Chapter 40

A light laugh came from behind.

Liang Xiao turned to glance at Huan Yuan on the hall, put down the bamboo bow, walked back to the hall, sat in front of Huan Yuan, and rolled his eyes.

"Are you troubled?" Huan Yuan's single eye glanced at Liang Xiao, with a sympathetic smile, and a glint of something indescribable.

"No, I just think human hearts are treacherous." Liang Xiao sighed. "Master, I feel that Huainan is a trap, and we shouldn't go."

"Why?" Huan Yuan's single eye flashed.

"In terms of strength, today's Huainan is not as powerful as the Wu Kingdom of old. In terms of the situation, Chang'an is becoming increasingly advantageous. In terms of leadership, although King Liu Bi of Wu was mediocre, he was still a fierce and decisive man. King Liu An of Huainan, however, is a scholar. If he were content to write books, he might have a good end, but he has rebellious thoughts. I fear..."

Huan Yuan chuckled lightly, as if it was all within his expectations.

"Master, do you think the same?"

Huan Yuan nodded. "A Xiao, do you know why I told you not to close one eye when you draw the bow?"

Liang Xiao was taken aback. We were talking about you misleading me, why did you suddenly jump to archery? From the beginning of practicing the bow-drawing movements, Huan Yuan emphasized one point: you must not close your eyes; both eyes must be open. This was different from ordinary archery, and it took Liang Xiao a long time to adapt.

"Keeping both eyes open is to prevent you from missing the surroundings while aiming, so that you are not caught off guard. On the battlefield, you face very complex situations, and any slight negligence can lead to death. At such times, you should open your eyes wide, not close them."

Liang Xiao nodded. He had heard similar theories.

Huan Yuan said slowly, "However, among so many possible targets, you can only choose a few, and you must not be distracted by other targets, losing your composure. Once you waver, you will be at a loss. Therefore, your eyes must be wide open, but your heart must be firm."

Huan Yuan pointed to his chest. "Only when your mind and body are in harmony can you hit the target. Archery requires your full commitment. Only by focusing all your efforts and maintaining a steadfast heart can you succeed. If you are indecisive and always looking for shortcuts, you will never achieve true archery skills."

Liang Xiao felt a chill run down his spine. If he didn't know the outcome of King Liu An of Huainan, and if Huan Yuan didn't have a history of testing him, he would have wavered and failed Huan Yuan's test.

"Then... I..."

"You wavered, but you were not misled by the immediate goal, which is commendable. However, to master advanced archery, you need to constantly hone yourself and never relax, in order to achieve great success."

"Thank you, Master, for your guidance." Liang Xiao breathed a sigh of relief and bowed.

"Go." Huan Yuan waved his hand, closed his eyes, and his expression showed a sense of relief.

...

With his doubts resolved, Liang Xiao resumed his archery practice with a single-minded focus, drawing the bow a thousand times each morning and evening, meticulously and seriously contemplating each time.

Only by giving it your all can you enter the hall of archery and become a top archer, one in a million.

Liang Xiao's life became simpler. He almost never left his house, practicing archery every day, even eating and sleeping while constantly refining his will, getting closer to the requirement of "never leaving the bow, whether walking, sitting, or lying down."

Only at night, just before bed, would he occasionally sit on the swing, letting his mind wander as the swing moved. At such times, he would inadvertently think of the flash of white in the hem of the clothes and the question about the swing.

That question... isn't it that hard?

...

"A Xiao, today we won't practice archery. I'll take you to see the military drill."

"Military drill? Great." Liang Xiao's eyes lit up. He had often read about the military drill system in historical records, which was one of the reasons for the Western Han's strength. He had never seen it in this era, and he was eager to have the opportunity.

Liang Xiao brought some dry rations and accompanied Huan Yuan out. When they passed the village shrine, Huan Yuan sat down and told Liang Xiao to call Tuniu. Tuniu, like him, was going to watch the military drill with Zhongli Qi.

Liang Xiao knocked on the door of the Tu family and called out loudly, "Niu'er, Niu'er, are you ready?"

A fierce footsteps sounded from inside, and the door of the Tu family slammed open, revealing Tuhua with a clenched jaw, her eyebrows, which were dotted like beans, one high and one low. "Oh, isn't this the little scholar from Qingyun Lane? Why are you at the door of this fierce woman? Aren't you afraid of ruining your reputation?"

Liang Xiao was startled and quickly put on a smile. "Oh, Sister Hua, you look so beautiful, where are you going? Is a matchmaker here?"

"Who would dare to marry me after a scholar called me a fierce woman?" Tuhua's eyebrows twitched like drumbeats, her teeth grinding like a sword about to be drawn. "Liang Xiao, you insolent little rascal, for ruining my reputation, I'll show you what I'm made of today."

Seeing the situation was dire, Liang Xiao turned and ran. Tuhua, wielding a broom, chased after him like a general pursuing a fleeing enemy, swift as the wind. Tuniu, hearing the commotion, rushed out but couldn't catch up with Tuhua.

Liang Xiao ran past a stunned Huan Yuan, shouting, "Master, I'll wait for you outside." Without waiting for Huan Yuan's response, he dashed toward the village gate. The village head, Wang Fengshi, was standing at the gate, bowing to someone. Liang Xiao, without stopping to greet him, ran past Wang Fengshi and out the gate.

A young man in brocade stood outside the gate. Seeing Liang Xiao run out, he was startled and instinctively reached for his sword. Liang Xiao, seeing the danger, quickly turned to avoid him, but a magnificent carriage blocked his path. Unable to slow down, he leaped into the carriage through the window.

"Ah!" A soft body was pressed under Liang Xiao, rolling together.

"Bold!"

"Who are you, you ruffian!"

Angry shouts rose one after another, and the carriage was instantly surrounded, swords drawn, as if facing a great enemy.

Liang Xiao's hearing had greatly improved from his recent archery practice. Hearing the fierce shouts and the sound of swords being drawn, he broke out in a cold sweat and scrambled to his feet. "Sorry, sorry..."

"What?" The person under Liang Xiao screeched. "Ruffian, take your dirty hands off me!"

Liang Xiao realized his hands were touching something soft and elastic, not a part of the carriage's interior. He quickly sat up, withdrew his hands, and tucked them by his sides. Looking closely, he was both surprised and delighted, and blurted out without thinking.

"Liu Ling, why did you come so late?"

_

Monday, please recommend and collect!

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