Inside Yanbin Restaurant, Hu Dongxing and a group of head constables sat in a private room.
Shen Lin, who had just become a martial artist, had also been invited to join them.
The food and wine had been served, but Hu Dongxing did not hurry to begin. Instead, he raised his cup, his expression solemn. "Everyone! Let's dedicate this first cup to our brothers who made the ultimate sacrifice!"
As he spoke, he looked at Shen Lin and explained, "Brother Shen, you haven't been a martial artist for long, but you should understand that slaying demons brings generous rewards, yet the risks are just as great.
"This time, only you and... what's-his-name survived from your squad. Last year, fifty-seven of our brothers from the County Office died in the line of duty.
"These brothers held no official rank and weren't even considered clerks, so the imperial court naturally won't provide any compensation. Their funeral arrangements will have to be handled by those of us who are still alive.
"You must have gained quite a bit from the demons, and with the rewards the Demon Suppression Bureau will issue soon, your wealth will surpass that of many people in Qiulin County in a single day.
"So you should set aside some of those rewards and give them to the families of the brothers who died."
At this, he pointed to Sun Zhi and the other head constables. "Don't think I'm picking on you. Every one of these head constables has done the same. We can't help it. That's the price of being martial artists."
Shen Lin showed no displeasure. He nodded. "Prefect Hu, I understand!"
Seeing him agree, Hu Dongxing smiled in relief and led the way, spilling the wine from his cup onto the ground.
For most people, the greatest benefit of slaying demons and eradicating evil was probably the rewards they received.
But for Shen Lin, the most important thing was the demons' lifespans he had gained.
As for money, although martial arts manuals and cultivation resources were expensive, he could spare this bit of compensation.
He just hadn't expected...
Shen Lin gave Sun Zhi a long look. He said nothing, but the mockery in his eyes was unmistakable.
Those brothers had all been pushed into the fire pit by you.
After they died, you tossed their families a little money and thought that made everything right?
"Good! Come, come. This second cup..."
After paying tribute to their fallen colleagues, the atmosphere in the room grew much livelier, thanks to Hu Dongxing.
Everyone began raising their cups and enjoying the fine wine and food.
But Sun Zhi was somewhat distracted.
Even now, he still couldn't figure out what Shen Lin was plotting.
At first, he'd thought the guy planned to expose all the things he'd done at the banquet, in front of the county lieutenant and the others.
He was wary of that possibility, but had already prepared his excuses.
No matter how you looked at it, Sun Zhi's confidence in returning to the County Office came from the fact that he'd covered his tracks and left no evidence.
Shen Lin's word alone wasn't enough to convict him.
But Shen Lin sat there without saying a word, only glancing over at him now and then, watching him in silence.
This made Sun Zhi increasingly uneasy.
He couldn't get a read on the other man's intentions.
Just as he was thinking of finding an opportunity to sound him out, Shen Lin suddenly stood up, apparently heading to the latrine.
Seeing this, Sun Zhi waited a while, then got up as well and left the private room, intending to find Shen Lin alone and pump him for information.
Shen Lin was still young; he wouldn't be in such a hurry to relieve himself just because he'd had a little wine.
He'd been waiting for Sun Zhi on purpose.
When Sun Zhi approached, Shen Lin smiled. "I hear you made quite a haul this time, Head Constable?"
"You should've left that Mantis Demon alive," Sun Zhi said vaguely, not answering his question.
"Head Constable Sun, you jest. You've been in Qiulin County for so many years. The testimony of a mere demon wouldn't be enough to bring you down."
"Good. So you understand!"
Sun Zhi replied in a low voice, his face showing not the slightest trace of relief.
If Shen Lin had lodged a complaint as soon as he returned to the County Office, Sun Zhi wouldn't be nearly as nervous as he was now.
He was confident that he'd covered his tracks cleanly. The few who'd been in league with him and survived had already pledged their loyalty at the time. If he got exposed, they'd be dragged down with him.
Even if the demons he'd worked with came forward to testify, he could simply claim they were slandering him.
After all, between a head constable who'd slain countless demons and a demon's testimony, the County Office would naturally know whom to believe.
But now, Shen Lin had done nothing at all—and that was what tormented Sun Zhi most.
Without knowing what the other man intended, he couldn't prepare a proper response.
At that, he stopped beating around the bush and asked Shen Lin directly, "What do you want?"
Shen Lin smiled, looking amused. "I don't want much. I just hope you'll take me along and help me make a fortune, Head Constable."
Hearing this, Sun Zhi frowned, then looked Shen Lin up and down. With a chuckle, he said, "Want to trade with the Demon Suppression Bureau for an Opening Meridians martial arts manual?"
He figured he understood what the other man wanted.
Shen Lin was already a martial artist at such a young age, so of course he wanted to advance further.
But going from a martial artist to the Opening Meridians Realm wasn't something he could accomplish just by continuing to practice the Blood Battle Saber Technique.
To reach the Opening Meridians Realm, one had to locate the meridians in the body, then use Qi and Blood Force to break them open.
Trying to sense the meridians within oneself through a common martial art like the Blood Battle Saber Technique was far too difficult.
At the very least, aside from the old soldiers who spent their days fighting on the border, Sun Zhi had heard of few people who'd managed to open their meridians with the Blood Battle Saber Technique.
Besides, even if Shen Lin had exceptional talent and could use the Blood Battle Saber Technique to open his meridians, he'd only be able to open two at most.
To advance beyond the Opening Meridians Realm, one needed to open at least three meridians.
Shen Lin had no idea what Sun Zhi was thinking. Hearing this, he was momentarily stunned, but his expression didn't change at all. He gave an ambiguous reply. "Who wouldn't?"
Sun Zhi wasn't entirely wrong in his guess.
That guy really was a piece of work. He'd traded the lives of his own people with the Demon Race, and it disgusted Shen Lin.
If Shen Lin had wanted to kill him, all he'd had to do last night was wait a little longer with the Mantis Demon.
But after thinking it over, he'd decided to let Sun Zhi live for now.
Beheading him with a single stroke would be satisfying, but then what?
Finding demons wasn't easy.
Whether it was Shen Lin, who had only just arrived, or his predecessor, who'd spent years in Qiulin County, neither knew much about demons. He needed someone to introduce him to this world.
Sun Zhi was an excellent choice.
The man had traded with demons for so long; he must have his own ways of finding them.
Shen Lin had only a year of life left. He couldn't afford to waste a single moment.
He had to quickly build up his reserve of demon lifespans, find a way to obtain some higher-level martial arts manuals, and break through as soon as possible to extend his life.
For that goal, letting the man live a little longer was acceptable.
More importantly, killing him with a single stroke would be far too kind.
Shen Lin already had some wonderful plans taking shape in his mind.
Thinking of this, he asked with a smile, "Head Constable Sun, what do you think of my proposal?"
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