Chapter Thirty-Seven: Two Arrows

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the canopy, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor. The crisp, clear chirping of birds echoed through the woods as a group of men rode their horses, savoring the rare tranquility of the moment.

"Chen An, let's see whose archery is better!" Zhang Xiaojing spurred his horse forward, taking aim at a young deer and releasing an arrow.

"Very well! The first to hit that little deer gets a prize!"

Encouraged by Chen An, the others behind him immediately grew excited.

"Brother! Watch me!"

Wu Daizi ran on foot, his speed surprisingly matching that of the men on horseback. Soon, the group scattered throughout the forest trails.

Just as Chen An, riding alone, galloped deep into the woods to display his skills, a heavy wolf-tooth arrow whistled through the trees. Though Chen An reacted instinctively to the sudden threat, he was still struck in the head of his horse. To his surprise, the force of the projectile was so immense it severed the horse's head entirely.

As the warhorse collapsed with a thunderous crash, a figure emerged slowly from the depths of the thicket—it was Zhong Miao, who had been waiting for a long time. Dressed in black with eyes as sharp as a hawk’s, he held a longbow, radiating a biting aura of slaughter. In the underworld of You Shan Pass, it was well known that Zhong Miao’s "Soul-Chasing" archery never missed; once he locked onto a target, escape was nearly impossible.

A playful smile touched Chen An’s lips, which to Zhong Miao looked like a provocation. Recognizing the hostile intent, Chen An felt his own competitive spirit ignite.

"You waited here, so you must have come for me?" Chen An asked.

Zhong Miao remained expressionless, replying coldly, "I am commissioned by another to take your life."

"Oh? Then would you mind giving a name to a dying man?"

"I would."

"Your arrow just now was fast, and the force was formidable." Chen An continued. "Had it been an ordinary man, he would surely be dead by now. You are strong—very good. You are a worthy opponent!"

"Wolf-tooth arrows are mostly used in border regions. Because they are heavy and forceful, they are usually used for attacking walls and fortifications," Chen An said, glancing at the horse's head. "However, with that shot, I seemed to see the arrow curve in mid-air. Can you tell me what technique that is?"

"Soul-Chasing!"

"In that case, shall we have a contest?" Chen An proposed, eager to witness the true extent of this Soul-Chasing archery.

Zhong Miao did not refuse; he possessed absolute confidence in his skills. "Then we shall determine both the victor and who lives or dies!"

The two took their stances, the air thick with tension. As a single leaf drifted to the ground, both moved simultaneously.

Zhong Miao’s movements were fluid, brimming with power and speed. He focused his mind, drawing his bow to a full moon, and released a sharp arrow with a piercing shriek. It aimed straight for Chen An’s vitals, condensing the essence of his lifetime of archery into a single, devious, lightning-fast strike.

Chen An, however, was quite different; he focused on exquisite technique. In the same second that Zhong Miao fired one arrow, Chen An, relying on his incredible arm strength and agility, fired two. The arrows intertwined in mid-air, and one of Chen An’s shots struck Zhong Miao’s arrow with precision, deflecting it. The remaining arrows continued toward Zhong Miao.

Zhong Miao was startled and dodged in a hurry. While he avoided a fatal hit, the arrow grazed his arm, leaving a bloody streak.

The contest ended; clearly, Chen An had won by a narrow margin.

"My apologies, it seems I have won," Chen An said with a smile.

Zhong Miao was visibly incredulous. "Chasing stars and connecting moons... you actually possess such strength?"

"Though the wolf-tooth arrow has great power, the head is heavy, so you need to aim slightly higher when firing," Chen An analyzed. "If you can improve that when you return, I certainly won't be your opponent next time."

"Next time?" Zhong Miao was stunned. "You aren't going to kill me?"

"No. As you said yourself, we have no grudge or enmity," Chen An said with a hint of regret. "But since you killed my horse, you must pay me back next time we meet."

"Are you serious?"

"Less talk, be off with you. If you don't leave now, you won't make it in time." Chen An looked at the dust rising in the distance. "My men are arriving, and they don't have my good temper."

"Hmph."

Zhong Miao hesitated for a moment before darting away and vanishing into the brush.

"Brother! Are you alright!"

Wu Daizi came sprinting over, carrying his spoils of the hunt. Seeing the chaotic scene, he grew immediately anxious.

"I'm fine," Chen An replied, turning to Zhang Xiaojing. "It seems those people can no longer hide."

"I shall go mobilize the troops immediately and wipe them out." For Zhang Xiaojing, the idea that their commander could have been killed while they remained unscathed was the ultimate disgrace.

"No, don't be hasty. I'm more curious about the origins of the man who tried to assassinate me."

"I heard of this Zhong Miao back at Huyang Pass. He is a renowned killer in the Youzhou underworld, known for his Soul-Chasing archery," Zhang Xiaojing frowned. "Most importantly, this man is elusive. If you let him run, he will be hard to catch again."

"Is that so?" Instead of showing concern, Chen An felt a sense of excitement. "That’s actually good. At the very least, it provides us with some pressure."

"How can you say that!" Zhang Xiaojing was agitated. "We've only just arrived at You Shan Pass and already faced this. Someone is clearly targeting us. You are the commander of the Tiger Battalion—if something happens to you, what are we to do?"

"Rest easy, nothing will happen." Chen An patted Wu Daizi on the shoulder. "What do you say?"

Wu Daizi paused, then stated with unquestionable conviction, "Brother, don't worry. I will ensure your safety."

"Good! I believe in you! Let’s go! Time to head home and stew some meat!"

...

As it turned out, Zhang Xiaojing’s worries were unnecessary. For the next two or three days, no further assassination attempts occurred. Furthermore, the upright conduct and military discipline of the Tiger Battalion gradually earned the praise of the merchants and citizens of You Shan Pass. The cooking fires in the pass burned steadily day after day, and since Chen An had taken root there, the bandits who used to prowl the mountain paths like starving wolves no longer dared to show their faces.

However, after too long a period of peace, several gangs of fierce bandits outside the mountains began to seethe with rage. Since the merchant caravans found the pass safe, they had changed their routes to travel through it, and the bandits guarding the mountain roads hadn't seen a single coin of profit in over a week.

"Damn that Chen An! He's cut off our livelihood!" The scarred bandit leader smashed a wine jar against the rock wall, wine and porcelain shards splashing across the ground.