Hours passed as the women spread through the forest, bows and arrows in hand. Birds scattered at the sound of footsteps, and fallen leaves rustled beneath light boots.
Chu Ming, however, was not having a good time.
"Ouch! Again?!" she yelled as she tripped over a tree root and fell forward, landing face-first in the dirt.
A nearby maid pretended not to laugh.
Chu Ming jumped up, furious. "This forest is cursed! Who puts a tree root there?!"
She took one step forward and tripped again.
Yan Mei almost choked on her own laughter from behind a tree. "Is she… serious?"
Lin Xu shook her head. "Just ignore her. Focus."
Meanwhile, San Na moved silently through the trees like a trained hunter. Her bow rose and fell smoothly.
Thunk.
Arrow shot.
Rabbit down.
Moments later—
Thunk.
Another rabbit.
By the time the sun shifted higher, San Na carried six rabbits tied neatly to a rope at her waist.
Yan Mei whistled. "Wow. Remind me never to annoy her."
