Chapter 6, A Shot to the Heart's Edge

Behind Le Yi, Qin Cheng let out a sound of surprise, and then fell silent. Le Yi's heart sank; could this fellow be having thoughts of despair?

Having spoken, he turned his head and saw Le Yi rubbing his eyes, then staring wide-eyed at the target fifty paces away, his face filled with disbelief

Qin Cheng lowered his strong bow and looked at the iron arrow he had shot. He laughed heartily, saying, "After all, it is my first time using this thing. I hit the edge of the red target but failed to hit the bullseye. What a pity!"

As childhood friends, Le Yi had made numerous attempts to change Qin Cheng. However, having grown up under the care of his sister Qin Yue, Qin Cheng was like a stubborn piece of clay that could not be molded, which had once caused Le Yi great distress. Now, just when Le Yi was almost resigned to giving up on the idea of making a name for themselves in the military together, Qin Cheng unexpectedly erupted today, which greatly invigorated Le Yi! Thus, Le Yi secretly resolved in his heart to help Qin Cheng master horseback archery. As for whether he could be considered a cavalryman, Le Yi felt powerless, but he was willing to maintain an optimistic attitude.

So speechless

Indeed, what happened to your hand? I also want to know. Le Yi's heart is crying out! Seventy steps, this is indeed seventy steps! How many years have I practiced to reach this level! You just shot and hit the target?!

Having said that, Qin Cheng drew his bow towards the target fifty paces ahead.

Haha! With a loud laugh, Qin Cheng's voice grew even louder, "It's again the edge of the red heart! Why is it that I can never hit the center of the red heart?"

Le Yi waved his hand without looking back, feeling quite powerless, "You can practice slowly by yourself. I'm not feeling well today, so I'm leaving first." I can't stay, if you hit the bullseye from eighty steps away later, I might as well not live! This is too damaging to my self-esteem!

On the way back to the cavalry unit, Le Yi was still reflecting on the words that Qin Cheng had just spoken to him, feeling both a sense of admiration and a deep sense of comfort.

However, Qin Cheng suddenly became a celebrity in the army, and many soldiers looked at him with strange expressions when they saw him, inevitably engaging in a few discussions. A person who cannot be struck down by lightning naturally attracts everyone's attention. This could be considered a price Qin Cheng had to pay to avoid the label of a "deserter"

With a snap, Le Yi, who had grown up, suddenly couldn't manage his mouth properly, and his jaw broke at once

At this moment, Le Yi finally realized that he was actually concerned about Qin Cheng's self-esteem being hurt. This was truly a foolish mistake akin to that of a bookish person. He immediately provoked him by saying: "Ten more steps? If you can still hit the target, then you are the master!"

Le Yi looked at Qin City, his heart rising to his throat, repeatedly thinking, sixty steps, damn it!

The language is quite proud

After Qin Cheng finally finished laughing, he turned his head and saw that Le Yi had already turned his back to him, shoulders slumped, and was leaving.

Red Heart

Then, just as Le Yi was about to turn back, there was a loud "bang," and Qin Cheng's booming voice rang out again: "Haha, eighty paces! Finally hit the bullseye! I am truly amazing!"

It is better to distance myself from you while you have not yet reached the ninety steps, as my self-esteem also has its limits

"Le Yi, you haven't taught me archery yet? Why are you leaving?" Qin Cheng shouted loudly at Le Yi's back.

What more do you want? Le Yi cursed inwardly. My God, I thought of him as a mere boy who couldn't shoot arrows, but has there ever been such a boy who is so inept at archery!

The sounds of "bang!" and "thud!" echoed in succession as the four-sided iron arrow sliced through the air in a straight line, forcefully embedding itself into the target. Upon closer inspection, half of the iron arrow had already penetrated the target, while the tail of the arrow continued to tremble violently

Upon hearing this statement from Qin Cheng, Le Yi suddenly felt a lightness in his feet and finally collapsed to the ground. Ignoring Qin Cheng's exclamation of "Eh" behind him, he scrambled to his feet on all fours and fled like the wind

After a brief struggle between the two, Qin Cheng said to himself in an exceptionally deep and serious voice: "I want to learn archery and horseback riding, you must help me"

As the examination approaches, the intensity of training in the military camp has inevitably increased. Furthermore, everyone has heard, to varying degrees, about the invasion of the Xiongnu army into Dai County and Yuyang, and they understand that a great battle may be imminent, which has led to a heightened seriousness in training. Consequently, the cavalry archery in Qincheng has had to allocate a little time in the evening for practice.

Then, Qin Cheng's laughter echoed again, "Damn it, why is it the red heart edge again?!"

He no longer knows what to say or what to think

In the war against the Xiongnu, the key lies in the cavalry, while the role of the infantry is minimal, having almost no place on the battlefield. Therefore, I aspire to become a cavalryman, and the foremost skill of a cavalryman is mounted archery; thus, I must practice mounted archery

Damn it, this guy hit again. Moreover, it was right on the edge of the heart. Furthermore, Qin Cheng's voice came through again

Le Yi felt that his heart had been completely controlled by Qin Cheng's actions. With every movement of Qin Cheng, Le Yi's heart would beat violently. Finally, when the iron arrow in Qin Cheng's hand was shot out again, Le Yi felt as if his heart had flown out!

"But with the examination approaching this year, you won't be able to improve your archery skills in such a short time!" said Le Yi.

Good! Qin Chenghao was in high spirits and spoke straightforwardly. After saying this, he took two steps to the left, walked to the target directly opposite, fifty paces away, drew his stance, nocked an arrow, aimed at the small red center, and prepared to release his shot

Monstrous!

The soldiers on guard, who were still unclear about the situation, couldn't help but tease the "deserter" upon his return, and the sergeant was particularly harsh in his words. In response, Qin Cheng said little, knowing that the outcome of the military's handling of the matter would soon be revealed, and he was too lazy to argue with them. This left Dong Chu and others, who had been waiting to see a good show as the soldiers from different units began to mock Qin Cheng, feeling quite disappointed. In their minds, it would have been best for Qin Cheng to thoroughly defeat them, as his previously displayed strength made it an easy task. This would also bring glory to the soldiers who served alongside Qin Cheng, especially for Dong Chu, as it would help balance his feelings.

Bump

In the target of the arrow, at the edge of the red heart

Let you be able to! Le Yi ran over like a gust of wind, swiftly moving the target.

Qin Cheng looked at the strong bow in his hand, with a bone sheath, wooden body, and curved horn, feeling its weight as he held it. Before his transmigration, Qin Cheng had also played with compound bows during his leisure time. Although he had not conducted any formal research, his archery skills were quite good, even impressive. This was because the horse ranch he operated before his transmigration included an archery range. Ever since Qin Cheng unified the underworld in a province three years ago, he had refrained from gambling and visiting brothels, spending most of his leisure time at the horse ranch, archery range, and boxing gym. As someone who had fought in underground boxing arenas for four years and ranked first, his athletic talent was beyond doubt. This was because the horse ranch he operated before his transmigration included an archery range. Ever since Qin Cheng unified the underworld in a province three years ago, he had refrained from gambling and visiting brothels, spending most of his leisure time at the horse ranch, archery range, and boxing gym. As someone who had fought in underground boxing arenas for four years and ranked first, his athletic talent was beyond doubt.

Regarding Le Yi's actions, Qin Cheng felt a wave of amusement in his heart. He said no more, focusing his mind and energy, and slowly assumed a stance.

It seems that my archery needs to be accurate enough at a distance! So that's how it is! Haha, I am truly their god! Hey, let's try ninety paces again!

Alright, I will help you! Le Yi was inspired by the rare determination and fighting spirit of Qin Cheng, and he replied affirmatively. However, he did not know that this Qin Cheng was no longer the same as the previous one.

Before long, the military horn sounded, and the soldiers on guard fell asleep one after another, after which there was no further conversation throughout the night

Cough, cough, it's nothing. Well, that arrow you shot was quite good, haha!" Le Yi, feeling that he had lost his composure, worried that his reaction might hurt Qin Cheng's pride, tried to smooth things over.

"Learning to ride and shoot? What use is it for an infantryman like you? Are you perhaps aspiring to become a cavalryman?" Le Yi recalled being utterly astonished at the time.

When Qin Cheng returned to the barracks of his infantry regiment, it was almost time for rest. Dong Chu and others had already returned the warhorses to his cousin, who served as a garrison commander in the cavalry unit, and reported Qin Cheng's situation to the military, of course, in accordance with the agreed-upon narrative with Qin Cheng. However, the specific handling of the matter would likely have to wait until the following day

Early in the morning, Qin Cheng and Dong Chu, along with others, were taken by the military for questioning. After confirming that Dong Chu's statements from yesterday were true, the military did not make things particularly difficult for Qin Cheng. Subsequently, it was only natural to publicly announce the relevant details.

This is utterly absurd, is this still that unimaginably mediocre guy, shooting arrows that would demean even mediocrity? This would be considered quite good archery in the entire army

Good! Quickly move the target!" With a grand gesture, Qin Cheng declared with great enthusiasm

"This year is not possible, then next year!" Qin Cheng said firmly, "I know that even if one masters archery and horsemanship, it does not guarantee a transition from infantry to cavalry, but without mastering archery and horsemanship, one can never become a cavalryman! In any case, archery and horsemanship must be practiced!"

"You have some understanding of basic archery; now you should first try shooting a few arrows so I can see, and then we can discuss further," said Le Yi after introducing the strong bow. In fact, based on Le Yi's prior understanding of Qin Cheng, he did not need Qin Cheng to demonstrate his shooting skills; Le Yi was well aware of Qin Cheng's proficiency. However, considering Qin Cheng's unusual behavior yesterday, Le Yi decided to probe a little deeper for caution's sake.

In the sleepless night of Qin City, the first to rise the next morning was the dawn.

Then, Qin Cheng made a move that left Le Yi in despair. He cheerfully ran to the target he had just shot, moved it back ten steps, and then happily trotted back.

The four-sided iron arrow was once again embedded in the target, half of it sunk into the target's interior

While Qin Cheng was immersed in the reflections and feelings brought about by the changes of past and present lives, he did not notice that when Dong Chu glanced at him, whether intentionally or unintentionally, his eyes flickered slightly

Le Yi took a deep breath, and Tu Shu was taken aback in his heart. The force behind it was nothing short of fierce... Moreover...

Touch

Damn it, stop worrying about this beast! It truly is a beast! Eighty steps! Even beasts are not this terrifying!

Le Yi could only look at Qin City with a gaze reserved for monsters

As the iron arrow struck the target, Le Yi felt his heart explode in that instant, followed by a wave of weakness

Haha, damn it, still the edge of the red heart, how did my hand end up like this, why can’t I ever hit the red heart right in the center?" After saying this, Qin Cheng laughed to himself, in a very proud manner

Le Yi watched Qin Cheng's seemingly impressive actions from the side and thought to himself, "How could I not know your true capabilities? That last arrow was merely luck; if you hit again with this one... Do you think shooting arrows is as simple as squatting over a latrine? Just because you stand there doesn't mean you'll hit the mark?"

Touch

Having hit the target with three consecutive arrows, Qin Cheng was filled with excitement, momentarily forgetting about the nearby Le Yi, as he fondled the powerful bow in his hand, lost in self-indulgence, and adjusted the very posture he had just used, a broad smile on his face

Qin Cheng was unaware of Le Yi's thoughts at that moment; after focusing his mind and calming his spirit, he had already released a fully powered arrow!

Due to a somewhat tragic experience and his exceptional skills, Le Yi's character is quite proud and aloof. Throughout his life, he has had only a couple of friends, and Qin Cheng is one of them. Therefore, Le Yi regards Qin Cheng as particularly important.

Then, amidst Le Yi's astonishment at his dislocated jaw, Qin Cheng forcefully gathered his thoughts, looked up at the sky, and began his fourth concentration. Next came the drawing of the bow, nocking the arrow, steadying his mind, inhaling, pulling the bowstring, focusing, and with a sudden release of his right hand's fingers, exhaling

Under the gaze of Le Yi, Qin Cheng suddenly relaxed his right hand fingers, and the four-edged iron arrow shot out with a whoosh, heading straight for the target!

"Le Yi, what happened?" The innocent city of Qin said.

Qin Cheng slowly stepped forward with his right foot, positioning his feet shoulder-width apart. He drew the bow with his left hand and held the arrow with his right hand, placing it between his index and middle fingers. He then rested the arrow on the curve of his left index finger, focusing intently on the target. Aligning himself with the target, he took a deep breath, pulling the bowstring back like a full moon. With concentration, he finally exhaled sharply and released the arrow. All the movements were executed in one fluid motion; though slow, they were smooth and graceful, reminiscent of flowing clouds and running water, exuding a certain elegance.

Wait! Le Yi suddenly interrupted Qin Cheng, quickly running to the target directly in front of Qin Cheng. He forcefully moved the target forward by ten steps, bringing it to a distance of only forty steps from Qin Cheng. After doing this, Le Yi ran back and signaled to Qin Cheng that he could begin. This was not due to Le Yi's lack of confidence in Qin Cheng's archery skills; rather, it was Qin Cheng's own archery that made it difficult for him to feel confident. Le Yi did not want to put too much pressure on Qin Cheng, which might cause him to lose his composure during his first attempt at shooting. This was not due to Le Yi's lack of confidence in Qin Cheng's archery skills; rather, it was Qin Cheng's own archery that made it difficult for him to feel confident. Le Yi did not want to put too much pressure on Qin Cheng, which might cause him to lose his composure during his first attempt at shooting

Le Yi felt a darkness before his eyes and nearly fell to the ground

Le Yi, lost in thought, unconsciously broke into a smile. As a companion who grew up alongside Qin Cheng, their bond was extraordinary. Especially after the passing of Le Yi's father and mother, had it not been for the nearby Qin Cheng and his sister Qin Yue's assistance, he would have likely starved to death. However, Qin Cheng had never been remarkable; his character was rather mediocre and somewhat timid, which was in stark contrast to Le Yi, who had diligently practiced archery and hand-to-hand combat since childhood and possessed a strong personality. The disparity between them was as vast as heaven and earth. Because of this, when Le Yi was selected as a cavalryman, Qin Cheng could only serve as an infantryman.

Not bad! Qin Cheng responded with great certainty

"It's nothing, just a bit stronger!" Qin Cheng said with a grand gesture, quite pleased with himself. "But to be fair, even if I moved back another ten steps, I could still hit the target, haha!"

In the entire barracks, only two individuals did not fall asleep immediately: one was Qin Cheng, and the other was Dong Chu

Good! Qin Cheng is not pretentious and decisively agrees. Although the ancient strong bow in his hand is different from the compound bow he used to play with before his time travel, the principles of archery are fundamentally the same. Qin Cheng feels quite comfortable holding the strong bow, and he believes that his trial shot should not be too poor.

To practice mounted archery, one must first master stationary shooting. Stationary shooting involves standing in one place and shooting at a fixed target. It serves as the foundation for mounted archery. Your previous attempts at stationary shooting were not very good, so I will first teach you how to practice stationary shooting. " Le Yi said, holding a strong bow, while explaining to Qin Cheng, who was attentively listening, "This type of strong bow is commonly used by cavalry in the military. Its characteristics include being robust and powerful with a long range, but it also requires considerable strength, generally needing at least eight dou of strength.

Le Yi's forehead was marked by a dark line, "Hitting the red heart is hitting the red heart, what does it mean to only hit the edge of the red heart?!" Initially, he wanted to praise Qin Cheng, but upon seeing Qin Cheng's smug expression, Le Yi dismissed that thought, "This is merely a matter of forty paces; if you can hit the red heart from fifty paces away, then that would be impressive!"

"Pay attention!" Qin Cheng exclaimed, then focused his mind, adjusted his posture, took a deep breath, and once again drew the bow and nocked the arrow. The bow, shaped like a full moon, was displayed once more in a straight line of three points.