HMIME Chapter 49: It’s Challenging Me!

As the weather gradually cooled, it soon came time for the royal autumn hunt.

During this season, the Emperor would take people to the military camp to inspect the troops, practice cavalry archery, and also go hunting in the hunting grounds. If the hunt was successful, it indicated a bountiful harvest in the fields, bringing good omens, making it a sort of blessing ceremony.

Although this was purely superstitious, it still played an indispensable role in boosting morale.

Bai Lu had a great interest in hunting. Ever since he heard this news, he had been eagerly awaiting the day of departure. Chu Ya couldn’t help but feel that this person seemed like a primary school student looking forward to a field trip, unexpectedly cute.

Because Bai Lu had never truly gone out for leisure with others. Forget about his childhood, even as he grew up, he always kept to himself. During the three years he was with Chu Ya, his mind was filled with thoughts of revenge, with no interest in enjoying life.

So, this was almost his first time going out without any worries, of course, he was looking forward to it in his heart.

Bai Lu sat on the steps at the door, wiping the short gun in his hand with a soft cloth, and asked with great interest, “Can I bring a gun when hunting? It’s a good opportunity to try my hand!”

Chu Ya mercilessly refused, “No, there are too many people, it’s dangerous.”

Bai Lu pouted unhappily and reluctantly said, “Fine, then give me a good bow and arrow that’s easy to use.”

Chu Ya smiled, “Alright, I’ll prepare a five-dou bow for you. The ones heavier than that, you won’t be able to pull.”

Bai Lu was very sensitive in this regard and immediately raised his head to glare at him, sharply questioning, “Are you looking down on me?”

Chu Ya felt helpless about Bai Lu’s strange self-esteem, “I’m not mocking you, it’s just that your strength is indeed not great right now. How about this, I’ll prepare various types of bows for you to choose from.”

Bai Lu felt this was acceptable. He was a dignified eight-foot-tall man, how could he not even be able to pull a bow? It was ridiculous.

The day of departure quickly arrived. This was Bai Lu’s second time leaving the palace since coming here, and it was even farther than the last time he went to the Haiyan Villa. Bai Lu sat in the carriage, everything looked fresh to him, and he even went out for a ride on a horse midway.

At that time, the convoy for the autumn hunt happened to be traveling across open and uninhabited fields. The terrain was flat and safe, so Chu Ya let him go out to ride a horse.

After just a quarter of an hour, Bai Lu returned, pulling back the curtain and sitting back in the comfortable seat of the carriage, looking out the window with a complex expression, not saying a word, seeming quite troubled.

Chu Ya was a bit puzzled, “Why did you come back so soon? Did you find horse riding boring?”

“…No.” Bai Lu moved uncomfortably, changed his sitting posture, and said awkwardly, “I don’t know how to ride. The horse wouldn’t let me get on, and it even bit me.”

Having stayed here for over two years, Chu Ya knew that some horses had spirited temperaments and wouldn’t let people ride them. But hearing that a horse actually bit someone was a first for him. What exactly did Bai Lu do to the horse?!

In fact, Bai Lu being bitten by the horse was purely his own fault. Because the indiscriminate Bai Lu, in order to establish a good relationship with the horse, went to the fields to pick some brightly colored red fruits to feed it. However, these so-called red fruits were actually wild chili peppers, which were extremely spicy.

After the horse ate it, it felt like its entire body was on fire. It only gave Bai Lu’s arm a light bite, which could be considered restrained. It could have easily kicked him five meters away.

Chu Ya held back his laughter, trying not to touch Bai Lu’s pitiful little self-esteem, and said seriously, “Since the autumn hunt involves horseback archery, it seems we need to start with the basics of horse riding. Don’t worry, A-Bai, I’ll teach you slowly.”

Bai Lu looked at him enviously, “How come you’re good at everything?!”

Chu Ya thought seriously for a moment and replied sincerely, “Perhaps my IQ is relatively high.”

Seeing Bai Lu’s face darken, Chu Ya quickly corrected himself, comforting him, “It’s okay, practice makes perfect. If you work hard, you can learn everything too.” Bai Lu’s face became even more serious, as if he wanted to bite Chu Ya’s arm in anger, just like that horse.

The convoy for the autumn hunt traveled for a whole day before reaching the camp where the troops were stationed.

According to Geng Qing, who was accompanying them, this camp was stationed by cavalry archers, with a total of seventy thousand troops. And this was just one of them; there were several other cavalry camps set up elsewhere.

Bai Lu nudged Chu Ya secretly and whispered, covering his mouth with his hand, “It seems like you have a strong military force here. Aren’t you considering expanding your territory?”

Chu Ya half seriously asked, “Do you want to? If you do, I’ll try it.”

A scene of billowing smoke and rivers of blood flashed in Bai Lu’s mind, and he shivered. He didn’t want to become a calamity, stirring up war and chaos, being cursed by future generations, his reputation tarnished, and even becoming a negative example for high school essay materials.

He quickly waved his hand, “No, no, no, we should cherish peace. Yes, peace, oppose imperialism!”

Chu Ya couldn’t help but smile and rubbed his head, “Don’t worry, there’s no other place for you to invade.”

This remark sounded a bit mysterious, and Bai Lu didn’t quite understand it. He looked up at him, wanting to ask more, but General Changsheng, who was in charge of managing the cavalry camp, had already come out to greet them. Chu Ya started talking with him and ignored Bai Lu’s questions.

The next morning, instead of mustering the troops or going to hunt in the mountain hunting grounds, Chu Ya took Bai Lu to the military camp’s training ground to practice archery.

Several sunshade sheds were erected on the edge of the training ground, with several long wooden tables underneath. On the tables were arranged various bows and arrows, each of different sizes and weights, ranging from as heavy as three stones to as light as two dou.

Chu Ya casually picked up a two-stone bow, tested the bowstring with his fingers, and then turned to Bai Lu, saying gently, “Come and pick one that suits you.”

Without saying a word, Bai Lu directly grabbed the heaviest bow. With two fingers hooked around the bowstring, he tried to pull it… but couldn’t move it.

His ears turned red, feeling embarrassed, and he gripped the bowstring tightly, exerting all his strength to try to pull it open.

However, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t move it.

Bai Lu had to switch to a bow weighing one and a half dou. This time, he could pull it open slightly, but he couldn’t shoot an arrow. Even if he managed to shoot it, it would be crooked and lacking in strength, falling to the ground like a tattered paper plane.

Seeing him getting angry, Chu Ya estimated his strength based on how Bai Lu usually kicked and punched people in bed, and then handed him a five-dou bow. “Try this one, Bai.”

“Five dou? Don’t underestimate me!”

Bai Lu took it, pulled it, and actually managed to open it. Although it took a bit more effort, after shooting the arrow, it flew fast and steadily in the air, hitting the wooden target eight meters away with a snap.

“This one is okay.” Bai Lu considered for a moment, then suddenly seemed to think of something and tried the three-dou bow next.

Sure enough, this strength was completely suitable for him. When pulling the bowstring and shooting the arrow, he didn’t exert much effort, and his accuracy was good, although the momentum was slightly lacking. But it couldn’t be helped; after all, it was a three-dou light bow, not as powerful as those heavy crossbows.

Chu Ya came over to take a look and nodded, “Is the three-dou one more suitable for you? That’s right, these fifteen or sixteen-year-old boys usually choose this kind of bow when practicing archery for the first time.”

His tone was gentle and kind, as if he was sincerely instructing him from a professional perspective. Bai Lu, however, was hit by thunder, feeling annoyed. He threw down the bow in his hand and picked up the one he had just used, annoyed, “The three-dou one is too light. I’ll use the five-dou one!”

Chu Ya didn’t know what tantrum he was throwing again. It seemed that ever since they got together, Bai Lu often showed him attitude. But that was fine; Chu Ya was happy to spoil him in some details.

The next morning, the autumn hunt began in the hunting grounds behind the mountain.

However, there was a difficult problem. It seemed like the horses in the team had a secret meeting at night, or they had telepathy between them. Regardless, none of the horses were willing to let Bai Lu ride them. Even the most docile four-year-old mare immediately lay down on the ground as soon as Bai Lu sat on her back, refusing to move no matter how much he called.

It seemed like Bai Lu and horses were incompatible…

But this was a problem. They had planned for mounted archery; if they didn’t ride, how could they shoot? Could they even hit the prey? Well, Bai Lu’s question was, could they hit the prey? Those rabbits and roe deer were so fast.

As they were worrying about this, a tall figure enveloped them from behind, and a black horse walked up beside Bai Lu and stopped. This horse had a glossy black coat, strong muscles, long and powerful legs, obviously a thousand-mile horse.

Chu Ya rode on the horse, holding the reins with one hand and reaching out to Bai Lu with the other, saying regretfully, “Looks like you can only ride with me on one horse.”

Bai Lu didn’t suspect anything and just felt a bit troubled, “This horse won’t bite me, right? What if it kicks me after I get on?”

Chu Ya smiled, “Don’t worry, I’m here.”

Bai Lu got on the horse, stepping on the footstool prepared by the servant. Sure enough, with Chu Ya sitting there, the handsome horse was very obedient, not showing any signs of weakness even with two men on its back. Under Chu Ya’s urging, it walked steadily forward.

Bai Lu sat in Chu Ya’s arms, embraced by his two arms, his back pressed tightly against Chu Ya’s chest. He could almost feel his gentle breath by his ears. As long as Chu Ya leaned down slightly, he could kiss his earlobe.

This posture was enough to be ambiguous, and it was deliberate on Chu Ya’s part. He used these small details (learned from the internet) to seduce Bai Lu’s soul, wanting to make him lose his mind and become confused.

Generally, in such a situation, ordinary people would have been completely seduced and confused, but unfortunately, Bai Lu was not an ordinary person. Others would remain calm with a beauty in their arms, but he was calm even when sitting in a beauty’s arms. Excitedly, he lifted the bow and aimed at the southeast direction.

“Hurry, hurry, hurry, there’s a hare running over there, let’s chase after it!”

In short, he completely regarded the person behind him as the driver.

Chu Ya sighed helplessly, urging the horse to chase after the rabbit.

With the black horse carrying the two of them, they entered the dense forest, leaving behind the guards following them. After reaching a place where no one was around, Chu Ya suddenly said to Bai Lu, “A-Bai, I arranged an assassin in the hunting ground today.”