Inside the room, Clerk Wang's fat belly jutted out as he lay atop a young woman.
His blubber rolled in waves, making him look like a foul-smelling maggot.
The young woman's pupils were unfocused. She was already dead.
Clerk Wang gave a final wriggle, then rose and wiped the sweat from his brow. He spat on the floor.
"What is it?"
Captain Zheng lowered his head. "The Wild Boar Demon."
He recognized the young woman—or rather, he recognized her mother.
That still-alluring widow had thrown herself into the river after he violated her.
He had never expected to find the widow's daughter here too.
Clerk Wang narrowed his eyes. "The butcher's family is proving difficult? Give them more silver. If they still won't accept it, find a chance to wipe out the whole household."
Captain Zheng shook his head and recounted everything that had happened that night.
Clerk Wang listened while kicking the young woman's body aside, his face dark as deep water.
When Captain Zheng finished, Clerk Wang slammed his palm onto the table.
The table cracked apart and crumbled into splinters.
"A mere butcher dares defy us!"
Captain Zheng did not dare say more. He simply agreed with every word.
Clerk Wang waved a hand. "Send someone to Flying Cloud Gorge. Tell them there's fine Qi Concealment Realm prey to feast on. Those eagle brats will be interested."
Captain Zheng hesitated. "Is that all we're doing?"
He had thought Clerk Wang would send a large force. Instead, he meant to rely on those Eagle Demons.
Clerk Wang slapped Captain Zheng on the head. "Do you know why you're a captain while I'm a clerk?"
Captain Zheng's head spun, but he still replied humbly, "This subordinate does not know."
Pleased by Captain Zheng's humility, Clerk Wang said smugly, "Because you have no brains. Qin An is strong, and he killed a demon. What grounds do you have to arrest him?"
"Even if we fabricated a charge, how many of our men would die if he fought back with his life on the line?"
"The five hundred men under our command are the County Magistrate's foundation. We can't squander them over this."
"The Eagle Demons have greedy appetites. A cultivator with no one backing him is just what they like."
Captain Zheng nodded repeatedly. "A brilliant plan, Lord Wang."
Hearing this analysis, Captain Zheng realized how green he still was.
Borrowing another's blade to kill would both curry favor with Flying Cloud Gorge and eliminate Qin An. Two birds with one arrow.
Clerk Wang said slowly, "Make up a reason to take Qin An out of the city. If he refuses, charge him with defying Great Qian Law. If he resists after that, well... he'll have a hard time of it."
Captain Zheng froze. "I'm to take him out myself?"
Clerk Wang sneered. "How can either of us rest easy unless we see him die with our own eyes?"
Captain Zheng understood at once. He cupped his hands. "This subordinate will see to it."
With that, Captain Zheng left the room.
After a quick meal, Qin An went to the Blacksmith Shop.
He lit the forge with practiced ease and began hammering.
Sparks flew. Qin An did not leave the Blacksmith Shop until nightfall.
[Blacksmith Profession lv. 2 (0/200): The quality of what you forge increases.]
After working without pause all day, Qin An had raised his Blacksmith Profession to level two.
The requirement for advancing past level one had not been excessive. He had only needed to forge three weapons, so advancing had been easy enough.
With the day's work done, Qin An ate a simple meal outside and prepared to go home to rest.
The street was quiet.
Night had fallen, and Ding County had no nightlife. Apart from the watchman's call, not a sound could be heard.
Getting home from the Blacksmith Shop meant passing through three alleys.
When Qin An reached the last alley, he stopped.
Ahead of him, Captain Zheng stood with a group of constables.
Seeing Qin An approach, Captain Zheng came over.
Qin An stopped. "Something you need?"
After last night, Qin An had thought he might have some peace for a while. He had not expected Captain Zheng to return tonight.
Captain Zheng coughed. He did not dare meet Qin An's eyes. "The Yamen recently killed some demons and needs a butcher to slaughter them outside the city. You're the only one in Ding County who can butcher demons. The County Magistrate has given the order: come out of the city with me in three days."
Out of the city?
Qin An narrowed his eyes and tapped the handle of his sharp knife.
When something was out of the ordinary, there had to be a demon behind it.
An order to leave the city in three days had come out of nowhere. Qin An knew it was aimed at him.
He had known a show of strength would not deter them for long, but he had not expected them to make a move so soon.
Qin An nodded. "Five days."
Captain Zheng had prepared a whole speech, even threats and inducements.
He had not expected Qin An to agree so readily. He stood there like a wooden chicken.
Qin An frowned. "No?"
Captain Zheng nodded quickly. "Yes, yes. Five days it is. Make your preparations. We're leaving!"
With his answer secured, Captain Zheng did not linger.
Qin An always struck him as cold. The chill around him, in particular, made Captain Zheng feel as though the temperature had dropped.
Qin An watched Captain Zheng leave, then pushed open his door.
He had agreed.
The reason was simple: this was a trap laid in plain sight.
If he refused, he would be defying Great Qian Law and giving them something to use against him.
Even if they did not try to force him, they could abuse their positions. If the matter reached Ling Prefecture, everything would change.
Since that was the case, he might as well agree and see what they were up to.
He had asked for five days because his Blacksmith Profession would reach level three in four.
He did not know the exact requirement for awakening it, but he would have his answer in four days.
The fifth day gave him some breathing room.
I'll wait for Blacksmith Profession to reach level three and see what surprise it brings.
Qin An went inside, hung up the bell as usual, and went to bed early.
Time passed. Four days went by in a blink.
On the bustling street, the hammering from the Blacksmith Shop never ceased.
Qin An did not stop hammering until night fell.
Before his eyes, a line of mist appeared.
[Blacksmith Profession lv. 2 (200/200): The quality of what you forge increases.] [Advancement requirement: Temper Weapon with Blood.]
"Temper Weapon with Blood?"
Qin An studied the mist before him and fell into thought.
Ordinary forging called for quenching with water. This advancement required him to quench a weapon with blood.
It sounded mad, but the Golden Finger was the only thing Qin An could rely on. Following its instructions would not go wrong.
With that thought, Qin An drew the sharp knife at his waist.
He used it for butchering, but in the end, it was only ordinary iron.
He wanted to see whether Temper Weapon with Blood could change the knife.
As for whether it might fail, Qin An did not care.
He had forged plenty of knives recently and could replace it at any time.
With that thought, Qin An tossed the knife into the forge.
The sounds of forging rose and fell.
When it was nearly time to quench the blade, Qin An lifted it without a change in expression and cut open his left palm.
Blood dripped from his hand onto the sharp knife.
Wisps of vapor swirled without end.
A moment later, the quenching was complete.
Qin An studied the sharp knife in his hand. A strange sensation came from the blade.
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