Water Ink Panel: Starting with Bow Technique to Hunt the Sun and Patrol the Skies

The following day.

In the Song Family Mansion.

A few withered vines wrapped around the crumbling rockery, where the once bloom-laden courtyard now lay overrun with weeds, presenting a sight of decay and desolation. Explore stories at m,v l'e-m|p| y r

The eldest young master Song Chen and the third young master Song Yu sat in the living room, their gazes slowly shifting toward the center of the room.

There, standing alone, was a spirit tablet inscribed with "In memory of our late father, Song Gongming."

Song Chen and Song Yu rose one after the other, each took out three sticks of incense and lit them over the white candles.

Shoulder to shoulder, the brothers held the lit incense against their foreheads, then knelt down reverently and kowtowed three times.

The incense sticks were then inserted into the incense burner in front of the spirit tablet.

Wreaths of blue smoke began to curl upwards.

The solitary great hall started to fill with the fragrance of sandalwood.

"When father was alive, how illustrious the Song family was, and now it has fallen into decline so suddenly..." Song Yu's voice was deep, tinged with a sense of unwillingness, "Big brother, with the family business continuously losing money and the other families closing in, how much longer can we... can we hold on?"

He was met with the equally grave sigh of his brother Song Chen, "I don't know. At this rate, by the end of the month, our Song family might no longer exist."

"Are we really just going to sit here and wait for death?"

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps broke the stillness of the courtyard.

The youngest young master of the Song family, Song Xuan, rushed into the great hall, followed by a plainly dressed yet imposing Taoist.

At his words, both elder brothers were taken aback and then looked up at the Taoist.

The man had a gaunt face and profound eyes, with strong shoulders.

They could tell at a glance that he was a martial practitioner.

"Who is this?"

The Taoist stepped forward, his mouth curling into a smile, "I am Taoist Wei Yushan, serving under Commander Liu of the Huang Tian Sect. I've caused some disturbances at the Song family before. Today, having heard about the plight of the Song family, I wish to offer my humble assistance."

Between the lines, there was an indescribable air of arrogance and the unique demeanor of someone in a position of authority.

Upon hearing Taoist Wei's introduction, Song Chen and Song Yu exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock in each other's eyes.

It was well known that the Huang Tian Sect was branded as traitors by the Great Zhou Court.

What was their youngest brother Song Xuan thinking by bringing someone from the Huang Tian Sect into their home? Could it be that he wanted them to join with the Huang Tian Sect and become traitors as well?

Song Chen and Song Yu were suddenly struck by a storm of emotions, feeling that their youngest brother had been far too bold in his actions.

Seeing his brothers so disturbed, the young Song Xuan, with a hint of indignation on his somewhat childish face, quickly stepped forward and said, "Brothers, we've tried every solution we could think of to no avail, and now Taoist Wei from the Huang Tian Sect is willing to help us. Isn't this a good thing?"

The Huang Tian Sect, they were traitors.

Song Chen and Song Yu fell abruptly silent, their faces tense, as it was inappropriate to lash out in Taoist Wei's presence.

Upon seeing this, Song Xuan's youthful face carried a layer of anger.

He had gone to great lengths to bring Taoist Wei Yushan here, yet Song Chen and Song Yu seemed ungrateful.

Song Xuan's expression changed, and he said resentfully, "Father died so mysteriously, are you just going to sit here like scared turtles waiting for death? Are we going to just hand over the family business that it took us twenty years to build? Are you content with that?"

Eldest young master Song Chen and third young master Song Yu were berated furiously by Song Xuan, leaving them feeling quite uncomfortable.

Song Yu was breathing heavily, his fists clenched till his knuckles cracked.

Song Xuan continued, "Since that dog County Magistrate is without compassion or justice, he cannot blame us for our actions. If he can make the first move, we can make the fifteenth. The county is bound to fall sooner or later, so why not gamble for a brighter future now?"

"What do you mean by that?" Third young master Song Yu suddenly looked up at Taoist Wei Yushan and asked Song Xuan.

Taoist Wei, smiling, responded, "Literally what it sounds like. Our commander, under the orders of the Daoist, will soon lead an army of over a hundred thousand to attack Taiping County."

"What?!" Song Chen and Song Yu were both taken aback, having heard this news for the first time.

The Huang Tian Sect was about to attack Taiping County? Was there going to be a battle here?

Song Chen and Song Yu's faces were aghast.

Song Yu glanced at Wei Yushan and suddenly said, "You're telling us such crucial information, are you not afraid that I will expose you?"

"Hahaha." Wei Yushan, as if he heard something very amusing, burst out laughing and said, "Should you choose to expose us, then go ahead. Now that Taiping County's martial preparations are lax, let alone our hundreds of thousands of followers, even just our tens of thousands could breach the county government's defenses. Your early disclosure wouldn't affect the outcome. Moreover, our Commander has already reached the Innate Realm in cultivation, capable of quelling any petty criminals in this county town."

Wei Yushan took a step forward, gazing directly at the Song brothers and seductively said, "Let's be frank, there's no need to beat around the bush. Your Song family is essentially the boss of the county town, having run businesses here for many years and knowing Taiping inside out."

"After we take the city, we need someone to manage Taiping County for us, and there's no one more suitable than the Song family. Could joining us possibly be worse than your current situation?"

Song Xuan interjected anxiously, "To advance may not ensure life, but retreat will certainly bring death. Big brother, third brother, what is there to hesitate about?"

The third Young Master Song Yu pondered for a while before asking, "If we join, what exactly would you need us to do?"

"We don't need the Song family to do much; just help us open the city gates when we attack and lend us a hand."

"Is it that simple?"

"Yes, just that simple."

After a long while, Young Master Song Yu glanced at Eldest Young Master Song Chen and saw a hint of intent in the latter's eyes.

Indeed, the Song family's situation couldn't get much worse.

He made up his mind and nodded emphatically, "We will join you."

Wei Yushan said joyfully, "Good, with the righteous Song family joining us, our attack on Taiping County is sure to succeed and will spare many of our brothers and sisters. I thank the benevolent Song family on their behalf in advance."

As he spoke, Wei Yushan bowed seriously, causing Song Yu, Song Chen, and Song Xuan to appear surprised and flattered.

Song Yu asked in a lowered voice, "Commander, when do you plan to rise up? I need to prepare."

Wei Yushan replied, "The original plan was for the fifteenth of next month, but there was a small change yesterday, so our Commander decided to move it forward to these few days. If it's fast, we'll act in three days; if slow, roughly within five days."

"So soon?"

"A swift sword is needed to cut through entanglement."

"All right, we will await your message at any time."

The Song family had been singled out by the government office as they uncovered the Huang Tian Sect, and Song Yu didn't hold much affection for this sect adept at beguiling the populace.

But unexpectedly, one day they would actively cooperate with the people from Huang Tian Sect—how temporality plays tricks on people.

Song Yu didn't know whether this would be good or bad for them.

...

Meanwhile, outside Taiping County, the official road was shrouded in dust.

A lavishly decorated carriage raced from a distance, its wheels churning, kicking up clouds of dust.

Atop the carriage, a triangular flag flapped loudly in the wind, drawing attention with the golden, dazzling "Zhou" character, shining like the rising sun and emanating magnificent light.

As the carriage entered the Outer City's shantytown, the common folk living there, seeing the extraordinary carriage, didn't dare to make a disturbance and consciously cleared a wide path.

"It's the Zhou Family from the county town, make way quickly."

Even the usually proud city gate guards recognized the carriage's owners at first glance and were now humbly reverent, not daring to act rashly as they watched the carriage pass by.

The carriage deftly turned several streets and came to a steady stop in front of the Zhou Family mansion.

"Fifth Young Master, we have arrived."

The carriage door opened with a light touch, and the clear sound of a bell jingled, followed by a faint fragrance wafting out.

A male around twenty, dressed in cloud-patterned robes, slowly stepped out.

With fair skin and handsome features,

He wore a white jade crown and had fine jade hanging from his waist, exuding an indescribable aura of majesty and nobility.

"The family has sent people, and that old Zhou Dingwen didn't come out to meet me?"