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

Chapter 175: Chapter 1 Yongzhou County, Arrival!

When the next day dawned, Shen Qing chose to join forces with the Wu Family's trade caravan, merging their teams into one.

Since the Wu Family's caravan often traveled this route, they were very familiar with the roads and moved much quicker.

What was originally a journey of a day and a half, took them almost just one day to reach Yongzhou County Town.

Outside the West City Gate of Yongzhou County Town.

Wu Sheng and Shen Qing's caravans halted their steps outside the city gate.

As Wu Sheng had to go back to handle the business of this trip and had other matters to attend to, he could no longer accompany Shen Qing, so he chose to part ways at the city gate.

"Brother Shen, I've felt a kindred spirit and enjoyed our conversation during this journey. Once you've settled down in Yongzhou City, come and find me at the Wu Family if you have the time. I'll show you around the great Yongzhou," Wu Sheng said sincerely.

If one didn't know that he was also involved in other businesses, Shen Qing might have truly believed this person considered him a real friend, even more approachable than the most successful real estate consultants he had met in his previous life.

However, regardless of Wu Sheng's purposes for making the acquaintance, Shen Qing still learned quite a bit about Yongzhou from him.

Considering the value of this information, Shen Qing also showed a cheerful smile and said happily, "Absolutely, I hope Brother Wu won't find me a bother when the time comes."

"Haha, how could that be. When we meet again, I will certainly set up a table full of good food and wine for Brother Shen," Wu Sheng said with clasped hands, "I must leave now, till we meet again someday."

"Until then."

"Let's go!"

Wu Sheng mounted his horse and led his people into the city with heads held high.

Watching Wu Sheng and his company leave, Shen Qing lifted his head to take a good look at this city called Yongzhou.

Yongzhou, as the county town of Yunlu County, had a population of eight million. If we add the continuously arriving yet unregistered concealed population, it might well have exceeded ten million.

His cultivation at the Qi Cultivation Realm that seemed top-notch in Taiping County was now quite ordinary in Yongzhou City and nothing special.

According to Wu Sheng's boast, in Yongzhou City, tossing a brick randomly could hit a martial master at the Qi Cultivation Realm.

Although the statement was somewhat exaggerated, one could be certain of the fact that the overall level of martial masters' cultivation in Yongzhou was far above that of Taiping County.

There must be many who wished to stand out among the rest within.

As the sky approached evening, the lanterns were just beginning to glow in Yongzhou City, while the official road outside the city remained bustling with activity.

With a casual glance, Shen Qing could see monks in robes, Daoist priests with an air of immortality, young masters and misses dressed in exquisite garments, and gangsters clad in sword belts or carrying long blades on their backs... the diversity was endless.

Of course, there were even more small vendors carrying their wares on shoulders or pushing single-wheeled carts, along with ordinary people working in the city.

Compared to Taiping County, life for people in Yongzhou seemed to be much better; at the very least, there was none of the heavy, numbing dreariness that pervaded Taiping.

Seeing that nightfall was nearing, Shen Qing, riding atop a tall horse, took the lead at the front.

The grey horse-drawn carriage followed behind him, its wheels rattling against the stone-paved road.

Upon reaching the city gate, Shen Qing was stopped by the city guards for identity verification.

Shen Qing didn't make any rash moves; he retrieved his Registration Certificate and honestly handed it to them.

To Shen Qing's surprise, after merely flipping through and checking it, they allowed him to pass without extorting any so-called City Entrance Fee, unlike the situation in Taiping County.

Indeed, every city has its own way of life.

Once inside Yongzhou City, Shen Qing witnessed the prosperity of this world for the first time.

In the past, Taiping County was merely a slightly more bustling ancient town in his eyes, with nothing to catch his eye.

But the city of Yongzhou before him was different.

The streets were all paved with blue stone slabs, and tea houses and taverns were lined up one after another on both sides, crowded with people, a picture of prosperity.

Even as night fell, it remained clamorous and extraordinarily lively.

All kinds of lanterns were strung high along the street, making it bright as day.

The cries of the vendors rose and fell in succession, with all sorts of goods dazzling the eye, from the exquisite silks and satins to the rugged iron tools and farm implements, from sweet pastries to spicy street food—everything was readily available.

It truly opened the eyes of Shen Qing and his companions.

They heard that there were a total of twelve markets within the city of Yongzhou, each with its unique trait.

Shen Qing couldn't help but feel some anticipation for what his life would be like next.

He found an inn at random and had everyone stay there.

Seeing their travel-worn and disheveled appearance, the innkeeper did not refuse them but quietly raised the room price by thirty percent before welcoming them in.

Unfamiliar with the prices in Yongzhou City, Shen Qing found the cost of accommodation unusually expensive.

For just three rooms, his group was charged three taels of silver.

It allowed Shen Qing to make a rough judgment about the cost of living in Yongzhou.

Days of travel combined with constant tension had made Shen Qing somewhat weary, and after settling into the inn, he finally felt relaxed and enjoyed an unprecedented sense of peace.

After Shen Qing washed up, he went straight to bed.

He slept without dreams.

Shen Qing, having had a full night's sleep, awoke feeling refreshed and vigorous.

After breakfast, Shen Qing inquired about the location of the Military Department and eagerly set out for the government office.

The Yongzhou Military Department's office was imposing and majestic, exuding grandeur.

Two gatekeepers stood on either side of the entrance, emanating authority.

Shen Qing approached calmly, and after explaining his intentions to the gatekeepers, and taking into consideration the cost of living in Yongzhou, he gave each of them a generous "Delivery Package."

The latter, seeing this, beamed with pleasure and graciously let Shen Qing into the Military Department office.

Once inside the government office, Shen Qing, well-aware of the way things worked in the Great Zhou bureaucracy, used money to pave his way and in just the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, he found the officials' room responsible for the assignment of Military Department officials.

Shen Qing presented his official appointment document to the duty official and waited patiently on the side.

Upon confirming the authenticity of the appointment document, the officials' room clerk wasted no time and led him to a side chamber for a proper reception.

"Your timing is perfect. There are a few vacancies for officers in our Military Department, and if everything goes smoothly and you meet the requirements, you should be able to start in a few days," the official said.

Shen Qing found it somewhat incredible and always felt that it seemed too easy to enter the ranks of the Yongzhou Military Department. He maintained a cautious attitude and said with a hint of joy, "So soon?"

"Ha, not so fast, not so fast. The key is to see how smoothly things go. I'll take your appointment document and Registration Certificate later to the Chief Officer and explain your situation to see what the Lord of the General Supervisor's Office will arrange for you," said the officials' room clerk, emphasizing the word "smoothly" significantly.

Shen Qing immediately got the hint; hearing this, he took out his Registration Certificate and subtly placed a golden leaf on top of it before handing it to the officials' room clerk, "Then I am in your hands, my lord."

The clerk's eyes lit up, and he cheerfully pocketed the golden leaf, assuring, "I'll head over first. You just wait here patiently for my message." Your next read awaits at M V L