Water Ink Panel: Starting with Bow Technique to Hunt the Sun and Patrol the Skies
Chapter 106 - 30: Decision Making

"After a whole morning of tossing around, Shen Qing was already famished, and this time the banquet prepared by Li Linfeng particularly suited his taste. After the others left, he ate without reservation, a departure from his usual manner.

This gave his aunt, Shen Xiu, some other associations.

However, Shen Qing couldn't be bothered to explain further, fearing that the more he explained, the more confused it would become.

After eating and drinking to his satisfaction, Shen Qing patted his full belly and said, "Aunt, I'll head back first."

"Hmm." Aunt Shen Xiu, who had lost interest, replied, "Today's matter was my oversight. You must not let this affect your mindset, focus on your martial arts practice."

"I know."

Shen Qing smiled slightly, striding out of the main hall, while a soft sigh came from behind him.

Li Linfeng's act of matchmaking for Shen Qing was done relatively discreetly and wasn't publicized, hence not many knew about it.

Though somehow, some interested parties still found out about it.

"Junior Brother, I heard that Master introduced Little Junior Sister to you and you turned her down?" Ouyang Tiezhu, having just exchanged a move with Shen Qing, asked curiously.

Shen Qing frowned, "You all know?"

"There are just that many people in the yard, and Little Junior Sister didn't come by in the afternoon. A little inquiry was enough to find out, it's not particularly hard."

Shen Qing did not deny, saying, "It did happen, but it was merely Little Junior Sister finding me unworthy."

"I see. Master's Little Junior Sister, how to say this? Raised by Master since young, with a high vision indeed, not someone who would easily take a liking to you."

Ouyang Tiezhu patted Shen Qing on the shoulder, "I know a few families with daughters, how about getting acquainted? Rest assured, they're from decent families, some even in business, and quite pretty. Now that you've reached the Bone Refining Realm with some skills, it's indeed time to consider this."

"Uh…" Shen Qing waved his hand, "I don't have any intention of settling down yet, let's talk about it later."

"Alright, anyway I'll keep an eye out for you, just let me know when you have the thought. You're still young with a limitless future, which makes finding a match easier. Otherwise, if you wait till you're older, even if you have a career, finding a good father-in-law won't be easy, best to plan early."

Shen Qing nodded, "Alright. If I change my mind, I'll let you know immediately."

"By the way, I have to remind you, today the Zhou Family was bombed by the Huang Tian Sect, and the county government is rounding up Huang Tian Sect remnants, be careful when going out."

Shen Qing guessed it was likely due to the Martial Mechanism Bomb, having Huang Tian Sect take the blame for him.

The more the better, Huang Tian Sect could take this extra burden.

They could bear the brunt once more.

"Again with the Huang Tian Sect?" Shen Qing said helplessly, "It's becoming endless."

"Anyway, be careful."

"Much appreciated, Senior Brother Ouyang."

…

The little episode of Li Linfeng linking Shen Qing with Li Lingchan stirred ripples among the senior brothers in the backyard.

But it came and went quickly.

Most men in Linfeng Hall were not particularly concerned with such gossip.

They felt it was more practical to spend idle time practicing punches to enhance strength.

By the Shen Hour.

After exchanging moves dozens of times with his brothers, Shen Qing returned to the Outer Court pharmacy, his whole body aching, he removed his clothes to find large bruises all over his body.

These were from being occasionally outmatched by his brothers in sparring.

In actual combat, if the brothers released the full power of the Wind Defying Finger, he would have faced more than just bruises, potentially life-threatening injuries.

"In actual combat, defense must be considered. As long as no one kills me in one move, I have a chance to counter-kill. If killed in one move, then it's all over, no follow-up matters. My body's resistance is still insufficient."

Shen Qing put away his thoughts, immersing himself in a medicinal bath as usual, tempering his flesh, and hardening his muscle and bone.

By evening, Shen Qing ended a day's practice, taking Shen Xiaohu to leave the city for their Outer City residence.

Near the roadside to the left, a shop's door was tightly closed, inside faint sounds of smashing and screams could be heard.

Passing by, the door suddenly burst open.

A middle-aged man, covered in blood, stumbled out, trying to escape.

However, he had not gotten far before a hooligan grabbed his hair from behind, dragging him back in.

The door slammed shut, leaving only bloodstains on the ground.

Shen Qing and Shen Xiaohu were shocked to witness this.

In his impression, the Inner City was always stable, and usually, gang fights took place in the Outer City, rarely did anyone dare to be so publicly blatant in combat.

"Who are they to be so arrogant in the Inner City?"

After a while.

The screams inside abruptly stopped.

The door opened again.

A sturdy man, clearly not to be trifled with, came out.

He loosened his muscle and bone, sweeping a glance over the gathered onlookers, shouting, "Mi Gang in action, bystanders stay clear."

The man's sound was overwhelmingly loud.

With his harsh shout, the crowd dispersed in a clamor.

"So they're from Mi Gang?"

Shen Qing squinted slightly, discreetly glancing at the man.

He knew Mi Gang had some vendetta with Li Linfeng, now Mi Gang had cozied up to the government office, their aggressive style was not a good sign for Linfeng Hall.

"Let's go."

Shen Qing and Shen Xiaohu no longer lingered, leaving quietly.

Walking down the street.

Perhaps an illusion, but Shen Qing noticed far fewer people on the street.

Some shops had even moved out, appearing empty.

The Inner City seemed somewhat desolate.

Shen Qing returned to the slums, inquiring about today's new sector situation.

Seeing nothing unusual, he asked no more.

At night, Shen Qing had some modest food, setting aside all trivial matters, he laid out the Martial Arts Secret Manuals acquired today on the table.

"Li Linfeng told me today that one's energy is limited, martial arts should not be practiced excessively, even mastering one more is the limit, one must choose wisely. But with the Water Ink Panel, I don't need to."

After days of practice, Shen Qing knew his Water Ink Panel allows perpetual improvement, advancing without regression. Learning multiple martial arts skills isn't a burden.

"I have twelve Shi Chen in a day, leaving two or three Shi Chen for training Wind Defying Finger, two to three Shi Chen for rest, and calculating the remaining time, I can still learn two more martial arts skills and one non-martial skill. Proficiency can be increased through application, no need for separate practice."

"So the next question is, which two martial arts should I train?"

Shen Qing lowered his gaze to the martial arts skills he had laid in front of him."