Water Ink Panel: Starting with Bow Technique to Hunt the Sun and Patrol the Skies
Chapter 118 - 42 One Senior Brother Died, Another Crippled

Shen Qing stared at the Water Ink Panel in his vision, momentarily lost in thought.

Unexpectedly, just after acquiring the fifty shi bow, his bow technique was on the verge of breaking through.

It was truly like receiving a pillow when drowsiness struck, right on time.

Without any hesitation, Shen Qing chose to make the breakthrough.

The information on the Water Ink Panel refreshed simultaneously.

[Skill: Bow Technique (the level of mastery)]

[Progress: 3/400 points]

[Status: Cannot advance]

[Note: Through continuous practice, your bow technique has steadily improved, grasping the "Eagle Eye" Sight, greatly enhancing your perception and spatial construction ability, allowing you to survey the overall situation like an eagle, with keen eyesight.]

"Eagle Eye?"

Shen Qing hadn't yet recovered when his whole body trembled suddenly.

Memories of practicing bow technique surged in his mind continuously.

He looked down at the heavy bow in his hands, noticing an inexplicable sense of familiarity and muscle memory which was becoming increasingly clear.

After a moment, when this strange sensation passed,

Shen Qing's arm muscles tensed, and with a flick of his little finger, the dark iron arrow was notched onto the string.

He stretched his long arms like an ape, drawing the bow into a full moon.

The whole set of movements flowed smoothly like a cloud and water, as if he had practiced it a million times.

"Incredible." Shen Qing put down the bow and arrow, a bright glint flashing in his eyes: "Just a moment ago I was still somewhat unskilled with this heavy bow, and yet in the blink of an eye, I'm using it without a hitch."

"And this Eagle Eye..."

Shen Qing closed his eyes, then suddenly opened them.

The "Eagle Eye" skill activated.

Immediately, city east scenes appeared in his mind.

The mottled and ancient city walls, the orderly low-rise buildings, the messy labyrinth of alleys, and chimneys of varying heights...

These scenes continuously combined, gradually forming a bird's eye view.

Shen Qing willed his consciousness, and the perspective descended.

A certain spot in the city east continued to enlarge, finally fixing in a small courtyard.

This courtyard had one wall already collapsed.

In the center of the courtyard stood a small figure holding a bow and arrow.

Pop!

The images in his mind shattered like bubbles.

Shen Qing awoke from the trance, his face filled with disbelief.

"This..."

The "Eagle Eye" skill experience was incredibly magical, giving him a powerful feeling of overseeing the whole situation.

"Based on my earlier judgment, with the heavy bow in my hands, the effective shooting range could reach thousands of steps. If using the 'Eagle Eye' skill in conjunction with this heavy bow, I can strike preemptively, wouldn't it mean I can slay gods and demons alike?"

Shen Qing lowered his gaze to the heavy bow in his hands, but quickly dismissed the thought.

"Not quite, this world has Immortal Martial Arts, those accomplished in martial arts possess incredible defense, the fifty shi's killing power may still be insufficient, and as for those emerging demons, they probably can't be killed in one shot either, but against others... it's enough."

"At that time, if one shot doesn't succeed, then try a few more. Once my arm strength grows, I'll attempt a hundred shi heavy bow, thousand shi bows, ten thousand shi bows... eventually, there'll be a time when I can shoot them all down."

Shen Qing laughed heartily, put his thoughts aside, and then walked toward the collapsed courtyard wall to retrieve the arrows he had shot.

The dark iron crafted arrows were incredibly sturdy.

Even after enduring such great force, they remained intact.

"It seems Master Ruan didn't skimp on materials, the bow and arrows crafted are very solid."

Once Shen Qing had collected his bow and arrows, he turned and walked outside the courtyard.

Everyone in the shop had witnessed his astonishing arm strength; when he appeared inside the shop, all eyes naturally turned to him.

Shen Qing didn't feel any discomfort, facing it calmly.

He approached Ruan Chengbao, took out a silver note with a smile: "Thank you, Master Ruan. I am very satisfied with this heavy bow. Here is the remaining one hundred fifty taels of bow money."

Now that the Great Zhou had circulating silver notes, withdrawals were easy at money houses.

However, redemption couldn't occur between different money houses and regions, possessing certain limitations, but at least one didn't need to lug around a heavy bag of silver everywhere.

Ruan Chengbao accepted it without any hesitation, generously took it, and gestured with his thumb toward the yard behind, saying: "And the rest?"

Shen Qing wasn't annoyed, immediately taking out a small money pouch containing around fifteen taels of silver from his breast, saying: "This is to repair the courtyard wall and forge the arrows."

Ruan Chengbao accepted and opened the money pouch, glancing inside, feeling content.

He pulled the ends of the pouch's string, tightened it, and stated: "In the future, if you need other items made, feel free to find me here, fair and honest business."

"Master Ruan's craftsmanship is excellent, in the future, when I need other items crafted, I will surely come."

Ruan Chengbao tucked the money pouch into his breast and, without further words, picked up the iron hammer and began seriously forging other iron blanks.

Shen Qing tactfully turned and left.

A young girl in the kiln shop watched Shen Qing leave, reluctantly stomping her foot beside Ruan Chengbao: "Dad, he's gone."

"I know."

Ruan Chengbao clamped the nearly forged iron blank with iron tongs and placed it into the water.

Sizzling, the water surface boiled, emitting a plume of white steam.

The girl appeared puzzled.

Ruan Chengbao glanced at his daughter and said: "You aren't suited for him. I see he effortlessly draws a fifty shi heavy bow at such a young age; just arm strength alone is not that of an ordinary martial master, at the least he's in the Skin Forging Realm, possibly even in the Qi Cultivation Realm."

"What kind of woman wouldn't such a Lord Wu desire? Although we have some family wealth, we're ultimately a small family, and he won't fancy it. Later, I will find another handsome young man for you."

The iron blank cooled, Ruan Chengbao tapped the iron slag off and threw it back into the fire to continue forging.

He looked at the gradually reddening iron piece, seemingly speaking to himself: "To be human, the most important thing is to have self-awareness."

The young girl bit her lip, her eyes misted over, rendered speechless.

...

Currently, in Taiping County, deaths were daily occurrences both inside and outside the city, and Shen Qing had moved to Taiping County where he'd already been involved in several fights.

Having killed his share, nobody from the county government troubled him.

He gradually understood that the county government largely turned a blind eye to killing.

Hence, he grew bolder.

Having previously killed someone publicly, now with the bow on his back, he walked through the main street, unafraid.

Instead, some people on the street, seeing his towering and imposing figure, with a dark black longbow on his back, knew not to provoke him and made way.

"Junior Brother Shen?"

As Shen Qing passed by a tavern, he suddenly heard someone call him.

He promptly halted, looking around, finally seeing Xiao Zhi at the entrance of a small tavern.

"Brother Xiao?"

Shen Qing looked up at the tavern, the Xilai Building.

He recalled that Xiao Zhi was a cook, and this must be where he worked.

Xiao Zhi said in surprise: "You're still here?"

"What's wrong?"

Shen Qing was somewhat bewildered.

"I just got word that a direct disciple of Linfeng Hall got into trouble, and many brothers have gone there."

Shen Qing hesitated, understanding, then clasped his hands in gratitude: "Thank you, Brother Xiao, for the information. I'll head back to check on it."

"If there's any situation, let me know right away, I'll come after I finish today's meals..."

Before Xiao Zhi could finish his words, he watched Shen Qing run briskly along the main street, quickly disappearing into the crowd.

After about a pot of tea later, Shen Qing arrived at Shengshi Square.

Ahead, the entrance of Linfeng Hall had many people gathered, noisy.

More people continuously converged toward Linfeng Hall.

Shen Qing reached Linfeng Hall's vicinity, grabbed someone, and asked: "What happened inside?"

The man he grabbed frowned in annoyance, planning to retort.

Upon seeing Shen Qing's imposing stature, his mouth moved but he immediately softened, smiling apologetically: "Not sure, I heard Li Linfeng's two direct disciples encountered trouble dealing with a tiger demon, major trouble."

"Second Senior Brother Niu Daping, Third Senior Brother Dong Zizhuang? They've had an accident?"

Shen Qing's heart stirred, he quickly pushed through the crowd to reach the entrance, knocking on the door.

A Fu peeked out, and upon seeing Shen Qing, immediately let him in.

Bang.

Once Shen Qing entered, A Fu hurriedly closed the door, as if worried others would rush in.

"Is Master inside?"

"Everyone is."

"What exactly happened?"

A Fu hesitated, sighing deeply: "Sigh... see for yourself."

Taking A Fu's words, Shen Qing spoke no more, striding swiftly toward the main hall.

Approaching the main hall of Linfeng Hall,

the sound of weeping emanated from within, surrounded by old and new disciples of Linfeng Hall, an impressive sight.

Shen Qing moved forward, seeing placed in the hall's center a corpse, it was Second Senior Brother Niu Daping.

Half his body was missing, his face gruesomely mangled, where faintly visible were white bones and attached pink tendons.

Second Senior Brother Niu Daping's family had already arrived upon hearing the news, throwing themselves on him, wailing in sorrow.

Off to the side, Third Senior Brother Dong Zizhuang who went to fight the tiger demon too, fared no better.

He was pale as paper, trembling uncontrollably, appearing soulless.

His right eye socket was hollow, missing an eye.

Many families of the brothers were arriving from the rear, their cries unceasing.

Linfeng Hall seemed as if the sky was falling.

Previously hard-to-encountered Li Lingchan and other Linfeng Hall members were all gathered in the hall, their expressions grim.

Bang!

Li Linfeng slammed the table, standing up: "Your Guardian Martial Department owes me an explanation."

In the hall, a sergeant dressed in black rushed to lower his posture, respectfully clenching his hands: "Master Li, please calm down. This was really because that tiger demon was too cunning, and the ghostly minions too difficult to handle, leading to such severe losses, causing the incident for our two juniors."

Li Linfeng said angrily: "Not just the two of them, our outer and inner sect disciples none survived. I've inquired about other officials, none suffered as we did; is your Guardian Martial Department deliberately targeting my disciples?"

"Master Li, there is a misunderstanding, this is purely an accident. We divided into several teams, each with specific tasks. This time, our Linfeng Hall brothers were unfortunate enough to encounter the tiger demon, and by the time we went to support, it was already too late."

The sergeant's attitude was exceedingly sincere, and after saying this, he became even more submissive: "Our County Magistrate is aware of the hall master's substantial loss, so an exception has been made. If we send some disciples to eliminate the tiger demon, all expenses will be borne by us, the government office, and those with contributions will be upgraded to a martial title."

Having said this, the sergeant raised his head, cautiously observing Li Linfeng, as if fearing his words might annoy him.

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