"You want to learn Taichi?"
Grant raised an eyebrow as he sat down, clearly surprised.
Leo nodded. "I heard it's good for building internal strength. I thought... if I can toughen up a bit, maybe I'll be able to pull heavier bows in the future."
That was the easy answer. The real reason... was murkier, and honestly, kind of ridiculous.
Leo had never been into martial arts—not back then. To him, fighting was something you saw in movies or in random YouTube clips, not anything worth thinking about. But one time, his favorite streamer did a half-joking deep dive into Bruce Lee's legacy. It was part meme, part tribute, and most of it blurred into the background noise of a lazy afternoon.
Still, one detail stuck.
Bruce Lee's family, he vaguely recalled, had some connection to Taichi.
And through that stream, Leo had picked up a scattered impression of what Taichi really was—an ancient discipline, rooted in balance, breathing, and internal force. It sounded slow, strange... but also deep. Mysterious. Maybe even powerful.
He didn't know the first thing about it. But if even Basic Archery could increase his Strength and Physique, who was to say some ancient martial tradition wouldn't do the same?
It was a long shot, but in this world, every edge mattered.
"I see," Grant murmured, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "But in the hold… I don't think anyone here knows it. Can't say I've heard of anyone practicing that kind of thing. Actually… I'm just surprised you even know the name. Old martial arts like that—they've been mostly forgotten. I only ever heard about them in passing."
Leo's hopes dipped, but he stayed quiet.
Grant looked at him for a moment longer, then said, "Still… maybe someone does. You never know. After lunch, I'll ask around. Just in case."
He paused mid-sentence, his brow furrowing. "Wait. Your Uncle Zach… he might."
Leo blinked. Right—Zach Mercer.
If anyone in the hold had martial roots, it would be the man who trained the youth in spear and shield. Leo remembered how the man stood, how he moved even with a limp. Calm, precise. That wasn't just a grizzled soldier's bearing. That was form.
Grant nodded slowly, as if piecing it all together. "Yeah. When he first joined the hold, Zach tried to teach us some body-strengthening routines. But that was back when everyone was too hungry and desperate to care about stances and breathing exercises. We were all focused on surviving, not training."
"So it just… faded?" Leo asked.
"Pretty much. But back then, the Wells brothers used to visit him often. I'd bet they asked for pointers too. I remember them starting with sixty-pound bows. Two, three years later, they were drawing eighty. Then a hundred. They didn't get there just by eating meat."
Leo drew in a breath. The pieces were falling into place.
"Oh—and before they left, I heard they tried to bring Zach with them. He turned them down, of course. Stayed here instead."
That explained a lot. Leo had thought Zach's words the other day hinted at some deep story beneath the surface. Now it all made sense.
This man—this quiet, limping figure—might've once stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the strongest.
"Who is he really?" Leo asked. "How did you meet him?"
Grant hesitated. "To be honest… he's not one of us."
Leo raised an eyebrow.
Grant leaned back, his voice dropping a little. "It was three years ago. I was out hunting with your Uncle Zach and the Wells boys. On our way back, we found a man collapsed in the grass—covered in blood. There were a few prairie wolves stalking him already."
Leo's eyes widened.
"I thought he was dead. But Zach checked and found a pulse. So we carried him back."
"He was still alive? After that?"
"Yeah. And that's the thing…" Grant's eyes darkened a little. "His body was riddled with bullets. I counted more than ten wounds."
Leo stiffened. "Gunshots?"
"Exactly. We'd never seen anything like it. Most of us thought we should've left him where he lay. That maybe bringing him in would bring danger."
"But you didn't."
"No. Once you've picked someone up off the road, it's hard to justify throwing them back. Besides… no one saw us take him. And he was barely clinging to life."
Leo let out a breath.
"Still," Grant continued, "he pulled through. Took a while, but he made it. Stayed ever since. He's kept his past to himself—but he's earned our trust. He doesn't talk much, but he helps. And when he trains the youth… he doesn't hold back."
Leo nodded slowly. No wonder Zach had that presence. He wasn't just a crippled old hunter. He was something else before.
Someone dangerous.
"That's probably why the Wells brothers wanted him to go with them."
"Most likely," Grant said, looking tired. "I know I'm not the kind of leader who can keep men like that around forever. The ambitious ones always leave eventually. But the ones who stay? They're the ones I know I can trust with my back."
Before Leo could reply, Helen's voice floated in from the kitchen.
"What are you two whispering about?"
She entered the room carrying a steaming bowl of stew. No fancy ingredients, no secret spices—just salt and bone broth. But the smell was intoxicating.
"Come on, eat up," Grant said, chuckling. "You earned it today. Don't hold back."
Leo grinned and passed a few pieces of meat into Nate's bowl first. His younger brother's eyes lit up like twin suns.
"Thanks, Leo!" Nate beamed.
Grant and Helen both smiled.
Leo took a bite of his own, chewing slowly. The rich, savory flavor filled his mouth. He wasn't in a hurry. After all, eating good meat wasn't just nourishment.
It was a reward.
And when the meat finally slid down his throat, the familiar rush hit him.
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+1 Stat point
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And so, time slipped by.
With every few bites, the pleasant ding of the system rang out again and again. By the time Leo had eaten close to a full pound, he felt around seventy percent full—and more than a little satisfied.
"That's enough for me," Leo said, patting his belly. "Best meal I've had in this world, hands down."
"You sure?" Helen asked, narrowing her eyes. "There's still plenty left."
"You'll need the strength for archery practice," Grant added.
Leo chuckled. "Nah, I'm good. I'm heading out to find Uncle Zach."
Before they could reply, he slipped out the door with a spring in his step.
Helen watched him go with a smile. "He's grown up so fast."
Grant nodded. "Yeah. He really has."
Outside, Leo stepped onto the muddy trail leading toward the training ground. His mind buzzed with plans as he pulled up the panel in his head.
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Stat Points: 6 (+1/day)
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Enough for another full-body enhancement. Easily.
But he wouldn't use it yet.
He was full of energy from lunch—spending a point now would waste the recovery effect. Better to push himself to exhaustion during training… then use the point when his body was on the edge.
That way, every drop of value was squeezed out.
And it wouldn't just be for archery.
As he neared the open space beside the warehouse, a wave of noise hit him like a tide.
"Leo!"
"You're amazing, man! Everyone's talking about you!"
"Dude, I heard you solo'd the whole haul. Unreal!"
"You're my hero! Teach me your ways!"
"Bro! If I were a girl, I'd have your babies!"
Leo nearly choked on his lunch. He waved his hands quickly.
"Alright, alright! That's enough—where's Uncle Zach?"