Li Family Fort.
Its layout was not much different from Gu Family Village's. The Li clan made up the majority, but many outsiders had gradually integrated as well.
A small courtyard paved with blue bricks.
A woman's wailing rang out without end, filled with such grief that it brought tears to the listener's eyes.
Looking up, one could see a plump young married woman in a red dress, her features carrying a touch of seductive charm, kneeling on the ground without regard for propriety.
Before her stood an ordinary-looking man, though his broad shoulders and straight back gave him a distinguished bearing.
"Husband, you... you must seek justice for Xiao Yan!"
Li Yu sobbed uncontrollably, her eyes red and swollen, one hand clutching her chest as her face turned pale.
Ever since learning that her younger brother Li Yan had died, grief had overwhelmed her. Before their father passed away, he had told her to take good care of her brother. Yet now their family line had been cut off. Sorrow and fear intertwined in her heart.
"Xiao Yan's death was too suspicious. His archery was exceptional, and he had plenty of hunting experience. Shunzi and two others were with him as well. He could never have died in the jaws of wild beasts!"
"Someone must have killed him, they must have! Jiangbo, for the sake of my only younger brother, help him find the murderer and avenge him. Otherwise, Xiao Yan will never rest in peace!"
As Li Yu spoke, tears streamed down her face again. Du Jiangbo felt both heartache and helplessness at the sight.
He hurriedly helped Li Yu to her feet and comforted her gently.
"My dear wife, I am deeply saddened by Li Yan's death as well. But in those vast mountain forests, where could we even begin investigating?"
Li Yu took the opportunity to collapse into Du Jiangbo's arms, weeping softly.
"Start with the hunters who entered the mountains that day. Those who hunt in Cang Mountain are no more than hunters from the nearby villages and forts. With your influence, Jiangbo, you can ask them one by one."
Du Jiangbo's head immediately began to ache. He smiled bitterly.
"Yu'er, you think too highly of your husband. I am merely a martial artist at the Skin Refining stage. If they are hunters from Li Family Fort, I can ask around. But people from other villages and forts will not give me any face."
Li Yu was about to speak again, but Du Jiangbo cut her off first, lowering his voice.
"Besides, I imagine you have heard that people saw members of the Black Sand Gang entering the mountains that day as well. If Li Yan was killed by them..."
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Xiao Yan may have been somewhat arrogant at times, but he knew what was important. He would never provoke the Black Sand Gang."
Li Yu immediately became agitated.
"Even if it truly was the Black Sand Gang, I will make them pay the price!"
Du Jiangbo's expression darkened at once.
"Li Yu!"
The angry shout made Li Yu shudder. Only then did she realize what she had just said, and she instantly became terrified.
"Husband, I..."
Du Jiangbo snorted. But when he saw Li Yu's delicate, timid, alluring appearance, his heart softened again, and he spoke in a low voice.
"Yu'er, you must never say such things again. If Li Yan truly was killed by the Black Sand Gang, we can only pretend it never happened. Otherwise, disaster will be upon us. Even the fort lord will not be able to protect us!"
"Rest assured, I will secretly investigate this matter. If someone else did it, I will never spare the enemy who killed him. But if it was the Black Sand Gang, then we can only endure for now and wait for an opportunity..."
Li Yu nodded numbly. Du Jiangbo sighed and called for an old maid to help Li Yu away to rest.
Once Li Yu's figure disappeared from sight, Du Jiangbo rubbed his brow with a headache.
"Liuzi, come in," he called toward the courtyard entrance.
A young man dressed in coarse linen and short sleeves immediately walked in.
"My lord, your orders."
"Go summon everyone in the fort who entered Cang Mountain five days ago. I want to ask them about Li Yan."
"Yes!"
Liuzi hesitated, then added.
"What about the other villages and forts? Should we ask around about the Black Sand Gang as well..."
Du Jiangbo shot Liuzi a glare.
Liuzi shuddered, immediately apologized, and left.
Du Jiangbo snorted inwardly.
To be honest, he had never thought much of Li Yan, his brother-in-law.
Back when Li Yan had caused trouble in Li Family Fort, he had ruined a young woman's innocence and cost her life. Du Jiangbo had been the one to clean up the mess.
Later, Li Yan had often flaunted Du Jiangbo's name outside. Du Jiangbo greatly disliked that style of conduct and felt that Li Yan would sooner or later bring disaster upon himself.
But Li Yu had kept whispering in his ear, and since nothing major had happened, he had turned a blind eye.
Now, disaster had finally come for him, and he had died in the depths of the mountains.
Du Jiangbo naturally knew that Li Yan had most likely been killed by someone, and it might not even have been the Black Sand Gang. But he did not want to get involved.
Calling in the hunters from the fort for questioning was entirely for Li Yu's benefit. He did not want to expend so much effort visiting other villages and forts. As for sending someone to inquire at the Black Sand Gang, he would only do that if he thought he had lived too long.
As far as he was concerned.
Having one less brother-in-law who loved to show off was a good thing.
Gu Family Village.
Since the hunters' gathering that day, when news spread that Li Yan and the other three had died, the many hunters of Gu Family Village had gradually become more cautious and reduced how often they entered the mountains.
Other than a few people driven by luck and greed, many had abandoned the pursuit of the Silver Fox altogether. Some even planned to rest at home for half a month.
Gu Sheng was naturally among the latter. It suited his usual image and did not seem out of place.
He was more than happy to rest at home.
This was the perfect chance to devote himself fully to grinding his archery to the perfected realm!
In the forest.
Gu Sheng practiced archery as he always had.
After his archery reached the major accomplishment realm, a full day of hard practice only increased his proficiency by a little over 1%.
It did not seem like much.
But in truth, it was astonishing. Visible progress every day was the most precious thing of all.
Ordinary people put in decades of effort day after day, often seeing only the slightest improvement after a long time. That kind of feedback was entirely different.
An ordinary person might never reach the major accomplishment realm in an entire lifetime, while Gu Sheng could advance from major accomplishment to perfection in just over two months.
After practicing archery diligently each day, several days passed.
Gu Sheng held a longbow, his body as steady as an ancient pine, his eyes as sharp as a hawk's. Focused and piercing, he had drawn the arrow on his bow but had yet to release it.
The sight before Gu Sheng differed somewhat from what ordinary people saw.
A hundred meters away, he could clearly see fallen leaves drifting and insects flying. It was as though everything moved in slow motion. Even the veins on leaves and the wings of insects were reflected in his pupils.
This was the mark of dynamic vision cultivated to an exceptionally high level.
Archery was not merely about shooting arrows. The accompanying techniques for exerting force and training the eyes were equally important. Those were the true secret teachings.
At this moment, Gu Sheng had cultivated both to heights Gu Erniu could never reach.
After a moment of stillness, Gu Sheng's essence, energy, and spirit reached their peak.
Whoosh!!
A piercing shriek rang out as the arrow tore through the air. Power condensed upon its tip as it spun slightly, racing like lightning and vanishing in an instant!
The arrow precisely pierced through a leaf, then a flying insect, and finally the bullseye a hundred meters away.
One arrow, three targets!
It was the perfect union of technique and strength, an arrow of exquisite perfection.
An incomparably exhilarating yet lingering feeling rose in Gu Sheng's heart. He did not even need to open the panel to know.
Piercing lice and shooting willows—his archery had reached perfection!
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