My Cultivation Starting from Archery

At the dinner table.

Sister Lan, elated by the joyful events, unprecedentedly helped herself to two chopsticks of rabbit meat.

Paying all the taxes due and ridding themselves of the local tyrant, anyone would have been happy.

"Brother Shi."

She looked admiringly at her man, "That Mr. Qin must have heard of your abilities and didn't dare to mess with us anymore; you are truly incredible."

Being able to shoot even a wild boar, no wonder she always thought Brother Shi was exceptionally strong!

After dinner, Gu Xinlan sat beside the bed waiting as usual; but unusually, he was late coming into the room.

It was only when she lifted the curtain that she saw Chen Sansi sitting under the candlelight, intently flipping through a book.

"Aren't you going to rest early today?"

Gu Xinlan was somewhat disappointed, but she quietly did not disturb him and went to sleep first.

[Skill: Reading (entry-level)]

[Progress: (120/300)]

[Utility: Spirit refreshed, photographic memory]

Chen Sansi gently closed the book, and after confirming that Sister Lan was soundly asleep, he tucked a kitchen knife at his waist, slung the longbow over his shoulder, and tiptoed out of the house, blending into the night.

…

The brothel.

"Sir, why not stay here for the night? Why bother going back?"

"Scram scram scram, I still have things to take care of!"

Qin Xiong pushed away the courtesan who was holding him back and staggered out of the brothel.

The cost for overnighting was triple; he wasn't foolish.

The money at home shouldn't be wasted, and he needed to save it as a gift for his younger brother.

Since he was young, he had lost his parents and had raised his younger brother by selling pancakes. Once he made a name for himself, he managed to save enough money to send his younger brother to the best Martial Arts Academy in Po Yang County.

But practicing martial arts was indeed very expensive.

The enrollment fee, master's tribute, and medical expenses were just the beginning. To receive the true teachings was yet another significant expense.

The old folks at the county Martial Arts Hall would generally pass on their skills only to their own sons or direct disciples; outsiders couldn't learn the real deal.

His younger brother was no exception.

He had been practicing martial arts for over three years and still couldn't learn the complete cultivation techniques.

Fortunately, his brother was close to the Young Master; that young man was a debauchee who favored beautiful women. Perhaps by sending some beautiful women his way, there might be a chance to acquire the true teachings.

"Speaking of which, that Ms. Gu is really beautiful!"

"Her looks, they just don't seem like those of a village girl."

"What a pity, such a pity!"

Thinking about this, Qin Xiong felt aggrieved.

He actually had to apologize to someone with the surname Chen.

But this was only temporary.

Once his younger brother could spare the time, what was a hunter considered anyway?

No matter how skilled, could a hunter be more formidable than a martial artist?

Given the chance, he could have his brother deal with Mr. Chen in the mountains; and even keep his family's young lady for his own enjoyment!

"Hahaha!"

Thinking of the young lady's buttocks, irresistibly round and plump, Qin Xiong laughed out loud.

"Huh—"

A gust of cold wind swept by, sobering him significantly.

Looking around, he realized that he had unwittingly walked out of the town, surrounded by pitch darkness, with only the occasional crow caw breaking the deep silence of the night.

"Heh, my courage seems to be shrinking!"

For some reason, today Qin Xiong felt a vague sense of unease, as if someone was following him.

He scoffed at himself and was just about to head home when suddenly another gust of wind came from behind.

This gust was very sharp and precise, directly hitting the back of his head with a chilling iciness.

This "wind" penetrated through the back of his skull and exited through the top, as if a horn was sprouting from his forehead.

Qin Xiong fell straight down, never stirring again.

…

"Not satisfying at all!"

Chen Sansi emerged from the distant woods and approached to examine the body.

When people practiced martial arts, they fought with swords and hand-to-hand combat.

He had just pulled the bowstring from afar, and everything was over, making even the carried kitchen knife redundant. The process was too quick, leaving Mr. Qin dying too swiftly.

"Oh well, who makes me kind-hearted."

Chen Sansi found about three fragments of silver on the body.

"Just this little?"

"This scoundrel has been plaguing the village, surely making at least a few dozen silver pieces a year, where has the money gone?"

"Is practicing martial arts that expensive for his brother?"

After pocketing the silver, he began to ponder how to dispose of the body.

There were arrow wounds on the body; it definitely couldn't be left here.

Hunters were few and far between within tens of miles.

Cutting off the head separately would cover him in blood, making it even more difficult to handle.

"Just throw it in the mountains!"

Chen Sansi hoisted the body.

With the "Light as a Feather" skill, carrying a corpse did not slow him down at all.

In just two hours, he arrived at Second Layer Mountain, threw the body in a secluded grove, and returned home to Yanbian Village before dawn.

Lying down next to the sleeping Sister Lan, Chen Sansi took a long breath.

"I guess I've removed a menace for my fellow villagers!"

"Just not sure if his brother will come looking for me."

"I need to start practicing martial arts soon!"

He had no regrets.

With Qin Xiong's character, apologizing was only temporary, his brother, gaining influence, would definitely seek double compensation in the future.

Better to strike first rather than live in anxiety.

...

The next morning, at dawn, the rooster crowed.

Chen Sansi, as always, got up early to practice archery.

After mastering archery, the speed of improvement drastically dropped.

Because the bow was too light.

He could now pull a one-stone bow; the Four-Force Bow was completely ineffective as a training tool.

"Heavy bows are not easy to come by."

"Even the Martial Arts Hall wouldn't dare keep them privately, or it would be seen as plotting rebellion."

"Besides needing a heavy bow, it's time to schedule martial arts training."

"..."

Chen Sansi silently calculated his next steps in his mind, while on the other hand, Xin Lan called him to breakfast.

"Clang clang clang—"

He sat down absentmindedly, just picking up a cornbread, when suddenly the village was filled with the sound of gongs and shouting.

The government!

Chen Sansi's heart skipped a beat, but he quickly calmed down.

"It can't be because of Qin Xiong's affair; he only died last night."

"He's not worth such a big fuss; there must be something else."

Indeed.

The people from the county government's Patrol Office called everyone out and announced a major event.

An assassin from the barbarian tribes had infiltrated Po Yang County and murdered the Po Yang County Magistrate.

The whole village was in an uproar.

The government's people were here to search for the assassin's whereabouts.

After gathering all the villagers together, the Patrol Office began searching every house, and left grudgingly after half a day.

"The County Magistrate has been killed."

Xin Lan whispered, "I remember this County Magistrate had been transferred here less than two years ago. Seems like being an official isn't easy."

"Hmm."

Chen Sansi watched the departing constables, feeling something was odd.

Why would a barbarian warrior kill the County Magistrate?

The forces guarding the border are from the garrison, not the county government. If they wanted to attack, they should target the skilled soldiers.

"Forget it."

"It's none of my business."

Chen Sansi shook his head, lamenting that the world was becoming increasingly chaotic, which spurred him even more to earn money.

With money, he could enhance his personal strength and protect himself in these turbulent times.

After hastily filling his stomach, he took his bow and arrows and went hunting in the mountains.