Water Ink Panel: Starting with Bow Technique to Hunt the Sun and Patrol the Skies
Chapter 91 - 15: The Rise of the Hongshan Gang, Becoming a Direct Disciple

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"So this world is truly mystical. There's even a Prefectural Governor who punched out a lake to build channels, benefiting the people in the region."

After reading the Mountain and River Chronicles, Shen Qing couldn't help but express his admiration.

Initially, he thought this world was an ancient world where martial arts flourished, but after reading this book, he realized it was not entirely the case.

This world was actually a majestic realm where the immortal and mundane coexisted, far more formidable than he had imagined.

According to the records in the book, martial masters could live for hundreds of years, even achieving immortality through martial arts, possessing the power to move mountains and seas.

Although somewhat exaggerated, it also showed that martial arts in this world were not limited to mere fists and feet.

In this small, isolated place, without reading this book, he indeed would not have had such vision and perception.

"Ordinary people, once they have tempered their physical bodies, seek martial arts registration, hoping to secure a position in the court. Only by joining the court can one access more comprehensive cultivation methods and transcend beyond the mundane."

"I am different from them. With the Water Ink Panel, I can continuously break through and find my own path, but this is not the way to achieve the Immortal Martial Art's grand path."

"Therefore, to go further, I must enter the court in the future. First, it's safe and stable, and second, I can grasp the opportunity for Immortal Martial Arts."

"No wonder everyone is eager to practice martial arts." Shen Qing muttered to himself as he closed the Mountain and River Chronicles.

It was already midnight, so Shen Qing stopped reading, extinguished the oil lamp, and fell asleep.

Having moved into a new home with two beds,

Shen Qing could finally have one to himself and no longer had to squeeze in with his elder sister, Shen Fang.

A night without dreams.

The next day.

The Corpse Pile stacked at the alley entrance stirred a wave in the shanty town in West City.

Everyone knew someone not to be trifled with had arrived in the neighborhood.

Some inquisitive people looked into their background, discovering they all came from Hongshan Village.

The reputation of the Hongshan People and the Hongshan Gang spread quickly in West City.

By noon, all the families that came from Hongshan Village had mostly finished shopping and tidying up, leaving many idle.

Once idle, trouble ensued.

Shen Qing knew many ways to make money, but in a world where great power resided with individuals, it was difficult to fully realize those ways.

After some thought, he decided to use the most reliable method, instructing these people to start collecting 'security fees' from various places.

This task didn't require much skill, as it was a common practice for all major gangs, and the returns were quite substantial.

However, even when collecting protection fees, Shen Qing thought they should be unique.

"Other gangs charge five hundred large coins per household per month. Since we're new here, we'll charge less, only two hundred large coins per household per month."

"If we encounter families in real hardship, we won't sell their children or force them, letting them slide for now."

"In return, we can't do nothing with the money we receive. Like when we guarded the village against tigers, divide into groups with experienced ones leading the young, and patrol in turns. Anyone with ill intentions, regardless of reason, should be dealt with like prey."

"If we can't assure anything else, the 'security fee' should be worth its name." Shen Qing issued several instructions, scanning the crowd and asking, "What do you all say?"

"How are the 'security fees' split?" a hunter asked.

Without hesitation, Shen Qing replied, "As we agreed yesterday, I take half, and the rest is shared among everyone, with the bookworm keeping accounts. If no one has objections, we'll set the rules: those who disobey face punishment, while those who contribute are rewarded, and the reward money comes from me."

"Fine, I have no objections."

Saying so, Shen Qing took out the Martial Arts book, the Nine Skills, and handed it to Tian Xiaohu, saying, "We're all in this together. Those younger than fifteen can practice when they're free. Xiao Hu, you teach them first. If there are any questions, you can come to me."

Others didn't expect Shen Qing to be so generous, even willing to teach them martial arts.

Thinking that both Chen Yuan and Shen Qing practiced it, everyone's eyes lit up with excitement, imagining themselves attaining success and social recognition, making them eager to try.

Perhaps influenced by the 'Corpse Pile', most of the chaotic area of the shantytown bowed their heads, willing to pay.

Those who truly couldn't pay adhered to Shen Qing's request, and the hunters didn't force them.

After collecting the money, under Shen Qing's arrangement, they genuinely started patrolling the paid areas day and night, looking halfway decent in their efforts.

Residents of the shantytown felt that a new order quietly took shape.

After staying in the shantytown for a few more days and seeing everything fall into place, Shen Qing tidied up and headed to the Inner City Linfeng Hall, delegating miscellaneous tasks to Zhang Baqing.

Residents in the nearby alleys seemed to notice that his status was somewhat different among the crowd.

As Shen Qing passed by them, they nodded and bowed, their attitudes noticeably good-natured.

For a moment, Shen Qing found this somewhat unsettling.

Linfeng Hall.

After twenty days or so, Shen Qing returned and found things unchanged, neither hot nor cold.

It even seemed to be on a mild decline.

Shen Qing did not concern himself too much with this.

He had reached the Bone Refining Realm many days ago and planned to inform Li Linfeng, hoping to learn the next killing technique of the Wind Defying Finger to accelerate his progress.

Shen Qing remembered that the senior brother, Ouyang Tiezhu, reached Bone Refining Realm Great Perfection at twenty-five.

Yet, since practicing the Wind Defying Finger, he'd broken through to the Bone Refining Realm in just about two months.

Without being told, he knew his speed was indeed fast.

He wondered what kind of talent the remaining direct disciples of the Hall Master's brother-in-law would have.

Judging from the time, the Hall Master's brother-in-law Li Linfeng should be in his study at this hour.

After informing a maid, Shen Qing headed to Li Linfeng's study.

Not only was Li Linfeng inside, but his four direct disciples and one son and daughter were also in the study, appearing to be discussing something.

The study door was open.

Glancing inside, Shen Qing saw senior brother Ouyang Tiezhu, whom he hadn't seen in several days.

Yet, in just over a month, Ouyang Tiezhu had strands of gray in his temples and seemed despondent.

Besides him, one person had a hand in a sling, silently keeping his head down.

The atmosphere was somber.

As soon as Shen Qing arrived, Li Linfeng noticed him. At this moment, Li Linfeng's heart was heavy; two of his four direct disciples were injured, and outside, the Mi Gang was eyeing them covetously.

He had been trying to find a path through the higher-ups in recent times, but it wasn't working, leaving him restless and sleep-deprived, his face gloomily shrouded with a cloud.

He knew Linfeng Hall was now facing a disconnect between the old and new, becoming precariously fragile.

The senior disciple Ouyang Tiezhu had just been defeated, and his family faced a setback, demoralizing him.

Moreover, at twenty-five, he barely touched the threshold of Skin Forging, making it difficult to break through to the Qi Cultivation Realm.

Under Linfeng Hall's current situation, few could help.

The fourth disciple had good talent and, at a young age, was already in the Skin Forging Realm, but he had lost an arm.

Now completely demoralized, unsure of when he'd recover.

The second and third disciples, one in Skin Forging Realm, the other in Bone Refining Realm, were promising, progressing step by step.

It wasn't a matter of poor qualifications; they just needed more time.

Finally, there were his daughter and son.

Both had passable talent, but they were ultimately too young.

With enough time, he could surely cultivate them into talents.

Unfortunately, the problem was the lack of time.

He was now desperate for someone who could stand firm.

Not expecting someone comparable to the court's government office and the four great families' scions, but at least someone who could suppress gangs like the Mi Gang.

Only then could he vaguely protect the assets he had accumulated throughout his life.

One must admit, the Mi Gang was truly ruthless.

Bluntly cutting flesh, precisely targeting, slowly tightening the noose around his neck while he remained powerless.

Shelving these annoyances, Li Linfeng asked Shen Qing at the door, "Are you looking for me?"

Shen Qing cupped his fists respectfully, "Yes. I have already…"

The troubled Li Linfeng interrupted, "Wait outside until I'm finished, then talk to me."

Seeing they were indeed discussing important matters, Shen Qing felt it was inappropriate to interrupt.

So he left his words unsaid and nodded.

Li Linfeng, watching his four close disciples and his son and daughter, wanted to speak but didn't know how to begin.

Sighing internally, he once more called outside to Shen Qing, "Forget it, just tell me what you wanted."

Shen Qing was slightly stunned, wondering why Li Linfeng changed his mind, and said honestly, "Hall Master Uncle, I have already broken through to the Bone Refining Realm and wanted to learn the Wind Defying Finger's subsequent training method from you."

"Ah!" Upon hearing this, Li Linfeng sprang to his feet, extremely exhilarated.

He knew Lady Qi's nephew had some cleverness and talent, and he intended to nurture him, but he never imagined Shen Qing could break through so fast.

Counting all together, Lady Qi's nephew had only been practicing martial arts for a little over two months.

Just over two months!

What concept is that?

In his impression, only high-ranking officials' families had such talent.

Born in high-ranking families, with various means for tempering from a young age, such achievements weren't unjustified.

But what did Shen Qing, a small village boy, have?

This talent was truly remarkable.

Li Linfeng felt both astonished and delighted.

Fortunately, he cherished talent that day and took the initiative to teach him.

Otherwise, it was uncertain when such a genius would emerge.

In an instant, all of Li Linfeng's frustrations vanished.

An old ship still has three thousand nails.

He wasn't down yet, and the Boss of Mi Gang, Hong Xingwen, was at the same realm, daring not act rashly.

If he trained Shen Qing well, at this speed, Shen Qing might just support him.

"Good boy." Li Linfeng beamed with pride, walked over from the table, gripped Shen Qing's shoulders, examining him from top to bottom with satisfaction.

"I mentioned before that I'd choose a good day to accept you as a direct disciple. Today is as good as any. What do you think?"

"I'll leave it all to Hall Master Uncle to decide." Shen Qing said neither here nor there.

Verified through experience, the Water Ink Panel's progress was much faster with guidance, and as he came seeking to learn the killing technique, he naturally wouldn't refuse.

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