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

Chapter 121: Chapter 45 Distrust

Mao Hour, below the West City Gate.

Having made his preparations, Shen Qing, with his Heavy Bow and belongings, arrived at the appointed place below the West City Gate as agreed.

By the time he got there, a few officials from the Guardian Martial Department and some martial masters from other forces had already arrived.

Amongst everyone present, Shen Qing noticed a familiar figure.

This familiar figure was none other than Xiao Zhi, with whom he was quite acquainted.

He walked over and said in surprise, "Senior Brother, you're going as well?"

Hearing Shen Qing's greeting, Xiao Zhi also turned around in surprise and said, "This time, Master sent you?"

Shen Qing nodded and replied, "Mmm, the eldest Senior Brother and Fourth Senior Brother both have hidden injuries, and you know about Second and Third Senior Brother; apart from me, there are no other suitable direct disciples."

Knowing the situation at Linfeng Hall, all Xiao Zhi could do was sigh helplessly and say, "Alas... that's true, there really is no one else suitable."

"How come you are going this time?"

Xiao Zhi smiled and said, "Of course, it's to fight for a future prospect. If I can successfully kill the demon this time, I might be able to obtain the status of being listed in the martial arts register. Taking a chance can benefit my family for three generations; this business is worth it."

Shen Qing glanced at him from top to bottom, as if seeing him with new eyes.

Unexpectedly, this unimpressive-looking cook had some "ambition."

As the two chatted casually, the people from Linfeng Hall, including one direct disciple and Xiao Zhi, five Inner Disciples, and ten Outer Disciples, gradually arrived.

As far as Shen Qing knew, every year, Linfeng Hall would have disciples with inadequate Sight or insufficient financial resources leave, but these people were not completely out of touch with Linfeng Hall.

As former disciples of Linfeng Hall, they could occasionally take on tasks from Linfeng Hall to supplement their family income.

Therefore, among the people who came, some were known to Shen Qing, and some were old disciples who had already left the hall and were unrecognizable to him.

Seeing that most people had arrived,

The five officials from the Guardian Martial Department checked the roster, confirmed there were no issues, and then, raising their voices, announced, "It's getting late, let's set out now."

Shen Qing took a quick look at the crowd; aside from the sixteen of them from Linfeng Hall, other forces had also sent a similar number of people, with the entire team approaching fifty people.

All of them were martial masters.

And there were already several other such groups assembled.

The tiger demon lurking in Shicheng Mountain might be tougher to deal with than he had imagined.

On the official road, the five government officers from the Guardian Martial Department, in a two-one-two formation, led the group toward Shicheng Mountain.

Different forces' members naturally found their respective groups, formed alliances, and created their own small collectives.

"May I ask, sir, how do we plan to arrange so many people?"

Along the way, a martial master around thirty approached an officer of the Guardian Martial Department to ask.

Yu Xiaoruo, being an official of the Guardian Martial Department, looked back and saw that the martial master was tall and sturdy with a resolute face, one he had not seen before.

He replied straightforwardly, "We will divide into five teams, each stationed in villages near Shicheng Mountain to track the tiger demon. Once we find it, we'll collaborate to kill and eliminate it."

"Are there other people in the villages now?"

"Of course, we're going to supplement their reduced numbers."

"I see," said the martial master, around thirty, as he cupped his hands and asked, "May I know how to address you, sir?"

"Cut to the chase, if you have something to say, say it!"

"Sir, my name is Chang Yinfa. I studied with Master Li for a year, the year before last. This modest gift is not to pay respect."

Yu Xiaoruo discreetly accepted and asked, "So, what do you want to do?"

Chang Yinfa said with a smile, "I wonder if you could transfer me to a stronger team?"

"What? You don't trust your Linfeng Hall?"

"Ah... The direct disciples of Master Li have either died or been maimed, and although the direct disciple sent this time has some talent, he has only studied for half a year and lacks actual combat experience; I have to consider my own safety, don't I?"

With a smile plastered on his face, Chang Yinfa slid some more Silver over, "Please, sir, make an arrangement."

Yu Xiaoruo from the Guardian Martial Department pointed to a side and instructed, "Go to that team."

Following Chang Yinfa, many more of Linfeng Hall's new and old disciples came forward, giving Silver to the Guardian Martial Department officers.

Shen Qing's eyes narrowed slightly, and he asked Xiao Zhi beside him, "What are they doing?"

Xiao Zhi had interacted with these people before and knew what was going on, but after hesitating for a moment, still said, "They're reorganizing their teams."

"Reorganizing their teams?"

Shen Qing immediately grasped the situation. The rewards offered by the county government for this tiger demon hunt were substantial, enough that some were tempted to muddy the waters and try their luck.

These were people who did not trust him and were seeking a safer place.

"Should we stop them?"

Shen Qing said, "No need, let them go."

In his view, these kinds of people were useless even if they were persuaded to join; they wouldn't be much help to him.

Soon, under Shen Qing's deliberate indifference, the number in Linfeng Hall's original team of sixteen sharply dropped to seven.

Aside from Xiao Zhi who trusted him, those who remained were partly those without money or too stingy to part with it, and partly those confident in their own strength who couldn't be bothered to move. That's why they stayed.

People from other factions looked on with pity for Shen Qing.

When the team reached a fork in the road, Yu Xiaoruo, a government officer from the Guardian Martial Department, had everyone stop and arranged, "There are two villages nearby, brothers of Linfeng Hall, your station will be at Shiqiao Village here; brothers from Feiying Pavilion should take this road and head up to Heshan Village. If you spot the tiger demon, set off fireworks to signal. Understood?"

"Understood."

The crowd answered in unison, and each group split off.

Each team was accompanied by someone from the Guardian Martial Department.

The man paired with Shen Qing was a government officer from the Guardian Martial Department named Lian Bing, who looked honest and straightforward.

As he passed by Shen Qing, he glanced at him with an almost imperceptible look, his expression unfriendly.

It was as if his assignment with Shen Qing was particularly unlucky.

After a considerable walk, they finally arrived at the so-called Shiqiao Village.

The entire mountain village was dilapidated and rundown.

A small stone bridge lay across a mountain stream, overgrown with wild grass.

Crossing the stone bridge, at the entrance of the village, there were a few houses that looked as though they had been abandoned for many years, falling into disrepair.

An old disciple from Linfeng Hall looked around and remarked, "This village doesn't seem to have been abandoned due to the impact of the tiger demon, it seems to have been deserted even earlier."

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"Life in the mountains is never easy; there are many such abandoned villages in Shicheng Mountain," Lian Bing said indifferently, "We have more than a dozen people stationed here, let's go join them first."

Under Lian Bing's lead, they proceeded towards the depths of Shiqiao Village.

The entire village was eerily empty and lifeless, and everyone felt that something was amiss.

Lian Bing spoke in a deep voice, "Stay alert."

Everyone's expressions turned serious, and they followed Lian Bing to the front of a relatively intact house.

A strong smell of blood wafted from inside the house.

Lian Bing's expression turned grim.

"Kick open the door, let's go in and take a look."

A burly man didn't hesitate and kicked hard against the door.

"Charge!"

Lian Bing took the lead and charged in, with the others filing in behind him.

Shen Qing quietly followed after the others, confirming there was no danger before entering.

When he saw the scene inside the house, his brow furrowed tightly.

There was no one in the house, or rather, no complete person.

Eyeballs sticking to tendons and chewed remains of skulls...

The gnawed remains of human bodies were strewn haphazardly everywhere.

Lian Bing moved close to the mutilated corpses and examined them thoroughly.

He touched the bloodstains with his hand, rolled it between his fingers, and discovered it had not yet dried. This meant that the incident had occurred not long ago.

"Now this poses a problem..."