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

In recent times, following Shen Qing's slaying of the tiger demon and his killing of the Boss of Mi Gang, Shen Qing has unknowingly developed a certain reputation within the county town.

Utilizing the banner of Shen Qing, Tian Xiaohu made a fair number of questionable friends in the county town, which made gathering information quite convenient for him.

After spending nearly half a day, Tian Xiaohu had already gathered a general understanding of many events occurring in the Inner City.

"You mean to say that the Zhou Family is not only liquidating its assets in the city but is also arranging carriages and horses as if they are preparing to evacuate Taiping County?"

Shen Qing, seated at the eight immortals table in the living room, was listening to the news brought by Tian Xiaohu next to him.

Tian Xiaohu nodded and said, "I have a friend who frequents the Zhou's place, and he says that the entire Zhou family is packing up, dismissing some servants who are unwilling to follow, which indeed suggests an intent to leave."

"Where are they planning to go?"

"Yongzhou County."

Shen Qing fell into deep thought, his eyebrows tightly knitted, placing his hand on the table and rhythmically tapping the tabletop with his fingers.

With a slight frown, he asked about the issue that concerned him most, "The Zhou Family was doing quite well, why would they suddenly move to the county town of Yong City? Did you manage to find out why?"

"I'm not entirely sure about the specifics, but I heard that it might be due to people from Yongzhou's Zhou Family demanding that they move," Tian Xiaohu spoke truthfully.

"Yongzhou's Zhou Family? What kind of immortals are they?"

Tian Xiaohu asked, "Qingzi, do you know about the Thirteen Titans of Yongzhou?"

"I don't. What's that?"

"I've heard that over in Yongzhou County, there are thirteen high ranking families that dominate thirteen trades, and even the county government is hollowed out by their people. The Zhou Family is one of them and is said to be the most prosperous, with an Innate Ancestor presiding over the family," Tian Xiaohu leaned in toward Shen Qing as he continued.

"The Zhou Family here in Taiping County is an offshoot of Yongzhou's Zhou Family, and the Boss, Zhou Dingwen, is an illegitimate child of that aged ancestor."

After listening, Shen Qing said, "So you mean to say that the main family has summoned Zhou Dingwen, the branch family, to return?"

"That's likely."

Shen Qing stood up and began to pace, immersed in thought.

After a while, he shook his head and exclaimed, "That doesn't make sense, no, no. If I was Zhou Dingwen, I definitely wouldn't agree to return to the main family. Here, I have everything I want, isn't being a local tyrant enjoyable? To go there and lose everything, not to mention having to look at other people's faces, it's just asking for misery. Only someone with water in their brain would agree unless..."

Tian Xiaohu replied, "Unless what? Does Zhou Dingwen really have water in his brain?"

Shen Qing's glance flicked to Tian Xiaohu as he said, "Unless staying in Taiping County is more terrifying than having nothing at all."

"Ah?"

What could be more terrifying than that?

At that moment, Shen Qing's thoughts involuntarily drifted to the matter of Tang Wanrou.

In light of the current situation, with the arrival of the Fang Jun Saints of Huang Tian Sect outside the city, and further, they had obtained bows and crossbows from the county's Military Armory.

It was highly probable that the Huang Tian Sect was planning an assault on Taiping County.
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Shen Qing felt a sudden jolt of clarity, the more he thought about it, the more it seemed to be the case.

Only the prospect of the Huang Tian Sect laying siege to the city and the outbreak of hostilities in Taiping County would cause such panic in Zhou Dingwen.

The Huang Tian Sect was a full-blown band of traitors, comprised of common folk. If they were to capture Taiping County, they would surely target these affluent bosses.

By that time, the question wouldn't be about losing everything, but rather a threat to their very lives; with such a motivation, Zhou Dingwen would have reason to flee Taiping County.

Shen Qing's expression turned grave all of a sudden.

"Besides the Zhou Family, have there been any other recent events in the county town?"

Tian Xiaowen pondered and said, "Apart from the Zhou Family, the Song family has also been acting oddly."

"What's wrong with them?"

"Previously, when Song Gongming died, the other families were eager to split the Song family's assets, and the Song family was resisting fiercely. But these past few days, the Songs have been very quiet, showing no signs of resistance."

"Have they resigned themselves to the situation, or have they found a powerful backer and are biding their time?"

For some reason, Shen Qing couldn't help but connect the Song family's recent behavior to the Huang Tian Sect, feeling there might be some correlation.

"Also, the Taiping Escort Agency in the Inner City has gone bankrupt and disbanded; Tang and his family members are nowhere to be found, which suggests they might have left the county town," mentioned Tian Xiaohu offhandedly.

Hearing this, Shen Qing was taken aback and couldn't help feeling disgusted with County Magistrate Du Yuntong.

If things didn't go against his expectation, the incident with the Taiping Escort Agency must be his doing.

Earlier, by taking advantage of the tiger demon incident, he eliminated dissenters and weakened the martial strength of the county town.

When faced with problems, he only covered them up.

If the Huang Tian Sect truly were to attack the county town, as he suspected, Shen Qing had no confidence whatsoever in such a County Magistrate.

"That's all I was able to find out," he said.

Shen Qing stood at the doorway, and after a long while, as if he had made up his mind, he turned back and said, "Xiao Hu, do you have any intentions of going to the county town?"

"To the county town?"

"Yes," Shen Qing didn't hide anything and said frankly, "I feel that it's probably impossible to stay in this town any longer, and I want to move somewhere else."

A wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall.

He saw that the Huang Tian Sect was not of good nature, and since he already knew that they intended to attack Taiping County, it would be unwise to stay here any longer.

It just so happened he had an appointment letter from the Yongzhou Military Department, so going there would also be a good opportunity to seek higher Martial Arts within the court and thus strengthen himself.

In these chaotic times, it's like rowing upstream; if you don't advance, you will fall back. He must keep climbing upwards.

Otherwise, one could easily find themselves in mortal danger.

You could die without even knowing how it happened.

Tian Xiaohu, upon hearing Shen Qing's words, had an expression full of surprise and seemed somewhat puzzled.

They had only moved from Hongshan Village to the Outer City, and then from there to the Inner City, all within less than half a year's time.

Now that they had just settled down, he couldn't understand why Shen Qing wanted to move again.

However, when Tian Xiaohu recalled all that Shen Qing had done before, nearly every choice he made was impeccably correct.

Since he had decided to follow Shen Qing that day, he should also trust his own decision.

After only a brief consideration, Tian Xiaohu agreed.

"As for my family, I'm the only one who needs feeding, so there are no worries. Qingzi, wherever you say we should go, I'll go."

Shen Qing said, "Then you should go back and pack up. Also, keep a close watch on the Zhou Family; we'll leave as soon as they do."

"Alright."

After Tian Xiaohu left, Shen Qing didn't delay and went straight to Linfeng Hall.

Naturally, many of his judgments were speculations, but he felt seventy or eighty percent certain of them.

Both emotionally and logically, he should inform his uncle and Hall Master.

If he wished, he could leave with him; if not, then at least Shen Qing had fulfilled his duty as a disciple.

Perhaps influenced by Shen Qing,

now Linfeng Hall had once again seen an influx of newcomers coming to practice Martial Arts, and the Outer Court was bustling once more.

When Shen Qing found Li Linfeng, he was in the backyard having a small gathering with a few old friends.

Upon seeing Shen Qing, Li Linfeng intentionally wrapped up the meeting early and then walked over to Shen Qing, saying, "Let's go, to the study."

"Alright."

Li Linfeng knew he had some skills, and he could also tell that Shen Qing's current strength had surpassed his own at a younger age, so his attitude had changed a bit and was no longer as standoffish as before.

After reaching the study, he even offered Shen Qing a seat, allowing for a discussion on equal terms.

Nevertheless, Shen Qing maintained the formality of a disciple, which made Li Linfeng think very highly of him.

"What's the matter? You wanted to see me for something?"

Shen Qing got straight to the point and said, "Master, these past few days I have felt that the Inner City is not very peaceful. I'm thinking of going to Yongzhou County, and I wish to know your thoughts on this."

"You've noticed it too?"

What do you mean 'too'? Shen Qing was quite surprised.