Put the Blade Down

On the way back to town.

Chen Ji rode behind on a donkey, watching the tall, straight-backed figure ahead. Something about it felt strange.

Normally, Shen Yi would skin the common folk alive for a single pass by their door. He wouldn't spare their money, wine, or meat, and wouldn't even let their daughters go.

He'd personally slain a monster today. What a perfect excuse to fleece them, yet he'd just walked away without a fuss?

And earlier, at the farmhouse, though he'd struck by surprise, the other man was so drained by wine and women that he'd been panting after just a few steps. How had he managed to stab the dog demon without giving it a chance to fight back?

Chen Ji asked himself honestly: if he'd been sitting beside the dog demon at the time, he probably couldn't have done it so cleanly, either.

He remembered Shen Yi's haphazard flipping through the martial arts manual on the way there.

He hesitated, then asked, "Lord Shen, are you interested in the Demon Suppression Division's martial arts, too?"

At that, Shen Yi looked back. Seeing the boy's conflicted expression, he recalled how reluctant the other man had looked when he handed over the martial arts manual at the Constabulary Office.

"..."

Somewhat speechless, he pulled out the manual and tossed it over. "I was just taking a look. Here, it's yours."

"That's not what I meant..." Chen Ji caught the manual and instinctively explained, "I've gained some insight into these three forms of martial arts. If you're interested, Lord Shen, I can teach you—"

His voice abruptly cut off.

Chen Ji furrowed his brows. He didn't understand why he'd said such a thing.

One of the main reasons he'd worked so hard to master martial arts was so he could use the long saber in his hand to hack down the brute in front of him. How could he possibly be willing to share his insights with him?

He really had changed!

From their first encounter that morning, Shen Yi had seemed like a different person. Every move he made was beyond Chen Ji's expectations.

Could it be that the other man had found his conscience and was ready to turn over a new leaf?

"Tie up the donkey, and deal with the demon's corpse, too."

Back at the county yamen, Shen Yi stood at the entrance to the Constabulary Office, looking a little tired.

He'd had blood on his hands two days in a row. It was only demon blood, but he still wasn't used to it.

Fortunately, his predecessor had been a street thug of a constable, with no real duties to perform. Someone like Shen Yi, who actually sat in the Constabulary Office for a while, would be praised for his diligence.

He rolled his shoulders a little, then stepped inside.

"Boss Shen, you're early today?"

"..."

Shen Yi glanced at the noonday sun overhead, then slowly turned his gaze back to the men in front of him.

The man who'd stated the obvious was Zhang Dahu. He'd been his predecessor's most trusted man, handling every dirty, exhausting task he was given. He was practically a confidant.

Along with the men behind him, they were all the men under Shen Yi's command.

"Mm."

Shen Yi nodded and continued into the room.

From his predecessor's behavior, it was clear these lackeys were no good. Apart from bullying the weak, all they did was eat, drink, and make merry.

As for their skills, they could use their official sabers to bully ordinary folk, but against demons, they were little better than giving themselves away for free.

Shen Yi had no interest in shooting the breeze with them, either.

He'd barely passed the group when Zhang Dahu came bustling after him, looking eager for praise. "Boss Shen, I've taken care of what you asked."

"What did I ask you to do?" Shen Yi paused, slightly startled.

"You know, have that kid's younger sister take the Liu Family girl's place." Zhang Dahu put on a pitiful expression. "You have no idea how things are in this county. Every family keeps their daughters hidden away. To get the number you wanted, the brothers nearly ran their legs off these past few days."

Then he grinned. "The brothers and I arranged everything. We sent that kid to Liuli Temple Village. Don't worry, he won't be back for ten days or half a month."

As he spoke, Shen Yi's heart sank a little. Something suddenly came back to him.

Just then, a thin figure stopped at the entrance to the Constabulary Office.

Chen Ji took off his bamboo hat. His gaze was lifeless as he silently looked up at the group.

The next moment, his eyes filled with self-mockery. His saber rang as he drew it from his waist!

So much for turning over a new leaf. So much for becoming a better person.

A brute was still a brute!

"Damn it, how did he get back? Protect Lord Shen!"

Zhang Dahu cried out. He and the six constables behind him drew their sabers together and formed a crooked line in front of Shen Yi.

"Chen, you've got some nerve! Drawing your saber on the boss in the yamen? If you want to live, put your saber down! Do you hear me?"

"Hmph."

Chen Ji looked at them. Though he was outnumbered eight to one, his eyes were full of scorn.

After diligently mastering the Demon Suppression Division's martial arts, these rabble weren't even worth a single move.

In an instant, Chen Ji lunged forward three steps.

Zhang Dahu feared the other man's reputation as a martial arts prodigy, but he had the advantage in numbers. A vicious look rose on his face. "I've never liked you, you bastard. You dare give us attitude? You're asking for death."

The constables had no proper training, but seven gleaming steel sabers swinging out at once still made for a fearsome sight.

Chen Ji didn't even look their way. He casually swept his saber up, easily turning aside their attacks.

Zhang Dahu was in his prime and powerfully built. Normally, beating peddlers was as easy as catching chicks. Now he gripped his saber in both hands, sweat beading on the tip of his nose, but he couldn't force the blade down even an inch.

The next moment, Chen Ji swung his saber again.

A flash of silver gleamed. The clear ring of metal rang out, and all seven steel sabers snapped in two.

The constables stumbled backward, clutching their wrists in horror. The tremendous force that had traveled through the hilts was far beyond anything they could have imagined.

"Ah... ah... Protect Lord Shen..."

Zhang Dahu had known the other man might be tough to handle, but he'd never imagined he'd be this terrifying. His voice turned shrill as he wailed and backed away.

Chen Ji didn't pursue them. Instead, he walked slowly toward the last man, his expression impassive.

Shen Yi stood with his hands at his sides, his brows furrowing as he looked over. He said quietly, "Put the saber down first."

"I'll take responsibility for what I've done. Don't bother begging for mercy." Chen Ji shook his head, tightening his grip on the saber.

Rivers and mountains might change, but a person's nature was hard to alter.

A dog could never stop eating its own filth.

A vicious curl lifted the corner of his lips. His voice sounded like that of a vengeful ghost come to claim a life. "Lord Shen, watch yourself in your next life."

As the words fell, silver flashed again.

The icy long saber rose high and came crashing down with tremendous force. The onlookers were so terrified that they nearly forgot to breathe.

"Quite the flowery little speech."

Shen Yi raised an eyebrow and finally rested his hand on his saber. He didn't draw it, simply gripping the scabbard.

Then he swung it over with casual ease.

The black scabbard slipped past the silver blade with exquisite precision and, before it could come down, settled lightly on Chen Ji's shoulder.

The next instant, Chen Ji's pupils jolted wide. His mind went blank, as if he'd encountered something so bizarre he couldn't begin to understand it.

His entire body abruptly sank. His knees bent, creaking—

The saber slipped from his hand. He dropped to one knee, his breathing ragged, both arms braced hard against the ground. The veins in his neck bulged, yet no matter how hard he strained, he couldn't move a single inch.

The sole cause of all this was the scabbard pressed against his shoulder.

Chen Ji stared at the pair of official boots before him, then tried to glance up from the corner of his eye.

Shen Yi still looked as calm as ever. His voice was utterly even. "I said, put the saber down first."