You Mix It Up in the Martial World Without Reading the Criminal Code?

Zijing, the Flying Thief, had caused quite a stir in the city lately, and Shen Lin, who worked at the County Office, knew all about it.

How many of the wealthy families in the county seat hadn't she paid a visit?

There had even been a death.

Though Shen Lin knew the hands of these wealthy families weren't necessarily clean, they'd held high positions for years. How could they tolerate a Flying Thief shitting on their heads?

If anyone found out he'd secretly helped a Flying Thief, he'd be in serious trouble.

Shen Lin could break through to the Xiantian Realm at any moment now, so he wasn't worried about his own safety.

But what if the other party used some means to make him an accomplice—or even have him put on the wanted list?

The Demon Suppression Bureau wouldn't take in a wanted criminal.

Shen Lin's face darkened. After a long silence, he finally asked, "What do you want me to do?"

Zijing gave a bitter smile. "I'm not trying to threaten you. It's just... after this is over, I'll give you a reward you'll be satisfied with!"

She seemed to want to explain something, but when she saw Shen Lin's icy gaze, she gave up and got straight to the point. "I want you to go find out what's going on tonight and see how he's doing. Once you're back, we can discuss what to do next."

Hearing this, Shen Lin got up and left without the slightest hesitation.

At the County Office entrance, Chief Qian looked up at the sky and couldn't help sighing.

Because of the Demon Cultivator case, he hadn't been home in three days.

Now that they'd finally made some headway, it was time to go home and get a night's rest.

Otherwise, the tigress at home might come storming into the County Office.

"Hm..." He was just about to leave when he saw a figure emerge from the darkness.

By the light at the entrance, he recognized the person and smiled. "Brother Shen, what brings you to the County Office this late? Forget something?"

Shen Lin, who'd been looking gloomy earlier, was back to his usual grinning self. He gave a mischievous smile. "The bottomless pit at home is about to suck me dry. What can I do? I had to come up with an excuse to get out and stay at the County Office for a while, just to save my life."

Chief Qian grinned back and sighed with the air of a man who'd been there. "Ah, you've got it easy for now. Miss Zijing is still young. When she gets a little older, you'll learn just how terrifying women can be."

Then he patted Shen Lin on the shoulder and strode resolutely into the darkness.

The road home somehow took on the tragic air of "the wind sighed, the Yi River ran cold."

Shen Lin watched him go. Once he turned around, the smile vanished from his face.

He entered the torture chamber and strolled leisurely over to the cells.

"Stop! Who are you?!"

A stranger stood at the cell entrance. Though he wore civilian clothes, he halted Shen Lin with an arrogant shout.

Shen Lin seemed curious and walked over.

"Who are you?"

"Don't concern yourself with who I am. There's an important prisoner being held in the cells. No loiterers allowed!"

Shen Lin laughed in anger. He pointed to his own clothes, then at the other man. "This is the County Office! Between you and me, who's the loiterer?"

But the other man seemed not to notice Shen Lin's uniform at all. When he saw Shen Lin approaching, he frowned and drew the iron sword at his waist.

"Stop! Come any closer, and don't blame my sword for having no eyes!"

"Your sword has no eyes?" Shen Lin's face darkened. He suddenly stepped forward and kicked the man hard in the chest.

"I think you're the one who's blind!!!"

The man couldn't fight back against Shen Lin's kick. He flew backward, smashed through the wooden door, and tumbled inside.

"Who's there?!"

In the next instant, several figures rushed out of the cells.

Every one of them was a martial artist, but they were all dressed in civilian clothes. None of them belonged to the County Office.

They shouted questions as they charged out, but showed no mercy in their actions, drawing their swords and slashing straight at Shen Lin.

"Good, good, good!"

Shen Lin sneered and charged forward.

This time, he held nothing back.

These people had clearly come to kill him. There was no reason for him to show them mercy.

Thud!

Shen Lin threw a punch. One man's chest caved in, and he flew away spitting blood.

A side kick struck another man squarely in the head. The force made blood pour from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, and he crumpled to the ground.

These men were martial artists who'd grown used to throwing their weight around in Qiulin County. None of them could have imagined they'd run into a living Yama today.

Shen Lin didn't even use his full strength. He merely showed the power of the first level of the Opening Meridians Realm, yet he tore through them like a tiger let loose among sheep, taking them down in moments.

After kicking the last man to the ground, Shen Lin snatched his longsword and held it to the man's throat. Just as he was about to send him to the afterlife, a furious roar rang out from inside the cells.

"Stop!!!"

A stern-faced man with thick eyebrows and large eyes walked out.

He was a martial artist in the Opening Meridians Realm.

Shen Lin sized him up and saw that he didn't look familiar. He clearly wasn't from the County Office.

That meant he was probably a retainer for one of the wealthy families.

Behind him, Hu Dongxing, the county lieutenant of Qiulin County, came out with another martial artist in the Opening Meridians Realm.

"Who are you? How dare you fight in the torture chamber cells? Release my disciple at once!"

The thick-browed, big-eyed man glared at Shen Lin, fuming with rage.

Hu Dongxing spotted Shen Lin behind him and had just raised a hand to say something when—splurt!

A fountain of blood shot into the air. Without the slightest hesitation, Shen Lin had slashed the man's throat.

Smiling broadly, he looked up at Hu Dongxing. "County Lieutenant Hu, these people broke into the County Office at night and attacked me, an officer of the County Office. By law, that counts as rebellion!"

"Rebel against your mother!!!"

With a furious roar, the thick-browed, big-eyed man charged straight at Shen Lin.

As Shen Lin cut down the last man, the newcomer had also taken in the situation.

The many disciples who'd followed him for seven or eight years were all lying on the ground.

They looked lifeless, plainly beyond saving.

Cheng Shanhe had served as a retainer to the Li family in Qiulin County for years and commanded countless disciples. Who would dare refuse him respect?

Yet this bastard had killed his disciples right in front of him. If he couldn't avenge them, how could he ever show his face in Qiulin County again?

Shen Lin eyed his burly opponent, whose aura showed that he was at the third level of the Opening Meridians Realm. He narrowed his eyes, wondering whether to kill him too, when two figures moved faster than the attacker and blocked Cheng Shanhe.

"Brother Cheng, calm down!!!"

The other Opening Meridians Realm martial artist, who had come out with Hu Dongxing, spoke politely.

Hu Dongxing, on the other hand, was blunt.

"Cheng! Brother Shen is right. You attacked one of our own here at the County Office. Are you trying to rebel?"

Cheng Shanhe pointed at Shen Lin and cursed, "Bullshit! That bastard struck first and killed them. I was avenging my disciples. How does that make it rebellion?"

"You idiot! You go around mixing it up in the martial world without reading the criminal code?"

Shen Lin gave him a disdainful look, as if wondering where this idiot had come from.

This was the County Office, and Shen Lin wore an officer's uniform. That meant he represented the dignity of the entire County Office.

There was nothing wrong with Shen Lin killing those men for attacking him here.