Twin Dimension Yin-Yang Mirror: Attaining immortality through the martial path
Chapter 115 - 112: Hear One and Understand Ten

Chapter 115: Chapter 112: Hear One and Understand Ten

"This bow is a twelve-stone bow, around seven hundred and twenty catties of draw weight. It’s just right for me and I can utilize all of its power, but I can’t engage in prolonged combat. If it’s Supplicant Zhou using it, this bow might be a bit too light. Just make do with it for a try,"

Wang Xingwu’s complexion changed slightly.

"Minister Wang can use the twelve-stone bow to shoot wind-chasing swift arrows in rapid succession, much like the great generals in the army, so there is no need to be unduly modest,"

Lin Huaiyu explained from the side.

"In the annual military examinations, during the bouts at the drill ground, anyone who aspires to compete for rankings uses a twelve-stone bow for foot archery and a six-stone bow for mounted archery, both considered among the best.

However, in the military graduate exams, there are specially made eighteen-stone bows. Just to draw one requires a strength of over a thousand catties. To use it freely and shoot arrows in succession, one would need a strength of two thousand catties to control it,"

"As for stronger bows and arrows, we can’t easily find them. I’ve heard that in the Left Military Guard General’s Residence, there is a Black Cloud Bow strung with Black Jiao tendons and forged with meteorite, capable of a draw weight of eighty-one stones.

If a fierce soldier of the army were to wield it, combined with the Blood Fiend Qi, its attacks would be extraordinary. Even those who have cultivated Martial Intent to the stage of complete mastery strength would have to go around it,"

Upon saying this, Lin Huaiyu sighed slightly as he glanced at Zhou Ping’an.

In his heart, however, he was contemplating.

After the opponent erupted with the "Purifying World Lotus Body," his strength surged ninefold. If he had a treasured bow in hand and mastered archery, he could become a devastating weapon on the battlefield with a shake of his body.

Regrettably, treasured bows are rare.

They are something one comes across by chance and cannot be sought after at will.

This twelve-stone bow, in his hands, is also barely better than nothing.

It’s just enough for coping with exams.

Against a true expert, it actually won’t make much difference.

Seeing the faint regret in Lin Huaiyu’s eyes, Zhou Ping’an shook his left hand but didn’t feel disappointed at all.

As for that eighty-one stone bow, it was certainly desirable.

But, this Heavenly Mechanism Crossbow seems to be equally impressive, doesn’t it?

It’s unclear what kind of animal’s tendons were used for the string, but the crossbow’s draw weight is not eighty-one stones; it still is around thirty or forty stones.

This attack power is almost comparable to that of the mighty eight-oxen crossbow.

Moreover, it’s convenient to carry along.

A single shot carries the force of three or four thousand catties, focused on the tip of the needle; what kind of armor could possibly withstand that?

After Wang Xingwu explained the key points and demonstrated several times, he allowed Zhou Ping’an to try shooting by himself, preparing to teach him.

At the beginning, Zhou Ping’an was naturally somewhat unaccustomed; he couldn’t even hit the target from fifty steps away.

But after three to five arrows, he began to shoot with some semblance of skill.

By the tenth arrow, he was hitting the bullseye with every shot.

Gradually finding his feel.

Zhou Ping’an reached for his quiver and found it empty.

No one was handing him arrows.

He was somewhat baffled, only to find that everyone, including Lin Huaiyu and Wang Xingwu, was looking at him with strange gazes.

Are you a beginner?

Stop tricking us.

That’s all; let’s disperse.

The spectacle is over.

Lin Huaiyu waved his hand, not wanting to watch Zhou Ping’an show off, or press any further.

She could almost foresee.

In a moment when he would move to a hundred steps, he will be hitting the target with every shot. Within half an hour, Wang Xingwu would have nothing left to teach, and the ancestral Wind Chasing Divine Archery will certainly be used even better by him than the archery master himself.

As expected, by lunchtime.

And when Lin Huaiyu saw Wang Xingwu again, there was the arrow minister, looking simple and honest, his face ashen, his head bowed to his chest, like an eggplant beaten by frost.

He hadn’t even touched his food, just excused himself to Lin Huaiyu, saying he would go to the foot of Black Mountain to stand guard.

He said he was afraid that some emergency would occur there, affecting the gathering of herbs.

"How did he do?"

Lin Huaiyu could no longer control her curiosity.

She asked a bit too eagerly.

Immediately, she regretted it.

"My family’s ancestral divine archery, which allows nine arrows in one breath, and helped earn merits on the battlefield, was once widely touted. The name of Wind Chasing Divine Archery is known both in the south and the north..."

Wang Xingwu was silent for a while before finally saying, "Supplicant Zhou practiced all morning, and can already shoot thirteen arrows in one breath."

"Are they accurate?"

"Beyond a hundred steps, he can shoot at leaves flying in the air."

Lin Huaiyu was left silent by these words.

In her heart, she thought: "Next time, I will never compare study speed with him again."

As for the fact that the other party was just beginning with the "Martial Scripture."

She didn’t even ask.

Someone who can compose such poetry, remembering everything at a glance might not be certain, but he definitely has a vast and strong memory. A book that even martial artists can recite by heart is nothing to worry about.

Thus, they just had to wait another three days for the Empress Dowager’s birthday grace examination. Once he obtained the title of Martial Scholar, he could be recommended for an official position.

During wartime, with bandit armies outside, according to the laws of Great Yu, they could enact special measures.

There was no need to undergo numerous tedious procedures.

After taking control of the City Guards, then mobilizing the able-bodied men within Qingyang Territory to search the mountains, it was likely not difficult to find the "Seven-leaf Tithonia."

Everything was developing in a good direction.

Lin Huaiyu breathed a long sigh of relief, feeling as if all the blockages had disappeared at once.

Immediately, she instructed the kitchen to prepare wine and dishes.

She set up a table in the backyard and invited Zhou Ping’an over.

A few of them shared a modest drink, considering it a pre-celebration.

...

The next day,

Zhou Ping’an used over thirty Mind Threads to flip through and memorize eight thousand words of the Martial Scripture.

With the remaining time, he continuously consumed the Sun Chasing Pill.

Under the tempering of the dry, hot energy, he further advanced his Blood Renewal progress to sixty-five percent. As his physique grew stronger, he roughly estimated his own strength—without considering explosive force, he had about 3,600 catties of power.

At this point, he could even toss around a thousand-catty cauldron for fun.

He heard that, for the Martial Scholar examination, merely lifting a thousand-catty iron ingot would earn full marks in the weightlifting segment.

His strength was more than a little overboard.

Just as Zhou Ping’an was studying day and night, preparing,

he was told by his servants that Zhang Yuanhao had come to visit.

Thinking that this person had become his fan,

he felt obligated to give some face.

So, he went out to meet him.

Zhang Yuanhao did not come empty-handed; the gifts he brought surpassed those of the last visit.

Aside from various silks and fabrics, just counting the gold and jade items, there were as many as ten, along with three thousand taels of patterned silver.

However, Zhang Yuanhao’s expression was less than cheerful.

"According to my father, the County Magistrate is fickle. Although he had previously agreed firmly, this morning for some unknown reason he changed his mind and dispatched a message by pigeon to Guangyun County requesting reinforcements."

"What do you mean?"

Zhou Ping’an had just picked up his teacup when he heard this news, and a trace of puzzlement flickered across his mind.

Requesting reinforcements now?

Does that also mean they have reported the death of Tian Shouyi and the current situation of Qingyang County having soldiers but no leader?

And could it be that they will ask Guangyun County to send a strong official to take over the military forces of Qingyang City?

The selecetion for Martial Scholars would be nothing but lip service then.

After all the effort from various families, the position of the County Magistrate is not promoted from within the county, leaving everyone empty-handed.

"It’s exactly as you’re thinking, Brother Zhou. This time, it’s my Zhang Family who has broken its promise. Allow us some time to think of a way to try and reverse this situation."

Zhang Yuanhao looked utterly displeased.

Feeling ashamed to face Zhou Ping’an, his eyes wandered restlessly.

"It’s nothing serious, if it succeeds that’s good, but it’s also fine if it doesn’t," Zhou Ping’an said with a smile. "Brother Yuan Hao, you need not blame yourself. With the friendship between you and me, the assistance you offered that day was nothing to fret over, and the promises can be set aside. Come now, let’s drink tea."

While he said that, Zhou Ping’an was filled with doubts.

A sudden turn of events usually has a cause.

A face flashed through his mind.

Not obtaining the position of County Magistrate would be a big problem.

If the incoming official is easy to talk to, then it might not be an issue.

But if a domineering leader arrives, or a young master from a noble family sent out to gain experience, the Lin Family would inevitably be thrust back into the eye of the storm.

Even worse, the Red Lotus Army is truly not to be underestimated.

As far as he knows, the Green Lady holds dozens of undercover agents in her hands, already lurking within Qingyang County Town.

If he can’t control the City Guards,

once trouble starts, the Red Lotus Bandits will definitely break through and enter the city, leading to the death of everyone within.

For in such a situation,

there’s simply no reason for the Red Lotus Army not to attack Qingyang City.

They will surely order the Green Lady to coordinate with the siege.

According to the Green Lady, the military operations this time would be led by one of the three Deputy Rudder Masters of Guangyun Subruder, Fierce Tiger Chang Yang, whose cultivation has reached the Completion Realm of the True Qi Grand Circulation. Under his command are also two Incense Masters who have reached the True Qi Realm.

The True Qi Realm of the Red Lotus Sect, unlike those from other minor schools or wandering martial artists, comes from a powerful inheritance.

Such as the Green Lady, the newly promoted Red Lotus Celestial Maiden, who practices the Butterfly Dance Step—a superior lightness skill, a true inheritance from the Hehuan Sect.

Her Thousand-Handed Guanyin Palm incorporates three superior fist and palm methods from the Jianghu and six intermediate martial arts techniques, making it extremely mysterious in use.

As a Deputy Rudder Master who controls a whole prefecture, relying on merit, one can exchange for many martial arts at the main rudder. Such a True Qi Realm has high value and is not easy to deal with.

"Could it be before the medicine is gathered and the pills are refined, I’ll be forced to run around, disrupting my plans?"

Zhou Ping’an found himself scratching his head in frustration.

After exchanging some unimportant pleasantries with Zhang Yuanhao,

they parted ways, and as night fell, Zhou Ping’an made his way to the Washing Flowers Pavilion.

"Miss Qing, have you heard who will be sent over by County Magistrate Li’s request for reinforcements from Guangyun County?"

The matter pertained to their plans,

and Zhou Ping’an did not beat around the bush, directly asking her.

In terms of street news, with the Lin Residence backing him, he was quite well-informed.

However, regarding the inside operations of the government, the Green Lady, due to her position in the Washing Flowers Pavilion, and having the Red Lotus agents at her disposal, was much more informed than him.

The reputation of the Red Lotus Sect as a rebellion specialist was not unfounded.

She was also well-informed about the situation in Guangyun County.

"It should be a member of the Cui Family."

Indeed, the Green Lady realized the implications at once, furrowing her brows tightly, clearly feeling it was a big hassle.

"Prefectural Governor Cui Guangling comes from a declined and incompetent family background. Nine years ago, he once served as the County Magistrate in Qingyang County and was on good terms with County Magistrate Li Yunxiu. Later, no one knows what opportunity he got, but he earned numerous military merits as if divinely assisted, and his official career flourished incredibly..."

"In just a few years, he climbed to the position of Prefectural Governor, and also brought fame to the Guangyun Cui Family, branching out and succeeding. His two worthless brothers also came into their own—one taking charge of finance and supplies, the other in command of the military forces..."