Mi Guo was a person who couldn't sit still. Even in the tea break area, he had set up an archery practice zone for himself.
Seeing the bow and quiver hanging on the small wooden stand beside him, Du Lanxing couldn't help but ask, "Mi Guo, you know how to use a bow and arrow?"
Du Lanxing thought Mi Guo was too young to tell if he was skilled.
Unexpectedly, Du Lanxing's question ignited Mi Guo's competitive spirit. He said proudly, "In Phoenix Village, if my brother claims first, I'll claim third, and no one will dare claim second."
This roundabout way of speaking made everyone chuckle.
However, Du Lanxing caught the implication and said, "Young Master Gu, so your archery skills are very good?"
They had just witnessed the Phoenix Village's guard force. Not only were they as well-organized as a regular army, but they also possessed excellent archery skills and superior weaponry, making them feel that Phoenix Village's strength was unfathomable.
Unexpectedly, Young Master Gu, who looked so delicate, was also a skilled archer?
Du Lan Yue had seen Gu Qingcheng shoot arrows before. However, it was during the chaos of the zombie siege on the island, and she couldn't tell how good her archery was. She only knew she could use a bow, so upon hearing Mi Guo's words, she also expressed curiosity.
Seeing that everyone didn't believe him, Mi Guo said, "Brother, why don't you and I show them what we can do?"
"No problem. The usual way, come on!"
Gu Qingcheng signaled Mi Guo to stand a hundred meters away, just like before.
While everyone was still confused, Mi Guo cleverly took out an apple and placed it on his head.
"Ah? This?" Du Lanxing asked in surprise, "Is the apple on Mi Guo's head the target?"
"Yes."
Gu Qingcheng said this, drew her bow, and prepared to shoot.
Du Lanxing covered her mouth, afraid to make a sound, lest her slightest movement cause Gu Qingcheng to miss.
If she missed, it wouldn't be fun; it could cost Mi Guo his life.
At this moment, Du Lanxing's mind was filled with a thousand thoughts about Mi Guo's goodness.
"Young Master Gu, forget it, no need to show off, I believe you."
Du Lanxing's voice trembled with worry.
"It's alright, we often practice like this for fun."
Gu Qingcheng was still in the mood for a joke.
Du Lan Cheng was stunned.
If the target was a mere dartboard, the psychological pressure would certainly be much lighter. But now, the target was their living relative. Such immense mental fortitude, or perhaps absolute confidence in one's archery skills, was required to do this.
Du Lan Cheng couldn't tell, but beneath Gu Qingcheng's outwardly calm demeanor, she possessed such a powerful mental fortitude?
This was unbeatable!
Absolutely unbeatable!
Du Lan Cheng held his breath...
Although Du Lan Yue was nervous, she inexplicably trusted Gu Qingcheng's capabilities. She felt that Gu Qingcheng would definitely achieve whatever she said she would.
But like everyone else, she couldn't help but slow her breathing, as if doing so would not disturb Gu Qingcheng.
Just as everyone was tense, Gu Qingcheng released her grip. The arrow shot out like a meteor, whistling through the air, piercing the apple, and embedding itself firmly in the wall behind. Mi Guo remained unharmed.
"Good!"
The first person to cheer was Du Lan Cheng.
He applauded vigorously, impressed by Gu Qingcheng's archery skills.
He understood this was true skill, archery far beyond that of ordinary people. He himself could not have achieved such skill in ten years.
Gu Qingcheng smiled faintly.
This kind of practice was just a routine session for her and Mi Guo.
"How about it? Isn't my brother's archery first-class?"
Mi Guo took the apple from behind him, took a big bite, and swaggered forward, asking everyone.
Mi Guo was happier showing off Gu Qingcheng's miraculous archery skills to these people who had looked unconvinced than if he himself had been praised.
"Impressive, Mi Guo, what about you?"
Du Lanxing, no longer worried, sighed with relief and asked.
"I'm far from as good as my brother. I can hit a target, but I wouldn't dare shoot at a person," Mi Guo said. "My brother is willing to be my target, but I wouldn't dare."
After finishing his apple, Mi Guo also showed off his skills.
However, he simply hung a target on a tree a hundred meters away and shot an arrow right into the bullseye.
But even this display left everyone amazed.
"Mi Guo, not bad, I wouldn't have thought you were also a master archer."
Du Lanxing was inexplicably happy for Mi Guo and patted his head, like an older sister ruffling her younger brother's hair.
She was actually only five years older than Mi Guo, but because girls matured earlier, she was much taller than him. At this moment, Mi Guo looked like a primary school student facing a high school student.
Mi Guo pushed her hand away indignantly and said, "A man and a woman should not touch each other. Don't touch every man you see."
Du Lanxing was amused and annoyed, saying, "You little sprout, you call yourself a man?"
Mi Guo's face turned red.
Seeing him bickering with Du Lanxing, everyone else also found it amusing. Gu Qingcheng thought they were very childish and stepped forward to mediate, "Alright, stop arguing. Mi Guo, Lanxing is our guest. Don't forget you're the host."
Only then did Mi Guo obediently shut his mouth.
"Let's go, I'll take you to the real tea room to relax."
Gu Qingcheng had previously built a tea room for her father and Ge Hong. It had a massive glass observation window, and she knew that bringing them there would surely amaze everyone.
Indeed, upon entering the tea room, what first captivated everyone was the enormous glass window.
Du Lan Cheng stared at the glass window blankly. He stepped forward and gently caressed it a few times. Only after confirming it was solid did he murmur, "Qingcheng, your village has too many shocking and unattainable things. Take this glass, for example. The largest I've ever seen in our dynasty was only the size of my palm, and people treasured it like a gem.
In the past, if anyone in the capital had a piece of glass like yours, it would have caused a sensation throughout the city, a unique item envied by all!
Don't tell me you can't afford to support Phoenix Village. You could support a dozen Phoenix Villages just by selling glass."
Gu Qingcheng chuckled and said, "Our glass factory doesn't have enough manpower at the moment. Otherwise, we are planning to sell glass in the next step, which can be used to decorate everyone's homes and make the interiors brighter."
Du Lan Yue remembered the mirror Gu Qingcheng had given her. Could it be that it was also produced by Gu Qingcheng's Phoenix Village?
However, Gu Qingcheng hadn't shown it to everyone yet, so she didn't bring it up.
Now she believed Gu Qingcheng's words, that she would give her a bigger mirror later, one that could show her entire body.
Her brother was right; besides glass, selling mirrors would also bring in a considerable income.
Gu Qingcheng truly was a treasure trove.
Du Lan Yue felt that if Da Zhou Dynasty were to rank anyone's capabilities second, no one would dare claim first.
Although these words were similar to Mi Guo's roundabout way of speaking, it seemed to be the only way to express it accurately.
"Alright, let's have some tea. I have some excellent Oolong tea and delicious snacks here."
Gu Qingcheng arranged for everyone to sit by the glass window.