"You son of a..."
Shen Lin steeled himself. With a thought, he used the Qingqiu Body Tempering Technique to strengthen his stick, twisted at the waist, and swung it straight at his opponent.
Clang!
The Flying Thief's slender sword was knocked aside. For a moment, she forgot to press her attack and stared blankly at the absurd sight.
What body-tempering technique could possibly do that?
Seizing the opportunity, Shen Lin charged straight at her.
His sword was still some distance away. If he tried to retrieve it, she would surely force him back again.
The best option was to fight at close quarters!
But the Flying Thief quickly recovered. Apparently guessing what Shen Lin had in mind, she flicked her slender sword and thrust it straight at his face, hoping to drive him back.
Shen Lin simply reached out with his right hand to grab the blade.
"Know your limits!"
The Flying Thief spoke for the first time. Her voice was soft and gentle, like a murmuring stream.
She flicked her wrist, making the slender blade bend aside. It slipped around Shen Lin's hand and stabbed toward his face from a bizarre angle.
From their brief exchange, she had realized that although Shen Lin could strengthen part of his body, it seemed he could only use one part to block her sword at a time.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have had to dodge her earlier strikes. He could have simply taken them with his body.
Now, Shen Lin's move confirmed her suspicions: he had strengthened his arm and planned to grab her sword, thereby restricting her.
But she had anticipated that. She changed her move on the fly, altering the blade's trajectory.
This strike seemed impossible to dodge.
Yet a smug smile crept across Shen Lin's face. He opened his mouth wide and lunged to bite down on the sword.
Clang!
His teeth had become as hard as steel, clamping directly onto the slender blade.
"You!!!"
The Flying Thief's eyes widened in disbelief.
Had she guessed wrong? Could this man harden his entire body like iron?
In the next instant, Shen Lin swung a fist at her. With no time to think, she released the sword and raised both arms to block the blow.
The heavy punch landed with a thud, sending her staggering back several steps.
Only then did the feel of that punch reveal the truth: she had been tricked.
He hadn't strengthened his hand just now, but his face.
He'd seen through my swordplay and knew I'd change my move???
Shen Lin took the slender sword from his mouth and flourished it before slowly lifting his head.
With the system's help, he had spent fifty-two years refining the Wild Wind Sword Technique.
How many people could devote fifty-two years to training in the sword?
At Shen Lin's current level of swordsmanship, the female Flying Thief's techniques were certainly exquisite, but she was still too inexperienced.
After a few exchanges, Shen Lin saw through the changes in her swordplay.
"Now, who's the one without a weapon..."
Shen Lin raised the slender sword in his hand and smiled.
Clang!
The next moment, the female Flying Thief drew a soft sword from her waist. It swayed like a venomous snake.
Fine. Pretend I never said that!
Their blades pointed at each other, and a killing intent began to spread between them.
Just then, a sudden commotion rose outside.
After a loud crash, the soft patter of footsteps drew closer.
"Head Constable Li! Isn't it a bad idea to barge in like this? This house is so luxurious. Whoever lives here can't be an ordinary person..."
"What are you afraid of? This is my seventh uncle's house. Sure, it's been put up for sale, but it couldn't possibly have sold in such a short time."
Head Constable Li strode into the courtyard with a group of constables, wearing a black round-collared robe and a flat-topped cap. "Besides, so what if someone has bought it? We're investigating a case for the County Office. They'll have to cooperate. More importantly, are you certain about what you just told me?"
The constable beside him hurriedly replied, "Absolutely. I put the word out and told all the vagrants and beggars in the county to keep an eye out. One beggar happened to see someone in a black outfit slip into this courtyard just now."
"Good!" Head Constable Li clenched his fist, excitement written all over his face.
The Flying Thief had grown more brazen lately. Her crimes had even caught the Prefect's attention.
If he could pull this off...
As he daydreamed, the constable beside him asked timidly, "Chief, I heard this thief is fierce and might even be a martial artist in the Opening Meridians Realm. Can we really handle it with just our people?"
"What are you afraid of?"
Head Constable Li shot him a disgruntled look. "I never do anything unless I'm sure of it. On the way here, I already sent someone to fetch Head Constable Sun. Prefect Hu might be a little later, but as long as we can buy some time, this credit is as good as ours!"
"Wasn't Head Constable Sun injured?"
"How could you possibly understand the mysteries of the Opening Meridians Realm? Head Constable Sun finished recuperating today and left the County Office to go home."
As their voices drew nearer, Shen Lin and the Flying Thief exchanged strange looks.
"One Meridian Unblocking Pill. Cover for me!"
"Two!"
"Deal!"
"Hand over one right now as a deposit!"
"You!!!"
The female Flying Thief glared furiously at Shen Lin, deeply unhappy that he was taking advantage of the situation.
But the footsteps kept drawing closer. She had no choice but to grit her teeth, take a small box from her clothes, and toss it to Shen Lin.
"Both are in there!"
Shen Lin caught it, opened it, checked the contents, and nodded.
It wasn't only the Flying Thief who didn't want those people coming in. Shen Lin didn't want them here either.
Of course, he could shout for help and work with the people outside to capture the Flying Thief.
But that would raise a problem.
How had a constable who had only just broken through into the martial artist realm survived in front of a Flying Thief in the Opening Meridians Realm—and even managed to capture her?
Wouldn't that expose the cultivation he had hidden for so long?
He wanted to keep a low profile and develop in peace for a while longer.
The female Flying Thief breathed a sigh of relief and immediately prepared to leap up onto the rafters to hide.
But Shen Lin shook his head. "That won't fool them!"
"Then what do you suggest?"
"Take your clothes off!"
"Huh?"
The female Flying Thief's eyes widened. She was about to draw her sword and fight him to the death, but Shen Lin pointed at the bath and said, "Take your clothes off and get in. Remember to step on your black outfit and hold it under the water!"
Only then did she understand what Shen Lin meant.
Her expression shifted several times. As she hesitated, voices sounded outside.
"Chief! There's a noise inside. Sounds like someone's in there!"
The situation was urgent. She could hesitate no longer. Seeing that Shen Lin had already turned around, she immediately jumped into the bath.
"Flying Thief inside! Listen up, you've already..."
Head Constable Li reached the doorway, drew his saber, and approached the door as he called out.
He nodded to the others, and the constables began moving into position, surrounding the room until not even water could leak through.
Once everyone was ready, Head Constable Li took a deep breath and raised his leg to kick the door open. But a furious shout suddenly rang out from inside:
"What little bastard dares barge into your grandpa Shen's home?"
Before you continue