Life is About Making a Fuss

Late at night, the study in Sun Zhi's home was still lit by candlelight.

"So that's how it is, so that's how it is..."

Sun Zhi's face was filled with ecstasy, his eyes bloodshot as he put down the book in his hand.

After receiving the reward from the Demon Suppression Bureau, he had spent the entire day studying the meridian-opening secret technique passed down to him.

Although it was only the most basic meridian-opening secret technique, capable of opening only three meridians, for Sun Zhi, who came from humble beginnings, this was already a rare secret manual.

"With this meridian-opening secret technique, plus..."

He muttered and took out a porcelain bottle from his chest, his eyes burning with fanaticism.

Inside this bottle was the Meridian Unblocking Pill he had dreamed of.

With the meridian-opening secret technique and the help of the Meridian Unblocking Pill, he could break through to the Opening Meridians Realm tonight.

Martial artists in the Opening Meridians Realm were few and far between in Qiulin County, almost at the very peak.

"Years of effort, struggles between life and death, finally..."

Sun Zhi's fingers trembled as he opened the porcelain bottle and poured out a milky white pill.

Just as he was about to swallow it for cultivation, he suddenly stopped and looked up sharply, shouting, "Who?!"

Almost the instant he spoke, the roof suddenly cracked open, and a dark figure rushed in.

"How dare you, thief!"

Sun Zhi couldn't bother to swallow the pill now. He casually placed it on the table, picked up the long saber already on the table, and slashed upwards.

Clang!

With a crisp sound, the dark figure's long sword was deflected, and his body retreated like a falling leaf, landing steadily.

The other party was dressed in night-blooming clothes, wrapped tightly, revealing only a pair of bright eyes.

There was nothing special about their build, and the long sword in their hand was ordinary, looking like a standard sword forged in a back alley workshop, its origin untraceable.

In the first exchange, Sun Zhi's instincts began to assess the other party's identity.

However, it was clear that he gained no information.

Then, Sun Zhi suddenly remembered the case Chief Qian had told him about today, and he narrowed his eyes, seemingly guessing the intruder's identity.

"Bold thief, aren't the wealthy households enough for you to steal from? Have you set your sights on me now?"

Sun Zhi sneered, holding his long saber, and slowly approached.

He had heard that this Flying Thief had extraordinary strength, but if it was just at the Martial Artist realm, Sun Zhi believed few could match him.

Except for that freak Shen Lin.

"It seems I might have an unexpected gain today. Those wealthy families have offered a handsome reward to catch you."

Sun Zhi spoke continuously as he gradually closed in.

But the Flying Thief opposite him did not respond at all.

The intruder's gaze wasn't even focused on Sun Zhi, but rather on the meridian-opening secret technique and the Meridian Unblocking Pill placed on the table.

"How dare you!"

Seizing the opportunity, Sun Zhi took a step forward, instantly appearing in front of the intruder, and slashed down.

This saber strike was powerful, gathering all of Sun Zhi's strength.

But facing this strike, the Flying Thief showed no reaction.

He twirled his long sword, then thrust it out.

The long sword accurately struck the Steel Saber, deflecting it.

Then, the sword's trajectory changed, and it aimed directly for Sun Zhi's throat.

Sun Zhi's face changed drastically, and he quickly drew his saber to block.

Clang clang clang!

The sounds of saber and sword clashing became more frequent. Even though Sun Zhi swung his long saber so densely that no gaps could be seen, he could only retreat in a disheveled manner.

The opponent's swordplay was like a storm, wave after wave, giving Sun Zhi no chance to catch his breath.

After retreating several steps, Sun Zhi finally seemed to discover something and shouted in disbelief, "You... are in the Opening Meridians Realm???"

In just this short while, the Qi and Blood Force within him was almost depleted, and his arms were incredibly sore.

But the opponent's breathing remained steady, and their swordplay did not falter in the slightest.

This was not something an ordinary Martial Artist who hadn't opened their meridians could achieve.

Such continuous Qi and Blood Force was only possible for those in the Opening Meridians Realm.

However, Sun Zhi was very confused. You are a Martial Artist in the Opening Meridians Realm, why aren't you doing something better? Stealing has no future. Why don't you join one of the noble families? The wealth you'd gain would be far more than this petty thievery.

The moment he felt astonished, the long sword broke through Sun Zhi's defense.

A flash of sword light, and a bloody gash appeared on Sun Zhi's wrist. The steel saber clattered to the ground.

Feeling his hand go empty, Sun Zhi closed his eyes in despair.

My life is over!

He waited for a moment, but death didn't come. Instead, he heard the sound of a wooden door being kicked open.

He opened his eyes in confusion and found the door ajar, a cool night breeze gently caressing his face.

"This... No!"

After a brief moment of bewilderment, he seemed to recall something and sharply looked towards his desk.

The surface was bare. The meridian-unblocking secret technique and the Meridian Unblocking Pill he had painstakingly acquired were gone.

"Damn you, scoundrel!!!"

A piercing cry echoed through the night sky.

Not long after, Shen Lin, having just returned home, tossed a black night-suit into the fire. He rubbed his hands together with anticipation and turned back to his bedroom.

On the simple bed lay two items.

They were Sun Zhi's meridian-unblocking secret technique and the Meridian Unblocking Pill.

The moment he heard from Chief Qian that Sun Zhi had received the reward from the Demon Suppression Bureau, Shen Lin knew he had to act quickly.

If Sun Zhi were allowed to smoothly break through to the Opening Meridians Realm, what motivation would he have to slay demons and monsters? Wouldn't Shen Lin have spared his life in vain?

That wouldn't do!

Young people needed to be challenged to find motivation to strive and improve!

Smiling, Shen Lin shook his head and directly opened the meridian-unblocking secret technique, reading it by candlelight.

After a long while, he shook his head in disappointment.

The so-called meridian-unblocking secret technique wasn't like ordinary martial arts used for combat. It was a pure secret art to help a martial artist locate the meridians within their body.

As for Sun Zhi's copy, the three meridians marked on it were already open for Shen Lin. It was of no help to him.

Tossing it aside, Shen Lin picked up the Meridian Unblocking Pill, his eyes gleaming.

This item, however, was quite useful to him.

The meridian-unblocking secret technique also recorded how to absorb the medicinal power of the Meridian Unblocking Pill to open meridians. Shen Lin could directly swallow the Meridian Unblocking Pill and cultivate, attempting to open his fifth meridian.

However, after a moment's thought, he shook his head and put the Meridian Unblocking Pill away.

Its best use should be in conjunction with the System's deductions.

During the deduction process, his mind would be clear and focused, allowing him to better absorb the medicinal power for breakthroughs.

Therefore, he needed to collect demon lifespans as quickly as possible.

Turning his head, he glanced at the dawn breaking outside the window and stretched.

He figured by now, his Head Constable should have made a decision.

"Trash! Useless! That guy's first crime was over a month ago! And you still haven't found a single suspect???"

Inside the County Office, Sun Zhi berated the constables below him.

Chief Qian, sitting beside him, had a grim expression and glared at Sun Zhi.

But Sun Zhi couldn't be bothered with that now.

After discovering his possessions were stolen, he was beside himself with anxiety. He came to the County Office late at night to look up information on the "Flying Thief."

Only then did he realize that despite so many people in the County Office, they only knew where and when the person committed crimes, and what those crimes were.

Beyond that, they knew nothing.

Was the perpetrator male or female?

What was their strength?

They knew nothing!

He shot an angry glance at everyone and spat.

How could he solve cases working with these insects?

"Head Constable Sun, didn't you say before that the petty case of the 'Flying Thief' didn't need much attention?" Chief Qian's voice was icy and malicious.

But Sun Zhi seemed oblivious, angrily retorting, "What 'Flying Thief'? This is a home invasion, a robber!!!"

Hearing this, Chief Qian paused, then looked at the furious Sun Zhi, a look of sudden realization dawning on his face.

Good heavens, our Head Constable Sun's home was robbed.

Chief Qian's anger subsided slightly, and his gaze towards Sun Zhi held a hint of amusement.

Just as he was contemplating how to subtly needle the usually arrogant Head Constable Sun, Shen Lin suddenly walked in.

"Head Constable Sun! What's wrong? Getting angry so early in the morning isn't good for your health."

Upon hearing this, Sun Zhi was about to erupt, turning his head in a rage.

But when he realized the speaker was Shen Lin, he immediately pursed his lips.

He hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "You've come at the perfect time. I have something to discuss with you."

With that, he ignored everyone else, stepping forward and grabbing Shen Lin before leaving.

Once they reached a secluded spot, he stopped and looked directly at Shen Lin, saying earnestly, "That matter you mentioned before, I agree to it!"