The Mighty Master Shen

Sun Zhi was silent for a moment, then asked, "What if I refuse? Will you expose my secret to the public?"

"How could I do that?" Shen Lin said with a bright smile, but his words sent a chill down Sun Zhi's spine.

"It's just that Head Constable Sun will have to be careful from now on. After all, you're quite valuable, and you wouldn't want to attract any unwanted attention from villains."

Sun Zhi heard this and laughed as if it were a joke. He looked at Shen Lin with disdain and said, "You're threatening me? You? A kid who just stepped into the Martial Artist realm, do you really think you..."

He stopped mid-sentence.

His mouth hung open, his Adam's apple bobbing, but he dared not swallow.

A Steel Saber had appeared at his throat at some unknown time, pressing against his skin.

The cold blade made his hair stand on end.

When did this guy...?

"Head Constable Sun, do you know..." Shen Lin grinned, revealing his white teeth, and whispered, "In martial arts, it's not about who started first, but who is stronger?"

Shen Lin hadn't used the Qi and Blood Force of his Opening Meridians Realm. This entire maneuver was based on his understanding of saber techniques.

How to draw the saber faster, which angle to swing it to reduce resistance – these were things he had deduced over a hundred years with the System's help.

Sun Zhi was utterly horrified.

The Qi and Blood Force displayed by the other party wasn't much stronger than his own, yet with just exquisite saber techniques, he had subdued him in the blink of an eye.

Is this kid's martial arts talent truly this astonishing?

Just then, Shen Lin withdrew his saber and chuckled, "Head Constable Sun, please consider this matter carefully."

He sheathed his saber, turned around, waved his hand, and walked towards the courtyard gate.

"Please tell Prefect Hu that I, your humble servant, had too much to drink and have returned ahead of time."

Sun Zhi stood frozen in place. Only after Shen Lin's figure completely disappeared did he seem to remember how to breathe, gasping for air and leaning against the wall.

In nearly forty years, he had never felt so close to death.

Even fighting against demons hadn't put him under such immense pressure.

Yet Shen Lin, a Martial Artist who had just awakened his Qi and Blood Force, made him feel suffocated.

In front of him, he felt utterly powerless to resist.

Such talent, such forbearance...

Sun Zhi couldn't help but mutter.

He recalled how Shen Lin had always acted like a dissolute youth, with great talent but no interest in martial arts, spending his days drinking and carousing.

But now, it seemed the young man had been hiding a dark heart.

In terms of saber techniques alone, perhaps no one in Qiulin County could compare to him.

Touching his neck with lingering fear, he took a deep breath and turned back into the restaurant.

In the main hall, ordinary constables were crammed around a table, already in a boisterous uproar.

As Sun Zhi was about to return to the private room, he saw a throng of people surrounding Kong Yu, with exclamations erupting intermittently.

"That Mantis Demon was real! With a pair of sickles, even the Steel Sabers issued by the County Office couldn't withstand its sharpness. Many brothers were directly dismembered by it. Fortunately, at the critical moment, our Lord Shen intervened!"

Hearing this, Sun Zhi's heart stirred, and he moved closer.

He had already tested Kong Yu earlier, and the man's performance didn't suggest he had discovered his secret.

Now, the account of slaying the demon piqued Sun Zhi's interest.

After the scene just now, he was filled with curiosity about everything related to Shen Lin.

Although he hadn't decided how to respond yet, whether they would be friends or foes was still unknown, it was best to gather as much information about him as possible.

Kong Yu picked up his wine cup, and someone immediately poured him more wine, asking, "Brother Kong, Lord Shen is a Martial Artist. Did he really not save our brothers from the Mantis Demon?"

Slurp!

Finishing his drink in one gulp, Kong Yu shook his head and sighed, "Lord Shen and I fought side-by-side at the time, and I didn't feel any change in his strength. His breakthrough to the Martial Artist realm also happened later, when he faced a life-or-death crisis."

"What kind of life-or-death crisis?"

Kong Yu's face showed a strange expression, as if it were difficult to speak of. He looked at the brothers around him and whispered, "I'm only telling you this, so don't spread it around outside."

"That Mantis Demon was female and had a penchant for handsome men. After dealing with the other colleagues, only Shen and I were left. I was tied up outside, but I could clearly hear the commotion inside. It was earth-shattering."

"Ew~"

Someone initially made a disgusted sound, then sighed, seemingly pitying Shen Lin, "Those demons are all hideously ugly... It must have been hard on Lord Shen."

"You don't understand!"

At this point, someone nearby retorted, "Demons that have cultivated demonic energy can transform into human form. Some demons can transform into beautiful women, even more alluring than ordinary courtesans. In some places in the prefectural city, there are shapeshifted demons who offer their services. I heard the experience is... tsk tsk..."

A group of lecherous old men let out lewd laughter.

Kong Yu waved his hand, quickly bringing the topic back.

"Even so, the physical strength of a demon that has cultivated demonic energy is far superior to us mortals. Perhaps it was in such a life-or-death crisis that Shen managed to break through on the spot and become a Martial Artist."

I was knocked unconscious, so my memory is hazy. I only vaguely recall hearing that Master Shen, who had become a Martial Artist, displayed incredible power, effortlessly toying with the Mantis Demon and beating it until it begged for mercy.

Hearing this, Sun Zhi's expression turned strange.

This guy might genuinely have psychological issues...

Looks like I'll have to make a long-term plan.

Shaking his head, Sun Zhi returned to the private room with mixed feelings.

And after this night, tales of Master Shen's heroic deeds spread throughout Qiulin County.

In the streets and alleys, vendors shared gossip.

"Did you hear? After being violated by the demon, Master Shen was overcome with shame, broke through to Martial Artist on the spot, and unleashed his power, forcing the demon to retreat and beg for mercy."

"That's not right? How come I heard our Master Shen is into that kind of thing? He was toying with the demon before killing it."

On the street in front of a brothel, a man sneakily hawked pills.

"Brother! Want one? My medicine boosts vitality and nourishes the kidneys, I guarantee it'll make you mighty and able to stand tall!"

"Is it that magical?"

"Of course! How could I lie to you? You know Master Shen from the Torture Chamber? He took my pills, which is how he fought the demon for three hundred rounds, exhausted it, and then killed it with one blow."

Inside the County Office, ordinary Constables watched Shen Lin walk in. After he moved away, they whispered to each other:

"Did you hear? Master Shen fucked the Mantis Demon to death!"