Uncle Li drew back the bowstring, and the arrow tip was precisely aimed at the bullseye.
In that instant, the whole world seemed to fall silent, and everyone held their breath, waiting for that moment to erupt.
With a “whoosh,” the bamboo arrow flew out of the bowstring like lightning, accompanied by a whistling sound, and hit the bullseye directly, making a dull yet exhilarating “thud.”
“Bravo!” The crowd couldn’t help but cheer in unison, their cheers echoing across the empty shooting range.
Uncle Li smiled slightly, his wrinkles revealing gentleness and encouragement, and said, “Now, it’s your turn to try.”
Liu Feng took a deep breath and was the first to step forward.
He picked up the hard bow, stood with his feet shoulder-width apart, gripped the bow handle firmly with both hands, and slowly drew back the bowstring.
His gaze was firm and focused, fixed on the bullseye in the distance, as if the whole world consisted only of him and that small target.
He took a deep breath, adjusted his breathing and state of mind, and then released his fingers.
The bamboo arrow flew out, drawing an arc in the air before finally hitting the edge of the target.
“Not bad, Xiao Feng, your strength and posture are quite good, but you still need to be more precise.”
Uncle Li stepped forward, carefully observed Liu Feng’s actions, and gave him a fair evaluation and suggestions.
His voice was gentle yet powerful, giving Liu Feng a great deal of encouragement.
Erhu and Liu San also tried in turn, but their arrows missed the bullseye.
However, Uncle Li did not blame them at all.
Instead, he patiently walked to their side, correcting their movements one by one and carefully adjusting their breathing rhythm, so that they could gradually understand the skills and essence of drawing a bow and shooting an arrow.
“Remember, archery is not just about strength; accuracy and patience are equally important.”
Uncle Li said earnestly, “Only by clearing your mind of all distractions and focusing all your attention on the bullseye can you shoot a perfect arrow.”
Liu Feng listened to Uncle Li’s words and seemed to be deep in thought.
He picked up the bow again, but this time he didn’t rush to shoot the arrow.
Instead, he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and adjusted his mind and body to their best state.
His breathing became steady and deep, and the whole world seemed to quiet down, leaving only him and the bow in his hand.
He slowly drew back the bowstring, the arrow tip steadily aimed at the bullseye, and then released his fingers.
The bamboo arrow, like a black lightning bolt, carrying his determination and belief, flew out and hit the bullseye with remarkable accuracy.
“Great!” Uncle Li and the others cheered again, this time with surprise and admiration in their voices.
A relieved smile appeared on Liu Feng’s face, but he quickly regained his focus.
He knew this was just a small beginning, and that he would need to put in much more effort and hard work to truly master the skills of archery.
After the archery training, everyone was so tired that they sat down on the ground, their clothes soaked with sweat.
The herbal tea had a light, refreshing fragrance.
After drinking a bowl, it instantly dispelled the body’s heat and fatigue, making the whole body feel comfortable.
After resting for a while, the father, Liu Qing, walked over from a distance.
When Uncle Li and Grandpa saw him return, they greeted everyone and went home.
Because next, it would be time for Liu Feng and his two companions to practice their spearmanship with Liu Qing.
This set of spearmanship was carefully improved by Liu Qing based on the Zhongping spearmanship that Liu Bai learned in the army.
It retained the power and practicality of traditional military spearmanship while cleverly incorporating the unique combat skills of Soul Masters, emphasizing a balance of strength and flexibility.
The open space in front of the ancestral hall had been rearranged, with some wooden stakes and straw targets placed on the ground to simulate a real battle scene.
Liu Qing stood in the center of the open space, holding a long spear in his hand.
It was made by his own hands; the spear shaft was long and straight, and the spearhead was extremely sharp, gleaming coldly in the sunlight.
“Today, let’s continue practicing our spearmanship.”
Liu Qing’s voice was deep and powerful, as if carrying an irresistible authority.
“Spear skills are not just about strength; technique and agility are equally important.”
“You all need to remember this: every move and every stance must be executed perfectly, without the slightest carelessness.”
Liu Feng, Erhu, and Liu San stood in front of Liu Qing, each holding a homemade wooden spear.
Their eyes were filled with awe and focus as they watched Liu Qing’s every demonstration intently, afraid of missing any detail.
Liu Qing began demonstrating the basic moves of spear fighting: thrust, parry, sweep, and chop.
The spear in his hand danced in the air like a nimble dragon, every movement full of power and beauty.
He thrust out his spear, the tip pointing precisely at the wooden stake in front of him, unleashing tremendous power in an instant.
Then he quickly retracted, and then deftly picked up the grass target on the ground, his movements fluid and graceful.
Then, it swept across the wooden stake beside it, the spear whistling through the air.
Finally, he slashed hard at the straw target in mid-air, instantly splitting it in two.
“These are the basic techniques of spearmanship.
You all must remember the key points of each movement.”
Liu Qing said, “The thrust must be accurate, like a cheetah pouncing on its prey, striking the vital point directly; the lift must be light, like a spring breeze brushing against a willow, agile and natural; the sweep must be steady, like Mount Tai pressing down, unshakable; the chop must be fierce, like a thunderbolt, unstoppable.” This story is hosted at g.com.
Liu Feng, Erhu, and Liu San stepped forward one by one, attempting to imitate Liu Qing’s movements.
Although the wooden spear in Liu Feng’s hand was not as agile and sharp as a long spear, he was fully focused and tried his best to make every movement precise.
He thrust out his spear, the tip pointing directly at the wooden stake, then quickly withdrew it.
Next, he picked up the grass target on the ground, swept it towards the wooden stake beside him, and finally chopped at the grass target in the air.
“Good, Xiao Feng, your movements are very standard.”
Seeing Liu Feng’s performance, Liu Qing smiled with satisfaction.
“But you still need to be faster.
In actual combat, speed is life.
Even a moment’s hesitation can put you in a desperate situation.”
Liu Feng nodded, keeping Liu Qing’s words firmly in mind.
He tried again, and this time, his movements were faster.
Although he was still a bit rusty, his progress was obvious.
Erhu and Liu San also tried in turn.
Although their movements were not as skilled as Liu Feng’s, they were making continuous progress under Liu Qing’s patient guidance.
Liu Qing corrected their mistakes one by one, helping them gradually grasp the essence of spearmanship.
“Remember, spearmanship requires not only strength, but also skill and agility.”
Liu Qing reiterated, “Only by perfectly combining strength and skill can one gain the upper hand in actual combat and defeat the opponent.”
After the spearmanship training was completed, Liu Qing decided to conduct a live combat exercise.
“Today, let’s have a sparring exercise.”
Liu Qing stood in the center of the training ground, the long spear in his hand exuding a sharp aura.
“The three of you will fight me one by one, and I will point out your weaknesses during the battle.”
“Remember this: in real combat, every detail can determine victory or defeat, and any oversight can cost you dearly.”
Liu Feng, Erhu, and Liu San stood in front of Liu Qing, gripping their wooden spears tightly, their faces showing a mixture of tension and excitement.
“Xiao Feng, you go first.”
Liu Qing said, his tone carrying an undeniable seriousness.
Liu Feng took a deep breath, walked steadily forward, and stood in the center of the training ground.
He took a deep breath, adjusted his breathing and mindset, and then assumed the starting stance for spearmanship.
[end of the chapter]