A Family of Seven

The courtyard had been arranged quite impressively, complete with artificial hills and water, and the scenery was lovely.

Probably not many of the wealthy households in Qiulin County could compare with this place.

This was not something an ordinary landowning master could have built. It was easy to imagine that this man's "business" had been doing very well.

He wondered whether his former colleagues' glorious records of demon-slaying had borrowed some of Old Master Bai's light.

As he pondered, they soon arrived at the study in the rear courtyard.

Behind the desk, a thin yet distinguished old man rose to his feet and said with a beaming smile, "It has been many days, Captain Sun. Have you been well lately?"

"Thank you for your concern, Old Master Bai. Everything has been well!"

Sun Zhi cupped his fists, his expression grave.

He looked somewhat nervous, and his right hand never strayed far from the long saber at his waist.

Old Master Bai paid no attention to his behavior, instead turning to Shen Lin.

Unlike Sun Zhi, Shen Lin had appeared utterly calm from the very beginning. He even had the leisure to admire the calligraphy and paintings on the surrounding walls.

"That is an imitation of a work by the current dynasty's Painting Sage. If you like it, young friend, feel free to take it."

As he spoke, he looked toward Sun Zhi.

Sun Zhi immediately caught on and was just about to introduce Shen Lin when Shen Lin spoke first.

"Interesting, interesting. Demons like you actually know how to appreciate human paintings?"

The moment those words left his mouth, the room fell deathly silent.

Cold sweat instantly broke out across Sun Zhi's forehead, and he cursed Shen Lin without end.

Hadn't this guy already promised not to talk nonsense?

What the hell...

Fortunately, Old Master Bai did not fly into a rage.

He merely seemed not to have expected Shen Lin to be so direct.

After a brief daze, he regained his composed smile and said, "You jest, young friend. We of the Demon Race are not ignorant beasts. Once we possess the ability to think, naturally we yearn for such elegant arts as well. Some great figures among the Demon Race are no weaker than your human masters in the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting."

"Exactly, exactly. Old Master Bai is right."

Sun Zhi hurriedly smoothed things over and changed the subject. "This is Shen Lin. He has just broken through to the Martial Artist realm and is following me now."

Old Master Bai stroked his beard and smiled. "I still trust Captain Sun's character. Please, sit!"

After leading the two of them to seats nearby, he called outside, "Qianqian! We have honored guests. Brew a pot of good tea!"

Before long, a beautiful young girl entered carrying tea.

Her features were gentle, and she wore a pale green long dress that accentuated her alluring curves.

From the moment she entered, Shen Lin stared fixedly at her backside without blinking once.

More precisely, he was staring at the silver-white fox tail that swayed openly behind her.

"Y-Young Master, could you please... not stare at this servant girl like that..."

After being watched by Shen Lin for so long, a flush rose to Qianqian's face, and there was a hint of embarrassed anger in her voice.

Sun Zhi felt rather helpless. He nudged Shen Lin and murmured, "Brother!"

"Hahaha, it is no matter. A gentleman loves beauty; that is only human nature. In truth, it is not only the Human Race. Even we of the Demon Race enjoy those with handsome appearances. Young Friend Shen is a fine-looking man himself. Would you like to marry my Qianqian? A talented man and a beautiful woman—they would make a perfect match."

"Father!"

Qianqian shot Old Master Bai a glare, then fled as though escaping for her life.

Shen Lin did not take those words to heart. He merely smiled and said, "Old Master Bai, do not joke around. Let us discuss business instead."

Seeing this, Sun Zhi cleared his throat and said seriously, "We came to see Old Master Bai this time because..."

Before he could finish, Old Master Bai interrupted him with a genial smile. "I understand what you mean, but you should understand my rules as well."

Sun Zhi nodded and gave Shen Lin a meaningful look.

Clang!

Shen Lin placed the cloth sack he had brought onto the table and pushed it over, without the slightest trace of reluctance on his face.

Old Master Bai picked it up. The heavy sack full of gold and silver was as light as nothing in his hand.

He examined its contents, set it back on the table, and slowly shook his head.

"Not enough!"

Sun Zhi frowned in confusion. "I remember, this was the amount before..."

"Times have changed, Captain Sun!"

Old Master Bai took a sip of tea and sighed. "Things in the mountains have been unsettled lately. There is a new chief of the stronghold. This one differs from the previous chief and does not like having too many entanglements with the Human Race. Demons like me have already received a special warning from him. Besides, I..."

Before he could finish, there was another clang as the door was slammed open.

A big, sturdy-looking child ran in, shouting, "Grandpa, Grandpa! There isn't enough to eat anymore! I'm hungry!"

If one heard only his voice, one would think he was merely a little child sweetly pestering his grandfather for food.

Yet this little child had fresh red blood smeared all over the corners of his mouth, and he held a steaming heart in his hands.

"Hehe, you little rascal. You are eating from the bowl while eyeing the pot. Don't you still have some in your hands?"

The child blinked his big eyes and replied in a childish voice, "But this is the last piece. After I eat this, Sister Yu Niang will die. When she dies, the meat will turn cold and hard, and it won't taste good anymore!"

Old Master Bai looked apologetically at Sun Zhi and Shen Lin. "This brat has been spoiled by me! Please wait a moment, gentlemen. I'll take this little fellow to his grandmother."

As he spoke, he stood, carried the child out, and comforted him as they walked.

"Didn't Grandpa tell you? Start eating from the edges. That way, your Sister Yu Niang can live a little longer. The most delicious organs must be saved for last..."

"But I can't help it..."

Shen Lin remained silent for a long while before suddenly saying, "I remember that the sister of the man outside was called Yu Niang as well, wasn't she?"

Sun Zhi was silent for a moment, then shook his head. "In the nearby villages, five or six out of every ten households have daughters named Yu Niang."

"If it is some other Yu Niang, then it does not matter?"

At Shen Lin's questioning, Sun Zhi gave a cold laugh. "What else can we do? There are seven members in that family. Apart from the child you just saw, the others are all demons who have cultivated demon qi. I know you are talented and skilled with the saber, but you might not even be able to deal with that little girl from earlier. Let alone that old monster who is over a hundred years old, and the rest of them."

"A family of seven?"

Shen Lin murmured the words, his eyes flickering as no one knew what he was thinking.