The maids of the inner court hurried along, their footsteps falling softly and silently on the ground as they carried white paper to the Martial Arts Arena, dedicated to the practice of archery. Stooping down, they spread out the roll of white paper, one meter in both width and length, beside Li Guanyi. They then brought over the finest Four Treasures of the Study.
Li Guanyi picked up a brush to moisten it on the inkstone.
Then, with the brush in hand, he began to write down the formula, first arranging many figures in a list.
The various symbols he had originally assumed were replaced with characters representing heaven, earth, and humanity.
His calligraphy had also been taught by his aunt—in times of poverty, he'd practice with his finger dabbed in water on a stone table, or with a twig on sand moistened by water, always visible. Now, as his handwriting took shape, the idle chatter of the bystanders seemed to hush.
Wow? This lad's got some skill indeed.
Many people had gathered around Li Guanyi.
Some Xue family youngsters who came to watch the excitement ran out to call over friends who weren't here.
To instruct in Martial Arts through mathematical methods was unheard of; whether this was a revelation or simply a spectacle of amusement, it surely wasn't a bad thing.
Xue Shuangtao watched Li Guanyi, her eyes blinking slightly, curiosity arising within her as she wondered how he would proceed.
Only Xue Changqing continued to hold a bow, tirelessly shooting arrows even if he couldn't hit the target. After all, he was just eight years old and despite having practiced the Xue family's Inner Strength from a young age, his bow strength was insufficient, his archery skills lacking, unable to perform the moves of the Xue family's Divine Bow. His arrows fell around the target—in front, behind, to the left, and to the right.
The ones practicing archery here were all members of the Xue family.
They naturally knew about this young master's situation, so when this mathematics tutor made such a bold statement, they were all very curious. Even deep within, in a place they had not realized, there was a strong sense of disagreement and even some disdain.
This lack of recognition stemmed from their long-held experiences.
Thus, the older they were, the more they rejected and were repulsed by it.
Archery is a profoundly sophisticated branch of Martial Arts!
Hitting the target required hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of practice attempts.
They had all been through this process.
How could it possibly be determined by mere pen and paper?
The surrounding voices gradually rose, and even though they were whispering, the noise became a cacophony as the number of people increased.
Li Guanyi picked up his brush, looked around at the curious gazes, and without showing any fear, he put the brush down and said with a smile, "Alright, that's about it."
Xue Changqing shot many times without hitting the target, feeling somewhat frustrated, and said,
"If you win, I will obediently go back with you to study mathematics."
"And even ... even I can give you a coin each day!"
He lifted his head and puffed out his chest, "I'm raising the stakes!"
"But what if you lose?"
Li Guanyi said with a smile, "If I lose, I won't force you to learn. How about that?"
Xue Changqing's eyes lit up, "A deal is a deal!"
Then he paused. He should have felt excitement and anticipation at not having to study mathematics, but then he thought, if Li Guanyi won, wouldn't it mean that he really could use mathematics to help him hit the target? Wouldn't that be pleasant too?
For a moment, he didn't know whether to hope for Li Guanyi to win or lose.
Under these complex emotions, Li Guanyi asked Xue Changqing to draw the bow and shoot the arrow, while he himself remained seated, verifying the angle and direction from the side. After estimating it, Li Guanyi said, "Point the arrowhead three fingers up, hmm, a slight downward tilt, that's good."
"Draw the bow fully, shoot."
That's it?!
Is he mocking me?!
Xue Changqing's fingers released on impulse.
The arrow was shot forth.
The others laughed as they watched, as when shooting arrows, the elder would normally stand beside the disciple to help stabilize the structure. The angle required a tactile feel—how could it possibly be done by just watching from the side?
Sure enough, not reliable. Even the young lady is deceived by this man.
Just a greenhorn...
Thud—a muffled sound, and the Xue family Martial Artists' thoughts froze instantly.
There had been a low murmuring earlier, a collective din.
But now there was sudden silence.
This change was so drastic.
One could even hear the faint tremble of the arrow's feathers after it struck the target.
Xue Shuangtao's eyes widened slightly at the sight of the arrow that hit the target, then looked towards the young man, a flicker of admiration in her eyes, while Xue Changqing couldn't believe it as he stared at the arrow, murmuring, "Did I, did I hit it?!"
"I hit it!"
"Sister, I hit it!!!"
The Xue family youngsters talked amongst themselves, with surprise, resistance, belief in mere luck, and various other feelings in their eyes.
Li Guanyi was about to stand up when his movement briefly paused.
A warm current flowed across his chest.
The bronze tripod hummed, the Jade Liquid silently and slowly increasing—this meant... Li Guanyi slightly tilted his head, unable to see the old man, but he seemed to hear the low growl of a fierce tiger from his ears, as a paw as large as a lion's head at the gateway pressed beside Li Guanyi.
Heaven knows how he managed to detect elegance and laziness from this simple action.
The young man in blue clothes sat cross-legged, his gaze undisturbed by a single ripple.
Around him, spread out on white paper were characters written with neat and powerful strokes. A majestic White Tiger paced around the young man, its tail slightly lifted like a long whip, blue eyes fixed on Li Guanyi.
The Xue family's old patriarch had arrived.
Li Guanyi put away the idea he originally had of just making Xue Changqing hit the target and stopping there.
With the fish on the hook, it was time for heavier bait.
He picked up the brush, calmly verified his calculations again, and suddenly said, "Mount the bow and arrow."
The Xue family youngsters, just start to discuss and argue among themselves, were taken aback, exchanging glances.
Hadn't the target already been hit? What else did he intend to do?
Xue Changqing obediently and excitedly drew his bow as Li Guanyi observed from the side, confirmed the angle, and gave a succinct explanation. When Xue Changqing released the bowstring, the arrow shot forth and this time hit the tail of the previous arrow, splitting the fletching of the arrow in front.
A 16-year-old youth from the Xue family murmured, "...Linked Beads?"
Linked Beads in archery is less about the power of the shot than it is about technique and accuracy.
Some people can split rocks with a single arrow, but ask them to shoot Linked Beads, and they'd find it difficult. They excel at brute force but such advanced skill was now being demonstrated by a child who, half an hour earlier, couldn't even hit the target.
Li Guanyi said again, "Nock the bow, place the arrow."
Xue Changqing released two more arrows, still hitting the fletching of the previous one, four arrows now connected end to end. From a mathematical and physical standpoint, as long as the parameters are set, the results should be the same, Li Guanyi was simply in awe that martial artists indeed are different, able to ensure such stability in archery.
The rest of the Xue family were in disbelief.
Xue Shuangtao's voice, crisp and clear, declared, "Consecutive."
First goes one arrow, followed continuously by three more, each belonging to the other, as if linked together like beads.
This is a test of skill within the Six Arts of a gentleman, not assessing the strength of the archery but the precision and control.
They were extremely shaken inside, with all sense of denial vanishing from their eyes.
Li Guanyi dipped his brush in ink once more and said dispassionately, "Draw the bow, place the arrow."
The members of the Xue family tensed their expressions subconsciously.
Again?
Three more shots were fired.
This time, the arrow that was shot left a pattern on the target that formed four intersecting points in the center of a grid.
Xue Shuangtao's eyes shone slightly as he spoke in a soft tone, "Jing Yi."
Four arrows penetrating as neatly as the wells' arrangement.
Also among the five archery skills tested.
Only the sound of arrows piercing the air remained.
"Hit the mark"
"Linked Beads"
"Consecutive"
"Jing Yi"
Inside the Xue Family Martial Arts Arena, it was as quiet as a graveyard, except for the light panting of Xue Changqing. Li Guanyi said calmly,
"Draw the bow, place the arrow."
All the Xue family disciples held their breath.
For some reason, they suddenly felt that the young man sitting cross-legged seemed exceptionally tall, and his four steady words, unvarying in tone, held an inexplicable sense of overpowering pressure that made it hard for them to breathe.
Only Xue Changqing was extremely excited, immediately nocking the bow and placing an arrow as Li Guanyi checked the angle.
He lowered his eyes, seeming to calculate something, and said, "Fire the arrow."
The arrow was released.
Spinning, it passed through the previously riddled target, steadily hitting the bullseye with enough force to pierce the already fragile target.
For a long while, there was no sound, then Li Guanyi picked up his pen.
All the Xue family members' complexions changed.
The young man calmly placed the pen back on the stand.
Xue Changqing asked, "Master, aren't we practicing anymore?"
What more is there to practice if your hand is trembling?
Li Guanyi shook his head and said, "We're out of ink."
Only then did the Xue family disciples notice that the ink in the inkstone in front of the young man had dried up.
Just at that moment, the main door suddenly opened.
Outside was a vast and distant blue sky, and an elder with white hair and beard walked in. The wind fluttered, causing the ink-covered white papers next to the young man in blue to stir. The young man sat upright amidst them, his eyes still calm and his clothes and palms without a speck of ink.
"Hahaha! What a brilliant scholar of numbers, truly a talent reaching the heavens," he laughed heartily.
The Xue family disciples all showed respectful admiration.
"Grand Ancestor!"
Xue Changqing, carrying his bow and arrows, ran up quickly, "Grandpa, Grandpa, I hit the target! I've done it, you must teach me the 'Divine Bow Thirteen Forms'!"
The elder laughed heartily, reaching out to ruffle his grandson's hair with indulgence, "Good, good, my Changqing also has great talents. It seems this generation will finally be able to wield our family's 'Breaking Cloud Sky-shattering Bow', sealed away for a hundred and thirty years."
'Divine Bow Thirteen Forms'
'Breaking Cloud Sky-shattering Bow'?
Li Guanyi was curious and stood up to give his respects.
The Jade Liquid in the bronze tripod was nurtured to half completion.
Too bad Xue Changqing had reached his limit, or Li Guanyi could have delayed longer, but injuring the child in the process wouldn't be good. Nevertheless, at seventy percent completion, it was sufficient. With more time, in one month, it would surely be accomplished.
The elder, looking at him, admiration in his eyes, said,
"Mr. Li, truly impressive."
Li Guanyi replied, "It's just arithmetic."
The old man laughed loudly, "Just arithmetic? I have never heard of such arithmetic before. I'm rather curious."
He thought for a moment, and then said, "I was wondering if you could take a walk and chat with me for a while?"
Li Guanyi looked at the elder and the White Tiger beside him.
With a composed expression, the elder looked on, but from the face of the White Tiger Dharma Form, there emerged a hint of curiosity. Li Guanyi pondered; it seemed that Dharma Forms, unlike their true forms, could not hide emotions, were without cunning or schemes. He tempered his spirit and answered with a smile,
"Naturally."
At that moment, the Jade Liquid in the bronze tripod had reached seventy percent.