Water Ink Panel: Starting with Bow Technique to Hunt the Sun and Patrol the Skies
Chapter 134 - 58: Putting an End to It All is the Best Respect for Him

The moment these words left his mouth, an uproar erupted among the inner courtyard crowd.

Especially those from Linfeng Hall; they never expected that the once arrogant Boss of Mi Gang, Sun Tiangai, would suddenly give in and bow his head.

At this moment, Sun Tiangai struggled to maintain a calm demeanor.

Initially, he, like Jing Yuanzhong, thought Shen Qing was merely using brute force to take advantage of Meng De's weakness, flaunting temporary bravado.

He even planned to personally deal with him.

But now, it seemed he was gravely mistaken.

The closed disciple of Linfeng Hall hadn't merely taken advantage; clearly, he had not exerted his full strength and still managed with ease!

Thinking of this, Sun Tiangai felt a tinge of fear.

Had he misjudged the situation earlier and acted impulsively, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

His cultivation was only somewhat superior to Meng De's, relying more on combat technique.

Facing someone like Shen Qing, he couldn't be certain of the outcome.

One careless move could land him in the same predicament as Li Linfeng.

He was now backed by the county magistrate, with his career thriving—if he were defeated publicly, those beneath him would certainly lose loyalty and morale.

The flourishing state Mi Gang painstakingly built might crumble apart.

This was something he absolutely could not accept.

A true man could bend or stretch.

Rather than forcefully clashing, it was better to temporarily humble oneself and wait for another chance to seek revenge later.

Shen Qing raised an eyebrow and said, "Oh, has Sun Gang Leader come to an understanding?"

"I have understood; foes should be reconciled, not formed. Since Brother Shen shows such goodwill, how could I not appreciate it?" With these words, Sun Tiangai waved his large hand and said to his followers, "Search what you have on you—how much money do you carry? Hurry and give it to Brother Shen in gratitude for his mercifulness."

A clatter sounded!

Everyone reached into their pockets, taking out all their money, and threw it onto the ground.

Copper coins, broken silver, gold beans... everything was there.

Their swift action left Shen Qing momentarily stunned.

Sun Tiangai took out a silver note from his bosom, speaking with utmost sincerity, "This is one thousand taels of silver, my token of respect to Brother Shen. The remaining four thousand taels, I will return later. Farewell!"

With that, Sun Tiangai displayed an air of calmness, a certain grandeur of a leader.

Seeing the Mi Gang members leaving with their tails between their legs, Linfeng Hall's people stood up, cheering and applauding, echoing throughout the entire hall.

"Shen Qing! Shen Qing!" Amidst the cheers, Shen Qing's name was shouted repeatedly.

At this moment, Li Linfeng took a deep breath, looked at Shen Qing, and felt a sense of honor and luck.

Shen Qing's arrival might genuinely change the fate of Linfeng Hall.

As Sun Tiangai, walking ahead, heard the celebrating voices behind him, his formerly calm face with a hint of flattery instantly turned cold. He thought viciously, "Shen Qing, is it! Wait till I report back to the county magistrate and bring some experts to send you to join your senior brothers."

Amid the inner courtyard's cheers, Shen Qing focused on Sun Tiangai's retreating back, maintained his expression, and called out, "Xiao Hu!"

Hearing Shen Qing's summons from within the crowd, Shen Xiaohu hurried out, asking, "Brother, you called?"

Shen Qing didn't speak; he extended a hand to him.

Shen Xiaohu recognized this as Shen Qing's habit of asking for arrows.

He quickly returned the heavy bow and arrows that Shen Qing had asked him to manage before their arrival.

As Shen Qing took the heavy bow, under everyone's gaze, he drew it like a full moon, placing a shiny dark arrow onto it.

Li Linfeng hurriedly said, "What are you going to do?"

"Master, weed out the roots, or the grass grows again in the spring breeze," Shen Qing's lips moved, his words coldly indifferent, "Exterminating them is the highest respect!"

"..."

Under Li Linfeng's shocked gaze, the bowstring released suddenly.

Whoosh!

The dark iron arrow, propelled by the fifty-shi heavy bow's power, shot forward like a cannonball, carrying the sound of a whistling wind.

Its speed was so swift and power so immense that it was mesmerizing.

At the moment Shen Qing acted, Sun Tiangai's whole body felt a chill, sensing intense danger.

Too close, he barely had time to react, quickly organizing a Qi defense hastily.

Unfortunately, such Qi was feeble under the fifty-shi heavy bow.

Bang!

A loud noise reverberated as the dark iron arrow struck Sun Tiangai's chest, easily tearing through his defense, piercing his flesh.

Under the impact's force, Sun Tiangai's body flew backward, slamming against the wall, pinned helplessly.

Sun Tiangai looked at the wound on his chest, disbelief etched across his face, eyes filled with terror and despair.

Struggling to stand, the excruciating pain left him powerless.

Even martial masters of their level were still flesh and blood, lacking the Immortal Martial techniques of the Imperial family that revive the dead.

A pierced heart was certain death.

"No... impossible..."

Boss of Mi Gang, Sun Tiangai, muttered incredulously, looking at Shen Qing, "I had already... agreed to your terms..."

"But I had not agreed with you!" Shen Qing stated, calmly, without a trace of emotion.

"Grr... grr..."

Dark red, pungent blood gushed from Sun Tiangai's throat, blocking his voice, rendering him speechless.

His struggles weakened.

Shen Qing paid no mind to Sun Tiangai's desperation, standing silently in place with deep, cold eyes.

In moments, Sun Tiangai's gaze lost focus, his limbs slackened, dying against the wall.

"Ah!"

Members of Mi Gang screamed in terror, frantically rushing for the exit, fearing a similar fate as Sun Tiangai.

Shen Qing's hand remained active, arrows flew like beads.

Each shot claimed several lives.

In the blink of an eye, the inner courtyard lay empty of standing Mi Gang members.

Only a few insignificant ones managed to flee.

Gazing at the scattered bodies, Shen Qing put away the heavy bow, turning respectfully toward the thoroughly stunned Li Linfeng and saying, "Now, Mi Gang shouldn't trouble Master anymore."

Only then did Li Linfeng realize that this disciple he had taken in wasn't just a martial talent, but a born natural killer.

Yet with matters as they were, Li Linfeng didn't feel Shen Qing did anything wrong.

He was old, with family, his sharpness dulled, cautious in action.

If memory served, at Shen Qing's age, he was just as fierce.

Li Linfeng nodded in definite approval, "Nothing! You've done well, very rightly!"

Behind him, numerous Linfeng Hall disciples, besides their previous admiration, now looked at Shen Qing with an added measure of awe, refraining from casual familiarity.

"Don't just stand there; clean up the courtyard." Li Linfeng gestured, instructing Linfeng Hall's disciples.

Reacting, they quickly responded, "Yes!"

A short while later, the inner courtyard was tidied up to some extent.

An officer, clad in a black uniform, armed with a treasure saber, walked in.

Noting the courtyard filled with corpses and the heavy scent of blood, his expression faltered, quickly retreating and reconfirming he was indeed at Linfeng Hall, then reentered.

"What brings you here, officer?" Linfeng Hall's steward, A Fu, hurried forth to inquire.

The officer cupped his hands politely, saying, "Is Young Master Shen here?"

"Looking for Shen Qing, Junior Brother Shen?" A Fu replied in confusion, "He's in the courtyard. Just call him."

The officer nodded, stepped forward, and loudly announced, "Young Master Shen, for your noble slaying of the tiger demon, Lord County Magistrate has prepared a small celebratory banquet, specially inviting Hero Shen to join."

Slaying a tiger demon!

These words caused Linfeng Hall's courtyard disciples to turn their gazes towards Shen Qing, who was sipping tea not far away.

Tilting the teapot, Shen Qing said indifferently, "Understood, I'll head over soon."