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

Having leaped out the window of Baihua Building, Shen Qing gracefully spread his arms and, like a cat, landed softly and quietly on the ground.

He turned back to look at Baihua Building.

Now that the matter with Guan Yun Jian and his companion had concluded, it was time to deal with the menace of the Wolf Demon.

This was his duty as an officer of the Guardian Martial Department. Failing to perform well could lead to severe consequences.

He had been delayed here for quite some time.

After concealing the bloodstains, Shen Qing went straight to his prized steed and galloped away, heading directly for Changqiao Town.

...

On the expressway outside Yong City.

A shadow zoomed past, swift as a dark iron arrow cutting through the wind.

Zhuifeng, a fine horse, had been well cared for by Xiao Shan, and its stamina seemed to have increased. It had traveled back and forth twice without any signs of fatigue or slowing down.

About a quarter hour later, Shen Qing returned to the Qinghe River outside Changqiao Town.

At the place outside Changqiao where he had fought, one could only faintly see bloodstains on the ground; the bodies had vanished.

They must have been dealt with by Liu Sangui.

Shen Qing gently tugged on the reins, slowing the sleek Zhuifeng as they stepped onto the bridge of Changqiao Town.

The horse's hooves tapped lightly on the bridge, producing a sharp, clear sound.

After a brisk ride, Zhuifeng's chest heaved with heavy breaths, but the steps it took remained methodical and orderly.

Amidst the rhythmic clopping, Shen Qing had unknowingly entered Changqiao Ancient Town.

Outside the ancient town, three large archways stood across the road, flanking golden yellow rice fields on both sides.

As Shen Qing appeared, many villagers bent over with labor straightened their backs and looked towards the officer from the Guardian Martial Department.

They tied bunches of rice plants while they observed Shen Qing.

There was a trace of fear on their numb faces.

For them, the officials from Yongzhou City were no different from demons—both devoured humans.

However, whereas a demon would devour a human in a few bites, the officials of Yongzhou City would do so over many decades, across generations.

As Shen Qing walked on the road, many villagers sidestepped, avoiding sharing the path with him as if he were a viper.

Even a woodcutter, carrying firewood, threw his bundle down and jumped into the fields with the others, trembling as he watched Shen Qing leave.

After they could no longer see him, these people, as though relieved, returned to the main road.

Witnessing this, Shen Qing couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

He had not realized that officials of Great Zhou were so unwelcome.

He had not walked long before entering the complex residential area of Changqiao Town.

Shacks made of simple thatch were scattered before Shen Qing.

In the midst of these humble homes, an elegantly structured estate conspicuously stood out.

On the outskirts of the residential area, a servant in plain clothes suddenly caught Shen Qing's eye.

He looked around periodically, lingering at the doorway.

Upon seeing Shen Qing, a look of surprise appeared on his face. He hurried forward and took hold of Shen Qing's reins.

The servant said with a placating smile, "Officer, our master specifically instructed me to wait for you here."

"And who is your master?"

"The village chief here."

The village chief was effectively the town mayor.

Shen Qing said expressionlessly, "Lead the way!"

"Yes, sir."

Shen Qing had just killed a person not long ago and carried with him an air of faintly discernible malevolence that nearly made the servants shudder, daring not to delay.

Led with respectful guidance by the servant, they crossed the flagstone path, and Shen Qing was brought to the front of a manor.

The manor's main gate stood imposingly tall, flanked by majestic stone lions.

Even before Shen Qing could step over the threshold, a hearty and expectant laugh pierced through the door, eagerly greeting his arrival.

"Haha, Lord Officer, we've been eagerly waiting for you!"

A middle-aged man dressed in fine clothes and exuding an extraordinary presence heard the commotion and hastened to the door to welcome him personally.

Shen Qing dismounted and said, "I am Shen Qing from the Guardian Martial Department, sent by the Chief Officer to subdue demons."

"So, it is Officer Shen himself." The village chief quickly approached, clasped his hands together, and gave a deep bow.

"May I know the village chief's honored surname?"

"Please, it's Zhou."

Shen Qing asked, "A member of the Zhou family from Yongzhou?"

"My ancestors were, but by my generation, we have long since been disconnected, without much contact with the Jun City Zhou Family. Nevertheless, we still benefit somewhat from the family's reputation."

Village chief Zhou Baoyin candidly said, "Please come inside and have a seat, sir. I have already prepared a feast."

"Let's skip the feast, dealing with the demon is more pressing." Shen Qing gazed at the distant mountains and said, "Where are my subordinates?"

Zhou Baoyin was momentarily startled and responded, "They arrived not long ago and already went up the mountain to investigate the Wolf Demon's traces."

Shen Qing frowned. When had Liu Sangui ever been so responsible about demon-slaying?

In his eyes, although Liu Sangui appeared diligent on a normal day, he was actually quite slippery, one to drag his feet whenever possible, preferring fewer troubles over more.

It wasn't likely for him to rush into checking on the demon without waiting around.

Strange.

Shen Qing took another look at Zhou Baoyin and asked, "Tell me about this Wolf Demon."

Observing Shen Qing's tone, Zhou Baoyin's expression grew serious.

Clasping his hands together and slightly bowing, he respectfully said, "To report to you, sir, the problem originated about a month ago."

"There was a woodcutter named Zhang in our town who, as usual, wanted to chop wood for charcoal, but unexpectedly…"

Zhou Baoyin paused for a moment, a hint of barely noticeable fear flashing in his eyes, and continued, "After his last trip into the mountains, he didn't return for several days. When I found him, he was reduced to a skeleton, gnawed beyond recognition."

"Since then, the woodcutters entering the mountains often heard strange growling sounds that did not resemble typical beasts, with people occasionally disappearing, causing widespread panic."

"Some even saw a giant wolf with an enormous body. With more mysterious incidents occurring in the woods, it's said that this Wolf Demon is behind it all. We are truly at our wits' end, which is why we sought your help, sir."

"Awooo!"

As they spoke, a wolf's howl echoed.

Shen Qing, as if sensing something, slowly directed his gaze toward a small hill outside of the town.

He used his skill of sharp eyesight to focus intently on it.

In the distance, a massive Wolf Demon, its eyes flickering with a ghostly green glow, bared its teeth and growled menacingly.

Zhou Baoyin trembled, pointing and shouting, "Ah, the Wolf Demon, that's the Wolf Demon!"

"Sir, due to this Wolf Demon, many woodcutters in the town have not dared to go into the mountains for many days, putting them in dire straits. We hope you will intervene on our behalf."

The arrival of the wolf was such a coincidence?

Shen Qing was somewhat hesitant.

But since it had shown itself, it spared them the trouble of a lengthy search in the vast mountains.

Shen Qing immediately took down the Heavy Bow hanging on his horse, fetched a dark iron arrow, and placed it on the bowstring.

He drew the bow fully, extending his arm length, aiming the arrow toward the verdant forest ahead.

"What does the master plan to do? Can he really subdue the Wolf Demon with just a bow and arrow?"

A servant, standing next to the village chief, stepped forward a few paces to the chief's ear and whispered.

Zhou Baoyin squinted and said, "Let's wait and see first."