CHAPTER 605: CHAPTER 503: STRENGTH THAT SHOCKED THE ENTIRE AUDIENCE

The two started from the north, with the targets set to the east. In order to seize the initiative, Lu Qi almost pushed his speed to the limit.

He was confident he had left Lu Yuan far behind and had already hit two targets.

By all logic, Lu Yuan should have been chasing him from behind with all his might.

But the moment he saw Lu Yuan’s arrow aimed directly at his brow, he felt his heart skip a beat.

In that instant, even he couldn’t quite figure out if he was more shocked by Lu Yuan catching up with him unnoticed or by Lu Yuan’s audacity to aim an arrow at him.

"What do you think you’re doing?"

He asked coldly.

The third arrow he had intended to shoot froze mid-launch, but his horse continued galloping relentlessly.

This was bad news—if he missed the targets now, realigning his aim would be incredibly difficult.

Lu Yuan gave a meaningful smile. "Take a guess."

Lu Qi grasped his bow and arrow tightly. "You’re mad!"

"What’s wrong, boy? Why aren’t you shooting yet?"

Prince Ming stretched his neck as if wishing his eyes could be mounted directly on the horse’s back to see better.

From the crowd’s angle, it appeared Lu Yuan was aiming at the target, only Lu Qi stood between Lu Yuan and the target, delaying Lu Yuan’s release of his arrow.

Only Meng Qianqian understood the Great Traitor—his hesitation to strike was likely to harbor a much bigger plan.

But how long could Prince Jian keep his composure?

She lowered her gaze and sipped her tea.

"Blades and arrows have no eyes. Second brother, catch!"

Lu Yuan curled his lips into a smile and abruptly shot his first arrow of the day!

Lu Qi never expected he’d dare to shoot him in broad daylight.

Without time to think, his body instinctively reacted to save his life, tilting backward and lying flat on his horse’s back.

The arrow whistled through the clouds above him, slicing sharply through the air with a deadly sound.

He could even feel the chilling murderous intent carried by the arrow, sending a shiver down his spine.

Snap!

Lu Yuan’s arrow split Lu Qi’s arrow in half and landed on the first target.

The scene left everyone stunned.

They knew Lu Yuan wasn’t facing the target directly; by then, he had already passed the third target. His shot was a diagonal one, fired back toward the earlier targets.

To even hit the target at such an angle was impressive enough, yet he not only hit the center but even split Lu Qi’s arrow in two.

"It must be sheer luck!"

"Indeed, who could shoot an arrow like that?"

"Nonsense—no one but the Great General could. The Great General, the Southwest’s foremost Divine Archer, could hit such a shot. But only he could."

The military officials exchanged animated remarks, unwilling to believe Lu Yuan possessed such skill.

The civil servants, not as versed in archery, found it astonishing but had no measure of how remarkable it truly was.

In contrast, they were more fixated on Lu Qi’s dodging.

What’s wrong with the Commandery Prince?

Did he really lack courage?

Look at him, terrified as if the Imperial Grandson’s arrow might actually hurt him.

Meng Qianqian curved her lips into a smile. "So that’s how it is."

After shooting his first arrow, Lu Yuan immediately drew a second one.

This time, once again, his aim was set on Lu Qi.

Because his previous arrow had landed squarely in the center, no one suspected that his initial target might have been something else entirely.

Even Lu Qi began to wonder if he had been overthinking it. But as soon as he locked eyes with Lu Yuan’s second arrow and the unmistakable murderous intent in those eyes, he realized—Lu Yuan was serious.

He truly intended to kill him.

Or, more precisely, Lu Yuan was gambling.

He was betting that Lu Qi would dodge.

Lu Yuan was trying to force him to lose face in front of the Emperor and the gathered civil and military officials.

That look of provocation seemed to say—your pride or your life, you can only lose one.

If you dodge, you lose face.

If you don’t, you lose your life.

"Aren’t you afraid—"

Before Lu Qi could finish speaking, Lu Yuan released the arrow.

As a martial artist, Lu Qi had no doubt this arrow would pierce his heart.

If Lu Yuan truly killed him, the consequences would be inescapable.

But what good would it be to make Lu Yuan pay with his life if he himself were already dead?

Surely he wouldn’t come back to life because of it?

This arrow was even swifter than the last. But this time, prepared mentally, Lu Qi dodged with more grace and fluidity.

Yet in the eyes of the onlookers... it only appeared more humiliating.

The civil servants were puzzled.

What in the world is happening?

The Imperial Grandson fires, and you dodge?

As expected, Lu Yuan’s second arrow also sliced through Lu Qi’s arrow and hit the bullseye.

"Excellent!"

The Hanlin Academy Chief Scholar clapped enthusiastically!

Duke Jiang slammed his foot onto the table. "Shoot! Shoot! Kill him!"

King Qi could no longer hold back. "Duke Jiang!"

Duke Jiang retorted, "I didn’t name names."

Then he enthusiastically waved his arms and bellowed toward the center of the arena, "Just kill him! Kill him—"

King Qi was livid.

Prince Jin and General Hu looked equally grim.

They knew Lu Qi well; he was not someone who frightened easily. If he dodged, it had to mean that Lu Yuan was genuinely aiming at him.

Lu Yuan’s angle was incredibly tricky, aligning Lu Qi and the bullseye in a single line.