Why do I have so many masters?

"It's not that it lacks interest,"

"but archery is one of the six arts, and there are many intricacies to it. I haven't learned all those bow and arrow techniques and formalities. If we were hunting separately, the number of game wouldn't differ much, but in a standstill competition like this, I am far inferior."

Wang Anfeng paused, then said with a smile:

"After all, the way I shoot arrows was taught by an old man in my family who liked to drink and might have been a soldier for a couple of years. It's hardly elegant."

Mei Lianhua's expressive eyes moved as she spoke: "So it's the martial archery art."

"The Military Family also studies chariot driving and archery. Which style does Brother Wang practice?"

Wang Anfeng shook his head with a half-joking tone:

"It's not among them. If you really want to be specific, you could probably call it Pheasant-Hunting Archery?"

"Pheasant-Hunting Archery?"

Mei Lianhua was slightly startled.

Wang Anfeng nodded and laughed: "That's a more cultured way to put it. If you don't like it, calling it Chicken-Killing Archery or Chicken-Hunting Archery would also do."

"That old man, Libo back in the day, told me that he came up with this archery because he wanted to shoot a pheasant."

A young Noble Clan lady who had been listening at Mei Lianhua's side couldn't help but giggle and said crisply:

"Inventing archery? That pheasant must've been extraordinary..."

Wang Anfeng, apparently not catching the tease in her words, replied with a gentle smile:

"I asked him the same thing."

"He said there was no helping it; the pheasant he encountered back then was somewhat large."

"Its tail feathers were thrice the length of its body, its beak was as hard as metal and sharp as a blade, its feathers were of seven colors, like they covered it with Iron Armor. A single flap would stir up a strong wind. Ordinary pheasants can't leap over rooftops, but that one could cling to azure skies and was unafraid of thunder and lightning."

He spoke earnestly and truthfully, which made the Noble Clan girl laugh even more joyfully as she said:

"That's amazing, did you get to eat it?"

Wang Anfeng shook his head and said:

"No. He said he had lost a bet with my dad and, in a fit of anger, went out to hunt one down. It was for my mom, to nourish her during pregnancy. I asked him if there were more, and he said he never saw such a large one again."

"So, that pheasant can be considered as something you've eaten as well?"

Wang Anfeng nodded with a smile and said:

"You could say that."

The girl couldn't hold back her laughter any longer, covering her belly with her hands as she was about to cry from laughing so hard, and said: "You're really funny..."

"Pheasant-Hunting Archery is truly interesting. I really want to see your archery skills."

Wang Anfeng was not annoyed and, looking at the plain Heavy Bow on the horseback, laughed and said:

"I feel it's better if you don't."

While they joked on this side, among the scholars on the other side, a burst of cheering suddenly erupted. They turned around to see, at the center of a crowd, a man surnamed Zhu stood next to a stern-looking young man holding a large bow with thick arms.

Two young men of the Mei Family beside him looked somewhat pale.

A Servant rode over with Arrows, and on one of the Black Feather Arrows, there were two geese skewered, showcasing the man's superb archery as the onlooking scions of the Noble Clans cheered once more. Gao Zhenhai applauded and praised:

"Brother Zhu, what a shot!"

"Earlier they talked about shooting two eagles with one arrow, and now Brother Zhu has shot two geese with one arrow, not half bad at all, haha..."

The stern youth was quite haughty and slightly raised his chin, looking towards a Mei Family youth beside him and said indifferently: "It's your turn now, one more shot."

The Mei Family disciple, Mei Lianhua's distant cousin, had a slightly pale complexion but still bravely picked up the bow and arrow. As the cage holding the birds was opened, the geese flapped their wings and soared into the sky.

Mei Zimo bit his lip, raised his hand to draw the bow, with the string notched, but his palm shaking continuously. As the Noble Clan disciples jeered, the more they did, the worse his trembling got, and finally, he could not even release the arrow.

His arms relaxed from the loss of Inner Strength, and a rather ornate bow rested on the ground, his face full of defeat.

Gao Zhenhai laughed and said: "What happened, Brother Mei? We were all waiting to see you show your might and turn the tide..."

Mei Zimo forced a smile and said:

"Brother Zhu's archery is too brilliant; I was a bit overwhelmed."

The young man surnamed Zhu had a very stern face and said indifferently: "There's no need for that."

"If you don't shoot, I win this competition."

"And I will choose the wager."

Mei Zimo's mouth opened in a sigh as if finally conceding, and with a bow, he said:

"It's naturally Brother Zhu's choice."

The young man surnamed Zhu's expression softened slightly as he pointed directly at Lin Qiaofu, who was holding a white rabbit and admiring the mountain view some distance away, and said straightforwardly:

"I want her..."

Mei Zimo's face suddenly turned pale as he said, "What, what did you say?"

"That's impossible!"

Zhu Yangshuo's face turned cold as he scoffed, "Impossible?! You sure talk big! When I put my maid on the line as the wager earlier, you had no objections. Now it's your turn, and you act like this."

"Turns out you're a sore loser who can't take the heat!"

"Who says I can't take the heat... just, just..."

Mei Zimo was boiling with rage inside and retorted, but seeing Zhu Yangshuo's imposing manner, his voice softened, and after muttering for a while, he could not speak a word.

Seeing the unfriendly expressions of the surrounding Noble Clan youths, he was even more uncertain of how to handle himself. Just a moment ago, their faces were amiable, but in the blink of an eye, they seemed to have changed, making his face go even paler.

"Why be like this, gentlemen? We're just here to hunt, not to fight..."

"Let's not ruin the good atmosphere."

Gao Zhenhai, trying to smooth things over with a smile, induced a cold huff from the crowd who no longer pressured as before, which made Mei Zimo deeply relieved. Clutching Gao Zhenhai's sleeve, he was almost tearfully grateful.