The already spacious training ground immediately cleared out a large area. In the center of the East Training Ground, two targets were set up, and the main road was also cleared. The competitors would start from the camp gate, gallop on this road, and shoot three arrows in succession. Whoever hit more targets and shot more accurately would win.
The stage was set. Yu Wenye, Dabo, and others stood with their hands behind their backs, while Shang Ruyi had already rolled up her sleeves and trouser legs, reaching out to take the bow and arrows.
Tushere stood by, worriedly saying, "Miss, let it go!"
Shang Ruyi instinctively turned her head and looked at Yu Wenye behind her.
Seeing his calm expression, as if completely uninvolved, Shang Ruyi bit her lip, took the bow and arrows from Mu Xian’s hands, and said to Tushere, "Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing."
Tushere had no choice but to retreat.
The main road was completely clear for the two of them to ride, and almost all the soldiers in the camp stood around, ten layers inside and out, each on their tiptoes to watch this bizarre competition.
No one expected that the Young Madam of the Duke Mansion would come to the camp to compete in horseback archery with the Deputy General, which was practically unheard of in the world.
At this moment, Huang Gongyi had already ridden to the camp gate.
He raised a strong bow high with one hand and shouted, "I’ll go first!"
Most of the soldiers around were trained by him and knew his abilities, so they shouted in support. Amidst the cheers, Huang Gongyi squeezed the horse’s belly, and the steed beneath him immediately galloped away.
Clouds of dust rose but were left behind by him. Just as Huang Gongyi galloped a great distance and gradually approached the point for a direct shot at the target, he released the reins, drew an arrow from the arrow tube on his back with a reverse hand grip, strung the bow and fired it at one of the targets with a swoosh.
In a flash of cold light, the arrow hit the bullseye dead-on!
The soldiers around immediately cheered loudly.
Huang Gongyi remained expressionless, still letting go of the reins. On the galloping horse, as if walking on solid ground, he consecutively shot two more arrows from a direct view of the target center and slightly past the center, striking the targets with lightning speed, all hitting their marks.
The three arrows formed a fan shape, piercing the bullseye at three different angles.
This immediately excited all the soldiers in the camp, who cheered loudly. Some even rushed in front of Huang Gongyi’s horse, continually cheering for him, shouting, "Mr. Huang is formidable!"
"A hundred shots, a hundred hits!"
Even Yu Wenye couldn’t help but nod slightly.
Although Huang Gongyi was naturally rough and relied on his background as a personal soldier of the Duke to act somewhat overbearingly in the army, as a soldier, he truly lived up to his title!
Huang Gongyi’s face also showed a proud smile. He laughed heartily a few times on horseback, threw the bow and arrows to a soldier standing by, and then tilted his chin provocatively at Shang Ruyi standing on the other side, whose face had already turned slightly pale.
He said, "Young Madam, Old Huang has shown off!"
Shang Ruyi inwardly lamented.
She wasn’t unaware of Duke Sheng’s strict military governance that allowed him to earn countless military merits in various battles, but she indeed hadn’t expected Huang Gongyi to possess such excellent horseback archery skills.
Now, she was truly afraid of embarrassing herself.
At this moment, a deep voice sounded in her ear, "Still up for it?"
Shang Ruyi was startled. Turning her head, she saw Yu Wenye looking down at her, not entirely clear whether his expression was one of concern or simply enjoying the spectacle. He said in a deep voice, "If you don’t want to compete, I’ll go tell him."