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

Chapter 167: Chapter 91: Murdering an Official! You Seem to Hate Me a Lot

Inside the carriage, County Magistrate Du Yuntong, having boarded the vehicle, sat upright on the meditation cushion, seizing the moment to close his eyes and regulate his breath.

Just now, the scene of Shen Qing's fierce battle against the Huang Tian Sect General had left him unable to calm his heart for a long time.

The shock he felt was no less than that of Li Linfeng and the others.

In his eyes, Shen Qing had been nothing more than a country bumpkin, with a slight talent for martial arts and some fame due to luck.

Deep down, Du Yuntong looked down on people of Shen Qing's background.

Typically, based on his past experience, with just a small favor, he could command martial masters of such background at will.

However, what he had never expected was that this lad could actually kill such a high-ranking Huang Tian Sect officer, achieving a tremendous level of cultivation. Experience more content on ???

In terms of combat ability, the man had already risen above him, making it impossible for him to accept this reality at the moment.

"Lord County Magistrate?"

Just then, the curtain of the carriage was pulled open.

Du Yuntong, seeing Shen Qing's face beaming with a smile, quivered the flesh on his face as if startled.

He quickly forced a smile and said, "Mr. Shen, what's the matter?"

Now that he was injured, his cultivation had greatly diminished, and with no subordinates left to use, he was isolated and vulnerable.

Facing someone as formidable as Shen Qing, he had no chance of winning and had to lower himself a notch.

Usually prideful and long accustomed to high position, Du Yuntong suddenly felt a sense of frustration in his heart.

Du Yuntong's hands, hidden up his sleeves, were already tightly gripping his knees, trembling slightly as if restraining something.

Shen Qing bowed respectfully and said, "Lord County Magistrate, the carriage you're occupying belongs to my master's family. By using it, you're forcing them to travel on foot. I hope, Lord County Magistrate, you won't do so and will let my master's family have the carriage."

"There's still space on my donkey cart. Perhaps, Lord County Magistrate, you would consider riding in my donkey cart?"

Du Yuntong was, after all, somewhat different from the officials he had encountered in the past; he was a proper ranked official.

Although he couldn't be absolved of the fall of Taiping County, his status was certainly high enough.

Despite his discontent, he was not someone Shen Qing could just kill in broad daylight.

Therefore, Shen Qing adjusted his attitude as well.

He thought he had been sufficiently respectful, but in County Magistrate Du Yuntong's ears, these words sounded like blatant sarcasm.

"Donkey cart? Does he really think a mere common person's cart is befitting for an official such as myself? He actually believes I'm only fit to ride a donkey."

County Magistrate Du Yuntong felt a surge of anger, and the thin smile on his face could no longer be maintained.

Unfortunately, being under someone's roof, he had to bow his head.

He stiffened his face, and his clenched fists relaxed, then he wordlessly stepped down from the horse carriage.

"Mr. Shen, where is your donkey cart?"

County Magistrate Du Yuntong didn't realize that his tone of voice had become somewhat commanding, inadvertently revealing a sense of superiority unique to those in higher positions.

This behavior did not sit well with Shen Qing.

Shen Qing casually pointed and said, "It's right there, in the back."

County Magistrate Du Yuntong followed the direction Shen Qing pointed to and saw the rudimentary donkey cart, his face turning ashen.

He said nothing else, glanced at Shen Qing subconsciously, and limped toward the donkey cart.

Shen Qing rode his horse beside Li Linfeng and spoke, "Master, you all should head back. After my persuasion, the county magistrate agreed to switch to the donkey cart. I see that you all have been quite frightened; it would be good to rest inside the carriage."

"Shen Qing, antagonizing the County Magistrate like this is a bit unwise. Although he has lost power for now, officials within the Great Zhou Court protect one another, and it's possible he has connections that could restore his position someday. It will be troublesome if he comes after you then," said Li Linfeng, weighing his words carefully.

"We have trained in some martial skills; traveling on foot is no big deal."

"He's heading to the county town, and you to Lu'an Prefecture. Once your paths diverge, he might requisition your carriage, and you'll have to walk all the way back," continued Li Linfeng in silence. In fact, he had thought of this as well.

But what could be done?

"I haven't really done anything to him; after all, I owe him a life-saving favor. Master, don't worry about this matter," Shen Qing replied, narrowing his eyes and fixing his gaze on Du Yuntong.

At that moment, Du Yuntong had just reached the donkey cart and was preparing to climb aboard.

His hand reached out, and he happened to touch the crossbow, his expression stunned.

Privately hoarding a crossbow?!

According to the law, the crossbow is a military supply of Great Zhou, strictly forbidden for civilians to possess.

This matter could be trivial or serious.

County Magistrate Du Yuntong, looking at the crossbow, a bold idea suddenly emerged in his mind.

If that's the case, after I double back, you're going to have a taste of your own medicine.

He revealed a sly smile, just about to climb up when suddenly a figure stood behind him.

County Magistrate Du Yuntong hurriedly turned back, only to see Shen Qing who had, unbeknownst to him, approached with a cold face.

"My lord, I just remembered something. My martial master and I are bound for Lu'an Prefecture, which is a different route from yours, so we cannot escort you to the county town. Why doesn't my lord take a short rest here, and wait for the reinforcements to come later before deciding what to do?"

"You..."

County Magistrate Du Yuntong realized that Shen Qing was humiliating him.

However, the beastly look in Shen Qing's eyes made him lose his imposing aura all at once, and he could only do as he was told.

County Magistrate Du Yuntong glared at Shen Qing fiercely, snorted coldly, and left the caravan, sitting alone by the side of the official road to recuperate.

Shen Qing paid him no heed, raised his hand, and beckoned the entire caravan to get moving.

He looked at County Magistrate Du Yuntong seated on the ground with a meaningful gaze, toyed with the reins, and spurred his horse to leave.

Continuing straight to the front, Shen Qing showed no sign of stopping. Instead, he whipped his horse into greater speed, shouting aloud, "I'll go ahead and scout the road. Giddy up!"

The road ahead made an almost right-angled turn.

Shen Qing spurred his horse along the bend at a breakneck speed, vanishing from everyone's sight.

The wagon convoy had just started moving at a slow pace and was left far behind by Shen Qing.

After a stick of incense had passed, the wagon convoy finally followed Shen Qing into the turn.

As soon as their figures had completely disappeared from the official road, County Magistrate Du Yuntong's eyes flew open, his anger uncontrollable as he exclaimed, "You rascal. To dare humiliate me like this today, I will not let you off."

"My lord, it seems like you really hate me!"

Just as County Magistrate Du Yuntong's words fell, a familiar voice abruptly emerged from behind him, startling him.

Ignoring his injuries, he rolled to the side and, on raising his head, saw Shen Qing staring at him with a teasing smile, sending shivers down his spine.

At this moment, Shen Qing had already come back around.

In fact, Shen Qing had already sensed County Magistrate Du Yuntong's dissatisfaction with him and realized that keeping him was a hidden danger. Instantly, the thought of slaying an official crossed his mind.

Now, hearing the man's own words, his determination was even further solidified.

"Since that's the case, I'll give you a gift, my lord."

Shen Qing took out a Martial Mechanism Bomb, triggered the mechanism, and tossed it towards Du Yuntong.

In an instant, a deafening boom resounded.

County Magistrate Du Yuntong had not yet grasped what was happening.

Sky-high flames engulfed him.

"Ah!"

Screams echoed from within the flames.

The flames, red with streaks of purple, crisscrossed with flashes of lightning, savagely lashing out in every direction.

County Magistrate Du Yuntong's body was torn to pieces in an instant.

"Lord County Magistrate has been murdered by a traitor of the Huang Tian Sect..."

Shen Qing smiled, leaped, and dived into the forest.

Having broken through the Hunting Scripture, entering the woods was as natural for him as a fish in water. Utilizing his agile movement technique, he breezed through the forest with ease.

Before the caravan could catch up, he was back on Zhuifeng's saddle.

Shen Qing looked back and said with a smile, "It's improper to kill you in broad daylight, under the watchful eyes of the public. But that doesn't mean I'm afraid to do it. Ha, tui~"