Chu Huan’s archery is quite good as well. He also shot three arrows at once and hit the bullseye.
Being Chu Ying’s youngest son, although he is often scolded by Chu Ying for being disobedient, Chu Ying still cares for him quite a bit, although this affection is hidden beneath strict guidance.
Chu Huan’s archery skills were taught hand by hand by Chu Ying, who is the most outstanding in archery among the four of them.
In other areas, Chu Huan did not inherit from his father, but in archery, he did inherit about fifty or sixty percent. However, compared to his brothers, he still lacked a bit.
Although Chu Huan’s archery is somewhat inferior compared to his brothers, among his peers, he is considered outstanding.
Seeing Chu Huan also hit three arrows at once, Zhang He and the others immediately felt proud.
"Little guy, Xiao Bai has received half the true inheritance of his father’s archery skills. People our age or younger aren’t his match."
"Little guy, I advise you to be sensible and quickly admit defeat."
"Little guy, you still have time to admit defeat now."
Zhao Yao ignored Shen Sen and the others’ "good-hearted" advice and said, "Continue the competition." It seems these four little tyrants do have some skills.
In a contest of dead targets, Zhao Yao and Chu Huan were evenly matched. Next, they would compete with live targets.
Chu Huan suggested shooting at birds in the sky—the one who hits wins—but Zhao Yao refused. He would never shoot at birds in the sky because most of the capital’s birds were his friends, and he couldn’t harm or injure his friends.
Zhao Yao suggested shooting at fruits. The owner of the racetrack instructed someone to throw down fruits from the roof, and whoever hits the most wins.
The fruits vary in size: large fruits are counted as big, small fruits as small.
Zhao Yao and Chu Huan stood in the courtyard, waiting for the racetrack owner to give the word.
Once the racetrack owner saw they were ready, he ordered to start.
Zhao Yao and Chu Huan simultaneously raised their bows and shot at the fruits thrown from the roof. Zhao Yao’s first arrow hit three fruits.
Liang Run and Tong Xi saw this scene and excitedly yelled out.
Zhang He and his friends were shocked by Zhao Yao’s arrow. They hadn’t expected the little guy’s archery to be so formidable.
Chu Huan’s first arrow only hit one fruit and burst it.
Zhao Yao’s second arrow hit four small fruits. Both of these arrows pierced through the center without bursting a single fruit.
Though the rule was whoever hit the most fruits would win, without concern for bursting them, the fact whether or not fruits burst could reveal the sophistication of one’s archery.
Shen Sen and the others’ expressions turned from pride to seriousness.
They never imagined the little guy’s archery would be so refined.
Not just Zhang He and the others, even Tong Xi, who followed Zhao Yao daily, didn’t know his master’s archery was so advanced.
He was with his master every day, yet he had never seen him practice shooting fruits, nor had he seen him demonstrate such high-level archery.
When did his master acquire such excellent archery skills?
Wasn’t it just at the start of the year that his master began learning archery? How could his skills be so powerful after only three months?
Usually, his master never showed any of this.
My God, could it be that his master is the legendary genius?
Afterward, Zhao Yao’s every arrow hit at least two fruits, with none missing the mark.
A moment later, the competition ended, and Zhao Yao unsurprisingly beat Chu Huan.
Not long into the contest, Chu Huan realized he had lost, but he wasn’t willing to give up. Yet still, he lost in the end.
Chu Huan clasped his hands and said to Zhao Yao, "I lost."
Zhao Yao handed his bow and arrows to Tong Xi and, with a smile, asked Chu Huan, "Convinced?"
"Convinced." In archery, Chu Huan considers himself outstanding among his peers; it’s always been his pride. Over the years, he had never lost in archery to peers or younger ones, and this was the first time he lost so badly. "Who did you learn your archery from, and how long have you been learning?"
Tong Xi interjected, "My young master only started learning horseback riding and archery at the start of this year."
"What?" Zhang He and the others exclaimed in disbelief, "He’s only been learning riding and archery for just over three months?"
Tong Xi said with a face full of pride, "That’s right." He grinned smugly, "Didn’t my young master tell you last night? It isn’t certain who will bully whom."
Chu Huan looked at Zhao Yao in astonishment, "You’ve really only been learning for just over three months?"
Zhao Yao nodded lightly and said, "Yes, I only started at the beginning of this year." Riding and archery, indeed, were only learned at the start of the year. Last year, he wanted to learn, but his consort mother said he was too young and refused to let him learn riding and archery.