Li Xi gripped the bow tightly, gently nocked three arrows, and then slowly drew back the bowstring.
Her arm muscles were taut, and the tips of the arrows gleamed coldly in the sunlight.
He aimed at the center of the target and released the bowstring. Three arrows streaked across the sky like shooting stars, piercing the target precisely one after another.
They were moving incredibly fast, as if trying to transcend the limitations of time and space. After the arrow completely stopped vibrating, Li Xi's heartbeat gradually calmed down.
Uncle Zhao watched from the side, a satisfied smile on his face. He nodded and then said softly, "Good!"
He knew that this bow, paired with these arrows, would unleash its full power. The girl was an excellent archer; she possessed extraordinary talent and perseverance. Only, she was simple-minded.
Li Xi lowered the bow and asked in surprise, "Uncle Zhao, could this old friend you're talking about be the one crafted by Fang Siqi?"
“Yes, but he said he would never appear in public again. I begged him for a long time, so it’s not appropriate for me to introduce him to you,” Uncle Zhao said solemnly.
"Then could you help me deliver some of his wages to him? It wouldn't be right for him to have wasted his time," Li Xi asked him tentatively.
Uncle Zhao smiled, patted her on the shoulder, and said, "No need, he doesn't care about these things."
He then changed the subject, saying, "You've done very well, but you can do even better. You need to feel the power of the wind, aim at the target, and shoot the arrow with your heart. Only then can you truly master the essence of archery."
Li Xi nodded, and asked half-jokingly, "Uncle Zhao, your words are truly unfathomable. Could you perhaps be a hidden martial arts master?"
Uncle Zhao was amused by her words. He shook his head with a smile and said, "I'm just an ordinary person. I've just experienced a lot and learned some lessons. As long as you study hard, you can do very well too."
He looked exhausted as he spoke and sat down in a chair.
Knowing that he was deliberately changing the subject, Li Xi didn't expose him.
However, Li Xi felt that Zhao Bo was no ordinary person. But since others were intentionally concealing this, why should she expose him?
She smiled and didn't press the matter further.
Uncle Zhao hurriedly explained to her, "When I was young, I traveled around and went to many places, meeting all kinds of people. I learned a lot and accumulated some experience. Although I am old now, those experiences have become my valuable assets."
"Yes, I understand, Uncle Zhao, please get some rest," Li Xi comforted him.
Why would she want to reopen old wounds when someone has been so good to her?
She continued practicing archery, with Uncle Zhao occasionally offering pointers. The two were like close friends despite their age difference, and they had endless things to talk about.
Time passed slowly in this relaxed atmosphere.
Li Xi no longer went out to look for people every few days, but frequently went to see Uncle Zhao.
Whether practicing swordsmanship or archery, she would always bring Uncle Zhao along and often ask him for advice: "Uncle Zhao, how is the power of my sword swing? Is there anything in my archery that needs improvement?"
Every time she asked this question, Uncle Zhao would patiently comment and point out where her movements were not quite right.
Although Uncle Zhao was a gardener on the estate, Li Xi had specifically instructed Steward Chen to have him work under Li Xi.
However, Li Xi treated him with the respect due to an elder, and made good arrangements for his daily life, which Uncle Zhao was happy to accept.
The once taciturn Uncle Zhao gradually became more talkative, often telling Li Xi about his experiences when he was young, and Li Xi was happy to listen to his stories from the past.
"Xiaoxi, the housekeeper said there's a beggar looking for you at the door, saying someone asked him to give you something personally." Chu Ran came in from outside carrying Xiao Hei and Xiao Bai.
She went outside and saw a ragged, dirty-faced little boy standing in the doorway. He was clutching a worn-out cloth bag tightly in his hand, looking somewhat nervous.
"Are you... looking for me?" Li Xi asked softly.
The child nodded and handed over the cloth bag, saying, "Someone asked me to give this to you."
Li Xi took the cloth bag, opened it, and found a delicate jade pendant and a letter inside.
She was somewhat surprised. This jade pendant was the one that the original owner had lost. How could it have appeared here?
"Do you know who asked you to give this to me?" Li Xi asked the child again.
Xiao shook her head. "I don't know. He just told me to give this to you and then he left."
Li Xi was filled with doubt. Who exactly had this little beggar give her this jade pendant?
In late autumn, the weather was getting colder, and the child's clothes looked unusually thin, barely covering his body.
"Child, where are your family?" she couldn't help but ask.
The child shrank back, seemingly afraid to speak in their presence, and stammered, "My parents are gone, and I..."
Seeing this, Li Xi felt a pang of pity. So she said, "Butler Chen, could you please take this child inside to wash up and change into some clean, warm clothes?"
For them, taking in an orphaned and helpless child is an easy thing, but for those who are displaced, life has no hope.
Although Kagemoto appears prosperous and powerful on the surface, this is merely an illusion. Behind the towns far from Kyoto lies a host of untold sordid affairs.
Li Xi held the jade pendant tightly in her hand, her heart churning like a turbulent sea, unable to calm down for a long time.
With deep thoughts, she slowly walked back to her study, the familiar and quiet space becoming her temporary haven.
On the desk, she gently unfolded the somewhat crumpled letter. The handwriting was a little blurred, but every word revealed deep emotion.
“Xiao Xi, it’s been so long, I’ve missed you terribly. These days I’ve been dealing with the Red Lotus Sect, wandering around with them. By chance, I saw them often gazing at a jade pendant. After some effort, I finally managed to get my hands on it and examine it closely.”
To my surprise, your name was faintly engraved on it. Recalling the jade pendant you mentioned that you had lost, I was certain this was yours. So, I managed to steal it. I think perhaps it was fate that led me to this jade pendant and also to a reliable person…”
At the end of the letter, the three characters "Qin Xiaolin" were written, the sharp strokes revealing the writer's determination and resolve.
After reading the letter, Li Xi felt a warm current welling up in her heart.
Unexpectedly, Qin Xiaolin had always kept her in mind, and even when he was in trouble and wandering around, he still remembered the jade pendant she had lost.
This deep affection moved her deeply.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com