第45章 剑斩狐妖

Under the bombardment of formless True Qi, the copper bell began to tremble violently.

In the span of a breath, dense cracks spread across the surface of the bell.

The fox demon's eyes were filled with deep terror, yet it could do nothing but watch helplessly as its primary reliance shattered into pieces.

It turned to flee, only to find that it could not even move a finger.

Four-Unity True Qi! This was the signature technique of the Demon Suppression Division's Qing Prefecture commander!

That damned woman, to think she actually taught such a martial art to this person!

No matter how its thoughts raced, the sky-filling True Qi suddenly pierced through the fox demon's body, leaving it like a helpless, tattered flag riddled with countless arrows.

Puff! Puff! Puff!

Ghastly blood holes covered the entire demonic body, gradually merging together under the continued bombardment of the True Qi until the whole thing became an indescribable mass of mangled flesh.

The only thing that remained intact was the beast essence that Shen Yi had deliberately spared.

The fox demon never lived to see it.

The shock on Lin Baiwei's face was no less than his own; she opened her small mouth in a daze, as if she had seen a ghost.

Shen Yi walked over and picked up the beast essence.

He looked back toward the bed, a strange expression deepening in his eyes.

"Do you want to consider covering yourself up first?"

Although the Demon Suppression Division was at war with demons and it was normal to be unconstrained by trifles, could she at least be a little considerate of others?

He was at a hot-blooded age, and seeing too many such provocative scenes could easily affect his state of mind.

"Ah..."

Lin Baiwei snapped back to reality and draped the quilt over herself. Although she felt slightly embarrassed, she did not put on the airs of a delicate young lady.

Furthermore, after what had just transpired, she had no room for other thoughts.

If she remembered correctly, all in all, she had only given him the manual for the Four-Unity True Qi six days ago.

Although the Qi was not complete due to the limitations of his cultivation foundation, the fact that Shen Yi could actually execute it was already shocking enough.

"..."

Taking in the woman's expression, Shen Yi did not offer much explanation; he had done it on purpose.

Once the fox demon was dead, Lin Baiwei would naturally return to the Lin Mansion and would likely have no further intersection with him.

After hearing Butcher Zhang's introduction, Shen Yi knew all too well what a vast difference in treatment one's aptitude could bring.

Compared to those Demon Catchers who reached the Jade Liquid Realm in ten years, he was only at the Initial Realm with twelve orifices at over twenty years old. Aside from the "pseudo-aptitude" accumulated by his panel, he truly had no impressive skills to show.

Now was not the time to hide his light.

Rather than exposing his strength to a stranger, it was better to display it before Lin Baiwei, who was slightly more familiar, and use her connections to help himself secure a better starting point.

Looking at it now, the goal should have been achieved, right?

Shen Yi was a bit uncertain.

After all, no one knew if she would ever mention these days of distress again once she returned to the Demon Suppression Division.

He could only leave it to fate.

Shen Yi rummaged through the cabinet, took out the black shirt she had worn before, and tossed it onto the bed. "There's no medicine here, but your home shouldn't be lacking any. Do you want me to escort you?"

"..."

He's just brushing the topic aside like that?

Lin Baiwei gripped the black shirt, her lips twitching twice.

Why was it that such an earth-shattering feat—mastering a profound Jade Liquid Realm martial art in six days with only Initial Realm cultivation and executing it with such ease—was not only accomplished by him, but he acted as if it were nothing?

If not for the fact that Shen Yi's face still betrayed an unmistakable weakness, she would have truly suspected he was not at the Initial Realm at all.

Fortunately, he was still at the Initial Realm...

At least in terms of cultivation progress, he still fell within the category of ordinary people; otherwise, he would truly put those martial artists in Qing Prefecture who boasted of their heavenly talent to shame.

"No need, I can go back on my own." Lin Baiwei finally managed to console herself.

"Remember to have your father send the silver you owe me." Shen Yi turned around, leaving her time to change.

"What silver? How much?"

"Seven hundred and ninety taels of Demon-Slaying Silver, ten of which is for your food expenses."

Shen Yi crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. Now that the demon was eradicated, he could accept this payment with a clear conscience.

Lin Baiwei quickly changed her clothes, staring at his back, feeling both angry and amused.

He's even counting the loose change, so precise.

She wiped the wound on her neck. "I serve in the Demon Suppression Division, with a rank equivalent to a lieutenant."

As soon as these words left her lips, Lin Baiwei noticed Shen Yi silently turn around.

Just when she thought he would ask for more, she saw the young man roll his eyes and say with a hint of helplessness:

"Round it down, seven hundred taels."

"That's not what I meant!"

Lin Baiwei stomped her foot. She had clearly wanted to tell the truth and thank him for his care during these days with her real identity; was a bit of silver really worth more than her favor?

"Then there's nothing else."

Shen Yi did not feel that the woman owed him anything. The money and goods were settled, and he had even gained a Jade Liquid Realm martial art.

He could also use her to shoulder the blame for killing the demon.

For instance, this time, the fox demon would likely pin this account on her "master."

The only pity was...

Shen Yi looked at the lamb ribs on the floor in the distance. He really didn't know how to cook; he could have pretended not to know before, but now, asking his future superior to do the chores would be quite impolite.

"How about I make dinner before I go?" Lin Baiwei looked in the same direction and swallowed her saliva.

"You lie down and rest for a while, just watch."

Before she could respond, she picked up the ingredients and headed into the kitchen.

Shen Yi was slightly stunned; it was quite unexpected.

A moment later, he cast his gaze outside the door, and the panel quickly unfolded.

[Killed an Initial Realm peak fox demon. Total lifespan: 602 years. Remaining lifespan: 472 years. Absorption complete.]

[Remaining demonic lifespan: 657 years.]

This fox demon was the most talented one Shen Yi had ever seen, and it provided the most remaining lifespan.

But he had no heart to dwell on it now.

Compared to the Four-Unity True Qi he had deliberately displayed, the method of using lifespan to compensate for the twelve major orifices was the true secret that should be kept hidden.

While Lin Baiwei was away, he invested five years of lifespan into the Wind and Thunder Demon-Subduing True Interpretation.

The next moment, although his face remained pale, the empty orifices within his body were instantly filled.

If he wished, he could unleash Qi like he had just done another 131 times.

Shen Yi slowly gripped the hilt of his blade.

Night was falling.

In Baiyun County, only a few scattered pedestrians remained on the long street.

As the man in the ink-black shirt stepped onto the street, more than a dozen figures dressed in various disguises quietly gathered, and hushed words drifted into his ears.

The beggar's expression was grave. "I went to the Lin Mansion to check; that is not Magistrate Lin, but a demon in disguise. I am not sure if it discovered me."

The young man holding the sugar-figure pole continued, "According to rumors in the streets, Magistrate Lin once left the city to subdue demons and returned heavily injured, only to be brought back to the Lin Mansion by a bailiff named Shen."

A few more people approached. "Shen Yi, born in the suburbs of Baiyun County, once worked as a kitchen hand in an inn, spent his youth roaming the streets from the age of fourteen, and was later scouted by Song Changfeng, the head of the criminal division, to join the yamen. He has a notorious reputation, is a gambler by nature, and even colluded with demons to cause chaos."

Li Xinhan glanced sideways. "A wicked catcher?"

Another person beside him shook his head. "Not necessarily. According to the villagers of Liuli Temple Village, he once went alone and slew thirteen demons. I also learned from the county clerk that on the day we arrived, the Vajra Sect disciples and the East Mountain ape demon sent messages to ambush Shen Yi in the wasteland; the next day, both the ape demon and the clerk were dead."

"I made some discreet inquiries. Many commoners had their daughters abducted by bailiffs, only to have them returned through his hands, with rice and flour given as compensation. Counting the time, it was around the same days he was slaying demons."

Summarizing the various pieces of information, Li Xinhan looked into the distance toward the nearby house, a hint of mockery in his eyes. "Enduring for years, achieving great power, and clearing his name?"

The beggar knew he was joking, but still hesitated. "Although there is a suspicion of him just going through the motions to handle the inspection... what you say is not impossible. After all, he was ostracized by the entire yamen; if it were just an act, it would be a bit too much."