Chapter 123

Having tasted success, Zhu Changle abandoned her hunting activities and spent every day roaming the mountains with Aunt Feng, hoping to strike it rich again.

However, there weren't many blood trees left, though she did manage to find quite a few trees suitable for shipbuilding.

Being someone who was easily content, Zhu Changle merely pouted before cheerfully accepting this outcome, and without delay went to claim credit from her elder brother.

"Perfect timing."

"I haven't even told you the good news yet!" Zhu Changle grumbled as she approached, then her jaw dropped at the sight of what was on the table. "That looks familiar!"

Zhu Changwang smiled, "Would you like to share your good news first, or look at this?"

"The good news is that I found many trees suitable for shipbuilding," Zhu Changle blurted out in one breath, then picked up the object from the table, examining it from all angles and holding it up close to her eyes.

"You modified the sleeve arrow to look like this? Although it's definitely more powerful, it's too big to strap to one's arm now."

"This is a crossbow. The basic principle is similar to your sleeve arrow, and combining it with the military's catapult design, I've had people working on heavy bows. We should have good news about that soon too."

Zhu Changle frowned, "Brother, are you sure you're resting properly?"

"Does lying in bed mean I can't use my brain?"

That made sense - they couldn't expect her brother to stop thinking just because he was recuperating. That would be quite difficult.

Seeing that he had successfully diverted her concern, Zhu Changwang changed the subject, "I plan to equip the Yunbei guards with these."

Zhu Changle laughed heartily, "Luo Ding is still holding onto his trump cards, and here you are with this already prepared."

"That's why I need your help. The crossbow is far superior to the bows and arrows they're currently using. Go show him what it can do, and give Luo Ding something more to think about," Zhu Changwang tapped the crossbow with his fan. "Do you need big brother to teach you how to handle this?"

"No need, no need, I'm good at this." Zhu Changle grabbed the arrows and tucked them into her waist, hoisted the crossbow, and ran off. After leaping onto the roof, she called out, "Father, Father, please come out! Your little Changle has a performance for you!"

Zhu Maonian's heart stirred at the sound, but in front of Clerk Li, he rubbed his forehead with a pained expression, "This child is truly too unruly."

"In my humble opinion, she seems perfect in every way."

"You all praise her so much, she's completely lost her sense of direction." Zhu Maonian stood up, "Come, let's go see what new tricks she's up to."

"Father, I'm up here!" Zhu Changle jumped up and down, waving.

"Such nonsense," Zhu Maonian glared at her, "Is the road not wide enough for you to walk on? Come down immediately."

"No way, this wonderful thing needs to be shown off from up high." As Zhu Changle held the crossbow and loaded an arrow, she happened to glance back and saw Luo Ding standing in the County Deputy Office. She called out loudly, "Uncle, I have something amazing to show you."

Luo Ding nodded with a smile, "Uncle is waiting to see."

Zhu Maonian didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "Really now, how did she become so casual?"

"Of course I'm at ease in your territory, isn't that right, Uncle?"

Clerk Li stroked his beard and nodded in agreement with a smile.

"Stop showing off and get on with it."

"Alright, alright, Father, you're not being very kindly today."

Zhu Changle made a face, then looked around. There were naturally no large trees near the County Government Office, though there were small ones. However, small trees wouldn't demonstrate the crossbow's power. She turned, crouched down to aim, and shot an arrow that swiftly struck down an iron horse decoration hanging from the highest eave of the government office.

The various clerks who had come out to watch froze their smiles, and the County Guard hurried over to pick up the iron horse, amazed at the broken piece. Could an arrow really have such power?

Zhu Maonian gave his youngest daughter, who was proudly shouldering the crossbow, a deep look, and continued playing along with the performance. "Commander Hu, bring it here for inspection."

County Guard Hu Ling quickly came forward and presented the object with both hands to the county magistrate.

Zhu Maonian examined it thoroughly, walked a few steps forward and turned around, pointing to another iron horse at the corner, "Shoot another one down."

"Easy."

Zhu Changle loaded an arrow, aimed, and fired another shot. The iron horse fell immediately, and meanwhile, the people in the County Deputy Office had already disappeared from view.

Without prompting, Hu Ling quickly went to retrieve it for the county magistrate. Zhu Maonian looked at it and passed it to Clerk Li.

"How is it?" Luo Ding hurried over and, without waiting for anyone to hand it to him, took it from Clerk Li's hands. Zhu Maonian clearly saw his hands trembling.

After both had examined it, Luo Ding steadied himself and spoke in a completely coaxing tone to the person doing somersaults on the roof: "Changle, since you've shot down two already, why not take down the last two as well?"

"Yes, sir!" Zhu Changle responded crisply, and her actions were equally decisive. She raised her hand and fired two arrows in succession. The two iron horses fell into different courtyards, with Hu Ling going to one and Luo Ding unable to resist going to the other.

Standing high up, Zhu Changle saw him pick up the iron horse and remain crouched there for quite a while without moving. By rights, she should have moved away to avoid embarrassing him, and Zhu Changle did step back, intending to leave Luo Ding his dignity.

But after a moment's hesitation, she stepped forward again, walked across the roof, crouched at the edge with her arms around her knees, and said softly, "Uncle, I'm quite skilled, aren't I?" seaʀᴄh thё nôᴠel Fire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Luo Ding didn't move. After a moment, he looked up, his eyes red, "Can you tell uncle what kind of bow this is?"

"This is a crossbow, my elder brother made it." Zhu Changle leaped down and handed him the crossbow along with the remaining arrows. "Uncle, it's for you."

Luo Ding lowered his head for a moment, wiped his hands on his official robes, and accepted it.

"I'll teach you how to use it." Zhu Changle took an arrow and showed him how to place it in the groove, how to pull back the string, and then taught him to aim at a crooked tree that wasn't tall but was fairly sturdy.

Although he missed his target, he still hit the tree. Luo Ding stared at the quivering arrow shaft, lost in thought. Such power, if only... if only...

"Young Master Zhu made this?"

"Yes, my elder brother is amazing, the kind of amazing where he can do anything. But his health isn't good, and he fell ill after arriving in Yunbei. He hasn't been able to go out yet, so he hasn't been able to pay his respects to you."

Luo Ding went to pull out the arrow but couldn't manage it at first try.

Zhu Changle pulled it out with a gentle tug, turned it around to examine the arrowhead and said, "It went in so deep, and I thought it had an iron-plated arrowhead!"

Hearing this, Luo Ding quickly looked closer, and indeed, it was just the simplest arrowhead without iron plating, only some basic treatment. If it had such power like this, then if it were plated with iron...

"Oh Uncle, does Yunbei have any iron mines?"

"Yes, yes we do."

"That's perfect then. Later we can ask Father to get some iron, and we'll make some arrowheads. The arrow's power can be increased even more."

"...Yes."

Seeing her goal achieved, Zhu Changle dusted off her hands, "Uncle, I won't go back there now, Father's going to scold me. Please tell him I'll punish myself by eating an extra bowl of rice."

Despite all his thoughts, Luo Ding couldn't help but laugh at her words, "Alright, I'll make sure to pass that along."

"Hehe."