"Li Qing Shan!!!"
Though they did not know each other and had never met, a name still leaped out from both of their mouths.
But this did not hinder Xu Yang's actions, the bowstring was fully drawn, the arrows shot out with great force, and three arrows pierced the air, directly heading towards the two of them.
The two of them also snapped back to their senses in shock and hurriedly swung their swords to defend, joining forces to deflect the three arrows.
Seeing this, Xu Yang did not mind, and he drew three bamboo arrows from his quiver, nocking them to the bowstring once more.
These two were none other than the second young master of the Li Family, Li Qingyun, and the second young miss of the Lu Family, Lu Ying. They were not yet married but had already hooked up together, cohabiting in the western courtyard of the Lu Family estate, which allowed him to catch them in the act.
Both were born into powerful and influential families and had trained in the Hundred Sword Sect for many years. Although they had not mastered True Qi, they also had some foundation in Inner Strength, ranking as second-tier experts in the Martial World. Otherwise, they would not have been able to withstand his strong bow and powerful arrows.
Now that the two of them were joining forces, even from his higher vantage point, with his ability to "hit a willow branch at 100 yards", sending out three consecutive arrows, it was still very difficult to shoot them dead.
But his skills were not limited to archery!
"Run quickly!"
Seeing Xu Yang nock another arrow, Li Qingyun and Lu Ying did not dare to meet the attack head-on, let alone charge forward against the sharp arrows, and could only retreat towards the outside of the courtyard.
"Whoosh!"
But just as they moved, they saw the powerful arrows piercing through the air, flying towards them.
Luckily, the two of them had already regained their composure, both acting in unison, weaving their swords like a net, and once again managed to block the arrows.
But as three arrows were deflected, another arrow broke through, following them at the moment when their strength was exhausted, and there was no evading, no blocking...
Butcher's technique!
Though it was just the technique of butchering, with 'the great way being vast, where different paths lead to the same destination', the philosophy behind it was interconnected, not confined to form; applicable to butchering as well as to handling humans. Whether wielded with a knife or an arrow, as long as the essence was grasped, it was applicable.
What essence?
Discerning the target, breaking it down piece by piece!
Anticipating movements, striking straight at the vital points!
Therefore, this fourth arrow was unblockable by the two of them, because their movements, techniques, bodily reactions, all fell within Xu Yang's anticipations. This arrow struck at the juncture they were unable to dodge, unable to block, even unable to react to.
"Thud!"
Lu Ying didn't have time to react when an arrow struck her shoulder, her body staggered, and her beautiful face turned pale in an instant.
"Run quickly!"
With his beloved injured by an arrow, Li Qingyun did not dare to tend to her, already chilled with fear, and now only wanted to escape the range of the opposing arrows, shouting as he fled outwards.
At that moment...
"Ha!"
Under the cold moon and atop the roof eaves, the demonic archer, like a ghost reaping lives, took a deep breath and then slowly closed his eyes.
His eyes were closed, but his hands kept moving, drawing arrows like lightning, shooting them like a downpour, pushing his body and the bow to their limits, unleashing a storm of arrows with the power of a single man!
"Encountering spirit without sight, the official knows to stop and the spirit wants to go!"
The arrows poured down like rain, the flying arrows swarmed like locusts, enveloping the two in the courtyard. Attacking where they were bound to move and defending where they were bound to salvage, blocking all paths of escape, forbidding any glimpse of life, and ultimately...
"Thud!"
The final muffled sound ended the violent tempest, the thorough outpour. Xu Yang opened his eyes, ignored the pain and numbness in his shoulder and arm, and looked towards the two people in the courtyard.
In the courtyard, arrows littered the ground, blood flowed freely, and the two lay in a pool of blood. Their shoulders, arms, waists, knees, as well as vital areas like their hearts, throats, eye sockets, mouths, and noses were all pierced by sharp arrows. From the shock and despair frozen on their faces, one could imagine the hopelessness they faced moments before.
This was the power of the Butcher's technique.
Discerning the target, unraveling everything, by taking the initiative, certainly unbeatable in battle!
To counter this, no other way existed but to overpower with brute force.
With Xu Yang's current physique and archery skills, this brute strength threshold was at least that of a True Qi master, who could use their superior reaction and speed to dodge or counter his Butcher's technique with arrows.
But clearly, Li Qingyun and Lu Ying lacked this brute strength. Having not yet converted their Inner Strength into True Qi, they could not withstand Xu Yang's sudden assault and ambush. Their fate had been sealed from the start.
Twisting his sore, numb, and now swollen arm, and glancing at the finely-made bamboo bow in his hand, which showed obvious cracks, Xu Yang shook his head, then leaped forward, jumping into the courtyard and walking towards the bodies of the two.
Although his physique was robust and his archery powerful, he had after all not trained in martial arts, so such a burst of activity was a significant strain and damage to both his body and his weapon, and he would be unable to use it again for a while.
Luckily, the only people from the Li and Lu families who posed a direct threat to him were Li Qingyun and Lu Ying, the two skilled practitioners who had returned from the Hundred Sword Sect. The various other martial instructors, household guards, and protectors were not his match at all.
Therefore...
```
A few moments later, at the Lu Family mansion, flames reached for the sky amidst utter chaos.
Some were fighting the fire, some were fleeing in all directions, some were taking advantage of the confusion to make off with valuables...
Amidst the turmoil, Xu Yang, carrying a large bundle, advanced toward the Li Family residence under the cover of darkness.
There are some things that you either never start, or you must follow through to the end, or else a wounded snake will bring endless trouble!
...
Late at night, in the mountains, the continuous howling of wolves and screeches of monkeys could be heard.
Within a hidden bamboo house, Li Hongyu clutched a dagger and crouched in a corner, her eyes filled with anxiety.
Li Qinghe held a knife in one hand and a bow in the other, sitting beside the bed and staring fixedly at the closed bamboo door, his lips unconsciously bitten until they bled, betraying his inner tension.
Just then...
"Knock, knock, knock!"
The sound of knocking startled them both before they could react, they heard a voice from outside, "It's me, I'm back, open the door."
"Brother!"
Recognizing the familiar voice, they finally relaxed and hurried forward to open the door.
"Phew!"
As the door opened, a strong stench of blood rushed in with the night wind, causing them to stand still involuntarily. They saw Xu Yang with a knife on his back and a bow in hand, holding two large bundles, emanating a strong scent of blood, his armor bearing several fresh red marks.
"Brother!"
"What happened to you?"
This sight alarmingly startled the siblings, prompting them to ask anxiously.
"I'm fine!"
"Close the door!"
Without further explanation, Xu Yang, carrying the two bundles, came to the table and removed his armor and clothing, revealing his muscular torso and swollen shoulders. He then opened the bundles and applied several bottles of medicinal powder to his wounds.
Li Qinghe and Li Hongyu stood by, yearning to ask questions but too afraid to speak.
Xu Yang didn't explain much to them either, after applying the medicine that promoted blood circulation and reduced bruising, "The matter is settled, but we'll need to live here for a while. We have to manage these provisions well; otherwise, we'll need to go down the mountain to resupply."
With that, he opened the two bundles, revealing some gold and silver amidst the jars of salt and bottles of oil, along with a stack of books.
"Get some food."
"Oh, okay!"
Li Hongyu complied and handed Xu Yang a jar of pickled pork hock.
Xu Yang took the pork hock, bit into it, and then picked up a book, "You both have kept watch all night and must be tired. Go to sleep, I'll keep watch."
"Hmm..."
Although they had many questions, since Xu Yang said so, they did not insist and quietly lay on the bed, still staring at him.
But they couldn't stay awake for long; soon, the pull of sleep was too strong, and they quickly fell asleep on their pallets.
At this time, Xu Yang had already devoured the pork hock and was now intently reading the martial arts manual he had scavenged from the Li Family's house—Three Yang Stakes!
It was a manual of inner strength, a technique common and widespread, even considered pedestrian within the Martial World.
But what was commonplace to the sects of the Martial World was precious knowledge and power beyond reach for commoners like him in the countryside.
Beyond the Three Yang Stakes, Xu Yang had packed an assortment of unread books, many of which were martial arts manuals, but mostly common techniques like the Mandarin Duck Blades, Subduing Tiger Fist, Arhat Stick, and Grass Flight, all widely known and practiced martial arts.
However, he didn't mind. He read through each one thoroughly, like a parched sponge soaking up every bit of moisture, striving to fill his mind to the brim.
Lack of depth in a wide array of skills?
Greed for more knowledge without mastering it?
To him, these were not problems at all. With the ability to traverse between worlds, as Zhuanzhou Mengdie, and the vast differences in the flow of time coupled with the special effects of the Attribute Panel, he could master a plethora of skills, fill in all gaps, and even delve into numerous fields to blossom in all of them.
Knowledge is power!
Information is wealth!
With ample time and a long life ahead, as long as he made good use of everything, he was sure to live a resplendent life.
```