Water Ink Panel: Starting with Bow Technique to Hunt the Sun and Patrol the Skies
Chapter 156 - 80: Harboring Ulterior Motives, Establishing Authority!

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"Be careful, be careful, this is the master's favorite vase."

"The box is too heavy, come lend a hand."

"Hey you, go fetch a horse quickly."

At the entrance of the Zhou Family Mansion, the servants busily moved back and forth, some carrying heavy luggage on their shoulders or with their hands, while others carefully transported exquisite porcelain and paintings, constantly moving them onto the convoy at the entrance of the mansion.

...

Among the many carriages, one made of sandalwood and inlaid with silver threads stood out conspicuously.

Zhou Xintong sat inside, dressed in an elegant brocade robe, his gaze occasionally peeking through the half-open curtain.

"Is everything arranged properly?"

The old servant standing outside the carriage smiled and said, "Fifth young master, everything is ready now."

"Then let's not delay, let's go," Zhou Xintong said, pulling up the curtain.

The old servant stepped forward and shouted, "The fifth young master has given the order, let's depart!"

At his command, the entire Zhou Family, as if driven by an invisible force, began moving majestically towards the city gate.

The wheels rumbled over the bluestone road, making a dull, rhythmic sound.

Zhou Dingwen gazed at the grand mansion he had worked so hard to build, feeling a mix of emotions in his heart.

"Father, are we really leaving Taiping County?" Zhou Jishan, sitting beside Zhou Dingwen, said begrudgingly.

"You think I want this?" Zhou Dingwen replied, gently patting his son's hand. "You have no idea of the Zhou Family's power in Yongzhou. Either of your uncles can crush our entire family with a single move. We dare not defy the orders of the main family."

"Moreover, with Huang Tian Sect about to attack, staying here will leave us with nothing. It's better to go to Yongzhou and keep our lives. Once things settle here, we can return."

Zhou Jishan still showed great dissatisfaction on his face, his gaze drifting toward the carriage at the front, filled with resentment.

If it weren't for his meddling, in another few years he would have taken over the Zhou Family in Taiping County, wielding influence in the Inner City.

But now, with this incident, everything had turned into a mirage.

The family's assets had been sold, and servants dismissed. This incident alone had caused them to shrink by more than a third.

Zhou Jishan wasn't a fool; he knew that by moving to Yongzhou, they would be leaving their homeland to live under someone else's roof, and the days ahead would surely be hard.

As the convoy moved farther away, the Zhou Family Mansion gradually disappeared from Zhou Dingwen's sight.

Taiping County was backed by mountains and faced the Yanshui River.

The Yanshui River, like a jade belt, encircled Taiping County from the outside.

The morning sun poured like molten gold over the not-so-wide river, making its surface shimmer.

At this time, a huge towered ship was docked at a somewhat old ferry terminal on the banks of the Yanshui River.

Its deck was wide, and its eaves extended skyward, resembling a palace on the water, forming a sharp contrast with the modest fishing boats around it.

On the deck of the towered ship, Zhou Hao, the manager of the Zhou Family, suddenly became serious and instructed the servants beside him, "Hurry and get ready, the fifth young master has arrived."

At his command, the servants, all dressed in uniform brocade attire, swiftly disembarked from the ship, standing neatly at the dock's edge, each with a solemn expression.

Manager Zhou Hao also disembarked and stood respectfully before the servants.

The Zhou Family's departing convoy came closer and soon arrived beneath the towered ship.

Zhou Hao quickly stepped up to the unique carriage and bowed, saying, "Everything is ready for the young master."

"Thanks to Manager Zhou for assisting Lord Jiu's family. Moving the entire family back to the county town will surely be hectic."

"Yes, fifth young master, I will certainly do my utmost to assist."

The carriage began to move again, and under the arrangement and accompaniment of the servants, it was directly led into the towered ship.

"The rest of you help Lord Zhou move the luggage onto the ship."

Under Zhou Hao's orders, the usually quieter terminal was particularly bustling today.

On the towered ship, Zhou Xintong navigated his way into a third-floor private room with ease.

The private room was only ten paces wide, yet it was filled with all kinds of fruits, pastries, books, classical texts, stone locks, bows and arrows, and treasured swords, all complete.

Zhou Xintong sat behind a long table, lit an incense burner, and instructed the old servant, "Uncle Tai, please run an errand to bring Zhou Jishan and Uncle Zhou Congwu here."

The old servant asked nothing and leapt off the ship building with a swift move, finding the Zhou brothers, and said, "My fifth young master invites you both up."

Zhou Congwu's eyelid twitched, feeling a sudden unease, and said, "I don't know what the fifth young master wants with us?"

The old servant chuckled and said, "How would a servant like me know the master's affairs?"

"Please," Zhou Jishan said, stepping forward and pulling his brother's wrist. "Let's go."

After Uncle Tai left, Zhou Jishan said to his brother Zhou Congwu, "I don't know what the fifth young master wants with us. Just stick to the plan and don't say anything unnecessary."

"Okay."

The two of them went up together, walked into the private room, and saw Zhou Xintong savoring tea.

Zhou Jishan stepped forward and asked, "Fifth young master, did you call for us?"

Zhou Xintong set down his teacup and said to Zhou Jishan, "Uncle, three days have passed. Have you found out what you promised me?"

Zhou Jishan's expression changed, and he explained, "The matter of the Twelfth Sister has long passed. At the time, we had already investigated and found out it was the family that secretly interfered."

As a member of the main family's eldest branch, Zhou Xintong stared directly at Zhou Jishan and said, "Didn't you follow up on the clues I provided?"

"I..."

Zhou Xintong sneered and said, "It seems my words don't carry much weight with you, Uncle Tai."

Before he finished speaking, the old servant standing behind Zhou Congwu moved with astonishing speed.

His five fingers spread open like iron pincers, suddenly striking the back of Zhou Congwu's head.

Bang.

A crisp sound.

Zhou Congwu's eyes instantly widened, full of confusion and shock, but this emotion quickly vanished, replaced by emptiness and bewilderment.

His body seemed drained of all strength, collapsing forward like a rag doll, his gaze scattered, gradually losing life.

He died right in front of Zhou Jishan.

Zhou Xintong picked up the teacup again, his gaze not lingering on Zhou Jishan for even a second, as if he was only savoring the aroma of the tea: "Now, Uncle, have you remembered to find out anything?"

The sudden change left Zhou Jishan ashen-faced, his lips trembling slightly.

His fingers clenched tightly, knuckles distinct, as if he was striving to control his emotions.

Zhou Jishan could see that the person before him didn't consider him as a fellow clansman at all. Instead, they treated his branch as subordinate servants, intending to swallow their family's foundation.

They deliberately chose to act not earlier, not later, but right after they boarded the ship. It was clearly premeditated, using his brother's life as a warning!

Investigating the murderer was just an excuse!

Zhou Jishan had already found out that the fifth young master of the main family, even at his young age, had already reached the Yu Luo Realm in cultivation, capable of absorbing nature's spiritual energy, and had indeed embraced the path of Martial Arts Dao.

He was no match against him.

A trace of despair flashed in Zhou Jishan's eyes.

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