Water Ink Panel: Starting with Bow Technique to Hunt the Sun and Patrol the Skies
Chapter 72 - 71 Blood Bird's Nest and Song family

Taiping County Inner City.

Many people from outside the city who came for the market had already left, but the streets remained crowded with people.

A closer look revealed quite a few young men and women dressed in silk and satin.

This hour was neither too early nor too late, with few rural people around, making it the ideal time for many wealthy individuals to go out.

Merchants, hawkers, and shop workers were all shouting with enthusiasm.

The aroma of fried snacks, pastries, and wine and meals mingled together, freely drifting down the street.

Located in the bustling area of Taiping County, the vermilion doors of the Fengwei Restaurant looked exceptionally grand from afar.

As one of the high-end restaurants in the county, Fengwei Restaurant was very famous.

Earlier, Shen Qing had just returned to the inn when he was summoned by Zhao Ba's men, not even having time to eat, and now he was a bit hungry.

If it had been in the past, he certainly would have been reluctant to come here, but after a visit to Zhao Ba, he had gained quite a fortune and his financial situation had immediately eased.

With newfound confidence, after returning from the Outer City, Shen Qing chose this place to eat.

Shen Qing, with Xiao Zhi and others, walked into Fengwei Restaurant, and immediately a faint scent of sandalwood mixed with the aroma of meat and wine hit his nose.

Looking around, the decor inside the main hall of Fengwei Restaurant was elegant.

Golden carved screens, paintings by famous artists hung on the walls, dripping with ink.

The floor was paved with top-quality bluestone tiles, while luxurious brass chandeliers hung from the ceiling, creating a dazzling scene.

It was mealtime now, and the diners came in an endless stream, creating a noisy atmosphere.

Most of the tables in the hall were occupied by diners, all dressed decently, toasting and drinking, having a great time.

They appeared at least a notch above Shen Qing's group in terms of demeanor.

Shen Xiaohu, having never seen such a scene from childhood, was momentarily stunned.

A servant standing by the door noticed Shen Qing and the others and quickly ran over to greet them: "Are you gentlemen here for a meal?"

Contrary to expectations, there was no snobbishness.

On the contrary, the waiter's attitude at Fengwei Restaurant was excellent, treating Shen Qing and the others fairly without belittling them because of their attire.

"Get me a private room," Shen Qing said calmly, his every movement exuding a unique composure that made Shen Xiaohu, who followed, feel ashamed.

He couldn't quite understand why, having grown up in the same place, there was such a vast difference between his cousin and him.

"Here, gentlemen, this way." The waiter at Fengwei Restaurant led them.

The waiter went ahead, clearing a path for Shen Qing's group, and led them to a private room on the second floor.

Inside the private room on the second floor, wooden carved tables and chairs were neatly arranged, with sunlight streaming through the window lattice, making the interior bright and warm.

"Please be seated, gentlemen." The waiter removed a cloth and diligently wiped every chair: "What would you like to eat?"

"Bring me a serving of all your specialties, make sure the portions are generous, and bring two jars of good wine." Shen Qing casually placed a few silver beans on the table: "Arrange it well, this is your tip."

"Alright, please take your time, gentlemen, I will arrange it right away." The waiter wiped the tables and chairs once over, poured tea for each of Shen Qing's group, and then, after finally taking the silver beans from the table, withdrew.

Seeing the waiter leave, Shen Xiaohu, who had been tense all this time, breathed a sigh of relief: "I thought the waiters here would be arrogant, but they're actually quite nice."

Xiao Zhi laughed and explained: "Hahaha… Young brother is probably coming here for the first time and doesn't yet know how fierce the guards at Fengwei Restaurant are. Those who come to freeload or cause trouble are either sold into the mines or beaten to death, gaining a fearsome reputation. Nowadays, those who come here are genuine diners, paying silver; naturally, their attitude is better."

Ouyang Tie Niu chimed in: "Nowadays, quite a few people who suddenly became rich overnight come to the city for leisure. The waiters here have seen it all and aren't that snobbish. It's those places of just average quality that might secretly mutter about us."

Their conversation made Shen Xiaohu understand a lot more.

The serving speed at Fengwei Restaurant was very fast.

In less than a quarter-hour, dish after dish was served.

Ouyang Tie Niu, being very considerate, calmly filled a bowl of wine for Shen Qing before others could react.

Shen Qing didn't say much, raised his bowl, and said: "Fill up, everyone, we've been busy until now, time to drink."

"Cheers!"

Shen Qing raised his head and drank.

Compared to the strong spirits of the older generation, the wine here was much milder, and it was all rice wine, with a bit of sweetness, very refreshing.

After a few cups, the atmosphere at the table suddenly became more relaxed. Aside from Shen Xiaohu, who was focused on eating, everyone's relationships had gotten a lot closer.

Shen Qing asked Ouyang Tie Niu: "Tell me about the Blood Bird's Nest."

As a hunter, Shen Qing knew something about this mountain delicacy Blood Bird's Nest.

This kind of bird's nest was crimson red like blood, clear and transparent.

It was a nest built on cliffs by a bird called Flying Sky Swallow, using its essence blood, saliva, and a rare red herb.

For ordinary people, this mountain delicacy Blood Bird's Nest had the effect of nourishing the body, enhancing beauty, and boosting Qi-Blood, making the body strong and prolonging life if consumed.

But for those practicing martial arts, Blood Bird's Nest was an even rarer treasure.

Not only could it increase the Qi-Blood of a martial master, but it could also solidify one's internal essence, making the physical body stronger. When breaking through bottlenecks, it gave more confidence, a coveted item for martial artists.

Such a mountain delicacy could easily fetch hundreds of taels on the market without any difficulty.

If hunters could obtain one, it could provide their family with a good life for several years.

Therefore, when Ouyang Tie Niu mentioned Blood Bird's Nest, Shen Qing immediately became interested.

Ouyang Tie Niu pondered for a moment and said: "Does the boss know about the sons of the Song and Dong Family's Song Gongming? This matter starts with them."

"Tell me!" Shen Qing picked up a piece of tender beef with his chopsticks, dipped it in some spicy sauce, and began chewing.

"Song Gongming has seven sons and five daughters, but the most capable are the third son and the youngest son. These two, one twenty years old, the other seventeen, already have cultivation at the Qi Cultivation Realm."

"To help his two sons break through the Qi Cultivation Realm sooner and prosper the family in the court in the future, Song Gongming thought of acquiring some mountain delicacies to assist their early breakthrough. This interest in mountain delicacies originates from them."

Hearing this, Shen Qing was somewhat shocked.

He swallowed the beef he was chewing and discreetly took a sip of wine.

If he remembered correctly, his uncle Li Linfeng also only had cultivation at the Qi Cultivation Realm, while the Song family's two sons were so young and already had such cultivation; it was truly terrifying.

Shen Qing asked: "How strong is the Song family actually?"

"Not entirely sure, but I heard that among the Four Great Eastern Families in the county, they have martial masters above the Qi Cultivation Realm, and many in the family practice martial arts. Even the County Magistrate here gives them a certain respect and dares not provoke them lightly."

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