Chapter 40: Section 41: Resolute Persistence


    Editor: Henyee Translations


    Don’t underestimate the three arrows, they greatly impacted the battle’s outcome.


    One side remained unscathed, all engaged in ranged attacks, while the other side suffered casualties.


    In warfare, one-on-one and two-on-one are entirely different conditions.


    Military strategy hinges on using various tactics to create situations where the few are overwhelmed by the many, thereby gaining a manpower advantage.


    Moreover, Flying Squirrels are not Undead; as long as they are natural life forms, morale plays a role. For example, when Zhenjin directly took out the Flying Squirrel leader, it caused the remaining Flying Squirrels to collapse and scatter.


    ...


    In fact, they couldn’t shoot too many arrows.


    Excessive archery greatly depleted their physical strength. They were all temporary archers and should allocate more energy to close combat, or else the losses would outweigh the gains.


    Next, Zhenjin still assigned Bai Ya to handle the task of adjusting the bows.


    Huang Zao and Lan Zao had only limited leadership abilities, efficient enough to lead small groups charging on the ship’s deck.


    As for Zhenjin, he couldn’t adjust the bows himself. Cang Xu and Zi Di were even less capable in this regard.


    Bai Ya, the son of a hunter, had ordinary skills. If not for being stranded on this island, he would have faded into obscurity. But in these circumstances, he could rely on his abilities to shine.


    For him, this island posed great danger but also significant opportunity.


    “In the end, the talent under me is too scarce. Even someone with a bit of talent, like Bai Ya, can stand out,” Zhenjin thought in secret.


    Bai Ya led a few people to adjust the bows, and the remaining people didn’t idle.


    Huang Zao continued to hunt, but the main goal wasn’t to obtain food; it was to target wild birds and collect feathers.


    Lan Zao continued scouting around the Flying Squirrel colony.


    People were continuously creating wooden arrow shields and Hunter Traps.


    There were also hemp ropes weaved from tree bark fibers, short ones for bowstrings, and long ones for binding, such as making arrow shields. The stock of hemp ropes steadily increased; these things seemed trivial but were very practical.


    No one could estimate how long they would stay on this island, so they had to stockpile hemp ropes as much as possible.


    According to Cang Xu, the uses of hemp ropes were actually quite extensive.


    Besides their primary function, combined hemp ropes could be woven into nets. Nets could carry items, be sewn into clothes, or be made into straw sandals.


    Cang Xu also participated, providing a very rudimentary loom.


    This loom consisted of a dozen small wooden stakes inserted into the ground, arranged in two rows. A horizontal rod connected every other stake in one row.


    With strings wound around the stakes, dozens of vertical lines formed. Lifting the rod would raise half of the stakes, and subsequently, half of the vertical lines.


    At that moment, a horizontal thread was eased into the raised vertical lines. Letting down the vertical lines, a horizontal thread and dozens of vertical lines tightened up, completing a basic weaving motion.


    Repeating this motion dozens or hundreds of times would produce a piece of fabric.


    This primitive loom was highly inefficient compared to those in the Empire, worlds apart in functionality. A half-day’s labor might yield a piece only the size of a palm, but it indeed saved significant labor and materials, being much more efficient than hand weaving.


    Team members working with such looms were all impressed with Cang Xu’s extensive knowledge. But Cang Xu explained that this loom design actually came from his studies of the Beastmen.


    Compared to the Human Race Empire, the Beastmen occupied the Wilderness Continent but generally lived in tribal forms, with low living and production levels. Such looms were common among the Beastmen.


    As for Zi Di, she was primarily responsible for making poisons. Zhenjin had clearly instructed her to create a type of poison that could naturally dissipate or be neutralized through boiling or roasting. Or preferably, a poison that would only be effective against Flying Squirrels but harmless to humans.


    After all, Zhenjin needed to hunt Flying Squirrels for food. If the poison was too potent, the meat would be inedible even if the Flying Squirrels were killed, resulting in a loss far greater than the gains for the entire exploration team.


    In their current primitive environment, Zi Di could only make tentative attempts and requested live Flying Squirrels for experiments.


    Zhenjin set off covertly, along with Lan Zao, to scout the Flying Squirrel colony.


    Cang Xu stayed at camp to oversee matters.


    After adjusting the bows, Bai Ya led the group to begin test shooting.


    By evening, the leaders reconvened to exchange their findings.


    Zhenjin and Lan Zao captured three live Flying Squirrels and handed them to Zi Di.


    Huang Zao, however, had no prey to show for his efforts; hunting didn’t rely on combat prowess. In fact, he lost a few Iron-made arrowheads—precious items that were irreplaceable.


    Though not without gains, Huang Zao’s group, driven by their failed hunt, ventured farther afield and stumbled upon a small bamboo grove.


    Bamboo was an excellent resource, as bamboo segments were natural water containers. Bamboo could be used to make rafts, and sharpened bamboo could be fashioned into traps.


    The third day


    “Shoot!” Huang Zao commanded, and multiple arrows soared through the air with a whoosh.


    Several makeshift targets stood at a distance of 120 steps.


    Concentric circles had been drawn on the targets with charcoal, but hardly any arrows hit the mark.


    The circles on the targets were quite small, comparable to the size of a Flying Squirrel. In actual combat, they would have to shoot these moving targets.


    Therefore, such archery results were unacceptable.


    “Your stance is wrong.”


    “Straighten your back, extend your arm.”


    “Steady, steady. Why are you trembling?!”


    Huang Zao served as the instructor.


    He frowned deeply, feeling immense pressure.


    Comparatively, the best marksman in the entire team was undoubtedly Zhenjin.


    Second was Bai Ya, whose shooting skills surpassed those of Huang Zao and others due to his reliance on this skill for survival.


    Hunters didn’t fight head-on; it was just a means to make a living. Besides hunting dogs, hunters often used traps and bows extensively. Skilled hunters would retreat or cease their attempt when encountering prey they couldn’t handle.


    Huang Zao and Lan Zao excelled in close combat and used crossbows more frequently than bows for ranged attacks. They had specifically trained in archery for survival on the ship.


    Huang Zao’s disastrous hunting results the previous day led Zhenjin to appoint him as the temporary instructor for training.


    Determined to redeem himself, Huang Zao put in extra effort.


    When training others, Huang Zao proved to be more dependable despite being slightly less skilled in archery than Bai Ya.


    Bai Ya relied more on intuition and was a self-taught archer.


    Huang Zao, having undergone formal training, knew the key techniques of archery.


    “First, engage in individual intensive practice, then form Arrow Screens. With the current skills, even basic Arrow Screens can’t be formed,” Zhenjin observed the training, feeling a mixture of anxiety and patience, though he didn’t show it outwardly.


    Today, Bai Ya took Huang Zao’s place in hunting. The main goal remained to hunt wild birds, as the team needed more feathers to make arrow fletchings.


    No one expected him to hunt enough food.


    Solo hunting carried great risk and low efficiency, often dependent on luck.


    Throughout the Empire, hunters led tough lives.


    Hence the saying: “Hunters don’t fare as well as shepherds, and shepherds don’t compare to farmers.”


    Normally, hunters struggled to fill their bellies. Farmers had the most stable and secure lives compared to hunters and shepherds.


    Despite seemingly having a source of meat, most forest lands were owned by Nobles. Hunters caught poaching faced severe punishment.


    In such a predicament, the exploration team could only rely on large-scale hunting to meet their food needs.


    Training continued from morning to nightfall, and after dinner, the team members were too exhausted to talk and promptly fell asleep in their tents.


    In Zhenjin’s tent, Cang Xu reported the grim situation with a solemn expression.


    “Lord Zhenjin, our food supplies are critically low. If this continues, we won’t last a few days.”


    Zhenjin’s face remained calm and composed.


    He even found it strange how, over the past two days, his initial anxiety had gradually settled down.


    He had adjusted to the pressure and reassured Cang Xu, “We must train in archery. This cannot be rushed. We have to tough it out! Without a fundamental proficiency in archery, rashly engaging in battle would be pointless. Intensive training does consume physical strength and increase food consumption. But by depleting our food now to improve archery, we will reduce casualties in future battles. It’s a worthwhile trade.”


    “Understood, my lord,” Cang Xu nodded, “However, this severe food shortage is well known, causing anxiety among the team.”


    Zhenjin smiled, “Then clearly inform everyone of our remaining rations. If necessary, let them see our food stocks themselves.”


    Cang Xu’s expression shifted slightly, and he responded gravely, “I understand, my lord.” Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The fourth day


    The shooting range.


    Despite sore and even swollen arms, the exploration team members were determined and rigorously continued their training.


    They had a clear understanding of their food reserves and their dire situation. It was all or nothing—failure in hunting meant their end!


    Under such pressure, everyone was driven to work diligently, sparing no effort to master archery.


    Though the initial training results were dismal, once adapted, they markedly improved their target accuracy.


    Although arrows rarely hit the bullseye, most now hit the targets.


    Seeing the stabilized archery results, Huang Zao immediately replaced the stationary targets with moving ones.


    These moving targets were short wooden stakes tied with hemp ropes, with the other ends tied to high branches. Releasing the hoisted stakes caused them to swing.


    Huang Zao tasked the team to hit these stakes with arrows.


    Their performance plummeted, worse than before!


    No one complained, aware that in actual combat, Flying Squirrels would be quicker and more unpredictable than swinging stakes.


    Practice, relentless practice.


    Every moment was precious.


    During lunch, the team ate in silence, the atmosphere heavy.


    Many furrowed their brows, constantly reflecting and pondering how to improve their archery.


    During tent breaks, they mimicked drawing a bow, even without one in hand.


    Post-training, team members massaged each other’s arms.


    Many couldn’t lift their arms, all suffering from swelling.


    Thankfully, Zi Di provided potions.


    These potions, though initially for Transcendents, were diluted for the team, still offering strong recovery.


    Used both externally and internally, these potions, combined with a night’s rest, restored their arms significantly.


    Dinner consisted of thin soup.


    Sparse wild vegetables resembled mere garnish.


    The team’s faces changed, but no one spoke up.


    Everyone understood the severe situation.


    “Cang Xu, come out,” Zhenjin’s distant voice called.


    “Why is dinner so meager?” Zhenjin seemed to question Cang Xu.


    “My lord, food is scarce. We had no choice,” Cang Xu replied.


    Zhenjin retorted, “But I recall we have some reserves. It’s not that dire!”


    “My lord, those are the last of the dry rations, reserved for you and Lady Zi Di.”


    “Bring them out.”


    “My lord?”


    “Bring them out! How can they train or fight without proper meals?”


    This conversation stirred emotions among the listeners, many showing signs of being moved.


    “My lord, please let us engage,” that night, some team members approached Zhenjin, requesting to act.


    But Zhenjin denied their request, “Training. More training is needed!”


    The fifth day


    Training, training, and more training!


    By the evening, Zhenjin inspected the progress and was pleased to find that half of the shots out of ten hit the targets.


    The moving targets were larger than actual Flying Squirrels, but these results met Zhenjin’s standards.


    He never expected to turn each member into a Divine Archer in a short time; everyone’s innate ability set limits to their archery skills.


    But Arrow Screens could compensate for lack of accuracy.


    With such skills, they could form effective Arrow Screens.


    By the afternoon, Cang Xu also approached Zhenjin, “We can act now, my lord.”


    “Let’s wait a bit longer,” Zhenjin replied firmly.


    His steadfastness surprised even himself.