Water Ink Panel: Starting with Bow Technique to Hunt the Sun and Patrol the Skies
Chapter 44 - 43 Wang Mazi, you will not die well!

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Now, more than half of the winter season had passed.

It wouldn't be long before, as the weather warmed, the government officials in the county town would invent excuses to go to each village and supervise the spring hunting ban.

Once the hunting ban started, no one would be allowed to go up the mountain.

So, before the ban began, the villagers, who were hunters, would all head to the mountains with full force.

As a result, this time Shen Qing's cart was loaded with twice as many mountain goods as last time.

Winter morning sunlight pierced the thin mist, slowly illuminating the endless green mountains.

The snow-covered peaks gradually revealed patches of green under the caress of the morning light.

Golden brilliance shone on the faces of Shen Qing and his companions, making them feel warm and comfortable.

Seeing that Shen Xiaohu and Tian Xiaohu were dozing off, Shen Qing, having nothing to do, checked the items he carried with him.

A bow, fifteen arrows, a bag of poison powder, and a dagger, making a total of four things.

At present, he was most familiar with the bow and arrow, but though the bow and arrow were handy for him, they were only useful against distant opponents.

Once engaged in close combat with an opponent, their effectiveness would significantly diminish.

Moreover, for someone who had achieved the Great Perfection of Qi and Blood, a regular bow and arrow would not suffice.

After all, in the end, the power of the arrow depended entirely on the bow.

The Elm Wood Bow was good, but its power was limited to a maximum of two shi, roughly one hundred kilograms.

The bow he used had been in use for a long time, and its power had diminished, feared to be less than two shi.

"After reaching the Great Perfection of Qi and Blood, I can mobilize it to increase the toughness of my muscles. Such a bow cannot penetrate me. If I go to kill Old Ba Zi, the bow and arrow are not the best options."

"Therefore, the best method is still poison and assassination."

Shen Qing sat on the cart, listening to the sounds of birds in the surrounding mountains and forests, quietly pondering and weighing his options.

From Hongshan Village to Taiping County, it was sixty to seventy li. After the snow melted, the mountain roads became muddy and difficult to traverse.

Shen Qing spent nearly an hour, only to have covered half the journey.

At this time, there were gradually more carriages on the road.

Upon closer inspection, the carts, large and small, were loaded with various mountain goods, all heading towards the county town.

Some carts carried young boys and girls, some with eyes still red, evidently having just cried.

If Shen Qing's guess was correct, this should be a broker specializing in human trafficking.

Every winter, many families couldn't get by, falling to the point of selling their children.

They intended to sell these children to large households.

His little aunt was sold in such a manner years ago.

After a while, suddenly two fine horses charged from ahead.

Shen Qing hurriedly steered the cart to the side and looked over intently.

The two horses charging forward had glossy coats, strong and plump, clearly excellent horses, and the riders were not ordinary people.

They wore iron armor, sat upright on the two fine horses, with swords suspended at their waists, their eyes sharp as eagles, carrying an imposing presence.

They were government officers from the Guardian Martial Department!

With a crisp whip crack, the fine horses galloped with flying hooves, two gusts of strong wind swiftly passing by them.

Shen Qing and the others couldn't help but stare at those two figures until they completely disappeared from sight.

After the two government officers had left, Shen Qing gradually heard the discussions of people around him.

"There's been a sighting of the Huang Tian Sect bandits outside the county town, and they've sent many people from the Guardian Martial Department to search around."

"There are people from the Huang Tian Sect in Taiping County as well?"

"It's hard to say. Recently, the Huang Tian Sect attacked Jinzhou, and the court's several attempts to suppress them have failed, instead allowing the bandits to grow more numerous. The Huang Tian Sect's momentum is growing larger. At this rate, it won't be long before it affects the county town here."

"Taiping County is an important town outside the county town, in a strategically advantageous location. If the Huang Tian Sect attacks the county town, Taiping County will likely be the first to bear the brunt. There's a sign of expansion at the Guardian Martial Department in the county government, as they've recruited many martial masters and officers."

"I'll tell my fellow disciples to steer clear of any involvement with the Guardian Martial Department. The Huang Tian Sect is not to be trifled with."

The discussions around them gradually faded until they could no longer be heard.

Seated on the cart, Shen Qing gradually fell silent.

Whatever the Huang Tian Sect, Jinzhou, or the court meant, he didn't understand.

He only knew it seemed chaos was on the horizon again.

What a world!

"Giddy up!"

Shen Qing snapped the whip to urge the mule to trot.

An hour later.

Shen Qing and the other two arrived at the Outer City of Taiping County.

"We're about to enter the shantytown. Stay alert and keep an eye on the goods. I'm going to relieve myself. Wait here for me."

Shen Qing jumped down from the cart, tossed the reins to Tian Xiaohu, and walked towards the nearby bushes.

Tian Xiaohu curiously said, "Why does your big brother take a bow and arrow to take a dump?"

"I don't know, maybe for self-defense. It's quite chaotic here."

"Makes some sense." Tian Xiaohu nodded, but still had an uneasy feeling.

...

Shantytown.

In a cramped small room that could barely fit a bed.

Old Ba Zi lay on the bed, his chest wrapped with white gauze, his face somewhat pale.

Little Six held a black ointment nearby and said, "Boss, sit up. I'll change your dressing."

Old Ba Zi shook his flabby flesh, sat up with a word, and angrily slapped the bedboard. "Who would've thought that filthy Wang Mazi, shameless, would find help, making us suffer such a loss. Once I'm healed, I'll definitely kill him."

"Damn it, be more gentle, will you?" Old Ba Zi kicked Little Six to the side.

The latter scrambled back up, put on a smiling face, and continued to change the dressing.

"Wait a moment." Old Ba Zi suddenly pricked up his ears to listen, then asked, "Do you feel something's not right?"

Little Six looked confused. "What's not right?"

"Where's the brother I placed outside? Why is there no sound at all? Go take a look."

"Okay." Little Six put down his task and hurried out.

After a while, Little Six still didn't respond.

"Little Six, Little Six." Old Ba Zi called twice, but no one answered.

He instantly sensed something was wrong, pulled out a shiny long knife from under the bed, tucked it behind him, and cautiously walked over, then stabbed the door open with the knife.

There was not a soul outside.

Old Ba Zi took a couple of steps, saw some bloodstains on the ground, and followed their direction, immediately horrifying him.

All his men had turned into a pile of corpses.

Old Ba Zi turned to run, but suddenly his eyes were covered with a cloud of white powder.

"Ah!"

Old Ba Zi let out a miserable scream, blindly swinging the long knife, slashing around chaotically, then stumbled and crashed through the door back into the room.

Just when he thought he was safe.

A shadow slowly appeared behind him, holding a dagger, and thrust it fiercely at him.

Thud.

The dagger went into the flesh.

Old Ba Zi, in pain, screamed, and swung his knife in retaliation.

Bang!

In haste, Shen Qing ducked and punched.

Old Ba Zi sensed it and took the punch head-on, responding with a punch of his own.

Bang bang bang.

All the furniture in the room shattered into pieces under the strength of their blows.

"Stance training! Nine Skills! You're Wang Mazi?!" Old Ba Zi immediately realized, shaking with rage, flabby flesh trembling all over, furiously charging, "I'll kill you!"

The room was too small to wield a bow and arrow, and with Old Ba Zi's eyes covered, he slashed around wildly.

Shen Qing chose not to fight him face to face but silently moved around to Old Ba Zi's back.

He picked up a broken wood stick from the floor and swung it hard.

Thud!

With a muffled sound, Old Ba Zi was dazed.

Right at that moment, the poison from the powder gradually took effect.

Old Ba Zi began to lose his balance, swaying side to side.

Seizing the opportunity, Shen Qing stabbed Old Ba Zi repeatedly, turning him into a bloody mess.

Despite his unwillingness to die, Old Ba Zi, surging with Qi and Blood, roared fiercely, "Wang Mazi, you'll die a miserable death! Boss won't spare you!"

His voice was loud, carrying far and wide.

Shen Qing didn't waste words, channeled his Qi and Blood, and directly slit Old Ba Zi's throat, ending his life once and for all.

He put away the dagger, rummaged through the room carelessly, found some Silver Taels, and pocketed them.

Then, crouching low, he slipped out through the back window, quickly leaving, his figure disappearing into the alleyway.

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