章節 34: I am Two Bowls
The one-eyed black-robed instructor walked slowly, extracting two small black fabric bags from his sleeve, which he handed to Lin Xi and Bian Linghan.
As Lin Xi and Bian Linghan opened the bags, they discovered two leather finger caps within, glimmering with a faint golden hue, thick yet supple.
"The three-finger feather grip technique involves securing the arrow's tail feathers with the thumb, middle finger, and index finger, while solely using the ring and little fingers to draw the bowstring," the one-eyed instructor stated, providing no opportunity for questions as he strolled leisurely through the picturesque rainbow terraced fields, continuing, "This three-finger grip maximizes stability during the arrow's release. Moreover, a skilled archer, using three fingers alongside the arrow tip, becomes an extraordinary aiming device. Generally, archers practicing this grip achieve unparalleled precision among all archers. However, this grip necessitates the use of the remaining two fingers to draw the string, thus to minimize potential injury to them, you must utilize these finger caps until you attain a mastery level of a national champion."
Lin Xi donned the two golden finger caps on his right hand's ring and little fingers. The caps felt light and soft, yet they seemed to possess an invisible force that gently conformed to his fingers.
The one-eyed instructor slightly turned to Lin Xi and remarked, "These are crafted from the inner two layers of skin from a lightning python, and they are not commonly found within the academy, so refrain from displaying them publicly."
Lin Xi nodded, envisioning the posture of holding the bow with his left hand while controlling the string with his right, yet he furrowed his brow. "Teacher, this posture feels quite awkward for holding the arrow and drawing the bow."
"The most comfortable method is the four-finger grip, but with the tail feathers pinched between the fingers drawing the string, it cannot eliminate the vibrations affecting the arrow's rear during release as effectively as the three-finger grip can. Thus, it is primarily suited for speed," the one-eyed instructor replied, an unmistakable pride lacing his tone. "The arrows of the Windwalker are never meant for mere beasts; they are intended for formidable foes. Therefore, what you must achieve is to transform this awkwardness into fluidity, so that drawing the bow and shooting becomes as natural as walking in the wind."
"Understood." With the fate of Bian Linghan's future at stake, Lin Xi ceased to debate further, nodding quietly among the vibrant terraced fields.
The expressions of Lin Xi and Bian Linghan satisfied the one-eyed instructor, prompting him to soften his voice slightly. "In the coming days, I will teach you the skills and techniques of archery, but remember this: the most crucial attributes for an archer are composure and patience. Even the slightest psychological fluctuation can lead to minute inaccuracies, and a hint of impatience will adversely affect your string control and feather grip."
Lin Xi and Bian Linghan nodded earnestly once more.
"You may not realize, but my persistence in you is not solely due to your being chosen; it is also because of your innate tranquility and composure."
As the one-eyed instructor withdrew his gaze from Lin Xi, he fell silent, yet his thoughts lingered.
Unbeknownst to Lin Xi, his unique experiences had endowed his character with a value that intrigued the one-eyed black-robed instructor.
He followed the instructor past the bamboo pavilion.
In a clearing behind the pavilion, a rack displayed three identical black longbows, crafted from hardwood, their strings made from the sinews of some beast, devoid of any runes. Beside the bows lay at least twenty quivers, brimming with arrows, resembling neatly harvested bundles of rice.
"Watch how I do it."
Without uttering a word, the one-eyed instructor demonstrated bowholding, string drawing, and arrow releasing before Lin Xi and Bian Linghan. The once awkward posture Lin Xi had imagined transformed into a fluid dance, each movement exuding an indescribable rhythm and grace.
"Whoosh!" The black arrow shot forth like a meteor, striking the bullseye a hundred paces away with unwavering precision.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"...
The one-eyed instructor continued unabated, emanating a fierce aura that harmonized with his elegant form. Lin Xi and Bian Linghan watched in awe as each arrow found its mark, all the targets scattered throughout the woods pierced by a single black arrow in the blink of an eye.
"Take up the bow and observe my stance."
The one-eyed instructor paused, instructing Lin Xi and Bian Linghan to each grasp a bow and arrow. He then slowly demonstrated the arrow holding and string drawing motions before them, akin to a slow-motion replay, though the arrow remained unloosed.
He spoke no further, repeating the motions with deliberate slowness.
Lin Xi and Bian Linghan watched in solemn respect, as a serene and harmonious scene unfolded in the forest clearing: the one-eyed instructor at the center, with Lin Xi and Bian Linghan flanking him, all three engaging in the slow, deliberate motions of bowholding, nocking, and string control.
The one-eyed instructor occasionally paused to correct their postures.
...
With the correct stance, the bow was drawn, and the arrows aligned.
The three-finger feather grip technique had no shortcuts; it was purely a matter of repeatedly practicing the bowholding and drawing to forge the most accurate posture.
Yet the bows were real, and the arrows were real. Despite being the most ordinary black lacquered hardwood bows, Lin Xi had already felt a surge of strength since entering the ranks of practitioners due to the bright truth elixir. However, drawing the bowstring with only the ring and little fingers still proved to be quite taxing.
What intrigued and entertained Lin Xi was that after drawing the bow over twenty times, just as his fingers and arms began to ache, a gentle warmth from the thin stream of energy in his dantian alleviated some of the discomfort. Yet, with each relief, it seemed that the energy stream slightly diminished.
After drawing the bow several hundred times, that slender stream of energy within him finally ran dry, leaving his arms, particularly the right arm controlling the string, feeling exceedingly sore.
"Alright, we shall conclude for today."
Just as he felt he could persist a while longer, the one-eyed instructor halted both him and Bian Linghan, producing two bottles of medicinal oil and handing them to them. "Upon returning, apply a layer to the sore areas and gently massage for a short while."
"Instructor Mu Qing has placed identical bows and arrows in your respective rooms. If you find some recovery upon returning, feel free to practice on your own. If you have any thoughts or questions regarding today's training, you may ask me now." After passing the two bottles of presumably extraordinary medicinal oil to Lin Xi and Bian Linghan, the one-eyed instructor instructed them to set down their bows and arrows, leading them back the way they came, continuing his slow, measured pace while speaking.
Lin Xi, taken aback, exclaimed, "Teacher, didn't you say we're not allowed to enter others' rooms within the academy?"
"Refrain from asking such foolish questions in the future." The one-eyed instructor felt an urge to strike Lin Xi, glaring at the increasingly endearing yet infuriating young man as he spoke sternly, "Instructor Mu Qing represents the academy... Remember, within the academy, rooms hold no privacy!"
"Very well." Lin Xi rolled his eyes in resignation, then grew serious as he addressed the one-eyed instructor. "Does each shot consume some of the soul power?"
The one-eyed instructor nodded. "Soul power can alleviate some of the body's fatigue. You are now considered a practitioner, so even if you're not shooting arrows, any vigorous activity will naturally deplete your soul power over time."
"If the soul power isn't completely exhausted, can the body endure indefinitely and continue shooting arrows?" Lin Xi struggled to remove the two finger caps he wore, massaging his aching fingers as he inquired.
"That is certainly not the case." The one-eyed instructor responded, looking at Lin Xi. "Soul power can only alleviate some physical fatigue, not entirely eliminate it. To illustrate simply, on the battlefield, even if you still have a significant amount of soul power remaining, should an arrow pierce your chest, you would naturally be unable to continue fighting. However, for us practitioners, the more we hone our skills and elevate our cultivation, the stronger our bodies become. For instance, with bows of this caliber, I might only feel fatigued after shooting a thousand arrows, while you may not even withstand a hundred arrows in a real combat scenario."
The one-eyed instructor's explanation was clear and easy for Lin Xi to grasp. Sensing the fatigue in his arms, Lin Xi pondered, "Instructor Tong, I'm accustomed to holding the bow with my left hand and controlling the string with my right. I feel that my right hand exerts significantly more effort. Right now, I feel my right hand is giving out, and my two fingers can hardly draw the string anymore. Could I switch to holding the bow with my right hand and controlling the string with my left? Wouldn't that allow me to shoot more arrows?"
"You can't even walk properly, yet you wish to perform acrobatics?" The one-eyed instructor scoffed, glaring at Lin Xi as he reprimanded him. "I advise you to abandon that notion. Not only would mastering an additional bowholding method require double the time, but your aptitude is also rated as two, meaning your soul power cultivation speed is inherently slower than others. At that point, even using a single bowholding method may deplete your soul power; let alone employing two."
Lin Xi raised an eyebrow, internally musing in defiance: Instructor Tong, you are mistaken. Although my aptitude is rated as two, Dean Zhang has made it abundantly clear that your bodies are but one bowl, while ours are two... Thus, my total soul power would indeed be double that of others at the same level.
Yet recalling Dean Zhang's many admonishments to remain humble and his reminders that practitioners are not invincible, a faint smile crept across Lin Xi's lips as he resolved to keep a low profile. A name immediately surfaced in his mind: Jing Wuming.
...
"Teacher, I suddenly have another question... What level of cultivation is required to traverse the Ascending Heaven Mountain Range and reach the ice plains beyond?"
"At least to the level of a Saint Master. The heights of the Ascending Heaven Mountain Range render breathing nearly impossible, and each step consumes tremendous energy and soul power."
Under the setting sun, the terraced fields resembled a rainbow in the valley, as the black-robed instructor and the two young students, continually snacking, walked slowly onward.
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票