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

Zhou Dazhi remained calm and said, "Sir, you have quite the imposing manner."

He steadied his mind and presented himself with the dignity befitting the head of a family, stepping forward to question, "Just as well, I want to ask if it was you who killed my father."

"Why would I kill the village chief?" Shen Qing denied firmly, subtly saying, "Without evidence, you shouldn't make wild accusations. Otherwise, it could lead to trouble."

"You still deny it, who else could it be but you?" Zhou Dazhi said harshly.

Shen Qing asked, "I'm puzzled, why do you suspect me? Could it not have been demons?"

"Impossible. It was definitely you who killed my father!" Zhou Dazhi asserted, "As an officer, you killed a court official, breaking the law knowingly, which is an even greater crime."

Shen Qing laughed.

The crowd that had gathered to watch the commotion had not yet dispersed and gradually surrounded them, watching curiously and whispering among themselves.

Shen Qing glanced around and then asked, "You all are so sure it's me because you are well aware of the demon collaboration, aren't you?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Dazhi and his companions' expressions changed, and they said in a deep voice, "We don't understand what you're talking about. You have killed someone and are now trying to smear us."

Shen Qing smiled slightly and said, "I think you all have misunderstood something."

"What?"

Shen Qing stepped over the wolf demon's corpse, walking while drawing the dagger from his waist.

When the long knife was fully unsheathed, he stood right in front of the Zhou Family members.

Shen Qing grinned and said, "Your father was a court official, but you are not. I see you collaborating with demons, making you traitors that deserve death!"

As the last word fell, Shen Qing radiated a chilling killing intent.

Not giving the others a chance to react, Shen Qing suddenly moved.

The blade in his hand glinted with a cold light as he infused it with True Qi, driving it towards Zhou Dazhi's heart with a swift howl.

Pfft.

The sharp blade silently pierced Zhou Dazhi's chest.

With a blank expression, Shen Qing withdrew his dagger, leaving a bloody hole from which blood gushed like a spring.

Now promoted to the Qi Hai Realm, his True Qi was powerful. Zhou Dazhi had no time to defend, and even copper skin and iron bones could not deter him in the slightest.

Zhou Dazhi never imagined that Shen Qing would act so decisively, even in broad daylight without any hesitation.

He staggered back a few steps, collapsing into the arms of the Zhou Family members, pointing at Shen Qing with a trembling finger, "You… you…"

Bang!

With a flick of his finger, Shen Qing sent a searing burst of True Qi into Zhou Dazhi's throat, causing his neck to burst like a blooming rose.

The hand pointing at him fell helplessly.

"Ah, he killed someone! The officer killed someone!"

The Zhou Family fell into chaos.

Someone shouted loudly, "You murder our family in front of so many people, thinking we have no backing? The Jun City Zhou Family won't let you get away."

"Then let them come," Shen Qing said quickly, "Guess, if I were to wipe you all out, would the Jun City Zhou Family speak for you dead? If you are indeed secretly collaborating with demons and endangering the Great Zhou, would the Jun City Zhou support you then?"

Shen Qing held his knife high, standing tall and said, "Rest assured, I have experience in eradicating entire households."

The Zhou Family members were in utter shock!

Turning towards the crowd, Shen Qing announced, "Everyone, I, Shen Qing of the Guardian Martial Department, am here to investigate the wolf demon case in Changqiao Town. It has been found that the Changqiao Zhou Family secretly fed demons with townsfolk to seek longevity. According to the laws of Great Zhou, such treasonous acts warrant the execution of three generations."

Uproar ensued.

"What?! The wolf demon was brought in by the Zhou Family and kept in town?!"

The Zhou Family turned pale as paper, "Nonsense! You killed as an excuse!"

Fearless, Shen Qing declared, "If you don't believe me, go check the hut on the mountain. Then you'll know. Otherwise, where do you think the wolf demon came from?"

Shen Qing's voice rose sharply, "Do you Zhou Family members think there's no law left in this world?"

As the Zhou Family attempted to argue, a farmer suddenly shouted from the crowd, "It was them. Old Third Liang's family returned, and they all said they were taken by the Zhou Family to feed demons!"

No one knew better than the Zhou Family if there was demon collaboration.

With evidence now laid out, they were speechless.

Shen Qing glanced at the trembling Zhou Family members and at the Changqiao Town residents, who were angry but didn't dare move forward.

He knew it needed just a little more.

From past experiences, he understood that as long as onlookers' interests were not harmed,

They would side with the winner!

With that in mind, Shen Qing lifted his knife and shouted loudly, "I, Shen Qing, am ordered to exterminate demons! Today, the Changqiao Zhou Family's collaboration with demons means an entire household deserves death! Kill!"

Shen Qing's voice was deep and resonated like a mighty wave, filling the entire world instantly.

"Ah!"

The screams came one after another.

Facing the already-promoted Qi Hai Realm Shen Qing, the townsfolk, even if trained in martial arts, couldn't compare to him.

The scene turned into a one-sided massacre.

After Shen Qing killed the Zhou Family's three young masters and a group of martial masters, the situation became clear.

The spectators began to stir, and soon someone took the lead, using righteousness as a banner, swarming into the Zhou Family Mansion like a flood.

Watching this scene, Shen Qing felt a sense of déjà vu.

After everyone rushed into the mansion, Shen Qing followed a step behind, entering unhurriedly.

Once inside the Zhou Family compound, it had turned chaotic, the former opulence entirely gone.

He consciously searched for Zhou Family members, intending to offer them a proper send-off.

Entering one of the rooms, he unexpectedly found a delicate-skinned woman.

Upon seeing Shen Qing, she repeatedly knelt, begging for mercy.

Seeing her meek appearance, Shen Qing was immediately alert.

He suspected she was intentionally revealing herself to protect her child; thus, to be cautious, he searched the room thoroughly.

As expected, he found a bewildered boy in the cupboard.

Kind-hearted, Shen Qing couldn't bear such partings, so he facilitated a reunion between the mother and son.

After more than half a Shi Chen of commotion, having taken some silver notes and taels and ensuring there were no hidden threats, Shen Qing had the skins of two wolf demons peeled and mounted his horse.

Having muddied the waters of Zhou Baoyin's affairs, in all likelihood, no one would speak for the dead.

As far as he knew, their dispatch office often drove families to ruin; he just played a bigger game this time.

Taking one last look at the burning mansion, Shen Qing was indifferent.

The remaining matters would be left to his colleagues at the Military Department; they knew the rules. Read exclusive chapters at empire

"Hyah!"

Shen Qing spurred his horse, leaving Changqiao Town behind as he headed back.

Not far beyond town, he saw a frail little girl in tattered clothes, cheerfully running toward him, clutching a chipped porcelain bowl with bright eyes, "Officer, have some tea."

Shen Qing reined in his horse, "Were you waiting for me?"

"Mhm, my parents said you're our family's savior, so I came to see you off." The little girl pulled out two warm eggs from her pocket, "These are from my mom for your journey, Officer."

Watching her innocent eyes, Shen Qing paused in silence before bursting into laughter. He accepted the bowl and drank, "Great tea!"

At that moment, he felt a sense of clarity, a weight lifted from his heart.

Returning the bowl to the girl, he tucked the eggs away and rode off.

"Thank your parents for me. Hyah!"

Seeing two gold beans inexplicably appear in her bowl, the little girl gazed at Shen Qing's retreating figure, murmuring, "What a good officer!"