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

Chapter 330 14: Hiring an Accountant, Current Situation in Taiping County_2

"Ah..." Zhang Shuyuan heard, a trace of joy flashed in his eyes, he quickly stood up, and cupped his hands again.

He deeply understood that such an opportunity was rare, and he bowed deeply and said, "Thank you for your great kindness, Boss! I, Zhang, thank you in advance. I will register my residency here and serve you as a long-term worker."

To register one's residency meant placing one's registration in the employer's household.

Though it did not mean becoming a slave, it established a master-servant relationship, which could not be easily reneged upon, and one must not do anything detrimental to the master's household.

Otherwise, it would be reasonable for the master's household to punish or even kill at will.

Shen Qing smiled and waved his hand: "You overstate it, sir. As fellow townspeople, it is only right to help each other."

"Boss is so righteous!"

After keeping Zhang Shuyuan for another meal, and once he was full with wine and food, Shen Qing arranged for the servants to register him and familiarize him with things at the residence.

Zhang Shuyuan was extremely grateful, repeatedly thanked, and then withdrew.

After Zhang Shuyuan left, Uncle Shen the Second tapped his pipe and said: "Qingzi, since you're the Two Department Chief, can't you dispatch some people to Taiping County to deal with those demons? It feels rather regretful that Taiping County has fallen to this state."

Shen Qing shook his head and said, "That place is a great distance away from Yongzhou, and we don't know the situation. It's unwise to act hastily. I'll send some people to investigate first, then make a decision."

"Alright, these matters I don't understand, Qingzi, you arrange it as you see fit."

"Okay." Shen Qing turned to Shen Xiaoshan and asked, "What stage is your cultivation at now?"

Shen Xiaoshan became very confident and earnestly said, "Brother Qingzi, I've started stretching now."

"Not bad, that progress is catching up with Xiao Hu's group. Later, I'll have someone give you some elixir, practice hard, and show some results soon."

"I know, brother."

Hearing Zhang Shuyuan's words, Shen Qing always felt that the Great Zhou seemed somewhat shaky, giving him a sense of crisis.

After such a long period of training, along with exchanges with many knowledgeable instructors, he was no longer the bottom-tier hunter who knew nothing.

Nowadays, many in the Great Zhou Temple are of Great Power.

Even when the Great Zhou Court was first established, many small countries were swept away, and the veterans of sects and forces still exist in the world.

These people, one of them could annihilate a city.

If turmoil truly erupts one day, and such mighty beings appear,

he does not wish to be a mere ant to be crushed under their hand.

Therefore, he must diligently train, enhance his cultivation quickly with the aid of elixirs.

In the following days, Zhang Shuyuan was full of energy and soon got into status.

Shen Qing also quietly dispatched several people to Taiping County to ascertain the truth.

After some time, they returned from Taiping County, bringing back a lot of news.

At the county office, within the Two Departments Office.

Shen Qing was buried in handling administrative matters within his own small pavilion.

There was the sound of footsteps outside, and several people approached, stopping at the door.

"Sir, we are back." Ji Youwu's familiar sound came from outside.

Shen Qing halted his work and said, "Come in and report."

"Yes."

The door was gently pushed open, and a few figures dressed in the Guardian Martial Department uniforms entered silently.

Each of their faces bore the exhaustion of a long journey.

Shen Qing looked up, his sharp eyesight scrutinizing as he asked, "What is the situation?"

Ji Youwu stepped forward, lowered his voice, and said: "Sir, it's not good. Taiping County has turned into a warehouse for demons, akin to a hell on earth. Demons run rampant everywhere, and the number of households remaining is not even one out of ten."

Although Shen Qing was mentally prepared, by hearing it for real, his brow couldn't help but knit together, though it quickly returned to normal.

"Be more specific," Shen Qing continued to query, "Is it just Little Demons causing trouble?"

If they were all ordinary demons, he wouldn't mind going personally and killing them on the spot.

It was not difficult for him.

Ji Youwu's expression turned solemn and he said: "Sir, the situation in Taiping County is more complicated. It's said that a Great Demon has occupied the city as king, which caused the complete fall of Taiping County. Moreover, I heard that this demon has demonic power unmatched, once swallowed a martial master in the Spirit Void Realm, terrifying strength."

A Demon King?

This was an outcome Shen Qing had never anticipated.

"What's the origin of this demon, and why did they come to Taiping County?"

Ji Youwu shook his head and replied, "According to our investigation, this Great Demon and its subordinates have been entrenched in Taiping County never leaving. It seems these demons believe there might be an Ancient Times cemetery near Taiping County, hiding a great opportunity, and have been waiting."

"An Ancient Times cemetery?" Shen Qing was even more surprised.

He had lived in Taiping County since youth, and never heard of such things.

Ji Youwu hurried to ask, "Sir, do you need us to prepare to go to Taiping County and eliminate the demons?"

He knew Shen Qing was from Taiping County, and suddenly inquired about the situation there.

Ji Youwu speculated that maybe there were old connections in the city Shen Qing wanted to act for.

Shen Qing lightly tapped the tabletop, making rhythmic sounds, and after a moment of silence said: "Let's hold off for now."

Ji Youwu was astonished.

It was different from what he had speculated.

Shen Qing instructed: "You've all worked hard, coming back, you can rest and take three days off, a good rest."

"Yes, Sir."

Ji Youwu put away his thoughts and stopped guessing Shen Qing's intentions, then he left the room with the remaining officers from the Guardian Martial Department.

Shen Qing stood up, looking through the window toward the distant blue sky and earth, suddenly recalling Zhang Shuyuan's words—A wise man does not rush into dangerous waters.

"A Great Demon in Taiping County can devour martial masters of the Spirit Void Realm, its strength is perhaps formidable; it's no wonder the court hasn't deployed forces to reclaim Taiping County. Under these circumstances, I should not rashly act, putting myself in danger."

"As for the Ancient Times cemetery, I am currently unable to explore it."

"Power, it's all about power. If I were stronger, perhaps I wouldn't have to be so constrained."

Shen Qing clenched his fists, his expression solemn.

He waved his sleeve, and the documents on the desk behind him closed, then he took large strides into the training room.

In the training room, Shen Qing sat cross-legged on a mat, focusing his mind, and summoned the inkstone panel.

Lines of ink-like text appeared in his sight.

[Skill: ??Heavenly Bow Method (Mastery)]

[Progress: 921/2000 points]

[Skill: Eight Desolate Annihilation Seal (Beginner)]

[Progress: 3885/5000 points]

[Skill: Six Paths Whale Swallowing Technique (Mastery)]

[Progress: 2247/4000 points]

[Skill: Great Void Art (Accomplished)]

[Progress: 377/500 points]

...

During this time with the blessing of the wish-fulfilling pearl and spiritual essence, his martial arts progressed steadily and rapidly.

And the bottleneck of the Innate Realm faintly showed a slight loosening.

Following this progress, it shouldn't take long for his level to break through once more.

"The next step depends on whether the panel functions well."

In the blink of an eye, a month passed, entering the depth of winter, when everything stilled.

A disturbance occurred in the Great Zhou Court.

General Xue Zhao's military campaign was unfavorable, and the army of one hundred thousand lost a third, neither Jinzhou nor Dan Zhou was conquered.

The current emperor, Ji Zikong, was greatly displeased and decided to advance the start of the Chaos Suppression Meeting, setting the venue in Dan Zhou.

For a while, many noble families and dignitaries began rubbing their palms in anticipation of this feast, arranging for the clan's younger generations and enemies to participate, hoping to distinguish themselves in life and death at the Chaos Suppression Meeting.

Unlike the excitement of these prestigious families, the ordinary people being summoned were each like they lost their parents, with faces full of despair.

To Shen Qing's surprise, his name was also unexpectedly on the list for the Chaos Suppression Meeting.

Not only that, but every official whose name resounded in Yongzhou was on the roster.