67 Battle of Two Hearts (1/2)
Life is like an arrow being launched across the sky; it starts off strong, penetrating the cold and frost, but is ultimately unable to pierce through the mountains of destiny.
Why was Fate playing Meng Fuyao like that?
'Alright, I'll shoot!' She cast aside all doubt, hesitation, and helplessness. There were things beyond her control, and she must not be weak. She was Meng Fuyao.
Xiu–––
The arrow was launched.
It was a fierce launch that carried a significant amount of air flow. The arrow went close to the citizens' hair before going straight up and generating a ferocious gust.
Like light, the arrow moved toward the target at a speed so fast that it was almost invisible to the naked eye. The palm-sized bullseye was already full of the previous 10 arrows, and there seemed not to be any space left, save for the extreme center area that could fit half a pinky finger.
Yet, Meng Fuyao's arrow had arrived in that exact position in a flash.
Clap-
Everyone's mouth was wide opened. Amid their astonished cries, the arrow suddenly popped out.
A miss?
They had thought that they would get to see the amazing archer Tie Cheng's disappointed look.
As the spectators were wondering whether to feel upset or relieved, Meng Fuyao's arrow had sprung out and launched backward like a lightning bolt.
The arrow, which had already hit bullseye earlier, was immediately knocked onto the ground by Meng Fuyao's arrow.
”Pop, pop, pop...”
Meng Fuyao's arrow, appearing to have a life of its own, plunged in and out of the target board, causing Tie Cheng's arrows to plop to the ground. In the blink of an eye, all 10 arrows of the latter's were gone, leaving only Meng Fuyao's single arrow sitting in the bullseye.
It was due to the third layer of Cleaving Nine Heavens – Cyclone!
Dead silence filled the air as Meng Fuyao tossed her bow aside and strode back to her seat.
Shortly after, cheers broke out.
”Excellent!”
Meng Fuyao did not turn around.
”I like it!”
Meng Fuyao paused, but quickly consoled herself. For crude men like them, that was probably just a neutral expression and nothing offensive.
”I must marry you!”
Meng Fuyao whipped her head around, placing her hands on her hips. ”Do you have eyes? I'm a man! A man!”
”They said you're a... homosexual!”
'...homosexual? Where did this gossip come from?'
”I won't marry you even if I'm a homosexual,” Meng Fuyao growled. ”Losers can only work for me.”
”No way,” Tie Cheng growled even louder. ”I liked you the moment I saw you. Now that you've beaten me, I want you more. Men who can't get the things they want aren't real men!”
”I'm not a thing!” Meng Fuyao roared.
”I still want you!”
”Beat me first!”
”I will but accept me first!”
”Pooh!”
”Don't do that!”
A serious archery competition had turned into a cussing match. The confessor and the confessed fought like cocks – eyes bloodshot and claws vigorously waving about – just short of pouncing onto and biting off each other's throat.
Meng Fuyao lost, as she had no more strength to growl.
Holding her congested throat she slipped back to the stage, waving her hand. ”Stop him, stop him!”
The bailiffs and guards raised their pikes to obstruct Tie Cheng from chasing over. Instead of forcing his way through Tie Cheng chose a seat close to hers and sat down, never taking his eyes off her.
Beyond frustrated with nowhere to vent, Meng Fuyao was reminded of the relationship she shared with Yuan Zhaoxu. She couldn't stop herself from sneaking a glance at him and saw that he was still sipping slowly on his drink.
”What peach blossom luck you have, Mayor,” he commented smilingly.