Testing the Waters

As the man in black finished speaking, Su Qi'an's heart skipped a beat. His fingers, which had been resting on the arrow, instinctively loosened.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Three arrows shot out simultaneously, hurtling toward the man in black. The arrows were swift and imposing; even a seasoned veteran wouldn't dare to take them lightly.

The man in black moved swiftly. Timing his actions perfectly, he swung his long blade in a sharp arc, cutting the three arrows cleanly in half.

This outcome didn't surprise Su Qi'an. Anyone capable of discerning his skills and identity was clearly no ordinary figure.

Being targeted by such a person was undoubtedly troublesome. Su Qi'an's eyes narrowed, his expression grave, as he drew a few more arrows from the quiver on his back. Without hesitation, he let them loose again, firing in rapid succession at the man in black.

This time, the arrows were markedly different. Under the moonlight, the arrowheads gleamed with a chilling light.

Whoosh!

An arrow, imbued with an icy glow, shot straight toward the man's forehead. This time, Su Qi'an's intent was clear—he had made up his mind to kill.

For someone with his exceptional archery skills, getting caught up in the suspicions of certain individuals would only spell trouble. To prevent the situation from escalating or leaking further, the best solution was a dead man.

Once again, the man in black swung his blade. Although the arrow was cut in half, a muffled explosion erupted at the moment of impact. It sounded like gunpowder, and a thick cloud of smoke instantly enveloped the man.

The man in black let out a soft "hmm," clearly intrigued by the unusual arrow.

But before he could react further, several more arrows shot into the dense fog from different angles. This time, Su Qi'an had chosen strategic trajectories that left no room for escape.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sound of metal colliding echoed from within the fog. Moments later, the figure of the man in black burst out of the smoke, his movements sharp and agile.

"Haha, impressive! A true sharpshooter. If I weren't so experienced, I might've fallen for your tricks just now."

"But no matter how strong a sharpshooter may be, do you know the fatal flaw of an archer? They can't fight in close combat!"

With that, the man in black stomped the ground and launched himself forward like a wild beast. His long blade gleamed as it arced toward Su Qi'an.

The speed was so intense that, even with Su Qi'an's quick reflexes, he'd barely have time to fire two arrows in defense.

Despite this, Su Qi'an's expression remained calm. He drew a few more arrows from his quiver, appearing as if he were preparing for a desperate final shot.

The man in black sneered at the sight. With his speed, no archer—even a sharpshooter—would have the opportunity to nock and fire.

In just a few breaths, the man in black closed the distance. His long blade gleamed menacingly overhead, poised to strike down.

Su Qi'an, however, showed no fear. The arrows in his hand were not nocked to the bowstring but instead gripped firmly. Holding one in each hand like weapons, he raised them in a sudden cross-block.

The man's blade came crashing down, but instead of snapping the arrows, the air erupted with a sharp metallic sound.

The long blade, laden with immense strength, had been stopped cold by the two arrows.

The man in black raised an eyebrow, mildly surprised. "Hmm, there's something unusual about those arrows."

Before he could analyze further, Su Qi'an's lips curled into a faint, eerie smile.

With a flick of his fingers, the seemingly ordinary arrows suddenly shot forward. Their arrowheads detached and transformed into two spinning projectiles, hurtling directly toward the man's face.

Startled, the man flipped backward in mid-air, narrowly avoiding the deadly arrowheads as they grazed his face.

As he landed, his instincts screamed danger. He looked up to find another arrow gleaming in the moonlight, its tip aimed directly at his forehead—barely a meter away.

At such close range, no matter how fast he was, there was no escaping death.

"You've lost," Su Qi'an said calmly, his piercing gaze locked onto the now-motionless man in black.

The man in black chuckled, though his tone carried a hint of resignation. "It seems I underestimated you, sir. But don't expect to get any answers from me. Kill me or spare me—it's your choice."

Recognizing the man's resolve, Su Qi'an didn't bother asking questions. Slowly, he drew his bow, the string taut as the arrow was aimed precisely at the man's forehead.

With his eyes closed, the man in black seemed to accept his fate, waiting for the final blow.

The arrow remained poised, but just as the man braced himself for death, Su Qi'an spoke in an indifferent tone. "It seems you're a man of loyalty. You never intended to kill me, and while I considered silencing you, I'm no bloodthirsty murderer."

"I'll let you live—for now."

The man in black opened his eyes, astonished. His gaze lingered on Su Qi'an, now standing casually with his longbow resting at his side, arms crossed.

"I don't care who you are or what powerful figure you serve," Su Qi'an continued, his voice steady. "I'm just an ordinary man. I have no desire to make enemies. The road is wide enough for us to walk our separate paths."

"You were curious about me, so you tested me. I understand that. But let this be the first and last time."

Though Su Qi'an spoke softly, his aura was commanding. The man in black had no doubt—if there was a second test, Su Qi'an would follow through on his warning.

Acknowledging Su Qi'an's strength, the man in black cupped his hands in a gesture of respect. "I apologize, sir. This was our mistake. Your talents deserve our admiration. Please accept this as an apology."

He pulled out a heavy pouch of silver coins and tossed it to Su Qi'an.

Su Qi'an caught the pouch without hesitation. Though he wasn't greedy, compensation offered willingly was still compensation.

The man in black, seeing that Su Qi'an accepted the silver, felt slightly relieved. Bowing once more, he said, "Rest assured, sir, no one will disturb you during your preparations for the county examination. My master eagerly looks forward to meeting you again."

"Until then, I wish you success in your studies. Farewell."

With that, the man in black vanished into the shadows. The distant rustling of trees soon faded into silence.

Watching his sudden departure, Su Qi'an pondered the situation. It seemed that someone from the county yamen—a powerful figure—had taken an interest in him. Likely, they had noticed his unusual skill during the tiger hunt.

The man in black had been sent to test his abilities. Fortunately, Su Qi'an had come out on top, though it was a narrow victory.

As Su Qi'an cleaned up the broken arrows scattered around him, he glanced at the moon above and smiled faintly. "A new life, a new start. In this world of Da Liang, I'll carve out a future worthy of my destiny."

With that thought, he headed home, determined to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

[--------------------------------------------]

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