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

郡衙 courtyard's snow curtain was as dense as a woven fabric, but inside the warm room, the fire crackled warmly, like spring.

Xu Changle wore a heavy brocade robe, stepping with a light snow sound, he walked up to the warm room and pushed open the carved wooden door.

In an instant, the cold air from the courtyard found its outlet and rushed into the warm room.

Snowflakes were carried by the cold wind into the warm room, falling to the ground and turning into ice water.

Xu Changle stepped inside, his gaze as sharp as an eagle's, scanning the surroundings.

Soon, his sight landed on Shen Qing's figure.

At this moment, in the vast warm room, there was only Shen Qing. Xu Changle's lips curled into an imperceptible cold smile.

This was good.

Xu Changle closed the door with a backward motion of his hand. Read latest stories on empire

The howling wind at the door abruptly stopped.

With a hint of deliberate intimacy, he said, "Oh, I didn't expect to find you here, Shen Chasi?"

Shen Qing sat calmly on a chair, looking up at Xu Changle with a face full of surprise, he asked, "Xu Chasi? It's a coincidence you came to the county office too. Is there something important?"

Xu Changle's smile grew brighter, a sly glint flickering in his eyes as he said, "In this heavy snow, what important matters could there be? I just happened to pass by, thinking the New Year is near, and came specifically to get acquainted with Lord Commander and Lord Chief Officer."

Commander Jia Zhiping and Chief Officer Huang Furo's positions could be considered as superiors of the Guardian Martial Department.

To climb higher, one could not bypass these two people.

Therefore, at the end or beginning of each year, the Military Department and Guardian Martial Department saw many ambitious officials trying various means to connect with the two.

Simultaneously, the high-ranking families behind these officials often wanted a foot in the door.

Although Shen Qing hadn't experienced this, he had heard of the custom and understood another layer of meaning in Xu Changle's words.

This was undoubtedly one of the main reasons that Jia Zhiping and Huang Furo became increasingly busy as the year-end approached.

"Oh, so that's how it is..." Shen Qing slowly stood up, putting on a smile as he walked towards Xu Changle.

He didn't seem distant or cold, but rather hooked Xu Changle's shoulder with a smile: "Brother Xu, do you have any experience to share with me? I also want to advance but have no way."

Seeing this, Xu Changle was delighted and did not resist.

He was worrying about how to approach Shen Qing and didn't expect him to deliver himself.

Heh heh, there's a path to heaven you don't take, but you break into the doorless hell.

Don't blame me then.

His hand moved towards the dagger at his waist as he said, "Haha, there's no secret, just three words."

"Oh, which three words?"

Shen Qing showed a look of earnest listening, instinctively placing his other hand on Xu Changle's chest, his eyes growing purer.

There was a slightly more smile on Xu Changle's face, scrutinizing Shen Qing, his heart filled with ecstasy.

He was about to succeed.

He twisted his wrist on the knife handle, about to speak, when he suddenly felt an intense heat in his chest.

Boom!

Abruptly, a volcano-like surge erupted from Shen Qing's palm, and an unprecedented burning torrent burst forth.

At this moment, the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill was running at its peak, with the scorching Qi it contained interwoven with the dominant might of the Sky Flipping Seal, exploding on Xu Changle's chest.

Xu Changle's face changed drastically, emitting a sharp scream.

He was thrown sideways by an irresistible force like a leaf caught in a hurricane, slamming hard against the warm room wall.

The wall behind him cracked like a spider web rapidly spreading as he crashed against it.

Xu Changle spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, looking extremely haggard and frail.

He raised his head to see Shen Qing, noticing the jade-colored patterns emerging on his body, revealing a look of disbelief as a monstrous wave surged in his heart.

Yu Luo Realm!

He was actually a martial master of the Yu Luo Realm!

He clearly remembered when this Shen Qing had just joined the Guardian Martial Department, his cultivation was only at the Qi Cultivation Realm, not even reaching the Qi Hai Realm.

Had this Shen fellow broken through two Great Realms in just half a year?

How could it be?

The Guardian Martial Department, after so many years of establishment, how could such an individual emerge?

In an instant, many thoughts ran through his mind.

Xu Changle said, "Shen Chasi... you... what does this mean?"

"Nothing, just that I want to kill you."

Shen Qing's tone was cold, without any emotional fluctuation.

He had noticed this Xu Changle several times by chance, closely interacting with Zheng Yuanqiu, and even if not collaborating with Zheng, they must have some other connection.

He had barely left the Guardian Martial Department for the county office when this person followed.

Moreover, seeing the blood on him, this man wasn't surprised, almost like he already knew he had killed someone.

Ninety percent sure he was targeting him.

Even though he didn't have any evidence at hand now.

But rather kill mistakenly than let go!!!

At this moment, how could he show mercy?

It's better for someone else to die than himself.

Xu Changle had never seen anyone as ruthless as Shen Qing, who acted so decisively that he had no defense at all.

Seeing Shen Qing approaching step by step with no intention of sparing him, he felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, his face gradually filled with fear.

He started to struggle, trying to muster his entire True Qi to resist, but now almost all his meridians were shattered by Shen Qing's palm, leaving him with no strength.

The strong desire to survive drove him to ignore his injuries, painfully sticking to the wall and trying to get up, warning Shen Qing: "Shen Chasi... do you know... what you are... doing? Are you trying... to kill an official... this is the county..."

Before Xu Changle could finish his words.

There was a flash of cold light, and a shiny steel knife was plunged into his chest.

"What official? You are clearly a traitor, a Huang Tian Sect traitor."

"Huh! You... have... no proof... huh!"

"Dead men don't need proof."

Xu Changle's pupils suddenly widened.

With a squelch.

As soon as the words fell, Shen Qing's blood-stained dagger, in Xu Changle's despairing gaze, sliced across his throat.

Hot blood splattered everywhere, the thick stench of blood rising in the warm room.

"Huh... huh..."

Xu Changle's throat sounded like a bellows with leaks, continuously rasping.

Shen Qing wiped his dagger on Xu Changle's clothes, removing the blood from the blade, then sheathed it.

He returned to the chair, placing the long knife across his legs, and took a sip of warm tea.

Shen Qing replaced the tea cup onto the table with a clink.

At the same time, the deceased Xu Changle slumped to sit before toppling over to the ground.

The crimson blood slowly spread from beneath him.

Inside the warm room, the fire continued to crackle.

Shen Qing glanced at Xu Changle and withdrew his gaze, his expression calming as he regulated his breath silently.