It was already dusk.
A sudden knock on the door gave Qin Shuang a fright.
When Qin Shuang looked up, she saw Shen Bai casually open the door.
Because of her angle, Qin Shuang only saw a hand reach in and tightly hook itself around Shen Bai's neck.
Qin Shuang froze.
That guy clearly did not look like someone easy to get along with, yet someone actually dared to sling an arm around his neck.
Wasn't that courting death?
As she thought this, Qin Shuang could already picture Shen Bai flying into a rage and drawing his sword to chop the man down.
But then, a voice rang out.
"Old Shen, you fooled me so badly. Tell me, what compensation are you giving me? A few strips of cured meat won't make it up to me."
The moment Zhou Qing entered, he began noisily shouting.
Seeing this, Qin Shuang let out a sigh of relief.
If it was Zhou Qing, then everything made sense.
With Zhou Qing's arm around his neck, Shen Bai said helplessly, "Old Zhou, I didn't mean to keep it from you. There was truly a reason for it."
Zhou Qing released him, sat down nearby, took a sip of tea, and stared blankly at Shen Bai.
After a moment, Zhou Qing sighed.
"I'm happy that my brother has gained such strength."
Those words came from the bottom of his heart.
Originally, Zhou Qing had thought that once he went to Maple Forest Province, he would bring Shen Bai along so he could look after him.
But now, it seemed Shen Bai did not need his care. If anything, Shen Bai could look after him instead.
As for why Shen Bai had suddenly become so powerful, Zhou Qing did not ask.
The two were good brothers. Zhou Qing would not pry too much; asking too many questions would only spoil things.
All he needed to know was that Old Shen was strong enough to survive in this world.
Shen Bai smiled, refilled Zhou Qing's cup, then asked, "What happened afterward with the Fox Demon?"
Zhou Qing thought for a moment. "Nothing unusual happened after we went back."
"Old Shen, are you planning to get involved with the Grand Tomb?"
Shen Bai nodded. "Since there's a Grand Tomb, I have to give it a try."
Zhou Qing said, "Alright. If I hear anything, I'll come tell you."
The two chatted a while longer.
Zhou Qing had come merely to exchange a few words with Shen Bai and confirm Shen Bai's identity.
The yamen had only just dealt with the Fox Demon, so Zhou Qing did not stay long before leaving the pawnshop.
"There's still more to the Fox Demon matter. We should be careful," Qin Shuang reminded him after Zhou Qing left.
Then she realized her reminder was rather pointless. With Shen Bai's strength, it made little difference whether she reminded him or not.
Shen Bai considered it briefly. For now, it was best to wait and see. Increasing his own strength was what mattered most.
With that thought, Shen Bai went into the courtyard and began grinding the Vajra Demon-Subduing Fist.
Qin Shuang fetched a small stool and sat in the courtyard, her wide eyes fixed on Shen Bai as he practiced his fist techniques.
The night quickly passed.
When Shen Bai emerged from his state of grinding proficiency, he let out a long breath.
Vajra Demon-Subduing Fist +300
Another three hundred proficiency points. The Vajra Demon-Subduing Fist was now nearing the two-thousand-point mark, and reaching Level Four was drawing ever closer.
Shen Bai stretched, loosened up his body, and took some Qi-Blood Medicine.
Qin Shuang had just finished resting. When she stepped out, she saw Shen Bai drinking medicine.
"You should not take too much of this ordinary Qi-Blood Medicine. There are too many medicinal residues in it, and it is no good for your body."
Shen Bai set the medicine jar aside.
She was right.
The more ordinary the medicine, the more residue it contained.
It was only because Shen Bai's qi and blood surged like a dragon that he could forcibly expel the medicine's side effects.
But ordinary medicine was all Shen Bai could currently find.
Though he was no longer grinding the Blood Sword Dance, his other divine abilities still consumed qi and blood, so he needed to replenish it accordingly.
After thinking for a moment, Qin Shuang tossed him a porcelain bottle. "Take this instead. It's a qi-and-blood replenishing pill refined by Hundred Healers Valley."
Shen Bai caught it but did not take it. Instead, he tucked it away.
Qin Shuang said helplessly, "I know you're cautious, but I truly do not mean you harm."
Shen Bai smiled. "One must be careful with anything that goes into the mouth. Still, I'm curious. You have quite a few treasures; you don't seem like a disciple of the Thieves' Gate."
From the sachet to these pills, if they were all genuine, Shen Bai felt Qin Shuang's identity needed further investigation.
Qin Shuang coughed. "Well, the Thieves' Gate having a few extra things is perfectly normal."
"Really?" Shen Bai raised a brow.
Qin Shuang said solemnly, "Really."
Shen Bai reminded her, "I do not care whether you are genuine or not. I only want what is inside the Grand Tomb. If you do not cause trouble, we will still split it fifty-fifty. But if you cause trouble, I will pluck off that beautiful head of yours."
Qin Shuang craned her neck. "Hmph, hmph. I am cooperating very seriously."
Shen Bai rose to his feet. "Let's eat."
Qin Shuang asked, "Why do you eat on time every day?"
"Self-discipline."
Shen Bai said only that before walking out of the pawnshop.
Qin Shuang had no choice but to follow behind him.
The two ate by the street. Shen Bai rubbed his stomach and returned to the pawnshop as though taking a stroll to aid digestion.
The pawnshop was open as usual that day, but no customers came. Shen Bai dozed in his recliner.
Qin Shuang idly browsed through the pawnshop's goods, which was about the only way she had to pass the time.
"How many good things do you think we can get this time?"
After being bored for quite a while, Qin Shuang propped her chin on both hands and asked.
Without even lifting his eyelids, Shen Bai said, "However much we can get is however much we can get."
"If we get everything, wouldn't we strike it rich?" Qin Shuang added.
Shen Bai gave a soft chuckle. "You sure know how to dream."
Qin Shuang continued, "Once the two of us go in, won't we just slaughter everything in our way?"
"Probably slaughter it all, quack-quack style," Shen Bai said.
Qin Shuang asked curiously, "What does slaughter it all, quack-quack style mean?"
Shen Bai opened his eyes. "I handle the slaughtering. You handle the quack-quack."
Qin Shuang: "..."
She suddenly realized that Shen Bai was very difficult to communicate with, because his words always felt so hurtful.
The two continued chatting in fits and starts.
Time gradually slipped by, and they went out for another meal midway through.
It was not until night was about to fall that someone came to the pawnshop.
"We're closed. Come back tomorrow." Shen Bai had rested for quite some time and was preparing to go back to grinding proficiency. He had no time to continue business.
But the visitor seemed not to hear him and walked into the pawnshop alone.
Shen Bai looked up and saw who it was.
"Zhang Chaofeng?"
Shen Bai had not expected Zhang Chaofeng to return when night was already about to fall.
But Zhang Chaofeng was in poor condition.
He was filthy from head to toe, and his eyes were filled with bewilderment.
When he saw Shen Bai, Zhang Chaofeng's gaze eased slightly before he suddenly collapsed to the floor.
"Shopkeeper, it's over. It's all over."
"My wife is dead. Everyone in the village is dead."
"A Fox Demon... a Fox Demon was causing trouble. They're all gone..."
Zhang Chaofeng's wailing was especially piercing within the pawnshop.
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