I'm Listening

"You lowly thing! I told you to watch the courtyard properly, and you can't even do that?"

"This guy discovered our secret. What if he gets away?"

"Bastard!!!"

Second Young Master Bai cursed as he swung his long whip, the crackling sound landing on the servant.

The servant's skin was torn and bleeding, and he could only let out weak groans, unable to cry out.

Shen Lin, upon entering, saw this scene and understood why Qianqian had opened the door for him earlier.

The servant's tragic state didn't elicit any reaction from him. After all, when they were helping the demonic creatures lord over others, they should have been prepared for this.

Beside them, a long table was laid out with severed limbs.

A head rested on it, its eyes wide open in death, never to close.

Shen Lin had seen that face just yesterday.

It was the farmer who had come to the Bai family to inquire about his sister's whereabouts.

It seemed Sun Zhi's words yesterday hadn't made him give up his plan; instead, they had strengthened his resolve to find evidence.

He had snuck in late at night, and as a mortal, he naturally couldn't evade the demonic creatures' detection. The Bai family had caught him red-handed.

Thus, he couldn't possibly survive.

The smile on Shen Lin's face faded as he silently looked at the wide-eyed head.

His sister, Yu Niang, had been brutally eaten by the Bai family brat. Now, even her brother had been dismembered and looked like he was about to become food for this family as well.

In this world, how could it be so difficult for mortals to survive?

Shen Lin strode forward, his face grim.

Second Young Master Bai naturally noticed him. Torturing the servant was not unrelated to provoking Shen Lin.

Old Master Bai had said this guy had extraordinary talent, but when it came to talent, he, Second Young Master Bai, only respected one person: his elder brother!

How could this lowly human deserve the old master's praise?

At this moment, seeing Shen Lin approaching with an unfriendly expression, he showed no fear. Instead, he grinned cruelly and said, "What? You want to stand up for your kin..."

But before he could finish, Shen Lin had already brushed past him.

Shen Lin walked directly to the table. Disregarding the bloodstains on the head, he picked it up and adjusted it, so that its wide-open eyes faced the courtyard.

"Since you died with regrets, you might as well watch properly..."

With a sigh in his heart, Shen Lin turned around and walked directly towards the Bai family's study.

"Hey! You bastard..."

Second Young Master Bai stared blankly at Shen Lin's actions, only reacting now.

This guy dared to ignore him?!!

Explosive anger surged from his heart. He reached out, about to make a move on Shen Lin, when he was reprimanded.

"Second Brother! Don't be rude! This is my guest!"

Old Master Bai appeared at the doorway at some point, stopping Second Young Master Bai before smiling at Shen Lin, "Young friend Shen, I didn't expect you to be so quick. Where is Headman Sun?"

"He's injured and waiting outside."

"Is that so..." Old Master Bai's eyes flickered as he sized up Shen Lin, who seemed to be acting normally, and said loudly, "Come, come, let's talk inside."

"No need to come inside," Shen Lin chuckled and handed over all the silver notes he had just found on Sun Zhi.

"As we agreed before, do you think this amount is enough?"

Sun Zhi was quite wealthy. Even after using a considerable amount of wealth to exchange for the Meridian Opening Secret Art and the Meridian-Opening Pill, he still carried over a thousand taels in silver notes.

Old Master Bai took the silver notes and counted them. He took out several bills and returned them.

Quite considerate, not taking too much.

Shen Lin's expression remained unchanged. He took the silver notes, put them in his bosom, and said, "Since the transaction is successful, it's time to proceed with the next task."

Old Master Bai was taken aback for a moment, then smiled, "Young friend, don't be impatient. Even if I want to get information for you, this old man needs some time to inquire."

Shen Lin shook his head, his expression serious. "Why go through all that trouble? Aren't there... five demonic creatures right here?"

"Hm?"

Old Master Bai didn't react immediately.

But the next moment, a cold glint flashed.

Clang!

The long saber was unsheathed, and Shen Lin slashed out, sending Old Master Bai flying backward into the house, causing a crash of tables and chairs.

As the noise subsided, the courtyard became exceptionally quiet, with only the occasional muffled groans of the servants.

"Father?!"

"I'll kill you!!!"

Second Young Master Bai suddenly reacted, roared, and charged directly at Shen Lin.

Behind him, a snow-white fox tail, taller than himself, was revealed. His fingers transformed into sharp claws, and his mouth grew fangs as he viciously lunged forward.

In response, Shen Lin slowly turned, raising his long saber and scabbard separately, perfectly blocking the opponent's hands.

Boom!

A wave of energy erupted, and Second Young Master Bai's forward momentum halted.

His sharp fingernails were almost touching Shen Lin's face, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't advance any further.

Whoosh!

A black shadow shot out from his shoulder, aiming for Shen Lin's head.

But Shen Lin, as if prescient, slightly turned his head and dodged the attack.

Second Young Master Bai's fox tail coiled, its tip becoming incredibly sharp, like a scorpion's stinger, and pierced directly into the doorframe behind Shen Lin.

Seeing that this attack was ineffective and his hands were held by Shen Lin, rendering him completely immobile, Second Young Master Bai gritted his teeth and directly lunged forward to bite.

The flashing sharp fangs were like iron teeth, capable of easily crushing bone.

But before he could bite down, Shen Lin drove a knee into his abdomen.

"Ugh..."

The powerful impact caused Second Young Master Bai to hunch over, the intense pain making it impossible for him to breathe for a moment.

But Shen Lin didn't stop there; he kicked out again.

Bang!

With a dull thud, Second Young Master Bai's body flew backward, his feet leaving two gouges in the ground.

He coughed up a mouthful of blood and collapsed to his knees, clutching his abdomen with a pained expression.

Shen Lin walked over expressionlessly, speaking as he went, "Arrogance requires strength to back it up. You are so weak, why do you act so presumptuously?"

"You..."

The word "weak" seemed to stir something within Second Young Master Bai, and he endured the pain to lift his head.

But what greeted him was another kick from Shen Lin.

Bang!

Second Young Master Bai tumbled several times, his head spinning, and he could no longer stand.

The next moment, he felt the scene before his eyes change, his body slowly lifting off the ground.

Shen Lin grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, lifting him up and facing forward.

"Look at him!"

Opposite him, a head was staring directly into his eyes – the farmer he had just dismembered.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

After a few coughs, Second Young Master Bai wanted to say something, but the pressure on his chest made it difficult even to breathe, let alone speak.

"Don't worry, you'll have plenty of time to talk when you see him below."

Shen Lin's calm words struck him with icy coldness.

The next moment, a steel saber was pressed against his throat.

"Stop!"

A furious roar echoed, and Old Master Bai reappeared.

His face was grim, and beneath the torn clothes on his chest, silver armor gleamed.

"You dare, boy!"

"Shen Lin... please let my second brother go..."

"Uncle... let go of my uncle!"

Such a commotion naturally drew the attention of the other fox demons.

They stood in the small courtyard, surrounding Shen Lin.

"Shen Lin, your talent is extraordinary, and you will undoubtedly become a powerful Martial Artist in the future. Why must you fall out with us over these mortals?"

Old Master Bai's voice softened slightly as he persuaded, "If you strike that blow, my second son will surely lose his life, but how can you possibly leave here alive alone? Knowing when to yield..."

Splat!

Blood splattered high into the air.

Shen Lin severed Second Young Master Bai's head with a single stroke, holding it in his hand, and smiled at Old Master Bai, "You were saying! I'm listening."