Water Ink Panel: Starting with Bow Technique to Hunt the Sun and Patrol the Skies
Chapter 169 - 93 Farewell, The Blue Mountains Remain Unchanged, The Green Waters Flow Ever On

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Boom!

On the official road, Li Linfeng and the caravan were gradually picking up speed when suddenly a huge explosion sounded behind them, causing everyone to look at each other in confusion.

"What happened back there?"

"I don't know, let's move quickly," Li Linfeng said urgently.

To be honest, he was already a bit scared.

The events today were beyond what he could handle, threatening his very life, keeping him on edge.

He had no intention of finding out more now.

Ahead, at the foot of the mountain, Shen Qing was straddling his fine horse, intentionally slowing down Zhuifeng, waiting for Li Linfeng and the others.

After a while, Shen Qing heard the sound of rolling wheels and the faint tapping of hooves approaching from afar, knowing they were near.

Shen Qing gently pulled the reins, causing Zhuifeng to halt slowly.

As the caravan drew near, dust rose lightly.

The caravan passed swiftly in front of him.

Shen Qing tugged at the reins and squeezed his legs against the horse's flanks. Underneath, Zhuifeng broke into a fast gallop to catch up.

Li Linfeng sat at the front of the carriage, his brows tightly knitted, revealing a hint of unease in his eyes.

"Master." Noticing Li Linfeng's unusual demeanor, Shen Qing asked, "The road seems fine now, without any peculiarities. Are you rushing because something happened?"

Li Linfeng, hearing this, looked at Shen Qing with concern, "Shortly after you left, I heard thunderous explosions behind us, probably someone from the Huang Tian Sect has caught up."

Astonishment flashed across Shen Qing's face, "Ah, this quickly?"

"Let's hurry and leave."

The journey ahead remained peaceful, allowing Li Linfeng to breathe a heavy sigh of relief, and the tense nerves of everyone relaxed.

As they moved further away from Taiping County, the official road grew narrower and the ground became increasingly poor.

After traveling about five more miles, they found themselves entirely in the wilderness.

The official road ahead branched off, one path winding east, the other stretching west.

The county town of Yong City was east of Taiping County, where Shen Qing needed to head.

Lu'an Prefecture lay to the west, so Li Linfeng and the others had to go that way.

As the sun set in the west, the surroundings were cloaked in twilight.

The caravan involuntarily slowed down, while Li Linfeng, sitting in the carriage, hesitated between the two roads, feeling a mix of emotions.

He knew the time for farewell had come.

Shen Qing reined in his horse and stopped, as did the caravan quietly behind him.

An indescribable heaviness permeated the air.

Shen Qing turned to Li Linfeng and the others, saying, "Master, we'll have to go our separate ways."

Faced with such a scene, Li Linfeng, not being eloquent, could only sigh long after.

He gazed at Shen Qing, his direct disciple, with increasingly complicated eyes.

Now, sitting on his horse, Shen Qing had grown to the point that he needed to look up to him, which was both a blessing and a misfortune for his master.

The blessing was having brought such a prodigy into Martial Arts, proving his good judgment. The misfortune was that his disciple's cultivation only highlighted his own mediocrity and inability.

Realizing the moment of parting was near.

Shen Qing's aunt, Shen Xiu, voluntarily stepped out from the carriage, accompanied by Li Lingchan.

Compared to the former's simple reluctance, the latter's emotions were much more complicated.

Even with her stubbornness, Li Lingchan couldn't dispute the iron fact before her—she had missed out on a young man with limitless potential.

Saying she didn't regret it would be a lie.

But Shen Qing no longer cared.

With his increased strength and broadened horizons, such minor incidents no longer stirred any emotions in him.

After a simple nod to Li Lingchan, Shen Qing approached his aunt Shen Xiu, saying sincerely, "Without my aunt's support, I wouldn't be who I am today. Aunt, this debt of gratitude, your nephew will surely remember."

Aunt Shen Xiu pulled him close, saying, "No need for that. We are family. If I didn't help you, I would feel ashamed to face my brother and sister-in-law in the afterlife. Save your thanks."

It was nearly a thousand miles from Taiping County to Yongzhou, and about the same distance from Taiping County to Lu'an Prefecture.

If Shen Qing's cultivation didn't reach the level of flying, it was foreseeable that they wouldn't meet for a long time.

Shen Qing chatted warmly with his aunt Shen Xiu and uncle Shen the Second for a long time.

Touched by the emotions, aunt Shen Xiu and uncle Shen the Second couldn't help but cry bitterly, hugging each other tightly.

Seeing that it was about time, Li Linfeng broke into a bitter but determined smile and said, "Let's go."

"Master, mountains do not change, and rivers continue flowing. If fate allows, we will meet again," Shen Qing, sitting on the horse, shouted loudly.

With a heavy snort from the horse, the caravan slowly started moving.

Shen Qing watched as Li Linfeng and the others gradually disappeared into the distance on the road.

He stood there for a long time without moving.

After a long while, Shen Qing mounted his horse and shouted, "Let's go! Giddy up!"

With a crack of the whip, Zhuifeng galloped swiftly.

Facing east, Shen Qing saw the world ahead gradually enveloped by darkness with the setting of the sun.

...

"Look ahead, there's a village." Sitting in the carriage, Tian Xiaohu pointed to a spot and shouted, "We can camp near that village tonight."

Shen Qing followed Tian Xiaohu's direction, gazing into the distance, discovering a small village of four or five households beside the official road ahead.

One household had two red lanterns hanging, their red glow like dripping blood in the night.

"Eagle Eye!"

Shen Qing's face remained calm as water as he activated his Eagle Eye skill.

Scenes around him continuously appeared in Shen Qing's mind.

Moments later, these scenes began to assemble into an aerial view map.

Shen Qing then used the "sharp eyesight" skill to carefully observe the village.

In the dim light of the evening, with a gentle breeze blowing, the village was shrouded in a light mist, making it unclear to see.

However, after a thorough examination, he didn't notice any abnormalities.

Tian Xiaohu said to Shen Qing, "We can go and see if there's any suitable food and water. If there is, it would be best to replenish. It's over a thousand miles to Yongzhou from here, and it'll take us about ten days. We'll need plenty for both the people and the horses."

Retracting his gaze, Shen Qing nodded in agreement, "Let's check it out."

The carriage rolled down the deserted official road as they gradually approached the solitary village.

This village lay beside the road, and as Shen Qing and the others reached it, they were overcome by an inexplicable sense of desolation and solitude.

"I'll give it a try."

Tian Xiaohu jumped off the carriage and shouted from outside the wall surrounding the village, "Is anyone there? Can we rest in your village while passing through?"

The village was enclosed by a wall, usually erected by villagers to prevent wild beast attacks.

It appeared relatively new, not like it had been long neglected.

After calling for a long time with no response, Tian Xiaohu found it odd.

"Where is everyone?"

Just when they presumed the place was empty, the door with the red lanterns opened.

A middle-aged farmer cautiously stepped out, glancing at Shen Qing and the others, and with a fierce look, barked, "Who are you, where are you from, and what's your business?"

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