Water Ink Panel: Starting with Bow Technique to Hunt the Sun and Patrol the Skies
Chapter 101 - 25: Minor in Indiscretion, Major in Reputation

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Zhou Qiaoji led Shen Qing onto another street and into an alley.

On both sides of the alley, various hawker stalls were lined up, displaying a dazzling array of goods.

From fresh vegetables to exquisite handicrafts and mouth-watering snacks, it had everything one could desire.

Warm buns, aromatic pancakes, crispy deep-fried dough sticks—the air was filled with the scent of various snacks, and the sound of vendors shouting their wares echoed continuously.

Children darted and frolicked in the alley, their laughter and play intertwining with the vendors' calls, creating a lively atmosphere.

After passing through this alley and continuing towards Sezhou's Family Mansion, the shadows of the trees on both sides gradually grew taller and deeper.

The number of vendors also suddenly decreased.

It was as if a boundary had been crossed, and beyond that line, not a single vendor could be seen.

The light slanted at the end of the alley. Soon, Zhou Qiaoji led Shen Qing to a vermilion wooden door.

With no one around, Shen Qing's steps were slightly hesitant, his internal Qi-Blood surging incessantly, loose on the outside yet tense within.

Zhou Qiaoji appeared much more composed. She gently knocked on the wooden door, producing a deep and rhythmic sound.

Before long, the wooden door creaked open, and a gatekeeper dressed in a green robe poked his head out.

The gatekeeper's gaze lingered briefly on Shen Qing, but upon seeing Zhou Qiaoji, his expression froze, and he hurriedly bowed with respect: "Miss twelfth, you have returned?"

Zhou Qiaoji nodded slightly and said to the gatekeeper, "Go and ask Chang Guanshi to come out, tell him I have something to discuss."

The gatekeeper acknowledged and left, while Shen Qing's gaze remained fixed on the gatekeeper's departing figure, staying silent.

Dressed in a long robe, Chang Guanshi came quickly, his voice arriving before his person, "Miss twelfth, where have you been? I was worried sick."

When he saw Shen Qing, he paused momentarily, but soon returned to normal.

"This matter is a long story, I'll explain later." Zhou Qiaoji ascended a step and turned back, asking Shen Qing, "What do you desire? Cultivation Technique and Elixir or a hundred taels of gold?"

Shen Qing did not expect Zhou Qiaoji to be so straightforward, with no fuss whatsoever.

On the way, he had already heard of various Martial Arts realms and learned some key points. After a brief contemplation, he replied calmly, "Cultivation Technique and Elixir, please."

"Very well." Zhou Qiaoji instructed, "Chang Guanshi, go retrieve the copy of Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill that I obtained from my second brother, and also bring the Qi Refining Pill."

Chang Guanshi said with a peculiar expression, "The eldest young master took the Qi Refining Pill when he saw you weren't around."

Zhou Qiaoji felt a pang in her chest but maintained a composed face, saying, "Then bring a hundred silver notes instead."

"Alright, Miss, I'll be right back." Chang Guanshi nodded, bowed, and hurried back to fetch the items.

Zhou Qiaoji turned to Shen Qing and said, "Lord Li, please remain patient, I will soon bring the items to fulfill my promise. However, the Zhou Family is quite large, and retrieving the items will take some time. Would Lord Li care to wait patiently with me in a quiet place?"

Shen Qing refused, "I am just a mere rural bumpkin; how could I defile the Zhou Family's gate? Besides, I'm only here for the items, not to be considered a guest, so I won't go in."

"Lord Li, you are truly humble, very well. As you wish." Zhou Qiaoji did not insist further.

After about a pot of tea's time, Chang Guanshi arrived carrying a wooden box and said, "Miss twelfth, everything is here."

Zhou Qiaoji opened the box, inspected it, and confirmed, "Everything's correct."

Then she held the small wooden box and approached Shen Qing, saying, "The Martial Arts Skills are inside, but the Elixir I promised you is unavailable, so I converted it into one hundred silver notes for you."

Shen Qing took the box, extracted the Cultivation Technique, and then in front of Zhou Qiaoji, began flipping through it page by page.

As he did so, he explained, "Allow me to carefully examine the Cultivation Technique, lest there be any errors or missing pages; I would suffer in silence."

At this moment, Zhou Qiaoji's face showed a hint of impatience, but she quickly concealed it, "Lord Li speaks rightly; do take your time, we're not in a rush."

"Mm."

It took the time of half an incense stick, but Shen Qing finally finished examining it. After confirming everything was intact, he said, "No problem."

"That's good."

"Miss Zhou is indeed benevolent." Shen Qing took the silver notes from the box, clasped his fists, and said, "Thus, we are even. Farewell!"

Zhou Qiaoji said, "Lord Li, take care."

Seeing Shen Qing's figure disappear into the alley, Zhou Qiaoji suddenly felt a weight lift from her heart, her expression changed abruptly, and she gnashed her teeth.

"Miss…" Chang Guanshi, noticing something amiss, approached and asked with concern, "What's the matter…?"

"Uncle Chang, I'll need to trouble you later." Zhou Qiaoji's eyes turned sharp.

Chang Guanshi asked curiously, "Miss, what do you want me to do?"

"Kill that person who was just here!"

"The eldest young master has already instructed us not to kill randomly, as it would make things difficult for his father-in-law; please give this old servant a reason."

Zhou Qiaoji's eyes reddened as she said, "I was deceived by that vile person."

"Hmm?"

Zhou Qiaoji choked up as she recounted her recent ordeals.

However, she omitted a few details.

"Ah… such a thing happened? That wretched giant eagle, it's fortunate he died early; otherwise, if the Old Master were to be enraged, he'd make him wish for death."

Zhou Qiaoji's emotions became slightly agitated.

In reality, she was not called Zhou Qiaoji, but Zhou Yu, a daughter of a concubine from the fifth house, one of the daughters Old Master Zhou was rather fond of. She was astute, even capable of some martial arts.

Facing Shen Qing, she dared not reveal her true identity, for fear of tarnishing her name, hence she used an alias.

After a moment, Chang Guanshi's expression turned solemn, "Given the circumstances, a loss of chastity is minor; reputation is critical, this person must not remain."

"Not just him, but also the three women they sent to the government office, as well as that group of people in their shanty town, they all must be killed. As long as they all are eradicated, no one will know about this, and the matter can be covered up."

As Zhou Yu spoke, her words became somewhat fervent.

At this moment, her hatred towards Shen Qing was boundless, wishing to chop him into a thousand pieces.

The so-called golden liquid was nothing but fecal water!

Being forced to drink 'golden liquid' was, for a noble Zhou Family Miss, worse than death.

No matter what, that person must be killed!

The hooligans living in the Outer City, if they die, they die, no one would care.

"Excuse me, you two."

Just then, an unexpected voice appeared in Zhou Yu and Chang Guanshi's ears, startling them both.

Their eyes darted around, and they saw Shen Qing had returned without them noticing, walking without any sound.

Zhou Yu suppressed her feelings and asked, "What is it?"

"I reconsidered and decided I don't want the Martial Arts Skill; please exchange it for a hundred gold taels instead."

As he spoke, Shen Qing held out the Martial Arts Skill with both hands.

Zhou Yu glanced at Chang Guanshi, and although she didn't understand why Shen Qing suddenly wanted to exchange the skill, she thought it didn't matter; he couldn't possibly memorize anything in such a short time.

Besides, since he was bound to die, whatever was given could be taken back.

Zhou Yu instructed, "Guanshi, bring the gold notes."

"Yes, Miss."

This time, Zhou Yu was wise enough not to speak any further, for fear of a slip of the tongue.

Soon, Chang Guanshi brought the gold notes, "Count them to make sure?"

Shen Qing took the gold notes at once, without counting, "I trust you all."

With that, he handed over the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill, saying, "Here's the Cultivation Technique."

Chang Guanshi looked at Zhou Yu, who indicated that he should wait and act outside, to avoid making the matter public.

Chang Guanshi understood and dutifully accepted the Cultivation Technique handed over by Shen Qing.

Yet, as he grabbed it, there was a rectangular box beneath.

"Farewell."

Just as Chang Guanshi was puzzled, Shen Qing had quickly left.

He frowned and pulled out the rectangular box from beneath, curious, "What's this thing?"

As soon as he finished speaking.

Boom!

A violent blaze erupted from the long box, producing a sound like thunder, and a tremendous fireball engulfed both Chang Guanshi and Zhou Yu in an instant.

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