Chapter 104: Urgent Report from Beicheng

The shouts thundered like rolling thunder, shaking the very clouds, as if to make heaven and earth tremble. In an instant, cries rose and fell, wave after wave, merging into a mighty roar that reverberated through the air.

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin looked at the impassioned soldiers before her, a hint of satisfaction flashing in her eyes. She nodded slightly and raised her hand to signal everyone to be quiet. The training ground fell instantly silent; all eyes focused on her as they awaited her next order.

"Good. The essence of archery lies in the unity of heart, eye, and hand. The heart must be calm, the eye precise, and the hand steady. Only when these three unite can every arrow strike true. Today, I will teach you three archery techniques: the first is the Continuous Arrow Technique, the second is the Curving Bow and Arrow, and the third is the Tracking Arrow Technique. What I just demonstrated was the second, capable of avoiding obstacles ahead to strike enemies behind."

Jun Jun Zijin's voice was clear and bright, carrying an undeniable authority.

No sooner had Jun Jun Zijin finished speaking than the soldiers held their breath, fearing to miss a single movement of hers. She raised her bow and arrow once more, her gaze sharp as a hawk's, locking onto the distant target range.

"The first is the Continuous Arrow Technique." She spoke slowly, her voice steady and powerful.

She swiftly drew six arrows from her quiver and nocked them onto the bowstring. Her movements flowed like clouds and water, as if she had practiced them a thousand times. As her fingers released, the six arrows left the string almost simultaneously, like six lightning bolts tearing through the sky. The arrows formed a straight line in the air, one after another, striking the same bullseye with precision, producing six crisp "thud-thud-thud" impacts.

The soldiers let out another gasp of amazement. The Princess had shot six arrows; their General, whose archery once ranked first in Emperor Tianqi, could only fire five in succession. That the Princess's archery surpassed their General's was truly an extraordinary feat!

"The key to the Continuous Arrow Technique lies in controlling speed and rhythm," Jun Jun Zijin explained. "The interval between arrow releases must be extremely short, yet the force and direction of every single arrow must be perfectly precise. This requires you to concentrate your entire mind in a short time, leaving no room for distraction."

The soldiers listened intently, nodding eagerly, their eyes gleaming with a desire to try.

"Next is the second technique, the Curving Bow and Arrow," Jun Jun Zijin continued, her gaze sweeping over the crowd. "The key to this move lies in the subtle control of the wrist. While the arrow flies through the air, its trajectory can be altered by a flick of the wrist."

She nocked three arrows again, drew the bowstring, and the arrows coiled like silver snakes, ready to strike. As her fingers released, the arrows whistled forth, heading straight for the bullseye ahead. Just as the arrows were about to hit the target, they suddenly traced a graceful arc in mid-air, bypassing a tree blocking the path and precisely striking three other targets hidden behind the tree.

"This move requires immense perception and control," Jun Jun Zijin said. "You must be familiar with the flight characteristics of the arrow to make adjustments at the critical moment."

The soldiers' brains couldn't keep up, their mouths gaping wide enough to hold an egg. When Jun Jun Zijin first demonstrated the Curving Archery Technique with a single arrow, it left them stunned for a long while; this time she had nocked three arrows and struck three different targets.

Quan Quan Aoyu was amazed once again, his admiration for Jun Jun Zijin growing even deeper.

"The final type is the Tracking Arrow Technique, the most mysterious of all archery techniques," Jun Jun Zijin's voice rang out again, carrying a hint of mystery.

She nocked three arrows, slowly raised her bow and arrow, and locked her gaze onto three moving targets in the distance. As her fingers released, the arrows flew forth like arrows loosed from a string, heading straight for the targets. Just as the arrows were about to hit, the targets suddenly changed direction. Astonishingly, the arrows adjusted their flight paths in response, as if they had come alive, finally striking the moving targets with perfect precision.

"The key to the Tracking Arrow Technique lies in prediction and sensing," Jun Jun Zijin explained. "You must observe the enemy's movements to predict their next direction of travel, and during the arrow's flight, guide it to track the target through subtle wrist adjustments."

The soldiers stood with their mouths agape. This archery technique was not just mysterious; it was simply awesome, incredibly awesome. If they could learn to hit a moving target with a single arrow, they would laugh in their sleep! Yet the Princess had used three arrows. Not a single person present failed to bow their head in utter admiration for Jun Jun Zijin's archery.

"Each of these three archery techniques requires long-term practice and realization," Jun Jun Zijin concluded. "Once I finish my duties these few days, I will stay in the military camp to personally guide your practice. I hope you will train diligently, master these skills, and become sharp weapons on the battlefield."

A thunderous round of applause erupted across the field. The soldiers clasped their fists in salute and shouted in unison: "Thank you, Princess, for your instruction! We shall train diligently and not fail your expectations!"

Jun Jun Zijin and Quan Quan Aoyu exchanged a glance, both showing a hint of satisfaction in their eyes. These soldiers would become the most powerful force in Emperor Tianqi, unstoppable in their path. And the archery techniques she had imparted would become the key to their victory, writing legends of their own.

On the training ground, the soldiers picked up their bows and arrows and began practicing according to the methods Jun Jun Zijin had taught. The sound of arrows piercing the air rose and fell, filling the entire training ground with a tense and fervent atmosphere.

Time slipped away quietly. As the sun set, the training ground was bathed in a golden glow. Jun Jun Zijin and Quan Quan Aoyu stood at a high vantage point, looking down at the soldiers practicing hard, their lips curving into slight smiles.

"Dandan, thank you for helping me train the Divine Arrow Team. Five years ago, we suffered because of the Divine Arrows; those arrows chased us, and we barely escaped with our lives. Fortunately, I was saved by you back then."

She felt somewhat proud. In her past life, she had learned archery initially out of interest, never imagining that one day her skills would be so outstanding that even the instructor would sigh in self-deprecation.

Quan Quan Aoyu removed his cloak and gently draped it over Jun Jun Zijin's shoulders. He was curious how the girl had acquired such skills, but he did not press. He knew she held many secrets he could not understand, yet it was precisely these secrets that made her appear more mysterious and charming.

Jiang Dong watched the two and couldn't help but laugh: "The General and the Princess are truly a match made in heaven."

Jiang Dong secretly leaned close to Quan Aoyu and whispered, "General, when will you and the Princess marry? We are all waiting to drink the wedding wine."

Quan Aoyu glanced at him, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly: "Soon. There will be plenty for you then." Was he not anxious, counting the days until the girl reached her coming-of-age ceremony?

Jiang Dong chuckled: "Then we must prepare well."

Jun Jun Zijin called out from afar: "What are you two whispering about?"

Quan Aoyu and Jiang Dong exchanged a glance and said in unison: "Nothing!"

Jun Jun Zijin looked at them suspiciously and shook her head: "So secretive; it must be something bad."

Just then, Bai Yu appeared, a hint of anxiety flashing across his face: "Master, urgent report from Beicheng."