Wang Ba said it was possible.

Instructor Liang, who had remained silent, now looked at He Yan differently. From previous experiences, he knew this youth wouldn’t make empty boasts. If they agree, they must have some capability.

Could they hit moving targets?

“To hunt wild game, we need to enter the forest,” Wang Ba said. The forest was on White Moon Mountain. He looked at Liang, who shook his head and said: “Not allowed.”

Both Wang Ba and He Yan were recruits who had never been to White Moon Mountain and weren’t familiar with its paths. Recruits weren’t allowed in the mountains yet. He said: “Let’s use flying birds as targets.”

Flying birds… the recruits were shocked again. If wild beasts were harder to hit than straw targets, birds were certainly harder than beasts. People on the ground, birds in the sky – naturally different distances. Moreover, shooting upward required even greater eyesight and strength.

Wang Ba laughed loudly, “Fine!”

He Yan also smiled and said: “No problem.”

Their casual agreement excited the recruits who had just calmed down. Wang Ba had experience hunting birds and wolves in the mountains, but what about He Yan?

Xiao Mai quietly tugged at Shi Tou’s clothes, “Brother, do you think Brother He Yan can win?”

“I don’t know,” Shi Tou answered.

Xiao Mai looked at his brother in surprise – Shi Tou hadn’t immediately denied it. Did this mean He Yan might hit the target?

“Go get your bows,” Liang Ping said, then called another recruit over for something. After receiving instructions, the recruit went to get a bronze gong from the training ground’s rack and ran to the nearby woods.

Moments later, “dong!” – he struck the gong hard, and a “flutter flutter” sound erupted as countless birds took flight.

White Moon Mountain was densely forested, home to many wild birds. He Yan had previously seen Blue-and-white Flycatchers and Green Finches. As birds quickly took to the sky, Wang Ba immediately nocked and shot his arrow. His movements were skilled, showing a relaxed confidence in hitting forest birds.

The arrow flew skyward, and a bird in mid-flight appeared to be hit, falling heavily. Exclamations rose from the training ground: “He hit it! He hit it!” A recruit picked up the fallen arrow with a Red-billed Leiothrix attached.

This was Wang Ba’s prey.

Wang Ba looked at He Yan smugly.

He Yan smiled slightly, casually drawing her bow toward the sky. Her movements were faster than Wang Ba’s, so quick that people doubted whether she had even aimed at her target, yet the arrow had already flown. The harsh sunlight blurred their vision, making it momentarily impossible to track the arrow’s path.

Shi Tou watched the sky without blinking, and after a while said: “Hit.”

“Really?” Hong Shan looked doubtful. “I couldn’t see clearly.”

From a corner of the training ground, someone shouted, “I found He Yan’s arrow! Here!” He ran to Instructor Liang with the arrow. “Here!”

On the arrow hung a Yellow-throated Bunting.

Both Liang Ping and Wang Ba looked at He Yan.

The former suddenly realized he had discovered a treasure, while the latter’s face showed complete disbelief.

How had he done it?

Wang Ba gripped his bow tightly and said: “Again!” He shouted at the recruit with the gong: “Continue!”

The recruit struck the gong several times, and flocks of birds immediately flew from the forest. Wang Ba nocked multiple arrows simultaneously and shot them all at once!

Several arrows soared skyward, though it wasn’t clear if they had hit their targets. Moments later, someone on the training ground excitedly shouted: “Hit! Hit! The arrows are here!”

To hit every target while shooting multiple arrows at once made him one in a hundred, no, one in a thousand. But what about He Yan?

Everyone looked at He Yan, who smiled slightly and copied Wang Ba’s technique, nocking multiple arrows.

The bow was drawn fully, a relaxed smile on the youth’s face, like a young noble casually practicing archery during a spring outing by the Si River.

She released the bow.

The arrows flew into the flock of birds, which scattered in panic. Someone on the training ground shouted, “Hit! Hit! I found the arrows!”

When brought before the instructor, every shot had found its mark.

“You!” Wang Ba gritted his teeth, turning to shoulder his quiver. “I don’t believe you can be lucky every time!” He began shooting arrows continuously, apparently intending to empty his entire quiver.

Each quiver held twenty arrows, with different colored fletching to help recruits distinguish them during practice. Wang Ba used red-fletched arrows, while He Yan chose blue ones. She followed his example, shooting continuously.

For a time, neither spoke. Only the constant ringing of the gong from the forest and the startled birds taking flight could be heard.

“This is amazing! So interesting!” Cheng Lisu watched with shining eyes, grabbing Instructor Liang’s arm in excitement. “This is much more interesting than the capital’s hunting grounds! Instructor Liang, how are your recruits so interesting? How did you find such talent?”

Liang Ping smiled politely, though equally bewildered. He didn’t know either! Wang Ba had already been an unexpected joy, and now He Yan too – Liang Ping wondered if he was dreaming.

Twenty arrows were used up in an instant.

The recruits on the training ground eagerly collected the fallen arrows and brought them to Instructor Liang. Twenty red arrows, all hits. Twenty blue arrows, not a single miss.

Two legendary archers who never missed had emerged among Liangzhou Guard’s recruits. Liang Ping thought he might get promoted, or at least receive a raise in his monthly allowance.

“I never imagined Brother He Yan would be so amazing…” Xiao Mai stared in awe, muttering.

“Me neither,” Hong Shan hadn’t recovered from his shock. “If I’d known, I would have bet on He Yan’s victory…”

Oh right, the bet wasn’t over. Hong Shan’s words reminded everyone, and a recruit suddenly shouted: “This… this is a draw, right? He Yan and Wang Ba got the same result, so how do we count this round?”

Yes, how should they count it?

Wang Ba lowered his head, his thoughts unknown. After a moment, he looked up, his expression uncertain. “You haven’t won.”

“True,” He Yan didn’t deny it, and even sincerely praised her opponent. “Your archery is too good, I was overconfident.”

“Then it’s a draw, and you still haven’t beaten me today,” Wang Ba said. At this point, he was somewhat flustered. He Yan matching him in hitting flying targets showed that in other archery skills, they were evenly matched.

He couldn’t think of any other way to beat He Yan.

“Ten days ago, I said I would beat you in ten days. Now with no clear winner, how can we end in a draw?” He Yan fanned herself with her hand. “Since you can’t think of a challenge, shall I propose one?”

He Yan, who appeared to be bronze but was a king.