Chapter 22: Learning a Craft and Master Expresses Gratitude to Readers for Rewards, Monthly Tickets, and Recommendation Tickets

The Cao family, the Sun family, and even the Xu family of Marquis Marquis Yongyi's Hou Fu all hailed from military backgrounds; whether in the army or at the Directorate of Armaments, they knew many bow-makers, and through these connections, Xu Xu Zaijing finally obtained a bow that was neither too large nor too small, yet possessed astonishing draw strength.

Its power was only slightly less than that of a bow used by a normal adult.

This made Xu Xu Zaijing, using it for the first time, feel somewhat unaccustomed; previously, he could draw a bow to a full moon with a casual pull, but this bow required him to exert genuine effort.

Moreover, the feathered arrows used with this bow were specially crafted eagle-feather arrows; the feathers were not from the most prestigious golden eagles, but from ordinary flower eagles.

During these days, Xu Xu Zaijing had never asked the name of his groom master; he had intended to ask clearly when taking him as a teacher, but the groom had deflected the question.

Xu Xu Zaijing knew that this man must have been an extraordinary figure in the past!

For now, this groom was teaching Xu Xu Zaijing and the young attendant Brother Qingyun how to repair bows and arrows, and how to maintain the eagle feathers on the arrow tails.

He taught them how to repair the feathers if they became damaged.

Such arrows, in modern times, would be sniper bullets dedicated to high-precision sniper rifles, requiring meticulous craftsmanship.

Unlike in modern times, feathered arrows not only required meticulous crafting but also careful maintenance to ensure the feathers did not split or crack, allowing them to stabilize the arrow shaft in the airflow and hit the target with precision.

Once the instruction was nearly complete, Xu Xu Zaijing had a servant in the household create a dummy equal in height to Brother Qingyun and place it near the arrow target.

His archery technique was not yet perfected, so he could not shoot wherever he aimed; he could not joke with the life of his own young attendant.

After each archery practice session, Xu Xu Zaijing's master, besides nurturing his muscles, would also prepare some eyesight-brightening medicinal soups, which significantly strengthened Xu Xu Zaijing's vision.

Such medicinal soups were naturally extremely precious and costly in terms of silver.

It was unknown where this master of his had acquired such skills.

A divine archer could not lack a pair of good eyes; otherwise, if one could not clearly see distant targets or their vital points, how could one speak of killing with a single strike?

Under the strict guidance of a renowned master, Xu Xu Zaijing's archery technique improved by leaps and bounds; at a distance of about thirty paces, he could cluster five feathered arrows within an area the size of a copper coin.

Meanwhile, Brother Qingyun was stationed in front of the target; after the first day of trembling with fear, terrified that his Young Master might kill him with a single arrow, by the second day, whether due to numbness or something else, he was able to crack melon seeds beneath the target.

During breaks in his archery practice, Xu Xu Zaijing would always think of his master.

His father had not revealed the man's identity to him, and he did not dare to ask.

When he asked Brother Qingyun privately, Brother Qingyun also knew very little about this uncle of his.

He only said that his life in childhood had been quite good.

However, a few years ago, his family had suddenly fallen into ruin; he had been cared for in Jingcheng by a household servant for a long time, but since the servant's family was somewhat poor, they merely kept him from starving.

Xu Xu Zaijing asked no further; this master of his understood spear techniques, understood archery techniques, knew how to judge horses, and possessed such extensive knowledge of medicine.

If Xu Xu Zaijing were cultivating both civil and martial arts, he would suspect that this master might even be able to teach him some techniques for the imperial examinations and help him explain the crucial points in the Sage's writings.

Xu Xu Zaijing had also asked Brother Qingyun if he knew whether his master had any wives or concubines.

Brother Qingyun said he had no impression in his memory; he was still young at the time, only vaguely recalling that just as he was about to have an aunt, his family's fortunes suddenly declined.

Thus, Xu Xu Zaijing naturally asked no further.

On this evening during dinner, Xu Xu Zaijing's two older sisters arrived rather slowly; just as Sun Shi was about to send someone to fetch them, Xu Xu Pingmei and Xu Xu Anmei arrived mysteriously in the hall.

"Mother, my sister and I have prepared a gift for Jing-ge'er."

Upon hearing it was a gift for himself, Xu Xu Zaijing immediately perked up.

"Sisters, what gift have you two prepared for me?"

"Guess; if you guess correctly, we will give it to you."

Xu Xu Zaijing's eyes darted.

"Hehe, it's a bow case, isn't it?"

Xu Xu Anmei frowned as she looked at her younger brother.

"How did you know?"

"I saw Sa'er, the maid beside Eldest Sister, secretly measuring my bow."

Xu Xu Anmei turned her head.

"Sister, didn't you say Little Brother didn't know about this?"

A female servant beside Eldest Sister Xu Xu Pingmei looked surprised and hastily said: "Second Lady, I only went to measure it after seeing Jing-ge'er was far away, and there were many miscellaneous items there at the time! Who could have known Jing-ge'er's eyesight was so good."

Xu Xu Pingmei also looked surprised.

"Little Brother, is your eyesight really that good?"

Xu Xu Zaijing said rather proudly: "I am pressed by Master every day to apply medicinal paste; how could my eyesight not be good?"

Xu Xu Anmei waved her hand toward the door, and her personal maid, Ye'er, walked over holding a bag sewn from leather and silk.

Xu Xu Zaijing took the bow case from Ye'er's hands; the stitching on it was fine and dense, embroidered with a pattern of distant mountains and flying birds; the embroidery work was not earth-shattering, but every single stitch and thread embodied his two sisters' love and care for him.

Xu Xu Zaijing examined it very carefully, his eyes full of smiles.

"Thank you, sisters."

Sun Shi also smiled with her eyes.

"Come, let us all eat."

Xu Pingmei said: "Mother, where are Eldest Brother and Second Brother?"

"Their Mr. from the academy has taken them to attend a poetry gathering; they will not return for dinner tonight. Jing'er, are you really going to perform at Your Majesty's great birthday celebration?"

"Mother, when you have time, please ask my uncles and Uncle Cao to mention it; whether it works or not depends on my archery technique first. Those more skilled than me are not as young as me, and those younger than me are not as skilled as me, hehe."

"You little rascal, wanting me to act as a persuader; in that case, I must also inspect things for your uncles and see if you are truly that skilled."

"Mother, we want to inspect too."

"Good!"

Xu Xu Zaijing chuckled:

"Mother, sisters, just don't be frightened by my archery skills."

"You only know how to boast."

After everyone finished their meal, they each returned to their own quarters; Xu Xu Zaijing now had his own house this year, located closest to Sun Shi, and all the servants attending inside were Sun Shi's personal maids.

On the second day, after Xu Xu Zaijing finished practicing his spear technique and archery technique, his master led him aside and, pointing at several sparrows nodding as they pecked rice, said:

"From now on, they are the prey for your arrows. Today is the first day; you must hit five sparrows."

Xu Xu Zaijing nodded, rather unconcerned.

He took his bow and arrows and crept forward, but before he could get close, that flock of gluttonous birds flew off with a flutter.

Xu Xu Zaijing turned to glance at his master, only for his master to point at his own arm, indicating that he could not provide a demonstration.

Hitting a fixed target accurately is no great skill; hitting a moving target every single time is what truly counts as formidable.

Xu Xu Zaijing, who had been somewhat proud, had no choice but to throw himself back into practice.

When sparrows were available, he practiced shooting sparrows; when there were no birds, he had Brother Qingyun throw wooden balls to mimic animals.

Out of ten times drawing his bow, Xu Xu Zaijing managed to hit the target only once or twice.

Xu Xu Zaijing could not help but feel some self-doubt:

"Could it really be this difficult? Then isn't my plan to flatter him doomed to fail!"

Thanks to the readers for your tips, monthly tickets, recommendation tickets, and favorites!

A thousand thanks!

Bowing again in gratitude!

If there are any typos or awkward phrasing, please point them out!

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(End of Chapter)