"I..." William Dawson had never thought about how to answer this question, so he just made something up. "John is amazing with the bow, and I actually came here to learn from his reputation."

"Learn archery?"

Yukon was, after all, just a child. Suddenly, he felt that William Dawson wasn't such a bad person after all.

"So you're John's... apprentice?" Yukon asked again.

"Yes, apprentice." William Dawson nodded affirmatively.

"Robert Grant, isn't this a bit inappropriate...?" John Archer whispered, "How could I dare to be the master of an immortal?"

"It's fine, it's fine." William Dawson waved his hand. "It'll be easier for me to act once my identity is established."

Yukon lowered his head, a bit confused.

"Alright, Yukon, you can relax now." John Archer patted Yukon's head. "Remember to help me take care of sister-in-law Helen Archer."

Watching the two of them walk away, Yukon didn't return to the village. Instead, he ran all the way to a huge locust tree. Because of the hot weather, the tree had already shed all its leaves and stood there all alone.

"Xiao Ba, Xiao Ba!" Yukon shouted several times.

The ground around the locust tree began to loosen, as if some enormous creature was moving beneath the earth.

Moments later, a giant snake, pitch black with a dark yellow belly and dozens of meters long, burst out from the ground. As soon as it raised its body, it seemed to block out the entire sky.

The giant snake lowered its head to look at Yukon and asked:

"Master, are you calling me?"

The booming voice was deafening, but Yukon didn't seem afraid at all. He walked under the giant snake and gently lay down on its body. His tiny figure looked like just one of the snake's scales.

"Xiao Ba... I hope you can help me with something. It might be very dangerous..."

"Master, this life of mine was saved by you and John Archer. If you need it, you can take it back at any time."

"No... Xiao Ba..." Yukon shook his head, crying. "I hope you can live well, and I also hope John can live well, but John might be in danger..."

...

"John Archer, let's continue our previous conversation." On the road, William Dawson said.

John Archer nodded, thought for a moment, and said, "Robert Grant, honestly, there are many things I've only told my wife and Brother Warren, but for some reason, I feel an instant connection with you. Maybe it's because you're a lot like Brother Warren—you both have this feeling of knowing everything that's going to happen in the future."

William Dawson thought, isn't that necessary?

I still have those dozens of scripts with me right now.

"I'll tell you the secret I've been hiding. If, after you hear it, you still think I can shoot down the sun at this very moment, I'm willing to give it a try."

...

Eleven years ago.

Ten-year-old John Archer followed his parents into the mountains to hunt, waiting under a tree.

When night fell and the sun set, his parents came to take John Archer home, but unexpectedly, all the cicadas in the tree suddenly began to shriek madly, their sound echoing through the entire valley, making it impossible for his parents to approach for a while.

His parents thought this child was a bad omen and actually abandoned John Archer, leaving him alone in the deep mountains.

Young John Archer could only survive alone in the wilderness. Imitating his parents, he made a bow out of branches and vines. Whether it was due to his natural talent for archery or just good fortune, John Archer managed to survive in the mountains full of poisonous insects and monsters.

About half a year later, John Archer saw another person on the mountain for the first time.

On a hillside, John Archer saw a girl about his age. She had been bitten by poisonous insects and was unconscious. But she wore fine clothes and was extremely beautiful—clearly not an ordinary family's daughter.

Using many herbs and after seven days of careful care, John Archer finally saved the girl.

But no matter what, the girl refused to talk about her past. She only said she would devote herself to John Archer to repay his kindness.

But John Archer knew he was just a rustic villager—how could he be worthy of such a pure and flawless girl, as bright as the moon?

No matter what John Archer said, the girl refused to leave. With no other choice, John Archer took her in, and the two began living together.

Another half year passed, and John Archer met a second person on the mountain.

How to describe that person?

He wore a black, patterned-sleeve robe, a dark purple patterned belt at his waist, and his jet-black hair was tied up in a high topknot. He was tall and elegant, with deep, unfathomable eyes.

In John Archer's words, he was the kind of person you could tell at a glance was "definitely not a mortal."

"Little brother, are you called John Archer?"

As soon as he spoke, he exuded an imposing presence.

It was the first time in over ten years that John Archer had seen an immortal, and for a moment he didn't dare speak.

"No need to be afraid. I'm here to help you."

"To help me...? Help me hunt?"

"Hahaha!" The man laughed heartily. "No, what I'm here to help you with is far more important than hunting. What I'm about to say is very important, so listen carefully and do not tell anyone else."

"Oh... okay..."

"At this time tomorrow, you will meet an old man on the mountain. Do your best to help him. In return, he will give you an immortal treasure."