Learning Archery

Gu Erniu looked at Gu Sheng with complete sincerity.

After Li Lian told him what had happened that night, he had been thinking about how to thank Gu Sheng. A few hunted animals were simply too meager; compared to the lives of his wife and child, they were not worth mentioning.

In the end, he made a decision: he would teach Gu Sheng to hunt!

These days, no family was willing to let its special skills leak out. Forget hunting, a fairly valuable skill—even something as basic as weaving baskets was difficult to learn.

Gu Erniu's family had hunted for generations, which was how the craft had been passed down.

The reason he chose to teach Gu Sheng archery now—

First, he was grateful that Gu Sheng had saved his wife and child.

Second, he had thoroughly seen Gu Sheng's character. Even if someone like him learned archery, he would only become an ally in the future, not turn around and use it against him.

Hearing Gu Erniu's words, Gu Sheng froze for a moment before his eyes lit up.

He took a deep breath and did not put on airs or refuse.

"I do!"

Gu Erniu could not help laughing heartily.

"Good! I'm not going into the mountains for a while anyway. Starting tomorrow, make some time in the evenings to learn archery from me. I'll also teach you some things to watch out for when hunting in the mountains."

"Once you've gotten started with archery, Brother Erniu will take you hunting in the mountains. If we brothers work together, our days will definitely get better and better!"

Gu Erniu was rather excited as well.

It was not easy to find a partner one could trust completely these days. Gu Sheng could fight a wild wolf alone; if he learned archery too, his combat ability would become even stronger. He would be a tremendous help, and the two of them would be safer in the mountains together.

Gu Sheng nodded firmly, gratitude and joy welling up in his heart.

After gaining a foothold through Wood Chopping, Gu Sheng had been wondering what other way he could find to make money. He had not expected such an unexpected delight.

If Chopping Wood fell within the scope of martial arts, then archery surely did as well.

Gu Sheng had not forgotten that the panel was his greatest reliance. With it, he could rapidly improve his archery. Then hunting would be less dangerous and more profitable.

Once he learned archery, the speed at which he accumulated wealth would increase enormously!

The main branch of Gu Family Village.

The tiled walls of its courtyards stood in neat rows, worlds apart from the outer village.

Most of Gu Family Village bore the surname Gu, while a smaller portion were outsiders who had gradually integrated into the village. Everyone knew that Gu Family Village was, in truth, the main branch's Gu Family Village.

At this moment, in an elegant courtyard.

A middle-aged scholar in a green robe leisurely sipped tea. Across from him sat a bald, burly man with a somewhat fierce appearance. He was Gu Jingang, whom Gu Sheng had seen that night.

The burly man impatiently glanced at the exquisite tea set on the pearwood table.

"Changming, what's so good about this tea? Hurry up and tell me what we're doing with the demon wolf's blood."

Gu Changming, dressed as a scholar, shook his head and sighed.

"Jingang, you're still so hot-tempered. What a waste of that fine body of yours. If you could settle your mind, your cultivation would have surpassed mine long ago."

Gu Jingang curled his lip and said nothing, clearly unconvinced.

Gu Changming was not the family head, but as an expert in the Blood Refining Realm, he held a high status in the main branch. Together with Gu Jingang and Gu Dajiang, he was known as one of Gu Family Village's three great experts.

Gu Changming smiled.

"All right, all right. You must be thinking I had better resources than you. Don't worry. Once we have someone refine the demon wolf's blood into Blood Strengthening Pills, you and I will each get a share."

Gu Jingang immediately showed delight.

"That's more like it. With Blood Strengthening Pills, I'll finally have a chance to break through to minor accomplishment in Blood Refining."

He had served wholeheartedly all these years without divided loyalties, so naturally the main branch would not treat him unfairly.

Gu Changming continued.

"As for the demon wolf meat, it won't be especially useful to us. Save some for Dajiang's son, then distribute the rest among the talented youths of the main branch."

Gu Jingang slowly nodded.

"Gu Xiaojiang is already fourteen. That kid has the best talent among the main branch youths of his generation. We should nurture him properly and strive to produce a Bone Refining Realm cultivator for Gu Family Village as well."

"The Bone Refining Realm is far too difficult to reach. If only that demon wolf had an inner core. Forget the Bone Refining Realm—even you and I might have had a chance to break through to the Marrow Refining Realm."

Gu Jingang immediately snorted with laughter.

"An inner core? If you really ran into a demon with an inner core, Gu Changming, you wouldn't even be enough to fill its teeth."

Gu Changming laughed wordlessly.

"True enough. We were lucky to discover this mixed-blood demon wolf. Once we digest all the gains it has brought us, Gu Family Village will become even stronger. Then we'll have more confidence when facing the Black Sand Gang!"

"The Black Sand Gang has relied on its strong soldiers and horses to act recklessly all these years. They used to be tolerable, but in recent years they've become more and more excessive!"

At the mention of the Black Sand Gang, both men's expressions darkened.

Gu Jingang said gloomily.

"If I break through to the Bone Refining Realm, the first person I'll pound is that bastard Zhao Honglie!"

Zhao Honglie was the leader of the Black Sand Gang.

Gu Changming's eyes flickered slightly.

"What did Li Family Fort say?"

"The same as always. That bunch of cowards refuses to cooperate."

"Then there's no rush. We'll take it slowly."

The next day.

Perhaps because he was eager to learn archery from Gu Erniu, Gu Sheng was especially quick at Chopping Wood today. With an hour left before sunset, he had already finished the day's work.

He collected ten copper coins from Gu He.

Gu Sheng hurried toward the woods where he had agreed to meet Gu Erniu yesterday.

Soon.

Gu Erniu appeared in the distance. Today, he carried a quiver on his back and held a hunting bow in his hand. His gaze was cold, and he cut an imposing figure.

Seeing that Gu Sheng had finished work so early, surprise flashed through his eyes. However, he did not ask about it and went straight to the point.

"Learning archery is difficult. Otherwise, the authorities wouldn't ban only crossbows and not bows. Brother Erniu can only do his best to teach you. Whether you can learn it depends on your talent and diligence."

"To learn archery, you first need a bow. This is the bow I used before. With your strength, you'll be able to draw it after a little training."

Gu Erniu handed him an old hunting bow. The grain of the wood on its body had been worn nearly invisible, showing that it had been used for a long time. Both ends, meanwhile, had sharp blade edges.

Hunters did not only need to know how to shoot arrows; they also needed at least some skill in close combat.

"The first step in archery is drawing the bow!"

"Only when you can steadily draw the bowstring can you shoot an arrow smoothly and unleash its strength and speed!"

"You've been Chopping Wood every day lately, and your arm strength has increased considerably. Drawing it won't be a problem, but remember—you must draw it steadily."

Gu Sheng seemed to gain some understanding.

He tried drawing the bow. He felt resistance after pulling it only halfway. He could draw it fully if he wanted to, but he could not hold it for long.

"This is a one-stone bow. When you can draw it to a full moon a hundred times without gasping for breath, you can switch to a stronger bow. But as long as you don't provoke those demons, a one-stone bow is more than enough for ordinary wild beasts."

Gu Erniu continued.

"After learning to draw the bow comes aiming. Aiming sounds simple, but it is actually difficult. Even with a bow in hand, ordinary people cannot hit a person. It has to do with posture and eyesight."

"Not even considering shooting at moving targets, when shooting from a fixed stance, your legs must be steady, your shoulders level, your arms straight, and your eyes precise. Only when hand, eye, and heart are united can you shoot quickly and accurately."

As he spoke, Gu Erniu nocked an arrow and drew the bow, casually firing a shot.

Whoosh!

The arrow sliced through the air with a faint shriek and struck the heart of a distant tree squarely. Its arrowhead sank into the trunk while its white fletching trembled constantly.

Gu Erniu smiled proudly.

"Your Brother Erniu has practiced archery for ten years. From over fifty meters away, I can accurately hit a running rabbit. I'm considered a capable hunter throughout these parts. Otherwise, your sister-in-law wouldn't have married me back then!"