As the sun set and smoke curled from the chimneys, Qin Yi held Wang Gensheng's hand and wandered aimlessly through the village streets, like a child with no home.
"Where are we going to play?" Wang Gensheng asked, standing at the crossroads, looking puzzled.
"I haven't seen Dashan in several days. Let's go visit him," Qin Yi said after a moment's thought.
Dashan was also a friend he trusted, and he had missed the little chubby boy.
"Da Tou, do you know where Dashan's house is?"
Wang Gensheng looked around. His small frame made everything seem taller, almost intimidating.
Qin Yi rested his chin on his right hand, analyzing carefully: "Dashan's father is a hunter. Their home must be near the forest. The north is forested, so their house should be in the northern part of the village."
He thought a bit more: "I remember someone mentioning that Dashan's family lives at the very edge. So they should be at the far north of the village."
Looking up, Qin Yi scanned the area and pointed in a direction: "That way you can see the forest—it's north. Let's go that way."
The path north was a slight uphill. Though the incline was gentle, for two little kids like Qin Yi and Wang Gensheng, it was still tiring.
At the end of the path, they saw the house at the edge of the village, clearly different from the others. Animal teeth were hung above the gate.
Qin Yi breathed a sigh of relief and pointed at the teeth: "See, these are animal teeth. Only a hunter's family would hang these as ornaments, just like our family hangs wheat at the gate to show we're farmers, or craftsmen hang ink lines. Same principle."
Wang Gensheng looked at Qin Yi with admiration: "Da Tou, you know so much."
Proud, Qin Yi lifted his head and nodded lightly: "It's common knowledge. Nothing special, just a little insight."
Qin Yi walked up and knocked: "Dashan, Dashan, are you home?"
Hearing a child calling, Qing Niang opened the gate. Looking down, she saw Da Tou, and a little distance away, Wang Gensheng.
"Da Tou, Dashan went down the mountain to practice archery with our man. I'll call him for you."
Archery?
Qin Yi's eyes lit up: "Aunt Niang, can Wang Gensheng and I come with you?"
Archery wasn't secretive, and Qing Niang smiled, nodding: "Of course."
She closed the door since they would enter the forest. Concerned about potential dangers, she picked up both children: "Let's go."
Da Tou was surprised and initially didn't react. Once he realized, he wriggled and protested: "Aunt Niang, I'm grown! I can walk myself! Put me down!"
Qing Niang laughed: "You're just a little bean. Danger in the forest—wolves may carry you off. Big gray wolves love children like you."
Wang Gensheng, never held by his mother before, froze in fear upon hearing this.
Qin Yi, however, wasn't scared, only noting the increasingly difficult path, the tall grass, hidden snakes, and insects…
"Hmph, I'm not scared! The path's rough. Being carried is better than walking, so why get down?"
Qing Niang adored Da Tou, so logical and confident despite his small size. She rubbed his rosy face affectionately: "Good, good. You're right, Da Tou."
In the distance, the sounds of arrows hitting targets captured Qin Yi's attention.
Turning a corner around a small hill, Qing Niang led them to a flattened area—clearly prepared by Dashan's family as an archery range.
Dashan, carrying a small bow, shot arrows at a distant tree, hitting it about once every three or four shots. His father stood nearby, correcting mistakes in a strict but careful tone.
"The Young Master, Da Tou is here to see Dashan."
"Da Tou? Cough, Da Tou is here? Dashan, let's finish for today. We'll continue tomorrow." Qin An turned, seeing Qing Niang holding Da Tou, blushing, coughing lightly, and nodded.
Seeing Qin An's weak body and cough, Qin Yi asked worriedly: "Uncle An, are you alright?"
Qin An paused, looked at Da Tou with complex eyes, shook his head: "I'm fine, just caught a cold. A few days and it'll pass."
Relieved it wasn't an injury, Qin Yi thought: I almost thought Uncle An was hurt like the Young Master. But of course, how could he have the same injuries?
Dashan was delighted to see Da Tou and Wang Gensheng, though constrained by his parents' presence.
Once Qing Niang set them down, the kids gathered together, truly coming alive.
"Da Tou, you really became the Young Master's sword boy?"
Having not seen Da Tou for days, and hearing rumors, Dashan was immediately curious.
"Yes."
"You really only drink the green elixir and don't eat food?"
"The green elixir? You mean the restorative soup. Yes, since I became the Young Master's sword boy at the village west courtyard, I've only drunk the restorative soup, no regular meals."
"Really? Da Tou, are you like the Young Master now—a person among immortals?" Dashan asked enviously.
"No way. I can't compare to the Young Master. Enough about me, let's talk about you." Qin Yi shifted the topic quickly.
"Me? What's there to say?" Dashan asked, confused.
"Dashan, you're learning archery, shooting arrow after arrow at the tree—so cool!" Qin Yi praised, directing the conversation to Dashan's archery practice.
Dashan beamed: "Since yesterday, my father has been teaching me archery."
"Yesterday? And today you shoot this accurately? Dashan, you're amazing!"
"Of course!" Dashan proudly replied: "Da Tou, archery has secrets…"
Qin Yi guided Dashan through the details of his archery, and as evening fell and they said their goodbyes, the archery skill—Level 0—was recorded in the game panel as expected.
(End of Chapter)