Chapter 12: Ye Cup

Three days later.

Ji Xinghuo skated swiftly on the park pathway wearing power shoes gifted by Zhong Ming.

The shoes’ rollers, driven by tiny motors, could reach speeds up to 50 km/h. Their intelligent control systems ensured balance and detected force application to assist with speed and direction.

It was easy to start and stop; the movements were smooth.

Power shoes are the best choice for short trips!

In less than three minutes, Ji Xinghuo arrived at Qishan Wutong Archery Range.

The range was bustling today. Not only was it the weekend, but also because of the upcoming “Ye Cup” competition.

Many people, carrying their bow cases, gathered in small groups chatting.

Like Ji Xinghuo, they were all competitors.

“Yunhai.”

Ji Xinghuo paused, the rollers retracted into the soles, transforming into normal sports shoes.

Upon entering the archery range, he saw Lu Yunhai among the crowd wearing a referee’s jersey, quite conspicuous.

Many students gathered around Lu Yunhai, inquiring about the competition details.

Hearing his name, Lu Yunhai turned, saw Ji Xinghuo, and asked, “How are you prepared?”

Ji Xinghuo nodded and flashed a confident smile.

He had practiced archery specifically these last few days, focusing on targets beyond fifty meters and random ones, improving his accuracy somewhat.

“Got the schedule down?” Lu Yunhai double-checked.

“Of course.”

Ji Xinghuo had received the “Ye Cup” competition schedule on registration and had studied it earnestly at home twice.

The competition was divided into ten rounds, with increasing difficulty.

The first three rounds were group stages held concurrently in seven associate archery ranges, which used the morning to filter the best 300 out of nearly 3000 competitors into the fourth to sixth rounds’ knockout stage.

The afternoon knockout stage required contestants to gather in an archery site outside Chang’an, completing three rounds to determine the top 32.

From the seventh to the ninth round, half of the competitors were eliminated each round.

Ultimately, the four remaining contestants entered the tenth round, vying for the championship!

The whole event lasted just one day, quite packed.

Lu Yunhai spoke briefly and left; as one of the referees, his duties were substantial today.

Ji Xinghuo found a corner in the archery range, took out his compound bow and calibrated it again. The Ye Cup’s emphasis on practicality allowed using sights, but no balancing bars could be fitted, and each shot had to be completed within a specified time; overdue scores were invalid.

Observing the competitors, over 80% used compound bows like him, mostly targeting bows rather than hunting bows.

Since the competition did not focus on lethality, targeting bows had an advantage.

The remaining 20% of competitors used various models of traditional and light bows, totaling dozens of types alongside many unusual bows, hard to identify.

Traditional and light bows demanded higher archery skills. Those daring to compete with these were certainly not weak.

Several popular contestants used traditional bows.

Fans surrounded them, constantly asking for autographs.

However, Ji Xinghuo, still new to archery after only a few weeks and unfamiliar with anyone in this circle except Lu Yunhai, remained unrecognized.

“The competition is about to start.”

The range’s PA system announced with a female voice, “Competitors, please proceed to your designated fields according to your groups.”

Qishan Wutong Archery Range had over four hundred contestants, divided into five groups, each assigned to a separate level of the range.

Ji Xinghuo headed to the fifth level; dozens of his group began arriving.

Several referees maintained order.

“We begin the first round of shooting,” shouted a referee. “Contestants called by name and number, step forward, four at a time, into the designated shooting areas. Please keep quiet to not disturb the competitors.”

The field quickly quieted down.

The referee called four names. They lined up, with targets fifty meters ahead and timers by their sides.

“One minute to prepare.”

Competitors had a minute to ready their shots. At the signal, they had three seconds to release the first arrow; then ten seconds to prepare and shoot the second arrow; this pattern continued until all ten arrows were fired.

The minute passed quickly, and with the buzzer’s beep, the three-second countdown began.

Snap, snap, snap…

The twang of bowstrings as all four competitors released their first arrows almost simultaneously.

Three minutes later, the group had finished shooting their ten arrows.

Ji Xinghuo glanced at the opposite target. The first round’s difficulty was the lowest, but perhaps due to initial nervousness, only one of the four players scored perfect tens, with the others scoring between 90 and 97 rings.

Their frustrated expressions showed they had underperformed.

The referee tallied the scores.

“Second group, step up.”

One group after another completed their ten-arrow shoot, Ji Xinghuo noting most scores around 95 rings. Few managed 100 rings.

These outstanding performers were nearly all mutants, either rangers like himself or pursuers.

Half an hour later.

Ji Xinghuo heard his own name and joined three others in the field.

All eyes were on them, or rather, on a well-known female contestant next to Ji Xinghuo, recognized by many.

“One minute to prepare.”

Ji Xinghuo focused, arrow nocked on “Yi Feng,” waiting for the prep time to end.

Beep!

At the sound, he swiftly shot his first arrow. Snap!

A perfect ten.

He noticed, from the corner of his eye, the target next to him also scored ten, nearly in sync with his own shot.

Only then did Ji Xinghuo take note of his neighbor, but he didn’t let it distract him. After ten seconds, he released his second arrow.

Another ten.

Another ten.

Ten after ten…

Ji Xinghuo’s hands were quick and steady, like programmed robotic limbs, each motion perfectly consistent, flawlessly precise.

After ten arrows, he scored a perfect 100 rings.

As the referee confirmed the scores, applause broke out. In this group, three had hit perfect scores, and the fourth wasn’t far off with 99 rings.

Ji Xinghuo exchanged nods with the other perfect scorers before stepping down.

In an hour, all contestants completed the first round of shooting.

Next was the second round.

This round’s target was fixed at seventy meters, significantly harder, and scores generally dropped, averaging around 80 rings.

Naturally, the extraordinarily skilled mutants maintained high standards.

Ji Xinghuo’s score in the second round was still 100 rings.

The third round stretched the targets to one hundred meters, greatly increasing the difficulty. Many missed entirely, with most scoring below 50 rings.

Ji Xinghuo still managed perfect rings!

After three rounds of shooting, those remaining who could score 100 rings were few, primarily mutants. Ji Xinghuo thus garnered some attention.

“Let’s get to know each other.”

The female contestant introduced herself: “I’m Fang Yinping from Chang’an, a mid-level ranger.”

She was around thirty, spirited, standing about 1.65 meters tall in a white archer’s outfit with a light bow slung behind, exuding a competent aura, full of vigor and agility.

Ji Xinghuo shook her hand briefly then let go, nodding, “Ji Xinghuo, a junior ranger.”

“Mr. Ji, quite young!”

Fang Yinping had already scrutinized him a few times, smiled, and asked, “With such high archery skills, how come I’ve never heard of you?”

She already regarded Ji Xinghuo as a formidable competitor in this tournament.

Ji Xinghuo simply replied, “I recently learned archery. This is my first competition.”

Fang Yinping paused, a flicker of displeasure crossing her face, clearly skeptical, thinking Ji Xinghuo was bluffing.

“Then I wish Mr. Ji good luck,” she said curtly and turned to leave.

Ji Xinghuo watched her go, shaking his head helplessly.

I was telling the truth…

After three rounds, competitors had a clear sense of their prospects.

Most were there for the experience, to observe high-level archers, not really aiming to advance, so they left after completing their rounds.

Ji Xinghuo waited at the entrance for half an hour until Lu Yunhai, finally done for the day, joined him for lunch.

Lu Yunhai inquired, “How did you fare?”

Ji Xinghuo picked up his new phone, used just a few days, and showed the screen to Lu Yunhai; it displayed his scores and notice of advancement to the knockout stage.

“I knew you’d make it!”

Afternoon.

Ji Xinghuo rested at home for an hour before heading to the outdoor archery field in Zhongnan Mountain, south of Chang’an.

The venue was large, a huge screen stood beside the gathering point entrance, displaying a “Ye Cup” promotional video. Stands were set up under the screen, and each shooting position in the field was equipped with floating cameras for live streaming, making the event look highly official.

The three hundred competitors who advanced to the knockout stage arrived one after another.

At two in the afternoon.

The heads of the seven archery ranges took the stage, five of whom were mutants.

Ji Xinghuo instantly recognized Yang Tianqing, the head of Qishan Wutong Archery Range, often mentioned by Lu Yunhai. Yang Tianqing was a super mutant, a professional template also considered a ranger; his archery skills were notably exceptional, and only those signed up for his class could meet him.

Yang Tianqing was of average build, neither tall nor short, standing with empty hands, but anyone could tell he was no ordinary middle-aged man.

His gaze was incredibly sharp, like blades.

Many in the audience knew Yang Tianqing and curiously watched him, yet dared not meet his gaze.

Ji Xinghuo glanced at him twice before turning away.

“Good afternoon, archers!” Yang Tianqing stood on stage, representing the seven archery ranges with a few opening remarks, urging competitors to demonstrate their best and strive for high ranks. The rewards for this competition were substantial, with prizes for the top eight, and the champion could win 200,000!

This was more than in previous competitions, but the contestants were not surprised; many were here for the prize money.

“Let’s start.”

Without further ado, Yang Tianqing announced the commencement of the fourth round of shooting; the contestants moved into the field in their newly drawn groups.