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

Chapter 221 - 47: Breakthrough in Hunting Scripture, Tracking

As the days passed, news that Zheng Yuanqiu had given Group Four a month to investigate the demon began to spread within the Guardian Martial Department.

A tense atmosphere loomed over Group Four.

Some officers, hoping to keep their jobs, began maneuvering secretly, looking for ways to transfer to other groups to ensure their safety.

"Brother Li, I heard you've arranged everything on your end?" whispered an officer in a gray outfit, leaning close to his companion, his eyes filled with urgency and envy.

The officer, called Brother Li, paused his hand slightly, a subtle trace of pride flashing in his eyes, then curled his lips into a helpless smile, saying, "Spent a lot of silver, just got it done."

"Can you also show us a way? Over here with Shen, for so many days now, we haven't even found a decent clue. If we, the subordinates, stay here, we'll definitely be implicated by him, and we must find a way out."

"Each pit fits only one radish; it's not that easy. I had to spend this amount to get things sorted." Brother Li extended five fingers, signaling.

The officer in gray was slightly stunned: "Five hundred taels?"

Brother Li nodded with a grim expression.

A brief silence descended between them.

After a while, the officer in gray suddenly had a moment of insight and said, "Brother Li, our Lord Chief Officer is known to love money like life itself. What if we gather some from among our brothers to give to the Lord Chief Officer? Do you think he might spare us?"

"Hard to say, but I think it should work. If Shen fails, we push all the blame onto him; the Lord Chief Officer probably won't make things difficult for small fish like us."

"Then I'll go and ask the brothers, see who's willing to join in."

"If you decide, act quickly. Otherwise, a few days later, you might no longer appease the Lord Chief Officer, and you won't even be able to give the silver."

"I understand."

…

Shen Qing was not deaf to these thoughts from his subordinates, but he had no intention to stop them.

When the sky was about to rain and a mother wanted to remarry, let them be.

Skill was more precious than quantity.

He had more important things to do.

"Alright, done with the

Sitting on horseback, Shen Qing looked down at the alley below.

[Tracking] activated.

With a thought in his mind, every inch of stone wall in the alley from his vantage seemed to come alive.

On the walls, those tiny traces usually hidden among dust and shadows now lit up one by one like stars, creating a faint string of footprints with a hidden pattern.

Some footprints were crystal clear, while others were so faint they seemed to disappear with a light touch.

A surge of indescribable excitement welled up within Shen Qing.

He could really see them.

These footprints were small, extending from the walls to the rooftops, traversing the narrow, deep alley, not resembling human tracks.

"It's undoubtedly the demon, after so many days, finally a bit of progress."

"Whoa!"

Behind him, Ji Youwu rushed forward on horseback.

Increasingly puzzled by Shen Qing's action, Ji Youwu became even more pessimistic about his future.

"Lord officers…"

Suddenly, Shen Qing turned around and smiled, "You're just in time, join me in catching the demon!"

"Ah!" Ji Youwu looked even more distressed.

Crazy, absolutely crazy.

With no clue whatsoever, how could there be a demon to capture, and where to capture it?

Shen Qing showed no intention of explaining.

He gently tightened the reins, galloping swiftly in the direction the footprints pointed.

Ji Youwu followed with a look of despair.

In Shen Qing's vision, as the tracking deepened, the footprints grew denser.

Finally, they entered a private residence and abruptly stopped.

"After so many days, finally caught you."

Shen Qing's heartbeat quickened, a mix of anticipation and tension bubbling within.

Ignoring the puzzled looks from those around and Ji Youwu, he dismounted, walking forward while drawing the dagger from his waist, holding it in his hand, stopping at the main door.

Suddenly, he kicked the door open with force.

"Guardian Martial Department catching demons, bystanders move aside!"