Water Ink Panel: Starting with Bow Technique to Hunt the Sun and Patrol the Skies
Chapter 35 - 34 Outer City

Taiping County's ancient city gate stood towering, the weak winter sunlight piercing through the thick clouds and casting a dim light within the gateway.

A cold wind surged from the open ground outside the gate, continuously seeping into the entrance.

As Shen Qing stepped into the gate, the chill of winter rushed toward him, causing both Shen Xiaohu and Zhang Shuyuan to involuntarily hunch their shoulders.

Once they exited the ancient city gate, the wind gradually subsided.

Familiar sights reappeared before the trio of Shen Qing.

The uneven ground, a mix of soil and dark snow…

All around, densely packed makeshift shelters made from various materials stretched endlessly.

Narrow, muddy paths snaked between the shelters, the running figures of children intermingling with sporadic vendors' cries, adding a touch of life and chaos to the bleak scenery.

It was already afternoon, and the number of people entering the city had decreased significantly.

Most of the guards standing under the city gate had nothing to do, and since there were no additional fees for leaving the city,

The eyes of those guards lingered briefly on Shen Qing before they quickly retracted their gazes, allowing him to leave.

As they reached the shantytown area, Shen Qing immediately became vigilant while sitting on the cart.

He turned his head to see Shen Xiaohu with a grave expression, his gaze continuously scanning the surroundings. Finding something amiss, he reminded, "Xiaohu, don't keep a tense face, or people might think we have something valuable. Just relax a bit, but stay alert."

"Okay." Shen Xiaohu was momentarily stunned by the words, realizing he was too tense, and he quickly adjusted his mindset, following the advice.

Zhang Shuyuan, holding the reins, glanced at Shen Qing with a smile, "You're quite sharp. In this outer city, anyone who sets their eyes on you might meet bad luck."

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," Shen Qing replied casually, "When you're out and about in unfamiliar places, a bit of caution never does any harm."

Zhang Shuyuan chuckled and waved the whip in his hand, "Giddyup!"

The little mule shook its rump and naturally quickened its pace.

The cart, made of a few planks, sped up under the mule's pull, passing by one shelter after another.

On the cart, some grains Shen Qing had bought were tied firmly with hemp rope and covered with rough burlap, yet they still drew many eyes.

Those moving in and out of the shantytown, whether busy adults or wandering children, couldn't help but slow their steps and their gazes were instinctively drawn to the cargo piled on the cart whenever Shen Qing passed by.

As they ventured deeper into the outer city, the number of people increased.

They were watching Shen Qing openly and covertly, whispering among themselves, their eyes flickering with curiosity and greed, as if the cargo were a glimmer of brightness in this chaotic world.

A subtle atmosphere gradually spread in the air.

A young man, dressed casually with arms crossed, leaned against the threshold of a shelter.

As Shen Qing and his companions passed in front of him, he dropped his laid-back expression, turned back into the room, and said to a burly man inside, "A stranger just passed by, Old Ba Zi, shall we go for it?"

The burly man named Old Ba Zi tossed aside a mostly eaten chicken leg, and a few boys who had been waiting pounced on it like wild dogs, scrambling for it.

One slightly taller boy snatched the chicken leg bone and dashed out through the back door, quickly disappearing from sight.

The other children frenziedly chased after him.

"Haha." The brawny man wiped his greasy mouth with some satisfaction and said, "Have you figured out who they are? Where are they from, are they related to any of the big figures in the city?"

"Old Dog asked someone to inquire earlier when the strangers entered, and the news should be back soon."

"Have someone watch them, and whether Old Dog gets any information or not, act when they're about to leave Seven Turns Alley."

"I get it. If they've been checked and nothing turns up, they're definitely rootless too."

Old Ba Zi nodded and said, "By the way, Boss Ba sent a message recently, saying the Song and Dong Family are looking for some mountain delicacies to help their young masters break through the Military Pass. Tell the brothers to keep an eye on the hunters coming into the city and see if they have any of those items."

"Boss Ba mentioned it." Old Ba Zi showed a bit of longing, "Whoever finds them would be guaranteed wealth and might even get into the Inner City."

"Old Ba Zi, tell me, what are the three things?" the young man said in surprise.

Old Ba Zi replied unhurriedly, "Blood Bird's Nest, Jade Deer Tendon, and Tiger King's Penis."

"Alas… I only know about one of them. Never even heard of the others." The young man said, "I'll inform the brothers about this later."

"Yeah, implement it quickly."

...

After improving his hunting skills, Shen Qing had become quite adept at tracking and identifying traces, and he was very sensitive to the surrounding environment.

While they had been moving and traversing through the shantytown, he constantly felt as if there were intermittent eyes watching them.

As a hunter, his intuition told him someone had their sights set on them.

In a lowered voice, Shen Qing said to Shen Xiaohu and Zhang Shuyuan, "Let's speed up, we're being watched."

"Ah!"

Shen Xiaohu exclaimed in shock.

"Keep it down. Don't alert the enemy."

"Oh, oh."

Shen Xiaohu hurriedly calmed himself.

Even the usually nonchalant Zhang Shuyuan began to take things seriously for once.

"Thwack, thwack, thwack!"

Without concern, Zhang Shuyuan landed three heavy lashes on the little mule's hindquarters, taking no pity.

The mule, feeling the sting, suddenly accelerated and galloped forward rapidly.

As Shen Qing and his companions sped past a bald-headed man, he summoned a half-grown boy and instructed, "Hurry and tell Old Ba Zi that the fat sheep is about to reach Seven Turns Alley."

"Got it."

In a shantytown somewhere in the outer city, a half-grown boy wearing straw shoes rushed in, panting, and said, "Old Ba Zi, they're almost at Seven Turns Alley. The people want to know if you're in on it?"

"Is there any news from Old Dog yet?" Old Ba Zi asked the straw-shod youth beside him.

"Not yet."

"Doesn't matter then, inform the brothers to take action."

"Alright. There doesn't seem to be much on their cart. Should we rough them up a bit first and then sell them to the broker for a good profit?"

"Do as you see fit, but I want my forty percent afterward." Old Ba Zi's muscles suddenly tightened, Qi-Blood surged throughout his body, causing his muscles to swell, clinging to him like tumors, exuding an oppressive force.

Great Perfection of Qi and Blood!

The speaking youth took a step back, quickly saying, "Old Ba Zi, the brothers all know the rules, your share won't be overlooked."

"Reassure the brothers that if something happens, I'll stand up for them." Old Ba Zi reined in his imposing aura. "Go on!"

The half-grown boy nodded heavily and sprinted towards Seven Turns Alley, his figure gradually fading among the myriad shelters.

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