Was It Too Much to Ask for Breakfast in the Morning?

This was qi—the use of qi.

Though he couldn't yet send it out of his body to injure others, he could already channel it into his blade, making the Demon Suppression Blade even sharper.

Stepping into the Qi Gathering Realm had not only brought a qualitative leap in his strength and physical abilities; his methods of attack had also undergone a tremendous transformation.

He clapped his hands and laughed again.

However, that laugh made him accidentally suck in a deep breath.

"Urgh!" The foul stench mixed into the air made him instantly realize it was coming from the filthy, stinking muck all over his body.

His stomach lurched in violent spasms, and he spat out a mouthful of black, filthy sludge.

This was the effect of Marrow Cleansing and Tendon Washing. He could clearly feel his body as if it had been reborn.

He hurriedly covered his nose and stumbled out of the room.

At the well, he drew more than ten buckets of water in a row, pouring them over himself one after another. He didn't stop until not a trace of the stench remained on his body.

He walked back into the room naked and picked up his clothes.

But he found that they seemed to have grown a little snug.

He lifted his head slightly and compared his field of view, then was delighted to discover that he had grown a few inches taller.

He was nearly one meter ninety-five now!

This unexpected gain brought another smile to his face. He was overjoyed.

Still, he realized that breaking through seemed to take quite a toll on his clothes. The outfit he had just changed into would need washing again.

He shook his head helplessly and muttered to himself, "Looks like next time I break through, I'll have to take all my clothes off first."

At that thought, he still noticed a bit of the stench lingering in the air.

He frowned, went over, and opened the doors and windows, letting the cool night breeze drift in to air the room out.

By then, it was very late. Moonlight spilled across the courtyard like water.

He looked at the messy room and didn't feel like cleaning it at all.

Luckily, the courtyard was large and had plenty of rooms. He picked up his bedding and headed lightly toward another one.

As he left, a breeze stirred. It seemed to obey his command, gently snuffing out the oil lamp still flickering on the table. The room instantly plunged into darkness.

The next day.

Dawn broke faintly, and the eastern sky had just begun to pale.

Chen Bin rose with the crowing of the rooster.

He had patrolled last night, and according to regulations, he had to do so for three nights in a row.

So he was supposed to be off during the day today and go on patrol again tonight.

For Chen Bin, a day off naturally meant he didn't have to go to the county office.

He dressed neatly, washed up carefully, and hung that sharp blade at his waist, ready to wander around the streets.

Demons lurked in all four wards of Wanbao County. He was determined to ferret out every last one and kill them. Now, he was eager to earn Merit.

After all, his cultivation had improved. Facing demons and monsters at the Jade Marrow Stage of the Body Tempering Realm, he could knock them down with a single slash before they even had time to react.

Of course, demons were demons. He still had no idea what "devils" were.

And he didn't want to know.

As soon as he opened the door, he saw a dense crowd gathered outside his home.

The four men at the front wore the uniforms of captains; behind them stood a group of regular constables.

Among the crowd, Chen Bin even spotted the four red-named dogs.

Seeing this, Chen Bin first paused in surprise, then turned around and carefully locked his courtyard gate.

When he turned back, his eyes swept over the surroundings like lightning.

A line of people stood along the wall of his courtyard, stretching as far as the eye could see and completely surrounding the place.

They were all red names!

Chen Bin instinctively rested his hand on his sword hilt.

He stood on the steps, looking down over the crowd.

He didn't say a word. He simply gazed at all those people with red names over their heads. A flicker of an urge rose in his heart, and his hand began to itch.

Yet he knew that drawing his blade recklessly now would do more harm than good.

"Captain Chen, the Captain wants to see you! Come with us."

Chen Bin recognized the speaker. He was Luo Junfeng, a captain under Kang Ronghao, and had 9 points of Merit.

Chen Bin gently rubbed his sword hilt and asked, "Isn't today a rest day?"

"By rights, it is." A smile appeared on Luo Junfeng's face. "But you left early last night, so you don't get the day off."

Chen Bin drew a deep breath. "So the county office has a rule like that."

"Of course." A trace of mockery curled Luo Junfeng's lips. "You can choose not to follow it, too.

"If you can hack every one of us to death."

"Then let's go." Chen Bin didn't bother to trade barbs with him. He walked down the steps, his expression calm.

The crowd scattered, opening a path for him.

They surrounded Chen Bin tightly, like a prisoner being escorted, as if they feared he might take the chance to run.

People kept turning to stare as they went.

But everyone quickly turned away to make room, afraid of getting themselves into trouble.

Chen Bin reached a Breakfast Stall and suddenly stopped.

Luo Junfeng watched him closely. "What are you trying to do?"

"I'm hungry. I'm going to have breakfast!"

Luo Junfeng furrowed his brows. "The Captain is waiting!"

"Let him wait if he wants. What's that to me?

"My being hungry is the most important thing."

"Are you looking to die?" Luo Junfeng's hand was already on his sword. "Either come back to the county office with me now, or... Urgh!"

Chen Bin was faster. He flashed forward, snatched Luo Junfeng by the throat, and lifted him straight off the ground.

The other captains roared in anger. "Chen Bin, what are you doing?"

"Chen Bin, let's talk this out."

"Chen Bin, let Captain Luo go!"

In an instant, everyone drew their blades. Cold light flashed as they pointed them at Chen Bin.

Chen Bin merely gave them a cold glance, then turned his eyes back to Luo Junfeng.

"I used up a lot of strength killing demons last night. Is it really too much to ask for breakfast in the morning?"

As he spoke, he tightened his grip.

Luo Junfeng's face turned bright red, but he didn't dare struggle at all, afraid that Chen Bin would snap his neck with a single squeeze.

"Do you want me dead?" Chen Bin asked.

"No... of course not!" Luo Junfeng managed to choke out. "Go eat... We'll wait for you... That's all!"

"Now that's more like it." Chen Bin tossed Luo Junfeng to the ground.

The crowd surged forward and hurried to help Luo Junfeng up.

Chen Bin didn't even look at them. He headed straight for the Breakfast Stall.

The constables blocking his way had seen what had just happened, and their legs were going weak.

Not knowing what Luo Junfeng would decide, most of them stepped aside without waiting for him to give an order.

But there were always one or two fools who just had to stand right in Chen Bin's way.

One constable glared at Chen Bin without expression, his eyes full of hostility. He looked ready to bare his teeth at any moment, as if he couldn't wait to devour Chen Bin alive.

Chen Bin couldn't help laughing. He glanced back at Luo Junfeng and asked, "Did you arrange this?"