Chapter 113 - 113 Inheritance
113 Inheritance
The arrow shot out quickly, faster and colder than the first arrow, falling like a meteor.
The second arrow hit the bull’s-eye again.
The distant target trembled violently from the impact of the arrow. It rustled as if it was clapping for Gu Yuan.
Clap, clap, clap… Gu Yanfei clapped happily again, her eyes bright.
“Good!” Gu Jian also clapped his hands and praised him in high spirits. “Yuan’er has really improved this year.”
“This is a five-stone bow. Your father used it when he was young—”
Gu Jian said it casually, but the corners of his lips curled up with a hint of smugness.
This rhinoceros horn bow had extraordinary meaning to the Dingyuan Marquis Household. It represented the former glory and honor of the Marquis Household.
When Emperor Taizu conferred the title of Marquis on his grandfather, Gu Qin, he personally bestowed this rhinoceros horn bow on his grandfather, who was a divine archer born with divine strength. No one could compare to him in a hundred years. He said that a good bow was a gift to a hero.
His grandfather was grateful for Emperor Taizu’s appreciation and swore that this rhinoceros horn bow would be passed down to the descendants of the Gu family to open up the territory for the Great Jin.
Gu Yuan looked at the five-stone bow with a burning gaze. He picked it up eagerly, his eyes shining.
He still remembered that it was his grandfather who had personally passed the bow to his father. He had watched his father draw the bow and shoot with great precision. At that time, his father had smiled and said that he would pass the bow to him in the future. He should practice riding and archery well so that when he was older, he would be able to draw the bow.
At that time, he was weak and small, but he always secretly went to his father’s study to play with the bowstring.
Later, after his father passed, his second uncle took the rhinoceros horn bow.
Gu Yuan held the heavy rhinoceros horn bow in his hand, fondling it admiringly.
Gradually, a trace of sorrow and reluctance appeared in his eyes.
That emotion was quickly replaced by another wave of eager excitement.
He held the rhinoceros horn bow tightly and pulled the string step by step with increasing strength. After testing the feel of it, he slowly and firmly pulled the heavy empty bow full on the third time.
The muscles in his shoulders and arms tensed as he drew the bow. His firm muscles bulged slightly under his robe, and his posture as he drew the bow was heroic.
However, anyone could tell that it was already difficult for him to draw the empty bow.
“Not bad, not bad at all.” Gu Jian stood up from his chair and clapped his hands again. “You have your father’s bearing!”
After a while, Gu Yuan put the bowstring back, bit by bit.
Gu Jian stroked his beard again with a nostalgic expression. “I still remember that back then, when your grandfather gave this bow to your father, your father was also your age. This bow once followed him to the battlefield…”
As he spoke, his index finger brushed the corner of his eye, and his voice was a little hoarse.
Gu Yuan was still holding the rhinoceros horn bow. Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead and temples, but his eyes were very bright, as if he were saying that he could do it!
He casually drew another arrow from the quiver. The meaning of this action was clear. He planned to use the five-stone bow to shoot a third arrow.
“Yuan’er, forget it,” Gu Jian advised with a sigh. “You’ve already worked very hard. It’s already quite good that you can draw this bow at your age. I’m afraid no one else can do it at your age…”
“One has to know their limits. Don’t force yourself.”
“I can do it,” Gu Yuan said confidently. He was in high spirits, and his sweat shone like crystals under the sun, making the young man look even more unrestrained.
His archery skills were personally enlightened and taught by his father.
Her father said that martial arts could not be practiced with just brute force. One had to be persistent and learn to use their brains.
His father had taught him a technique called “meticulous thinking”. Every day, in addition to practicing martial arts, he also had to rehearse the process of practicing martial arts during the day in his mind when no one was around at night.
He had done this kind of “meticulous thinking” training thousands of times and was familiar with it.
When he’d tested the bow earlier, he’d rehearsed it several times in his mind. It was so subtle that he’d gone through every step of nocking an arrow, cocking the bow, pre-drawing the bow, drawing the bow, aiming, and releasing the string.
Although he had yet to use it, he was certain that he could do it!
Gu Jian did not persuade Gu Yuan anymore and picked up the teacup again.
Under half-lowered lids, his gaze shifted, and a cold smile appeared on his lips.
Eight years ago, the title of Duke of Dingyuan was almost lost because of his brother, Gu Ce. It was he who had worked hard to protect the title. It was also he who had hidden his strength and bided his time all these years, which allowed the Gu family to have its current stable days.
He would not let Gu Yuan take advantage of this for nothing!
Gu Jian seemed to be drinking tea, but he was actually still paying attention to Gu Yuan’s every move. He saw Gu Yuan calmly place the third arrow on the five-stone rhinoceros horn bow with a solemn expression.
His phoenix eyes emitted an abnormally bright light under the sun, as if he had crossed that distant time and space to look at a tall and handsome back.
His father’s blood flowed through him. If his father could do it, so could he!
Gu Yuan took a deep breath with a focused expression and pulled the string again.
This time, the strength of his draw was as he had rehearsed it in his mind. It was stronger and faster, and he used the strength of his back to draw the bow firmly.
The drawn bowstring made a faint sizzling sound.
The sound was as soft as a mosquito’s buzz, barely audible in the shivering, cold wind of the martial arts arena.
The teacup in Gu Jian’s hand stopped in front of his chest. His eyes subconsciously widened as he stared at the five-stone bow in Gu Yuan’s hand. He stared at the bowstring being pulled taut bit by bit.
He knew that the bowstring of this bow would break when pulled to the limit.
In other words, the moment Gu Yuan released the arrow, the bowstring would break…
He was certain that Gu Yuan would not be able to escape unharmed. His arm might break!
Gu Jian’s eyes became more and more sinister and dark, like a demon from the endless hell.
This injury would not kill Gu Yuan, but once the bone in his hand was broken, it would be fatal to a general, and Gu Yuan could only stop here.