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

"Dear husband, you're mistaken. If I stay here, it's the safest. They won't easily make a move on us."

Huangfu Rou said seriously, "According to the intelligence gathered by the Mountain and Sea Division over the years, the Yellow Heaven Sect is not to be underestimated; they are suspected to have obtained ancient heritage."

"If they truly concentrate all their efforts to attack the city, it's hard to say what would happen to the Capital."

"Do you think the court will lose?"

"Not necessarily."

Huangfu Rou continued, "The Ji family's nine hundred years of accumulated heritage is extremely formidable. We do not know the extent of their power. Even if the Yellow Heaven Sect comes, they may not gain any benefit."

"Then what do you mean..." Shen Qing was puzzled.

Huangfu Rou said seriously, "My father taught me from a young age that eggs cannot all be placed in one basket. You and I, as husband and wife, are one. If we are both outside the city, and if the court wins in the future, we might have difficulty explaining ourselves. Conversely, if we are both in the city and the Yellow Heaven Sect wins, it would be extremely disadvantageous for us."

"The best way is for you and I to each guard a place, so no matter the outcome between the two parties in the future, we will have more room to maneuver."

Shen Qing said, "Isn't this putting you in danger?"

The usually unsmiling Huangfu Rou smiled sweetly and said, "If I truly am in danger, wouldn't you, as my husband, be there?"

Shen Qing, being a very decisive person, seeing Huangfu Rou's resolute manner, did not persuade further.

"Alright, if you see things going wrong, I'll come to take you out of the city."

"I understand what is important."

Shen Qing turned and left the Mountain and Sea Division, directly finding Yu Haibei, and instructed, "We're patrolling the Capital day and night, and there is nothing happening within. If there's an issue, it's definitely outside the city. Take some reliable brothers and follow me out of the city."

Yu Haibei, without any hesitation, organized a group and quickly followed Shen Qing out of the city.

Li Mansion.

In a pavilion, Li Zhentian, with nothing to do, grabbed and threw handfuls of fish feed into the pond.

Under the water, golden and red carp swarmed from all directions, scrambling for food, splashing water everywhere.

"You're saying, the Marquis of Wu'an and his family just left the city?"

Li family's steward, Li Wenxu, bowed and said, "Indeed, it was a maid by the Tenth Miss's side who specifically came to inform us."

Hearing this, Li Zhentian mused, "It shows she is a filial child. Release his parents and siblings. We won't trouble them in the future."

"Yes. Regarding the matter of the Marquis of Wu'an..." Li Wenxu asked with folded hands in a requesting manner.

Li Zhentian pondered, "The Marquis of Wu'an is not one to seek trouble and show off. If he's moving the whole family, he must have caught wind of some incredible news. People move and live by what is best for them. He must have known something unheard by me, indicating a change in the Capital perhaps."

"I have a country estate outside the city; make preparations for the young masters and miss to pack up and leave the city, taking some elders and the family's most valuable items to stay there for a few days."

"Do we really need to make such a big fuss?"

"It's better to believe in its existence than its absence. I'd rather go through the trouble than make an error that harms the family." Li Zhentian said with a calm expression.

Li Wenxu, having no further thoughts, directly took the order, "Yes, Master. I'll handle it immediately."

After more than half an hour, following the Marquis of Wu'an's residence, the Li family also dispatched a series of carriages toward outside the city.

The crowd on the streets was curious, wondering if today was some special day, seeing such a bustle.

...

In the Imperial Palace, inside the Spirit Nourishing Hall.

A grand eunuch without a long beard hurriedly rushed in from outside the hall, his face contorted as he said, "Your Majesty, something has happened."

Sitting cross-legged on a yellow meditation cushion, Ji Zikong opened his eyes, which were bright as lightning.

He said with a face as calm as still water, "What happened?"

"The Seventh Prince was found dead at home."

"What happened?" Ji Zikong's face changed slightly as he asked.

"The servants discovered that the Seventh Prince was practicing the Great Saint Physique Technique, suffered from Qi deviation, and died as his meridians got severed."

Ji Zikong frowned, murmuring, "The Great Saint Physique Technique? The one Duke Shen practices?"

"Exactly, Your Majesty."

Almost immediately, Ji Zikong thought that Shen Qing perhaps bypassed them and hadn't practiced that legendary Martial technique.

He was able to resist the temptation of Martial Arts techniques.

Ji Zikong couldn't help but find this amusing and unconsciously held Shen Qing in higher regard.

This young man really is interesting.

"Your Majesty, should I summon Lord Shen to the palace for this matter?"

Ji Zikong said indifferently, "How did the Seventh Prince get his hands on this Martial Arts technique? I seem to recall not permitting him to practice other Martial techniques?"

"This..."

The grand eunuch instinctively sensed the implication in Ji Zikong's words; there wasn't any intention to target Shen Qing.

He brooded over his word choice and said, "As far as the old servant knows, the reason the Seventh Prince obtained this Martial Arts technique was due to Chief Steward Ji's involvement."

"Then summon him to the hall; I need to question how he is managing as Chief Steward."

"At once, I will find Chief Steward Ji."

Ji Zikong's lips parted as he uttered chilling words, "Also, the guards around the Seventh Prince failed to protect him; execute them all."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The grand eunuch exited the Spirit Nourishing Hall, and no sooner did he leave than an armored, weary-looking official from the Military Department rushed to the front of the Spirit Nourishing Hall.

He fell to his knees outside the vermilion doors, alarmed, he said, "Your Majesty, I have an urgent matter of extreme importance that needs reporting!"

Inside the Spirit Nourishing Hall, Ji Zikong, sitting on the dragon throne, his gaze as sharp as an eagle, penetrated through layers of obstacles, directly watching the trembling figure below.

"What makes you so panicked?"

Ji Zikong's voice came from the depths of the hall, charged with an overwhelming sense of authority.

"Reporting to Your Majesty," the official's forehead was beaded with sweat as he hurriedly said, "Lord Lan of the Military Department... he... his lordship was killed outside the city by the Yellow Heaven Sect..." Read exclusive adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

At these words, the entire hall plunged into a dead silence.

Emperor Ji Zikong's expression changed drastically, a flash of disbelief and shock glinted in those profound eyes.

He abruptly stood up, as the golden dragon pattern on his robe seemed to leap.

"What did you say? Lord Lan... was actually... killed by the Yellow Heaven Sect?"

"Yes."

In this moment, the entire palace seemed to feel the emperor's turbulent emotions, with a strong aura held at bay yet surging forth.

Even the death of the Seventh Prince hadn't moved him so.

After all, he had many children: even if all currently perished, he could still sow new seeds and father more heirs.

But the loss of Lan Gongliang was different.

He was truly a Kongyou Realm martial master.

Looking across the entire Great Zhou, how many martial masters of his caliber could there be?

Just mysteriously dying like this, how could he stay calm?

"Pass my decree, summon General Zhao..."

Boom!

Before Ji Zikong could finish his sentence, a thunderous roar echoed from the sky.

Following it, he felt as if the world spun, and the ground began to tremble.

"What is going on?"

Ji Zikong's expression was extremely displeased; he strode out of the Spirit Nourishing Hall, and upon seeing the distant horizon, he was rendered speechless with astonishment.

The entire world seemed thrown into turmoil by an invisible force, the rumble of roaring chaos crashing upon them like tidal waves.

In the western skyline of the Capital, an eerie, unfathomable yellow eerily shimmered, bright as fiery flames.

Continuous, thunderous roars echoed from within.

This spectacle caused the grand eunuch and others nearby to involuntarily shiver, the hairs on the back of their neck standing on end as if a chill pierced their souls.

Even Ji Zikong, the emperor, upon witnessing such a sight for the first time, was taken aback.

Raising his gaze, he saw several airships of various shapes and styles, seemingly ancient treasures from time immemorial, floating in mid-air by mystical power, releasing a powerful pressure.

Concentrated together, they would surely make mountains shake and extinguish the shining sun and moon.

Above them, a flag with the words "Yellow Heaven" fluttered high.

The Yellow Heaven rebels had truly invaded the Capital!