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

Taiping County, Inner City.

Most of the people from outside the city who had come for the market had already left, but the streets were still bustling with passersby.

Upon closer inspection, one could see quite a few young lords and ladies dressed in fine silks and satins.

This time was neither too early nor too late, and with fewer country folks around, it was the preferred time for many wealthy people to go out.

A host of merchants, peddlers, and restaurant waiters were busily shouting out their wares.

The aromas of fried snacks, pastries, and alcoholic dishes intertwined, wafting unrestrained through the streets.

The Fengwei Restaurant, located in a bustling area of Taiping County, had an imposing red door that could be seen from afar.

As one of the high-class restaurants in the county, Fengwei was quite famous.

Shen Qing had just returned to the inn when he was summoned by Zhao Ba's men, and he hadn't even had time to eat, so he was quite hungry.

In the past, he would definitely not have considered coming here, but after his visit to Zhao Ba, he had come into quite a bit of unexpected wealth, and suddenly he could afford it.

With newfound confidence, after returning from the Outer City, Shen Qing chose to dine here.

Shen Qing, accompanied by Xiao Zhi and others, entered Fengwei Restaurant and was immediately enveloped by a gentle scent of sandalwood mixed with the fragrance of wine and meat.

Looking around, the interior of Fengwei's main hall was elegant and tasteful.

Gold-carved screens, famous calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls, ink scattered lively.

The floor was laid with fine bluestone tiles, and above hung opulent brass chandeliers that dazzled the eye.

It was the peak dining hour, and the place was teeming with guests, filled with noise and clamor.

Almost every table in the hall was occupied, and the diners seated there were all respectably dressed, enjoying themselves as they pushed their cups and raised their glasses.

In terms of demeanor, they were at least a class above Shen Qing and his companions.

Shen Xiaohu had never seen such a scene from childhood to adulthood and was somewhat stunned for a moment.

A young boy at the entrance saw Shen Qing and the others and hurried over to greet them, "Sirs, are you here for a meal?"

There was none of the looking down upon them that one might have expected.

On the contrary, the waiter of Fengwei Restaurant had an excellent attitude, treating Shen Qing and his party with equal respect, regardless of their attire.

"I'll take a private room," said Shen Qing indifferently, his every gesture exuding an inherent composure that instantly made Shen Xiaohu feel ashamed.

He couldn't understand why there was such a huge difference between him and his cousin, who had grown up in the same place.

"All right, sirs, this way, please," the waiter of Fengwei led the way.

The waiter went ahead, clearing a path for Shen Qing and his group, leading them to a private room on the second floor.

Inside the private room on the second floor, the wooden carved tables and chairs were arranged neatly, and sunlight streamed through the window grills, illuminating the interior with a bright and warm light.

"Sirs, please have a seat," the waiter wiped the chairs thoroughly with a cloth, "What would you like to eat?"

"Bring me one of each of your restaurant's signature dishes. Make sure the portions are generous, and bring two jars of good wine," Shen Qing casually slapped a few silver beans on the table, "Attend to it well. This is your tip."

"All right, sirs, please take your time; I'll arrange it right away," the waiter cleaned the table and chairs, poured tea for everyone, and then bowed and took the silver beans from the table before leaving.

When the waiter was gone, Shen Xiaohu, who had been on edge, seemed to let out a sigh of relief and said, "I thought the lads working in this place would all be arrogant and overbearing, but they're actually quite nice."

Xiao Zhi laughed as he explained, "Hahaha... Young brother, I guess this is your first time here, not knowing how fierce the toughs at Fengwei Restaurant can be. Anyone who comes for a free meal or to cause trouble either gets sold into the mines or is beaten to death, which is why they have such a notorious reputation.

Now, most of those who come here are legitimate diners who pay with silver, so naturally, they receive good service."

By his side, Ouyang Tie Niu picked up the conversation, saying, "Nowadays, many desperadoes who have made a fortune overnight come to the city to enjoy themselves. The attendants here have seen a lot of it and are not so snobbish. It's those average places that, when they see the likes of us, might mumble something under their breath."

The conversation between the two enlightened Shen Xiaohu quite a bit.

The service at Fengwei Restaurant was very quick.

Within a quarter of an hour, course after course had already been served sequentially.

Ouyang Tie Niu was quite adept at currying favor, and before anyone else had reacted, he had already poured Shen Qing a full bowl of wine.

Shen Qing didn't say much, picked up the bowl, and said, "Fill 'em up, we've been busy till now, it's time for drinks."

"Cheers!"

Shen Qing tilted his head back and drank.

Compared to the baijiu of the previous generation, the alcohol here was much weaker, and all of it was rice wine, with a hint of sweetness, making it quite refreshing.

After a few glasses of wine, the atmosphere at the dinner table suddenly became much livelier, and besides Shen Xiaohu, who was burying his head in his meal, the relationships between everyone else had also considerably warmed up.

Shen Qing turned to Ouyang Tie Niu and asked, "Tell me about the Blood Bird's Nest."

As a hunter, Shen Qing knew a thing or two about the Blood Bird's Nest.

This type of bird's nest had a deep red color like blood, clear and lustrous.

It was made by a bird known as the Flying Sky Swallow on cliffs and steep rocks, using essence blood, saliva, and a rare red herb to construct the nest.

For ordinary people, the Blood Bird's Nest was a delicacy that nourished beauty and augmented Qi-Blood, and consuming it could strengthen the body and prolong life.

For martial artists, the Blood Bird's Nest was an even more precious treasure.

Not only could it increase a martial master's Qi-Blood, but it could also consolidate the internal foundation, making the body stronger. At the moment of breaking through bottlenecks, it provided extra confidence, making it a sought-after rarity by martial artists in their dreams.

Such a rare delicacy could easily fetch hundreds of taels on the market.

If hunters like them could get one, it would suffice for their family to live comfortably for several years.

Therefore, when Ouyang Tie Niu mentioned the Blood Bird's Nest, Shen Qing immediately took interest.

Ouyang Tie Niu pondered for a moment and said, "Do you know about the sons of the Song and Dong Family, Song Gongming? We need to start the story with them."

"Go on!" Shen Qing picked up a slice of tender beef with his chopsticks, dipped it in some spicy sauce, and chewed it in his mouth.

"Song Gongming has seven sons and five daughters, among them, the third and the youngest sons are the most promising. One is twenty, and the other is seventeen, both already at the Qi Cultivation Realm."

"To help his two sons break through the Qi Cultivation Realm sooner so they can enter the court and prosper the family, Song Gongming wanted to obtain some rare delicacies to aid their breakthrough. It all started with them seeking the delicacies."

Shen Qing was somewhat surprised to hear this.

He swallowed the beef he had been chewing and took a sip of wine discreetly.

If he remembered correctly, his own uncle, Li Linfeng, was also at the Qi Cultivation Realm, but for the two sons of the Song family to have reached such a level of cultivation at such a young age was truly terrifying.

Shen Qing asked, "How strong exactly is the Song family?"

"I'm not exactly sure about the specifics, but I've heard that in the Four Great Eastern Families within the county city, there are martial masters above the Qi Cultivation Realm, and many within their clans practice martial arts. Even the County Magistrate here has to give them some face and wouldn't dare provoke them lightly."

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