novelraw Chapter 25
Chapter 25
How could the experience for 《Archery》 be increased?
Su Wangchuan pondered for two days and could not figure it out.
He tried countless times. Whether it was firing into the air, shooting fixed straw targets, extending the distance, or increasing the difficulty and number of shots, none of it caused the experience bar to increase by even a single point.
Just as he was nearly falling into despair, it began to snow.
The temperature in Blackstone Village plummeted abruptly.
Everyone rushed to buy thick clothes and trousers from Auntie Wang in the village to ward off the cold.
The blacksmith shop, however, was fine.
Seeing winter arrive with snowfall, Blacksmith Sun immediately lit all the blast furnaces and fire pits to maintain high temperatures. He also said that, next, there should be a large number of iron arrowheads available for sale.
For Su Wangchuan, it meant another opportunity to earn money quickly.
Just as Blacksmith Sun had predicted.As soon as the snow fell, the village chief came out to announce:
The mountain was sealed.
No one was allowed to approach the mountains, and no one was allowed near the iron mine.
The reason was that after snowfall, many beasts would begin descending the mountains to search for food and stockpile supplies.
The village hunters and militia grabbed bows and spears, shut the village gates tight, lit braziers, and expanded the patrol teams.
Everyone could feel it.
The atmosphere in the village had grown tense.
The forging tables in the blacksmith shop rang with clanging sounds throughout the night.
Sure enough.
That very night, waves of wolf howls echoed outside the village.
Several wolves attempted to climb over the earthen walls but were spotted by patrolling hunters. A chaotic volley of arrows was fired, and by morning, several frozen wolf carcasses lay outside the village.
Each wolf was large in size.
Everyone thought the danger had passed.
But on the second day, even more commotion came from outside the village…
Su Wangchuan was forging crude iron arrowheads in the blacksmith shop when he suddenly heard an urgent clanging sound—clang clang clang clang—from within the village, signaling an emergency.
“All men in the village, get up!”
“Wolves!”
“The wolf pack is here!”
“Grab your weapons!”
“Defend the village!!”
From atop the earthen walls came the constant sounds of hunters releasing arrows.
Along with the shrill howls and screams of wolves outside, and the scratching and clawing against the earthen walls, the village chief and Blacksmith Sun were both jolted awake.
Su Wangchuan’s face turned pale.
So late at night, the wolf pack had arrived.
Most of the players who were online during the day had already logged out.
There were only thirty to forty able-bodied men left in the village.
Hong Kaibao and Bai Yuhui were also startled.
The two reacted quickly.
“Run!”
“We cannot get bitten to death by wolves!”
“Senior Brother, run!”
As they spoke, the two dashed toward the nearby wooden houses.
Su Wangchuan, however, was worried about his master Blacksmith Sun’s safety, and about the safety of his half-master, Zhao Heiniu. He grabbed a bow and arrows and prepared to go help…
Before leaving, he did not forget to sling an extra quiver of armor-piercing arrows over his back.
If iron arrowheads were not effective enough, he would use armor-piercing arrows and let these mountain beasts learn a lesson.
Su Wangchuan had not touched a wooden bow for two days.
Yet the instant the bow entered his hands, the muscle memory carved into his bones surged forth.
Footwork.
Gaze.
Bow and arrow.
At this moment, he was a true archer.
He nocked an arrow, his steps light and swift. He scanned the surroundings rapidly, his eyes sharp.
The situation in the village was grim.
From all directions came the sounds of wolves clawing at the earthen walls.
Howls rose and fell endlessly.
From time to time, a wolf would climb onto the wall, poking its head and half its body inside…
WHOOSH!
WHOOSH WHOOSH!
Each time that happened, arrows would fly.
The wolves were extremely alert, dodging even faster than Lin Dahai.
Many arrows missed.
That was because each direction had only a few hunters.
Everyone stood on the inner side of the earthen wall, and when they drew their bows to shoot, it was easy to be noticed.
The wolves clearly knew how dangerous bows and arrows were. Perhaps they had clashed with hunters before. They dodged with remarkable composure.
Inside the village, more and more able-bodied men rushed out.
They carried spears and charged toward the walls.
Zhao Heiniu shouted commands loudly:
“Hold steady! Spearmen in front, archers behind!”
“Push the wolves back!”
“Everyone, help protect the braziers!”
“We are preparing to climb the wall!”
Zhao Heiniu’s archery was ferocious.
While issuing orders, he rapidly drew his bow twice, suddenly adjusted direction, and fired in quick succession, hitting two wolves and greatly boosting morale.
“Captain.”
Su Wangchuan approached with his bow.
Zhao Heiniu nodded in satisfaction and said,
“Stay behind me. We go up the wall together.”
Just that single sentence made Su Wangchuan’s blood boil.
At a moment like this, he could no longer care about company rules, avoiding conflict, or main quest lines.
He was a man of Blackstone Village.
He had to protect Blackstone Village.
He had to drive back the wolf pack.
“Move!”
Zhao Heiniu had already gathered seven or eight people.
Four militia spearmen charged up the steps toward the earthen wall.
A wolf lurking outside suddenly lunged with lightning speed. The militia member in front was knocked off the wall, falling back into the village.
Zhao Heiniu did not even look back and continued forward.
Su Wangchuan glanced behind.
The wolf, though ferocious, was immediately met with spears once it entered the village. It was stabbed through three or four times on the spot. After struggling and howling in pain, it quickly went still.
The fallen militia member was not seriously injured. Limping, he headed back toward the steps, clearly adopting a “light injury does not leave the battlefield” stance.
“Focus.”
Zhao Heiniu’s voice came from ahead.
WHOOSH!
WHOOSH!
In the brief moment he spoke, Zhao Heiniu had already climbed onto the wall, firing two rapid shots to either side. A pained wolf howl rang out.
It was far too dark outside to see clearly.
The wolves were also exceptionally agile.
This was Su Wangchuan’s first time facing such a situation. Nervousness was inevitable.
Following Zhao Heiniu’s guidance, he took a deep breath, forcibly calmed himself, and began to draw his bow.
Everything he had learned over the past period was now facing its harshest test.
Entry-level Archery, under trial.
In front of him were three militia spearmen, constantly swinging their spears to block wolves from approaching, creating safe firing opportunities for the archers.
Outside the village, visibility was extremely poor.
The only things that stood out were the pairs of reflective eyes of the wolves.
Dense.
Crowded.
At Su Wangchuan’s feet alone were more than forty wolves.
The entire village was surrounded by at least two hundred wolves.
All the archers began to act.
Bows were drawn again and again, arrows released without pause, but few hit their targets.
Su Wangchuan also tried to lock onto targets, shooting toward the center of the wolves’ eyes.
WHOOSH. WHOOSH.
Both arrows missed.
“Stay calm.”
“Wait until they get closer before shooting.”
Zhao Heiniu shouted to everyone,
“These wolf brats are smart! They are trying to exhaust our arrows and stamina. Do not fall for it! Wait until they close in before firing. In this light, you should not shoot until they are within ten paces!”
“Do not be afraid!”
“They cannot get in!”
Zhao Heiniu truly lived up to his reputation as the village’s finest hunter.
His words immediately gave everyone something to rely on. One by one, they steadied themselves and followed his instructions.
The winter wind was bitterly cold.
Someone carried braziers up to the wall, helping dispel the chill while also illuminating the area outside the village.
The silhouettes of the wolves became clearer.
Below the wall, several unlucky wolves lay howling, their cries growing weaker and weaker.
The wolves ran through the snow beyond ten paces, seeking opportunities.
On the earthen wall, figures moved.
Militia gripped spears, on high alert.
Hunters nocked arrows, eyes sharp.
Only then did Su Wangchuan realize—
He had unknowingly been swept into a decisive battle for the survival of Blackstone Village.
Hiss…
Please do not let anything go wrong.
If something went wrong, his account would be wiped.