The Qian family?
Shen Bai frowned slightly.
Normally, when people came to ask for directions, Shen Bai did not mind. But asking about the Qian family at this time reminded him of what had happened to Old Master Qian.
Not long ago, Old Master Qian had suddenly died of a vicious illness. It was said that before his death, he had acted like a mad dog, biting anyone he saw.
Several servants and maidservants had been bitten.
After Old Master Qian was subdued, he had not lasted long before dying with his eyes bulging wide.
In recent days, rumors had spread that Old Master Qian could always be seen in the Qian family's kitchen and elsewhere, smiling at them.
Yet Old Master Qian had been buried for many days already.
Shen Bai found it strange, so he did not speak.
The Old Daoist Priest explained, "Shopkeeper, you misunderstand. The Qian family hired me to perform rites."
Shen Bai came back to himself and casually pointed in the direction of the Qian family. "Head this way, then cross a few more streets. You'll reach the Qian residence."
The Old Daoist Priest cupped his hands in a Daoist salute, then turned and left.
By then, night had fallen.
After gaining the Sword Dance Technique, Shen Bai had been thinking about grinding its proficiency, so he closed early.
As for the Qian family's affairs, although he was curious, he did not dwell on them.
"I'm only a pawnshop shopkeeper. What does it have to do with me?"
Shen Bai lit the oil lamp on the table and continued grinding the Sword Dance Technique.
After reaching level two, every swing of Shen Bai's sword carried a faint hum.
Not only that, his swordsmanship held a vast and righteous aura, as though it could illuminate and slay all evil spirits.
With every sword dance Shen Bai performed, the Sword Dance Technique's proficiency rose.
By the time Shen Bai reached his three-hundredth sword, the time it took to burn an incense stick had passed.
"The farther I go, the more that current of energy is consumed with each sword dance."
The current of energy in Shen Bai's dantian had run dry, and his proficiency stopped rising.
Every sword dance used up energy, forcing Shen Bai to rest.
Within his body, the depleted current of energy gradually began to recover.
Once Shen Bai had recovered, the soreness in his arms also gradually faded as the energy flowed through them.
Then Shen Bai resumed his sword dance.
Sword Dance Technique +1+1+1...
Just as before, each time Shen Bai danced with his sword, his understanding of the Sword Dance Technique deepened.
Shen Bai discovered that proficiency was not as simple as he had imagined.
The farther he progressed, the slower it increased. Often, he needed several sword swings just to gain one point.
But as long as it was increasing, there was no problem.
The night swiftly passed.
When the next day arrived, Shen Bai stretched and moved his aching arms.
The pain in his right arm was constantly washed over by scorching energy, slowly recovering.
A line of mist appeared before Shen Bai's eyes, gradually condensing into words.
Sword Dance Technique lv.2 (Swordsmanship +2, Demon Breaking +2): 1000/1000 Can undergo qualitative change; requires one wisp of Killing Intent
This was the result of an entire night. The Sword Dance Technique had reached level-two perfection, but a new problem had emerged.
Qualitative change appeared after reaching level-two perfection, yet the condition for it was one wisp of Killing Intent.
Shen Bai did not know what Killing Intent was, so he was temporarily stuck.
"First, I should open up for business. Life still has to go on."
After thinking for a long time without coming up with a way to obtain Killing Intent, Shen Bai decided to open the shop.
Even chivalrous heroes needed to eat. In this day and age, not many people had a shop like Shen Bai's. Naturally, he had to finish his business first.
Moreover, the Sword Dance Technique seemed to have fallen into a bottleneck. He could do business while thinking about it.
After going out to eat something at a street stall, Shen Bai returned to the pawnshop.
"Old Zhang still isn't here?"
Shen Bai poured himself a cup of tea and took a calm sip.
By the usual routine, Zhang Chaofeng should have arrived long ago. Shen Bai had no idea why he still had not come to work at the pawnshop.
But the pawnshop's business had always been unpredictable. Sometimes, taking in a single item could support them for months, so Shen Bai did not mind.
Lying back in his chair, Shen Bai waited about the time it took to burn an incense stick before Zhang Chaofeng finally entered, looking eager to gossip.
One look at Zhang Chaofeng's expression told Shen Bai that he had probably heard some interesting tale somewhere again.
Shen Bai understood Zhang Chaofeng well. He was an absolute gossip.
Sure enough, before Shen Bai could speak, Zhang Chaofeng opened his mouth.
"Shopkeeper, huge news! Someone else died in the Qian family."
Shen Bai set down his tea and asked curiously, "Who died in the Qian family this time? Have they offended the God of Misfortune lately?"
Old Master Qian's death had already been a heavy blow to the Qian family. They were probably thinking about dividing the inheritance now.
Yet another person had died. Shen Bai figured they would not even be able to divide the estate cleanly.
"Not someone from the Qian family."
Zhang Chaofeng lowered his voice mysteriously. "It was an Old Daoist Priest. Apparently, the Qian family hired him to exorcise demons. He was in the middle of setting up an altar and performing rites when he suddenly went mad and started biting people. After they caught him, he died not long after."
An Old Daoist Priest?
The moment Shen Bai heard those words, he sat upright. "Was he carrying a Peachwood Sword?"
Zhang Chaofeng nodded. "That's right. That Peachwood Sword looked rather familiar to me. It seemed like... hiss... Shopkeeper, it couldn't have come from our pawnshop, could it?"
The corner of Shen Bai's mouth twitched. "Probably."
Zhang Chaofeng was first stunned, then frightened. "Shopkeeper, everyone says the Qian family is haunted. The Old Daoist Priest died, and he even took a Peachwood Sword from our pawnshop. Could he turn into a ghost and come looking for us?"
Shen Bai waved a hand. "What nonsense are you thinking? Just do your work properly. Don't mention this again."
After Shen Bai said that, Zhang Chaofeng truly did not dare continue, though he seemed distracted.
Shen Bai did not bother with him. It was like watching a horror film in his previous life—one would spend several days jumpy and suspicious, but it would pass after a while.
What Shen Bai found strange was that the Old Daoist Priest had suddenly died.
It seems the Qian family has a serious problem, Shen Bai thought.
But none of that had anything to do with him. What he was thinking about now was how to get some Killing Intent, or perhaps find something similar to the Dancing Sword Painting of a Lady and see whether he could develop another ability.
The entire day passed with Zhang Chaofeng in a state of nervous suspicion. A few people came to pawn things, but they were all worthless items.
It was not until Zhang Chaofeng left that evening that Shen Bai closed the door.
The oil lamp on the table gave off a dim yellow glow.
"This can't go on. Tomorrow morning, I'll stroll around the streets and see if I can find anything related to Killing Intent."
Shen Bai made up his mind.
Since he needed to transform the Sword Dance Technique, Shen Bai naturally intended to obtain some Killing Intent. Tomorrow, he would first try his luck around town.
With an idea in mind but no ability left to grind, Shen Bai prepared to rest early.
Just then, a sudden knock sounded at the door.
Shen Bai frowned. "Who is it?"
Outside the pawnshop, a hoarse voice slipped through the crack in the door.
"Shopkeeper, I've come to collect the Peachwood Sword..."
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