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

After most of the uninvolved people left, Zhou Xu and the others wore expressions of smug satisfaction.

"From today's perspective, being forced to this extent yet still able to endure, Bai Mu must have been seriously injured by the Snake Demon and hasn't fully recovered."

"Indeed," Zhou Xu said, "now that we've laid our cards on the table and become enemies with Bai Mu, we should be decisive, cut ties quickly. Besides Bai Mu himself, we should replace the others in the county office who need replacing, win over who we can, and eliminate those we can't in order to prevent future troubles."

"Once we've made irreversible changes and turned the Yongzhou County Office into a fortress, even if Bai Mu reports us to the court, the Ji Family won't be able to touch us. Any Prefectural Governor they send, we'll sideline."

"Yes, that's how it should be."

After some small talk with the others, Zhou Xu turned to Zhou Xintong and said, "Let's go."

Zhou Xintong followed obediently behind Zhou Xu and was the first to leave.

Dong Pengfei followed closely.

As he passed by Huangfu Chuan, he gave a meaningful glance, his eyes carrying a hint of displeasure.

After a while, the others in the hall gradually left as well.

The previously bustling hall quickly became desolately quiet.

Huangfu Chuan sighed and said, "Let's go out too."

Shen Qing remained silent.

The situation in Yongzhou had become somewhat delicate, and as an outsider, he knew little about the movements of these influential figures, feeling waves of unease.

So, he silently spread his Divine Sense over the entire county government, observing everyone's words and actions.

In the courtyard of the county government,

Dong Pengfei quickened his pace slightly, walking alongside Zhou Xu, and said, "That old lightweight Huangfu Chuan, his attitude remains ambivalent, betting on both sides between us and the county office, utterly clueless."

The Zhou Family Patriarch Zhou Xu glanced at Dong Pengfei and said, "The Huangfu family did enjoy prosperity in the past, almost becoming a prominent family. Now, their reluctance to sever ties with the Great Zhou Court is understandable. As long as he maintains neutrality, it might not be a bad thing for us."

"Is your opinion of them influenced by what happened to your son?"

Dong Pengfei did not respond.

Zhou Xu understood and cracked his fingers, saying, "I remember you have... nevermind, you have so many sons, it's just one concubine's son who died, why take it so hard?"

Dong Pengfei snorted coldly, "It's easy for you to talk. Let's see how indifferent you'll remain if your son dies, like Bai Mu."

"Haha." Zhou Xu glanced at Zhou Xintong behind him, feeling proud. "Don't worry, my son won't be as useless as yours, causing trouble for the family even after death."

"You..." Dong Pengfei was fuming.

Zhou Xu chuckled and said, "Just bear with it for now. Once we are firmly established, dealing with a mere Chief Officer like him will be a piece of cake, no need to complicate matters at this point."

Dong Pengfei snorted through his nose, showing some dissatisfaction.

Trailing behind them, Zhou Xintong chuckled, "Uncle Dong, if you don't mind, why not leave this matter to me? I'll take revenge for you."

Dong Pengfei gave him a sidelong glance and said, "No need for you, young one, to meddle."

With that, he quickened his pace, overtook Zhou Xu, and without looking back, said, "Don't forget to inform us in advance when you make your move so we can be prepared."

Watching Dong Pengfei's retreating figure, Zhou Xintong scornfully mumbled, "Really thinks he's something."

"Don't cause any more trouble these days. Instead, consult with your sister-in-law about cultivation, which will help with refining the Rou Ke Ying Pill," Zhou Xu instructed. "You know how you managed to win Bai Anlong today."

"I understand, Father."

Meanwhile, Shen Qing's expression grew heavier.

Thanks to his Divine Sense, he had heard every word of Dong Pengfei and the others.

Due to a matter involving Dong Jing, Dong Pengfei had suffered losses at both his and the Shen Family's hands, effectively forming a grudge.

At first, he thought of following Huang Furo's advice and keeping a low profile.

He planned to let things settle down before seeking a peaceful resolution.

But it seemed like the wind wouldn't stop blowing against the tree.

The other side clearly had no intention of letting him go.

With a feud established between him and the Dong Family, he had no choice but to strike first, wary of being caught off guard, and eliminate any potential future conflicts.

Shen Qing quietly made up his mind.

Following behind the Huangfu father and daughter, Huang Furo, unaware of Shen Qing's thoughts, turned back and advised, "You see how volatile the situation is in Yongzhou now. It's best to keep a low profile for the time being, to avoid becoming a target, a warning to others."

"If you really can't avoid them, invoke my Huangfu family's name, and they likely won't trouble you."

"Thank you, Lord Huangfu, for your care." Shen Qing clasped his hands in gratitude and said, "I'll take my leave."

Huang Furo nodded and watched Shen Qing depart.

"Do you think this subordinate of yours has great potential?" Huangfu Chuan cast a curious glance at his daughter, saying, "He looks quite ordinary to me, nothing special."

Huang Furo replied calmly, "Father, I just think that for someone so young and of humble origins to reach his current position, it's somewhat remarkable. It would be a shame for someone like him to get lost in these sordid conflicts."

"Indeed." Huangfu Chuan sighed, "If your grandfather hadn't been... well, never mind that. Let's head back."

...

Shen Qing was oblivious to the evaluation by the Huangfu father and daughter.

After hastening back home from the county government office without delay, he took down the Heavy Bow and Arrow Quiver hanging on the wall.

He donned plain commoner clothing, ripped off a piece of black cloth from the clothes, and covered his face with it.

Taking a deep breath, he infused his body with Spiritual Energy, subtly unleashing the Da Xu Technique. His silhouette transformed into shadowy figures flitting through the alleyways like a ghost, even more elusive.

Shen Qing swiftly moved toward Dong Pengfei's carriage, his Divine Sense spreading like an invisible net. Soon, he detected Dong Pengfei's whereabouts.

With a sharp glance, Shen Qing surveyed the area and leapt to a high vantage point.

He stood stably, drew an arrow, and nocked it on the bowstring with his fingers resting lightly. The Heavenly Bow Technique was employed to its fullest extent. An aura of red-gold light enveloped the arrow, vibrating steadily.

Until: "Whoosh!"

With a low yet resolute twang of the bowstring, the arrow shot forth, carrying the fierce intent to kill and an unstoppable majesty, spanning thousands of miles to reach Dong Pengfei.

The arrow, as fast as lightning, hit its mark without fail, piercing through the carriage neatly.

Boom!

The Heaven's power carried by the arrow erupted, shattering the carriage into pieces that rained down like fallen debris from the sky.

Dong Pengfei clutched his chest wound and took to the air with a furious shout of, "Who?!"

Shen Qing didn't stop there; his form continued advancing, executing the Continuous Arrow Technique, loosing arrow after arrow toward Dong Pengfei in a relentless torrent akin to a rainstorm.

The unending arrow barrage, each arrow brimming with monstrous might, equivalent to a full-force strike of the Yu Luo Realm, battered Dong Pengfei relentlessly, causing him to shudder in pain.

Even though Dong Pengfei, using all his cultivation might, tried to fend off the assault, it proved challenging.

Everything within the vicinity—the servants, horses, and all tangible objects—was utterly obliterated by the arrows' power, leaving only bloodstains on the ground.

Overwhelmed and fearful, Dong Pengfei was in shock.

Soon, Shen Qing expended all his arrows.

Under the relentless arrow barrage, Dong Pengfei's form wavered unstably.

Noticing the cessation of arrows, he rejoiced internally and desperately prepared to escape at all costs.

Just then, a booming voice thundered, "Die!"

Boom!

A Sky Flipping Seal forged of red-gold descended from the sky, striking his forehead.

With a muffled thud, Dong Pengfei's entire Spiritual Power collapsed under the force, his brain burst, spilling his entrails.

Shen Qing approached and quickly wiped the ground before making a series of swift movements.

Midway, he sprinted towards the county government office, ducking into a chaotic alley, where he changed clothes, burned them with a small fire, and tossed them in an abandoned well.

Resuming his original attire, he emerged back onto the street, unhurriedly heading back home.