After Chen Bin left.
The constable beside Li Kun stepped forward and said, "Captain, there's clearly something wrong with Chen Bin."
"I'm not an idiot!" Li Kun said, his gaze fixed on Chen Bin as he walked out of the courtyard. "But the Fox Demon and Old Ghoul really were killed by him.
The marks left by the Demon Suppression Blade don't lie."
"What about Bao Hong?"
"I don't know how Bao Hong died, but his neck was in Old Ghoul's stomach.
It's probably already melted into black water and seeped into the ground!"
"Then..."
"Enough!" Li Kun cut him off with a wave of his hand. "Don't get hung up on this. Record things just as he told them, and clean up the place.
Spring Breeze Tower was harboring demons. Take everyone back to the Demon Suppression Division and interrogate them thoroughly.
Then turn Spring Breeze Tower upside down. If you leave even an inch untouched, I'll make you regret it!"
Everyone answered in unison, "Yes, sir!"
Chen Bin hurried along, slipping sideways past the Demon Suppression Division constables and laborers who were rushing about in a fluster.
Spring Breeze Tower was in chaos. The gentlemen who hadn't even had time to put on their clothes before being roughly dragged out were either panicking or pretending to stay calm. The songstresses, meanwhile, were pale with fright, screaming one after another.
Chen Bin paid it no mind. He strode straight toward Spring Breeze Tower's entrance, his pace brisk.
Once outside Spring Breeze Tower,
he drew a deep breath and headed home, following the memories in his mind.
At last, he had some free time to take a good look at the full extent of his mysterious Golden Finger.
He murmured to himself, and a string of information appeared before his eyes:
[Killed Body Tempering Realm Fox Demon: Red-Clad Woman, Merit +7, Remaining Merit: 7] [Killed Body Tempering Realm Martial Artist: Bao Hong, Merit +4, Remaining Merit: 11] [Killed Old Ghoul, Merit +8, Remaining Merit: 19]
Staring at the Merit figures beside the Red Names, Chen Bin couldn't help murmuring, "Are the Merit figures beside a Red Name its bounty?
Could I earn Merit just by killing Red Names?"
After some thought, he arrived at this tentative conclusion.
Still, another question nagged at him. Old Ghoul was clearly a little weaker than the Fox Demon, so why had he awarded more Merit?
Could it be because he was a Ghost Servant of the Mountain Lord on South Mountain, and that was why he was worth so much Merit?
"But come to think of it, what exactly is Merit for?"
Chen Bin frowned, mulling it over.
Then, with a thought, he brought up a panel like one from a game.
[Name]: Chen Bin [ cultivation]: Body Tempering Realm (Blood Change: 0/100) [Merit]: 19 [Martial Arts]: Golden Sun Body Tempering Technique (Proficiency: 25/30) Demon Suppression Blade Technique (Proficiency: 18/30)
Chen Bin stared at the "19" representing his Merit and began to consider what use it might have.
Just then, a line of text appeared before his eyes:
[Merit, earned by killing Red Names, can be used to add points to martial arts and cultivation.]
Killing Red Names earned Merit?
How was that any different from a game?
He put those thoughts aside. When he saw that Merit could be used to add points,
Chen Bin's eyes lit up. With a thought, he spent 12 Merit on the Demon Suppression Blade Technique without hesitation.
[You spent 12 Merit. Demon Suppression Blade Technique has leveled up.] [You have mastered Demon Suppression Blade Technique completely. You have achieved proficiency in every aspect of drawing, sheathing, and swinging the blade.] [Remaining Merit: 7]
In an instant, a wondrous feeling welled up inside him. It was as if he had spent countless years with a blade, and the bond between his hand and the weapon had reached a new height.
He could almost feel that with a mere lift of his hand, he could unleash a fierce blade technique as smoothly as flowing clouds and running water.
He couldn't help wondering what kind of power the Demon Suppression Blade Technique would have if he maxed it out.
His thoughts shifted, and Chen Bin looked at the Golden Sun Body Tempering Technique. With 7 Merit left, he didn't hesitate for a moment. He willed it again. "Add points!"
[You spent 5 Merit to improve Golden Sun Body Tempering Technique. Your physique has improved.] [Remaining Merit: 2] [Your comprehension and cultivation of Golden Sun Body Tempering Technique have reached perfection.]
Chen Bin suddenly felt as if his flesh had been struck by lightning. His body convulsed violently, as though invisible demonic hands were churning him inside out.
He nearly fell to the ground.
Next, fine wisps of bloody mist seeped from his pores, soaking his black uniform.
At this moment, he looked as if he had just clawed his way out of a blood pool in the Asura realm, his body reeking of an overpowering stench of blood.
When Chen Bing saw this, he was startled and hurriedly checked the panel.
[Name]: Chen Bin [ cultivation]: Body Tempering Realm (Blood Change: 0/100) [Merit]: 2 [Martial Arts]: Golden Sun Body Tempering Technique (Mastery: 0/50) Demon Suppression Blade Technique (Mastery: 0/50)
As expected, the number in the [Cultivation] field had quietly increased.
It seemed martial arts and cultivation realms were linked in some mysterious way. Perhaps martial arts could help advance one's realm, or perhaps improving one's realm could help refine one's martial arts.
Chen Bin didn't know many martial arts realms. He knew only the Body Tempering Realm, Qi Gathering Realm, and Meridian Opening Realm.
The Demon Suppression Division had people in all three realms.
Of them, he understood the Body Tempering Realm best.
This realm laid the foundation for Martial Artists, and it was further divided into Bronze Skin, Iron Bones, Organ Tempering, Blood Change, and Jade Marrow.
The Qi Gathering Realm involved condensing Qi and Blood and gathering it in the Dantian. That was the realm of those few Captains.
As for the illusory Meridian Opening Realm, he knew even less about it. The entire Demon Suppression Division had only one person in that realm: the General Banner.
With that thought,
Chen Bin raised his hand and closed his status panel. After a moment's thought, he opened the map.
According to the map,
night had fallen. All was silent, and the streets were empty.
The lanterns along the roadside cast a dim, yellow glow, leaving the ground in a patchwork of light and shadow.
At the very center of the map, a blue cartoon figure stood out. The outlines of streets and shops were marked all around it, densely packed yet neatly arranged.
The whole map spread slowly outward in a circle, centered on the blue figure.
But just how far did its effective range reach?
With a thought, a new notification popped up before his eyes.
[Map]: Can detect Red Names within twenty zhang.
Hey, pretty smart!
Chen Bin was busy playing wits with his Golden Finger.
Suddenly, a sharp shout split the stillness of the night. "Who's there?"
Chen Bin looked up. Twenty zhang away, a group of patrolmen in Demon Suppression Division uniforms were rushing straight toward him.
There were constables and laborers among them.
Chen Bin stood calmly where he was, quietly waiting for them to approach.
His eyes stayed fixed on the map. Even when the patrolmen reached him, no Red Name representing an enemy appeared on it.
And although they were within his range of perception, they hadn't appeared on the map either.
Could it be that only he and Red Name targets showed up on the map?
Chen Bin wondered silently.
Then he told the patrolmen who he was.
However, the overpowering stench of blood around him still brought him plenty of trouble.
Fortunately, the patrolmen had received word and were already on their way to Spring Breeze Tower to carry out a mission.
After a moment's thought, the leading constable instructed a laborer to go ahead to Spring Breeze Tower and report. Once the news was confirmed, they stopped giving Chen Bin a hard time.
And so, Chen Bin was able to leave without trouble.
Following the memories and instincts lodged in his mind, he returned home.
Chen Bin unlocked the copper lock and gently pushed open the door. A quiet two-courtyard home came into view.
A lonely man had no one at home to leave a light burning for his return.
Chen Bin sniffed at the stench of blood on himself.
The bloody mist that had burst from his pores had long since dried into stains stuck to his clothes.
He walked to the well, hauled up the bucket, and turned the windlass with all his strength. After filling the bucket, he stood in the middle of the courtyard and poured the water over his head, washing away the bloodstains.
Once he had rinsed off, he tossed his blood-soaked clothes into the bucket. His right hand gripped the Demon Suppression Blade tightly.
Naked, he relied on the faint moonlight and followed the familiar route through the dark, making his way back to his room with ease.
Once inside, Chen Bin deftly pulled out a fire starter and blew on it gently. With a soft puff, a faint flame caught. He used it to light the oil lamp on the table.
In an instant, the room brightened, the gentle lamplight filling the entire space.
Chen Bin looked around and couldn't help marveling to himself. His predecessor had done pretty well for himself. No wonder he'd been able to come up with a hundred taels of silver to earn a full appointment.
Just look at the bed. It was broad and spacious, with a layer of soft bedding on top. It looked comfortable enough to make anyone want to lie down.
Chen Bin thought no more of it. He walked over, blew out the little flame on the oil lamp, then flopped onto the bed.
The moment he lay down, a powerful wave of sleepiness washed over him.
Chen Bin had never been one to worry much. He fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.
Before long, he was deep in a sweet dream.
Before you continue