The county yamen's cases had nothing to do with demons. So how was he supposed to find any demons?
Having found a path to follow, Shen Lin was too lazy to think much and directly chose to throw the difficult problem to Sun Zhi.
He didn't believe that the only demons Sun Zhi knew were that Mantis Demon and the Bai Family foxes.
Sun Zhi said with a bitter expression, "Master Shen, last time with the Bai Family, you pinned the blame on me. Now all those demons have gotten the news. How could any of them still be willing to work with me?"
Yet Shen Lin remained unmoved by his complaints. He said lightly, "There'll always be some hardheaded demons. Give it a try!"
What kind of hardheaded demon would contact me at a time like this?
First the Mantis Demon, then the Bai Family foxes—even a demon with half a brain could see that something was wrong.
But no matter how troubled Sun Zhi felt, when he saw the icy look in Shen Lin's eyes, he swallowed the words in his mouth and said that he would go try first.
After sending Sun Zhi away, Shen Lin put away the rewards he had exchanged for. He had just been preparing to return home and begin his deductions when a runner rushed in.
"Master Shen! Steward Qian has an urgent matter and wants to see you."
Shen Lin was somewhat puzzled. He had just returned from Steward Qian's place. What had happened this time?
He tucked the Meridian-Opening Pill and the Shadow-Breaking Step manual close to his body, then walked out.
"Steward Qian, why did you send for me?"
Hearing Shen Lin's voice, Steward Qian, who had been pacing anxiously back and forth, seemed to find his backbone at once. His emotions settled down.
"Brother Shen, I just had you run a case, so strictly speaking, I shouldn't trouble you again. It's just that this matter is urgent, and all the other squad leaders are occupied. I couldn't find anyone else on such short notice..."
Watching Steward Qian ramble on, Shen Lin showed no sign of displeasure.
Instead, as if he had thought of something, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly. He probed, "Could it be... a demon has committed a crime?"
If it were merely an ordinary case, Steward Qian wouldn't have needed to seek out a squad leader at the Martial Artist realm. Sending a few runners would have been enough.
Sure enough, Steward Qian sighed. "There's a very good chance. Four brothers went out to handle a case yesterday, but they still haven't returned..."
He explained the whole situation to Shen Lin bit by bit.
Yesterday, a hunter had come to the county yamen to report a case. He said that he had seen a mutilated corpse beside the mountain road on Xiangyang Mountain.
The body had been gnawed beyond recognition, but the hunter had determined from its clothing that the victim was not from any of the nearby villages.
At first glance, it seemed like an ordinary murder.
But to be safe, Steward Qian had still sent four runners over to investigate.
Yet by now, an entire day had passed, and not one of those runners had returned.
What made Steward Qian most anxious was that while chatting with County Lieutenant Hu that morning, he had inadvertently heard something.
The magistrate's distant nephew was coming to seek refuge with him.
Judging by the timing, he should have arrived yesterday.
Yet the magistrate had hosted a banquet at home and waited all day, only for no one to show up.
What if that nameless mutilated corpse was the magistrate's nephew?
Whether mountain bandits had killed him for his possessions or demons were at work, once the magistrate's relatives were involved, the case became an entirely different matter.
On top of that, the runners sent to investigate had now vanished without a trace. This made Steward Qian feel even more certain that demons were likely behind it.
After all, four runners who had practiced the Blood Battle Saber Technique and carried sharp weapons would not be easy prey for ordinary bandits.
If demons were at work and had killed the magistrate's relative, all the efforts County Lieutenant Hu and Steward Qian had made over the years could go up in smoke.
Whether it was his position as county lieutenant or Steward Qian's own post, the magistrate could decide their fate with a single word.
If this matter wasn't handled properly...
Steward Qian finished explaining the case, his heart heavy with worry.
But as Shen Lin listened, his eyes gradually lit up. In the end, before Steward Qian had even finished speaking, he rose directly to his feet. "Steward Qian, since the situation is urgent, I'll make the trip."
"Good. I can rest easy with you handling it."
Seeing Shen Lin accept the assignment, Steward Qian let out a sigh of relief. "That hunter is still in the city. I've already brought him here and will have him lead you. Do you want to take a few more people?"
"No need!"
Shen Lin shook his head and said directly, "If your guess is correct and demons really are at work, it'll be more convenient for me to go alone."
"That's true!"
Steward Qian nodded.
These runners of theirs were nothing like the Patrol Inspection Division, which had giant crossbows and iron armor. Ordinary runners would have little ability to fight back if they encountered a great demon, and might even become a burden to Shen Lin.
"Then be careful. If you find the situation is too serious to handle, come back immediately."
"Understood."
After bidding farewell to Steward Qian, Shen Lin went straight to find the hunter. He didn't even return home before leaving the city.
After all, he couldn't rely solely on Sun Zhi for demon-slaying. Now that an opportunity had presented itself, he naturally had to seize it.
Along the way, with nothing else to do, he simply took out the Shadow-Breaking Step manual he had just obtained and began reading it.
After a long while, when they reached halfway up the mountain, the hunter suddenly stopped.
"Master Shen! We've arrived!"
But his words received no response.
He turned around and found Shen Lin standing perfectly still with the book raised in his hands.
After waiting for a while, the hunter couldn't help calling out again in a low voice. "Master Shen! Master Shen, we've arrived!"
This time, Shen Lin finally came to his senses.
He slowly lowered the book and revealed his face.
When the hunter saw the profound look in Shen Lin's eyes, he couldn't help freezing.
In that instant, the weathered air he saw in Shen Lin's eyes was even heavier than that of the village's elderly who had lived past seventy.
The hunter's instincts had not been wrong.
Because just moments ago, after mastering the Shadow-Breaking Step completely, Shen Lin had begun his deductions.
In the blink of an eye, he had already spent a hundred years inside the system.
Year One: You began cultivating the Shadow-Breaking Step. Although you had no foundation in footwork, relying on your robust physique, you still managed to enter the threshold of the Shadow-Breaking Step.
Year Ten: You cultivated day and night. The footwork beneath your feet became increasingly elusive. Shadow-Breaking Step, Minor Accomplishment.
Year Twenty-One: The methods of the Shadow-Breaking Step had become instinctive to you, allowing you to unleash exquisite footwork at any time and in any place. Shadow-Breaking Step, Great Accomplishment!
Year Forty-Five: After twenty-four years of practicing the Shadow-Breaking Step without pause, you finally comprehended its essence. From then on, your movements became formless, like a ghost leaping through the shadows. Shadow-Breaking Step, Perfection!
Year Fifty-Three: You continued comprehending the Shadow-Breaking Step and finally sensed the five meridians connected to it with clarity. Perhaps because you had never cultivated a lightness skill before, three of those meridians were ones you had never cultivated previously.
Year Fifty-Four: You swallowed a Meridian-Opening Pill and began breaking through the eighth meridian.
After swallowing two Meridian-Opening Pills in succession, you directly opened the eighth meridian. Your vigorous Blood Qi Power surged into the ninth meridian.
Yet even with the aid of the remaining medicinal power, the process of opening the ninth meridian was exceptionally slow.
Year One Hundred: After fifty years of effort, you had opened nearly one-third of the ninth meridian.
Shadow-Breaking Step, Perfection!
Eighth Meridian, Opened!
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