Water Ink Panel: Starting with Bow Technique to Hunt the Sun and Patrol the Skies
Chapter 148 - 72: The Encounter, A Strike to Kill!

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Zhangzi Forest was already filled with dense trees, and it was now spring and summer, making the foliage even more lush.

Sunlight from the sky could not penetrate the ground, leaving the forest dark and shadowy.

Within the forest, a lithe figure moved agilely like a panther, weaving through the woods constantly.

This person was none other than Tang Wanrou, who had escaped with her life.

At present, her face was full of panic, as if a massive stone weighed on her heart. The sudden calamity left her disoriented and unable to recover.

"Damn it... this cursed world!"

The voice of Tang You reached her ears from outside the forest, abruptly stopping, causing her heart to skip a beat.

Tang Wanrou looked back, realizing something, and tears welled up at the corners of her eyes.

Hurriedly, she increased her speed, not daring to pause for even a moment.

Those people were too ruthless, acting without giving them a chance to explain, killing them as easily as squashing an ant.

If she were caught, death would be certain.

Clenching her teeth, Tang Wanrou used all her strength to run wildly, kicking up soil and fallen leaves underfoot.

At this moment, she had only one thought in her mind—escape!

Smuggling military weapons was a grave crime, but if she could escape back to the county and report this to the government office, the authorities would surely seek justice for the escort agency.

...

A black steed dashed across the trail outside the forest like a bolt of lightning.

Hooves pounded rhythmically on the solid surface with a "clack, clack" sound.

Shen Qing sat on the horse's back, his posture straight, as the strong wind howled past his face, blowing his long hair behind him. The mountain scenery on both sides swiftly receded from his view.

"It sounds like arrows."

Seated on horseback, Shen Qing furrowed his brows slightly.

He was familiar with arrows and recognized the sound well.

"It sounds like there are quite a lot of arrows, at least over a hundred."

Shen Qing looked in one direction, seeing only the vast forest stretching out before him.

"Could it be bandits?"

Shen Qing shook his head inwardly.

He had traveled this forest trail countless times and never discovered any signs of bandits.

As he pondered, numerous cries of agony followed.

Especially at the end, the desperate yells, even if he didn't intentionally listen, could still be faintly heard.

A sense of curiosity surged within Shen Qing. He immediately tightened the reins, and the steed let out a whinny, raising its front hooves high before coming to a steady halt on the trail.

Interrupted in its joyful run, Zhuifeng seemed somewhat displeased and snorted.

Shen Qing gently patted the horse's neck, signaling it to calm down.

After a moment, he stared ahead, tilting his head slightly to listen, trying to discern the source of the sounds.

Unfortunately, the tragic sounds did not occur again.

A strong wave of curiosity swept over Shen Qing as he took a deep breath and steadied himself, focusing his thoughts.

"Eagle Eye!"

At the moment he entertained this thought, images of the surrounding forest began to appear continuously in his mind.

Gradually, these fragmented images formed a bird's-eye view, as if he were a hawk soaring above.

In this vision, Shen Qing clearly saw, on the other side of the mountain, outside Zhangzi Forest near the main road, numerous bodies lay in disarray, with blood nearly staining the ground red.

This wasn't the main concern.

The crucial point was that many people stood outside the forest, with yellow bands tied to their arms.

Abruptly, Shen Qing's eyes opened wide with disbelief: "People of the Huang Tian Sect! What are they doing here?"

After his past experiences, Shen Qing had consciously and unconsciously inquired about the Huang Tian Sect and wasn't entirely ignorant about them.

The Huang Tian Sect included regular believers and those specifically trained for combat.

Earlier, he saw that all the Huang Tian Sect believers in the group wore yellow bands on their arms, indicating they were Saints of the Huang Tian Sect.

In various places, the conquests of the Huang Tian Sect were all carried out by these Saints.

The earlier disturbances were caused by this group of believers.

This wasn't a place to linger any longer.

In this desolate mountain wilderness, he was alone, and the number of the other party was unknown.

If they noticed him and thought he was sabotaging their plans, it could spell trouble.

Shen Qing had only intended to take his horse out for a run and wasn't interested in trouble.

He took a deep breath, gently stroked the horse's mane to soothe its unease, then gradually nudged its head, turning it back toward the city.

"Hyah!"

Zhuifeng seemed to perceive Shen Qing's intent, shook its head, showing a bit of discontent.

Still, seeing Shen Qing's persistent urging, it shook off the dust from its body, then took nimble strides, turning back quickly toward the city gate from which they came.

However, not far into their journey, Shen Qing sensed something, abruptly turning his gaze towards the side of the forest ahead.

He noticed a figure in the forest ahead, dodging branches and vines continuously in its path.

The figure drew closer, and Shen Qing gradually saw clearly. It was a woman running.

In the forest, Tang Wanrou sensed something, looking ahead with a surge of hope.

Someone, with a horse!

As long as the person helped, she could escape the danger.

With that thought, she mustered all her strength, rushing out of the forest, breathlessly halting on the path: "Hero, wait a moment!"

The forest trail was already narrow, and with Tang Wanrou blocking it like this, there was almost no way forward except plunging into the forest.

Quickly reining in his horse, Shen Qing shouted: "What do you think you're doing? Don't you fear death?"

Tang Wanrou had no time to explain, and swiftly said: "This hero, I am Tang Wanrou from the Taiping Escort Agency. I urgently need to return to the county to report to Lord County Magistrate. It's a matter of life and death, please help me and take me along. There will surely be a generous reward."

Taiping Escort Agency, Tang Wanrou?!

Sitting on horseback, Shen Qing examined her with surprise, recognizing that aside from her disheveled appearance, she matched the image shown to him by Ouyang Tiezhu.

She was indeed a striking woman.

Tang Wanrou's anxiety grew, just about to speak.

Suddenly, she sensed a fierce murderous aura emanating from within the forest.

Startled, she looked up to see a burly man standing not far away, coldly staring at her.

"Didn't expect you, little mouse, to be quite the runner."

Tang Wanrou's heart sank instantly, not expecting her pursuers to catch up so quickly.

Resolutely, she positioned herself in front of Shen Qing and said: "Leave this to me. You must inform Lord County Magistrate that someone is smuggling military wares outside the city. Have him send a team to investigate."

She knew today's outcome seemed grim, as the person before her had a Qi Cultivation Realm. She wasn't a match.

Her hope was just to delay a while, allowing the person behind her to relay the message.

That way, perhaps the escort agency's siblings' deaths could be avenged.

"Hahaha… Your father and the others weren't my match. Do you think you can stop me?" The burly man laughed loudly, stepping out from the forest.

"Rest assured, none of you will leave here today."

Looking at Shen Qing, the burly man sighed: "You seem like a noble young master. What a pity, your luck is bad today to appear by chance. To keep this secret, I'm afraid you'll have to die."

Sitting on horseback, Shen Qing looked down at the burly man, realizing his aura was formidable, a powerful Qi swirling continuously, nearly spilling out.

He didn't want to cause more trouble and said: "I assure you I won't speak a word. I know nothing. Can you let me go?"

"What do you think?"

The burly man's body was taut like a drawn bow, his muscular lines distinct in the sunlight, like a sculpture ready to burst.

"Die!"

With these words, the ground around the burly man's feet erupted as the force surged from within, creating tiny waves of dirt expanding outward.

He charged forward like an arrow released from a bow, the air catching a faint whistling sound from the rapid movement.

It was only a few meters between them, a distance the burly man could cover in just a few breaths.

Tang Wanrou hurriedly shouted: "Run! He's a Qi Cultivation martial master. You're dead if he touches you!"

Qi Cultivation martial master?!

Damn, that's dangerous.

Shen Qing's expression turned serious immediately; instinctively, he drove the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill to its peak, the force within his body surging rapidly, concentrated on his fingertips.

Whirr!

A crisp sound shot from between Shen Qing's two fingers, with a scorching Qi hurtling towards the burly man like lightning, reaching his fist first.

"Bang!"

A loud explosion ensued.

Under that force's impact, the burly man's fist was instantly shattered, his entire arm reduced to chunks of flesh under that power, scattering about.

"What?!"

A devastating scream erupted from the burly man's throat: "My hand, my arm! Ah…"

Stumbling, he collapsed to the ground, terror filling his gaze as he looked once more at Shen Qing.

Now he realized the seemingly 'noble young master' before him was a being far beyond his own strength.

Standing nearby, Tang Wanrou gaped, shock etched across her face. Her gaze upon Shen Qing altered completely.

Shen Qing retracted his fingers quietly, saying with resignation: "You can't blame me; you forced my hand."

The burly man felt a shiver down his spine, desperately retreating with his legs.

But just as he got up, a blazing aura shot toward him.

Bang!

His head exploded like a watermelon hit by a bullet, utterly shattered, undeniably dead.

"Alright, now that he's dead, you're safe," Shen Qing said to Tang Wanrou from atop his horse.

Tang Wanrou quickly regained her composure, facing Shen Qing, clasping her fists together, and said with reverence: "May I ask for this gentleman's esteemed name? For your life-saving grace, I'll surely repay generously."

"You don't know me?" Shen Qing asked, puzzled.

Tang Wanrou looked baffled.

Should I know you?

"My name is Shen Qing."

Boom!

Tang Wanrou's mind felt like a suddenly erupted volcano, bursting open, completely blank.

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