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

"It's a rural place after all; they did not receive any advance notice and don't understand the proper etiquette,"

A middle-aged steward who looked like a manservant hopped down from the carriage and walked up to the young man to comfort him.

The young man's expression remained unchanged as he said, "If the old man weren't nostalgic, we wouldn't care about their life or death at all. As I see it, we might as well let them fend for themselves."

"Although Zhou Dingwen is a son born of a concubine, he is still the old man's son. Right now, Taiping County is in trouble, and the old man is definitely worried about his family. The old man trusts the abilities of the young master; that's why he dares to entrust such an important matter to you,"

The young man snorted coldly and climbed the steps.

The old servant walked ahead and, reaching the door first, he pulled the door knocker and banged loudly, "Yongzhou's Zhou Family is here, open the door, Lord Zhou."

The servant's voice was loud and resonant,

Even from a distance, it was clear and audible.

As soon as the old servant finished speaking, the Zhou Family's gate was pulled open, and a gatekeeper peeked out, cautiously looking around before asking, "May I know the names of the distinguished guests? Do you have an invitation?"

The young man was not annoyed and, with his hands behind his back, said, "Zhou Xintong of the Zhou Family's main branch; report my name, and your master will surely recognize it."

The Zhou Family's main branch?!

The gatekeeper's spirit was immediately lifted.

Yongzhou's Zhou Family is one of the Yongzhou County Thirteen Trading Houses, whose silk and textile business has extended to Dragon Court, making them one of the most prestigious high-ranking families in Yongzhou.

This Taiping County branch of the Zhou Family was a side branch that had separated from Yongzhou's Zhou Family over thirty years ago.

In the Great Zhou, the hierarchy among families paralleled the official household registration system, with clear distinctions of rank and respect between the different classes.

Besides the main branch that could inherit the family business, the side branches were, plainly speaking, only slightly higher in status than the Zhou Family's servants.

Within Taiping County, the Zhou Family could call the wind and summon the rain, but in the eyes of Yongzhou's Zhou Family, they were nothing at all.

The gatekeeper was well aware of this fact and quickly bowed his body, his attitude turning more respectful as he said, "Please come in, Young Master. Rest in the parlor for a moment, I will notify the master immediately."

After finishing, the gatekeeper hurriedly opened the gate and, passing behind a partition wall, led Zhou Xintong and his servant into the parlor.

Zhou Xintong brazenly took the main seat and reminded, "I am here for urgent matters, tell your master to come quickly."

The gatekeeper quickly bowed in response and then ran off towards the back garden without watching his step.

...

In the backyard of the Zhou Family estate, there was a pond with clear, shimmering waters.

Zhou Dingwen, the Patriarch of the Taiping County Zhou Family, stood by the fishpond dressed in a simple scholar's robe.

He held a handful of fish food tightly, occasionally sprinkling it lightly, attracting countless large carps to come and compete for the food.

The water below suddenly became much more lively.

A faint smile gradually appeared on Zhou Wenwang's face.

"Master, there's trouble! People from Yongzhou have come!"

Just then, a servant hurried over, out of breath, shattering the tranquility.

"Who has come from Yongzhou?" Zhou Dingwen looked at the servant calmly and said with composure.

The servant bowed and replied with his head down, "The fifth young master of the main branch, Zhou Xintong, has arrived!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Dingwen's hand trembled violently, the fish food scattering like fine rain into the pond, startling the fish into scattering in all directions, causing ripples to spread across the water surface.

He turned around, his eyebrows tightly knit and his eyes sharply focusing on the servant, his voice concealing a hint of barely detectable tension, "The main branch from Yongzhou has sent people? What are they here for?"

Bowing, the servant answered, "Master, they did not reveal the specifics. They only said that the situation is urgent and that they must request you to come to the front hall immediately to meet them."

Zhou Dingwen felt a swell of discomfort upon hearing these words.

Yongzhou was where the main branch of the Zhou Family resided, their power and status the most illustrious.

In front of the main family, their branch did not even qualify to carry their shoes.

This time, he had received no prior notice, and their sudden arrival suggested that some sort of emergency had occurred; it certainly wasn't good news.

"Understood, you may withdraw. I will be over shortly," commanded Zhou Dingwen, his tone calm but his speech slightly quicker than he could control.

He tossed all the fish food he had been holding into the pond, patted his hands clean, straightened his attire, and promptly made his way toward the front hall.

The front hall of the Zhou Family exuded an air of opulence, with its carved beams and painted rafters.

Zhou Xintong sat with closed eyes in meditation on the rosewood seat, his breathing long and even, three long breaths followed by a short one.

On closer inspection, a faint white breath could be seen flitting in and out of his nostrils, barely visible, mystical in nature.

Then, this rhythmic breathing was quickly interrupted by the sound of hurried and forceful footsteps.

"Fifth Young Master, long time no see."

The voice of Zhou Family Patriarch Zhou Dingwen came from afar, as he approached the door.

His voice was heard before he was seen.

Zhou Xintong casually opened his eyes, looking toward the doorway.

Zhou Dingwen entered the hall with a steady gait, and a flicker of displeasure crossed his eyes when he saw Zhou Xintong seated in the place of honor, but almost immediately, it was replaced by a warm smile.

"What a rare guest! The last time I saw you in Yongzhou, it was at your tenth birthday banquet. Time flies; you have grown so much."

Zhou Xintong spoke with a calm expression, "Lord Jiu, now is not the time for reminiscing. Disaster is about to strike Taiping County, and my grandfather has specially instructed me to come and take your entire family back to Yongzhou to avoid this calamity."

Zhou Dingwen, standing in the center of the Zhou Family's front hall, paused in his step.

He looked up at Zhou Xintong, surprise and confusion flashing across his eyes, quickly replaced by a look of gravity.

"Oh? What do you mean by that, Fifth Young Master? Taiping County has always been peaceful, how could disaster suddenly befall it?"

Faced with such unexpected news, Zhou Dingwen found it hard to accept.

He even suspected that Zhou Xintong had other motives for this visit.

Zhou Xintong spoke in an unequivocal tone, "The details are lengthy, but one thing can be certain—this is no false alarm. My grandfather fears that this force could affect our Zhou Family, so he has decided to have the clan members evacuate first, to ensure their safety."

"You must act quickly to sell off the properties here. In three days' time, our Zhou Family's boats will sail up the Yanshui River against the current, and anchor at the ferry terminal just outside Taiping County. At that time, you will leave with me."

Zhou Dingwen's brows furrowed, skepticism flashing in his eyes, "Taiping County is protected by the government, and for decades, we have had peace and good fortune. Our Zhou Family has deep roots here; what danger could possibly threaten us?"

"The world is unpredictable; who can say for certain what the future holds?" Zhou Xintong shook his head, a tone of finality in his voice, "My grandfather's principle is safety first, better to err on the side of caution. You know how much he values the family; we cannot afford any mishaps."

"Besides, I am informing you, not seeking your opinion. If Lord Jiu is unwilling to abandon the wealth here, then the younger generation will have to take charge."

"The assets of my Zhou Family, even those of a branch, are not for others to tamper with."

Zhou Dingwen's face turned red with the effort to contain himself, wanting to argue, to refuse, but when he saw the aura surrounding Zhou Xintong, clearly discernible to the naked eye,

the cultivation of the Yu Luo Realm, he immediately deflated.

He was silent for a moment, seemingly weighing his options, before finally nodding slowly. "Well then, since it is grandfather's arrangement, as a member of the Zhou Family, I naturally will adhere to the family's decision. In the next few days, I will arrange for the disposition of our assets and instruct my household to pack for departure." Read new chapters at m_v-l'e|m,p| y- r

"Thank you for your understanding, Lord Jiu," Zhou Xintong said with a relieved smile. "I will arrange everything outside the estate to ensure you and your family's safe arrival in Yongzhou."

Zhou Xintong, as if remembering something, said, "Speaking of which, I heard that one of my female cousins died at home, was it the work of the Huang Tian Sect?"