"Shen... Lord Shen?"
The constables who had come with Squad Leader Li were startled when they heard the voice.
By now, everyone in Qiulin County had heard of Shen Lin's great fame.
"Squad Leader Li, that really does sound like Lord Shen."
"What Lord? Is Shen Lin worthy of being called 'Lord'?"
After hearing Shen Lin's voice, Squad Leader Li's expression darkened even further.
That guy had gotten lucky and broken through to become a martial artist. Lately, his reputation in Qiulin County had even surpassed Li's.
Back in the day, whenever people talked about Qiulin County's young talents, who didn't praise Li Bailin for being so young and promising?
But now?
"Shen Lin! Is this your house?"
"Oh? That voice... Isn't that Squad Leader Li? Why have you barged into my home in the middle of the night?"
"We're tracking down the Flying Thief!!!" Li Bailin frowned and shouted, "Shen Lin, since you know I'm here, why haven't you come out to see me?"
"I'm taking a bath. It's inconvenient to come out!"
Li Bailin's eyes flickered at those words, and he sneered. "It's not that it's inconvenient. You've got a guilty conscience, don't you?"
Without waiting for Shen Lin to reply, he kicked the door open.
Bang!
The wooden door flew open, but none of the others moved—not a single one except Li Bailin.
The constables glanced at one another. Not one of them rushed inside.
Once they learned the house belonged to Shen Lin, every one of them started having second thoughts.
Shen Lin had become a martial artist at such a young age. He was bound to become a squad leader someday, and might even reach the Opening Meridians Realm and take Prefect Hu's place.
It was clearly unwise to offend someone like that.
But with Li Bailin here, they had no choice.
"What are you all standing around for? Get in there and search! If you let the Flying Thief get away, I'll hold you responsible!!!"
If they didn't offend Shen Lin, they would offend Li Bailin.
The constables hesitated for a moment, but in the end, they stepped inside.
After all, everyone in Qiulin County knew that Li Bailin was not only narrow-minded, but came from a powerful family.
If they offended him, they'd be out of the County Office long before the day Shen Lin rose to power.
Watching the constables file inside, Li Bailin nodded with satisfaction and followed them in.
After walking around a folding screen, he saw Shen Lin.
Bare-chested, Shen Lin rested both hands on the edge of the bath. He glared at the constables who had barged in, his face darkening as he said, "Squad Leader Li, you've gone too far."
Li Bailin replied with complete indifference, "This is all for the sake of tracking down the Flying Thief. I'm sure Shen Lin can understand why his brothers have to do this."
"Then you'd better find something."
"Don't worry. I didn't take these men on to sit around doing nothing."
The constables began searching the entire house, turning it upside down.
Just as Shen Lin had expected, they didn't spare a single spot—not the rafters, nor any other hidden corner.
But it was obvious they were never going to find anything.
"Boss! Nothing here!"
"Nothing here either!"
"We've searched everywhere. There's no sign of anyone else."
As Li Bailin listened to the constables' reports, his expression grew darker and darker.
Shen Lin, on the other hand, remained calm from beginning to end.
Looking at the constables, who stood with their heads lowered and awkward expressions on their faces, he said evenly, "Since that's the case, please leave. I'll speak with Prefect Hu about this personally tomorrow."
Li Bailin didn't reply. He simply turned around with a dark expression and walked outside.
But just as he reached the doorway, he stopped and abruptly turned around.
Shen Lin thought he had discovered something and was about to say something, but then he saw the other man wearing a half-smile.
"Wang Er! You said someone saw a person in dark clothes enter this house, right?"
The constable who had reported it thought Li Bailin was about to take his anger out on him. He grimaced and said, "That's right, Boss, but it looks like the fellow may have been trying to scam us. I'll make sure to—"
"No, no, no!" Li Bailin shook his head with a faint smile. "What if the Flying Thief is right here in this house?"
"But we searched the whole house and didn't find anything."
Li Bailin slowly raised his hand and pointed at Shen Lin.
"Look. Isn't there someone right there?"
"Huh?"
The constables turned around and stared at Shen Lin, utterly bewildered.
By then, Shen Lin seemed to have figured out what the other man was planning. He sneered, "Squad Leader Li, you're trying to pin the Flying Thief on me—to frame me, aren't you?"
"What are you talking about? Someone saw it with their own eyes. How could that be framing you?"
Li Bailin smiled and waved his hand. "Come on, help Lord Shen get dressed, and then we'll—"
But at that moment, the water in the bath churned, and a figure suddenly rose from beneath the surface.
"Who's there?"
"Something's happening!!!"
"Protect the squad leader!!!"
The constables were startled by the sudden turn of events and drew the long sabers at their waists.
Shen Lin looked helplessly at the female Flying Thief, who was gasping for air, and sighed.
She was completely naked. Her thick hair concealed her chest, leaving the constables with a glimpse of her smooth back.
Even a martial artist in the Opening Meridians Realm was still made of flesh and blood. She couldn't stay underwater forever without breathing.
Li Bailin's plan to frame Shen Lin had kept him from leaving at once, leaving the female Flying Thief with no choice but to surface.
"Ha! Shen Lin! So you really have been sheltering the Flying Thief all along. Now I'll—"
Li Bailin froze for a moment, then his face suddenly lit up with delight.
He'd actually found her???
But Shen Lin remained completely unhurried. He gently stroked the person's cheek and said tenderly, "Wait here a moment. I'll get these annoying fellows out of here first."
Then he slowly rose from the bath.
The constables looked at the naked Shen Lin before them, their eyes full of curiosity as they turned to the fabled Demon-Slaying Weapon that had supposedly killed a monster.
Well, it was rooted like an ancient tree and surged forth like a flood dragon breaking through the sea—truly a magnificent sight!
Shen Lin paid no attention to their stares. He simply picked up a towel from the side, wrapped it around his waist, and said casually, "Squad Leader Li, do you know? You've ruined such a wonderful night."
Then he pointed at the beautiful figure in the bath. "Do you really think the Flying Thief could be a woman this radiant and dewy?"
Li Bailin sneered. "Who can say? No one's ever seen the Flying Thief's true face."
As he spoke, he walked toward the other side of the bath, apparently hoping to get a look at the woman's face.
"You're really pushing your luck, aren't you?"
Without another word, Shen Lin kicked him.
Li Bailin was ready for him. He punched at Shen Lin's kick and sneered. "Hmph! Couldn't hold back, could you? I knew you'd—"
As far as he was concerned, Shen Lin had only just entered the martial artist realm. If they really fought, there was no way he could win.
But the instant fist and foot met, Li Bailin felt an irresistible force surge up from the sole of the other man's foot.
Thud!
After a muffled impact, Li Bailin stumbled backward several steps before he managed to regain his balance.
Shen Lin, by contrast, remained calm, as if nothing had happened.
"You..."
Li Bailin looked up at Shen Lin, his face filled with shock and fury.
He hadn't expected Shen Lin to be this strong.
He had been on guard from the start, and yet he had still suffered a crushing loss.
Now he had thoroughly humiliated himself in front of all the constables.
Clang!
He drew the long saber at his waist.
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