Diligence System: From Servant to Martial King-Chapter 401 - 288: Unusual Signs, New Miracles, Candle Sect’s Clear Autumn, Day of the Wager (Part 2)
Nangong Liuli cast a sidelong glance and thought, "This brat... he doesn’t want to lose to me, so he either sets the target too far or too close, thus always ending in a draw. Humph... even though the distance is great, it doesn’t mean I can’t hit it. Lately, I’ve been letting you show off above me; if I don’t display my skills, wouldn’t it bring disgrace to the family name?"
Finding this amusing, she pretended to agree reluctantly. Just waiting for tomorrow to amaze Li Xian, but thinking if the two cooperate too well, it might diminish his morale too much, which wouldn’t be good. Reassuring words are needed. After defeating Li Xian, she also needs to appear defeated, to soothe his emotions.
The next day.
Li Xian practiced the "Broken Demon Spear" in the morning, working out his muscles and accumulating skill level. As he gained [36] skill level, the sun shone brighter, with the perfect weather.
Li Xian hurried to a distant mountaintop. Along the mountainside, he set up three targets, then placed two more targets every section as he ascended. A total of twenty targets were set up.
Returning to the Cyan Ox Residence.
Nangong Liuli, holding the Peach Blossom Bow, was full of vigor, gazing at the mountain targets, organized from near to far with meticulous arrangement. She estimated the farthest target to be a few miles away, while the nearest was two miles.
Many targets were hidden among the grass and treetops, hard to detect without sharp eyes. Li Xian asked, "Does the Nangong Family hold a winter hunt?"
Nangong Liuli nodded, saying, "Of course. The family’s scrutiny of the younger generation is comprehensive. The martial arts stage can reveal martial strength, but that’s the simplest test, showing little. The winter hunt is a pivotal event in our family feast, truly testing the family’s younger generation’s martial arts, adaptability, strategizing... and more."
"Each family has their hunting grounds, teeming with beasts, and every year new beasts are purchased to replenish the hunting grounds. Specialized clansmen are also assigned to survey beast distributions and the environment of the hunting mountains."
Li Xian was quite curious. The grandeur of noble families truly was extraordinary. The younger generation galloping across the beasts’ arena, showcasing what they learned, what a youthful elegance. As for him, a son of a poor family, it’s hard to witness such grand events.
Li Xian asked, "It must be very lively."
Nangong Liuli reminisced, "It’s more than that. Every few years, families with a few different surnames join forces to arrive at the [Xiongweng Mountains] for hunting. By then... Nangong, Bian Family, Fan Family, Zhao Family from Daoxuan Mountain, Baihe Academy... many young talents will participate in the hunt. That truly is... a grand event."
"Marriages between families also facilitate contact among the younger generation. More talents seize the opportunity to make their mark. Such a spectacular scene is truly rare!"
Li Xian, upon hearing the details of the noble family’s younger generation, felt the disparity but by no means inferior, only more motivated. After chatting a bit, the archery contest began.
Nangong Liuli was the first to raise her bow and aim. Her archery stance was remarkably standard. Her breathing rhythm fully demonstrated her exceptional archery. Arrows were indeed ferocious, the trajectory perfect, directly hitting the target on the mountain.
Nangong Liuli glanced provocatively. Li Xian smiled, nocked an arrow, and his archery was also extraordinary, accurately hitting the target. Nangong Liuli said, "Good boy, you’re pretty good, I won’t give way to you."
Then she nocked another arrow, continuously shooting at even farther targets. Each arrow was with impeccable precision, showcasing her gallant demeanor. Every time she shot an arrow, Li Xian followed with an arrow, only a breath apart.
Nangong Liuli’s eyebrows gradually furrowed as she sensed Li Xian’s unexpected archery skills. Though these are "dead targets", hitting them at such distances was anything but ordinary.
Nangong Liuli, unwilling to admit defeat, her arrow momentum grew even fiercer, displaying savage accuracy. Out of twenty targets, each shot ten. By now they were at the seventh target.
The distance suddenly increased. Hidden by scattered stones, hitting the targets became exceedingly difficult. Nangong Liuli shot towards the eighth target with a concentrated brow, suddenly saying, "Uh oh." The arrow suddenly veered, slightly off by half an inch, hitting the target but missing the bullseye.
Li Xian laughed, "Sister Liuli, you’re about to lose." He nocked the arrow and shot, unfalteringly hitting the bullseye. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦
Turns out...
Nangong Liuli was adept in archery, hitting targets at this distance shouldn’t have been difficult. However, the targets were set too high, affecting wind speed up high. Nangong Liuli overlooked this factor, causing the arrow to be slightly blown off course.
This tiny discrepancy was precisely the key to victory. At the next two targets, she was cautious and hit them without fail. But Li Xian’s unexpected archery skills allowed him to hit them just as easily.
Thus... Nangong Liuli’s minute deviation naturally became the reason for her defeat. In this archery contest, Li Xian emerged victorious.
Nangong Liuli felt slight discontent, suspecting that Li Xian, in setting the targets, must have anticipated this and intentionally didn’t remind her, scheming to win. Knowing Li Xian’s cunning and myriad tricks, this was hardly surprising.
Yet having lost, any further words were mere excuses. Nangong Liuli sighed, "I lost."
Li Xian noticed Nangong Liuli’s reluctance but cared little for the contest itself. He laughed, "Since you lost, Sister Liuli, what shall you do?"
Nangong Liuli replied, "You rascal, our archery contest was for cultivating character; I never bet with you."
Li Xian laughed, "I don’t care." Remaining unreasonable. Nangong Liuli frowned, "You, scoundrel, how can you be so unreasonable?"
Li Xian went on, "You’re my beloved, why do I need to reason with you?"
Nangong Liuli stomped her foot, "You... you’re driving me mad." Her voice was clear, yet without a tinge of anger.
Feeling both helpless and delighted, she gazed at his visage, long since unable to resist. Thinking of the daily joy they shared, even if trapped in a flower cage, she felt no sorrow.
Yet on the surface, she maintained her reserve, requiring Li Xian’s firm demeanor, persuading her three times. After three times, she relented half-heartedly, following his lead in everything.
