"Let us see," she replied coldly. As Zheng Bin took another step back, she took a step forward. Compared to Zheng Bin's shaky movements, hers were bold and firm. "A decent man would challenge me with integrity, but you abused my page boy instead. You have learned a lot over these years!"
Zheng Bin nervously swallowed as he felt the sharpness of the cold metal. His eyes did not leave the arrowhead for a second. The examination was coming, and he must not be rejected because of a wounded face!
"What do you want then?" Zheng Bin was irritated and humiliated. Since when had Liu Lanting the timid lamb become so thorny?
"You love aiming at fruits on peoples' heads, huh?" Suddenly, Jiang Pengji raised the corners of her lips, and everyone knew there was a scheme behind it. "Well, I like the game, too. You have also brought your own page boy, right? I will play with you, and it will be a fair game this time. The rules should be amended, or else others might say that I deliberately tried to injure your servant."
That was too dangerous. Feng Jin tried to persuade her. "Lanting, he is a fool, but you are not. Think about your career!"
If others in the town knew about her suggestion, they would deem her as a violent youngster.
"I am not stupid, of course." Jiang Pengji did not look at Feng Jin. "Each of us will have three arrows. The first distance will be 50 steps, the second 70, and the third 100. The fruits will be our target. Is that clear?" She kept a cruel smile on her face and continued to hold the arrow steadily.
Before Zheng Bin could respond, she commanded Xu Ke. "Take the kiwi. I will go first."
Xu Ke had thought he could get rid of the role; he never suspected that his Langjun would make him do it, too.
Still, he only hesitated a few seconds before obeying. As instructed, he placed the fruit on his head and walked until he counted 50 steps.
Whoosh!
Before he had even fixed his posture or noticed Jiang Pengji's move, Xu Ke heard the fruit being penetrated, and its juice splashed over his hair. When he realized what had just happened, his inconsiderate master ordered him again.
"70 steps!"
Bloody hell! When did she aim?
But now he felt confident in Jiang Pengji. The moment he took another kiwi from an attendant and stood 70 steps away from the crowd, an arrow sped exactly into the fruit. He had to admit that he had underestimated his langjun.
"Finally! 100 steps!"
The final distance was too challenging for most people because the fruit was too tiny to be seen from far away, and the light bows they used for practicing could not shoot arrows to such a long distance. The arrow would most likely drop midway from the force of the wind.
But that was not a problem for Jiang Pengji. She would not miss her targets even if her eyes were closed. As for the bow…
Hers was a heavy bow. After some practice, she could even master a three-stone bow.
Feng Jin knew about her abilities, but that did not stop him from worrying.
"What do they think this event is? It is most displeasing to see them competing against one another. Still, why is Liu Lanting acting so boldly today?" The ladies who had not been kidnapped still thought Liu Lanting was the shy youngster he had always been.
Wan Xiu'er was among the eldest of them, and she was more mature in her response. After sipping her tea and drying her lips with a handkerchief, she faked a smile. She said, "Perhaps it is because of his confidence in his archery skills. This is the only chance he has to fight back against the others. Jingxian, am I right?"
Chapter end
Report
|
Donate
Oh o, this user has not set a donation button.
|