Under the bombardment of invisible Astral Qi, the Copper Bell began to tremble frantically.
In the span of a breath, dense cracks spread across its surface.
Terror filled the fox demon's eyes, yet it could do nothing but watch helplessly as the object it relied upon quietly shattered.
It turned to flee, only to discover that it could not even move a finger.
Four-Unity True Qi! It was the signature art of the Demon Suppression Division's Commander-in-Chief in Qing Prefecture!
That damned woman had actually taught such martial arts to him!
As countless thoughts raced through its mind, Astral Qi filling the sky suddenly pierced through the fox demon's body. Like a helpless, tattered banner, it was shot clean through by innumerable arrows!
Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!
Ghastly bloody holes covered the demon's entire body. Under the continued bombardment of Astral Qi, they gradually joined together, until its whole body became an indescribable, mangled mass of flesh and blood.
The only thing that remained intact was the Beast Essence Shen Yi had deliberately left behind.
The fox demon never got to see it before it died.
The shock on Lin Baiwei's face was no less than his own. Her little mouth hung open foolishly, as though she had seen a ghost.
Shen Yi walked over and picked up the Beast Essence.
When he turned to look at the bed, the strange look in his eyes became even more apparent.
"Shouldn't you consider covering yourself up first?"
Though the Demon Suppression Division was enemies with demons and did not stand on ceremony, could she not spare a thought for others?
He was also at an age brimming with vigor. Seeing too much of such fragrant, alluring scenery could easily affect his state of mind.
"Ah..."
Lin Baiwei came back to her senses and casually draped the blanket around herself. Though somewhat embarrassed, she did not put on the affected manner of a delicate young lady.
Besides, after what had just happened, how could she have had the mind for anything else?
If she remembered correctly, she had given him the Four-Unity True Qi only six days ago, at most.
Though restricted by his cultivation foundation, the Astral Qi just now had not been complete, but the fact that Shen Yi could use it at all was already shocking enough.
"..."
Taking in the woman's expression, Shen Yi offered no further explanation. He had done it deliberately from the start.
Now that the fox demon was dead, Lin Baiwei would naturally return to Lin Mansion. It was impossible for them to have any further dealings.
After hearing Butcher Zhang's introduction,
Shen Yi had deeply understood just how vastly different the treatment of people with differing talent could be.
Compared with that Demon Catcher who had reached Jade Liquid Perfection in ten years, he had only opened twelve orifices in the Initial Realm in his twenties. Other than the "fake talent" he had piled up through the panel, he truly had nothing worth showing off.
This was not the time to hide his light and bide his time.
Rather than expose himself to strangers, it was better to display some of his ability before Lin Baiwei, whom he was slightly more familiar with, then use her connections to secure himself a better start.
It seemed his goal had been achieved, hadn't it?
Shen Yi was somewhat uncertain.
After all, no one knew whether she would mention these days of hardship after returning to the Demon Suppression Division.
All he could do was leave it to heaven's will.
Shen Yi rummaged through the cabinet, took out the black shirt she had worn before, and casually tossed it onto the bed. "There's no medicine here, but your household probably doesn't lack it. Do you need me to take you back?"
"..."
He was just going to brush the matter aside like that?
Lin Baiwei gripped the black shirt, her lips twitching twice.
How could someone at the Initial Realm learn a profound Jade Liquid Realm martial art in six days, then casually use it? Such a shocking thing had not only been done by him, but he acted as though nothing had happened.
If Shen Yi's face had not still been unable to hide his weakness, she would truly have suspected that he was not in the Initial Realm at all.
Fortunately, he was still in the Initial Realm...
At least his progress in cultivation still fell within the bounds of ordinary people. Otherwise, those martial artists in Qing Prefecture who prided themselves on their gifts would be too ashamed to speak.
"No need. I can go back myself." Lin Baiwei finally managed to comfort herself.
"Remember to have your father send over the silver he owes me." Shen Yi turned around, leaving her time to change.
"What silver? How much?"
"Seven hundred and ninety taels of Demon-Slaying Silver. Ten taels of that is your food expense."
Shen Yi folded his arms and leaned against the wall. Now that the demons had been eliminated, he could accept this money with a clear conscience.
Lin Baiwei quickly changed into her clothes and stared at his back, feeling both annoyed and amused.
He had even calculated it down to the last detail.
She wiped the wound on her neck. "I serve in the Demon Suppression Division. My position is equivalent to a Vice General."
As soon as she said this, Lin Baiwei saw Shen Yi silently turn around.
Just as she thought he would ask more, the young man rolled his eyes and said with a hint of helplessness,
"Round it down. Seven hundred taels."
"That's not what I meant!"
Lin Baiwei stamped her foot. She had clearly wanted to reveal the truth and thank him in her true identity for his care during these days. Could a little silver possibly be worth more than the favor she owed him?
"Then there's nothing else."
Shen Yi did not think the woman owed him anything. Money and goods had been settled cleanly, and he had even gained a Jade Liquid Realm martial art.
She could also conveniently shoulder much of the blame for his demon slaying.
For instance, this time, the fox demon would most likely put the debt on her "master."
The only pity was...
Shen Yi looked at the rack of lamb ribs on the ground in the distance. He truly did not know how to cook. He could pretend not to know before, but asking his future superior to do the work now would be somewhat impolite.
"How about I have dinner before I leave?" Lin Baiwei looked over as well and swallowed.
"You lie down and rest for a while. Watch carefully."
Without waiting for his reply, she picked up the ingredients and entered the kitchen.
Shen Yi was slightly stunned. This was rather unexpected.
A moment later, he cast his gaze outside the door, and the panel rapidly unfolded.
[Slain: Initial Realm Perfection fox demon. Total lifespan: 602 years. Remaining lifespan: 472 years. Absorption complete.] [Remaining demon lifespan: 657 years.]
This fox demon was the most talented one Shen Yi had ever seen, and it also had the most remaining lifespan.
Yet he had no mind to dwell on it now.
Compared with the Four-Unity True Qi he had deliberately revealed, the method of using lifespan to make up for the twelve major orifices was what truly needed to be hidden.
While Lin Baiwei was absent, he invested five years of lifespan into the Wind and Thunder Demon-Subduing True Interpretation.
The next moment, though his face was still pale, the empty orifices within him instantly filled up.
If he wished, he could unleash Astral Qi like before another one hundred and thirty-one times.
Shen Yi slowly gripped the hilt of his saber.
Night was approaching.
In Baiyun County, only a scattered few pedestrians remained on the long street.
As the man in the ink-black long robe stepped onto the street, more than a dozen figures in various outfits silently gathered around him. Fragments of hushed words slipped into his ears.
The beggar's expression was grave. "I went to Lin Mansion. That wasn't Lin; it should have been a demon in disguise. I'm not sure whether it noticed me."
The young man carrying a candied-figurine pole continued, "According to rumors in the marketplace, Lin once left the city to subdue demons, returned severely injured, and was escorted back to Lin Mansion by a constable surnamed Shen."
Several more people approached. "Shen Yi was born outside Baiyun County. He once worked in an inn's kitchen, began roaming the streets at fourteen, and was later noticed by Song Changfeng, the chief clerk of the criminal office, entering the Constabulary Office. His record of misdeeds is extensive. He is by nature a gambler, and has even colluded with demons to stir up trouble."
Li Xinhan glanced sideways. "A vicious constable?"
Another person beside him shook his head. "Not necessarily. According to the villagers of Liuli Temple Village, he once went there alone and slew thirteen demons. We also learned from the county magistrate's confession that, on the day we arrived, Vajra Sect disciples and the East Mountain ape demon exchanged messages and ambushed Shen Yi in the wilderness. The next day, both the ape demon and the court clerk were dead."
"I secretly made inquiries. Quite a few commoners had their daughters abducted by constables, then sent back through his hands with rice and flour offered as apology. Judging by the timing, that was more or less during the days he was slaying demons."
After gathering all this information,
Li Xinhan gazed into the distance at the door of a nearby house and said with a trace of mockery, "He endured humiliation for years, mastered divine arts, and cleared his name?"
The beggar knew he was joking, but still hesitated. "Though there is suspicion that he was merely going through the motions during inspections and embracing Buddha's feet at the last minute... what you said is not impossible. After all, he was ostracized by the entire yamen. If it was all an act, he went a little too far."
(End of chapter)
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