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

Upon hearing this roar, Shen Qing and Tian Xiaohu exchanged glances.

Accustomed to dealing with various beasts in the deep mountains, Shen Qing and his companion could tell, this was clearly the roar of a fierce tiger.

A fierce tiger in Shicheng Mountain?

"Let's go, take a look outside."

Shen Qing, accompanied by Tian Xiaohu, stepped outside the house and looked toward the direction of the animal's roar, only to be stunned.

In the sky above Shicheng Mountain, a massive hole had been punctured through the thick dark clouds.

From a distance, it resembled a celestial being casting a giant stone from the heavens.

Blue sky and sunlight poured down through the hole, presenting an astonishing sight.

Such a spectacle drew the rest of the villagers out of their homes.

They huddled together in small groups, and the scene became somewhat noisy.

Shen Qing knew that there were fierce tigers in Shicheng Mountain, as well as Black Bears, although they were rarely seen.

However, he had never heard a tiger roar quite like this one.

"I remember there are people out hunting on the mountain, right?" asked Shen Qing, turning to Tian Xiaohu.

Although it was already Li Chun, the tax officials from the city had not yet arrived, so the villagers naturally ignored the hunting bans of Li Chun.

Everyone wanted to take advantage of this last opportunity to make some money.

Tian Xiaohu replied without lifting his head, "Yes, they are. Every household's harvest hasn't been good, and now they're desperately hunting in the mountains."

"Good, we can ask them later what exactly is happening in the mountains."

"Mhm."

As they were speaking, a commotion arose from the village entrance, as though many people were frantically rushing into the village.

"The mountain drivers are back!"

Someone exclaimed, drawing everyone's attention.

Shen Qing looked over and saw Zhang Baqing leading a group of hunters into the village in a panic.

Each of them looked as if they had just seen a ghost, with terror written all over their faces.

Shen Qing stepped forward to intercept Zhang Baqing, clutched his shoulders, and shook him, asking, "Zhang Bazi, what happened on the mountain? Why are all of you running?"

Zhang Baqing's face was filled with fright, and he trembled all over as he stammered, "Demon... tiger!"

Shen Qing frowned, "A tiger is just a tiger, what do you mean by demon tiger?"

"We... we... saw that tiger speak... human language!"

"What?!"

At these words, everyone in Hongshan Village was shocked.

Exclamations echoed one after another.

"I've lived so long... never... have I seen such strange and eerie occurrence..."

Shen Qing was skeptical, "Are you sure you didn't see it wrong?"

"It wasn't just me who saw it; everyone heard and saw it. Chen Dacong was even carried away by a gust of demonic wind," Zhang Baqing said with certainty.

Shen Qing fell silent.

Zhang Baqing was known in their village for his integrity and would not fabricate such tales.

There truly was a demon tiger in Shicheng Mountain.

Shen Qing immediately said, "Zhang Batou, we don't know what's happening in the mountains right now. You need to calm down. Tonight, arrange for males over twelve years old to be grouped together, old with young, each to take a gong and patrol the outskirts of the village."

"We'll keep watch and see what happens. In a day or two, I will go to the city and seek help from the government office," Shen Qing said methodically.

His calm demeanor seemed to give Zhang Baqing a pillar of support, and he quickly regained his composure and hurriedly went to make arrangements.

The hunters of Hongshan Village, for generations, had at most heard of spirited foxes in the mountains but had never heard of demons in this part of the world.

For a time, there was panic in their hearts.

The entire village was enveloped in an atmosphere of impending disaster, and every hunter living in Hongshan Village was pushed by waves of tension. Each household placed their hunting bows and daggers beneath their pillows at night.

Ready to respond to any sudden changes that might occur.

At night, Shen Qing lay in bed but did not fall asleep.

His mind was preoccupied with the matter of the demon tiger.

At this moment, he felt that the world he knew little about had vaguely revealed a mysterious corner to him.

The night passed in silence.

By early morning, Shen Qing had already woken up early.

His older sister, Shen Fang, prepared breakfast for him as usual, her face betraying no emotion.

Shen Qing brushed his teeth with a willow twig and green salt, washed his face with hot water, then put on a thick cotton coat and walked towards Zhang Shuyuan's home.

Knock, knock, knock.

He knocked lightly and said, "Is the teacher at home? I have something to ask."

"Come in,"

camed Zhang Shuyuan's languid voice from inside.

Shen Qing didn't think too much and walked in, seeing Zhang Shuyuan still curled up in his blankets; only upon seeing Shen Qing enter did he make an effort to sit up halfway.

"Did you come over so early because of the demon tiger yesterday?"

"I can't hide it from the teacher, it's about that," Shen Qing didn't beat around the bush and directly asked, "I want to ask the teacher whether there really are demons in this world."

"Demons? How could there be such things? You must have read too many stories. Anyway, I've grown up and read so many books, but I've never heard of any place where demons have appeared," Zhang Shuyuan shook his head.

"If you're really serious, you can find a few mentions of demons in ancient times, but those years are too far back, and some are not very credible."

Shen Qing held reservations about Zhang Shuyuan's words.

Zhang Baqing and the others had seen with their own eyes; the demon tiger that spoke was definitely not fake.

"If there are no demons, then are there immortals?" Shen Qing pressed on.

"There are, but since the establishment of the Great Zhou Dynasty, only one has appeared."

"Who?"

"The founding emperor of the Great Zhou, the Ji Family's ancestor, who has now lived for nine hundred years."

"He's still alive?" Shen Qing was astonished; he had never imagined that someone could live until now.

"Don't look so unworldly; this is something well known among us scholars. The founding emperor of Great Zhou became an immortal through martial arts and has lived a second life. He is the only martial immortal of this era."

"But because it involves the imperial family's ethics, it has always been kept secret, just not publicized to common folks like you. What did you think, that the Ji Family has been able to sit on the throne for nine hundred years and still stand unshaken?"

Zhang Shuyuan's words made Shen Qing's scalp tingle.

He didn't remember much else very clearly, only one phrase stood out: "became an immortal through martial arts."

There really were immortals in this world.

Until now, he had just been ignorant.

Shen Qing continued to ask some other trivial details and asked, "Teacher, do you have any historical and cultural records about this world? I'd like to take a look at some."

"You haven't mastered all the characters yet, you wouldn't understand even if I told you."

Hearing this, Shen Qing silently stepped forward and placed three silver beans on the table.

The sound of each silver bean was extremely pleasant to the ear.

Lying in bed, Zhang Shuyuan sighed leisurely and climbed out of the warm quilt.

Then in front of Shen Qing, he took two books off the shelf and handed them to Shen Qing, saying, "Take a look at these, and come ask me if there's anything you don't understand."

Shen Qing clasped his fists in thanks and said, "I have disturbed the teacher. I will take my leave."

"What's the use of reading when you don't even recognize all the characters? Forget it, the old master said 'education without class distinction,' letting him read more books won't do any harm."

Zhang Shuyuan swept the silver beans into his pocket and nestled back into his quilt.