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Edited by Tnyhy & Larkspur (Updated 30th May 2022)

Chapter 45: My Turn

“I am here. Do you dare to kill?”

Cai Lin looked at the young female opposite him like it was the first time, with eyes full of disbelief.

He was already accustomed to Guang Wen Tang and was spoilt as he grew up to almost the point that he could walk sideways. With regards to Shen Miao, he only wanted to teach her a lesson today. Who knew that not only was she not afraid but would even go against him? To even say these kind of words at this moment, the one who would prevail would definitely be him.

Cai Lin, do you dare?

Not to mention if he had the guts, even if he dared, could he? The Young Master of the Cai family could do things in a fit of emotions, but how about the Cai family? If Shen Miao was really killed by him today, not to mention about paying a life with a life, there exists a possibility that Shen Xin would cut down every single person in the Cai family before apologising. 

Furthermore, he did not dare to do so.

He was one who could show off with some smart words but had not entered a battle before, so much so that he had never drawn any blood before. His archery was certainly very good but the targets were always fruits or animals and never people.

But now, how would there be a reason to withdraw? Shen Miao, a female, was not afraid, if he, a dignified man, withdrew then most likely he would have no face to step out of his residence at all.

Thinking of that, Cai Lin arrogantly said, “As what you say, whatever skills can be seen in the archery arena. You speak happily now, but who knows if you would be so frightened that you would pee yourself.” His words were extremely rude, one did not know if it was said to cover up his own dismay. The calmer Shen Miao was, the more unsettled he became and he somehow wanted to see his opponent panic as it seemed to calm his own heart down. Therefore, he hoped that his words would make her embarrassed.

For an ordinary lady, if a male would speak that ruthlessly, one would naturally feel shame and fidget in embarrassment or most probably cry in a fit. But when Shen Miao heard him, she only shot a glance at him and that peaceful manner made Cai Lin feel that it was all his willfulness.

He was also somewhat baffled and suspected that he himself was somewhat muddled. How could he feel a guilty conscience when facing Shen Miao, this idiot? 

Shen Miao had already gone to the examiner to get the fruit. That fruit was as big as an adult fist, square at the bottom and round at the top. Shen Miao stood at the eastmost side of the stage and placed the fruit on top of her head.

The arena started to gradually liven up.

“At this moment she must be forcefully keeping herself calm but is actually frightened out of her gall.” Yi Pei Lan smiled as she said, “I really cannot wait to see her so scared that her tears and snot flow.”

“Ever since Ming Qi examinations were established, there has never been a time that a female would be challenged by a male in a military topic.” Jiang Xiao Xuan stuck her finger up and crooked her head, “Shen Miao can be considered the first. But to be made a fool in front of everyone, it would be terrible just thinking about it.”

“Aiyo. Why is Fifth Lady still standing up in front? What if the Young Master Cai misses?” Ren Wan Yun said. She felt some predicament in her heart. If something really happened to Shen Miao, no matter how well Shen Xin treated the Shen family, he would also not let her off the hook.

“What is Second Sao worried about?” Chen Rou Qiu lightly said, “Anyway, everything is just kids playing around. The Young Master of Cai family is not a child who does not know anything. As long as Fifth Lady softens up and asks for mercy, naturally, he would not make things difficult for her. Now one can only hope that Fifth Lady would not fight back in a moment of anger.”

She took this kind of life and death matter and used ‘kids playing around’ to describe it. After all, Ren Wan Yun was the one managing the family and if anything went wrong, it would be she who would bear it. However, her words went to Ren Wan Yun’s heart. Everything was because Shen Miao’s spur of emotions. If Shen Miao asked for mercy nicely and said a couple of nice words to Cai Lin, she, naturally, would not have fallen to this point.

“Rest assured.” Chen Rou Qui said, “I see that gentleman from the Cai family most likely just wants to scare Fifth Lady. In this academy examination, everyone is fighting for an elegant demeanour, thus, it would not be possible to stop now.”

“Mother need not have to worry.” Shen Qing also said to Ren Wan Yun, “Cai Lin’s archery is very good and it would not be the case that the targets are not hit.”

Shen Qing thought that since Shen Miao was blocking her dreams of being a Prince’s wife, she could not wait to pull down Shen Miao’s prestige to nothing. Hearing that some people could be so scared that at times they would wet themselves, she wanted to know what would Shen Miao do?

Shen Qing thought, if Cai Lin really missed… it would be good to have her face ruined.

Shen Yue did not go as far ahead as Shen Qing. She only wished to look at how Shen Miao would beg for mercy while kneeling, as if with that she could be able to gain back her self-esteem. She glanced at Cai Lin from afar, but he did not seem to have seen her.

Cai Lin was holding the longbow in his hands as he faced Shen Miao, who was thirty Zhang (1 zhang = 10 feet) away, his forehead filled with cold sweat.

Shen Miao stood there quietly as the wind blew her cloak. Between the rustling of the purple cloak, her brows were just like its surroundings, but there was a type of majestic bearing as if it was the calm after one had experienced storms and waves, and it coated a layer of dazzling brilliance all over her.

Cai Lin slowly pulled the bow as he thought: As long as Shen Miao begs for mercy. As long as one tear falls and she asks for mercy, he would then take the opportunity to humiliate her and he would not need to be in this dilemma anymore.

Unfortunately, his wishes were fruitless in the end. Shen Miao had a calm expression as if he was not worth her attention.

Shen Yue frowned.

Why had the scene of Shen Miao crying for mercy not appeared? Why did Shen Miao look even calmer than Cai Lin?

There were already many people who had realised this point and their original impression of that idiot gradually changed. Not every young lady could stand with a bow and arrow pointing at her without having great waves of expressions. If that was inherited from Shen Xin who had an unchanging face of calm in front of the enemy, one can only say that when a father was a lion, the daughter could not be a dog (means like father, like daughter).

Cai Lin’s hands started trembling and the fruit that was three Zhang away,  (1 zhang = 10 feet) normally an easy feat for him,  was exceptionally difficult today. That distance seemed to be very far away.

And Shen Miao’s words lingered by his ears, “I am here. Do you dare to kill?”

Did he dare? Did he dare? Did he dare?

With a ‘xiu’ sound, the arrow streaked across fiercely.

But it only stayed in the air for a while before falling off.

So much so that it even dropped before it reached the hems of Shen Miao’s clothes. It was as if not enough energy was used, much less able to hit the target which was the fruit.

The entre arena was filled with laughter.

Even some of his classmates laughed as they joked, “Cai Lin, do you have tender and protective feelings for the fairer gender, else why can you not even shoot at three Zhang (1 zhang = 10 feet) when ten zhang (1 zhang = 10 feet) targets will be hit accurately?”

He wiped the sweat on his forehead and immediately started to pull the bow again. The second arrow landed at Shen Miao’s feet.

The third one brushed against her hairstyle and touched the fruit on top of her head. Shen Miao’s hairstyle became undone and her black hair flowed down her entire shoulder.

However, even when the arrow brushed past her , she did not change her expression at all.

The black hair, purple clothes and the fair complexion of the young female, stood up straight in the wind.

Cai Lin’s hands softened and the bow and arrows fell all around the floor. The entire arena was silent.

Even a fool could see that the person who was afraid was not Shen Miao but Cai Lin.

I am here. Do you dare to kill?

You dare not.

I dare.

She smiled lightly and that bright pair of cub-like eyes held a trace of ruthlessness. Coupled with her currently slightly naive face, it was strangely beautiful.

“Now it’s my turn.”