Chapter 312: Nian Jun admires, the two women secretly compete, the reputation is loud, the lady hears

Inside the Dream Inn, the group of geniuses, seeing Wang Dezhong's serious demeanor, were filled with arrogance and didn't quite believe the "terrifying archery skills." However, his dejected appearance didn't seem like an act, which piqued their curiosity.

In the inn's lobby, three pots of animal soup simmered and steamed. The essence of a hundred beasts bubbled in the pots, the tiger's heart and bear's heart clearly showing their textures, while the bear's paw and leopard's spine were nearly half-cooked.

The soup was cooked to a delicious aroma. Yang Wentian brought out dozens of bowls and chopsticks. He poured some into the bowls next to the Korean soup. The bowls and chopsticks landed neatly on the ground, arranged in an orderly fashion. Yang Wentian then struck the beast pot with his palm from a distance. The pot shook, splashing the beast soup, which fell like rain, not a single drop missing into the bowls.

Praises poured in, and everyone grabbed bowls of the delicious soup, slurping it down as they sat around it, forming a lively circle. Zhou Ting of the Yangshan Sword Sect called out, "Waiter, prepare water and wine!"

The waiter brought over a wine jar and some water. The water was poured into the pot, while the wine jar was placed aside for the young men to take. Everyone sat down, drank soup, drank wine, and ate meat, waiting quietly for Wang Dezhong to speak.

Gu Nianjun took a small sip and said, "Brother Wang, please speak."

Wang Dezhong asked for a jar of wine, took a few big gulps, and slowly said, "Today's hunt. I actually used some tricks. I have the [Azure Eyes], my eyes are extraordinary, and my ability to find traces is far superior to that of ordinary people."

“I see many people hunting in winter, and quite a few of my fellow disciples from the Sword Sect are here. Their catch of ordinary beasts is naturally not bad, but if they can hunt snow beasts, they can enhance their reputation and promote their archery skills.”

Everyone smiled upon hearing this. Yang Wentian said, "To be honest, I also wanted to hunt the Snow Beast. However, this beast is exceptionally cunning, and I haven't even seen its pelt."

Many people echoed with laughter. Gu Nianjun asked, "And then?" Wang Dezhong replied, "I was lucky; I found a snow tiger, wounded it with a shot, but it escaped."

Zhou Shijie said, "The snow beast is incredibly resilient. If one arrow fails to kill it, it will most likely escape. This setback shouldn't be enough to discourage you so much that you'd give up on your arrows, right?"

Wang Dezhong said, "I have blue eyes, so although I lost track of it for a while, I gradually detected the snow tiger's tracks again through subtle clues. I eventually tracked it down, and at that point, I was confident that I could shoot and kill a snow tiger!"

Wang Dezhong took a sip of wine and said, "This is where the incident happened."

The crowd, listening to his rhythmic and expressive delivery, felt an immense sense of curiosity. Gu Nianjun frowned slightly and said, "Brother Wang, please speak quickly."

Wang Dezhong said, "I crept closer quietly, and was less than three hundred feet away from Xuehu. I had already nocked my arrow and released it. But just then, an arrow from elsewhere flew in and shot down my arrow!"

Luo Feiyan exclaimed in surprise, "Senior Brother Wang, your arrow had already left the bowstring, yet it was still shot down?"

Wang Dezhong nodded. The group of geniuses were all amazed. The arrows were fierce and forward, incredibly fast. It was indeed extremely difficult for them to be shot down by other arrows while flying.

Wang Dezhong said, "That's not all. I looked back and saw that the archer was about two miles away from me... No, I thought he was two miles away at the time. In fact, he was much closer than two miles away because the snow-covered mountains were vast and white, and the man was equipped with a red bow, which made him very conspicuous and appear to be very close."

"As the saying goes, 'Looking at a mountain makes you feel like you're running yourself to death,' and that's exactly the case. When I went there myself, it was a good five miles away... no more than eight miles! Or even further? I really couldn't be sure, the snow was vast and boundless."

Mu Hongchou said, "Wait, you mean that even though you were eight miles apart, the other party shot down your arrow? This is simply unbelievable. It would be impossible for him to do so without using his internal energy or martial arts."

Wang Dezhong shook his head and said, "I'm quite certain it's purely archery."

Hua Wu nodded and said, "Unless... you shoot at that person, and the two arrows are pointing in opposite directions."

Wang Dezhong shook his head and said, "No, I just said 'look back,' and that person was right behind me. It wasn't a direct shooting exchange."

Yue Kai said in a deep voice, "I understand. It must be a coincidence, because that brother shot the arrow first. Brother Wang shot it afterward. This difference in timing, coupled with the fact that the arrows were shot in the same direction, caused the two arrows to collide."

Gu Nianjun and Mu Hongchou both nodded secretly, agreeing with the argument. Mu Hongchou said, "So, in other words, it was actually Brother Wang who shot down the other side's arrow. But because the situation is complicated, Brother Wang believes that the other side shot down your arrow."

Wang Dezhong said, "At the time, I was competitive and also felt that this was a great coincidence. So I drew my bow and shot again, but this time, I had no chance of escaping."

Everyone listened intently. Wang Dezhong said solemnly, "If the first time was a coincidence, then the second arrow was impossible. I saw with my own eyes that my arrow was shot down again. Moreover, it was shot after I shot first and he shot after me."

Yang Wentian was deeply suspicious and said, "Brother Wang, are you perhaps under a spell? How could this be possible?"

Mu Hongchou said, "To shoot the first arrow with the second one is simply absurd. Besides... you were eight li ahead of him. Even with my archery skills, I wouldn't dare say I could hit a target from eight li away with perfect accuracy. To hit a flying arrow from eight li away? I've never heard of such a thing!"

Gu Nianjun remained silent, her eyes flickering. Wang Dezhong smiled bitterly and said, "Why would I lie to you? This is absolutely true."

"The man held up one finger, indicating that I should shoot another arrow. I then used all the archery skills I had acquired in my life, exhausting all my knowledge, and shot the third arrow."

Luo Feiyan asked, "Could it have been shot down again?" The entire room fell into complete silence, so quiet you could hear a pin drop, as everyone waited for Wang Dezhong's response.

Wang Dezhong nodded and said, "That's right, without a doubt, he was shot down again. But this time, I watched him draw his bow and shoot the arrow with my own eyes. His posture and demeanor... I... I can't describe it in words. I can only prostrate myself in complete admiration."

"After that arrow, I had no intention of fighting him again. I saw him draw his bow again, and from several miles away, he shot and killed Woxue Xuehu with a single arrow. His skill was truly... truly ashamed of his inferiority."

Having said that, they drank more water. Zhou Shijie and Yue Kai seemed lost in thought. Mu Hongchou and Gu Nianjun exchanged silent glances, both feeling a strange sense of unease about their encounter, as if a cat was scratching at their hearts. They were about to speak.

Hua Wu said, "I still tend to think that Brother Wang is delirious. This matter is rather unbelievable."

One of the people among them wondered, "Yes, could it be that Brother Wang, though possessing excellent eyesight, is merely an ordinary archer? Feeling that his catches are insufficient, he has fabricated this extraordinary figure to exonerate himself?"

Wang Dezhong angrily said, "Compared to that man, my archery skills are ordinary. But compared to you, I'm afraid I'm slightly better."

Mu Hongchou said, "Whether it's true or false, we'll find out soon enough. Brother Wang, everyone, please come outside."

The crowd surged out together. The sky was dark, the wind and snow were relentless, and it was bitterly cold. Mu Hongchou said to one of her junior sisters, "Good junior sister, please go two miles away and set up the target."

The junior sister used her light-footed skill to quickly go and return. Mu Hongchou said, "Brother Wang, please shoot." To prove his innocence, Wang Dezhong took up his bow and shot an arrow again. The moment he gripped the bow, his mind was filled with that figure. Suppressing his feelings of inferiority and self-loathing, he drew the bowstring taut and released the arrow.

He hit the target precisely. Wang Dezhong said, "At that time, Xuehu was three hundred zhang away from me. My first arrow looked like this, the second arrow looked like this, and the third arrow looked like this." He then recreated the trajectory of each arrow.

By the time the second arrow was fired, the onlookers' disdain had vanished completely. The third arrow, swift and precise like a serpent's turn, further demonstrated his exceptional archery skills. The assembled prodigies applauded and praised him, but Wang Dezhong immediately sheathed his arrow, deeply impressed.

Yang Wentian exclaimed in surprise, "Even with your archery skills, Brother Wang, you suffered such a defeat. Who is that person?"

Hua Wu of the Lishan Sword Sect said, "If it's true, heavens... just how good is that person's archery? I've met many geniuses, but I've never heard of anyone with such archery skills."

Zhou Ting of the Yangshan Sword Sect said, "Could it be an old monster?"

Wang Dezhong said, "If he were an old monster, why would I be so heartbroken? I don't think so."

Mu Hongchou said curiously, "Brother Wang, please shoot again. I'll try to knock your arrow down."

Wang Dezhong said, "Alright." After preparing the bow and arrows, Mu Hongchou stood beside him, and the two got into position. Wang Dezhong shot first, and Mu Hongchou immediately nocked an arrow and shot after him.

They were almost identical, but couldn't catch up. Finally, they both hit the target, one after the other. Mu Hongchou frowned and said, "Again!"

Wang Dezhong fired another arrow. Mu Hongchou adjusted her arrow stance slightly and followed suit. This time, her arrow struck first, deflecting Wang Dezhong's arrow.

Mu Hongchou raised her eyebrows, quite pleased with herself. Wang Dezhong asked curiously, "Sister Mu, how did you do that?"

Mu Hongchou remained silent, then said again, "Brother Wang, please use your second and third arrows."

Wang Dezhong nodded. He then fired the second and third arrows. This time, Mu Hongchou tried her best, but she could no longer catch up. Her archery skills were indeed slightly superior to Wang Dezhong's. The two of them tried nineteen arrows in total, and only one arrow was hit. The rest all failed.

Yang Wentian said, "I'll give it a try! My Thunder Sound Bow might be able to do it." He volunteered and stood next to Wang Dezhong.

Wang Dezhong shot the arrow again. He repeatedly used the three different arrow techniques. Yang Wentian's arrows were like thunderbolts, powerful and fierce, but lacked precision. After more than ten attempts, he almost succeeded only once.

All the prodigies tried their hand at it, only to find it impossible. Filled with astonishment, they all knew Wang Dezhong's archery skills were extraordinary, and his words were no exaggeration. They also felt the difficulty deeply. A heavy weight pressed on their hearts, casting a shadow over them, causing them great discomfort. Gradually, they understood Wang Dezhong's feelings.

Wang Dezhong said, "Everyone, there's no need to try anymore. Sister Mu, how did you manage that arrow?" Mu Hongchou replied, "I used the wind to make the arrow travel even faster!"

Yang Wentian said, "In that case, that person must have been able to do this by taking advantage of the wind." Everyone secretly rejoiced.

Wang Dezhong said with a wry smile, "Difficult, difficult, difficult!" He continued, "Have you all forgotten that we are standing in the same position? With the help of the wind, we can catch up to a difference of a hair's breadth. But what about a difference of several miles?"

Everyone was shocked by what they heard, exclaiming "this," "that," and "ah" repeatedly. At that moment, no one had any appetite; their hearts were heavy with despair. Mu Hongchou and the others, as if waking from a dream, realized the difference in their expressions and felt utterly defeated.

Wang Dezhong said, "Everyone, don't forget how far we are from the target."

Lan Yingying, a junior sister from the Lake Mountain Sword Sect, said, "It's at least two miles away." Wang Dezhong asked, "When Sister Mu shot down my arrow, how far was she from the target?"

Mu Hongchou said, "When the two arrows collided, they were less than ten zhang away from the target."

Wang Dezhong said, "Sister Mu used the wind to propel her arrow for over a mile before it finally caught up with mine. In terms of archery, Sister Mu is undoubtedly superior to me. But everyone, please don't forget that when I hunted the snow tiger, I was only about three hundred feet away from it..."

"From the moment I release the bowstring to the moment the arrow hits its target, it's only a split second. There's no room for error, no time to let the arrow catch up. The difference is obvious to you all."

Everyone gasped in surprise, their eyes widening, and they all cried out in astonishment. Luo Feiyan stammered, "This...this..."

Wang Dezhong said, "The more I thought about it, the more terrified I became. I'm not afraid of you laughing at me, but when I returned to the inn, my clothes were soaked with cold sweat. The moment that man shot the arrow, I truly felt that the wind stopped, the snow stopped, and everything became quiet. If he had shot me, I... would have had a hard time surviving."

The group of geniuses stood blankly outside the door, battered by the wind and snow, still unable to recover from their shock.

Gu Nianjun's thoughts drifted, her beautiful eyes sparkling, and she said, "Purely with archery skills, it is indeed possible."

Wang Dezhong said, "Oh?" Gu Nianjun said, "Archery... Even the most spoiled brats from aristocratic families know a thing or two. They can learn the basics of archery, but as they progress, they encounter a bottleneck and find it difficult to make any further progress. It all depends on their natural talent and temperament. If someone has exceptional talent in archery, they can master it to perfection."

"An arrow imbued with one's own unique spirit. Perhaps only by making the arrow faster and its momentum more powerful can one achieve this. But those who can do so are extremely rare! And if such a person truly exists, their bearing is..."

No further words were spoken. For some reason, the image of Li Xian at the banquet in the tower came to mind. But I suspect that even Li Xian was far inferior to this person.

Gu Nianjun thought to herself, "Although I was unable to meet this hero, his heroic demeanor is already vivid in my mind. I hope that I will have the opportunity to meet him, otherwise this trip to Flying Dragon City will be a great regret."

Zhou Shijie said in a deep voice, "Brother Wang's matter reminds me of a strange thing." Everyone gathered around to watch.

Zhou Shijie continued, "Today, my brother Yue and I wanted to hunt snow monkeys. We followed their trail and finally found them. Ironically, my brother Yue and I shot at them repeatedly, but we couldn't catch them. They escaped far away."

"But just then, an arrow flew from nowhere. It killed the snow ape with a single shot, and a strange man carried it on his back. When my brother Yue and I saw this, we wanted to invite him to talk, so we chased after him. But this man's movements were strange, swaying left and right, and then he disappeared without a trace, and we didn't get a chance to speak to him!"

"Ah!" Mu Hongchou exclaimed, "Sister Gu, in that case, that person might be him!"

Gu Nianjun's heart pounded, and she said, "Yes."

Wang Dezhong said, "Sister Mu, I've heard that you've had some kind of extraordinary encounter. Could it be that you also..." Mu Hongchou said, "That's right. Sister Gu and I were on our way back when we encountered snow bear footprints. So we followed the tracks."

"A man was spotted chasing a snow bear along the road, finally killing it with a single arrow. The snow bear was extremely difficult to deal with, but in his hands, it was like a toy. What a pity..."

Gu Nianjun sighed, "It's a pity that by the time we discovered his whereabouts, he had already gone far away, and we were unable to see him or see what he looked like."

Wang Dezhong said, "In that case, it's probably him. I originally thought he was one of our fellow travelers. But now it seems that he is not among us."

Gu Nianjun suddenly asked, "Shijie, you've been seeing that person recently. What does he look like? Is he handsome? What's his demeanor like?" As she asked the question, she suddenly felt strange gazes from those around her, her pretty face flushed slightly, and she immediately composed herself.

Zhou Shijie felt a pang of jealousy and said truthfully, "Nianjun will be disappointed. That person wore a white mask and carried a red bow. You can't see his face clearly."

Yue Kai said, "Although I haven't seen his true face, this person is tall and straight, with long flowing hair, and his appearance and demeanor are indeed remarkable."

Wang Dezhong poured out his pent-up feelings and was even more impressed with Li Xian, saying, "I could tell from afar that he has an extraordinary air about him. It's hard to put into words. If you're looking for a husband, Miss Mu or Miss Gu, don't miss him."

Gu Nianjun and Mu Hongchou both blushed. Mu Hongchou scolded, "What nonsense are you talking about?" Gu Nianjun observed Mu Hongchou's expression and thought, "Although this hero does not show his face, he must be extremely powerful to be admired by Wang Dezhong and others like this. If we are truly destined to be together, Mu sister... I, as his older sister, will not let you have him."

Wang Dezhong spoke highly of Li Xian, and then said, "There is one thing that is worth mentioning. If I am not mistaken, this hero should possess some kind of extraordinary eye, just like me."

Zhou Shijie felt a pang of bitterness. Back in the prefectural city, he was known as the "Exiled Gentleman of Literature and Martial Arts," unmatched by his peers. He strived to be number one in both martial arts and literature. During his recent training trip, he encountered many other prodigies of his generation. Although he displayed considerable power and influence, earning the respect and admiration of these talents, he knew he was actually slightly weaker in martial arts. His dominance was entirely due to "luck." Now, hearing of the endless stream of brilliant talents emerging, he felt even more inadequate. Today, hearing of this archery prodigy, the same age as himself, he felt utterly outmatched. Hearing that this person possessed heterochromia only intensified his feelings of inferiority.

Seeing that Gu Nianjun was calm and composed, with deep respect and admiration in his eyes, he asked, "How do you see it, Brother Wang?"

Wang Dezhong said, "Snow beasts are extremely difficult to find when they are hidden. This person shot and killed it with an arrow from several miles away. His eyesight is even better than mine, so I speculate that he may have heterochromia."

Gu Nianjun suddenly recalled that early one morning, while riding her horse, she had made eye contact with someone for a moment. Those eyes were clear and deep, quite captivating. She had been in a daze at the time, and only came to her senses after riding a distance. She hadn't even noticed the mask he was wearing or the red bow on his back.

Recalling this, he exclaimed with delight, "Ah...I have actually met this person before."

Mu Hongchou asked, "Sister Gu, have you seen him before?"

Gu Nianjun said, "I caught a glimpse of this person while riding my horse today. I think he was heading towards the western slopes of Xuelong Mountain." Mu Hongchou secretly made a note of it.

Gu Nianjun thought to herself, "Sister Mu, we've only just met, so don't blame me for lying to you." She knew that the Western Regions were sparsely populated and had few animals to hunt. If this hero had come for the Snow Mountain Fox, he certainly wouldn't have set foot here. She deliberately said she was going to the Western Regions, so Mu Hongchou would definitely go there to search. She, on the other hand, would go to the Eastern and Northern Regions, where there were more animals to hunt... The chances of them meeting would naturally be greater.

Unaware of this, Mu Hongchou secretly observed Gu Nianjun's face. Seeing that Gu Nianjun's face was calm and her expression was composed, she thought, "Sister Gu is indeed worthy of her Gu family background; she probably has no interest in him. This person's archery skills are so amazing, I must test them out."

After this incident, the group of prodigies had no more interest in gathering. They each rode back to their respective residences and bid farewell. Hua Wu of the Lishan Sword Sect, Wang Dezhong of the Jiushan Sword Sect, Mu Hongchou of the Hushan Sword Sect, Zhou Ting of the Yangshan Sword Sect, Yue Kai of the Yueshan Sword Sect, and others returned to their sect courtyards and told their elders about the matter.

In a short time.

The five major sword sects will keep their lamps burning all night, repeatedly questioning each other about the details. They are astonished that such a young hero exists in the world, whose archery skills are so terrifying at such a young age? Rumors are spreading among the five major sects.

On the other side.

Zhou Shijie accompanied Gu Nianjun. He observed the details of Gu Nianjun's expression and saw that she was calm and composed, with a scholarly air, as if nothing had happened. He felt somewhat relieved, knowing that Gu Nianjun was always unfazed by honor or disgrace, and that the matter was probably over.

Zhou Shijie said, "Nianjun, we've already met Xiaofan on this trip, shouldn't we be leaving now?"

Gu Nianjun said, "Oh? Shijie, didn't you say that you wanted to witness the grand event of the alliance of the five major sword sects and stay for a few days? Why do you suddenly want to go back?" In her heart, she thought, "You go to the Zhou family and I go back to the Gu family. Even if I want to leave, we are not on the same path." Considering their friendship as classmates, she did not say anything.

Zhou Shijie said, "A grand event for the sword sect is indeed a rare occurrence. But..." He couldn't quite put his finger on it.

When Zhou Shijie was in power, he was full of vigor and ambition. He was naturally happy to stay longer, but today, during the hunt, everyone displayed their skills. Their catches were all more plentiful than his. He already felt unsatisfied. Moreover, while everyone was talking about the mysterious "white-faced, red-bowed" man, they completely ignored him.

He knew that if he stayed any longer, his martial arts skills would be inferior, and he would gradually fall behind. He was even more afraid that with so many talented individuals gathering there, the longer he stayed, the more he would appear as just another ordinary person. Therefore, he wanted to leave in advance.

Gu Nianjun smiled and said, "Shijie, this is a rare and grand occasion. If you have urgent business, you may leave now. I, however, will stay a little longer." Her thoughts drifted elsewhere.

Return to the Green Bamboo Residence.

Suddenly, Gu Nianjun saw City Lord He sitting beside Li Xiaofan, acting as if he were a student, listening to Fu Haoran's teachings and reciting poetry. Gu Nianjun suddenly thought, "Such a hero is truly rare. If I really meet him, I need to prepare in advance. If I can get the map of Snow Dragon Mountain, I'm sure I'll have something to say to him..." His face lit up with joy, and he quickly walked towards City Lord He.

...

...

On the other hand...

Seeing that the snow bear was quite far away and carrying it would be troublesome, Li Xian began to scare it away by shooting arrows along the way. He didn't have many arrows, so he would retrieve them after each shot. In this way, he would kill the snow bear with one arrow when it reached its destination.

Snow bear, snow tiger, snow ape... three snow beasts lay down in the snow. Li Xian thought to himself, "It's rather strange for me to carry three snow beasts back like this." Looking around, he saw an unusually large amount of timber.

He unsheathed his dagger and unleashed the "Great Luo Blade Technique." He chopped down trees to make a raft, tossed the three snow beasts onto it, and dragged them back. Li Xian, unwilling to invite trouble, chose a secluded path, avoiding the group of prodigies like Zhou Shijie, Gu Nianjun, and Wang Dezhong.

Li Xian felt extremely hungry. After leaving the Snow Dragon Mountains, he discarded the bear skin and took a piece of meat each from the bear's belly, ape's arm, and tiger's spine, wrapping them in oiled paper. He planned to make dinner and led the three snow beasts outside the city.

Don't rush into the city. First, wander around the dense forest outside the city and you'll see a small hut in the woods. This is a "hunting hut." Hunters build these simple wooden huts when they go hunting in the mountains. Sometimes the journey is long and it's troublesome to enter and leave the city. Moreover, hunting is not something that can be done in a day. So they build these huts to avoid wind and snow and to save time and effort.

Seeing people in a hunting lodge, Li Xian knocked on the door. A middle-aged hunter came out. Li Xian spoke with him, intending to use him to establish connections with a "noble family" and sell snow beasts to them.

The hunter was extremely excited upon seeing the snow beast. In Snow City, it was a highly sought-after commodity, and any availability would inevitably lead to a buying frenzy. The hunter acted as a go-between, contacting the "steward of the Duan family" in Flying Dragon City.

He spent forty taels of silver to buy all three snow beasts. In reality, each snow beast should have cost one hundred and thirty taels. But the manager was shrewd and saw that Li Xian was in a hurry to sell, so he drastically reduced the price.

Li Xian was not concerned about a few taels of profit; having the money in hand, he was overjoyed. After safely entering the city, he returned to the inn to rest.

Unbeknownst to them, rumors of a "white-faced, red-bowed man" were quietly spreading. Naturally, they reached the ears of a certain lady.

(P.S.: Some readers have said the plot is a bit slow, and it is indeed a little slow. There have been many characters introduced recently, and I admit my writing skills are insufficient, so I'm afraid of making mistakes. For the complex parts, I can only slow down the pace and tell the story slowly. But the plot progresses steadily every day, as my style has always been.)

and……

I've seen many of my author friends take the National Day holiday to enjoy themselves. But I, Shiliu, am still diligently writing, without missing a single day… So please vote for me and keep reading!

(End of this chapter)