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

"With me, you're either in or out?"

"Yes."

Shen Qing's eyes flickered with an unusual light upon hearing this, "Haven't you already joined the team? Why are you still seeking me out?"

Shao Hongling smiled, revealing two adorable dimples as she spoke, "Lu'an Prefecture is a small place lacking capable people. Even if we join this team, no one is likely to take us seriously. We, who come from Jianghu, don't understand many rules, but we know that to protect ourselves, we must find a powerful backer."

Her statement was straightforward, without any hint of concealment.

"So you've turned to me as your backer?"

"Yes, of course. If you are unwilling, we will leave immediately and not bother you further."

Shen Qing pondered for a moment, then asked, "What are your cultivation levels?"

Seeing that Shen Qing did not have the intention of distancing herself, Shao Hongling felt delighted and joyfully said, "I am in the Qi Cultivation Realm. The two behind me are A Da and Xiao Man, who are still in the strengthening realm. I believe they too can be of help to you."

Their cultivation levels here were quite lowly regarded.

Shen Qing curiously inquired, "You are also quite beautiful. How did a woman like you end up in the Jing Luan Assembly?"

Female martial artists were not absent in the Jing Luan Assembly, but given it involved warfare, men predominantly filled its ranks, making someone like Shao Hongling a rare sight.

Shen Qing scrutinized Shao Hongling's graceful figure and voluptuous curves; her bosom was particularly hefty, no less than that of a lactating woman.

As for her beauty, it was stunning—her brows as if painted, high nose bridge, and naturally red lips.

Perhaps due to her practicing martial arts, her skin was not overly pale but still fairer than most.

Her entire body exuded a sense of strength.

If comparisons had to be made, she somewhat resembled the fitness women he had seen in his past life.

Curvaceous.

"This affair can only be blamed on myself," Shao Hongling commented with a hint of helplessness and a wry smile.

Through her words, Shen Qing gradually learned that it was exactly because of her beauty that she found herself in the Jing Luan Assembly.

The Shao Family in Lu'an Prefecture was part of the Chai Gang, a family of dozens of people—though not exceedingly wealthy, they managed a peaceful life with some fame locally.

Had Shao Hongling been of average looks, perhaps no one would have bothered her. But her striking beauty was her downfall.

The local County Magistrate coveted her beauty, repeatedly asking for her hand to make her a concubine.

But Shao Hongling, pampered from childhood and stubborn by nature, refused to marry someone old enough to be her father.

Therefore, she did not sway under the County Magistrate's threats and temptations and chose to remain defiant to death.

Over time, the annoyed County Magistrate made life difficult for the Shao family.

Just then, a vacancy for a martial master opened in Lu'an Prefecture, and so the County Magistrate recommended her to Jing Luan Assembly, leading to her current predicament.

"Aren't you afraid I'll have the same intentions as that County Magistrate if you seek me out actively?" Shen Qing swept his gaze over Shao Hongling.

Shao Hongling said frankly, "Actually, on my way to Danzhou, many showed their interest, mostly drawn by my looks, wishing to bed me, but I rejected them. If you wish for the same, I'm afraid I have no strength to resist; I might have to comply. After all, you are a handsome man, a talented individual, I wouldn't consider it a loss even if it's before my death."

"…"

The people from the old Shen Family, not to mention other qualities, certainly did not lack in looks.

Moreover, now he had cultivated a certain dignity over the years that made him even more outstanding.

After Shao Hongling put it that way, it made it seem as if Shen Qing was at a disadvantage, leaving him momentarily lost for words.

"Look up! The sky!"

Suddenly, an outburst of amazement came from the crowd.

Shen Qing and the others looked up to the heavens.

There, myriad dazzling rainbow lights streaked across the sky like divine signs under the firmament. Continue reading on empire

Each ray of rainbow light enveloped a person.

This was the Rainbow Light maneuvered by Innate Martial Masters!

Every one of them was an Innate Martial Master.

What was more shocking was that these powerhouses were not alone; they were collectively escorting an extravagant sedan chair.

The sedan chair, ornately carved with intricate patterns and glowing radiantly, was supported by the Rainbow Light of these Innate Martial Masters as they moved forward together.

A flag fluttered behind the sedan chair, embroidered with the vigorous character 'Bai'.

"They're from the Capital Family!"

People who knew better instantly recognized the identity of the group.

The one sitting inside the sedan was the Bai Family Heir, and those above the Rainbow Light were his guards, Innate Realm experts.

The main characters of the Jingluan Assembly, the noble sons, had arrived.

The people on the ground, looking at the trails of Rainbow Light, revealed expressions of envy on their faces.

Every time the Jingluan Assembly took place, it was a moment for these individuals to shine.

Just as everyone was astonished by the display of the Bai Family Heir, another series of whooshing sounds came from the sky.

One after another, even grander presences arrived, with beautifully decorated sedans driving up one after the other.

Each sedan bore a flag, respectively marked with the surnames of major families such as the Su Family, Wang Family, Zhao Family, and Xue Family.

The sky became a stage for these great families to demonstrate their strength, with beams of Rainbow Light crisscrossing, competing covertly.

Among the well-known families, it wasn't just the Princely Heirs arriving; other talented young lords and ladies also came in groups.

For instance, the Wang Family came in five sedans.

That is to say, including the Wang Family Heir, five young masters arrived, representing the pinnacle of their family.

The Cui Family and Xie Family also arrived in large numbers.

Each of these young masters had four or five guards assisting them by their side.

At first glance, all possessed cultivation not less than that of the Innate Realm.

There were even a few families accompanied by experts from the Spirit Void Realm.

The procession was formidable.

They descended into the camp.

Where they landed, without needing guards to clear the way, the martial artists on the ground naturally kept their distance, leaving a large open space.

The young lords emerged from the sedans one by one.

Dressed in splendid brocades, these noble family offspring had an extraordinary presence, followed by their respective guards.

This sight made everyone present hold their breath in awe, with a surge of indescribable fear on their faces, not daring to provoke them.

As many noble sons entered the camp, the guards, dressed in splendid armor, hastily moved about like hawks, busy registering their lords and ladies, collecting Merit Stones, and handling other formalities.

Among the group from the Xue Family, Xue Bai wore an elegant long robe, with Ancient Jade hanging from his waist, his eyes looking disdainful.

"Well, if it isn't Xue Bai, the scholarly young man from the Xue Family? Why are you personally here this time to grab territory for your family?"

Xue Bai looked up to see Wang Yichen, the fifth young master of the Wang Family, approaching slowly with a somewhat cynical smile.

Wang Yichen, dressed in brocade and wearing a jade crown, every move he made displayed the extravagance of a noble son, his words carried a hint of mockery.

Xue Bai was slightly displeased, "I come if I want to come, what's it to you!"

Wang Yichen was momentarily stunned, obviously not expecting Xue Bai to respond so bluntly, and he snorted and walked away.

"Relying on the Wang Family's numbers to act so arrogantly, you'll suffer later on."

"Big young master, I heard that after this Jingluan Assembly, Wang Family is aiming to take over forty percent of the positions in various states and counties, we can't let our guard down."

Every Jingluan Assembly, many officials die, leaving many vacancies.

This represents a rare opportunity for the major families to reshuffle, and they approach it with strong purpose.

"I know," Xue Bai said seriously, "tell me, have the people from Yongzhou arrived yet?"

"Yes young master, they have arrived, right over there," a guard pointed.

Xue Bai looked in the direction indicated by the guard, seeing many martial artists gathered together, numbering no less than four to five hundred, "Why are there more people than we expected?"

"Big young master, the people from Yongzhou have formed a group, uniting with the nearby martial artists."

Xue Bai's expression darkened.

His younger brother had died in Yongzhou.

This time, the martial artists from Yongzhou were the prime target of the Xue Family's attention.

He said coldly, "The more they gather, the more trouble we'll have dealing with them later. We must divide them, can't let them be united."

With that, he strode towards the direction of the people from Yongzhou.