Water Ink Panel: Starting with Bow Technique to Hunt the Sun and Patrol the Skies
Chapter 87 - 11 No Way Out, Settling in the Outer City

"The physical bodies of the Human Clan are really too weak, yet such a weak race is regarded as the leader of all spirits, which is truly unfair. Now, in this age of great competition, I have awakened spiritual wisdom and should seize the initiative, to change the master of this world."

The massive tiger with drooping eyes walked up to a villager who had fallen to the ground, one of his legs still intact.

Its eyes were indifferent as it opened its bloody maw and tore off the entire leg, then sat down slowly and began to lick the leg, savoring the meal.

Each lick of its tongue scraped off a layer of meat, producing a hissing sound.

A strong scent of blood and a demonic odor filled the village.

"How pleasant... I've heard that the Human Clan also likes my whip, saying it's a delicacy. Someday I'll catch some people and see if they really do like it..."

...

On the mountain path, many villagers leaving Hongshan Village walked with bewildered faces.

Some villagers regretted leaving just after departing.

"The child's father, maybe we shouldn't go? The more I think about it, a golden nest or silver nest isn't as good as our own kennel. Haven't the government officials arrived yet? If they do come and hold us accountable, it won't be too late to flee into the mountains."

A woman in the crowd said to her man.

The man beside her, weighed down with the heavy family possessions, kept silent.

"Say something."

"We've left, we're not going back."

"..."

Without the pressure of the external environment, many people's thoughts began to change, and similar doubts arose among other households.

"Roar..."

Just as everyone's resolve began to waver, a tiger's roar sounded from afar.

The roar was overwhelming, with rolling waves of sound like thunder reverberating as if the howl of an ancient beast echoed in their ears, making their hearts tremble.

Everyone stopped and turned back to look.

"It seems to have come from our Hongshan Village."

Someone recognized the direction of the roar, looking puzzled.

Shen Qing, at the head of the group, called Tian Xiaohu over and said, "Take a few people and go back to the village to see what's happening, be careful."

"Alright, you two come with me."

Tian Xiaohu put down the family belongings he carried out, grabbed only a bow, randomly selected two Tian Family young men, and hurriedly headed back toward Hongshan Village.

Shen Qing found a suitable spot to rest on the spot.

They hadn't been away from Hongshan Village for long, only traveling two or three miles.

With Tian Xiaohu and the others' speed, it took less than a moment for them to be back at the entrance of Hongshan Village.

"The smell of blood is very strong, something's not right. We won't enter the village, we'll go into the mountains and check the village's condition from a high point."

Tian Xiaohu's nose was very sensitive, and he became alert upon sensing something unusual.

The few people followed Tian Xiaohu to a high point in the forest.

Here, the view was wide, allowing them to overlook the entirety of Hongshan Village, a spot where they often rested while hunting.

Reaching the position and parting the branches, Tian Xiaohu saw the bloody scene in the village, his face suddenly horrified.

Not only him but the few Tian Family youths with him were also terrified.

They clearly saw a massive tiger with drooping eyes holding a leg, savoring it with relish.

All the remaining people in the village were dead.

Seeing a human figure floating behind the giant tiger, they were even more frightened out of their wits.

Good heavens! It really was a demon tiger!

At this moment, waves of relief surged in their hearts.

If they hadn't left earlier, then it would have been them lying in pools of blood.

"Let's go back quickly and tell Qingzi about this."

Tian Xiaohu withdrew his gaze and said frantically.

The Tian Family youths with him dared not stay longer, hastily leaving.

In fear of disturbing the demon tiger, Tian Xiaohu carefully took a detour, avoiding the village.

After spending more time, they dashed onto the mountain path and sprinted all the way.

Tian Xiaohu, panting heavily, exclaimed, "The demon tiger came, everyone left in the village is dead!"

The dreadful news thundered in the villagers' ears of Hongshan Village like a bolt from the blue.

They were even more terrified, increasingly feeling their decision to leave the village was a wise and timely one, validating Shen Qing's suspicions.

Those villagers who had just been clamoring to return now cowered like quaking quails.

Despite their lucky escape, they all knew clearly that there was no going back, their retreat was cut off entirely.

The place occupied by the tiger demon was no longer suitable for hunters like them.

The atmosphere on the mountain path suddenly turned oppressive.

At the front of the group, Shen Qing did not offer any comforting words, maintaining his composure. After everyone digested the news, he said just one thing: "Enter the city."

His words were not heavy, nor even loud.

Despite this, the words acted like a hook, pulling everyone toward Taiping County.

The wheels on the carts and donkey carts began to turn again, creaking along.

The people of Hongshan Village walked forward soullessly.

The weather today was very nice.

The sky was crystal clear, cloudless.

In the past, Shen Qing would take about an hour by cart to reach there.

But with people in tow, their pace slowed significantly.

From before noon they walked until dusk, taking about three hours to reach the outskirts of Taiping County's Outer City.

Most of the villagers from Hongshan Village had rarely traveled far, seldom visiting Taiping County.

They were very unfamiliar with this place.

Instinctively, they all looked to Shen Qing.

At the forefront, Shen Qing shouted, "Everyone, take out your bows and weapons, hold them outside. Let the women and children walk inside the group, I'll lead you to find a place."

There was no objection or doubt.

The group made a racket, as hunters rummaged through their belongings for suitable weapons.

After some time, they managed to stand in a rough order as Shen Qing had arranged.

Seeing the preparations were about adequate, Shen Qing led the sixty to seventy villagers from Hongshan Village, grandly heading toward the Outer City.

Gathered together like this, with weapons in hand, they looked fierce and hard to provoke.

Many onlookers were curious but dared not approach to inquire.

Passing through familiar Seven Turns Alley, they reached a shantytown alley.

After confirming the location, Shen Qing walked straight in.

The others followed closely behind.

This area used to be the den of the Huang Tian Sect, housing many people.

Because of the Yellow Angel incident, the people living here were disrupted by the officials, with many killed or fled, leaving many empty houses.

Perfect for their settlement.

Shen Qing went inside to check, finding many houses had been looted, leaving only empty sheds.

Over twenty days had passed, with some houses taken by homeless wanderers or neighbors, though most were still empty.

They could squeeze in to live.

After settling down, the rest could be handled slowly.

Now was not the time to be picky.

The villagers of Hongshan Village were very pleased, not expecting there to be a place to settle upon arrival.

Without Shen Qing needing to worry, they busied themselves.

This time, as Shen Qing led the people of Hongshan Village into the shantytown, it caused quite a stir, and he anticipated some trouble might not be far behind.

However, he didn't expect it to come so quickly.

That night, just as he settled and tidied up, someone under the command of a person claiming to be Brother Biao kicked open his door.