Chapter 79 Chapter 80 Archery
The next morning, Ji Ma sat on the bed, her temples throbbing faintly. She pressed her temples to relieve some of the pain.
Extraordinary substances are like a troublesome child parasitizing within the body; once they start causing a ruckus, whether big or small, they make life miserable.
Across from Ji Ma, the bed was empty. Saintess Jenna had gone to heal a mortal, which was the “privilege” gained after arguing with Lord Drew this morning. In Saintess Jenna’s words, the healing magic would go to waste if not used, so it was better to heal a few more.
Ji Ma thought of her as someone with excess milk who needed to nurse others in line with the principle of not wasting. However, she was not foolish enough to say that out loud.
“Knock, knock, knock.”
The wooden door was knocked on.
Hearing the footsteps and the knocking, Ji Ma immediately knew it was a certain tail enthusiast, and said, “George, come in.”
The wooden door opened, and George entered, carrying two bows. Today, he was dressed in simple linen clothes, and his slim figure caught Ji Ma’s attention for a few extra glances before she confirmed it was indeed George.
Due to George wearing armor all day, he had appeared in Ji Ma’s eyes to be stocky and robust.
George raised the two bows toward Ji Ma, saying, “Practice archery?”
“Uh-huh.”
Ji Ma replied and took out a note with the “dream report” she had written. Last night, she had entered the dream of the old lady guarding the castle to gather intel on Drew.
George looked at the writing on the note and frowned slightly. It read: “Precious information: Drew wet the bed when he was seven.”
He looked up at Ji Ma.
Ji Ma turned the paper over, where it was written: “Better to be cautious; take it step by step, entering dreams also carries risks.”
Suddenly, George tugged at Ji Ma’s hand. Ji Ma instinctively tried to pull away, but George held on tightly, as if clamped by iron pincers.
Could it be that I was caught slacking off? Am I going to be punished?
Despite feeling humiliated, Ji Ma still obediently splayed her five fingers, her fair little hand lying on George’s large hand, the soft palm facing up.
His calloused index finger traced her palm, moving lightly. George’s strokes were strong and powerful, causing Ji Ma to feel a ticklish sensation. She suppressed the urge to giggle, feeling his strokes, but the more she focused on sensing them, the more intense the ticklishness became.
Ji Ma’s mouth slightly curved up, fortunately, George had little to write.
“It’s okay.”
After finishing, George released her hand.
Was that all?
Ji Ma stared intently at George’s face, even doubting whether he was just looking for an excuse to take advantage of her.
George’s expression remained unchanged, still looking wooden.
No matter how one looked at it, he resembled the impotent men typically found in harem novels, the type who wouldn’t take action to confirm a relationship even if threatened with death.
When not influenced by his own desires, isn’t George impotent as well? If my fiancée were Jenna, I guarantee she wouldn’t be able to get out of bed.
Ji Ma took a bow from George’s hands, picked up a quiver of arrows, and asked, “Where do we practice?”
“In the castle’s shooting range,” George said, “There’s no one there.”
Five minutes later, the two arrived at the shooting range.
The so-called shooting range was merely a yard about twenty meters long, fenced off at the front with a wooden barrier. In front of the barrier stood a small shed, and two straw targets were placed in front of the wall. George was right; there wasn’t a soul in sight. Ji Ma suspected it was due to the shooting range’s simplicity.
With only twenty meters in length, what could one practice?
She hadn’t learned archery, but she had seen extraordinary archers in battle; they would shoot from over a hundred meters away, so what’s there to practice?
As the Demon King, I’d probably escape the novice range after just one afternoon of practice.
Ji Ma tried pulling back the bowstring; it gave way, so she reached for the quiver on the ground.
“Wait.” George grabbed Ji Ma’s small hand and handed her a pair of arm guards. “The bowstring will snap back and hit your forearm.”
“Experience talking?”
“I heard it from someone else because I’ve never been hit.”
Oh, so being a genius is something to boast about?
Ji Ma was determined to show George her “talent.”
After all, she was the former Demon King proficient in close combat.
George then gave Ji Ma a finger tab and demonstrated how to draw the bow. The bow was firmly drawn in George’s hands, and he gently let go.
The arrow flew so fast that only a shadow could be seen. With a thud, it struck solidly at the center of the target twenty meters away.
“Just like this; draw the bow empty first, remember not to let go of the empty bow.”
Ji Ma took his words lightly and directly took an arrow, nocked it on the bowstring, got into position, and pulled hard, drawing back fully.
Her posture was standard; the move was seamless.
George praised, “You have talent.”
Of course, the former Demon King has seen it all. Who doesn’t know that a bowstring snapping back to hit the forearm is a rookie mistake?
With a kind of pride, Ji Ma let go of the bowstring.
But the bowstring grazed the arrow and struck Ji Ma’s forearm, causing sharp pain.
Ji Ma immediately covered her forearm, her eyes watering as she said, “It hurts~~.”
“Come on, I’ll guide you step by step.”
Ji Ma insisted, “No, I can do it!”
“Thwack.”
“Thwack.”
“Thwack.”
Three times in a row, the bowstring snapped against Ji Ma’s forearm.
Her golden eyes glistened, and her vision blurred as she pulled back the fifth time. The fully drawn bow just wouldn’t stabilize; her hand trembled continuously. Ji Ma “aimed” at the target and released.
This time, the arrow finally flew out, heading toward the target ten meters away but soared over the twenty-meter target, flew over the wall, and disappeared without a trace.
Watching the vanished arrow, Ji Ma begrudgingly admitted she was merely a mortal.
George spread his hands and asked, “Ji Ma?”
“Come on.”
George approached Ji Ma, enveloping her, holding one of her hands while gripping the one holding the bow. He guided her, slowly drawing the bow.
Ji Ma gradually pulled the bowstring back.
George’s head leaned close to Ji Ma’s ear, whispering, “Like this, yes, this is how the movement should be.”
The warm tone tickled Ji Ma’s ears, causing her heart to race. As a succubus, she naturally reacted; her fair tail perked up.
He wouldn’t take advantage of me, would he? No, that’s impossible.
Ji Ma dismissed those thoughts and focused on the red circle on the target, aiming at the bullseye.
Releasing her grip, the arrow flew along the expected trajectory and pierced steadily into the red circle.
George said, “Very good, do a few more to get the feel for it.”
Having someone guide her hand made it much more efficient.
Ji Ma followed George’s words, drawing back the bowstring and focusing on the red circle.
However, she found it increasingly difficult to concentrate on the red circle. George was too close; she could feel the warmth of his body through his clothing. She could sense his strong grip on her hand.
Her mind uncontrollably recalled the memories from the day she got her shot.
Ji Ma’s little face flushed lightly, and her tail couldn’t help but swish up and down.
Concentrate, concentrate! Being a succubus is so annoying; I get flustered easily. I’ve only had one intimate encounter with him, and yet I’m like this.
Just then, George released his grip.
Ji Ma held her breath, steadying the bow, aiming at the bullseye. As she released, the arrow accurately struck the target ten meters away.
Ji Ma was so happy that her tail shot up, saying, “I hit it!”
As soon as she finished speaking, a rough hand lightly grasped the base of her raised fair tail, running down along the length of it. Ji Ma felt an electric tingle running up her spine as the hand softly rubbed the tip of her tail. Ji Ma shivered all over.
In shock, she widened her eyes and snapped back to reality, turning her head to look at George.
His blue eyes were so gentle they could draw tears.
“Sorry, Ji Ma, you’re just too cute.”
Ji Ma instinctively wanted to run, but George held her shoulders.
George lowered his head, whispering, “I want to kiss you.”
Ah, ah, ah, what? This can’t be a dream, right? Has the wooden block bloomed? Is this still George?
Ji Ma widened her eyes, staring into George’s blue eyes, realizing he was sincerely seeking her consent. She had no doubt that if she agreed, her lips would be firmly captured.
Feeling flustered, Ji Ma turned her head away and said, “No… I… I’m not… ready yet.”
How could I be ready? Ji Ma had always avoided the relationship with George, thinking it was just like before when they were just flirting. She had consistently overlooked the changes happening between them, both consciously and unconsciously.
“Is that so?”
“Yes.” Ji Ma turned her head to look into George’s eyes and said, “Sorry, I still can’t accept you.”
He looked quite surprised.
“Sex does not equal love.”
Rather than explaining to George, Ji Ma was explaining to herself.
George’s face showed disappointment, a flash of emotion crossed his eyes, and he released his grip, letting go of Ji Ma.
Ji Ma fell silent, bending down to draw from the quiver and nock another arrow.
Between us, it’s more about using our relationship. That one time was merely a leash around your neck. Love? How could that be? Isn’t sex enough? Why be greedy and want love too?
A Demon King and a Hero? That’s just laughable…
Ji Ma thought as she forcefully drew the bowstring back and let an arrow fly, which solidly pierced into the red circle of the target twenty meters away.
Ji Ma looked expressionlessly at the trembling arrow feathers, her heart intertwined with sadness and anger. However, after releasing that arrow, she felt slightly better.
“Wow wow, learning to use a coward’s weapon that only lowly farmers use?”
The two turned toward the voice, and it was Drew speaking. He was fully armored, flanked by two attendants, one of whom had a training arrow stuck on his helmet, caught in the observation hole.
With his bloodless face and deeply set black eyes looking at George, Drew raised his chin and said, “Do you think you can unashamedly learn this kind of weapon just because you are a second son and have given up the faith in the lake god?”
Without saying a word, George turned directly, drew an arrow from the quiver, and flung it hard, embedding it in the ground right in front of Drew, the shaft protruding above the earth.
George said, “Duel.”
Drew abruptly stopped talking.
Get started! Punch that pretty boy right in the face!
Ji Ma suddenly became interested.
——————
Alright, I’ve finally got the outline sorted. Feedback hasn’t been great during this period. I’ve been constantly thinking about how to attract readers, which got me bogged down on the outline, affecting the updates.
Tonight, after discussing for a long time with friends, I had some new ideas.
Tomorrow, there will be two updates, the first one at noon.
