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

Shen Qing's mind was entirely immersed in the Martial Arts moves taught by Li Linfeng, tirelessly practicing them over and over again.

He didn't know how much time had passed before Li Linfeng interrupted him, pulling him out of this immersive status.

"That'll be enough for today,"

Upon hearing this, Shen Qing ceased his movements and exhaled a breath of murky air, slowly dispersing the Qi-Blood that had gathered at his fingertips.

At this moment, Li Linfeng took out a couple of papers, full of writing, and handed them to Shen Qing, saying, "Can you read?"

Shen Qing took them and replied, "Yes, I can."

"This is the relaxing muscles and strengthening bones formula, which can aid you in stretching and strengthening your muscle and bone. I've written some notes and instructions on it; go and find A Fu later and have him prepare some for you to take a medicinal bath," Li Linfeng instructed earnestly.

"Thank you, Uncle," Shen Qing said sincerely as he accepted the prescription.

Li Linfeng did not say much more and walked around Shen Qing, making his way out of the courtyard and leaving the backyard.

Shen Qing maintained a respectful posture with his hands clasped in a fist, remaining that way until Li Linfeng's figure had completely disappeared before relaxing.

He looked at the relaxing muscles and strengthening bones formula in his hand.

It listed specific medicinal ingredients, methods for taking the medicinal baths, and key points for breathing to refine the medicine's efficacy, all outlined in detail.

It was evident that Li Linfeng was not just fobbing him off.

Just as Shen Qing was about to put away the prescription and leave, to his surprise, Li Linfeng returned.

Shen Qing, who had just relaxed, hastily resumed his respectful demeanor in the scramble.

Li Linfeng looked at Shen Qing and seriously said, "I forgot to tell you, the medicinal bath costs two taels of silver per session; hand it over to A Fu later. If you're short of money, you can put it on a tab and find a way to make it up later."

"Two taels!"

Shen Qing was momentarily startled.

This price was almost as much as an ordinary family's spending for two months.

"Did you get that?" Li Linfeng repeated once more.

Shen Qing said, "I've got it."

Seeing this, Li Linfeng finally left with a bit of reassurance, striding away.

Shen Qing looked at the two thin pieces of paper in his hand, feeling as if they weighed a ton.

People say that practicing Martial Arts consumes money; today, he had truly seen how.

Luckily, he had brought several taels of silver with him this time, which would be enough to manage for a while.

The last time they had robbed Wang Qiyao and Old Ba Zi, and they had left thirty to forty taels at home. He had thought this sum was quite sizable, but it turned out to be nothing against such expenses.

To make a name for himself in Martial Arts, he would have to find ways to make money.

After leaving the backyard, Shen Qing did not dally and went straight to the pharmacy in the Outer Court. He gave A Fu two taels of silver to prepare the relaxing muscles and strengthening bones formula.

A Fu was a bit surprised that Shen Qing could easily come up with two taels of silver.

He had always thought that Shen Qing, a small hunter from deep within the mountains, would be quite cautious financially. It seemed the actual situation was not as such.

However, A Fu did not pry; those who practiced Martial Arts often had their own concerns.

Shortly after, A Fu gathered the necessary medicinal ingredients for the relaxing muscles and strengthening bones formula and got the hot water ready for Shen Qing's medicinal bath.

After practicing for a while, and upon receiving A Fu's notice, Shen Qing, covered in sweat, followed A Fu's direction into a servants' room.

Inside the room, a large cypress-wood bath barrel occupied the center, with steam billowing from it.

As the door opened, the scent of herbs mixed with the fragrance of cypress engulfed him.

Without a word, Shen Qing stripped bare and sat in the dark brew of the medicinal barrel.

As soon as he settled down, a wave of heat rushed into his chest, with countless tiny flames igniting inside his body, flaring up all at once.

Shen Qing hurriedly mobilized his Qi-Blood, attempting to guide the potency of the medicine into his meridians.

Suddenly, patches of redness surfaced on his skin, as if he were a shrimp cooked to a bright redness.

Shen Qing had not expected this formula for relaxing muscles and strengthening bones to be so overbearing and fierce.

Taking a bath was akin to enduring a thousand cuts—his muscles felt as if they were tearing apart.

He clenched his teeth and furrowed his brows, while sweat slithered down his forehead like raindrops, falling into the water and creating ripples.

Suddenly, Shen Qing let out a muffled grunt; his face contorted in pain, as if he was enduring immense torment.

The medicine's power was too domineering, like violent fire dragons rampaging through his meridians, relentlessly assaulting his physical limits as if tearing and reconstituting his muscles and bones.

After an unknown duration, the medicinal strength in the Medicine Bath Pool was gradually absorbed by Shen Qing, and the pitch-dark water became much paler.

Shen Qing's complexion progressively regained its healthy glow, and his breathing steadied.

He slowly opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashed within them, as if he had undergone a transformation.

Getting to his feet, he stretched his muscle and bone, feeling a surge of strength throughout his body. His Qi-Blood, seemingly enhanced, made him feel lighter.

…

The area near the city wall was the best location in the Outer City.

It was only a wall away from the Inner City, which made it convenient to travel between the two.

Not far from the West City Gate, amidst dilapidated shanties, stood a rice-white mansion that stood out like a crane among chickens.

Its white walls and bright windows formed a stark contrast with the surrounding squalor.

At the entrance, strong men in plain cotton clothes constantly moved in and out of the large gate.

A burly man threw a young man with a bruises all over his face into the main hall.

"Boss, I've caught another runaway from Wang Mazi's men; should we apply the family law?" the burly man inquired.

No sooner had the burly man spoken than the young man hurriedly begged for mercy, "Boss, spare my life, please! Old Ba Zi's death wasn't our doing—Wang Mazi was with a brothel girl that night; he couldn't possibly have done it. Please, at least investigate further!"

Seated at the center of the hall, a large man spoke up, "How many does this make now?"

He appeared to be in his thirties or forties, standing nearly one meter ninety tall, towering like a turret, with arms that extended past his knees, uncommon among ordinary men.

"This is the fourth one. They all say Wang Mazi was with a brothel girl that day, so it seems likely true that he's not the one who killed Old Ba."

"The man's already dead; whether it's him or not doesn't matter anymore," the Boss said nonchalantly. "Did Old Ba Zi have any feuds with others before he died?"

"Yes, but they're likely unrelated."

"Who is this person?"

"A hunter from Hongshan Village," the burly man recounted. "Old Ba Zi once wanted to take him down, but ended up being killed by a few of our brothers. Since then, Old Ba Zi has been vengeful, wanting to kill that hunter until the day he died without finding him. Old Ba Zi's death had nothing to do with him, but…"

"But what?"

"In my investigations, I stumbled upon something interesting. This hunter is a direct nephew of Mi Qi's Seventh Aunt, who's just joined Linfeng Hall and is about to start learning Martial Arts from Li Linfeng."

The Boss, taken aback, said, "If I remember correctly, didn't Mi Gang make a move against Li Linfeng a few days ago?"

"Yes, they injured one of his direct disciples and caused his Qi Niang to miscarry."

Tapping his hands on the chair, the Boss proposed, "We've always wanted a way to connect with the Boss of Mi Gang, but we never had the chance. This Li Linfeng might just be our opening. Go call someone to bring that hunter to me later. I want to see if there's a chance to plant a mole beside Li Linfeng."

"All right," the brawny man replied. He kicked the young man at his feet and asked, "What do we do with this one, Boss?"

"Kill him."

"Boss, please have mercy, I've done nothing, nothing at all. Ah…" the young man pleaded.

The plea for mercy abruptly ceased.