Thirty-six sets of spear techniques.
Each set held eighteen variations.
Chen Sanshi pushed himself to complete the first three sets before his arms finally gave out.
Meanwhile, with the help of the breathing method, Song Yan had finished all the stance drills and begun spear practice as well—his progress rapidly closing the gap.
'If only I could train faster even without that breathing method,' Chen Sanshi thought, stopping for a brief rest.
He decided to change his focus for now and raise his Archery to the next level.
Last time he'd broken through to Mastery, it had significantly strengthened his bones and physique. If he could reach Minor Achievement, the effect should be even greater.
"Food's ready!"
The garrison was more than twenty li away from Swallow-Edge Village—neither far nor close. To save time, Chen Sanshi didn't go home for lunch. Instead, he and Zhu Tong headed to a small tavern run by an elderly couple who were retired soldiers.
"Five jin of cooked beef, a bucket of grain rice, and one whole chicken," Chen Sanshi ordered.
They had barely sat down when someone shamelessly squeezed in beside them.
"You useless leech, what the hell are you doing here?!" Zhu Tong snapped.
"Brother Chen!" Xu Wencai grinned like a fox, ignoring Zhu Tong's glare. "The pay won't be out until next month. I'm penniless and starving. Think I could, ah, share a meal with you?"
"Of course," Chen Sanshi replied, waving to the shopkeeper. He added two plates of side dishes and a bit more staple food.
"Brother Chen, you're truly a man of kindness! You'll go far someday, I guarantee it!" Xu Wencai said, grabbing a chicken leg before anyone else could, his mouth already glistening with oil as he devoured it.
"Shitou, you're too softhearted!" Zhu Tong scolded. "Why feed this lazy bum? He's useless anyway."
"Useless?" Xu Wencai sneered between bites. "Who knows—one day you might benefit from knowing me! Besides, I'm not eating for free. In return, I'll enlighten you two on the great affairs of the world."
He stripped the bone clean with practiced speed, sucking out the marrow until not a scrap of meat remained. Then, licking his greasy lips, he lowered his voice and said, "Tell me, brothers—how long do you think the Great Sheng Dynasty's fortune will last?"
"Obviously it hasn't run out yet," Zhu Tong muttered. "Sure, the officials are corrupt bastards, but we still have over two million soldiers and countless generals. I heard the southern rebellion was already crushed."
"Wrong!" Xu Wencai said sharply, snatching another chicken leg.
Zhu Tong glanced around to make sure no one was listening, then whispered, "You mean to say the barbarians will destroy the Great Sheng Dynasty in the end?"
"Completely wrong again!" Xu Wencai shook his head. "The barbarians may seem fierce, but as long as Grand Commander Sun lives, they'll never accomplish anything big."
"No—the Great Sheng will fall not to foreign enemies, but to its own people!"
"Don't be fooled by how every rebellion gets suppressed quickly. Another one always rises soon after. Someday, they won't be able to put out the fire."
At that moment, Chen Sanshi interjected quietly, "That's called a single spark can start a prairie fire."
Xu Wencai froze mid-bite, blinking in surprise. Then he slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"
"That's exactly what I meant!"
"Brother Chen, you're truly a man of letters to speak such words!"
"That line isn't mine…" Chen Sanshi tried to explain but waved it off. "Please, go on."
"Ahem!" Xu Wencai cleared his throat and continued, his tone suddenly grandiose. "Mark my words—the world will descend into chaos within five years. The Great Sheng Dynasty's fate will burn out completely! And when that happens—hah!—that will be the day this humble Xu Wolong rises to greatness!"
"Oh, shut up already," Zhu Tong groaned. "You talk big all day long. Maybe try mastering your stance drills first. If you can't even manage that, you'll end up not as a formation grunt, but mucking out stables or patching city walls."
Chen Sanshi watched Xu Wencai with mild surprise.
He himself had been educated for nine years before ending up in this world. Being able to see the cracks in the empire's foundation wasn't impressive for someone like him.
But for Xu Wencai—a local born in the countryside—to make such an observation was remarkable.
Though his self-proclaimed "Wolong" title was laughable, there really was something to him after all.
When the small talk ended, the three dug in and finished their meal.
Once full and rested, Chen Sanshi didn't return to spear training. Instead, he picked up his bow and quiver and walked straight to the archery range.
The more chaotic the world became, the stronger Chen Sanshi knew he had to be. Not just in skill, but in position and influence—only then could he stay safe amid the coming storm.
He drew his bow and nocked an arrow.
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Thunderous cracks echoed across the training field.
After more than fifty shots, his arms began to ache, but he didn't dare stop. He kept aiming and releasing, arrow after arrow, each one sharper than the last.
"Swish—swish—swish!"
"Keep up!"
Shouts and movement rippled through the camp as the afternoon sun sank lower.
Suddenly, the barracks grew restless. Several Hundred-Households gathered their men—over three hundred soldiers in total—fully armed, marching hastily toward Poyang County.
'They're not heading toward the Great Wall,' Chen Sanshi thought, narrowing his eyes. 'So it's not an invasion.'
'What's happening in Poyang County that requires this many troops?'
'Most likely another large-scale manhunt for barbarian assassins.'
Not long ago, he would've thought that sort of thing had nothing to do with him. But now, it looked like he might soon be part of such missions himself.
"Forget it. Keep training."
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"
As the troops marched past the archery field, the booming sound of his arrows caught their attention.
"Hah, that kid's given up already? Instead of training his body, he's wasting time with a bow," said Hundred-Household Xiong, chewing on a bamboo stick.
"Without the breathing method, practicing any technique doubles the pain. Ordinary people can't endure that," another remarked.
Hundred-Household Liu squinted. "Wait a second—he's using a two-stone bow? And hitting the target dead-on from seventy steps every time? Huh, the kid's actually a real marksman!"
"Well, I'll be damned."
Xiong looked surprised too.
Liu clicked his tongue. "No idea what he did to offend Tianyuan Martial Hall. What a waste, what a waste of talent…"
"Oh ho?" Xiong arched an eyebrow. "Old Liu, that look in your eyes—is that sympathy, or are you getting soft?"
"I do appreciate talent," Liu admitted. "Tell you what, I'll talk to the young master of Tianyuan Martial Hall later. Maybe we can find out what grudge he's holding. If it's nothing serious, I'll smooth things over."
He turned to the others with a faint smile. "Just saying now—don't any of you try to snatch him from me."
"I've got no interest," Xiong said flatly. Then he looked to his left. "What about you, Fat Wang?"
"Me?" Wang Zhi snorted. "I've seen real prodigies in the Eight Garrisons. You think I'd waste time on someone like him?"
He waved his hand impatiently. "Let's get moving. We'll bluff our way through in the city and drink flower wine tonight."
…
"Bang!"
Back at the archery field, Chen Sanshi was still there—alone.
He trained from daylight until darkness fell, his body soaked in sweat.
To save time, he didn't even stop for dinner. Zhu Tong had brought him some meat and dry rations, but he barely touched them.
His strength was completely drained.
The two-stone bow now felt unbearably heavy.
He forced his trembling arms to rise once more, fingers shaking as they pulled the taut bowstring. Gritting his teeth, he summoned every last bit of strength left in his body and released.
"Bang!"
The arrow pierced through the target again, splitting it clean.
At that moment, a faint shimmer flashed before his eyes—
[Skill: Archery (Minor Achievement)]
[Progress: (0/1000)]
[Effect: Ape Arms, Wasp Waist; Bones of Steel; Three Shots in a Blink, Every Arrow Pierces a Hundred Steps]