Shen Liqian and Shen Yiren left the old couple and their daughter alone.
They went behind the house into the backyard and immediately saw a pile of snow standing upright, looking out of place.
Its odd shape raised questions in Shen Yiren, but Shen Liqian knew what it was.
A moment later, the pile of snow burst open, revealing the lanky figure of a cultivator in his late teens.
He stood taut and straight, his bow an extension of his arms, pointing at the target across from him.
The snow around him danced as he loosed an arrow, which neatly lodged itself in the middle of the target.
He lowered his bow and exhaled deeply.
Shen Jixian.
His cultivation base was only at the Second Stage of Qi Attunement, yet his archery topped archers with five or six roots, all connected to their Dantians.
But with such a low cultivation base, he couldn't handle dangerous hunting missions that required a lot of physical activity and endurance.
"Can you afford to bleed, Jixian?"
Hearing his friend, Shen Jixian flinched and turned around.
"Liqian?" he asked, confused.
Within seconds of the shot, Shen Jixian was bleeding profusely.
Blood stained the snow at his feet in dark blotches.
Shen Liqian chuckled and walked toward his friend.
He took his hands and examined his fingertips.
The skin was shredded, and flesh and bubbling blood were visible.
His stomach tightened at the sight.
Not only did it look ugly, but it must have hurt as well.
"So? Can you really afford to hurt yourself like that?"
Shen Jixian yanked his hands free and looked away.
"What else can I do?
"Cultivate?
"I can't! I am past eighteen, so there's no hope for me!"
He sounded like he hated himself and the world, as though there were no hope left for him.
Yet he practiced hard despite those feelings dragging him down.
"What is it?" Shen Liqian asked.
"What?"
"It can't be that you're pushing yourself this hard just because you're past eighteen.
"You've been eighteen for a few months now."
It was a fair question that Shen Jixian didn't want to answer.
He looked around for anything else to talk about, then saw Shen Yiren staring at him with his single eye, sharp as a hawk's.
Shen Jixian flinched.
"Has your uncle given you a bodyguard?"
Shen Yiren scoffed.
Shen Liqian only smiled softly.
"Do you want to know everything?" he asked.
He sounded serious, without his usual easygoing attitude, which made Shen Jixian go stiff as a bow.
He nodded.
Shen Liqian chuckled.
"You must tell me first what's pushing you this hard."
Shen Jixian clenched his hands.
That, in turn, only made his fingers hurt more and drew a grimace.
After moments of battling with his feelings, he confessed everything to his friend.
"Your father has been crippled…
"If someone so strong can be defeated, then I am as good as dead.
"We're losing so many clan members, too.
"I'm scared I'll see my parents and Keke die, and I won't be able to stop it.
"I hate that I'm so weak and that I can't cultivate!"
No one in the clan knew the truth yet.
People were more worried about themselves, which was normal.
Shen Liqian was glad his friend prioritized his family, as he treasured his own family ties.
Raising his hand, he put it on Shen Jixian's shoulder.
He looked straight into his eyes.
"You're not weak.
"You just can't cultivate.
"And that can be fixed with a proper path and hard work.
"Shen Jixian.
"Join me, and I will turn you into a cultivator whose arrows will protect the entire clan.
"I won't mind you putting your family first, either."
Those words struck Shen Jixian's heart and gave him a sudden boost of confidence.
It was strange.
He'd seen his friend practicing his swordsmanship and sparring with other cultivators despite his weak cultivation base.
After each battle, he'd nod and look forward to more practice.
He worked hard but without any direction.
But now, Shen Liqian had a direction he wanted to follow.
What was pushing him forward and giving him confidence?
Shen Jixian wanted to know, since that confidence had already lifted his mood.
"It's my turn to reveal the truth."
Shen Liqian smiled.
Strangely, the snow around them began to fall harder, hushing the entire backyard.
Only Shen Yiren and Shen Jixian could hear Shen Liqian.
The backyard seemed to hold its breath.
"Shen Junce and other traitors schemed to cripple my father, and it worked.
"I will kill Shen Junce and become the next Clan Chief.
"I can achieve this goal because of my enlightenment.
"And now that you are aware of my plans, I am not letting you go, Shen Jixian.
"Join me.
"It is under my wing that you will become the best archer."
In Shen Jixian's case, Shen Liqian didn't want to persuade him with his fixed cultivation method or a sparring match.
He wanted the truth to sink into Shen Jixian's heart first, and then for him to make an important decision.
———
"Mother, Father, and Keke.
"I will now live in Clan Chief's Manor with Liqian.
"I swear to never put your names to shame and work diligently!"
Shen Jixian struck his left palm with his right fist and bowed low.
He knew that his parents and little sister would do well without him, but it still stung him to leave them alone for a while.
He could always visit them, but he believed he would train hard to oppose Shen Junce and the other traitors alongside Shen Liqian.
His mother stood up and gently walked over to him.
She took her son's hand and pressed into it a small wooden box of medicines for his wounded hands.
She smiled.
"Break a bone, but never your heart."
Her hands trembled despite the smile.
Shen Jixian nodded.
The mother and son squeezed each other tightly.
Little Keke cried as her brother set off, but she held back her tears as much as she could, believing he'd return.
She hiccuped once, then squared her shoulders.
Shen Jixian's father gave a confident smile and ruffled his son's hair.
His wife had said more than enough.
Shen Liqian then stepped forward and made the gesture of an oath.
"Your son will become the best archer in Shen Clan.
"I swear that on my name!"
"Take care of him and whip him to work whenever he slacks!"
Shen Liqian chuckled.
"I will, Auntie!"
[You have drafted your second vassal—Shen Jixian.]
[Shen Jixian.]
[Age: 18]
[Cultivation: Second Stage Of Qi Attunement]
[Cultivation Method: Archer Hawk Cultivation Manual(Mortal).]
[Spiritual Roots: 2]
[You have made a significant progress in your Cultivate Your Vassals Quest!]
[Vassals: 2/2]
[Help them reach breakthroughs to earn rewards!]
At last, Shen Liqian could earn rewards from his system in the way it was meant to be!
He exhaled slowly, the path finally clear beneath his feet.