Longevity

Twenty years of life wasn't much in the grand scheme of things.

For Shen Yi, though, it was an enormous surprise.

When he'd crossed into this world, his predecessor had left him only a little over thirty years to live. Even if he made it to his fifties, he'd be done for—a bona fide short-lived wretch.

To be nearing the end of one's allotted years was simply fate.

With the help of the Wind and Thunder Precious Scroll, he'd managed to bring his body to perfection, but in the end, he was still limited to the realm of mortals.

Even extending his natural lifespan a little was no easy feat.

Shen Yi gathered his thoughts, looking forward even more to the Demon Suppression Division's inspection a month from now.

Of course, before then, he needed to prepare for both possibilities.

The first was strength.

The Great Gan Dynasty had established the Demon Suppression Division, independent of the imperial court.

Even its lowest-ranking members, despite having no soldiers under their command, were specially appointed as seventh-rank lieutenants, on a par with the magistrate of Baiyun County.

An ordinary lieutenant could casually gift someone a transcendental art like the Wind and Thunder Precious Scroll to Chen Ji, simply because he showed some talent.

To join their ranks, Shen Yi would have to prove himself exceptional.

The Initial Realm... or higher?

Shen Yi wasn't sure, but there was no harm in improving his cultivation.

Though he had neither a cultivation method nor precious medicines, he'd already grasped martial arts of the Initial Realm from the Demon-Subduing Blade Technique. Now that he had half a copy of the Wind and Thunder Precious Scroll, as long as he was willing to spend his lifespan, he could surely work out something.

At that thought, Shen Yi looked at the panel, his heart aching a little.

He'd just thought himself rich, but after the time it took to eat a meal, he was a pauper again.

Remaining Demon Lifespan: Seventeen years

Killing demons wasn't easy.

Shen Yi had only gotten the chance to be alone with demons because of his predecessor's connections. But as one demon after another disappeared, the trust he'd spent years building would collapse at an unimaginable speed.

A good blacksmith needed a strong arm. Before the demons realized he'd turned against them, Shen Yi had to build up enough strength to face their frenzied retaliation!

Besides strength, there was a second consideration.

Reputation. After all, if things continued as they were, and the county office failed to cover its tracks, when a Demon Suppression Division Lieutenant arrived in Baiyun County, his first order of business—before even killing demons—would probably be to drag the "notorious" Master Shen to the execution ground and hack him to pieces.

But there was no need to rush that.

If he killed enough demons, his reputation would naturally improve.

"Hmm..."

Shen Yi stood in the doorway, stretching. No longer fearing he'd die next year, he felt much more relaxed.

Just then, two constables hurried over from the end of the street, panting. "Lord Shen, we've finally found you! Head Song wants you back right away to give your report."

"Give my report?"

Hearing them, Chen Ji looked up from the dishes he was washing.

The Head Song they were talking about was Song Changfeng, the head of the criminal division.

Normally, it was perfectly natural for a subordinate to report to his superior.

But things in the Baiyun County office weren't so simple.

Head Song was in his forties, an age when a man should still be full of ambition. But because he'd backed the wrong side over how to deal with demons, the county office had repeatedly suppressed him, and he'd long since lost control over Shen Yi.

Though upright in his dealings, he wasn't particularly steely. As he watched Baiyun County's waters grow murkier by the day, he was furious, yet didn't dare step forward and call anyone out.

After being suppressed, his spirit had gradually faded.

He'd simply become a hands-off boss, passing his days with a teacup in hand. As for Shen Yi, he avoided him whenever he could, so he wouldn't lose face.

Why was he deliberately looking for Shen Yi today?

"I'm going to the county office. Get some rest early, and don't leave a lamp on for me."

Chen Ji turned and took his saber. Chen Jinyu obediently nodded. She'd always worried that her elder brother, with his stubborn temper and intolerance for the slightest wrongdoing, would be bullied and ostracized by his colleagues. Now, it seemed he'd found a superior he could trust.

Thinking of this, she stole another glance at the tall figure by the doorway.

What kind of person could earn the trust of her proud elder brother?

Shen Yi turned back and raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing? Put the saber down and wash your dishes."

"..." Chen Ji silently set the saber down.

Shen Yi turned back to the two constables before him. They both served under him.

But now their eyes darted away, clearly hiding something.

If they were this scared, then the person who'd called him over was probably not Head Song.

"Let's go."

Shen Yi didn't ask questions. He stepped out into the street.

The two constables led the way without so much as daring to breathe loudly. They returned to the Constabulary Office.

The chubbier one finally turned around, his face pinched with worry. "Please be careful..."

As soon as he'd said it, he turned back around.

The two stopped in front of a tightly shut door. "Head Song, Lord Shen is here!"

Shen Yi was a little puzzled. So it really was Song Changfeng?

He had only a moment to wonder before a reply came from inside—but it wasn't Head Song's voice...

Bang! Bang!

Two holes burst open in the wooden door. Black shadows shot out, piercing the two constables through the chest.

Shen Yi watched the pair of black shadows protruding from the constables' backs. They were a pair of wrinkled hands, covered in black fur.

Each hand clutched a twitching heart. Slowly, they held them out toward him, then plunged their sharp claws into the flesh!

"Brother Shen, why have you stopped?"

"..."

Shen Yi closed his eyes and drew in a breath of warm, foul air.

Then he kicked the door hard!

As the wooden door shattered, a shrill cry rang out from inside. The black figure immediately darted backward with astonishing speed.

Shen Yi stepped inside at an unhurried pace, his impassive gaze sweeping across the room.

The first person he saw was Song Changfeng, his face stricken. The middle-aged man knelt before a wicker chair, trembling all over like a sieve. It wasn't all from fear. Most of it came from the weight on his shoulder.

A thick, powerful, furry leg.

It rested casually on Song Changfeng's shoulder, nearly cracking every bone in his body. Sweat poured down his face from the pain.

The owner of the furry leg was sprawled in the wicker chair, wearing a loose scholar's robe hanging open. It propped itself up on one elbow and revealed an ugly ape's face. Baring its teeth slightly, it said, "Brother, have a seat."

Besides it, there were two other ape demons in the room.

One was hunched over, its long arms hanging down to the floor, its face full of menace.

Blood dripped from its fingertips. It was obvious that it had been responsible for the "welcome."

"Why did you take so long... Look at the mess you've made..."

Song Changfeng's face twitched, his emotions on the verge of collapse. "Is this how you deal with demons? You've dealt with them so well that they've ended up in the county office..."

No one knew what had happened earlier, but a grown man was now weeping and wailing like a wronged wife.

Shen Yi looked toward the table. Three bloody dog heads had been neatly arranged on it.

He glanced back at the two constables' bodies by the doorway, still warm.

The old ape in the scholar's robe smacked its lips and stroked Song Changfeng's head with one claw. "There's one more. Right here."

As it spoke, the other two ape demons quietly blocked the doorway.