Two more arrows shot out in succession from deep within the canopy. Murong Feiyan deflected them one after another and felt that their force had diminished since the last volley. Usually, there were two possible explanations: either her opponent was beginning to run out of strength, or, having seen the beast tamer killed, the archer had begun to flee, and the arrows were losing power as the distance increased.
Murong Feiyan saw branches and leaves shaking in a distant treetop and concluded that her opponent was fleeing. "Where do you think you're going?" she snapped. She leaped into the canopy and saw a dark figure spring from a branch ahead, twist in midair, and fire three arrows in succession.
Murong Feiyan used the branches as cover to evade the shots. Thud, thud, thud! The arrows buried themselves in the wood one after another. Taking advantage of her evasive movements, her opponent opened up another stretch of distance and was almost at the bamboo forest ahead.
Murong Feiyan made up her mind that she would never let this person escape before her eyes. She stamped both feet hard against a branch. Under the full force of her kick, it bent like a bow, then sprang upward with extraordinary resilience. Riding that rebound, she soared a full thirty feet into the air. At the highest point, she spread her arms like a bird unfurling its wings and glided forward.
Seeing Murong Feiyan follow him like his own shadow, the black-clad archer realized he could not shake her pursuit. He could only abandon his attempt to flee for the moment. Reaching back, he drew three arrows from his quiver and nocked them on the string. With both arms straining, he bent the bow into a full moon, then swiftly released the string. The