Chapter 117: The Bow and Arrow Workshop

Before the grain harvest at the end of March, Fire Little Treasure and the others finally arrived at Little White Village.

Aside from Fire Little Treasure, the other players—Firefly Flying Snow, Grass Stepper, Flowing Arrow, and A Drop of Rain—were also players who had previously killed horse bandits around Little White Village and had been dispatched by Zhan Xiaobai to the hunter's cabin to learn skills.

What surprised Zhan Xiaobai the most was that the NPC veteran hunter, Lü Shan, had also arrived, stating that he was specifically visiting Little White Village to pay his respects to Deputy Village Chief Li Asan. It turned out that Li Asan had previously invited him to visit the village whenever he had free time. The old hunter often missed the village's home-brewed wine, so he simply seized this opportunity to come as a guest.

Zhan Xiaobai was naturally more than welcoming. Alongside Li Asan and others, he personally accompanied the veteran hunter to the tavern for a drink.

"It is not easy for the elder to make a trip here, so you might as well stay in our village for a few more days. Although our Little White Village is not an exceptionally wealthy place, we are never short of fine wine and delicious food to entertain guests. You are an esteemed guest of our village, and we will certainly treat you to the finest wine."

The veteran hunter was already quite familiar with Zhan Xiaobai, so he did not refuse. With a hearty laugh, he said, "Given Village Chief Xiaobai's warm hospitality, this old man has no choice but to accept, and I will be imposing on your kindness for a while. Today, I shall have a few cups with Village Chief Xiaobai and Elder Li."

Zhan Xiaobai smiled and said, "Not at all, please! Today, we shall drink until we are thoroughly intoxicated!"

Zhan Xiaobai gathered a group of seven or eight people, including the player Wei Xiaobao (Note: referring to Fire Little Treasure and his group, keeping context intact), and headed to the village tavern. They set up a table of food and wine, chatting as they drank.

With deliberate intent, Zhan Xiaobai steered the conversation toward the veteran hunter's various skills. "I wonder what skills Elder Lü possesses and what effects they have."

The skills mastered by the veteran hunter, Lü Shan, were quite complex; he possessed a rudimentary grasp of basically all hunter-class skills.

Currently, the veteran hunter had taken on a total of four disciples.

His primary disciple, Fire Little Treasure, had learned intermediate [Arrow Crafting]. Although it might seem like ordinary arrow crafting, it was an extremely crucial skill. This was because the two skills of bow-making and arrow-making were the most vital for the hunter and archer classes.

Firefly Flying Snow was a female player, and she had learned a livelihood skill—novice [Tendon Extraction].

"This skill is wonderful. The two unique techniques of skinning and tendon extraction are absolute masters' tricks; it's a skill that can bring wealth. You can rely on it to make a fortune in the future."

Zhan Xiaobai offered a brief compliment, yet it caused Firefly Flying Snow's face to flush red. Skinning and extracting tendons—these two esoteric arts were, to a female player, "extraordinarily formidable."

Grass Stepper had learned novice [Trap Making]. This trap was not something ordinary players could accomplish simply by digging a hole in the ground—such crude traps were easily spotted and could fool no one. On the other hand, players equipped with the [Trap] skill could craft standard hunter traps that dealt substantial damage and possessed a high degree of stealth, making them nearly impossible to detect unless one possessed a hunter's [Scouting] skill.

Flowing Arrow had learned a basic archery skill—novice [Shooting]—which increased the accuracy of archery.

A Drop of Rain had learned a basic livelihood skill—novice [Meat Carving].

The aforementioned four individuals had all successfully transitioned into the hunter class, each equipped with a pair of Level 20 hardwood hunting bows and a quiver of Level 10 arrows. The hardwood hunting bows were gifts from the veteran hunter, while the Level 10 arrows were crafted by Fire Little Treasure. Disregarding other skills, merely having these four bow-wielding hunters capable of ranged attacks represented an exceptionally outstanding and urgently needed talent pool.

However, a problem arose: not a single one of the four had learned how to craft bows. So who would craft bows for Little White Village?

While Li Asan and the veteran hunter were drinking, Zhan Xiaobai asked the players with a puzzled expression, "None of you learned bow-making? Crafting bows is the most powerful skill; what is going on here?"

Fire Little Treasure looked somewhat ashamed as he explained, "Boss Bai, it's not that we didn't want to learn, but whatever skills are imparted to us are entirely decided by the veteran hunter himself. If he refuses to teach, there is nothing we can do."

Zhan Xiaobai nodded inwardly. The veteran hunter likely had certain prerequisites for imparting various skills rather than teaching them arbitrarily. He asked, "Then do you have any idea what conditions must be met for him to be willing to teach the bow-crafting skill?"

Fire Little Treasure replied, "I'm not entirely sure, but it's very likely related to the horse bandits. I once killed a minor horse bandit leader, whereas the rest of them only killed ordinary horse bandits. That's why I learned arrow crafting while they learned the other three minor skills. My deduction is that the stronger the horse bandits killed, the better the skills he imparts."

Zhan Xiaobai pondered this. Eliminating horse bandits right now was no easy task, and the only formidable faction of horse bandits in this region at present was Pei Yuanshao's band. Wanting to kill them? Wasn't that just courting death?

It seemed he had to devise another method to acquire a considerable quantity of Level 20 bows.

He smiled at the veteran hunter and asked, "Elder Lü, I wonder if you would be willing to sell any hunting bows?"

The veteran hunter was momentarily startled. After swallowing a cup of warm wine, he said, "Sell bows? Heh heh, this old man lives alone in the deep mountains and remote ridges, with no worries about food or clothing; why would I sell bows? I won't sell them, absolutely not. I wonder what the village chief intends to do with bows?"

Zhan Xiaobai explained, "The official authorities require my Little White Village to establish a village defense guard, but we lack ranged bows. Do you think you could craft a batch of Level 20 bows and arrows and sell them to me? Just name your conditions, and I will agree to all of them."

The veteran hunter shook his head and said, "That makes things difficult. In all my life, this old man has never sold bows and arrows. I only occasionally sell some game to exchange for salt outside the mountains. If the village chief wants game, that would be much easier to manage. But asking me to sell bows... well, my Lü family has no such tradition. It simply won't do, absolutely not! My ancestors once said that no matter how impoverished one becomes, one must never sell the bows and arrows that provide one's livelihood."

As the deputy village chief, Li Asan considered sharing his lord's burdens an inescapable duty, and he quickly persuaded him, "Come now, Elder Lü, is there truly no other way? We are merely asking you to sell us a few ordinary bows; it's hardly an embarrassing matter."

Fire Little Treasure and the others chimed in as well, "Indeed, Master, you should be flexible." "We're all family here; this tiny matter shouldn't be an issue, right?"

The veteran hunter was already somewhat swayed, yet he still refused to relent. "This... still feels somewhat improper. How can one sell the tools that put food on one's table? ...This is rather inauspicious; I cannot violate the traditions left behind by my ancestors! I cannot sell them."

A flash of inspiration struck Zhan Xiaobai. The system likely erected a hurdle here to prevent players from directly purchasing massive quantities of bows and arrows from NPC hunters. As long as he bypassed that restriction, it would work. He quickly said, "Then let's forget about buying them; instead, we invite you to help us process them. All the materials will be prepared by us; you merely need to help us craft them into a set of bows. How does that sound? That shouldn't violate your ancestral precepts, right?"

"That's right! This isn't selling the tools that feed you; you are helping others process materials!"

The veteran hunter failed to fully grasp the subtle distinction between selling and processing, and coupled with the fact that he had consumed a considerable amount of alcohol, his mind became hazy. "This... seems acceptable. Helping others process materials... does not count as selling. Very well, this old man will help you process... a few sets."

"Splendid!"

Everyone was overjoyed, having finally successfully hoodwinked the veteran hunter. If the veteran hunter had adamantly refused, they truly would have been helpless. They escorted the intoxicated veteran hunter to the inn.

That very day, Zhan Xiaobai led Fire Little Treasure and the others into the weapon workshop, specifically designating an area dedicated to the production of bows and arrows.

They prepared a large quantity of materials. The primary materials consisted of the six major categories: shafts (Zhu, mulberry, orange, papaya, thorn, bamboo, etc.), horns (ox horns), tendons, glue (deer, horse, ox, rat, fish, rhinoceros), silk, and lacquer (the exterior protective coating for bows and arrows).

The crafting of bows and arrows was a remarkably tedious handicraft.

Fire Little Treasure had spent over a month merely learning how to craft arrows. Arrow production was further divided into the creation of arrowheads, arrow shafts, and arrow feathers.

The process Fire Little Treasure was most proficient in was the manufacturing technique for Level 10 arrows.

Zhan Xiaobai asked him to craft a few arrows for inspection.

Fire Little Treasure gathered several materials and, after spending one minute, successfully crafted a Level 10 arrow. The craftsmanship appeared seasoned and highly proficient.

Weapon Name: [Bamboo Arrow] Level 10, novice ranged weapon, can be used in conjunction with a novice bow. Target Counter: None.
Performance: +1 Attack, Durability 5 (one-time consumable item).
Consumed Materials: Bone spur x1, bamboo x1, chicken feather x1.

Zhan Xiaobai held this short arrow and broke out in a cold sweat. This little trinket looked frail and vulnerable; how much health damage could it possibly inflict?

He borrowed Fire Little Treasure's Level 20 hardwood hunting bow, nocked the arrow, and loosed a shot at a small wooden shield (Durability 20). With a dull "thud," it only knocked 5 points of durability off the small wooden shield, and the arrow itself snapped in two... waterfall sweat; it was far too weak. Compared to the fierce arrows wielded by the bandit chieftain, the difference was like heaven and earth.

"Can you make higher-grade ones?"

"Yes, I can craft Level 15 arrows right now. However, having stayed in the deep mountains all this time, I lacked advanced arrowhead materials such as 'iron' and 'bronze,' so I didn't craft them frequently and grew accustomed to using these small Level 10 arrows."

Zhan Xiaobai instructed him to make Level 15 ones. Fire Little Treasure switched to a different set of materials: pig-iron arrowhead x1, wooden shaft x1, pheasant feather x1, and successfully crafted a Level 15 arrow.

[Wooden Arrow], Level 15. Target Counter: Light infantry.
Performance: +1 Attack, Durability 15 (one-time consumable item).

Zhan Xiaobai once again used it to shoot the small wooden shield, and a single shot instantly depleted 15 points of durability from the shield.

Although the Level 15 wooden arrow was still not exceptionally powerful, it was vastly superior to the bamboo arrow.

When he used a blade or sword to hack at the small wooden shield, it consumed roughly 15 points of durability as well.

"What about Level 20 arrows? Can you make those right now?"

"I can, but my arrow-crafting skill is currently only at the intermediate level, so the success rate for crafting Level 20 arrows is not high. Furthermore, the material requirements are also quite stringent; it is best to use hardwoods such as birch or peach wood."

Zhan Xiaobai nodded. The village's reserves of quality timber were not abundant, so it seemed he needed to gather more.

He had Li Asan deliver all sorts of high-grade materials for arrow crafting to this location, supplying them to Fire Little Treasure to level up his skill. With these superior crafting materials, Fire Little Treasure's skill proficiency would rise all the more quickly.

The following day, after the veteran hunter awoke, he was warmly and enthusiastically invited by Zhan Xiaobai and Li Asan to the weapon workshop to assist in "processing" bows.

The veteran hunter Lü Shan felt a deep sense of vexation. Crafting them felt wrong, yet refusing to craft them also felt wrong; alas, he had only himself to blame for his drunkenness. Forget it; he would simply help them "process" a few sets—it was hardly a monumental task. Besides, he couldn't have consumed those jars of fine rice wine at Little White Village for nothing, could he?

Upon arriving at the weapon workshop, the veteran hunter felt satisfied with the spacious and tranquil working environment. What satisfied him most, however, was the towering piles of superior materials: oak, willow, hickory, cedar, ironwood, elm, juniper, birch, and hemlock—varieties that were rarely found in the deep mountain forests.

He asked, "Village Chief Xiaobai, I wonder what kind of bows you require?"

Zhan Xiaobai smiled and replied, "Mainly bows that can be utilized by levels 20 through 30. In your opinion, what kind of bows are the finest?"

The veteran hunter walked around the massive piles of materials, speaking slowly, "This old man knows how to craft five types of bows frequently used by hunters: Level 10 short bows, Level 15 wooden bows, Level 20 hardwood hunting bows, Level 25 reinforced hunting bows, and Level 37 ox-horn bows. Judging by the materials you have here, crafting Level 10 short bows, Level 15 wooden bows, and Level 20 hardwood hunting bows should present no problem at all. As for the other two types, I'm afraid they cannot be made." (There were many other varieties in the bow series, but since they were not manufactured by hunters, the veteran hunter did not mention them.)

The Level 20 hardwood hunting bow was suitable for many players. However, some higher-level players were already capable of utilizing Level 25 hunting bows.

Thinking of this, Zhan Xiaobai quickly asked, "I wonder what materials are lacking for the Level 25 reinforced hunting bow and the Level 37 ox-horn bow? If possible, I would still prefer to have these two types of bows crafted."

The veteran hunter nodded. "That's fine as well. This old man will be staying in the village for seven or eight days, so I can just help you process these bows. If you aren't too particular about quality, I can probably make quite a few crude hunting bows every day. Village Chief Xiaobai can gather however many materials you like, and we'll make as many bows as possible; you may handle that as you see fit."

Zhan Xiaobai repeatedly expressed his gratitude. Over these seven or eight days, even if they could only produce twenty or so bows and arrows, it should be sufficient for him to form a small troop of archers.

In accordance with the veteran hunter's requests, he set about gathering the necessary materials. The timber was already sufficient; the primary shortage lay in the high-grade tendons and glue—two rare and uncommon materials.

While Zhan Xiaobai went out to gather materials, the veteran hunter picked up a few minor components and casually crafted a Level 10 short bow.

Level 10 Short Bow: Bamboo material x1, rabbit tendon x1, fish glue x3. Crafted from bamboo, this contraption could at best bully small animals, earning it the sarcastic moniker of the "little broken bow." In the jungle, it could be used to drive away birds and beasts.

Level 15 Wooden Bow: Timber x1, roe deer tendon x1, fish glue x5. Fragile and of limited utility.

Level 20 Hardwood Hunting Bow: Low-grade hardwood x1, deer tendon x1, fish glue x10. A crude bow, self-made by hunters and frequently utilized. Animal bones were used to fashion arrowheads, and feathers served as fletching.

Level 25 Reinforced Hunting Bow: Medium-grade hardwood x2, ox tendon x1, premium fish glue x10. A fine bow, regularly used by experienced veteran hunters.

Level 37 Ox-Horn Bow: High-grade hardwood x3, ox horn x1, premium ox tendon x3, premium animal glue x20. A superior fine bow, rarely wielded by anyone, paired with eagle-feathered arrows.

Among these various types of bows, only the ox-horn bow required materials that were exceptionally difficult to gather, making its production virtually impossible for the time being.