The Lin Family's Affairs

"Understood. Get back to work."

After hearing him out, Shen Yi simply gave a slight nod.

Ever since what happened on Willow Leaf Street yesterday, when his eyes and ears had been covered, he had expected this scene.

Liu the Clerk's response had been orderly and methodical. No wonder the old fox had lasted so many years.

If Shen Yi shut himself away, he'd become a laughingstock for the whole county, something people gossiped about over tea and meals. He'd have no choice but to bow his head and accept their terms. But if he threw the gates wide open... that would just be plain stupid.

Who in this world would willingly make enemies of demons for no reason? The bird that sticks its head out gets shot, and there was no silver to be made. Why risk your neck?

The one thing Liu the Clerk hadn't considered was...

Shen Yi really could benefit from killing demons.

Not just a little, either. It was worth far more than gold or silver: real, tangible years of life.

So Shen Yi felt not the slightest ripple in his heart.

Even if he had any thoughts on the matter, they would amount to nothing more than a hint of delight.

"Sir..."

Chen Ji had the distinct feeling that the other man hadn't heard a word he'd said. This was a matter of life and death!

A moment later, he let his hands fall helplessly, resting one on the hilt at his waist.

What in the world had happened to this age? Just a few days ago, he'd been denouncing Shen Yi for his outrageous behavior. Now, in the blink of an eye, he'd become the one trying to talk him down.

He recalled Shen Yi's solitary figure standing before the village. This wasn't a man who only talked.

Chen Ji gave a self-mocking smile and tightened his grip on his saber... Damn it, he'd better hurry up and save for his sister's dowry.

"How much dowry does your family need to marry off a daughter-in-law?"

"What?" Shen Yi turned back, puzzled.

"Nothing. Just asking." Chen Ji took a deep breath and hurriedly shoved the bizarre thought out of his mind. One thing at a time. Shen Yi was a decent constable, more or less, but his private life was a damned mess. Tsk. He couldn't push his sister into a pit of fire.

Luckily, Shen Yi hadn't heard him...

"Actually, I like them a little more mature."

Shen Yi shook his head, briefly reminiscing about Sister-in-law Song's generous bosom.

Before Chen Ji could react, he ambled into the Constabulary Office.

"Wait, is that really it? It's settled just like that?"

Zhang Dahu was hopping mad. He shouted at the two burly men squatting by the doorway, "What's wrong with you two, lost your tongues? Say something!"

The Niu Brothers had been dissatisfied with Lord Shen for a long time, but now they were as silent as a pair of muffled gourds.

"My wife wouldn't even let me into the bedroom yesterday."

Niu Da scratched the back of his head, looking simpleminded. When word got out that he'd followed Shen, his own home had nearly caught fire—as if he'd actually taken some other man's daughter.

"This morning, I was still asleep when she suddenly... heh... heh..."

As he spoke, Niu Da suddenly grinned like a fool and vigorously rubbed his crotch.

"..." Zhang Dahu.

"..." Chen Ji.

Shen Yi glanced over helplessly and said coolly, "Open the gates."

Ordinary people rarely came to the yamen, much less to the Constabulary Office under the notorious Lord Shen.

But Shen Yi wasn't in a hurry.

He'd seen how desperate Liu Qi and his daughter had been. When demons were involved, they wouldn't let go of a single lifeline. This world had left them no other choice.

Once the gates were open and the notice posted, the courtyard became the only Demon-Subduing Yamen in Baiyun County. Shen Yi also sent Chen Ji and Zhang Dahu out to gather information, while the Niu Brothers took turns every three hours.

Shen Yi closed his eyes and dozed, conserving his strength.

Surprisingly, only half a day later, someone came through the gates.

The visitor was a short, thin, middle-aged man with dark skin. He looked like he did rough manual labor.

He cautiously poked his head inside.

The Niu Brothers' expressions changed at once, and they stood up together. Even Niu Da, who had been grinning like an idiot moments ago, now looked uneasy.

Killing demons, killing demons—it was only two words, easy enough to say. But they'd served in Baiyun County for years, and they'd never actually done it before.

"Lord Shen, I have news of an evil spirit."

The short, thin man nervously swallowed, his eyes darting around. Led by the Niu Brothers, he carefully stepped inside.

"What kind of demon? Speak up," Niu Er said, staring at him tensely.

"N-no... not a demon, an evil spirit." The man hurriedly waved his hands.

At that, Shen Yi slowly sat upright.

He'd been here several days, and counting his predecessor's memories, this was the first time he'd heard anything about an evil spirit.

"Don't rush. Take your time."

The middle-aged man felt calmer under Shen Yi's steady gaze. Yesterday, he'd heard the oil peddler rambling on and figured the fellow must have been drunk. How could Lord Shen possibly treat him so kindly? But after seeing him today, he believed the story a little.

"I didn't run into the evil spirit. My wife did."

He struggled to put things into words. "It started about a month ago. Every evening, when it got dark, I'd be bathing in the courtyard, and my wife would light a candle in the room and comb her hair in front of the mirror."

"She'd smile while she combed, as if she were possessed."

"That's not even the worst of it."

The man's expression grew grimmer. "One night, I woke up needing to pee. I reached out, but there was no one beside me. So I went out to look, and guess what? She was standing by the door in a flowery dress, her hair soaking wet, her neck covered in sweat. I worked up the nerve to tap her on the shoulder. When she saw it was me, she screamed instead, like she'd seen a ghost."

"She said she had no idea how she'd gotten up and couldn't remember a thing."

"And ever since that night, I haven't been feeling well either. No matter how early I go to bed, I sleep straight through until morning. That's got to mean an evil spirit possessed her and is sucking out my yang energy, Lord Shen! My wife made me a medicinal soup, but it didn't help. The more I drank, the sleepier I got."

As Shen Yi listened to the man's vivid account, his expression gradually turned strange.

"And she won't sleep with me anymore. She just sits there grinning like a fool all day. The more I look at her, the more she gives me the creeps."

"The scariest thing was yesterday. Business was slow, so I packed up and went home early. I heard her in the room, screaming herself hoarse and begging, 'Spare me...' Have you ever heard a pig being slaughtered? It sounded just like that..."

Seeing that the man was about to launch into an imitation, Shen Yi furrowed his brow slightly and glanced at the Niu Brothers. With a helpless sigh, he said, "You two, take a night patrol and deal with this evil spirit for him."

"Your subordinates obey."

The Niu Brothers gave the man a sympathetic look and led him out.

Shen Yi leaned back in the wicker chair and gently pressed his temples.

It seemed that finding easy pickings in the city wouldn't be so simple.

Before, when demons entered Baiyun County, his predecessor had always accompanied them. Now that Shen Yi had slaughtered that pack of dog demons, the news had surely spread among the demons. Luring one in like a fish would be much harder now.

Just then, a figure hurried inside.

Chen Ji stopped, gasping for breath. His expression was grave, and though he deliberately lowered his voice, he could hardly hide his shock.

"Lord Shen, Liu Qi is dead."

At that, Shen Yi looked up.

If he remembered correctly, Chen Ji had mentioned that name once before.

The Monument-Splitting Hand, Liu Qi.

He was an Attendant invited from Qing Prefecture by the Lin Family.

The very Lin Family that Lin Baiwei belonged to.