The Pawnshop's Visitor

Seeing this, Shen Bai put down his cup and slowly rotated it.

These wounds carried bizarre auras, and having dealt with Bizarre Entities many times, Shen Bai recognized them at a glance.

So that's it. This person must have gone to deal with a Bizarre Entity.

Shen Bai thought to himself.

By this time, Zhou Qing had already led the constables and was about to leave Shen Bai's location.

Due to the urgency of the situation, Zhou Qing had been busy carrying the injured person and hadn't noticed Shen Bai eating in the pawnshop.

Shen Bai thought for a moment, then said, "Old Zhou."

Zhou Qing, who was directing the constables to hurry along, instinctively turned his head when he heard the voice and saw Shen Bai waving at him.

Zhou Qing told the other constables, "You all take him back to the county yamen first. I'm going to have a quick word with my brother."

In the entire county yamen, among the constables, only Chief Constable Zheng outranked Zhou Qing. The other constables obediently left.

Zhou Qing walked closer and said, "Old Shen, finish up quickly and go home. Don't linger on the streets tonight."

Shen Bai pointed at the group of constables and asked, "What happened?"

Zhou Qing sighed helplessly, "A Fox Girl appeared. This person is a Bizarre Hunter who took on a mission from the Heavenly Oversight Bureau. He almost lost his life and escaped alone to the city gate, where he was rescued by patrolling constables."

Fox Girl?

Shen Bai rubbed his chin and asked, "What's that thing?"

Shen Bai knew about Bizarre Hunters. To put it simply, they were no different from bounty hunters.

The Great Zhou Dynasty was too vast; it was difficult for the Heavenly Oversight Bureau alone to manage everything.

Bizarre Hunters came into being to fill that gap.

They accepted missions, completed them, and received rewards from the Heavenly Oversight Bureau.

It was simple and direct, with no complex intertwining of interests. Bizarre Hunters purely sought rewards.

However, "Fox Girl" was a term Shen Bai was hearing for the first time.

Zhou Qing looked around, saw that people nearby were keeping their distance from him, and then leaned closer to Shen Bai.

"A Fox Girl is a Bizarre Entity. You might not understand what a Bizarre Entity is..."

"Let me put it this way: have you heard the story of the Fox Girl repaying kindness?"

Shen Bai pondered for a moment, then nodded, "I've heard of the Fox Girl repaying kindness. Also, I know what Bizarre Entities are. I run a pawnshop, and I've collected quite a few interesting stories and bits of information."

The so-called Fox Girl repaying kindness refers to a Fox Girl who, after being rescued from a disaster, would often bring various items to the person who helped her as a form of gratitude.

This story was widely circulated among the common people, and some even adapted it into a love story where the Fox Girl transformed into a woman and stayed with her benefactor for life.

Zhou Qing was slightly surprised: "Old Shen, you actually know about Bizarre Entities too?"

Shen Bai nodded, "After all, a pawnshop is also a place where many things happen and people come and go."

The two were good brothers, so Zhou Qing didn't doubt him much and began to explain.

"After animals die, influenced by Malevolent Qi, they can also become Bizarre Entities. Fox Girls are one type."

"They also hate living people, but their methods of killing are different."

"Fox Girls will bring back many things from outside, some good, some bad."

"If you don't accept them, the Fox Girl will suddenly turn violent and kill. If you do accept them, your vital essence will be damaged by the items brought back."

"The better the item, the greater the damage. Over time, it will still lead to death."

At this point, Zhou Qing paused slightly.

Shen Bai showed a look of sudden understanding.

Honestly, this was the first time he had heard such a bizarre story. It felt quite strange.

"So what are you planning to do?" Shen Bai asked.

Zhou Qing said, "The Heavenly Oversight Bureau's inspection is imminent, and now there's this Fox Girl repaying kindness incident. The yamen must handle it seriously, otherwise the county magistrate will bear a huge burden."

Shen Bai rubbed his chin and said, "That's true."

Zhou Qing glanced in the direction of the county yamen and said, "Old Shen, I can't talk anymore, I need to hurry back."

With a bizarre incident occurring, Zhou Qing naturally had to go back and deal with it first.

Shen Bai didn't stop him; after all, he was attending to official business.

"Oh, by the way, Old Zhou, if you have any important news, tell me."

Zhou Qing asked doubtfully, "Old Shen, why do you need this news?"

Shen Bai spread his hands, "The world is unstable; it's always good to get more information. I need to keep myself safe."

Zhou Qing patted Shen Bai's shoulder and said, "Old Shen, don't worry. As long as I, Zhou Qing, am in Ascending Cloud County, unless I die before you, nothing will happen to you."

Shen Bai: "..."

He really wanted to say that Zhou Qing at this moment was like a general on a stage, covered in flags indicating impending doom.

As for the news, that was a Bizarre Entity.

If he could get a wisp of Malevolent Qi, it would undoubtedly be a good thing for Shen Bai.

Zhou Qing was busy and didn't have time to say more, so he turned and left.

After Shen Bai finished eating, he had nothing else to do, so he turned and walked towards the Pawnshop.

Night.

Shen Bai stood in the courtyard, practicing the Vajra Demon-Subduing Fist.

His proficiency was steadily increasing, and he was getting closer to Level 4.

While diligently training, Shen Bai also thought about the day's events.

Even though I don't need Malevolent Qi now, that doesn't mean I won't need it later.

I'll wait for news from Old Zhou. If an opportunity arises, I'll go for it.

Shen Bai made up his mind and continued to train diligently.

The proficiency of Vajra Demon-Subduing Fist kept rising.

Shen Bai was fully immersed in his intense training when suddenly, the Qi within him stirred, and he sensed something unusual.

A faint, strange sound came from the gate outside.

If it weren't for the quiet of the night, even Shen Bai wouldn't have heard it.

The sound is too faint; it doesn't seem like something an ordinary person could make.

Shen Bai frowned, drew the longsword from his waist, and stealthily moved towards the front room of the Pawnshop.

The room was dark, with no lights.

A figure was rummaging through things in the room.

Surprisingly, even as the figure searched, there was no sound at all, as if it were in silent mode.

Various boxes in the Pawnshop were overturned, and the pawned items were strewn everywhere.

This isn't right. This person interacted with the constables this morning, so they should have some background.

Why are all these things so commonplace? Am I mistaken?

The voice was clear; it was a woman's.

Shen Bai hid in the shadows, taking in the scene before him.

After a moment of thought, Shen Bai lifted his foot and took a step forward.

As soon as his foot landed, the woman spun around abruptly.

"Who's there!"

In the darkness, Shen Bai saw a flash of white coming straight at him.

Lime powder?

That low-class?

Shen Bai casually swung his longsword, as if swatting a mosquito.

The lime powder was completely dispersed.

In the darkness, the woman, after scattering the lime powder, prepared to flee.

Seeing this, Shen Bai smiled slightly.

A blood-red sword light shot out from his longsword. The sword Qi, carrying a majestic righteousness, embedded itself in the wall opposite, less than three inches from the fleeing woman.

"Hoo..."

A gust of wind blew, and the oil lamp lit up.

Shen Bai looked at the woman in front of him, his voice calm as water. He held the lamp in his left hand and the sword in his right, slowly approaching.

"Run again, and the next sword will be at your throat."