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

Chapter 148: Chapter 72: Encounter, A Fatal Blow!

The trees in Zhangzi Forest were densely packed, and now at the cusp of spring and summer, they were even more lush and thriving.

The sunlight from above could not pierce through to the ground, casting the forest in a dim and gloomy light.

Within the forest, a nimble figure moved like a female leopard, constantly weaving through the woods.

This person was none other than Tang Wanrou, who had just managed to escape death.

Currently, her face was flush with panic, her heart weighed down by a heavy stone, still unadapted and unresponsive to the sudden disaster that had befallen her.

"Damn it... This goddamn... world!"

The voice of Tang You from outside the forest reached her ears and then abruptly stopped, causing her heart to skip a beat.

Tang Wanrou looked back, realized something, and tears involuntarily spilled from the corners of her eyes.

She hurriedly picked up her pace, daring not to stop for even a moment.

Those people were too ruthless; they attacked without giving the chance for an explanation, killing as casually as one might crush an ant.

If she were caught, her death would be certain.

Tang Wanrou clenched her teeth and ran with all her strength, kicking up the soil and fallen leaves with her strides.

At this moment, a single thought dominated her mind—escape!

Smuggling military supplies was a grave crime, and if only she could get out and return to the county town to report this incident to the government office, the government would surely seek justice for the escort agency.

...

On a small path outside the forest, a black horse galloped past like lightning.

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The horse's hooves struck the solid road, emitting a rhythmic "clip-clop" sound.

Shen Qing sat astride the horse, his posture erect, the wind whistling past his cheeks and blowing his long hair to flutter in the breeze, the mountain scenery on both sides retreating rapidly from his view.

"It sounds like arrows," he murmured, slightly furrowing his brow.

Being an archer, he was very familiar with the sound.

"And there seem to be a lot of arrows, at least a hundred," he mused.

Shen Qing looked in one direction, his gaze reaching nothing but a vast expanse of forest.

"Could it be bandits?" he wondered, shaking his head.

He had traveled this mountain path countless times and never found signs of bandits.

While he pondered, many screams followed, especially toward the end; even without trying to listen, they were audible, albeit faintly and vaguely.

Something stirred in Shen Qing's mind, and he immediately reined in his horse. The horse neighed loudly, rearing up on its front legs before coming to a steady halt on the path.

The horse, Zhuifeng, was visibly discontent at the abrupt interruption to its enjoyable run, snorting loudly.

Shen Qing gently stroked the horse's neck, signaling it to calm down.

A moment later, he gazed intently ahead, slightly tilting his head to listen more carefully, attempting to pinpoint the source of the sounds.

Unfortunately, the pitiful screams did not occur again.

A strong curiosity welled up inside Shen Qing. After taking a deep breath to steady himself, he concentrated.

"Eagle Eye!"

As soon as this thought manifested, images from the surrounding forest began to appear in Shen Qing's mind.

Gradually, these fragmented images came together to form an aerial view, as if he were an eagle overlooking the ground from the sky.

Shen Qing could clearly see that at the other end of the mountain, near the official road outside of Zhangzi Forest, numerous bodies lay haphazardly, their blood almost staining the ground red.

But that was not the most important thing.

The most crucial was the many people standing outside the forest, their arms tied with yellow cloth bands.

Shen Qing's eyes suddenly widened in disbelief, "People from the Huang Tian Sect! How could they be here?"

Having previously inquired about the Huang Tian Sect, Shen Qing's awareness of them was not insignificant.

The Huang Tian Sect had ordinary disciples and those specialized for combat.

The group Shen Qing had just seen, all wearing yellow bands on their arms, meant they were the Saints of the Huang Tian Sect.

It had been these Saints who were responsible for the conquests of the Huang Tian Sect in various places.

The recent commotion must have been caused by these disciples.

This was not a place to linger.

Currently alone in the wilderness, Shen Qing did not know how many of them there were.

If they decided he had interfered with their affairs, it could lead to trouble.

Shen Qing had only intended to take his horse out for a ride, not looking for any trouble.

Taking a deep breath and gently stroking the horse's mane to calm its nervousness, he then lightly turned the horse's head towards the direction of the city to return.

"Let's go!"

Zhuifeng seemed to sense Shen Qing's intention, shaking its head with a hint of dissatisfaction.

But seeing Shen Qing's persistent urging, it shook off the dust from its body and, with a nimble gait, turned towards the city gate and galloped back.

However, Shen Qing hadn't gone far when he suddenly looked towards the forest to one side, as if sensing something.

He saw a figure weaving through the woods, continually dodging the branches and vines.

As the figure drew closer, Shen Qing could see more clearly—it was a woman who was running.

Tang Wanrou seemed to have sensed something in the forest and looked ahead, unable to contain her excitement.

Someone, a horse!

As long as the other party was willing to take her along, she would certainly escape the danger.

With this thought, she nearly exhausted all her strength to speed up and rush out of the woods, panting heavily as she blocked the way, "Noble sir, wait a moment!"

The narrow forest trail, now obstructed by Tang Wanrou's interception, left practically no path but to enter the woods.

Shen Qing hurriedly reined in his horse and called out, "What are you doing? Are you not afraid of death?"

Tang Wanrou didn't have time to explain and quickly said, "Noble sir, I am Tang Wanrou from the Taiping Escort Agency. I have urgent matters to report to the Lord County Magistrate in the county town, it's extremely critical. I beg for your assistance to take me along, there will be a generous reward."

The Taiping Escort Agency, Tang Wanrou?!

Seated on horseback, Shen Qing was surprised as he scrutinized her. He found that aside from looking a bit disheveled, she was virtually identical to the portrait Ouyang Tiezhu had shown him. It really was her.

A notable person indeed.

Tang Wanrou was frantic, about to speak.

At that moment, she suddenly felt a fierce killing intent emanating from the woods.

She sharply raised her head to look and saw a burly man standing not far away, staring coldly at her.

"I didn't expect you, you little mouse, to be quite good at running."

Tang Wanrou's heart sank in an instant; she hadn't anticipated her pursuer to catch up so quickly.

Steeled, she blocked Shen Qing's way and said, "Leave this to me. You hurry and tell the Lord County Magistrate that someone is smuggling military weapons outside the city, tell him to send people to search quickly."

Tang Wanrou knew her chances of survival were slim today; the man before her was of the Qi Cultivation Realm and she was certainly no match for him.

She only hoped she could delay slightly so the message could be sent back.

Perhaps this way, she might also avenge her brothers in the escort agency.

"Hahaha... Your father and the others were no match for me, do you think you can stop me?" the burly man laughed as he stepped out from the forest.

"Rest assured, none of you will escape today."

The burly man turned to Shen Qing and sighed, "Looking at your clothes, you must be the young master of some wealthy family. What a shame, your luck isn't good. You happen to pass by at this time, and for the sake of secrecy, I can only let you die."

Shen Qing, seated high on his horse, looked down at the burly man and sensed the robust aura emanating from him, powerful Qi circulating continuously, almost spilling out.

He did not want any complications and said, "I can assure you I won't tell anyone, I don't know anything. Can you let me go?"

"What do you think?"

The burly man's body tensed like a bow, his muscular contours clearly defined in the sunlight, resembling a sculpture about to burst into action.

"Die!"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than the ground beneath the burly man's feet burst with the surging power within him, turning into fine waves of dirt that dispersed in all directions.

He shot forth like an arrow released from a bowstring, with a faint whistling of wind indicative of the air currents carried by his rapid movement.

A mere ten meters separated the two, a distance the burly man could cover in a few breaths.

Tang Wanrou urgently shouted, "Run, he is a martial master in the Qi Cultivation Realm, if he touches you you'll be dead for sure!"

A martial master in the Qi Cultivation Realm?!

That's damn dangerous.

Shen Qing's expression turned grave as he almost subconsciously pushed his Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill to its limit, the Power within his body circulating crazily fast, concentrating at the tips of his fingers.

Whoosh!

A piercing sound erupted from between Shen Qing's fingers, carrying a scorching Qi like lightning as it darted towards the burly man, striking his fist before he could complete his own attack.

"Bang!"

A loud noise resounded.

The burly man's fist turned to dust under the impact, and his arm disintegrated under the rampage of that power, scattering in all directions.

"What?!"

A piercing scream burst from the burly man's throat: "My hand, my arm! Ah..."

He staggered and fell to the ground, fearful eyes locking onto Shen Qing.

By then, he had realized that the "rich young master" before him was a monster far stronger than himself.

Tang Wanrou stood by, mouth agape in shock, her gaze towards Shen Qing completely transformed.

Shen Qing silently withdrew his fingers and said with resignation, "Don't blame me for this, you forced my hand."

The burly man's scalp tingled as he desperately scuttled backward, retreating in haste.

But no sooner had he risen to his feet than a blazing wave of Qi was already hurtling towards him.

Bang!

His head exploded like a watermelon shot by a bullet, unequivocally dead.

"Alright, he's dead now, and you're safe," Shen Qing said to Tang Wanrou from his horse.

Regaining her senses, Tang Wanrou looked at Shen Qing, cupped her fists in gratitude, and said in a daze, "I do not know your esteemed name, sir, but I shall certainly repay the debt of saving my life."

"You don't know me?" Shen Qing asked, surprised.

Tang Wanrou looked puzzled.

Should I know you?

"I am Shen Qing."

Boom!

Tang Wanrou's mind erupted like a sudden volcanic explosion, obliterating all thoughts, leaving only blankness.