In ancient times, archery held a high position among weapons. It allowed soldiers to attack enemies from a distance, reducing their own risk while inflicting significant damage and displaying formidable power. In the military system, archers often played vital roles, and each skilled archer was a prized asset, highly valued by commanders.
However, becoming a skilled archer was an extremely difficult task. Not to mention becoming an expert marksman, even becoming a competent archer required years of training; it was definitely not something that could be achieved overnight.
Since Jake had never encountered archery before and had no knowledge of shooting arrows, he decided to practice and become a competent archer. If he could excel in archery, it would be an additional combat skill in the gaming world.
Jake easily found a shooting club called "Star Moon" after taking a taxi. This archery club was one of the largest in J City, and online reviews mentioned that it had a spacious area and professional coaches.
"Welcome, sir. Are you here to shoot arrows?" A beautiful the staff member greeted Jake as soon as he entered, approaching him in a professional manner.
"Yes," Jake nodded. "How much is the fee?"
"It's $200 for an hour. We also offer membership cards, either monthly or yearly. If you are interested in archery, I recommend getting a membership card, which is more cost-effective," the staff member suggested, as expected from someone trying to promote membership cards.
"That's a bit pricey," Jake remarked.
Charging $200 for just one hour meant spending hundreds of dollars if he wanted to practice for a few hours in a day. Indeed, archery was not a sport that just anyone could afford to indulge in regularly.
"Our facility has a great environment, a wide variety of bows and arrows, numerous ranges, and professional coaches guiding you. So, this price is quite reasonable," the staff member explained.
"I'll try it out for a few hours," Jake said.
"Sure, no problem. Let me take you in," the staff member replied.
With the staff member leading the way, Jake entered the club's premises. Another staff member then assisted Jake in selecting a bow and arrow and guiding him to the shooting range. Upon learning that Jake was a beginner, the staff member gave him detailed explanations about the characteristics of different bows, making it easier for Jake to choose.
"I'll go with this one," Jake's gaze scanned the various bows before finally settling on a simple and traditional style bow.
"Are you sure about this horn bow, sir?" The staff member seemed surprised by Jake's choice. "This type of horn bow requires considerable strength, and it's quite challenging. Most people who come here prefer recurve bows or compound bows. Would you like to reconsider?"
"No need to reconsider. I want this one," Jake said confidently.
Indeed, there were many modern bows available, stylish and easy to handle. However, they held no value for Jake, as the game world he entered was set in a historical Chinese background where traditional bows were commonly used. So, even if Jake excelled with modern bows, it wouldn't be of much help in the other world.
Since Jake had made up his mind, the staff member didn't say anything more. After selecting his bow and arranging his arrows, Jake followed the staff member to the shooting range.
"This is a five-meter range, perfect for beginners," the staff member explained. Five meters was the closest shooting range within the facility.
As Jake had no prior experience with archery, he didn't have unrealistic expectations to start with longer distances like ten or eighteen meters. He was content with starting from the basics and working his way up.
"After you practice here, the coach will be here soon," the staff member said and then turned to leave, presumably to inform the coach. After the staff member left, Jake set up his bow and arrow, aiming at the five-meter target.
"Whoosh!" With a flick of his right hand, the arrow flew and accurately hit the target.
"Yeah!" Jake was excited about hitting the bullseye with his first arrow.
"Hitting a five-meter target is nothing to be proud of, especially when you haven't hit the bullseye," a passing young man remarked mockingly.
Jake turned to look at the person speaking. The individual was around the same age as him, but his attire was much more refined, sporting an international brand that Jake recognized from before. Clearly, he was a wealthy person.
Jake didn't want to engage with him and intended to continue shooting, but the person seemed to have an ax to grind.
"Truly a newbie, your archery posture is so amateurish. No wonder you can only play with these five-meter targets," the young man taunted.
"Has anyone told you that you talk too much?" Jake turned to the person and said, "How I play is none of your business. Stop meddling."
"Do you think I enjoy watching this kindergarten-level archery?" The young man sneered before leaving. However, he muttered under his breath as he departed.
"This club is terrible. They let anyone come to play. These newbies are simply wasting the good equipment. Although he mumbled to himself, his voice was loud enough for Jake to hear clearly.
Jake wished he could challenge the guy to a contest, but he knew that he was still a beginner. Judging from the young man's appearance, he was probably stronger than Jake. If Jake were to challenge him, it would likely lead to embarrassment. Practice, just focus on practicing!
Jake turned back to continue shooting arrows. Although he consistently hit the target, he didn't feel satisfied until the coach appeared, which helped him adjust his mindset.
"Coach, I want to practice on the ten-meter target," Jake said.
The reason for Jake'request wasn't entirely due to the previous incident, but Jake felt that five meters was too close. As a novice, his accuracy was already high at this distance, but it wouldn't be sufficient on the battlefield, where more significant distances were involved.
"Ten meters?" the coach repeated. "You're a beginner, right? A ten-meter target is more challenging for beginners, and there will be more misses, affecting the overall experience."
The coach didn't look down on Jake; he was just concerned that practicing with a ten-meter target might not be enjoyable for a beginner. Constantly missing the target might lead to a negative experience.
"If I miss, I'll just practice more," Jake said.
Jake's visit to the club wasn't just for leisure; he wasn't financially well-off, and spending $200 per hour was already a luxury for him. If it weren't for his successful barbecue business recently, he probably wouldn't even consider coming here to play. However, his purpose was not just for enjoyment; it was to improve his skills. Jake wasn't concerned about the idea of a pleasurable experience.