Chapter 22 - Core Harvesting Lessons
Yang Xiu’s hands trembled as the rustling drew closer. She tried to tell herself that she’d killed the last four consecutive spirit beasts she’d faced with her bow, but her self pep talk did nothing to quell her nerves.
Before, she’d been one hundred percent confident that her master wouldn’t let one of the creatures so much as make contact with her clothes. That assurance had been removed. It was her versus the beast. Solo.
A small figure emerged from the bushes. Another of the squirrels that were so plentiful in the forest.
Yang Xiu grimaced. Not her best matchup. Bigger, slower opponents were easier to hit.
She nocked her arrow, raised the bow, and set her eyes on her target. When she tried to still, though, she realized her hands were shaking.
Her technique required much more experience than she possessed to change a motion midstream. All she could do was follow through.
She charged her muscles, pulled back the string, and loosed.
Twang!
There was no point in watching the arrow fly. Any hit would have been the result of pure blind luck considering how her much her arms were shaking.
Yang Xiu didn’t have much time remaining until the beast would be upon her. Two choices stood before her. She could shoot two more shots, or she could take a moment to steady herself, leaving her time for only one more arrow.
The latter was the only real alternative. Otherwise, she stood no chance of hitting it.
As she took a deep breath, she expelled all negative thoughts. She was a cultivator. A warrior.