Chapter 41: I Can't Draw It
The next morning, just as Instructor Liang had said, their running distance was halved, and they finished early—so early that it wasn't even time for breakfast yet.
Then, all the recruits were taken to the Martial Arts Field.
The field next to the Liangzhou Garrison was enormous, likely because the vast open land at the foot of the mountain could accommodate everyone. He Yan surveyed the area and thought to herself that this was indeed an excellent place for training. At this moment, it was high noon under the scorching sun, without a trace of wind. The flags on the platform clung limply to their poles, much like the wilted recruits.
"Starting today, you will begin weapons training," Chief Instructor Shen declared, slamming his spear heavily onto the ground. The recruits all jolted to attention.
"Do you see that open area?" Shen Han pointed his spear northward.
Near the weapon racks, rows of crossbows were set up, glaring menacingly at them. A hundred paces ahead of the crossbows stood neatly arranged targets.
"From today onward, you will start learning to shoot crossbows!" With Chief Instructor Shen's command, their days were once again packed with training.
For a moment, the recruits didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Wow! Archery is my favorite!" Xiao Mai was probably the happiest. "Brother, it's our turn to shine now!"
He Yan asked Shitou, "The bows you used for hunting weren't this heavy, were they?"
Shitou studied the crossbow for a while before shaking his head. "No, they were lighter. They weren't made of ox horn either—just bamboo I carved myself."
"Close enough," Xiao Mai said cheerfully before suddenly thinking of something. "Brother He, do you think we could borrow these bows to hunt rabbits in the mountains?"
He Yan: "...Focus on training. Stop daydreaming."
They were still divided into teams, each led by an instructor to practice with the crossbows. The instructor demonstrated first, drawing the bow and releasing the arrow. The fletched arrow flew "whoosh" straight into the center of the target, embedding itself firmly.
The recruits erupted in cheers, and the instructor looked smug.
He Yan couldn't help but silently praise him. Liang Ping wasn't just for show—he had real skill. Someone like him would be a formidable asset on the battlefield.
The young soldiers in the camp were all excited, eager to try their hand at the bow. Some, born with great strength, drew the bow fully, though their shots were inaccurate but far-reaching. Others who had handled bows before displayed more practiced stances. Most of the recruits, however, had strength but no precision, their arrows veering wildly off course, some falling short of the target and littering the ground.
At least they had all tried drawing and shooting once.
Hong Shan also took his turn. He was sturdy and drew the bow well, but his aim was off—his arrow barely grazed the edge of the target before dropping. He didn't seem bothered, though, nodding in satisfaction. "Not bad, not bad."
Shitou and Xiao Mai followed shortly after. Shitou had steadier hands and greater strength. The fletched arrow flew from his grip with a "whoosh," embedding itself in the target—not dead center, but close enough.
Instructor Liang gave him a surprised look and asked, "What's your name? Have you handled a bow before?"
"My name is Zhong Shitou. I used to be a hunter," Shitou replied solemnly.
"No wonder," Liang Ping nodded approvingly. Naturally, he was pleased to see a promising recruit in his team.Xiao Mai stepped forward eagerly. "I'm Zhong Xiaomai, his younger brother. I'm a hunter too!"
"Oh?" Instructor Liang's interest was piqued. "Give it a try then?"
Xiao Mai mimicked Shitou's stance and drew the bow. However, unlike his elder brother's impressive display, his fletched arrow veered wildly off course, failing to even graze the target.
Liang Ping: "..."
Xiao Mai rubbed his nose sheepishly and retreated.
He Yan found it rather amusing. Just as she was considering whether to take her turn, someone stepped forward ahead of her.
"Huh," Hong Shan whispered beside He Yan, "it's him."
To everyone's surprise, it was Wang Ba. During their usual runs, no one had noticed that Wang Ba was also under Instructor Liang's command. He rolled up his sleeves to his elbows, spat twice into his palms for grip, and picked up the bow.
He Yan observed how his arms tensed, revealing glimpses of his powerful, honey-toned muscles. This was a man of considerable strength. Unlike the other recruits who rushed their shots, Wang Ba took a steadying breath and carefully aimed at the bullseye.
This posture... He Yan calculated silently. Like Shitou, he wasn't new to archery—this was someone who frequently handled bows.
Finally, the taut string released with a sharp twang. The arrow shot straight toward the target. There was a flash of white before everyone's eyes as the straw target was struck with such force that it toppled backward with a loud thud.
The arrow had completely pierced through the bullseye, leaving only its fletching visible. Not only had it cleanly penetrated the target, but the sheer power had knocked it over entirely.
Even He Yan had to admit inwardly that this was an exceptionally impressive shot. Wang Ba possessed remarkable strength, precision, and composure—a rare combination. Instructor Liang's gaze toward Wang Ba had noticeably shifted. Among this batch of recruits, both Zhong Shitou and Wang Ba showed outstanding promise in archery.
Wang Ba set down the bow but didn't walk away immediately. Instead, he strode up to He Yan. The scar-faced man with a perpetually gloomy expression crossed his arms and looked at her with mocking amusement. "Your turn now."
His words drew the attention of many onlookers toward He Yan. Meeting Wang Ba's challenging stare, she stepped forward.
The ox-horn bow was of excellent quality, its surface smooth from countless uses, evident from the wear marks. As He Yan ran her fingers over it, memories of her military days suddenly resurfaced. The last time she had handled a crossbow, she had still been the "Flying Goose General."
So many years had passed in the blink of an eye.
Liang Ping watched He Yan with a peculiar expression.
He knew that archery required tremendous hand strength—something He Yan's physique and prior performances didn't suggest she possessed. Yet... she was a diligent recruit, and people always held some expectation for the unknown. Liang Ping found himself torn.
"What are you fumbling around for? Quit wasting everyone's time," Wang Ba sneered. "Aren't you going to show us your masterful skills?"
He Yan lifted the bow and placed her fingers on the arrow.
A moment later, she set it back down.
"What does Brother He mean by this?" Xiao Mai asked, puzzled. She hadn't even drawn the bow yet—why put it down? Was something wrong?"Why aren't you moving?" Wang Ba complained impatiently. "Move!"
"No need," He Yan replied with complete honesty. "I can't draw this bow."
(End of Chapter)
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