Water Ink Panel: Starting with Bow Technique to Hunt the Sun and Patrol the Skies
Chapter 102 - 26 They all died in an explosion

The eye-catching blaze in the courtyard shot up into the sky, faintly mixed with yellow lightning, like a sleeping fire dragon suddenly awakened, tearing wildly around.

Then, a thunderous explosion echoed, the sound deafening.

The vermilion gate in the backyard shattered instantly under the blast wave, and even the courtyard wall didn't escape unscathed.

The sturdy blue stone bricks collapsed at one corner under the explosion's power, with shattered stones and flames bursting out together.

When the firelight vanished, countless fragments of stone fell down.

The air was filled with the acrid and intense smell of scorched earth and gunpowder.

Having just stepped outside the courtyard gate, Shen Qing watched the scene unfold, somewhat surprised, "This power is much greater than I thought it would be."

Shen Qing glanced around quickly, rushed back in, brushed the dust in the air with his hand, and scanned the surroundings.

Moments later, he discovered amidst the rubble the bodies of Zhou Yu and Chang Guanshi, too dead to be any more dead, along with a gatekeeper turned to charcoal.

The three corpses' faces were unrecognizable, their features blurred by the explosion's impact, twisted, with limbs unnaturally extended, and their tattered clothing covered in dust and bloodstains.

If Shen Qing hadn't seen the two just before, it would've taken others a while to identify them.

"Hurry, hurry, hurry, check what's going on in the fifth house."

Around him came urgent footsteps.

Upon hearing the explosion, Zhou Family members rushed over immediately.

Shen Qing confirmed the people inside were dead and didn't need more attention, so he used the Turtle Breath Technique, pushed off with his foot, and darted into an alley, swiftly leaving the scene before the Zhou Family members arrived.

He continued running until he reached the bustling streets, blending into the crowd before slowing his pace.

Escorting Zhou Yu back to the Zhou Family Mansion, Zhou Yu promised him a Cultivation Technique and Elixir and a hundred gold taels.

Both were good things.

But a fish and a bear's paw you can't have both.

Zhou Yu wanted him to choose one or the other.

This made Shen Qing so conflicted, troubled all the way.

It wasn't until he reached the gate of Zhou Family's backyard, after much thought, that he finally made up his mind.

Children make choices.

He wanted the Cultivation Technique and Elixir and the hundred gold taels.

So he first asked for the Cultivation Technique, used his "Never Forget" ability to memorize it after one look in his mind, then said he changed his mind and returned it, claiming the hundred gold taels instead.

In this way, he got the Cultivation Technique and the gold.

He managed to take both.

To avoid suspicion, Shen Qing waited until they saw him leave, then used the Turtle Breath Technique to return, intending to return the Martial Arts.

Unexpectedly, he caught them off guard and overheard some fragmented conversations.

The two were plotting to harm him!

All along, Shen Qing felt something off about that woman, so he kept a wary eye on her.

The Martial Mechanism Bomb he got from the Eagle was always hidden in his sleeve, ready to use.

Upon hearing that, Shen Qing decided to go all out and took both the Martial Mechanism Bomb and the Cultivation Technique to them.

Then with a boom, he blew them both to pieces!

This grudge, barely budding... No, it hadn't even started before he avenged it.

He wasted no time.

Shen Qing carefully recounted that in the backyard just now, only the gatekeeper, Chang Guanshi, and Zhou Yu were present.

When he returned, he was cautious and didn't let anyone see him.

Now that those who saw him were dead.

Plus, with Zhou Yu's intentional cover-up, even if the Zhou Family wanted to investigate, they'd probably not pin it on him.

Safe.

It was still early.

After all today's mess, he had gathered a lot of blood stench on him.

Shen Qing found a clothing store to change into brand-new clothes, then went to the bathhouse to wash away the grime.

He wandered around the city, burned his old clothes in a secluded place, and then strolled leisurely toward Linfeng Hall.

Upon returning to Linfeng Hall, Shen Qing found Tian Xiaohu pacing at the entrance, looking like he wanted to go in but didn't.

Shen Qing approached and called out.

Tian Xiaohu raised his head sharply, and upon seeing Shen Qing, finally seemed to sigh with relief, setting his mind at ease.

"The Zhou Family didn't make things difficult for you, did they?"

"No," Shen Qing said with a calm smile, "The Zhou Family was quite righteous, they gave me what they owed me. I even got along famously with them, we're familiar now."

"That's good. The Zhou Family, after all, is a big boss; if you can establish a connection with them, it would be highly beneficial for you."

"That'll be something for later, let's talk about it later." Shen Qing patted his shoulder and said, "Thanks for your hard work, I'm going in to ask my hall master uncle, see how our five Martial Arts Secret Manuals are doing."

"Alright, you go take care of your business, I'm heading back too." Tian Xiaohu cupped his fist in a salute, didn't linger, and strode away.

Inside Linfeng Hall.

Many people were still practicing their skills in the courtyard.

Most of them didn't know that Shen Qing had been accepted as a direct disciple, only that he was Miss Qi's nephew and that being favored by Qi Niang, he was regarded with special attention by Li Linfeng, who personally instructed him.

When Shen Qing entered, most people's eyes were filled with envy, though a few looked on with slight jealousy and disdain.

Shen Qing didn't mind, he greeted familiar faces like Xiao Zhi and others in the yard before walking straight into the backyard.

Now having been appointed as a direct disciple by Li Linfeng, he no longer required servant girls or others in the house to announce his arrival.

Except for the private quarters of family women, he could come and go freely everywhere else.

He enjoyed much more freedom compared to before.

Entering the room, Shen Qing saw the three senior brothers, and Li Lingchan and Li Hongyang sparring with each other.

Li Lingchan still dressed in her male attire, with her chest somewhat puffed up.

After all, practicing martial arts would be inconvenient in skirts and hairpins.

Ouyang Tiezhu, with his usual indifferent demeanor, sparred with the third senior brother, "Third Junior Brother, have you been frequenting brothels lately? Your waist seems to lack strength, and your reactions have slowed. I remember you invented a Finger Skill; brothel girls are quite impressed. Heh heh..."

"My reactions are slow? First Senior Brother, be careful."

Whoosh!

Third Senior Brother Dong Zizhuang pointed a couple of times fiercely to the void in front of him.

However, First Senior Brother Ouyang Tiezhu was nimble in his movement technique, easily dodging to the sides.

Seeing the arrival of Shen Qing nearby, Ouyang Tiezhu retreated swiftly, evading Dong Zizhuang's attack range, "Junior Brother's here, let's stop."

Upon hearing this, Dong Zizhuang looked over, paused his actions, and then stopped.

Ouyang Tiezhu approached Shen Qing, eyed him up and down, and exclaimed, "Junior Brother, how do I feel you've shot up again?"

Shen Qing had indeed changed a bit after putting on a more well-fitting new outfit.

After several months of Martial Arts training and nourishing both from various ingredients and herbs, his body had grown like a bamboo shoot, changing almost daily.

Now, he had grown from nearly over a meter seventy to close to a meter eighty, his whole physique had become much more robust.

Shen Qing laughed, "After training under Master, eating well and sleeping well, I've grown a bit; life was too harsh before."