Chapter 9: Another Treasure Chest

At night, by the forest near the lower reaches of the Rear River, a bonfire was lit.

“Jiang the Butcher said, Chu, you want to learn archery?” Wu Lao Liu, a simple man wearing a rough leather armor and carrying a knife at his waist, sat beside Chu Danqing and asked.

“I’ve been thinking about it,” Chu Danqing replied.

“Given your situation, even if you master it, it’ll take three to five years,” Wu Lao Liu said, then untied a leather pouch from his waist. “Why not try this sling instead?”

“Good for practice, and enough for self-defense,” Chu Danqing said.

He took the pouch and opened it. Inside were numerous smooth, rounded stones and a wooden stick attached to a leather pouch with ropes.

At first, Chu Danqing didn’t quite grasp what a sling was, but once he realized it was essentially a stone-thrower, he understood.

“If you hit someone in the head, it’s no problem to cause a bloody wound.”

“When skilled, aiming at the eyes or nose is even more devastating.”

“I use it myself,” Wu Lao Liu said, offering Chu Danqing a substitute for the bow and arrow and taking it from his hand to demonstrate and explain.

Compared to a bow, the sling was clearly inferior in precision, range, and lethality.

But Wu Lao Liu claimed he had become quite proficient after only about eight or nine days of practice.

The potential was visible, and the limitations clear.

It was perfect for Chu Danqing, who wanted rapid progress.

You can’t have both power and ease of mastery; such good fortune rarely exists.

“Well? Chu, want to use this sling?” Wu Lao Liu asked, handing the pouch over.

“Yes!” Chu Danqing accepted it without hesitation. “I’m not one to set my sights too high.”

He tied the pouch to his waist, took out the sling, and started searching for suitable stones on the ground to practice with.

Under Wu Lao Liu’s guidance, Chu Danqing gradually moved from blindly swinging the sling to gaining some skill.

Suddenly, Wu Lao Liu drew his long knife from his waist, his expression grave as he stared toward the Rear River.

Without them noticing, a massive black shadow silently emerged from the water and landed ashore.

Chu Danqing was absorbed in his practice and failed to notice, but Wu Lao Liu had not forgotten their true purpose for the night.

While teaching Chu Danqing, he kept a watchful eye on their surroundings.

“Wah~”

A cry, like that of a newborn, shattered the night. Chu Danqing selected a fitting stone, placed it into the leather pouch, and secured it firmly.

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Following Wu Lao Liu’s instructions, Chu Danqing gripped the stick, adjusted his throwing posture, and used his waist and arm strength to spin and whip the sling around.

He estimated the timing and range in his mind.

When the White Dragon Fish offspring entered the sling’s range, Chu Danqing hurled the stone with force, hitting it squarely on the head.

The White Dragon Fish offspring winced in pain and instantly accelerated.

Seizing the moment, Chu Danqing prepared to strike again but missed due to inexperience.

Moving targets are never easy to hit.

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