Life Is About Stirring Things Up

Late at night, candlelight still glowed in Sun Zhi's study.

"So that's how it is, so that's how it is..."

Wild delight covered Sun Zhi's face. His eyes were bloodshot as he set down the book in his hands.

Ever since receiving the Demon Suppression Division's reward, he had spent the entire day studying the Meridian Opening Secret Art that had been passed down to him.

Though it was only the most basic Meridian Opening Secret Art and could open merely three meridians, it was already a rare secret tome for Sun Zhi, who came from humble roots.

"With this Meridian Opening Secret Art, plus..."

He murmured as he took a porcelain bottle from his robes, his eyes burning with fervor.

Inside was the Meridian-Opening Pill he had dreamed of obtaining.

With the Meridian Opening Secret Art and the Meridian-Opening Pill's aid, he could break through to the Meridian Opening Realm tonight.

Martial Artists in the Meridian Opening Realm were few enough to count on one hand in Qiulin County. They could practically be called the figures standing at its very peak.

"Years of painstaking effort, struggles between life and death, and finally..."

Sun Zhi's fingers trembled as he opened the porcelain bottle and poured out a milky-white pill.

Just as he was about to swallow it and begin cultivating, he suddenly froze, raised his head, and roared, "Who's there?!"

Almost the instant he spoke, the roof shattered and a black shadow rushed in.

"Bold thief!"

Sun Zhi had no time to take the pill. He casually set it on the table, grabbed the long saber resting there, and slashed upward.

Clang!

With a crisp ring, the black shadow's longsword was knocked aside. The figure drifted backward like a falling leaf before landing steadily.

The intruder wore black nightclothes wrapped tightly around their body, exposing only a pair of bright eyes.

There was nothing distinctive about their build, and the longsword in their hand was equally ordinary. It looked like a standard-issue sword hammered out by some shady workshop, with no traceable origin.

The moment they exchanged blows, Sun Zhi's instincts began assessing the other party's identity.

Yet clearly, he found nothing.

Then Sun Zhi suddenly recalled the case Steward Qian had mentioned to him today. Narrowing his eyes, he seemed to have guessed the intruder's identity.

"Bold bandit. Were those wealthy households not enough for you to rob? You actually set your sights on me?"

Sun Zhi sneered, long saber in hand as he slowly approached.

He had heard that this flying thief was exceptionally skilled, but if they were only at the Martial Artist level, Sun Zhi believed he had few rivals.

That freak Shen Lin excluded.

"Looks like I'll be getting an unexpected windfall today. Those wealthy households have offered quite a price to catch you."

Sun Zhi kept talking as he gradually closed in.

But the flying thief opposite him gave no response whatsoever.

The intruder's gaze was not even focused on Sun Zhi. Instead, it rested on the Meridian Opening Secret Art and Meridian-Opening Pill on the table.

"Bold indeed!"

Seizing the opportunity, Sun Zhi stepped forward and instantly appeared before the other party, bringing his saber down in a slash.

The strike was heavy and powerful, containing all of Sun Zhi's strength.

Yet the flying thief showed not the slightest reaction in the face of it.

The longsword in the thief's hand traced a flourish before thrusting out.

The blade struck the steel saber with perfect precision, knocking it aside.

Then the sword's trajectory shifted, stabbing straight at Sun Zhi's throat.

Sun Zhi's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly drew back his saber to block.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The collisions between saber and sword grew ever denser. Even though Sun Zhi whirled his long saber so tightly that not even water could pass through, he could only retreat in miserable haste.

The opponent's sword momentum was like a violent storm and sudden rain, wave after wave, granting Sun Zhi no chance to catch his breath.

After retreating several steps, Sun Zhi finally seemed to notice something. He shouted in disbelief, "You're... in the Meridian Opening Realm???"

In this short span of time, the power of his qi and blood had nearly run dry, and his arms ached unbearably.

Yet the other party's breathing remained steady, and the sword techniques did not pause in the slightest.

This was not something an ordinary Martial Artist who had not opened their meridians could achieve.

Such unending power of qi and blood could only be attained in the Meridian Opening Realm.

But Sun Zhi was utterly baffled. You were a Martial Artist in the Meridian Opening Realm—why be a thief of all things?

What future was there in being a thief? If you sought refuge with those great clans and wealthy households, would you not earn far more than through this petty stealing?

In the instant that surprise arose in his heart, the longsword broke through Sun Zhi's defenses.

A flash of sword light cut across his wrist, leaving a bloody mark as the steel saber fell to the floor.

Feeling his hand go empty, Sun Zhi closed his eyes in despair.

My life is over!

Yet after waiting for a moment, death did not come. Instead, he heard the wooden door being flung open.

He opened his eyes blankly, only to find the doors wide open and the cool night breeze gently brushing his face.

"This... oh no!"

After only a moment of confusion, he seemed to realize something and abruptly turned toward his desk.

The tabletop was empty. The Meridian Opening Secret Art and Meridian-Opening Pill he had gone to such lengths to obtain had already vanished.

"You damned dog of a thief!!!"

A miserable howl rang through the night sky.

Not long afterward, Shen Lin, having just returned home, tossed a set of black nightclothes into the fire. He rubbed his hands expectantly and turned back toward his bedroom.

Two items lay on the simple bed.

They were Sun Zhi's Meridian Opening Secret Art and Meridian-Opening Pill.

The moment Shen Lin heard from Steward Qian that Sun Zhi had received the Demon Suppression Division's reward, he understood that he had to act quickly.

If Sun Zhi were allowed to naturally break through to the Meridian Opening Realm, what motivation would he have left to slay demons and exterminate devils? Wouldn't sparing his life have been for nothing?

That would not do!

Young people had to be tossed about a little. Only then would they have the drive to strive and improve!

Smiling and shaking his head, Shen Lin opened the Meridian Opening Secret Art and began reading it by candlelight.

After a long while, he shook his head in disappointment.

The so-called Meridian Opening Secret Art was unlike ordinary martial arts used in actual combat. It was simply a secret technique for helping Martial Artists locate the meridians within their bodies.

As for the three meridians marked in Sun Zhi's copy, Shen Lin had already opened every one of them. It was of no help to him whatsoever.

He tossed it aside and picked up the Meridian-Opening Pill, his eyes flickering.

This thing, however, would be of much greater use to him.

The Meridian Opening Secret Art also recorded how to absorb the Meridian-Opening Pill's medicinal power to open meridians. Shen Lin could directly swallow the pill and cultivate now, attempting to open his fifth meridian.

But after pondering for a moment, he shook his head and put the Meridian-Opening Pill away.

The best use for this thing should be together with the system's deductions.

During the deduction process, he could remain free of distractions and better absorb the medicinal power for a breakthrough.

That being the case, he had to gather Demon Lifespan as soon as possible.

Turning his head to look at the dawn beyond the window, Shen Lin stretched lazily.

By now, his Captain should have made a decision, right?

"Useless trash! Good-for-nothings! That guy committed his first crime a month ago! And even now, you people cannot find a single suspect???"

Inside the County Yamen, Sun Zhi berated the many constables below him.

Steward Qian, seated beside him, wore an ugly expression as he watched Sun Zhi darkly.

But Sun Zhi could no longer care about any of that.

After discovering that all his things had been stolen, he had been frantic with anxiety. In the middle of the night, he had rushed to the County Yamen to examine information on the flying thief.

Only then did he discover that despite having so many people in the County Yamen, they knew only where the person had committed crimes, when they had done so, and what crimes had been committed.

Beyond that, they knew nothing.

Was the culprit male or female?

How strong was the culprit?

They knew none of it!

Sun Zhi glared furiously at everyone before spitting onto the ground.

How could they solve cases while surrounded by such vermin?

"Captain Sun, didn't you say before that there was no need to pay much attention to a mere flying thief case?"

Steward Qian's voice was cold, and his words carried ill intent.

Yet Sun Zhi seemed to feel none of it. He snapped furiously, "What flying thief? This was a home invasion robbery—it was a robber!!!"

Steward Qian froze at those words. He looked Sun Zhi over, taking in his fury, before revealing an enlightened expression.

Well, well. Their Captain Sun had been robbed at home.

The anger on Steward Qian's face faded somewhat, replaced by a trace of mockery in the way he looked at Sun Zhi.

Just as he considered how to needle this Captain Sun, who usually held his head so high in the air, Shen Lin suddenly walked in.

"Captain Sun! What is this about? Getting angry so early in the morning is not good for your health."

Hearing that, Sun Zhi was just about to fly into a rage as he turned around furiously.

But upon seeing that it was Shen Lin who had spoken, his lips immediately pressed together.

He hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "You came at the right time. I have something to discuss with you."

With that, he ignored everyone else, stepped forward, grabbed Shen Lin, and left.

Only after reaching a secluded spot did he stop. Looking Shen Lin straight in the eye, he said seriously, "I agree to what you said before!"