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

Chapter 221 47: Breakthrough in Hunting Scripture, Tracking

As the days passed, news that Zheng Yuanqiu had given Group Four a month to investigate the demon began to spread within the Guardian Martial Department.

A tense atmosphere loomed over Group Four.

Some officers, hoping to keep their jobs, began maneuvering secretly, looking for ways to transfer to other groups to ensure their safety.

"Brother Li, I heard you've arranged everything on your end?" whispered an officer in a gray outfit, leaning close to his companion, his eyes filled with urgency and envy.

The officer, called Brother Li, paused his hand slightly, a subtle trace of pride flashing in his eyes, then curled his lips into a helpless smile, saying, "Spent a lot of silver, just got it done."

"Can you also show us a way? Over here with Shen, for so many days now, we haven't even found a decent clue. If we, the subordinates, stay here, we'll definitely be implicated by him, and we must find a way out."

"Each pit fits only one radish; it's not that easy. I had to spend this amount to get things sorted." Brother Li extended five fingers, signaling.

The officer in gray was slightly stunned: "Five hundred taels?"

Brother Li nodded with a grim expression.

A brief silence descended between them.

After a while, the officer in gray suddenly had a moment of insight and said, "Brother Li, our Lord Chief Officer is known to love money like life itself. What if we gather some from among our brothers to give to the Lord Chief Officer? Do you think he might spare us?"

"Hard to say, but I think it should work. If Shen fails, we push all the blame onto him; the Lord Chief Officer probably won't make things difficult for small fish like us."

"Then I'll go and ask the brothers, see who's willing to join in."

"If you decide, act quickly. Otherwise, a few days later, you might no longer appease the Lord Chief Officer, and you won't even be able to give the silver."

"I understand."

…

Shen Qing was not deaf to these thoughts from his subordinates, but he had no intention to stop them.

When the sky was about to rain and a mother wanted to remarry, let them be.

Skill was more precious than quantity.

He had more important things to do.

"Alright, done with the search, let's head to the next place," Shen Qing said to Ji Youwu.

By this time, even someone as temperate as Ji Youwu couldn't hold back, saying anxiously, "Lord officers, we've been looking for clues everywhere these days, for twenty-eight days now, and found nothing. The Lord Chief Officer ordered us to capture the demon within a month; we're almost at the deadline!"

Shen Qing stopped and asked, "Any good ideas?"

"The Lord Chief Officer favors beauty and money. Lord officers, maybe think of a way to buy a beauty or prepare some money for the Lord Chief Officer; maybe there's still a chance."

"In short, just give money and women?"

Ji Youwu hurriedly said, "Though it doesn't sound good, it's indeed a viable method."

"No need, let's just focus on investigating, we're close."

Ji Youwu looked at Shen Qing, who seemed calm and confident, feeling very confused: "What do you mean by 'close'?"

Shen Qing didn't explain much. At that moment, he seemed to have sensed something, a trace of joy appearing on his face.

His mind stirred, and an ink droplet fell from the void, spreading in his sight.

[Skill: Hunting Scripture (Entry Level)]

[Progress: 500/500 points]

[Status: Can be upgraded]

[Note: The path of hunting is vast and profound. Master it, and everything can be hunted. By applying and practicing the Hunting Scripture, this breakthrough can awaken the skill 'tracking,' rendering all traces of prey visible to you.]

Through these days of investigating, Shen Qing unexpectedly discovered that the slow progress of the [Hunting Scripture] skill was showing rapid improvement.

At this point, he suddenly realized that catching demons was also a part of hunting for him.

Upon realizing this, he no longer felt anxious, investigating and enhancing his hunting skill progress while practicing martial arts and cultivation daily.

The days were extraordinarily fulfilling.

Unintentionally, after raising the [Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill] to the Seventh Transformation, the [Hunting Scripture] skill had also met the breakthrough standard.

Shen Qing wasted no time, choosing to breakthrough.

[Skill: Hunting Scripture (skillfully)]

[Progress: 0/600 points]

[Status: Cannot be upgraded]

[Note: Through prolonged practice and application, you've mastered the skill 'tracking.' Every trace left behind will become visible to you when you use this skill, regardless of how long ago it was left, leaving nowhere to hide.]

Shen Qing felt a surge of excitement, hurriedly steadying his mind.

The next moment, massive hunting memories surged into his mind.

Within moments, Shen Qing only felt as if he had been hunting for countless springs and autumns, his understanding of hunting reaching a profound depth.

After a while, Shen Qing exhaled deeply, allowing his muddled mind to gradually regain clarity.

A wave of confidence filled his face, and he mounted his horse, "Hyah!"

Ji Youwu shouted, "Lord officers, where are you going?"

"To the place where Xi Shaoqin perished."

Upon hearing this, Ji Youwu nearly lost his mind.

Returning to where Xi Shaoqin had died for the second time, Shen Qing was well-versed in the way.

He quickly maneuvered his horse to an alley behind a tavern in Tian Dou Square.

Xi Shaoqin met his end in this very alley.

Sitting on horseback, Shen Qing looked down at the alley below.

[Tracking] activated.

With a thought in his mind, every inch of stone wall in the alley from his vantage seemed to come alive.

On the walls, those tiny traces usually hidden among dust and shadows now lit up one by one like stars, creating a faint string of footprints with a hidden pattern.

Some footprints were crystal clear, while others were so faint they seemed to disappear with a light touch.

A surge of indescribable excitement welled up within Shen Qing.

He could really see them.

These footprints were small, extending from the walls to the rooftops, traversing the narrow, deep alley, not resembling human tracks.

"It's undoubtedly the demon, after so many days, finally a bit of progress."

"Whoa!"

Behind him, Ji Youwu rushed forward on horseback.

Increasingly puzzled by Shen Qing's action, Ji Youwu became even more pessimistic about his future.

"Lord officers…"

Suddenly, Shen Qing turned around and smiled, "You're just in time, join me in catching the demon!"

"Ah!" Ji Youwu looked even more distressed.

Crazy, absolutely crazy.

With no clue whatsoever, how could there be a demon to capture, and where to capture it?

Shen Qing showed no intention of explaining.

He gently tightened the reins, galloping swiftly in the direction the footprints pointed.

Ji Youwu followed with a look of despair.

In Shen Qing's vision, as the tracking deepened, the footprints grew denser.

Finally, they entered a private residence and abruptly stopped.

"After so many days, finally caught you."

Shen Qing's heartbeat quickened, a mix of anticipation and tension bubbling within.

Ignoring the puzzled looks from those around and Ji Youwu, he dismounted, walking forward while drawing the dagger from his waist, holding it in his hand, stopping at the main door.

Suddenly, he kicked the door open with force.

"Guardian Martial Department catching demons, bystanders move aside!"