Master Bai

"Though I know where quite a few demons can be found, the one I trade with most often is that Mantis Demon."

"Because the others are either hard to deal with or have a problem with their credibility."

Sun Zhi walked along a country path with Shen Lin, talking as they went.

"What do you mean, a problem with their credibility?"

Shen Lin asked curiously.

"I mean..." Sun Zhi gave a cold laugh. "Nobody who's ever traded with him lasts long."

"So he kills them and takes their stuff."

Shen Lin shrugged, not the least bit moved.

He didn't feel sorry for those people. What kind of good person would trade with demons?

Those demons really did eat people without even spitting out the bones. One careless deal with them, and you'd have nowhere to bury your corpse.

After all, to demons, martial artists—especially those who'd cultivated Qi and Blood Force—were walking elixirs. Eating one was a powerful tonic that could even advance their cultivation.

Sun Zhi nodded, apparently finding Shen Lin's explanation apt, then turned to ask, "Did you bring what I told you to bring?"

"I did!"

Shen Lin lifted the bundle in his hand and patted it. It clinked and clattered.

Inside was all the money he'd obtained the last time around.

Sun Zhi nodded with satisfaction. "When we meet him, remember not to be too stingy. You'll earn back everything you spend once you've slain the demons."

Shen Lin nodded and asked curiously, "The demon we're going to meet doesn't eat people?"

Before, Sun Zhi had traded his colleagues to the Mantis Demon in exchange for the locations of other demons.

But this time, he hadn't brought anyone else. Instead, he'd told Shen Lin to bring all his savings.

Were there demons who coveted money?

Sun Zhi hadn't planned to answer Shen Lin's question, but then he thought better of it. It wouldn't do if this guy ruined things later.

So he explained, "Demons eat people both to feed themselves and as part of their cultivation. This one is rather... cunning. He likes to pay people to get things done."

Shen Lin still hadn't figured out what he meant by paying people to get things done when Sun Zhi quickened his pace. After crossing a small rise, he let out a long breath and said, "We're here."

Looking at the village ahead, Shen Lin thought for a moment before finally recalling the place from his predecessor's memories.

Bai Family Village had fewer than a hundred households and little presence in Qiulin County. Most people didn't even know there was a village here.

His predecessor had learned of the place only because he'd once been sent here to collect taxes.

That demon was in this village?

As he pondered, Shen Lin followed Sun Zhi into the village.

Sun Zhi knew exactly where he was going. After entering the village, he headed straight for the largest courtyard.

At the gate of the grand courtyard, someone was crying and shouting.

"Old Master Bai! Please, I'm begging you—where did my younger sister go? At least tell me! Is she dead or alive? Th-this... there has to be some explanation!"

A dark-skinned farmer knelt at the gate, wailing toward the inside.

Just then, a man came out and glared at the farmer. "An explanation? My master hasn't even demanded an explanation from you. That's how kindhearted he is, and you still have the nerve to make a fuss?

"When you borrowed silver from us, you signed and left your thumbprint. You couldn't repay the debt, so your Yuniang had to come to our estate as a maid for ten years. That was all. But that little minx actually dared to run away...

"Did you secretly bring her back home? Hm?"

The man kicked the farmer to the ground, then stood with his hands on his hips and his chin raised, utterly domineering.

"I've been wronged!!! My little sister is the most obedient girl there is. How could she run away? Besides, in these times, at least she wouldn't starve if she stayed at the Bai estate. If she went outside, then th-this..."

Just then, the farmer spotted Shen Lin and Sun Zhi. As if he'd found his saviors, he scrambled over and clung to Sun Zhi's leg, crying, "Officer! Old Master Bai says my little sister ran away from his estate, but nobody in the whole village has seen anyone leave these past few days. I suspect... I suspect..."

He hesitated halfway through, then gritted his teeth and blurted out, "I suspect my little sister fell into their clutches. They've already killed her!"

"Hey, you wretch! You think you can get away with this? You dare slander my master?"

"It's not just my little sister! There were so many others you hired as helpers and maids before. They went into your courtyard and never came out. I'm not the only one saying this!"

With nothing left to lose, the farmer confronted the man directly.

Sun Zhi merely asked, his expression calm, "If you want to file a report, do you have evidence?"

The farmer froze, then stammered, "Evidence... The evidence must be inside that courtyard, Officer. You just have to..."

Sun Zhi cut him off. "Without evidence, a false accusation will be punished as if you'd committed the crime yourself. Are you sure you want to file a report?"

At the words "punished as if you'd committed the crime," the farmer shuddered.

A murderer paid with his life. If it turned out the farmer had made a false accusation, then his fate...

He said nothing more, stood up, and left, turning back again and again as he went.

"Thank you, Officer, for upholding the law. These wretches really are—"

The Bai family servant cupped his hands toward Sun Zhi. He'd just started making polite small talk when Sun Zhi cut him off.

"I have business with Old Master Bai. Please tell him we'd like to speak with him."

"Well..." The servant hesitated. "My master has come down with a cold recently, so I'm afraid..."

"Just tell him Sun Zhi is here to see him, and that I've come to discuss a business deal."

Seeing Sun Zhi's serious expression, the servant didn't dare delay and hurried back inside.

"This man... isn't a demon!"

Shen Lin said quietly.

Sun Zhi's actions had already made it clear that the Bai family's master was most likely a demon.

But the servant working for him was an ordinary human.

That left Shen Lin puzzled. Was Old Master Bai that good at hiding his nature, or...?

Sun Zhi merely nodded. "There aren't many like him inside."

Well, would you look at that—a demon's den?

Shen Lin licked his lips, beginning to feel a little excited.

Before long, the servant returned and said respectfully, "Head Constable Sun, my master will see you!"