Chapter 357 - 308: How About I Beat the Drums for You?

Kills were identified by the color of the arrow’s fletching.

As Qin Siyao walked through the Imperial Hunting Forest, she was finally getting into the swing of things.

Whenever she saw an animal like a rabbit or a sika deer, she would draw her bowstring and let an arrow fly.

Qin Siyao’s longbow had an Array inscribed on it, so even an eight-year-old girl like her could draw it smoothly.

However, the Array only helped Qin Siyao draw the bow; it didn’t come with an auto-aim feature.

So, Qin Siyao loosed arrow after arrow, but not a single one hit its mark.

Xiao Mo, meanwhile, was off to the side, retrieving her arrows.

The closest she came to success was when one of her arrows grazed a rabbit, shearing off a tuft of fur. The terrified rabbit pissed a few drops and then scurried away...

"Ugh! Hunting isn’t fun at all!"

Qin Siyao pouted, her little face still full of baby fat, and stomped her small feet.

"Actually, you’re improving very quickly, Princess. You’re already quite skilled," Xiao Mo said.

"Really?" Qin Siyao looked at Xiao Mo, her big eyes filled with delight. "Am I really that skilled?"

"Yes, really," Xiao Mo coaxed the little girl. "You just lack a bit of technique, Princess."

"What kind of technique?"

"Every time you draw the bow, the string needs to touch the same spot, like the tip of your nose or the corner of your mouth. That’s the lifeline of your accuracy. Then, the anchor point of your hand on your face must be perfectly consistent each time.

When you release, it’s not as simple as just letting go with your fingers. You need to use the continuous tension in your back muscles to let your fingers slip off naturally, avoiding any twisting of the bowstring.

Also..."

"I don’t get it, I don’t get it..." Qin Siyao shook her head, then held out her longbow. "You teach me."

"This..." Xiao Mo hesitated. "I wouldn’t dare be disrespectful, Princess."

"Oh, it’s fine." Qin Siyao took the initiative and grabbed Xiao Mo’s small hand. "Hurry up and teach me."

"Then, please excuse my impertinence."

Seeing her insistence, Xiao Mo could only agree.

Just then, a wild pheasant happened to be strutting about ten zhang away. Xiao Mo stood close behind Qin Siyao, holding her small hands and slowly drawing the bowstring. "Princess, you must remember this feeling. Your fingers must be fluid. Don’t just stare at the prey; pay attention to the arrowhead. Wait for a moment when there’s no wind..."

As he spoke the last word, Xiao Mo loosened his grip on Qin Siyao’s hands. The arrow flew with a WHOOSH, piercing the pheasant and bringing it down.

"A hit! A hit!" Qin Siyao jumped up and down happily, her high ponytail bouncing. "Xiao Mo, you’re amazing!"

"It’s because you’re a quick learner, Princess," Xiao Mo said, continuing to build the little girl’s confidence.

"Quick, quick, let’s keep hunting! I think I’m getting the hang of it."

Qin Siyao pulled Xiao Mo’s hand and ran forward.

And it was just as Qin Siyao had said.

Although Xiao Mo had only guided her hands once, she had firmly memorized the feeling. She managed to wound several wild rabbits and pheasants, and finally, she even landed a clean hit on a rabbit.

She really was a fast learner.

Just when Xiao Mo thought everything was proceeding normally.

Suddenly, Xiao Mo stopped in his tracks. His eyes narrowed as he stared ahead warily, pulling Qin Siyao behind him for protection.

"Xiao Mo, what’s wrong?" Qin Siyao peeked her little head out from behind Xiao Mo’s shoulder and asked curiously.

"Run!"

"Huh?"

Before Qin Siyao could even react, Xiao Mo was already pulling her back the way they came.

"AWOOOO!"

A silvery-white Cyan Moon Wolf leaped out from the bushes, chasing after Xiao Mo and Qin Siyao.

The Imperial Palace Honored Guest Elder who was secretly protecting the Princess frowned.

It seemed this Cyan Moon Wolf had been kicked out of its pack, likely due to old age.

But regardless, it was still a Ninth-Grade Magical Beast—not something these two little ones could handle.

As Qin Siyao saw the seven-foot-long wolf closing in on them, her face turned deathly pale. She knew this was bad.

"Ah!"

As she ran, Qin Siyao tripped on a branch and fell to the ground.

And just as the Cyan Moon Wolf was less than five zhang away from the two children, the Imperial Palace Honored Guest Elder was about to intervene when he let out a soft "Hm?" and froze, his attention captured.

Qin Siyao could only watch as Xiao Mo charged forward, straight at the Cyan Moon Wolf.

After dodging the Cyan Moon Wolf’s pounce, Xiao Mo slammed a fist into its belly.

The Cyan Moon Wolf coughed up some bitter bile, quickly got back on its feet, and lunged at Xiao Mo again.

Xiao Mo dodged the wolf’s attacks, looking for an opportunity to strike back.

Finding an opening, Xiao Mo grabbed a handful of its fur, leaped up, and flipped onto its back. Immediately, his fists rained down like a thunderstorm.

Xiao Mo was like a small Fierce Beast himself, battering the Cyan Moon Wolf’s head with his bare fists.

Blood blurred Xiao Mo’s fists, making it impossible to tell if it was his own or the beast’s.

He didn’t know how many punches he’d thrown. Only when the Cyan Moon Wolf stopped moving completely, its head smashed flat, did Xiao Mo finally slow to a stop.

’Heaven-Opening Fist? Elder Huang’s disciple?’ The Imperial Palace Honored Guest Elder stroked his beard, looking at the little boy in astonishment. ’This vitality, this courage... Elder Huang has certainly taken on a fine disciple...’

Xiao Mo took a deep breath. After calming his thunderous heartbeat, he hurried over to Qin Siyao. "Princess, are you alright?"

"I’m fine." Qin Siyao came to her senses and shook her head.

Looking at Xiao Mo’s fists, the little girl’s eyes filled with worry. "Xiao Mo, your hands."

"It’s nothing, just a scratch." Xiao Mo took out a piece of cloth and casually wiped them. "Can you get up, Princess?"

"I... I’ll try..."

Qin Siyao tried to stand, but a sharp pain shot through her ankle, and she started to fall to the side.

Fortunately, Xiao Mo quickly caught her.

"Xiao Mo, my ankle hurts," Qin Siyao said, frowning.

Xiao Mo looked down. Qin Siyao’s ankle was already swollen, and it looked dislocated.

"My apologies for the impertinence, Princess."

Xiao Mo knelt down, took off her shoe, and revealed her small foot.

Before Qin Siyao could react, Xiao Mo gave her ankle a firm push. With a cry of "AH!", Qin Siyao’s bone was set back in place. He then applied some ointment and wrapped it with a clean cloth.

"I’ve treated it for now, Princess, but it will need some time to rest properly. I’ll take you back first."

Xiao Mo looked up and saw Qin Siyao’s watery eyes.

"Mhm... mhm..."

The little girl nodded, with shimmering teardrops hanging in the corners of her eyes from the pain.

But she kept sniffling, bravely holding her tears back.

"I will carry you, Princess."

Xiao Mo took off his quiver, turned around, and presented his back to Qin Siyao.

Qin Siyao climbed onto Xiao Mo’s back, and the two of them started back the way they came.

With every step Xiao Mo took, the dry leaves under his feet made a CRUNCH, CRUNCH sound that echoed softly through the forest.

"Xiao Mo, you’re so incredible," Qin Siyao, who had calmed down, couldn’t help but praise him as she recalled what had just happened.

"You flatter me, Princess."

"I’m not! I really think you’re incredible. And you saved my life. Do you want a reward?" Qin Siyao asked.

Xiao Mo shook his head. "I am your guard, Princess. It is my duty to ensure your safety."

"No, no," Qin Siyao said firmly. "You saved me, and that’s that. My father, the Emperor, told me that we must always be clear about rewards and punishments. Tell me what you want. No matter what it is, I’ll grant it. The Emperor dotes on me, you know."

"There is nothing I want at the moment," Xiao Mo replied calmly. "If you truly feel you must, Princess, then any reward you see fit will do."

"Alright..." Qin Siyao lowered her head and thought about it seriously.

Soon, as if she’d thought of something, the little girl looked up and said happily, "I know what to give you!"

"What is it?" Xiao Mo was also curious about what strange idea the little girl might have come up with.

"I want to beat the war drums for you!" the little girl exclaimed happily.

"Beat the war drums?"

"Yes, yes!"

The little girl nodded her lovely head repeatedly.

"My father, the Emperor, once told me that the best gift he ever received in his life was on his birthday, when he was charging into battle at the front lines, and my mother beat the war drums for him.

If Father says it’s the best gift, then it must be the best.

And you’re so strong now, you’ll definitely be a Grand General in the future.

So, I want to give this best gift to you, too!"

Xiao Mo: "..."

"Xiao Mo, why aren’t you saying anything?"

The little girl’s small feet swung back and forth.

"Say something... Is it okay if I beat the war drums for you? Please?"

Hearing the little girl’s innocent words, Xiao Mo smiled faintly and nodded.

"Alright."