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

As he entered the hall, Shen Qing noticed that today's arrangement was different from the usual, appearing somewhat more lavish.

He saw Shen Xiu sitting on the left, and puzzled, he asked, "Auntie, don't we usually go to your side chambers? What's this about today?"

"The family is having a meal together." Shen Xiu patted the chair, signaling Shen Qing to sit next to her.

On hearing this, Shen Qing went and sat down.

Shen Xiu looked her own nephew up and down, a hint of satisfaction appearing in the corners of her eyes.

One thing you couldn't fault the Shen Family for was their bone structure.

After these days of recuperation and having switched to a fitted new outfit, Shen Qing truly looked outstanding.

Broad where he needed to be broad, slim where he should be slim, strong in the right places.

Shen Xiu asked in familial terms, "Have you been getting used to life in the Outer City lately? Has anyone been bullying you?"

Bullying me?

Basically, those who tried to bully me are dead.

Shen Qing smiled and said, "The Outer City is always a mess, there is some bullying, but they're all trivial matters. I've learned some martial arts, and with my uncle backing me, they don't dare do much."

"If it's too dangerous outside, think about saving some more money in the future and move to the Inner City," Shen Xiu suggested with a frown.

Shen Qing calculated that he had just gotten a hundred gold taels from the Zhou Family, and now his wealth amounted to about one thousand five hundred taels of silver, which was nearly enough to buy a house in the Inner City.

But renting rather than buying saved money that would be better spent on martial arts training.

Shen Qing noncommittally said, "Hmm, no rush on that, we'll talk about it later."

Soon, another person entered.

It was Li Lingchan.

Today, she wore a plain white long dress with a hairpin, looking completely different from her usual self.

Li Lingchan had inherited Li Linfeng's wide frame.

Usually, the tight clothing she wore while training made this quite noticeable, but in a long dress, she looked more like the girl next door.

With some rouge on her face and her naturally fine skin, the already beautiful Li Lingchan was striking.

She carried with her a breeze of fragrance, which gave off an aura of a well-bred young lady.

As Li Lingchan entered the main hall and saw Shen Qing sitting at the table, she paused slightly.

This was the place where the Li Family usually entertained guests, and even if Shen Qing had become a direct disciple, he had no right to sit there.

A flash of puzzlement crossed her eyes, but she did not ask further and quietly took a seat on the right side for guests.

A while later, Li Linfeng walked in with a woman who was dressed elaborately.

Shen Xiu and Shen Qing quickly stood up to greet them, "Lord, Fifth Madam."

"Father, Mother!" The puzzlement in Li Lingchan's eyes deepened, she opened her mouth to ask but was interrupted by Li Linfeng's words.

"We are all family here, please, have a seat," invited Li Linfeng.

There were five people at the table, with Shen Qing being the only one not part of Li Linfeng's immediate family.

"Don't just sit idle, start eating," Li Linfeng said, picking up his chopsticks and grabbing a piece of meat, which he dipped in sauce and stuffed into his mouth.

After Li Linfeng started eating, the others also began to pick up their chopsticks and eat.

The atmosphere at the table was still not warm, feeling somewhat chilly.

Everyone seated at the table simply ate without speaking.

Women often matured early in heart.

Li Lingchan noticed her mother's eyes occasionally darting toward Shen Qing and then back to her as she ate.

Her heart skipped a beat, guessing something unpleasant.

After eating for a while, Li Linfeng picked up a bowl of strong liquor, took a few gulps with a gurgling sound, and placed it heavily on the table, producing a crisp sound.

Everyone, who was focused on their meals, looked up at Li Linfeng simultaneously.

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Li Linfeng's hands braced against the table and he scanned the faces of Shen Qing and Li Lingchan.

A few moments later, he withdrew his hands, picked up his chopsticks again, and while picking at the food, he casually said, "Shen Qing, how old are you this year?"

"Replying to master, fifteen," Shen Qing answered.

"Fifteen, eh? That age is about right for marriage and starting a career," Li Linfeng glanced at Shen Qing and said, "Do you have anyone in mind?"

Shen Qing looked towards Li Lingchan.

Even if he was slow to react, he now understood why Li Linfeng had invited him to this meal.

This was to set him up with his fourth daughter.

In the Great Zhou Dynasty, it was typical for boys to marry at fifteen, so it wasn't as if he was being forced into it prematurely.

Shen Qing honestly said, "Not yet."

Li Linfeng continued, "What do you think of my daughter? She is a year older than you, has a grounded personality, and knows some Martial Arts. If you two were together, you would be well-matched."

These words reached Li Lingchan's ears, and even with her mental preparation, she was still embarrassed and annoyed, even feeling a rush of anger shooting up to her forehead.

The originally rosy complexion on her face turned fiery red.

"Father, I still want to serve you for a few more years," Li Lingchan hurriedly said.

Li Linfeng glanced at his daughter and said, "Getting married won't prevent you from serving."

Hearing this, Li Lingchan gritted her teeth and knelt on the ground, saying, "Father, I have always wanted to achieve something in Martial Arts. Now is a critical time for me to pursue progress in my training. If I get married and have children, my Martial Arts will surely be hindered. Furthermore,"

Li Lingchan looked up at Shen Qing and said, "Even if I were to marry, I should marry someone with a career like father, and Junior Brother Shen is not the type I prefer."

Sitting aside, Shen Qing, seeing Li Lingchan's resolute attitude, analyzed the situation internally.

He noticed a bit of pride in Li Lingchan's character, and although it was not overt, her eyes carried a slight disdain for him.

Even if he agreed now, it would be like forcing a slack melon, which would not be sweet and would only be a burden to his progress.

More importantly, Li Lingchan was not his type.

Her face was pretty, but her waist was a bit thick, her chest small, and her buttocks not large.

He preferred girls with slender waists, large breasts, and big buttocks.

Ideally, they should also be gentle, virtuous, and stable in mood.

Li Lingchan, who jumped out at any disagreement, would be better suited to a more patient man.

He calmly stood up, then followed by saying, "Thank you for the kindness of Master, Matron, and Aunt. However, I am dull and come from a humble background without even a tile or brick to call my own. If I were to marry sister now, I could not provide her a proper place to live, and would only harm her. Besides, I have no romantic feelings toward sister and hope Master can rescind the order."

"Hmm?" Seeing both of them so resolute, Li Linfeng felt somewhat disappointed.

To tell the truth, he quite liked Shen Qing.

He had the Sight, knew how to handle interpersonal relations,

and he knew when to yield and when to be bold.

In his eyes, such a person, if he did not die, would certainly make a name for himself and establish a career in the future.

If he could become his son-in-law, it would indeed be a good thing.

Li Linfeng glared at Fifth Miss, as if to complain that her well-taught daughter didn't even understand the principle of keeping something valuable and let his plans come to nothing.

Fifth Miss shrank her neck and dared not make a sound.

Realizing both were unwilling, Li Linfeng sighed deeply and gave up, saying, "Let's eat."

Li Lingchan stood up, glanced sideways at Shen Qing, holding back an emotion in her heart.

"Shen Xiu was a concubine purchased by another family and later given to my father to keep as a side chamber, coming from an extremely humble background. Shen Qing is his nephew and also comes from such a background, and till now doesn't even have an entry in the martial arts register."

"If I married him, wouldn't I become the same status as him? I'm not saying I want to marry into nobility or officialdom, but at least someone from the martial arts register, right? What was father thinking, deciding hastily just because he saw some talent in Martial Arts?"

"In the Great Zhou, there are many with greater Martial Arts talent than him; it's just that he stands out among us here. Fortunately, he has the self-awareness not to overreach."

When Li Lingchan looked at Shen Qing and Shen Xiu again, she didn't know why, but she felt increasingly annoyed.

After this incident, the already somewhat cold atmosphere turned colder.

Li Linfeng only ate a few bites before he stopped and, after making some polite remarks, left the table with Fifth Madam.

Shen Qing voluntarily stood up to see them off, with no sign of dissatisfaction or annoyance on his face, appearing very calm.

Seeing this, Li Lingchan inexplicably felt even more irritated.

The face of Shen Qing that she had once found agreeable now seemed detestable to her.

This emotion, once it arose, even made her feel somewhat baffled by her own reactions.

"Getting a little achievement and walking around with his nose in the air, he really does not know the vastness of heaven and earth. My father is also getting senile. In these chaotic times, it's uncertain whether he will survive into the future, and he's so casual about his daughter's major life events, letting me marry someone without even a little background."

Already blinded by rage, Li Lingchan even started to resent Li Linfeng a bit.

She stood up coldly and said, "Seventh Miss, take your time eating, I'm leaving first."

Li Lingchan walked out of the main hall without turning back, her strides so firm that her hairpin jingled loudly.

After everyone left, Shen Xiu looked completely dispirited, like an aubergine touched by frost.

Shen Qing, on the other hand, carelessly filled a bowl with wine and then let go, continuing to heartily eat his food as if nothing had happened, belching...

"Qingzi, are you okay?"

Shen Qing smiled and said, "What could be wrong with me? I'm very well. All this good food, since we're already here, it would be a shame not to eat it. Burp..."

Shen Xiu looked even more dismayed.

"Qingzi, don't lose heart. If Fourth Miss doesn't think much of us, we'll look at other girls. I previously spoke to your uncle about this, and he said he would help look out for someone else for you."

"Um..." Shen Qing suddenly felt that he might have given his aunt the wrong impression.