Chapter 41: Hidden Dragon

Chapter 41: Hidden Dragon

Fang Moqi lost. An arrow hit him in the back. According to the rules, that would be counted as a lethal hit, meaning he was “dead.”

The arrow that ended the fight was made from a tree branch. It had been carved straight with a sharp tool, its tip pointed like a long pencil.

Wood could never pierce through steel plate, though. So even though the arrow struck his back, it didn’t penetrate his armor. Instead, it bounced off and fell to the ground.

But a loss was a loss. Without the steel plate, Fang Moqi would have been dead just now.

Even though Fang Moqi lost, he didn’t understand how he had lost. Where did that arrow come from?

It was a ghostly, unpredictable arrow. It had inexplicably struck him from behind. Yet Lan Mu was right in front of him!

Unless there was another person attacking him, how else could he explain an arrow hitting him from behind?

“When? How did you do that?”

Fang Moqi pulled the arrow from under his left rib, quickly tended to the wound, and plopped down on the ground, asking with hopeful anticipation.

Lan Mu walked over to him with a smile and said, “Just now. I shot an arrow from the treetop. You knew about that, right?”

Fang Moqi was stunned. He did know. It was the sound of the bowstring that had misled him.

It was clearly the sound of an arrow being released, yet he saw no arrow. Instead, it grabbed his attention, allowing Lan Mu, who had suddenly dropped to the ground, to sneak-attack him.

“At that moment, I shot this first arrow. Then I immediately dropped down and shot the second arrow from the front. You were fooled by my first arrow, so you couldn’t dodge the second one completely.”

Fang Moqi listened to Lan Mu’s explanation. He understood the words, but it was impossible!

How did that earlier, disappearing arrow end up behind him?

Lan Mu smiled, picked up the wooden arrow from the ground, notched it on the bowstring, and shot it into the sky.

The arrow flew out dozens of meters, looking like it would imbed itself in a tree trunk. Suddenly, it veered, bypassing numerous branches, drawing a bizarre arc in the sky. It turned around, flew back behind the two of them, and finally landed back in Lan Mu’s hand.

The entire arrow’s trajectory was mind-boggling. It had actually traced an Omega-shaped path in the air.

“See? It’s that simple. I call it the Orbit Arrow. Pretty cool, huh?”

Fang Moqi couldn’t even process Lan Mu’s words. He was completely absorbed in the trajectory he had just witnessed. He had never seen such a ghostly, unpredictable arrow!

Fire first, but arrive later; make a huge loop in the sky; finally circle around to attack the enemy from behind.

How could such a surreal arrow even be shot? It was simply inhuman!

Fang Moqi stared blankly at Lan Mu, his lips moving slightly. Finally, he could only say with frustration,

“I admit defeat.”

He had to admit it. After over a decade of rigorous archery training, just managing to keep his worldview intact in front of this freak was an achievement.

Next, Lan Mu helped Fang Moqi back. The wound under his left rib wasn’t too severe. At the last moment, Lan Mu had controlled the Wind-Speed Arrow to decelerate immediately. Otherwise, the arrow would have gone right through Fang Moqi.

Being able to accelerate an arrow meant he could also decelerate it. The Elf’s archery talent was overwhelmingly powerful. The more Lan Mu engaged in actual combat, the more pleasantly surprised he became with his bow usage.

On the way back to the river, Fang Moqi asked another question.

“Lan Mu, was it you who was constantly watching me in the forest earlier, locking onto my presence?”

Lan Mu was taken aback. After thinking for a moment, he admitted, “Yes.”

Fang Moqi’s eyes lit up. “That sense of presence, fierce like a wild beast, was actually you? Why couldn’t I find you?”

“You’re just too weak. I was just well-hidden.” Lan Mu chuckled.

Fang Moqi was speechless. He couldn’t refute it. Though he instinctively felt this answer was unreliable, the fact was he hadn’t been able to detect the other.

“Although I don’t know why your stealth abilities suddenly became so strong, your reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance skills are undoubtedly qualified as well.”

“From a practical combat perspective, you far surpass me. Even Gates is nowhere near you. I am completely convinced.”

Lan Mu’s mystery and power had conquered Fang Moqi. Having been defeated by him three times in a row, even going all out, Fang Moqi hadn’t managed to land a single arrow on Lan Mu. It could only mean the gap was just too vast.

“Lan Mu, are we friends?”

Lan Mu looked at Fang Moqi, who had suddenly become serious, and blinked. “Yeah, didn’t I already say so?”

Fang Moqi smiled and said, “Actually, besides my own willingness, I was also entrusted by someone to test your capabilities. That’s why I insisted on a duel like this.”

Lan Mu’s eyes widened. “Entrusted by someone? Who?”

“Shen Qingtang. He is the head of Group 93 at the Hidden Dragon base. On the surface, he’s an academician at the National Academy of Sciences. Actually, he belongs to the Hidden Dragon base, responsible for investigating and exploring certain extraordinary zones.” Fang Moqi said seriously.

Lan Mu stared at him for a long time before finally speaking. “Is the state keeping an eye on me?”

Fang Moqi was startled. “That’s not what I mean. The higher-ups in the state are busy with plenty of things. Why would they have time to watch you?”

He explained, “You really haven’t heard of Hidden Dragon. It’s a top-secret agency, reporting directly to the State Council. I’m not clear on its exact purpose because I’m not a formal member of Hidden Dragon. I’m just a Temporary Agent.”

“Because I’m considered the best hunter in the country, Shen Qingtang often asks for my assistance with their work. Basically, it involves exploring some mysterious areas, doing some scientific research projects.”

Lan Mu breathed a sigh of relief. “So it’s just a state secret scientific research agency?”

“No, from what I know, exploration is only the work of Group 93. Hidden Dragon also has Groups 91, 92, 94, and 95, each responsible for different tasks. But the specifics, I don’t know.”

Lan Mu blinked. “What exactly are you trying to say?”

Fang Moqi said, “Professor Shen, that is, Shen Qingtang, knew about you after you defeated me the first two times. However, he hoped I would assess your practical combat abilities. If possible, he wanted to make contact with you… probably wanting you to become a Temporary Agent like me.”

Lan Mu fell silent. He instinctively resisted. A gut feeling told him this was about recruiting him, like becoming some sort of agent.

Seeing he wasn’t speaking, Fang Moqi continued, “It’s fine if you don’t join. Just come with me to Hubei Province at that time. We’re gathering on the 3rd of next month to go to Shennongjia. Professor Shen will meet with you or something. If you’re unwilling, just forget it.”

Lan Mu asked, “It’s not compulsory?”

“Compulsory? First, you’re not their employee. Second, you’re not a state official. What right do they have to force you? You have no obligation to meet with him.”

“Huh? But aren’t you sent by that Professor Shen? Why are you saying this?”

Fang Moqi laughed. “Originally, I planned to find a way to bring you over. But now you’re my friend, so they can go hang! Anyway, I’m just a Temporary Agent. Does he have the guts to fire me? I don’t depend on this for my livelihood.”

Lan Mu burst out laughing. “You started off so seriously, I thought you were going to arrest me.”

“Arrest you for what? You haven’t broken any laws. By the way, if you do go, there’s something I need to tell you first.”

“What is it?”

“Is your method of controlling arrows… Internal Energy?”

Lan Mu made a surprised sound. Internal Energy? The kind from martial arts novels?

“Uh… why do you ask?”

Fang Moqi raised an eyebrow. “Don’t tell me it’s just pure archery skill. I don’t believe any archery skill can perform such unbelievable actions. Do you have superpowers? Pfft!”

Lan Mu hurriedly said, “I don’t have superpowers… Well, it is Internal Energy! I have a kind of energy inside me. You can call it Internal Energy.”

Fang Moqi’s eyes sparkled. “So it really is Internal Energy? What exactly can it do?”

Lan Mu thought to himself. He had already displayed such astonishing archery. Since he was being mistaken for having Internal Energy or something, he might as well let the misunderstanding continue.

So Lan Mu leaped up, landing on a tree. His feet stood perpendicularly on the tree trunk’s surface, his body parallel to the ground, defying gravity.

“Well, just some minor functions. There’s more…”

Lan Mu jumped down. Wrapping his hand with Natural Force, he swiped it through the muddy ground and withdrew it completely clean.

“See? Not very useful.”

Fang Moqi exclaimed, “That’s not useful? Is your speed also granted by Internal Energy?”

“Yes,” Lan Mu admitted. As he spoke, his hand became a blur. He swiftly drew an arrow from Fang Moqi’s quiver and shot it instantly, the whole process taking less than a second.

Fang Moqi nodded. “How on earth did you train to achieve this?”

Lan Mu thought, how would I know? He could only make something up.

“Uh… just trained for it. Didn’t Shaolin Temple publish their Muscle Tendon Changing Classic? I just practiced according to that and ended up like this.”

“Are you messing with me? It’s that simple?” Fang Moqi almost coughed up blood.

Lan Mu wasn’t sure what this world was like either. Now there was a top-secret agency called Hidden Dragon. Who knew if supernatural things existed?

Since there were superpowered individuals like him, perhaps there were others in the world too.

Besides, judging from Fang Moqi’s tone, Internal Energy didn’t seem to be fictional. Could there really be martial arts masters?

With too little information, Lan Mu could only probe. “Brother Fang, in that Hidden Dragon, how many people possess Internal Energy? I haven’t been practicing long, I’d like to learn from others.”

Fang Moqi’s eyes widened. “How many? None! Not just in Hidden Dragon, there isn’t a single person in the entire world!”

Lan Mu was stunned. “Really?”

“Of course! Internal Energy disappeared centuries ago. It’s a legend. And you, kid, are now the only living legend!”

Lan Mu nodded. He hadn’t expected Internal Energy to have been gone for so long. So by claiming to have it just now, he became the only person in the world in centuries to possess Internal Energy?

He had wanted to use Internal Energy to cover up his superpowers, but it turned out Internal Energy was even rarer!

“Wow… Brother Fang, you have to keep this secret for me.”

Fang Moqi smiled. “Can’t keep it anymore. Professor Shen already suspected you had Internal Energy. A main reason for wanting to meet you is to see this ‘giant panda’ of yours.”

Lan Mu frowned. “But I can choose not to go!”

Fang Moqi laughed. “Alright, you don’t have to go if you don’t want to. But Professor Shen and his team are research fanatics. If you try to hide and cover things up, you’re more likely to attract their attention.”

“…” Lan Mu looked at Fang Moqi. “I feel like you’re still forcing me to go.”

Fang Moqi said, “Internal Energy being rare is one thing, but ultimately it’s no longer something that can be widely practiced. You might be a special case. At most, they probably want to understand Internal Energy through you. After all, it’s just a legend. Having a real example is the only way to truly comprehend it.”

“Of course, no one can force you. After all, you cultivated Internal Energy through your own ability. First, you haven’t harmed society. Second, you haven’t harmed the country…”

Lan Mu’s brow furrowed tightly. He hated these research fanatics the most.

Suddenly, Fang Moqi roared with laughter, pointing at Lan Mu mockingly. “You’re too timid. Don’t panic. I’ll handle this for you.”

“It’s simple. I can completely tell them you don’t have Internal Energy. We just need to hide the Orbit Arrow. After all, Internal Energy has been gone for centuries. They just suspect you might be a special case.”

“Oh? You scared me. Let’s do that then.” Lan Mu punched Fang Moqi’s arm lightly.

Fang Moqi finally said, “But the fact that you defeated me in practical combat isn’t easy to hide. If you’re willing, just become a Temporary Agent. Consider it serving the people. If you really don’t want to go, agents from the State Security Bureau will probably contact you eventually. After all, you’re too skilled, and you’re not registered with the Hunter Association. You’d be considered a societal risk.”

“Huh? This… I’ll think about it.”

Lan Mu considered. The 3rd of next month… by then, he would probably have undergone his third transformation, and still be in the forced transformation period.

The transformation’s target was random. Who knew what kind of monster he’d become?

“But I won’t have time. Actually, after this trip to Malay, I have to leave in another four days. You guys can head back first.”

Fang Moqi was taken aback. “What? You’re not going back to the country with us?”

“No. Unless you can wait for me for seven days. I have something to do that will take seven days.”

Fang Moqi said, “Today is the 23rd. Four days later is the 27th. Adding seven more days brings us exactly to the 3rd!”

“Forget it! I’ll wait for you, and we’ll go back to the country together!”

Lan Mu said, “But don’t you have to be in Hubei on the 3rd?”

“We gather on the 3rd. Actually entering Shennongjia might be on the 4th or 5th. If the timing works out, me going a bit later isn’t a problem.”

“But the latest is the 3rd. I absolutely must return to the country by the early hours of the 4th.”

Lan Mu could only say, “Alright.”

“Let’s decide on a meeting place. If I can make it back in time, I’ll go with you to Shennongjia.”