Archery Club

The bow and arrow held a prestigious status among ancient weapons. It allowed for long-range attacks, minimizing personal risk while delivering significant damage and destruction. In military history, archery played a crucial role, and skilled marksmen were highly valued by generals as key assets on the battlefield.

However, becoming a marksman was no easy feat. Even reaching the level of a competent archer required years of rigorous training—it was not something that could be mastered overnight.

Jaxon had never touched a bow before and knew nothing about archery. Determined to learn, he decided to take it seriously. If he could become proficient, it would serve as an additional combat skill in the game world.

After a quick taxi ride, Jaxon arrived at "Starry Moon," the largest archery club in Goldenleaf City. According to its online description, the club boasted a spacious facility, complete equipment, and professional coaching staff.

"Welcome, sir. Are you here to try archery?"

A well-trained hostess greeted him as soon as he entered.

"Yes," Jaxon nodded. "How much does it cost?"

"Two hundred yuan per hour," the hostess replied. "We also offer membership cards—both monthly and annual options. If you're serious about archery, I'd recommend getting a membership; it's much more cost-effective."

A typical sales pitch. Memberships were always the go-to recommendation.

"The price is a bit steep," Jaxon commented. At two hundred yuan per hour, just a few hours a day would add up quickly. Archery was clearly not a hobby for the average person.

"Sir, we provide an excellent environment, a vast selection of bows and arrows, multiple shooting lanes, and professional coaching. Given the quality of our services, the price is quite reasonable," the hostess explained.

"I'll start with a few hours first," Jaxon decided.

"Of course! Let me show you in," the hostess said with a smile.

She led him inside, where another staff member took over, guiding him through the process of selecting a bow and arrows. Upon learning that Jaxon was a complete beginner, the staff member patiently introduced the different types of bows, explaining their features to help him make an informed choice.

"I'll go with this one!" Jaxon's gaze lingered on the various bows before he finally settled on a simple, traditional-style bow.

"Sir, are you sure about choosing this horn bow?" The staff member seemed surprised. "Horn bows require significant strength and are quite challenging to handle. Most newcomers prefer recurve or compound bows. Would you like to reconsider?"

"No need. This is the one I want," Jaxon said firmly.

The club offered many modern bows—sleek, easier to handle, and aesthetically appealing—but they were of no use to him. The game world was modeled after ancient Huaxia, where only traditional bows existed. Mastering modern archery wouldn't help him at all.

Since he had made up his mind, the staff member didn't press the issue further.

After picking out his bow and arrows, Jaxon followed the staff member to the shooting lanes.

"This is the five-meter lane, best suited for beginners," the staff member informed him.

Five meters was the closest target distance available.

Since Jaxon had never shot an arrow before, he had no intention of being overly ambitious and starting at ten or even eighteen meters.

"You can practice here for now. A coach will be with you shortly," the staff member added before walking away, presumably to notify the coach.

Once alone, Jaxon nocked an arrow, pulled back the bowstring, and aimed at the target five meters away.

"Whoosh!"

The arrow shot forward and hit the target.

"Yes!"

Jaxon was thrilled—his first arrow had landed successfully!

But before he could savor his small victory, a voice dripping with sarcasm interrupted him.

"Hitting a five-meter target is nothing to brag about. And you didn't even hit the bullseye."

Jaxon turned to see a young man about his age, dressed impeccably in high-end, internationally recognized designer brands. It was obvious he came from money.

Jaxon had no interest in engaging and turned back to continue shooting.

However, ignoring the young man only seemed to encourage him.

"Such a rookie. Even your stance is completely amateur. No wonder you're stuck at the five-meter lane," he scoffed.

Jaxon finally turned to him and said flatly, "Has no one ever told you that you talk too much? How I practice is my business, not yours."

"As if I want to watch someone shooting at kindergarten-level distances," the young man sneered before walking away. But as he left, he muttered—just loud enough for Jaxon to hear—

"This club really should have higher standards. Letting any random newbie in just wastes good equipment."

Jaxon clenched his fists. He wanted to challenge the guy right then and there, but he knew better. He was just a beginner, while the young man likely had real skills. A contest at this point would only embarrass him.

Practice. Train hard.

Pushing the irritation aside, Jaxon resumed shooting. Though his arrows continued to hit the target, his earlier excitement had faded, replaced by simmering determination.

Moments later, the coach arrived, bringing Jaxon's focus back to his training.

"Coach, I want to try the ten-meter target," Jaxon requested.

His decision had nothing to do with the young man's remarks—he simply felt five meters was too easy. As a beginner, he already had a high hit rate, but in a real battle, a five-meter range was practically useless.

"A ten-meter target?" The coach looked at him thoughtfully. "You're just starting out. That's quite a leap. You'll miss a lot, and it won't be as enjoyable."

The coach wasn't belittling him—just offering genuine advice. For most beginners, frequent misses could be discouraging.

"If I miss, I'll just practice more," Jaxon said firmly.

He hadn't come here just for fun. At two hundred yuan per hour, this was already a costly decision. If not for his recent success with the barbecue business, he wouldn't even be able to afford it.

To him, this wasn't entertainment. It was training.

And he had no intention of wasting a single arrow.