once Aishweil reached adulthood, she would inevitably be married off to another noble in a political alliance. Whether she would enjoy a comfortable life afterward would depend entirely on her luck.

Aishweil's maternal family was not powerful. After she married, everything would depend on her husband's attitude. She would have no authority over her own life.

"Long time no see, Aishweil." Green smiled. Green had a good relationship with everyone in the castle, and Aishweil was rather pretty, so his previous self had naturally been happy to get close to her. After all, his previous self had been a hot-blooded seventeen- or eighteen-year-old.

"I heard you've been training constantly. Are you going to inherit Old Green's Breathing Method?" Aishweil asked proactively, her eyes full of envy.

Aishweil's voice was quite youthful, creating a sharp contrast with her figure. She had the appearance of a child with a full, mature body. Her curves were striking, with a generous bust and slender waist. Green could not help letting his gaze linger on her. However, he quickly adjusted himself and did not let anyone around him notice anything unusual—except Aishweil, who had been watching him closely. Rather than changing her behavior because of Green's gaze, she lifted her chest slightly, showing off her figure.

"Yes. Old Green will soon pass the Breathing Method on to me. Right now, I'm undergoing the final stage of training." Green did not intend to hide it. Once Old Green taught him the Breathing Method, Green's physical condition would undergo earth-shaking changes. His appetite would also increase dramatically, making it impossible to conceal.

"Then, Brother Green, after you learn the Breathing Method, can you show us how amazing it is? We aren't old enough yet and still need time to grow." Aishweil walked up to Green, grabbed his hand in a coquettish manner, and pleaded with him.

Green froze for a moment. He had not expected Aishweil to be so proactive. Was that really something she could casually do to a boy their age?

Green quietly pulled his hand free, calmed himself, and suppressed the heat rising within him before saying word by word, "That won't be a problem. Once I learn the Breathing Method, I'll definitely show you."

Green took several quick strides to the archery area, picked up a bow and arrow, and began venting his excess energy at the target. In his previous life, Green had been single. How could he withstand this kind of stimulation? If he did not vent some energy now, he feared he would lose control of his lower half.

Activate chip movement assistance, Green silently thought.

A blue projection appeared in Green's vision. Following the chip's instructions, he continuously adjusted his archery stance. When it came to archery, the chip's abilities were fully displayed—target lock and auto-aim, practically cheating.

Raise the bow three degrees to hit the bullseye.

Whoosh! The arrow shot out and struck the bullseye dead center. The other boys and girls who had been watching Green all secretly looked over, their eyes filled with astonishment.

"Wow, Brother Green, your aim is amazing! I'll hand you the arrows." Aishweil approached again, standing beside Green and offering him arrows with both hands. Seeing Aishweil take the initiative again, and considering that they had always gotten along well, Green found it difficult to refuse. He could only let her remain at his side.

Seeing that Green did not reject her, Aishweil could not help lifting her chest. Her threatening gaze swept across the other girls nearby, openly declaring her claim.

Aishweil's behavior immediately provoked the dissatisfaction of several other girls. Green was known as one of the three most eligible bachelors in Baron Kluo's territory. Countless girls throughout the territory wanted to marry him, so Aishweil's actions naturally drew resentment.

Moreover, compared to the other two, Green was easier to approach. As long as one gained Old Green's approval, she might even be able to marry Green directly. Of course, some girls were not interested in Green. Their targets were the other two.

The other two were Kluokan and Okat. Kluokan was Baron Kluo's eldest son. Since childhood, the baron had nourished him with Life Force, allowing him to begin Breathing Method training early. He was now close to breaking through as a knight apprentice. As long as nothing unexpected happened, becoming a knight and inheriting the entire baronial territory was virtually certain.

As for Okat, he was the eldest son of Captain Os. His father, Os, was one of the only two knights currently in the baron's territory. However, Os had become a knight rather late and had no spare Life Force to nourish Okat. Like ordinary noble children, Okat could only begin training once he came of age. However, because he had been born after Captain Os became a knight, he was naturally strong and far surpassed those of his age. His chances of becoming a knight were extremely high.

The last one was Green. Compared to the other two, he had no advantages. His only benefit was that he could inherit a Breathing Method with near certainty.

Noble children of higher status naturally pursued Kluokan and Okat. Those of lower status set their sights on Green. Green had no burdens, and his future life would certainly be comfortable. For noble children unqualified to chase power, Green was the best choice. And if Green was lucky enough to become a knight, his status in the baron's territory would undergo a tremendous transformation.

All the boys and girls present had heard the conversation between Aishweil and Green. Naturally, Green's upcoming study of the Breathing Method could not remain a secret. But more people quickly realized that Green was still one year short of the proper age. Given Old Green's attitude toward Green, he would never let Green take the risk of learning the Breathing Method early. That meant that, in Old Green's view, Green's physique had already reached the required standard.

After reaching that conclusion, even the noble children of high status could not help turning their attention to Green. Being able to learn the Breathing Method early proved that his chances of breaking through far exceeded those of ordinary people. They could no longer treat Green as they had before.

The girls watched Aishweil eagerly fawn over Green at his side, their eyes filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment.

Damn it, I was too slow. Aishweil got there first. Looking at Aishweil's generous chest, some of the girls on the grounds could not help feeling defeated. They had reacted slower than her, and their natural assets were not as impressive either.

Once Green entered a training state, he paid no attention to the opinions of others. Ignoring the various thoughts around him, Green immersed himself in training.

"Whoosh... whoosh... whoosh..."

The sound of arrows slicing through the air rang out continuously. At first, Green's movements were still sometimes improper. But as time passed, with the chip's assistance, his accuracy grew higher and higher. The three targets on the training grounds were already filled with arrows he had fired.

Green's nearly astonishing accuracy and rapid improvement were enough to call him a master archer.

Standing beside him and constantly filling Green's quiver with arrows, Aishweil's eyes grew brighter and brighter. The way she looked at Green was already filled with charm. If they had not been in public, she might have thrown herself at him.

Watching Green's focused expression as he trained, Aishweil could not help becoming absorbed in it herself, momentarily forgetting to refill his arrows.

When the immersed Green reached toward his quiver with his right hand, he found it empty and finally came back to his senses. Green looked at Aishweil beside him and naturally noticed that something was off. Her flushed cheeks and seductive eyes clearly showed that she was not thinking about anything proper.

Aishweil also noticed Green looking at her. She hurriedly and clumsily put the arrows in her hands into Green's quiver. Green silently resumed his training.

After firing his hundredth arrow, Green stopped training. The chip had already issued a warning. Continuing could damage his muscles, which would do him no good when he currently needed to recover and prepare to learn the Breathing Method.

Green looked around. Nearly all the boys and girls who had originally been on the training grounds had already left. Apart from one or two girls who remained, only Green and Aishweil were left.

Seeing Green stop shooting, Aishweil, who had assisted him for half the day, finally found her chance.

"Brother Green, you must be hungry after training for so long, right? Come eat with me." Aishweil looked at him eagerly.

Green did not refuse. There were only three places in the entire castle where he could eat. He was not currently qualified to attend the baron's family meals, though Old Green might be. The guards' dining area had poor food. The place where these noble children ate was the most suitable for Green.

Seeing that Green did not refuse, Aishweil excitedly grabbed his hand and headed toward the noble dining hall.

The two girls who had remained on the grounds suddenly stepped forward and blocked Green and Aishweil's path.

"Brother Green, long time no see. Can we eat with you?" Looking at the two girls who had suddenly appeared, Green quickly searched through his memories for their information.

"Leila, Mia, Aishweil and I were just about to go eat. Since you want to come too, let's all go together."

Leila and Mia were also noble children in the castle. Leila was Baron Kluo's fourth daughter. Her situation was not much different from Aishweil's. Mia's status was even lower. She was a distant relative of Baron Kluo whose family had fallen into decline, so they had come to seek his support. Mia's mother was also a head maid in the castle, responsible for directing the other maids' work. Though she held a little authority, she was still ultimately a servant. Mia would probably end up marrying some young castle squad leader or a promising talent.

Leila's figure was equally explosive, but compared with Aishweil, Leila had a more mature face. She exuded the air of an elegant older woman, while her slightly youthful voice created a strong contrast that struck Green deeply.

Mia's figure was much less developed than the other two. Perhaps due to poor nutrition, her chest had not grown very well. She was also very reserved, looking somewhat at a loss. She gave off the impression of someone who made others want to cherish her. However, Green was not fooled by appearances. A girl who had chosen to join Leila in intercepting Aishweil was probably not as innocent as she seemed.

When Aishweil saw Leila and Mia blocking their way, her face darkened. However, she still wanted to present herself well before Green.

"Since Brother Green agrees, let's all go together." Aishweil maintained her sweet smile as she spoke to Green.

What had originally been a trip for two became a group of four. With everyone gathered around Green, the atmosphere began to turn subtle.