What are you standing there for? Take off your clothes.

"You damn..."

Shen Lin gritted his teeth. With a thought, the Qingqiu Body Tempering Art directly strengthened his staff. Twisting his waist, he swung it over.

Clang!

The flying thief's rapier was knocked aside. For a moment, she forgot to continue her pursuit, staring blankly at the absurd scene.

What kind of tough-body martial art could do that?

Just then, Shen Lin seized the opportunity and charged forward.

He was still some distance from his own sword. If he chose to retrieve his sword, he would inevitably be forced back again by the opponent.

The best approach now was close-quarters combat!

However, the flying thief quickly recovered, seeming to understand Shen Lin's intention. She flicked her rapier, directly stabbing towards Shen Lin's face, intending to force him back.

In response, Shen Lin directly extended his right hand, reaching for the rapier.

"Overestimating yourself!"

The flying thief spoke for the first time, her voice soft, like murmuring water.

She flicked her wrist, and the rapier twisted. It actually bypassed Shen Lin's outstretched hand, stabbing towards his face at a strange angle.

From their brief exchange just now, she had discovered that although Shen Lin could strengthen parts of his body, it seemed only one area could block her rapier at a time.

Otherwise, Shen Lin wouldn't have had to bother dodging those previous sword strikes; he could have just tanked them with his body.

And now, Shen Lin's action confirmed her suspicion: this guy had strengthened his arm, preparing to grab her sword directly and restrict her.

But she had already considered this. She changed her move on the fly, altering the rapier's trajectory.

It seemed impossible to dodge this attack.

Yet, a smug smile appeared on Shen Lin's face. He opened his mouth wide and bit down.

Clang!

His teeth became as hard as steel, and he directly bit down on the rapier.

"You!!!"

The flying thief's eyes widened in disbelief.

Did I guess wrong? Can this guy's entire body become as hard as iron?

The next moment, Shen Lin threw a punch, leaving her no time to think. She could only let go of the rapier and block the punch with her arms held forward.

Bang!

The punch, powerful and heavy, sent her staggering back several steps.

Only then, from the feel of his punch, did she realize she had been tricked.

The guy hadn't strengthened his palm just now; he had strengthened his face.

He saw through my sword move and knew I was going to change my attack???

Shen Lin removed the rapier from his mouth, twirled it with a flourish, and slowly looked up.

With the system's help, he had spent fifty-two years deducing the Gale Sword Technique.

In the way of the sword, how many people could spend fifty-two years practicing?

With Shen Lin's current swordsmanship attainment, although the female flying thief's sword techniques were exquisite, they were ultimately too immature.

After a few exchanges, Shen Lin had seen through her sword moves.

"Now, who is unarmed..."

Holding the rapier, Shen Lin said with a smile.

Clang!

The next moment, the female flying thief drew a soft sword from her waist. It swayed like a venomous snake.

Fine, I take it back!

Their sword tips pointed at each other, and an aura of killing intent began to spread between them.

But just then, a commotion suddenly erupted from outside.

After a loud noise, the sound of rustling footsteps gradually approached.

"Captain Li! Isn't it a bit much for us to barge in like this? This mansion is so luxurious; the person living inside must be someone extraordinary..."

"What are you afraid of? This is my seventh uncle's mansion. Although it's been listed for sale, it definitely hasn't been sold in such a short time."

Captain Li, wearing a black tunic with a round collar and a flat-topped hat, swaggered into the courtyard with a group of constables, saying proudly, "Besides, even if someone bought it, so what? We're investigating a case for the county yamen, and they naturally have to cooperate. Speaking of which, is what you just said accurate?"

A nearby constable quickly replied, "Completely accurate. I spread the word, telling all the vagrants and beggars in the city to keep an eye out. Just now, a beggar saw a figure in night-blooming clothes enter this courtyard."

"Good!" Captain Li clenched his fist, his face filled with excitement.

This flying thief had become increasingly arrogant lately, and the cases she committed had already alarmed the County Lieutenant.

If he could...

As he was lost in thought, a constable beside him meekly said, "Boss, I heard this thief is fierce and might even be a Martial Artist in the Meridian Opening Realm. Can we handle it with just us?"

"What are you afraid of?"

Captain Li said unhappily, "I never do anything I'm not sure about. On the way here, I've already sent someone to invite Captain Sun. County Lieutenant Hu might be a bit later, but as long as we can buy some time, the credit for this will definitely be ours!"

"Didn't Captain Sun get injured?"

"The mysteries of the Meridian Opening Realm are not something you can understand. Captain Sun has already recovered today and left the county yamen to go home."

The voices grew closer, and Shen Lin and the flying thief's expressions turned strange.

"Give me a diversion with one Meridian-Opening Pill!"

"Two!"

"Deal!"

"Give me one as a deposit right now!"

"You!!!"

The female flying thief glared fiercely at Shen Lin, extremely displeased with his opportunistic behavior.

But as the footsteps drew nearer, she could only grit her teeth, take out a small box from her embrace, and throw it to Shen Lin.

"Both are inside!"

Shen Lin took it, opened it, confirmed, and nodded.

In fact, it wasn't just the flying thief who didn't want the others to enter; Shen Lin himself didn't either.

He could have shouted and, along with the people outside, subdued the flying thief.

But that would present a problem.

How could a constable who had just broken through to the Martial Artist realm survive against a flying thief in the Meridian Opening Realm, and even manage to capture them?

Wouldn't his long-hidden cultivation be exposed?

He still wanted to lie low and develop for a while longer.

The female flying thief breathed a sigh of relief and immediately prepared to jump onto the roof beams to hide.

But Shen Lin shook his head and said, "This won't work!"

"Then what do you suggest?"

"Take off your clothes!"

"Huh?"

The female flying thief's eyes widened. Just as she was about to draw her sword in shame and rage, ready to fight to the death, she saw Shen Lin point to the bath, saying, "Take off your clothes and get in. Remember to keep your night-blooming clothes submerged at the bottom of the water!"

Hearing this, she finally understood Shen Lin's intention.

Her expression shifted as she hesitated. Just then, she heard voices from outside.

"Boss! There's movement inside, it sounds like someone's there!!!"

The situation was critical, and she could no longer hesitate. Seeing Shen Lin had already turned around, she immediately jumped into the bath.

"Flying thief inside, listen up, you have been..."

Captain Li stood at the doorway, drew his long saber, and shouted as he approached the door.

He nodded in signal, and the other constables also began to act, surrounding the house tightly.

Seeing that everyone was ready, Captain Li took a deep breath and was about to kick open the door when he heard an angry roar from inside: "What brat dares to intrude upon the estate of your Uncle Shen?"