The bow and arrow were the same as ten days ago, and the person shooting was the same as ten days ago, but the atmosphere was different.

The youth’s smile faded as their fingers rested on the arrow, eyes fixed straight on the straw target’s center. The earlier clouds had dispersed, and the sun blazed on their face. The summer heat was extraordinary, and a bead of sweat slowly rolled down their forehead.

The crystalline sweat drop was about to roll into her eyes, making onlookers inexplicably tense, wanting to reach out and wipe it away. Yet the youth remained motionless, like a stone, seemingly unaware of the sweat drop, their gaze unwavering.

The bow was drawn slowly – partially, halfway, until fully drawn. Everyone’s hearts rose with it. Just when they thought the bow might snap at any moment, the youth stopped, and without warning, released the arrow.

Like a meteor cutting through the night sky, the arrow created a gust of wind as it charged fiercely toward the target. With a “thwack,” the target fell! Moreover, this time the target was knocked even further back, making it impossible to see the arrow.

Like Wang Ba, she had knocked down the target.

Someone gasped in surprise.

Eleven days ago, He Yan stood here unable to even draw the bow. Ten days ago, He Yan could draw it slightly. Now she stood here, drawing the bow fully and knocking down the target. Her strength had improved tremendously in these ten days.

But He Yan wasn’t a prodigy – how could strength grow so quickly?

“Brother He Yan is amazing!” Xiao Mai shouted, jumping with joy. “Brother He Yan won!”

“What do you mean won?” A recruit who bet on Wang Ba protested, worried about his dried biscuits. “He just hit the target, it doesn’t mean he hit the center. If he missed the center, he hasn’t won!”

This reminder brought everyone back to reality – this wasn’t just about how well He Yan could draw the bow. They had been so amazed by He Yan’s increased strength, having previously been too weak to even draw the bow, that they had forgotten to check the accuracy.

“I’ll go look!” Someone volunteered and ran toward the target.

Wang Ba looked at He Yan, who stood under the blazing sun with a satisfied smile… that same smile she’d worn since their first meeting. She seemed completely unconcerned, always so self-assured, with an irritating confidence.

But… Wang Ba looked at his own hands, why was even he beginning to waver?

He was an orphan, taken by wolves as a child. When someone rescued him from the wolf den, he was still nursing from a mother wolf. Later, he lived with bandits, and countless birds and beasts had fallen to his arrows. He could hit targets because he’d handled bows since age seven – over twenty years now.

This youngster, only fifteen or sixteen, even if they’d started at birth, would only have a decade of experience. How could they match him? Moreover, He Yan’s inability to draw the bow ten days ago hadn’t seemed fake, so they couldn’t be an experienced archer.

With this thought, Wang Ba steadied himself, calming his slightly agitated heart. He Yan certainly couldn’t surpass him – there was no need for doubt.

By now, the volunteer who’d gone to check the target had reached it. He bent down to examine it but didn’t immediately respond. Then suddenly, he crouched down, hoisted the target up, and ran back.

The straw target was light and easy to carry. He rushed back, dropped the arrow-pierced target on the ground, and announced loudly: “See for yourselves!”

Wang Ba’s heart skipped a beat.

Everyone looked at the straw figure. An arrow had pierced straight through its center, steady and precise, hitting the bullseye perfectly.

Just like Wang Ba’s shot.

Sweat dripped down Wang Ba’s forehead. The shocked discussions around him seemed to fade away. He saw Instructor Liang staring at He Yan in surprise, while the finely dressed young master beside Liang was beaming with joy. He Yan stood with her friends, showing no particular excitement, just smiling faintly as if everything had gone according to plan.

“You…”

He Yan smiled and said: “Thank you for the match.”

“You didn’t beat me,” Wang Ba stared at him intensely. “You achieved the same result as me – how can that count as winning? At most… at most, it’s a draw.”

They had both knocked down the target and hit the center – it was indeed difficult to determine a winner. For Wang Ba, such a result was expected. But He Yan was different; initially appearing useless, now achieving this level was remarkable.

Hearing Wang Ba’s words, He Yan didn’t become agitated. She didn’t even argue with Wang Ba, instead nodding and saying: “I think so too.”

Wang Ba felt relieved. Accepting a draw was fine – at least he hadn’t lost. The recruits wiped the sweat from their brows, who could have imagined He Yan would hit the target? If not for the draw, they would have lost their dried biscuits. A draw was good, perfect even – nobody won or lost, just an unusual spectacle to witness.

The next moment, their relief was shattered by He Yan’s words.

She said: “However, when I made the bet with you here that day, I said I would win. Since the winner isn’t decided, naturally we must continue until I win.”

“He Yan!” Wang Ba gritted his teeth. What did these words mean? Was he so certain he would win? Earlier was just luck – what was this kid saying? What did he want to do?

Instructor Liang also stared at He Yan in surprise.

“Regarding archery, you can propose any challenge, I’ll accept them all until I win. How about that?” she asked with a smile.

“You think too highly of yourself,” Wang Ba glared at her coldly.

“I’m not overestimating myself, I just believe in my luck,” she casually blew at her bangs. “You should know that luck favors the prepared.” And she was always prepared.

“Are you saying you’ll accept any archery challenge?” Wang Ba slowly asked.

“Absolutely.”

“Fine.” The scarred man nodded, suddenly hoisting a huge crossbow onto his back. Walking two steps forward, his back to her, he said, “What’s the point of shooting a dead straw target? On the battlefield, enemies won’t stand still for you to shoot. If we’re testing archery, let’s shoot living targets – birds and beasts will make good practice.”

He wanted to hunt live prey.

Everyone was stunned. Shooting living targets was much harder than hitting stationary ones. The ancient feat of “threading a willow leaf at a hundred paces” wasn’t as challenging as hitting something in motion.

“He Yan, don’t fall for his trap, don’t agree!” Hong Shan anxiously tried to signal He Yan.

He Yan looked at Wang Ba, a flash of admiration in her eyes. She nodded and replied promptly:

“Agreed.”