Ink panel: Hunting the sun and surveying the sky from the bow.

Chapter 195 Demonic traces, private martial arts training

"Have you heard that demons have appeared in the inner city?"

"I just came back from there, how come you don't know?"

"Ah? What's going on?"

"The whole family was devoured by a cat demon while they were sleeping. I heard that they cut open their hearts and ate them from the inside out... The scene was really... Oh, I won't say more. I can't eat anymore if I keep talking about it."

……

Shen Qing walked into the courtyard of the Weiwu Division and found that the courtyard, which was bustling in the past, had a completely different look today. There was an unusually serious atmosphere in the air.

The servants who usually scattered around doing rough work had to stay together at this moment, and gathered into groups, talking in silence.

Shen Qing couldn't help but raise his eyebrows slightly.

"Captain Shen, you are here. Please moisten your throat and relieve your fatigue first." Liu Sangui's voice came from the yard.

He had a big smile on his face. He threw away the melon seed shells in his hand, poured another bowl of bitter tea, and waited for Shen Qing with a smile on his face.

Most of the gathered crowd were from the second and third groups, while those who were not from the second or third groups, such as Liu Sangui, formed a big circle outside, craning their necks to listen in a very unruly manner.

Shen Qing walked over with a normal expression and sat down leisurely in front of Liu Sangui. His eyes swept across the crowd.

Then, he took a sip of the bitter tea in the bowl, raised his chin and asked, "What's going on? What are you all talking about?"

Seeing this, Liu Sangui said seriously, "The city is in an uproar! I heard that a cat demon has entered the city and ate a family's children. Everyone is talking about this."

Hearing this news, Shen Qing couldn't help but be a little surprised.

There are two major county governments in the county town: Weiwusi and Bingmasi, which have enough power to control demons, rebels, gangs, and all kinds of people.

Even if there are small incidents such as gang fights or thefts, the Bingmasi can rush to the scene and resolve them quickly, which is far beyond the reach of places like Taiping County.

It would be fine if the two divisions outside the city were weak and there were demons rampant, but how come there are also demons inside the city? Where did this cat demon come from?

Shen Qing pondered secretly, but couldn't figure it out.

He asked, "What did the chief envoy say?"

"It's the same as always. Let the fourth team patrolling the crime scene handle it." Liu Sangui said mysteriously, "Officer Shen, you don't know yet. Because of this incident, many high-ranking officials who keep cats are trying to kill or throw away their cats. When I went out today, I saw litters of cats in the streets from time to time. The fourth team is very troubled by this, and the people in the city are even more panicked."

Shen Qing was silent for a moment, then reminded: "Then you must be more careful when you go out next time."

After staying in Weiwusi for a while, he found that except for Jiang Dacong who had arrived, there was still no sign of Guan Yunjian and Shu Jiushu.

"Where are Guan Yunjian and Shu Jiushu?"

Liu Sangui said: "Maybe they have something to do at home so they came late today?"

Seeing the dissatisfaction on Shen Qing's face, Liu Sangui and Jiang Dacong both remained silent.

After waiting for a long time, Shen Qing looked at the sky, drank a bowl of bitter tea and put it on the table, and said, "Let's go out for patrol. Don't wait for them."

Just as Shen Qing raised his foot, Guan Yunjian and Shu Jiushu came out from outside the Weiwu Division and said with a smile: "Chief Shen, the people below just sent a message that the traces of the wolf demon were found in our defense zone, so we were delayed for a while."

The people below?
Shen Qing raised his eyebrows.

He glanced at the two of them and said, "Tell me what's going on?"

Uncle Shu Jiu stepped forward, clasped his hands together, and explained, "It's like this. Early this morning, a woodcutter from Changqiao Town was reported missing to the county government. The locals said it was a wolf demon. The military department sent people to investigate, but there is no conclusion yet."

"Then let's wait for news from the military department. Is there anything else?"

"Gone."

"If you have nothing to do, then don't just stand there like an idiot."

Shen Qing didn't give the two of them a good look and took big steps forward.

Uncle Shu Jiu and Guan Yunjian looked at each other, feeling helpless.

He could sense that Shen Qing was becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the two of them and had some opinions about them.

But it was really unfair. They did receive some news about the wolf demon today, which delayed them.

Uncle Shu Jiu and Guan Yunjian, who were walking at the end of the group, looked at each other and whispered.

"What should I do?" "This may be an opportunity."

"You mean..."

Guan Yunjian nodded and said, "Let's get ready. His impression of us has become worse. If we delay any longer, I'm afraid he will be interested in us first. It's better to take advantage of the wolf demon incident to get rid of him, so as to avoid more trouble later."

Shu Jiushu said: "What you said makes sense, then let's get ready."

"Ah."

The two of them fell silent and followed.

……

In the following period of time, no cat demon was found committing crimes in the county town, but Shen Qing did not dare to take it lightly.

At night, when Shen Xiaoshan, Tian Xiaohu and others finished their work in the restaurant, he called the three of them into the main room.

"Snapped!"

Just after Xiao Zhi was the last one to walk in, Shen Qing walked forward silently and closed the door.

There were only three of them left in the living room.

Tian Xiaohu was puzzled and asked, "Boss, what do you want to do with us so late at night?"

Now, Tian Xiaohu and others no longer dare to call Shen Qing by his nickname in Hongjiazhai, and they all call him Dongjia instead to show respect.

Shen Qing said: "The county town is not as peaceful as we imagined. It is not enough for you to just rely on the knowledge of Taiping County Martial Arts School."

"So...I plan to teach you new martial arts."

Hearing this, Tian Xiaohu and his companions were all shocked.

They are not fools. They know that Shen Qing went to the martial arts hall not long ago to learn the court's superior martial arts skills. Now that he wants to teach them, he must be teaching them these.

This is completely different from the two or three tricks they learned outside.

Xiao Zhi has been hanging out in restaurants for many years and has some experience.

He knew clearly that people in the imperial court were not allowed to pass on imperial martial arts to outsiders. Otherwise, according to the laws of the Great Zhou, they would be exiled to a remote borderland at the very least, or their lives would be in danger at the worst.

Xiao Zhi said, "This is not good. What if someone finds out..."

Shen Qing said seriously: "So don't tell anyone about what happened today."

"What if someone accidentally finds out and discovers us?"

Shen Qing said without hesitation: "Just say you bought it from Wu Sheng of the Wu family."

Tian Xiaohu and others looked at each other in confusion.

"Didn't you hear clearly?" Shen Qing said, "A real man should not be too particular about details when doing things. Why do you think so much? Such a good opportunity is in front of you, are you going to let him miss it?"

"Yes, we have finally got the chance, we should seize it. If I am discovered and targeted by the government, you can rest assured, boss, I will never say a word about you." Tian Xiaohu said in a firm tone.

"Me too."

"Me too."

"We just need to be careful and cautious. If we are exposed, we can just say that we bought it from Wu Sheng. They will definitely understand." Shen Qing continued, "When we are strong enough, it won't matter if the government finds out. After all, only the skills you have can make people feel at ease."

Shen Qing knew clearly that the Thirteen Factories in the county town simply treated the county government as their own home.

He didn't believe that these noble families had not learned the superior martial arts from the imperial court.

It's just that the county magistrate turned a blind eye.

Even Wu Sheng's methods would probably involve a lot of people.

The matter of him teaching martial arts privately could be a big deal or a small one, it all depends on how the person involved handles it tactfully.

If family members learn it, the risk can be controlled and there won’t be any major problems.

(End of this chapter)