Water Ink Panel: Starting with Bow Technique to Hunt the Sun and Patrol the Skies
Chapter 151 - 75: Song Family's Strategy, Colluding with Huang Tian Sect

The next day.

In the Song Family Mansion.

A few withered yellow vines entwined the broken rock garden stones, and the once splendid and flourishing courtyard garden was overgrown with weeds, appearing desolate and bleak.

Eldest Young Master Song Chen and Third Young Master Song Yu sat witheredly in the living room, their gazes slowly shifting to the center of the room.

There, a solitary memorial tablet was placed, inscribed with "In Memory of Our Late Father, Song Gongming."

Song Chen and Song Yu both rose in succession, each taking three sticks of incense and lighting them on a white candle.

The brothers stood side by side, pressing the three sticks of incense to their foreheads, then humbly knelt down, kowtowing thrice with resounding bangs.

The incense was placed by the two in the incense burner before the memorial tablet.

Several wisps of blue smoke spiraled upward.

The silent main hall began to be filled with the scent of sandalwood.

"When Father was alive, the Song family was so glorious, but now it has fallen into decline just like that..." Song Yu's voice was deep, tinged with a hint of reluctance, "Brother, the family business is losing one after another, and the other families are relentlessly pressing us. How long can we hold on?"

The only response he received was the same heavy sigh from his brother, Song Chen, "I don't know. If things carry on like this, the Song family won't exist by the end of this month."

"Are we just going to sit here and wait for death?"

At that moment, the sound of hurried footsteps shattered the silence of the courtyard.

The young master of the Song family, Song Xuan, hurriedly dashed into the hall, followed by a man dressed simply yet exuding an extraordinary aura.

Both of them were taken aback by this and immediately looked up at the Taoist.

The man had a lean face, deep eyes, and a sturdy build.

They instantly recognized him as a practitioner.

"Who might this be?"

The Taoist stepped forward, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, and said, "I am Taoist Wei Yushan, serving under Commander Liu of the Huang Tian Sect. I have troubled the Song family much in the past. Today, upon hearing about the Song family's plight, I wish to offer my humble assistance."

In his words, there was an indescribable pride and a unique aura of someone in a superior position.

Upon hearing Wei Yushan introduce himself, Song Chen and Song Yu exchanged glances, seeing the astonishment in each other's eyes.

Everyone knew that the Huang Tian Sect was deemed a traitor by the Great Zhou Court.

What did the youngest, Song Xuan, mean by bringing someone from the Huang Tian Sect into the house? Could it be he intended for them to join the traitors of the Huang Tian Sect?

In their hearts, Song Chen and Song Yu felt a storm surge, finding their youngest brother's actions too bold.

Seeing his elder brothers in such a state, Song Xuan knew what they were thinking, and hurriedly stepped forward, saying, "My two brothers, we have thought of every possible solution by now and still have no progress. Now that Taoist Wei from the Huang Tian Sect is willing to help us, isn't this a great thing?"

The Huang Tian Sect, after all, was traitorous.

Song Chen and Song Yu suddenly fell silent, their expressions tense, finding it hard to act out in front of Wei Yushan.

Seeing this, Song Xuan's somewhat childish face bore a layer of indignation.

He had put in great effort to bring Wei Yushan here, yet Song Chen and Song Yu were ungrateful.

Song Xuan's expression changed, speaking angrily, "Now that Father died so unjustly, are you still going to be cowards waiting to die? Our family business, built over twenty years, is going to be handed over like this, are you willing?"

Eldest Young Master Song Chen and Third Young Master Song Yu were hit with such scolding from Song Xuan, feeling quite uncomfortable for a moment.

Song Yu's breathing became heavier, hands clenched into fists, the joints cracking loudly.

Song Xuan continued, "Since that Dog County Magistrate is unrighteous, we should not blame ourselves. If he could do it at the beginning of the month, we can do it by the fifteenth. Anyway, this county town will fall sooner or later, so why not seize the opportunity for a great future?"

"What do you mean by that?" Third Young Master Song Yu suddenly raised his head to look at Wei Yushan of the Huang Tian Sect and asked Song Xuan.

Wei Yushan smiled and replied, "It's literally what it means. Our Commander, under the orders of the Daoist, will soon lead hundreds of thousands to attack Taiping County."

"What?!" Hearing this news for the first time, Song Chen and Song Yu were both shocked to their core.

The Huang Tian Sect was about to attack Taiping County; was there going to be a war?

Song Chen and Song Yu's expressions were horrified.

Song Yu glanced at Wei Yushan and suddenly said, "Aren't you afraid I'll report you for telling us something so critical?"

"Hahaha." Wei Yushan laughed, as if he had heard something amusing, and said, "Report if you must. Taiping County now has slack military defenses. Let alone our hundreds of thousands of followers, even just a few thousand could not be held back by the county office. Your report won't change the outcome. Besides, our Commander has long reached the Innate Realm, enough to suppress the scoundrels in this county city."

Wei Yushan stepped forward, directly facing Song Chen and Song Yu, speaking with subtle seduction, "Now we are all speaking frankly, no need to beat around the bush. Your Song family, after all, has been the boss of the county town, familiar with Taiping County's situation."

"Once we take down the city, we need someone to manage Taiping County for us. There couldn't be anyone better than the Song family. Would joining us be worse than your current situation?"

Song Xuan anxiously supported from the side, "Advance uncertainly brings life, retreat definitely brings death. Brother, Third Brother, what's there to hesitate about?"

Third Young Master Song Yu pondered for a while and asked, "If we join, what would you have us do?"

"We don't require the Song family to do much. Just open the gates for us during our siege and lend us a helping hand."

"That simple?"

"Yes, just that simple."

After a long while, Third Young Master Song Yu glanced at Eldest Young Master Song Chen and saw some meaning in his gaze.

Indeed, the Song family couldn't possibly be worse off.

He made up his mind, nodding heavily, "We'll join you."

Wei Yushan said happily, "Good. With the addition of you righteous people from the Song family, our siege on Taiping County will surely be smooth, sparing the lives of many brothers and sisters. I thank the righteous men of the Song family on their behalf."

Saying this, Wei Yushan bowed earnestly, making Song Yu, Song Chen, and Song Xuan all feel quite flattered.

Song Yu asked in a low voice, "When is Commander planning to make a move? I will have to prepare."

Wei Yushan said, "It was originally planned for the fifteenth of next month, but there was a change yesterday, so our Commander intends to move earlier, within these few days. If quickly, in three days. If slowly, about five days."

"So soon?"

"Quick cuts swiftly unravel tangled cords."

"Alright, we await your message at any time, Taoist."

Their Song family was targeted by the government office because the restaurant was found to be connected with the Huang Tian Sect. Song Yu didn't have much fondness for this sect adept at inciting the masses.

But who would have thought that one day, they would take the initiative to collaborate with the Huang Tian Sect? Truly, the times change and fortunes play tricks on people.

Song Yu didn't know if this was good or bad for them.

...

At the same time, on the official road outside Taiping County, dust filled the air.

A luxuriously decorated carriage sped along from a distance, its wheels rolling and kicking up clouds of dust.

On the carriage, the triangle flag fluttering in the wind was particularly eye-catching, with the word "Zhou" shining with golden brilliance like the rising sun, radiating splendid light.

As the carriage entered the shantytown area of the Outer City, the people living there recognized the unusualness of the carriage and dared not be insolent, automatically making way for a wide path.

"It's the Zhou Family from the county town coming, make way quickly."

The usually imposing guards at the city gate recognized the identity of the carriage owner at a glance and now looked humble, not daring to act presumptuously, watching the carriage pass by.

The carriage smoothly turned through a few streets and alleys, stopping steadily before the grand mansion of the Zhou Family.

"Fifth Young Master, we have arrived."

The door of the carriage opened slightly, the crisp sound of bells accompanied by the faint scent of incense wafted out.

A man of about twenty, wearing a cloud-patterned archer's sleeve, slowly stepped out.

His skin was fair, and he had delicate features.

He wore a crown of white jade on his head, with beautiful jade hanging from his waist. His whole body exuded an indescribable majesty and nobility.

"Isn't anyone from our family here to welcome me, the old thing Zhou Dingwen?"

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