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

Chapter 143: Chapter 67: Rising Reputation, Taiping Escort Agency Sends Invitation

After exiting the study, Shen Qing's gaze drifted across the familiar corridor and finally settled on the half-open wooden door. He strolled over, pushed it open, and walked in.

This was the small courtyard where he and his senior brothers, such as Ouyang Tiezhu, practiced and exchanged their martial skills.

Usually at this time, the senior brothers would have already gathered, starting to hone their martial skills with each other in the room, but today the courtyard was unusually quiet.

After the incident involving the Mi Gang, his second senior brother, Niu Daping, third senior brother, Dong Zizhuang, and fourth senior brother, Wushili, all met with misfortune; some died, and others were crippled.

The vibrant scenes of yelling during martial arts practice, the clear sounds of weapons clashing, and the lively banter could no longer be recreated in the courtyard.

Shen Qing stepped into the center of the courtyard, took a deep breath, and slowly assumed a stance as he closed his eyes.

Thanks to his "Never Forget" ability, the moves that Li Linfeng had just taught him, along with each key point, continually surfaced in his mind.

Whoosh…

Shen Qing's Qi surged throughout his body, his marrow condensed into flesh, and burst out along his fingers through his skin.

Accompanied by a whistling sound, this force erupted from his body and struck the floor tiles, causing a cracking sound as several fine cracks appeared on the surface.

"In the past, when my Qi erupted from my body and hit the walls, it would instantly dissipate; now I am able to crack the floor tiles, which is a significant improvement, stronger than before. But this level is still far from enough," he thought.

Shen Qing vividly remembered that Li Linfeng's Wind Defying Finger could now create a hole in the floor tiles using Qi.

He was nowhere near to achieving that.

And forget about those martial artists whose bodies were as impregnable as metal fortresses; with just that level of power, wanting to injure them was simply impossible.

To some extent, the Wind Riding Force concentrated in the flesh could harm some experts, while the Wind Riding Force that erupted from the body could at most injure ordinary people.

"This still isn't enough," Shen Qing mused. Stay tuned to m-v l|-NovelBin.net

With his head bowed in contemplation, he subconsciously accessed the Water Ink Panel, and information about the progress of the Wind Defying Finger technique appeared before him.

[Skill: Wind Defying Finger (Great Perfection)]

[Progress: 16/500 points]

[Status: Cannot be improved]

[Note: "Blue is made out of indigo but is more vivid than it." Through continuous and uninterrupted practice, you have cultivated this martial arts technique to a state of Perfect Realm. Continue practicing, and mastering the Wind Riding Force may Break Limit of this martial arts technique.]

"According to the notes on the Water Ink Panel, the martial art of the Wind Defying Finger can still be perfected; it can Break Limit. Since advancing to the Qi Hai Realm doesn't seem likely right now, I might as well dedicate all my energy to the cultivation of martial arts, and achieve Perfect Realm while cultivating my Qi," Shen Qing planned.

Surveying his surroundings, Shen Qing looked at the desolate courtyard: "In this chaotic world where life is as cheap as grass, having a bit more strength offers a bit more peace of mind."

Determined, he made a decision in his heart and immediately resumed his focused cultivation, striving to master the methods of using his strength that Li Linfeng had taught him.

Engrossed in his practice, Shen Qing barely noticed as the afternoon arrived.

Seeing that the time was right, he went to the herbal pharmacy of Linfeng Hall, planning to gather some medicinal herbs.

In a servant's room of the Outer Court, A Fu was busy at work. Seeing Shen Qing coming in, he hurriedly greeted him with respect, "Lord Shen, you've come. Are you here for some herbs?"

As the steward of Linfeng Hall, A Fu had willingly lowered his status after Shen Qing acquired his martial title and dared not address Shen Qing as a fellow disciple anymore.

Shen Qing did not insist on any formalities and nodded, "Yes, I need to gather some."

A Fu respectfully said, "The master has ordered that you, Lord Shen, can take any medicine from this room at will, without the need for silver."

To Shen Qing, Li Linfeng seemed like a person who knew how to handle affairs, so such an arrangement was within his expectations.

He smiled and said, "Then I won't be polite and will help myself."

"Lord Shen, please take your time. I'll go attend to other matters," A Fu said, well aware that some prescriptions were top secret and not meant for others to know.

With understanding, he left the servant's room, leaving Shen Qing alone.

After he had left, Shen Qing took out the foundation prescription that Li Linfeng had given him, and according to the list, he gathered several sets of medicine. He also gathered some Shiquan Dabu Decoction to take back for strengthening the bodies of the children like Shanwa and Xiao Hu.

Having handled these miscellaneous matters, Shen Qing, along with the already restless Shen Xiaohu, returned to the quadrangle.

Shen Xiaohu, realizing that everyone in the family had moved to the mansion except for him, suddenly felt a bit gloomy.

Shen Qing walked behind Shen Xiaohu and patted the back of his head, "What, you're not happy to have your own room? Stop dilly-dallying like a woman and go inside."

Saying this, Shen Qing pushed open the door and walked in.

Shen Xiaohu followed behind in a daze.

"Qingzi, you're finally back." As soon as he entered, his uncle Shen Er came forward and said eagerly.

"Uncle, what's this all about?"

Uncle Shen Er pulled Shen Qing over to the stone table and pointed to a stack of invitation cards and a wooden box, "Many people came looking for you after you left this morning, wanting to give you these... these... right, right, right, invitation cards, insisting on leaving them here. Each family who came brought some cash gifts, saying they wanted to congratulate you on moving to the Inner City. I didn't understand all of it, so I just left them here for you to check out."

"Invitation cards?"

Shen Qing guessed that these people from the city must have heard about his demon-slaying and the skirmish with the Mi Gang, which is why they came to visit.

Shen Qing put the medicine he carried on the table and opened one of the invitation cards to read closely.

"Shen Shou Sect..."

He skimmed through it and got the general idea: the Shen Shou Sect wanted to treat him at Wanfeng Building and promised him a hefty reward if he joined their sect.

Shen Qing put down this invitation card and picked up another one.

"Feiying Hall."

"Kuai Dao Gang."

"Hong men."

"..."

One by one, Shen Qing quickly went through the invitation cards; the content within was more or less the same, all essentially trying to court him to their side.

"Hmm? Taiping Escort Agency."

Among the many invitation cards, Shen Qing noticed a familiar name.

He had some recollection of this Taiping Escort Agency.

Before Linfeng Hall fell into trouble, his senior brother Ouyang Tiezhu had tried to find him a match for marriage, and to oblige, he had chosen a young lady from the Taiping Escort Agency.

If he remembered correctly, the young lady's name should be Tang Wanrou.

Shen Qing looked down at the signature — Tang You.

The Chief of the Taiping Escort Agency.

It was definitely their family.

Shen Qing opened the invitation card and looked at it; the content was similar to that of other sects and clans, inviting him to serve as an escort master with a promise of ten gold coins for a single trip.

Right now, such an amount of money could not entice him anymore.

Shen Qing shook his head, put aside the invitation card, and casually opened the wooden box.

Inside, five or six dozen silver ingots lay neatly arranged.

Shen Qing pushed the silver to his uncle Shen Er, saying, "Uncle, Shanwa said the horse feed at home isn't good. Take him to the market to buy some."

Seeing the box pushed over, Uncle Shen Er's expression froze, and his breathing gradually became rapid.

It was tens of taels of silver.

In his old village, it would have taken three to five years of hard work to amass such a sum, but Shen Qing gave it to him without even blinking.

"Qingzi, this is too valuable... I... I..."

Shen Qing smiled and said, "Uncle, you didn't skimp on helping us siblings when we were in difficulty; it's time I repaid you. You can take this money without worry; if it's not enough, just tell me. If you feel bad about it later, call over Zhang Shu Chi and let him do the accounts for me, how's that?"

After a long moment, Uncle Shen Er's old eyes shrank into two slits, and he began to smile, as if content, nodding fervently, "All right!"