A Long Grind to Daoist Monarch-Chapter 75: Ape Arms and Eagle Eyes

"Song Qiying is too disrespectful! Relying on a good bow to beat me twice, he refuses to let it go even after gaining the upper hand!"

Inside the large house, He Tai was red with anger. The bottle of Purple Ganoderma Heart Nourishing Pills obtained from the Celestial Eagle Martial Arts Hall was originally meant for his second training breakthrough.

Now, losing to Song Qiying not only costs him face, but it could help Song achieve the Bone Training Major Barrier sooner, which makes him increasingly frustrated the more he thinks about it.

"Never lose composure even if defeated. Why should the Young Master worry and appear petty, letting the Second Young Master Song become more ostentatious?"

Bai Qi comforted with a few words, giving He Tai a way out, and managed to coax him to the dusty racetrack.

At this time, the sky gradually darkened, and torches were lit all around, crackling and illuminating the surroundings.

Unlike Fishery and Kiln, which are external forces, the Song family is a prominent family in Black River County and its neighboring areas. Song Qiying's grandfather had many brothers, with roughly a dozen members, later absorbing cousins and other relatives, forming a Hunting Gang that stretches across five hundred miles of mountain paths.

They further allied with the Daoist Official in Yihai County City, mastering martial arts, controlling the business channels of the mountain people who cut wood and gather medicine, thus developing into today's top three "Chai Market."

Ginseng Collection Manor was under their control, with the Manor Master also bearing the surname Song.

In terms of seniority, he should call Song Qiying "Uncle."

"Second Uncle, the lamb is slaughtered perfectly. At seven months old, the meat is tender and has no trace of gamey taste."

The Manor Master, Song Zhongping, in his forties, behaved very courteously.

"Thanks to Manor Master Song. How has the harvest been this year? My father mentioned that someone from your estate found half a basket of hundred-year-old Polygonatum?"

Song Qiying held one hand behind his back, trying to appear as the Second Young Master, asking about the situation in a pretentious manner.

"He was lucky. He got lost near Guanyin Rock and accidentally reaped a bounty. The ginseng picker said the Mountain Deity manifested, intending to hold a ritual tomorrow."

Song Zhongping replied truthfully.

"Hmm, before I left, my father entrusted me to convey that Manor Master Song should have the ginseng picker bring more people to cut some hundred-year-old Agarwood and Locust Trees before the heavy snow seals the mountains. The Daoist Official in Yihai County City plans to renovate temple buildings and needs them."

Song Qiying cleared his throat and delivered the instructions.

Fishery leans on Pai Bang, while Chai Market connects to the Government Office.

Each has its own backing and pathways, with tasks specific to each.

"Understood, Second Uncle. I'll post a reward soon, urging those woodcutters and medicine gatherers to speed up."

"Call us when the lamb is roasted."

Song Qiying waved his hand, and Manor Master Song Zhongping clasped his fists and retreated.

Such is the hierarchy within large family clans; it's not just because Song Qiying holds a higher seniority, but because Song Zhongping knows his place, as they belong to the main branch of the "Song" family, and other branches must obey.

"Second Young Master Song, your connections aren't bad either—requiring Chai Market to assist in the renovation of the Daoist Official's temple buildings."

Zhu Ling'Er teased with a grin.

She wasn't the daughter of Divine Hand Sect Leader Zhu Wan, but rather a relative from the wife's side of a distinguished family in Yihai County.

In terms of status, she was even more formidable than He Tai and Song Qiying.

This was why Zhu Ling'Er could amuse the two Young Masters from Fishery and Chai Market.

If it were another wealthy lady, she would be eager to please.

Having won a gamble, Song Qiying was feeling triumphant. Upon seeing He Tai return to the racetrack, he promptly shouted:

"What connections? Just a bit of incense money, not like the Young Master who is influential enough to secure a good position in the County City."

He Tai's face was gloomy, seething with anger, and he was about to leave in a huff.

Bai Qi, helpless, could only persuade him like coaxing a child:

"Young Master, I've never handled a longbow and large arrows before. I'm hoping you could teach me a few tricks. Otherwise, when we enter the mountains, failing to hit a single prey and returning empty-handed would be quite embarrassing."

He Tai's expression softened slightly. He turned around and said:

"Bai Qilang, you have a well-built physique, broad shoulders, and a pair of ape-like arms, which are perfect for drawing a bow and shooting arrows. You should learn quickly."

To become a Divine Archer requires two conditions: strong arms to draw a hard bow and sharp eyesight to hit targets with precision. Martial arts describe it as having "ape arms" and "eagle eyes."

"Young Master, your archery isn't perfect; how could you teach Brother Bai?"

Song Qiying was finally feeling proud and couldn't miss the chance to join in:

"While I may not have the skill to pierce a willow at a hundred steps, I can certainly achieve unfaltering continuous arrow shots within eighty."

For a martial artist starting in archery, the target should be set at sixty steps, with a rope laid horizontally—five out of ten arrows hitting it would be considered passable.

If it's for Dragon Court's elite Government Soldiers, the requirement is higher: shooting a three-hundred-pound bow at one hundred and twenty steps, hitting six or seven to qualify.

He Tai snorted:

"Petty success! If it weren't for relying on your Song family's unique 'Eagle Eyes,' I might not have lost to you."

Song Qiying didn't get angry at all. Instead, he accepted the longbow handed to him by his attendant, lightly plucking the bowstring, which emitted a crisp sound, as if showing off:

"Young Master, your words lack essence; throughout history, it's the victor who speaks of courage! No matter how dissatisfied the loser is, it's pointless!"

He Tai felt stifled and resentful, regretting ever competing in archery with Song Qiying, losing without gaining anything.

"Second Young Master Song, why don't you pick a good bow for me to practice with."

Bai Qi attempted to mediate; he was there to learn archery and see if he could enhance his skills.

"That's not difficult. The quality of a bow largely depends on its material. The simplest is a hunting bow, made by bending a single piece of wood or bamboo, tied with animal sinew or hemp strings, only capable of hitting wild chickens and rabbits.

If made with pine or elm for the bow body, sinew from deer or moose for the string, and arrows crafted from birch, it can be lethal to wolves and wild boars."

Song Qiying indeed had some skill, eloquently explaining the six materials of a bow—horn, sinew, glue, body, string, and lacquer—and their various qualities.

"When the bow is fully drawn, there should be a three-foot distance between the string and the arm, so the bow body doesn't deform or damage, preserving its longevity.

Also, the selection of 'horn' is crucial; skilled artisans are very meticulous. For making a cow horn bow, the horn is thickest in autumn; slaughtering cattle in spring makes the horn thin and unable to withstand force.

Young calves are wet and straight, while older ones are curved and dry; weaker cattle have dull horns..."

"These young masters, none of them are truly idle; they understand martial arts, archery, and horseback riding."

Bai Qi reflected, listening attentively to the key points, trying to gather them into personal insights.

"Brother Bai, this cow horn hard bow suits you well; its color is a top-grade blue and white."

Song Qiying spoke endlessly, quite enjoying the feeling of being a teacher.

"You get what you pay for."

Bai Qi took the cow horn hard bow handed to him, using the identification of six materials taught by Song Qiying, discerning its quality to some extent.

"The horn is from a water buffalo, the sinew is the spinal sinew of a cow, the glue is boiled from fish bladders, attached to bamboo, giving it more elasticity and flexibility... just the gluing and air-drying the bow body takes several months, and tuning the string takes a year and a half to complete. It won't be less than seventy or eighty taels."

Seeing Bai Qi so enamored with the cow horn hard bow made He Tai's eye twitch, afraid Song Qiying might steal him away:

"Bai Qilang, my family has a four-hundred-pound iron pear wood bow; I'll show it to you someday, and if you like it, I'll gift it to you without hesitation."

Bai Qi couldn't help but be stunned, surprised at how these wealthy men lavish gold coins, each more fiercely than the last.

Song Qiying, hearing this, immediately retorted without backing down:

"When it comes to good bows, my Song family ranks second in the Black River County; who dares to claim first?

My grandfather's Golden Python Bow can spew venom, touching it means death; it has slain great demons!

Though it might not be handed to you, a touch wouldn't hurt."

He Tai sneered:

"So stingy; if your Song family's Golden Python Bow ranks first, how about Wang Ding's Black Flood Dragon Bow that weighs eight hundred pounds? A thousand steps away, it kills like nothing! Is it inferior?!"

Song Qiying's eyes gleamed:

"Don't bring up the Black Flood Dragon Bow; that's the masterpiece of the Master of the Kiln, naturally unmatched by the Golden Python Bow. But that cold-shot master once learned archery from my father, and if we talk about relations, he's probably closer to Chai Market, not to mention your Fishery making a false front!"

Bai Qi watched these two rivals at a stalemate, speechless.

You two, don't just talk, show something!

He coughed twice, shifting the topic:

"Young Masters, please settle down. Let's continue the competition we agreed on during the day, shall we?

I cannot compare to Second Young Master Song in archery, so let's try just one shot, a hundred steps away, whoever hits the target wins."

Song Qiying, holding the Hundred Refinements Bow, chuckled:

"Haha, Brother Bai wants to give me five treasure fish, how could I refuse this goodwill."

Since childhood, he combined eighty-year ginseng with a secret recipe to brew a tonic applied to his eyes, nurturing the Song family's unique 'Eagle Vision.'

Even He Tai, who prided himself on his archery, was no match, constantly losing.

"And tonight, my Eagle Vision lets me see through night as daylight, giving me a huge advantage.

Let's do it this way, I won't bully Brother Bai, nor let Young Master lose without conviction, I'll deliberately use a soft bow."

Song Qiying, prevailing over He Tai, felt elated, utterly unconcerned with Bai Qi, suggesting a match of soft bow versus hard bow, to see who can hit the target from a hundred steps.

"Bai Qilang's ape arms competing against Second Young Master Song's Eagle Vision! This match is going to be thrilling!"

The observing Zhu Ling'Er cheered, her beautiful eyes sweeping over Bai Qi, holding the cow horn hard bow:

"I'll join in the fun, betting a personal accessory."

This lady from the Divine Hand Sect, smiling charmingly, removed the thumb ring from her left hand.

"I bet Bai Qilang will win!"