Chapter 4: Zhou Tong's Shock

“Master, you tapped my forehead three times and promised to teach me archery, boxing, and three types of weapon skills. You can’t go back on your word.” Ren Yuan said as he devoured his meal, addressing Zhou Tong.

Zhou Tong paused mid-motion, thinking, Am I really implying that? I don’t even realize it myself.

Well, whatever, teach him. After all, this skin monkey definitely won’t master archery. As for weapons, those aren’t for ordinary folk; I imagine he’ll soon realize the difficulty and give up.

But what Zhou Tong didn’t expect was that in the following moments, it was he who would be stunned!

“Draw the bow like a full moon, power rising from the legs, keep your eye and arrow aligned, breathe steadily, release!”

At the Zhou family training ground, Zhou Tong demonstrated archery to Ren Yuan.

A three-stone iron bow, a target fifty steps away. At Zhou Tong’s command, the arrow flew true, piercing the bullseye deeply—its tip embedded three inches into the wood!

“Did you see that clearly?”

Though it was a demonstration, Zhou Tong’s movements flowed seamlessly, like clouds drifting with the wind.

“I saw it clearly.”

Ren Yuan’s sharp mind replayed Zhou Tong’s every move in slow motion, capturing every detail without missing a beat.

“Now you try.”

Zhou Tong handed Ren Yuan the bow, thinking the boy was just putting on a show. The bow was one of the most difficult weapons to master; there’s no bluffing here.

Ren Yuan took the bow, his wrist sinking under the weight—this bow was no light piece! An iron-frame bow, king among bows, and judging by Zhou Tong’s technique earlier, it was not for the faint of heart to pull.

“Hah!”

But Ren Yuan’s physical strength was formidable. Though he had never pulled a bow before, imitating the movements was no problem at all.

Nocking an arrow, he drew with all his might. The iron-frame bow, weighing at least three stones, curved fully like a crescent moon in his grasp!

“Impressive strength!”

Zhou Tong watched in amazement. This skin monkey was something else!

Pulling a bow requires skill; brute force alone won’t do. Ren Yuan’s display shook Zhou Tong’s earlier conviction that archery was beyond him.

“Let’s see the accuracy. If it’s good, maybe this skin monkey can become a dominant marksman!”

Ren Yuan, focused intently on the wolf-tooth arrow and distant target, didn’t notice the subtle change in his master’s expression.

An iron-frame bow, wolf-tooth arrows—such equipment was the standard for top archers even among the famed mounted archers of the Liao and Jin kingdoms.

Taking a deep breath, recalling Zhou Tong’s movements, Ren Yuan adjusted his breathing, seeking balance.

“Release!”

At the right moment, he let go. The arrow flew like a falling star, striking the target with force and piercing clean through! The shaft vibrated continuously.

But the problem was... it missed the bullseye, landing on the outer ring of the red center.

Enough power, but the accuracy was somewhat lacking.

“What a pity.”

Ren Yuan couldn’t help but shake his head with regret.

Archery is a skill honed by constant practice. Even though he had memorized his master’s form, perfect imitation was no easy feat.

Moreover, it was his first time ever handling bow and arrow in this lifetime—already a good showing.

“Master, I was wrong. Archery isn’t so simple. I overestimated myself. Maybe I’m not cut out to learn archery.”

He obediently returned the bow, bracing for reproach.

Zhou Tong was speechless. Who are you kidding? For a first try to pull such a heavy iron bow and pierce the target, even if not dead center, it’s extraordinarily rare.

If you’re not suited for archery, then who is?

Even Zhou Tong himself, when first pulling the iron bow with wolf-tooth arrows, barely hit the target, never touching the bullseye.

This kid must be messing with me.

“My mistake. I take back what I said. You could become a very fine dominant marksman.”

Zhou Tong was a man who admitted fault and didn’t cling to pride.

“Master, what is a dominant marksman?”

Ren Yuan asked curiously.

“Some archers shoot rapidly, firing two or three arrows in the time most shoot one—those are rapid shooters. Others have perfect accuracy, hitting the mark steadily no matter what—those are sharpshooters. Then there are archers whose accuracy may be lacking, but who can draw powerful bows and crossbows, firing arrows with overwhelming force—those are dominant marksmen. You belong to that last category.”

After the explanation, Ren Yuan understood: simply put, if your aim isn’t perfect, compensation comes through power.

If your arrows pack tremendous force, piercing with greater strength than others, then a slight lack of precision is acceptable.

For example, Hua Rong was the top sharpshooter in the Water Margin tales, able to kill with an arrow to the heart instantly. Ren Yuan, on the other hand, could perhaps sever an opponent’s arm or leg with a single shot, relying on raw power.

“Sounds good! Master, being a dominant marksman suits me. Teach me!”

Ren Yuan readily embraced this new classification, thinking it quite fitting. His aim wasn’t terrible, just not perfect.

“Now watch my boxing technique.”

Zhou Tong was confident in Ren Yuan’s potential for boxing. Whether it was the Fanzi Fist or the Guan Zhong Red Fist, Zhou Tong believed these styles matched Ren Yuan’s robust build perfectly.

Sure enough, after watching once, Ren Yuan was able to imitate the forms convincingly. Zhou Tong nearly couldn’t believe his eyes.

Had he not been certain that his boxing methods were never taught elsewhere, and that Ren Yuan had never practiced any boxing before, he might suspect the boy had trained secretly beforehand.

Ren Yuan’s formidable comprehension was like a cheat code, allowing him to remember martial techniques almost instantly and even deduce variations on his own.

With further practice and real combat experience, Zhou Tong was confident Ren Yuan could become a top-tier instructor in the Imperial Guard’s Boxing Hall.

“The last thing is weapons.”

After demonstrating two boxing styles, Zhou Tong’s expression remained unchanged, betraying no sign of his nearly seventy years.

“Master, you haven’t told me which weapon suits me.”

Ren Yuan rubbed his hands eagerly, filled with anticipation.

“To combine the traits of swords, spears, staffs, and clubs into a weapon that looks impressive is no ordinary feat. Common weapons won’t do. But there are several unusual weapons that suit you well.”

“What weapons?”

Ren Yuan asked with interest.

“First, the Fangtian Huaji—Square Sky Painting Halberd. Second, the Phoenix Wing Gilded Saber. Third, the Golden-Studded Zaoyang Spear. Fourth, the One-Legged Bronze Man. Which would you like to learn?”

Good gracious, Zhou Tong truly was a master swordsman, naming four legendary weapons offhand.

“Master, I want to learn the Fangtian Huaji.”

Ren Yuan’s first choice was the Fangtian Huaji—after all, in his previous life, he admired Lü Bu’s halberd immensely.

“Oh, I don’t know that one.”

Zhou Tong shrugged, admitting his ignorance.

“Huh?”

Ren Yuan was dumbfounded. Master, if you don’t know it, why mention it?

“What about the One-Legged Bronze Man?”

“That one, I don’t know either.”

“The Phoenix Wing Gilded Saber?”

“That’s for storytellers to know.”

So... Master, after all that, only the Golden-Studded Zaoyang Spear is left for me to choose, right?

“Wow, so it’s the Golden-Studded Zaoyang Spear?”

“No, I don’t know that one either.”

Huh?

Ren Yuan looked utterly bewildered, suddenly feeling he’d found a fake master.

Come on, you’re almost seventy; can you be a little more mature?

“Master, can we talk seriously?”

Ren Yuan, resigned, surrendered.

Zhou Tong watched Ren Yuan’s helpless expression and couldn’t help but smile at the corner of his eyes.

Heh heh, kid, after shocking your master for so long, it’s time you suffered a little setback.

“Don’t worry. Although I don’t know those weapons, I can still teach you.”

Zhou Tong said as he entered the house, returning moments later with a weapon. He planted it firmly in the ground before Ren Yuan.

“The weapon I intend to pass on to you is the Sanjian Erren Dao—the Three-Pointed Double-Edged Saber. Are you willing to learn?”

Skin monkey, I tapped your forehead three times, but it wasn’t just to teach you three skills.

I’m also telling you—the weapon you must learn is this Three-Pointed Double-Edged Saber!

A dazzling gleam shone from the blade’s surface, cold light reflecting off Ren Yuan’s face, dazzling and soul-stirring.

This weapon was incredibly magnificent!

With a loud thud, Ren Yuan knelt once more and bowed deeply.

“Disciple is willing! I beg Master to teach me!”