Water Ink Panel: Starting with Bow Technique to Hunt the Sun and Patrol the Skies
Chapter 99 - 23 Promise of High Profits

"The Zhou Family?"

Upon hearing this term, Shen Qing's expression changed.

Among the Four Great Eastern Families of Taiping County, there was one family with the surname Zhou.

In other words, among those with the surname Zhou in Taiping County, only those from the Zhou Family dared to call themselves "Miss." Shen Qing couldn't think of any other Zhou daring to do so.

The men under the Eagle had captured Miss Zhou from the Zhou Family, and even had their way with her?

That was quite bold!

Shen Qing found it difficult to believe.

But it wasn't impossible.

Shen Qing said to Tian Xiaohu, "Is there a way to wake them up?"

Tian Xiaohu shook his head and said, "No particularly good way; either wait here or force-feed them golden liquid to induce vomiting. Usually, the effects last one or two Shi Chen."

Shen Qing turned to look at Shen Xiaohu, nodding his chin in indication. "Xiaohu."

"Huh?" Shen Xiaohu responded, "I don't have any now."

"I didn't ask you to use your own. Go to the latrine at the back and get some."

"Oh, oh." Shen Xiaohu quickly understood and rushed off.

A moment later, he returned with a bowl filled with golden liquid.

The already dim and stinky hall became even more putrid with the golden liquid, to the point it was indescribable.

Shen Qing held his breath and said, "Pour it!"

Shen Xiaohu did as told.

He gently lifted the head of the mumbling woman, pinched her mouth open, and unhesitatingly poured the golden liquid into her mouth.

A strong stench immediately filled the air, suffocating.

The golden liquid slowly trickled down her throat, stirring up waves of nausea.

The woman, lost in a comatose state, seemed to feel the strange stimulus; her brows furrowed, and her body began to tremble slightly.

The taste of the golden liquid stimulated her nerves, triggering her instinctive reactions.

Not long after, the woman suddenly opened her eyes wide, her pupils filled with fear and confusion.

Immediately afterward, a strong urge to vomit surged within her; she coughed violently, spewing out the golden liquid that had just been poured into her mouth.

"Ugh!"

"Ugh!"

"Ugh!"

The already foul room became even more unbearable, plunging the woman into utter misery.

However, having been unconscious for so long, her bodily strength and reactions were much diminished, muddled with dizziness, leaving her unable to escape.

Seeing this, Shen Xiaohu quickly turned her head to the side to prevent her vomit from soiling herself.

After a while, using almost all the strength she had, the woman finally expelled all the golden liquid from her mouth, accompanied by a fit of violent coughing and dry heaving.

After vomiting, the woman felt a sense of collapse; her body slumped weakly against the wall, panting heavily, her expression full of pain and anger.

"Get me water..."

Shen Xiaohu did as requested, bringing a basin of water over.

The woman wordlessly used her hands to scoop the water, rinsing her mouth, and without minding the cold, hurriedly wiped the golden liquid from her face, hands, and body.

In the brief moment she'd waited for the water, she'd noticed she was half-naked and realized what had happened.

Glancing around at the bodies filling the room, with Shen Qing and the others waiting patiently, she began to make calculations in her heart.

Even though she knew she had just choked down golden liquid, almost on the brink of it taking effect, she managed to suppress it in the face of danger.

"Who are you?" she said, wiping the yellowish water stains from the corners of her mouth in her first words.

Shen Qing grabbed a coat from the floor and tossed it over, saying, "Quite cold, cover up before speaking."

The woman silently took the garment, draping it over herself to cover her exposed body.

"A member of the Zhou Family?"

The woman nodded, her almond eyes fixed on Shen Qing, "I'm a daughter born to a maid in the fifth branch of the Zhou Family."

"Raised by a maid?"

Shen Qing was taken aback.

Having lived here for so long, he had learned some terms of this world.

Generally speaking, in large families, the legitimate daughters of the maternal family as part of a dowry were called Concubine Teng.

If the main wife passed away, the Concubine Teng would be legitimized to maintain alliance and interests with the maternal family.

Below the Concubine Teng were concubines, side chambers, lesser rooms, noble concubines, concubines from lowly status, etc.

Among these, concubines from lowly status usually had origins in the lowly status of Great Zhou, holding very low positions.

In a sense, they were like property, freely transferable by the masters.

Naturally, the children born to such concubines wouldn't hold high status.

Upon hearing she was a maid-raised daughter, Shen Qing could sort of understand why the Eagle's men dared to do such a thing.

"How did you end up kidnapped here?"

The woman replied calmly, "Last night, I just stepped out of the house to dump some waste, and then I knew nothing else."

"Okay, it sounds pretty convoluted in between; I have no interest in hearing your lousy story. Now that you're awake, go back on your own."

Shen Qing said casually, planning to leave with Shen Xiaohu and Tian Xiaohu.

Just a maid-born daughter.

In this chaotic county, even if someone killed her, no one would care.

Disappointment.

"Wait." The woman stood hurriedly, "If you take me back, I can give you hundreds of taels of gold. If you don't want gold, I can offer you a government martial arts technique and an elixir."

"Hmm?"

Hearing this, Shen Qing turned sharply, eyeing the woman intently.

"Are you joking with me? I don't think a maid-born daughter of the Zhou Family can grant me such things."

"That's because you're ignorant of the Zhou Family's resources." The woman met his gaze, unafraid, "What you consider unattainable is at the fingertips of the Zhou Family. Among the Four Great Eastern Families, saying 'Zhou ranks first' doesn't come lightly."

Shen Qing had never interacted with the Four Great Eastern Families but had vaguely heard civilians mention that each family had golden halls and jade horses, possessing unimaginable wealth.

Shen Qing squinted and said, "Just taking you to the Zhou Family is all?"

"Yes, as long as you send me back to the fifth branch of the Zhou Family." The woman said decisively, "I stand by my words."

After a brief consideration, Shen Qing agreed, "Alright, I'll take you."

"Fine, then it's settled. Mainly, the Outer City is too chaotic; without protection, it's hard for me to get out." The woman sighed as if relieved.

Shen Qing looked her over and said, "You haven't fully recovered yet. Rest for a quarter-hour, and then we'll leave."

The woman remained silent, agreeing without words.

Shen Qing led Tian Xiaohu and Shen Xiaohu outside and said, "Xiaohu, tell the others to discard these bodies, and this area will belong to us in the future. Once done, everyone can head back."

"Yes, sir." Shen Xiaohu nodded, "A small matter."

Shen Qing continued, "Xiaohu, stay with me, take the remaining women to the government office later. I'm taking this woman to the Zhou Family."

"Are you really going? Should I go with you?"

"No harm, if I'm not back by dark, go to Linfeng Hall with Xiaohu and find Li Linfeng to ask him to look for me at the Zhou Family."

As far as he knew, government martial arts techniques mostly included realms above Qi Cultivation.

Easy to train in, yet powerful.

Moreover, the government's elixirs were probably rare and valuable items.

Even if it involved some risk, it was worth a trip.

After dealing with the miscellaneous matters around, it was already two quarter-hours past.

Shen Qing returned to the house, where the woman from the Zhou Family had found and put on her clothes.

Her face looked calm, revealing no hint of joy or sorrow.

"It's about time, let's go." Shen Qing approached and asked.

The woman from the Zhou Family nodded and said, "I've never been here; I don't know the way, please lead me."