"Ma... Master Shen?"
The constables who had come with Captain Li were startled when they heard that voice.
These days, who in Qiulin County had not heard of Shen Lin's resounding reputation?
"Captain Li, that sounds... it really sounds like Master Shen."
"Master this, Master that. Is he, Shen Lin, worthy of being called Master?"
Captain Li's expression grew even uglier when he heard Shen Lin's voice.
That fellow had relied on good luck to break through and become a martial artist, and lately, his reputation in Qiulin County had already surpassed Captain Li's.
In the past, whenever people talked about Qiulin County's young talents, who had not praised Li Bailin for being young and promising?
But now?
"Shen Lin! Is this your house?"
"Oh? That voice... isn't it Captain Li? Why have you barged into my home in the middle of the night?"
"We're investigating a flying thief!!!" Li Bailin frowned and shouted, "Shen Lin, since you know I'm here, why aren't you coming out to see me?"
"I'm taking a bath. It's inconvenient to come out!"
Hearing this, Li Bailin's eyes shifted, and he sneered, "It's not that it's inconvenient. You have a guilty conscience, don't you?"
Without waiting for Shen Lin to answer, he kicked the door open.
Bang!
The wooden door flew open, but no one besides Li Bailin moved.
The constables looked at one another, yet not one of them charged inside.
Once they learned that the house belonged to Shen Lin, every one of them began to have second thoughts.
Shen Lin had become a martial artist at such a young age. He would inevitably become a constable captain in the future, and he might even reach the Meridian Opening Realm and take County Lieutenant Hu's position.
It was clearly unwise to offend someone like that.
But with Li Bailin here, they obviously had no choice.
"What are you standing around for? Get inside and search! If you let the flying thief escape, I'll hold every one of you responsible!!!"
If they did not offend Shen Lin, they would have to offend Li Bailin.
The constables hesitated for a while, but in the end, they stepped inside.
After all, everyone in Qiulin County knew that Li Bailin was not only narrow-minded but also came from an extraordinary family.
If they offended him, they would have to leave the County Yamen long before the day Shen Lin rose to power.
Seeing the constables file inside, Li Bailin nodded in satisfaction and followed them in.
After passing around a folding screen, he saw Shen Lin.
Shen Lin was bare-chested, both hands resting on the edge of the bath. His face was grim as he stared at the constables who had barged in, and he said in a low voice, "Captain Li, this is going a little too far."
Li Bailin paid no attention to him. "We're only investigating the flying thief case. I'm sure Shen Lin can understand my brothers' actions."
"Then you'd better manage to find something!"
"Don't worry. I didn't take these brothers of mine on just to sit around and eat their fill."
The constables then began turning the entire house upside down.
Just as Shen Lin had expected, they left no place unchecked—not the roof beams, nor any other hidden corner.
But clearly, they were destined to find nothing.
"Captain! Nothing here!"
"Nothing on my end either!"
"We've searched everywhere. There's no trace of anyone else."
As he listened to the constables' reports, Li Bailin's expression grew darker and darker.
Shen Lin, on the other hand, remained calm from beginning to end.
Looking at the constables who stood there with lowered heads and awkward expressions, he said calmly, "Since that's the case, please leave. Tomorrow, I'll personally go speak with County Lieutenant Hu about this matter."
Li Bailin gave no response. He merely turned around with a dark expression and walked outside.
But just as he reached the doorway, he suddenly stopped and spun around.
Shen Lin thought he had discovered something and was just about to speak when he saw a half-smiling expression on Li Bailin's face.
"Wang Er! You said someone saw a person in night clothes enter this house with their own eyes, right?"
The constable who had reported earlier thought Li Bailin was about to make trouble for him. He forced a bitter smile and said, "That's right, Captain. But now that we've seen this, that fellow might have been trying to swindle money. I'll definitely—"
"No, no, no!" Li Bailin shook his head and chuckled. "Tell me, is there a possibility that the flying thief is inside this house?"
"But we searched the entire house and didn't find anything."
Li Bailin slowly raised his hand and pointed at Shen Lin.
"Look. Isn't there someone right there?"
"Huh?"
The constable under his command turned around and stared at Shen Lin in bewilderment.
At this point, Shen Lin seemed to understand what the other man intended. He sneered, "Captain Li, are you trying to pin the flying thief's name on me? Frame me and set me up?"
"What are you talking about? Someone saw it with their own eyes. How could that count as framing you?"
Li Bailin smiled and waved his hand. "Come, help Master Shen get dressed. Then we'll—"
But at that moment, the bath churned violently, and a figure suddenly burst out of the water.
"Who's there?"
"There's something going on!!!"
"Protect the captain!!!"
The constables were startled by the sudden turn of events and drew the long blades at their waists one after another.
Shen Lin watched the female flying thief, who was gasping for breath, and sighed helplessly.
She was naked at this moment, her thick hair shielding her chest and revealing only her smooth back to the constables.
Even a martial artist of the Meridian Opening Realm was still made of flesh and blood. It was impossible to stay underwater forever without breathing.
Because of his plan to frame Shen Lin, Li Bailin had not left immediately. As a result, the female flying thief could no longer endure it and had been forced to emerge from the water.
"Good, Shen Lin! You really have been sheltering the flying thief all along. Now let's see how you—"
Li Bailin froze for a moment, then suddenly showed an expression of wild joy.
He had really found her???
Yet Shen Lin remained unhurried. He merely gently stroked the person's cheek and said tenderly, "Wait for me a moment. I'll get rid of these annoying fellows first."
With that, he slowly rose from the bath.
The constables stared at the naked Shen Lin before them, then looked curiously at the legendary demon-slaying weapon said to have killed a monster.
Hmm, it was like the gnarled roots of an ancient tree, and like a Flood Dragon surging from the sea—truly magnificent!
Shen Lin did not care in the slightest about their gazes. He casually picked up a towel from the side, wrapped it around his waist, and said, "Captain Li, you know, don't you? You've ruined such a beautiful night."
Then he pointed at the beautiful figure in the bath. "Do you think the flying thief would be such a dewy beauty?"
Li Bailin sneered. "That's hard to say. After all, no one has ever seen the flying thief's true face."
As he spoke, he walked toward the opposite side of the bath, seemingly intending to get a good look at the woman's face.
"Did I give you too much face?"
Without another word, Shen Lin kicked him.
Li Bailin had been prepared. He punched straight at Shen Lin and sneered, "Hmph, you couldn't hold it in anymore, could you? I knew you—"
In his view, Shen Lin had only just entered the martial artist realm. If they truly fought, there was no way Shen Lin could be his match.
But the instant fist and foot collided, Li Bailin felt an overwhelming force surge from the sole of the other man's foot.
Bang!
After a muffled impact, Li Bailin staggered backward several steps before finally regaining his footing.
Shen Lin, by contrast, remained perfectly calm, as if nothing had happened.
"You..."
Li Bailin raised his head and stared at Shen Lin, both shocked and furious.
He had never expected Shen Lin to possess such strength.
Although he had been prepared, he had still suffered a heavy loss.
Now he had thoroughly humiliated himself in front of all those constables.
Clang!
He drew the long blade in his hand.
Before you continue