Chapter 41.1
Emperor Yuan asked lightly, “What about the strength of your hand?”
Zong Luo was taken aback for a moment, and subconsciously exerted force on the tiger’s mouth. (TL: part of the hand between the thumb and the index finger)
The heavy bow, which weighed nearly four stones, opened a full moon-like arc, even if a military camp instructor came and saw this, he wouldn’t be able to pick out any errors.
In all fairness, Zong Luo actually had always believed that his archery skills were better than his swordsmanship. And Yu Beizhou’s swordsmanship was slightly better than what he had learned.
In his last life, Zong Luo was a good student all his life, he never did such a thing as fighting in an alley after school, and he never even fought with someone else. Thus from the beginning of learning swordsmanship to practical combat, Zong Luo’s heart was still the one who abided by the law and wouldn’t mess around before transmigrating inside the book, a conscientious young graduate tutor who taught students who couldn’t achieve success.
On the contrary, when it came to bow and arrow, Zong Luo had always learned well, and to shoot a willow leaf from a distance of one hundred steps was not a problem. (TL: To be able to hit the target every time when shooting arrows, guns, or cannons.)
Due to the influence of some inherent impressions before passing through, he always thought that archers needed some agility. He didn’t realize it until after he learned it himself, that all archers were also muscular men——that shooting range was directly related to the weight, and arm strength was not enough to draw the bow. In other words, a qualified archer needed stronger physical fitness than the infantry who actually rushed to the front of the battlefield.
The reason why Zong Luo could only hit eight arrows previously was because one arrow couldn’t find three Fuze fruits connected at an angle. But this time, even though there were nine fruits attached to a vine, he couldn’t see them with his eyes.
The young man wearing a ghost mask stood on the spot, with a good-looking figure, like jade and bamboo.
Just the action of drawing the bow, one could feel the chilling atmosphere of the battlefield which filled the silence.
‘The Third Highness is indeed an excellent martial artist young successor, but it’s a pity……’
It was unknown how many courtiers sighed from the bottom of their hearts.
It was already a miracle that he’d survived the Battle of Hangu Pass. But after coming back, he lost his memory and became blind……With the current situation in the Imperial City, it was actually better not to return.
Just when Zong Luo pulled his bow and didn’t know which way to turn, Emperor Yuan suddenly took a step forward.
Wide palm easily wrapped Zong Luo’s hand. One pair of these two hands was thick and rough, while the other was young and slender, the only thing in common was that they were both covered with thick sword calluses.
Zong Luo’s whole body was extremely stiff, and for a moment, he couldn’t help but loosen his strength.
Emperor Yuan frowned. “Concentrate.”
He exerted a slight force on his hand, with the hand of the prince in white, he fully pulled the heavy bow at once, shifted upwards, and finally moved to the highest position.
From the perspective of onlookers, it looked like a majestic and stern father personally guiding his son who was just learning martial arts.
But in fact, none of the princes had ever been given the honor of being taught martial arts by Emperor Yuan.
Perhaps the eldest prince, who similarly like Emperor Yuan fought in all directions, and finally died on the battlefield, but that time was too long, no one knew.
Emperor Yuan didn’t like to be approached by others, nor did he like to get too close to others. This was a habit preserved by martial arts practitioners on the battlefield. Even Zong Hongjiu, whom he’d spoken to on ordinary days, was only an orthodox courtesy of a monarch and his subjects. Although he was spoiled, they really didn’t get along like father and son, but more like a monarch and a subject.
All the onlookers widened their eyes.
When Zong Luo and Pei Qianxue came out of Pei’s Mansion earlier, there was no indignation in their hearts.
There were really too many things surrounding this blind student. First, the King of Beining, then Prime Minister Pei, he was even appreciated by the emperor. Later, there were rumors that he looked like the Third Prince of Great Yuan, which aroused the malice of many students who respected the Third Prince.
As a result, little did one think–looking at it again, they did not expect to see the scene of the emperor personally drawing the bow and pointing out the direction.
The courtiers were even more surprised.
It doesn’t matter if it’s really the Third Prince, but the problem is that everyone knows that the Third Prince is not favored!
In the past, the Third Prince led troops to fight, no less than expanding the territory and guarding the country’s borders. At that time, Emperor Yuan didn’t seem to care much about the Third Prince. How could it be possible that, being blind and amnesiac at present, and becoming a useless person who couldn’t remember anything, His Majesty on the contrary, became worried about him?
Many people also secretly looked at the expression of Pei Qianxue, Emperor Yuan’s confidant, and found that the other party was open and frank, calm and steady, and didn’t mind the scrutinizing eyes at all.
This fox.
Although Pei Qianxue was young, extracting some information from him was more difficult than ascending to the sky.
Among these people, Zong Chengsi was relatively stable.
While waiting, he carefully observed the expressions of Zong Yuanwu and Zong Yongliu. Both of them had the expression of disbelief, only Zong Hongjiu, who was standing in the same spot with fists clenched, had a resentful expression on his face.
Swossh一
Just when everyone had their own thoughts and intentions, when the mind was difficult to understand, the fully drawn bow string was released.
With a swossh, the white feathered arrow burst out from the string, carrying cold and long wind, and pierced towards the top of the tree canopy, the speed was so fast that only afterimages could be seen.
Immediately afterwards, Emperor Yuan drew out his long arrow from the quiver, and set it on his bow.
His eyes were like deep stars placed on a chessboard in the cold night, sharp and hearty.
Second arrow, third arrow.
The next two arrows followed one after the other, seemingly without the intention of aiming at anything, and were pushed out smoothly and quickly.
When Emperor Yuan let go of the bow, Zong Luo also paused for a moment, taking advantage of the situation to retract his stiff fingers that were curled up and sweaty.
The ten-thousand-year-old tree was too tall, the highest canopy was over sixty meters long, and it was difficult to see, especially with poor eyesight. After the three arrows were shot, there was a complete silence above.
Inside, courtiers who pretended to be smart, started to pile up the steps. “This……..the tree is too tall. His Majesty has not held an arrow for many years. Slight mistake………….”
Emperor Yuan didn’t give them a single look, gazing up for a while, then suddenly he turned to look at Yu Beizhou. “Yu Qing.” (TL: Qing-an emperor’s form of address for a minister)
Still staring at Zong Luo without blinking, the King of Beining, with a somewhat elusive expression, came back to his senses, and finally was willing to look up.
After seeing the familiar tail feathers among the foliage, Yu Beizhou impatiently clicked his tongue, and raised his hand to whistle.
