Chapter 106: Ink Dragon Severing River, Hundred Splinter Fist Bones

The Investigation Bureau hall.

After all, they were the prince's heirs, so Old Li arranged them in the hall and served fine tea.

Shen Qing entered the Investigation Bureau hall; Jiang Zhushen was the first to rise, smiling as he walked toward Shen Qing, and the others quickly stood up straight.

Jiang Zhushen glanced at the scholars behind Shen Qing and probed: "Should I greet you as Investigator Shen, or..."

Shen Qing waved his hand: "Just be casual; these are all our own people."

Jiang Zhushen immediately understood, bowed with clasped hands: "I have met Young Master Shen."

Those behind him followed suit: "Greetings, Young Master Shen."

This left Old Li, Black Dog, and the others bewildered, as they had always heard people call Shen Qing Governor Shen or Investigator Shen.

It was the first time they had heard anyone address Shen Qing as Young Master Shen, especially since one of them was a prince's heir.

Shen Qing nodded; Jiang Zhushen rose and turned to look at the brothers he had brought.

"Please introduce yourselves."

A tall man stepped forward and bowed: "I am Li Hou, third son of the Prince of Lu River; Li Hou greets Young Master Shen."

Another swordsman stepped out: "I am Zhao Yu, youngest son of the Prince of Nine Bends; Zhao Yu greets Young Master Shen."

The last one, still somewhat youthful, said: "I am Lu Qianxun of the Lu Clan of the Jiao River; Lu Qianxun greets Young Master Shen."

The three performed their salutations one by one, while Old Li and Lin Zikai felt sweat beading on their foreheads; four people had arrived, three of them princes' heirs, one a scion of a prestigious clan, and what was more alarming was that they were all paying respects to their own eldest.

Only the scholar remained somewhat composed.

After all, he had long suspected that, when Shen Qing had issued banknotes in Luoshui City for practicing the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill, they were all from the capital, so he had already guessed that his boss's background was not small.

But now, seeing it, he realized his guess had been too small.

"Please be seated and talk."

Having said that, Shen Qing strode to the main seat; Jiang Zhushen sat on the right, and the others took their seats separately.

Shen Qing went straight to the point: "I hear you've brought a secret technique this time, Young Master Jiang?"

Jiang Zhushen nodded and took out the rosewood box he carried.

"Exactly, the imperial court praised Shen Qing's thunderous methods in Yongning Prefecture and therefore ordered me to bring him a secret technique."

As he spoke, he opened the box; a thick aura surged out, and a mental pressure weighed on everyone in the hall.

This is a secret technique; all such techniques are forged by Grand Masters through countless battles, each volume infused with a Grand Master's great energy and effort, so they carry the Grand Master's pressure.

Others could bear this pressure, but Black Dog and his ilk found it hard to accept.

Jiang Zhushen reacted and immediately reached to close the box.

"No need."

Shen Qing spoke to stop Jiang Zhushen, and at the same time a vast pressure rolled out, overwhelming the technique's aura, easing the expressions of the scholar and the others.

This enhancement came from Shen Qing's "Spirit Like Dragon" trait.

Jiang Zhushen swallowed and said: "Young Master Shen, you're extraordinary—already at the Master level you possess such formidable mental power."

Shen Qing did not answer, but turned his gaze to the secret technique inside the wooden box.

Jiang Zhushen hurried to explain: "Young Master Shen, the court knows you wield a blade and are overbearing, so they specially selected a blade technique secret scroll titled Ink Dragon Severing River."

"It was created centuries ago by a wandering martial artist named Molongke; it is said that, frustrated in his cultivation, he roamed the Great Wu."

"One day, encountering a natural disaster, floodwaters raged, a great river split a couple; seeing they were about to be swallowed by the flood, the obstacle troubling Molongke shattered in an instant, and Molongke swung his blade, unleashing a colossal ink dragon that cleaved the river in two, reuniting the couple—thus the Ink Dragon Severing River technique was born."

Shen Qing felt little about the story, merely noticing something, he narrowed his eyes and looked at the wooden box.

"These stories can wait."

"I only established the Martial Alliance; the court should have given just one volume of secret technique."

"But you gave me two volumes—what does that mean?"

Shen Qing reached out; his true qi drew the two volumes free—a black scroll proved to be the Ink Dragon Severing River secret, while the other was a bamboo‑slip volume, its pressure equally high, clearly also a secret technique.

Jiang Zhushen scratched his head, gave an embarrassed smile: "Admitting this still feels a bit shameful."

"Speak."

Jiang Zhushen nodded: "It's like this, Young Master Shen—do you still remember the Prince of Dongling? His son Zhang Mo spoke rudely in Luoshui City and offended you."

"The Prince of Dongling was uneasy and dared not come see you, so he specially entrusted me to pass this Hundred Splinter Fist Bones secret to you, hoping you would show mercy."

Shen Qing smiled: "Ah, that's it, but the matter is settled—now his son Zhang Mo works under me."

Jiang Zhushen's eyes flickered with surprise: "There's more to this?"

Shen Qing nodded, slipped the two volumes into the wooden box: "Still, a gift given is like water spilled."

"The Hundred Splinter Fist Bones is mine."

Jiang Zhushen chuckled: "That's natural—if the Prince of Dongling knew his son could still be fortunate enough to serve under you, he'd probably set off firecrackers and send two more volumes."

Having said that, Jiang Zhushen rose: "Young Master Shen, I'll first not disturb your contemplation of the secret; I'll go check on those two Japanese pirate spies and see how they evaded the Inquiry Heart test."

That is the mission assigned to him by the Qingzhou Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Shen Qing nodded: "Fine, Old Li, take them to the prison; scholar, book a banquet; don't leave—spend a few days in Beiyun City."

Jiang Zhushen hesitated, then said: "Young Master Shen, we'd naturally enjoy drinking with you, but grasping this secret technique takes months; interrupting midway would be bad."

Shen Qing waved his hand: "Half a day is enough."

After the others left, Shen Qing first picked up the Ink Dragon Severing River.

A mental thrust pierced in.

Flickering images, aided by the remnant Grand Master's spirit, unfolded before Shen Qing's eyes.

Heaven and earth grew overcast, rain poured down.

Mountain floods burst forth, sweeping the land, wails filled the wilderness, corpses lay everywhere.

A couple was swept away by the flood, forced apart; seeing the wife about to be taken by the water, the husband, heartbroken, longed to plunge into the flood and die with her.

At that moment, a swordsman wearing a bamboo hat and dressed in a black robe stepped out, sighed, and swung his sword.

In an instant, heaven and earth changed color; a pitch-black dragon like ink surged forth, displaying its full ferocity, directly cutting off the floodwaters, allowing the couple to reunite and the people to escape.

Shen Qing watched the black dragon sever the flood, already gaining much insight; with a thought, his true qi gradually turned black, and faint dragon roars could be heard.