Chapter 26: The Three Xu Siblings, a Duel Between Cold Steel Bows and Sniper Rifles!

Upon hearing Xu Erhang's words, Li Yunlong could not help but be stunned. Having watched the story of the Xu siblings, Li was already somewhat familiar with them. Each of the three siblings possessed unique skills, all of them being masters of archery, yet each specialized in a distinct and characteristic style.

Xu Yihang mastered the Whistling Arrow, a technique said to have been created by the Xiongnu Chanyu Modu. As the name suggests, each shot is accompanied by a piercing whistle, serving both as a weapon and a warning. This style is defined by its speed, precision, and lethality. Xu Yihang could strike enemies from long distances with such accuracy that they were caught off guard; often, before the enemy could even react to the sound of the whistle, they had already fallen. In their tragic history, after the Xu family was massacred by Japanese puppet forces on the day of her wedding, Xu Yihang used this very technique to hunt down the enemy, becoming a constant source of agony for them.

Xu Erhang, the woman standing before Li, was the second of the siblings. She mastered the Butterfly Dance Arrow, a technique legend attributes to Gongsun Daniang of the Tang Dynasty. Her archery was light and fluid, with arrows flying like fluttering butterflies. She could loose multiple arrows at once, creating a "blooming" effect in all directions. This style was renowned for its ghostly unpredictability, allowing her to break through enemy encirclements. In her past, even while wounded, she had used this technique to kill over a dozen Japanese puppet soldiers who sought to violate her, proving its formidable nature.

As for the youngest brother, Xu Jinchuan, his specialty was the Armor-Piercing Arrow, originally devised by Yue Fei. When Yue Fei led his troops against the Jin army, the invaders wore heavy armor that ordinary arrows could not penetrate. Yue Fei ordered the creation of heavier arrowheads and reinforced shafts to pierce through the enemy's protection. Because these arrows were several times heavier than standard ones, they required an immensely powerful bow and a user of great physical strength to be effective. Xu Jinchuan, blessed with extraordinary strength, was the perfect practitioner. His technique was characterized by immense penetrating power, stability, and force. At full strength, he could pierce through several people at once, striking great fear into the Japanese forces on the anti-Japanese battlefield.

In short, these three siblings were hidden talents with exceptional skills. With the New First Regiment in need of capable people, Li Yunlong felt moved by the prospect of recruiting them.

"What is the specific situation with your sister and brother?" Li Yunlong asked urgently.

"My sister, Xu Yihang, and my brother, Xu Jinchuan, were surrounded by a unit led by the Japanese soldier Shimizu Twenty-Three," Xu Erhang explained. "I was on my way to get help when I was ambushed by puppet troops. Please, Officer, I beg you, save my sister and brother!"

After a moment of contemplation, Li Yunlong gritted his teeth and said, "I can try, but I cannot guarantee success. My manpower is limited right now, but I will do my best."

Deeply grateful, Xu Erhang nodded profusely. "Thank you! Thank you, Officer!"

"I am Li Yunlong, Commander of the New First Regiment," Li said, waving a hand. "Don't call me 'Officer.' Just call me by my name or Commander Li. That title feels a bit awkward."

"Understood, Commander Li," she replied.

"Lead the way," Li said decisively. "Can you walk?"

"I can!" Xu Erhang stood up, teeth clenched against the pain. Guided by her, Li Yunlong and his men hurried forward. Soon, they reached a forest where the sounds of whistling arrows and gunfire could already be heard.

"That's my sister's Whistling Arrow! They're right ahead!" Xu Erhang cried out.

Deep in the woods, a few miles away, the Japanese sniper Shimizu Twenty-Three was hunting the fleeing siblings. It was a duel between bow and rifle. Shimizu was an elite sniper with impeccable marksmanship, and he made no effort to hide, confident in his own lethal precision.

Seeing an opening, Xu Jinchuan suddenly emerged and loosed an arrow. The armor-piercing projectile whistled through the air, heading straight for Shimizu. But Shimizu was prepared; he side-stepped the shot and returned fire, striking Xu Jinchuan in the abdomen and rendering him helpless.

Xu Yihang quickly dragged her brother behind a large boulder. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, I won't die yet," Jinchuan gasped, clutching his stomach. "Sister, run!"

"Do you think you can escape?" Shimizu shouted arrogantly. "Do you really believe those pathetic bows can compete with my sniper rifle? You're both going to die here today!"

Defying the danger, Xu Yihang stepped out and fired. The sharp whistle of her arrow cut through the air, forcing Shimizu to dive for cover. He quickly steadied his rifle and fired back, but Yihang used the trees for cover, and the bullet missed. A tense exchange followed; both sides moved constantly, the woods echoing with the sounds of gunfire and whistling arrows.

Eventually, Yihang's archery was a split second too slow. Shimizu seized the chance, shooting her in the right arm and making it impossible for her to draw her bow. She retreated to the boulder, pressing her back against it beside her brother.

"We're finished," Yihang said helplessly. "This guy is too difficult to deal with."

"It's only natural," Jinchuan breathed heavily. "While our archery styles are unique, we lack real combat experience. We are no match for such an experienced sniper. If I had more time, I could have made him beg for mercy! At least Second Sister got away."

Yihang looked at him with a sad smile. "Yes, I hope she lives a good life."

Nearby, Shimizu, seeing that both siblings were wounded, felt victory was in his grasp. The siblings prepared for the end, comforted only by the thought that their sister had survived to carry on the family name. Just as Shimizu approached the boulder to deliver the final blow, Li Yunlong and his men finally arrived.