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

Chapter 334 18: Acquiring the Treasure Bow, Troops Head to Dan Zhou

Shen Mansion, in the study.

After learning that he was forced to participate in the Jing Luan Assembly, Shen Qing recently reduced his involvement in the affairs of the two offices.

During the free time, he would either cultivate or stay in the study.

At this moment, the door of the study was gently pushed open, and a servant delivered a message.

As Shen Qing had estimated, Wu Sheng, whom he had sent to the Capital to seek the treasure bow, had returned.

"Let him in."

"Yes, young master."

With a creak, the wooden door opened.

Covered in dust, Wu Sheng carried a long wooden box on his back and respectfully walked up to Shen Qing: "Greetings, Boss."

Shen Qing gestured toward the doorway.

The servant standing at the door understood the signal and closed the door for Shen Qing.

Shen Qing glanced at Wu Sheng and asked, "How is it? Any results?"

Wu Sheng untied the cloth rope at his chest and presented an ancient-looking wooden box with his hands, appearing quite heavy.

He said with barely concealed excitement, "Boss, fortunately, I was not disgraced; I found a treasure bow in the Capital that should meet your requirements."

Hearing this, Shen Qing's eyes flashed with a sharp light. He took the wooden box, his fingers gently caressing the carvings on the lid.

The bow he wanted now required at least two hundred shi, and asking a craftsman to forge it was simply impossible.

And the heavy bows in the Hundred Treasure Tower in Yongzhou were unfortunately not much different from the heavy bows he currently had; even the larger ones were no more than iron embryo mortal bows, not what he desired.

After much thought, it seemed only Wu Sheng could search the Capital Region.

After all, the Capital City had the thousand-year foundation of the Great Zhou Country, which might satisfy his needs.

Shen Qing unlocked and opened the wooden box.

A glint of cold light appeared.

Inside the wooden box, a treasure bow of ancient majesty lay quietly, emitting a faint aura of spiritual energy, appearing quite extraordinary.

"This bow..." Shen Qing's voice was filled with undisguised surprise.

Wu Sheng stepped forward to explain, "This bow is said to be forged from a treasure embryo left over from the ancient era, not a mortal bow, and is quite remarkable."

"This treasure embryo, through countless ages, was discovered by a forging master and crafted into a bow with supreme divine skills. According to his descendants, this treasure embryo is extraordinary, an unparalleled material for creating top-tier magic treasures, rarely found in the world. Although this treasure bow is not an ancient-era magic treasure, it gets pretty close and is unmatched by ordinary iron bows."

Shen Qing gently stroked the bow's body, feeling the power within, a surge of indescribable excitement rising in his heart.

He took a deep breath, attempting to inject his own spiritual power into the bow, and the bowstring trembled slightly, quietly resonating with his heartbeat, maintaining the same rhythm, constantly echoing beside Shen Qing's ears.

Shen Qing casually pulled it and found there was a strong resistance.

His expression changed, and he wielded his spiritual power, wrapping his hands around it.

Under the stimulation of spiritual power, Shen Qing's arms turned a dazzling gold, as if cast in gold.

Shen Qing gave a light shout, his arms abruptly exerting force.

The treasure bow in his hand flashed with light, gradually being drawn by Shen Qing.

"Four hundred shi!"

Shen Qing called out lowly, even with his cultivation, he couldn't help but be shocked by the power of this treasure bow.

To know that an ordinary heavy bow with a hundred shi is already rare, and this treasure bow actually had a force of four hundred shi.

Such an arrow placed on the bow must have a fearsome power.

Shen Qing stood up, his mind moved, and he suddenly disappeared from the place.

He operated the Great Void Technique, constantly shifting, and appeared outside the city in the blink of an eye.

With his sharp eyesight, he focused on the distant horizon.

He slowly raised the treasure bow and operated the Heavenly Bow Technique.

A brilliant light arrow gathered on the bowstring.

With a low shout, the arrow flew off the string, carrying an overwhelming momentum, piercing straight through the sky.

With a roar, a dazzling radiance exploded under the scorching sun, like fireworks at the ultimate of the sky, instantly covering the entire sky, swallowing all the surrounding light.

At a glance, it seemed as if the sun exploded.

"Sun Shooting Technique, Sun Shooting Technique, truly impressive."

Shen Qing looked at the sun gradually restoring its light under the sky, a slight smirk on his lips, revealing a hint of satisfaction.

After testing the bow, he did not linger.

Shen Qing moved his foot, his figure transforming, flying back toward the Shen Mansion.

In less than the time it takes to burn half an incense stick, Shen Qing returned, back in the study, standing in front of Wu Sheng.

Wu Sheng, seeing Shen Qing's mysterious comings and goings, immediately stiffened, his expression growing even more respectful.

Shen Qing's gaze fell on the treasure bow in front of him and asked, "I'm very satisfied with the bow you found, does it have a name?"

Wu Sheng respectfully replied, "That forging master's descendant didn't mention a name for the bow, it should be nameless."

"Indeed, a bow is just a bow, doesn't need a name, as long as it's useful."

Shen Qing returned the treasure bow to the wooden box, storing it away once more.

He looked up and said to Wu Sheng, "You must be tired from the journey, take a good rest for a few days. There probably won't be much need to trouble you for a long while on my end."

Wu Sheng remarked in surprise, "Sir, you also have to participate in the Jing Luan Assembly?"

"You heard about it too?"

"I heard some nobles mention it in the Capital, the disciples of the Eight Great Families are all participating, about seventy people, each family has sent quite a few guardians to assist, it's quite a commotion."

Wu Sheng now understood why Shen Qing was anxious to find the treasure bow, there was this reason behind it.

"Sir, you..."

"It's fine, give it a try, maybe there's wealth for me." Shen Qing smiled.

For some reason, he felt no fear, instead, he was faintly expected it.

...

Winter passed into spring.

Yongzhou's winter had quietly gone, yet the air still carried a trace of chill.

In such a season, the sound of horse hooves broke the usual tranquility outside the city.

A team dressed in luxurious embroidered official attire rode into the city with an awe-inspiring presence.

These people were officers from the Southern Region Troops Ministry.

Without any hesitation, they headed straight for the Yongzhou County Official's Mansion.

The doorkeeper at the county mansion's entrance shouted, "Who goes there? Report your name!"

"We are special envoys from the Southern Region Troops Ministry, commanded by the court to execute important duties, report immediately."

As he spoke, the leader raised his hand slightly, releasing the unique aura of a master, which unavoidably oppressed the doorkeeper at the mansion's entrance.

Not daring to delay, they hurriedly reported.

Inside Yongzhou Mansion, having received the news, the Prefect Dou Wenxi and County Supervisor Yan Xushou, as the top officials of the county, hurried over, politely asking, "Esteemed lords have come from afar, what might it be for?"

The leader of the Troops Ministry retrieved a yellow silk-bordered list from his bosom, saying, "Acting on the imperial decree, our mission is to escort the Yongzhou officials and martial artists participating in the Jing Luan Assembly to Dan Zhou to quell the rebels."

Prefect Dou Wenxi and County Supervisor Yan Xushou glanced over the list quickly, finding it unchanged from prior confirmation.

The leading envoy, in an unquestionable tone, said, "The rise and fall of the nation, every man bears responsibility. Serving the country is our martial artist's honor. Please understand and support; don't let personal feelings hinder state affairs. We give you a day to prepare, depart by noon tomorrow."

"We comply!"

Dou Wenxi and the others had no choice but to nod helplessly, instructing their subordinates to start preparing for the march to Dan Zhou.