Put Down Your Blade

On the way back to the city, Chen Ji followed behind on his donkey, staring at the straight, tall back ahead of him and feeling that something was quite strange.

In the past, even if Shen Yi merely passed by a doorway, he would have tried to scrape a layer of skin off the commoners; money, wine, meat, and even other people's daughters were never spared.

Today, he had personally beheaded a demon—what a perfect excuse to extort, yet he had just walked away so lightly?

Furthermore, back at the farmhouse, although it was a sneak attack, given the target's body, which had been hollowed out by wine and lust and left him panting after a few steps, how could he have stabbed the dog demon until it had no power to fight back?

Chen Ji asked himself honestly: if he had been the one sitting next to the dog demon at that moment, he feared he could not have acted with such crisp, clean efficiency.

Thinking back to how Shen Yi had been flipping through the martial arts manual earlier, he hesitated and asked, "Is Lord Shen also interested in the martial arts of the Demon Suppression Division?"

Hearing this, Shen Yi turned his head, looked at the conflicted expression on the kid's face, and recalled the reluctance in the man's eyes when he had handed over the manual in the duty room.

"..."

He was speechless for a moment, then pulled out the martial arts manual and tossed it over. "Just looking through it. Here, take it back."

"That is not what this subordinate meant..." Chen Ji caught the manual and explained subconsciously, "This subordinate has gained some small insights into these three stances. If Lord Shen is interested, I could..."

His voice cut off abruptly.

Chen Ji furrowed his brows tightly; he did not understand why he had said such a thing.

He knew that one of the main reasons he had worked so hard to practice martial arts was to use the long blade in his hand to cut down this very beast before him. How could he possibly be willing to impart his martial arts insights to him?

He really had changed!

From their encounter this morning, Shen Yi seemed like a completely different person; every action was beyond his expectations.

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

"Tie up the donkey and dispose of the demon's corpse."

Back at the county office, Shen Yi stood at the entrance of the duty room, a hint of fatigue on his face.

Having his hands stained with blood for two consecutive days—even if it was demon blood—was something he was still not quite used to.

Fortunately, his predecessor was a ruffian official who had no real work to do on a daily basis; someone like Shen Yi, who could sit in the duty room for a while, would even be praised by others for being diligent.

He stretched his body slightly before stepping inside.

"Boss Shen, so early today?"

"..."

Shen Yi looked at the scorching noon sun overhead, then slowly returned his gaze to the few men in front of him.

The one who had just spoken such a blatant lie was named Zhang Dahu. He was the one most valued by the predecessor, handling all the dirty work and heavy lifting; he was considered a trusted aide.

Together with the others behind him, they made up the entirety of Shen Yi's base of support.

"Mm."

Shen Yi nodded and continued walking into the room.

One could tell from the predecessor's past behavior that this group of lackeys was certainly not composed of good people; aside from bullying the kind and honest, they did nothing but eat, drink, and play.

As for their combat skills, they could get by bullying commoners with their official blades, but against demons, they were essentially offering themselves up on a platter.

Shen Yi had no interest in chatting with them.

Just as he passed them, Zhang Dahu trotted up behind him, looking as if he were waiting to be rewarded. "Boss Shen, the task you assigned has been completed."

"What task?" Shen Yi was slightly stunned.

"The one about taking that kid's sister to fill the quota for the Liu family girl." Zhang Dahu put on a pitiful expression. "You wouldn't know, but with the situation in our county, every family hides their daughters well. To meet the number you required, the brothers have nearly run their legs off these past few days."

He chuckled, adding, "The brothers arranged everything and sent that kid off to Liuli Temple Village. Don't worry, he won't be back for at least ten days or half a month."

As the words fell, Shen Yi's heart sank slightly, and he suddenly remembered something.

At that very moment, a thin figure stopped at the entrance of the duty room.

Chen Ji took off his bamboo hat, his gaze dead and silent as he looked up at the group.

The next moment, his eyes filled with self-mockery, and the blade at his waist rang as it was drawn from its scabbard!

To hell with turning over a new leaf. To hell with starting a new life.

A beast is a beast!

"Damn it, why is he back! Protect Lord Shen!"

Zhang Dahu let out a cry of alarm, and together with the remaining six bailiffs, they drew their blades and blocked the path in front of Shen Yi in a disorganized mess.

"Chen, you have some nerve! Daring to draw your blade on the boss in the yamen? If you want to live, put your blade down right now, do you hear me!"

"Hmph."

Chen Ji looked at the group; although it was one against eight, his eyes were filled with nothing but contempt.

After his diligent study of the Demon Suppression Division's martial arts, this rabble was not even worth a single exchange.

In an instant, Chen Ji took three sharp steps forward.

Although Zhang Dahu was wary of the man's reputation as a martial arts prodigy, he relied on their superior numbers, and a look of cruelty surfaced on his face. "I've long found you, you bastard, to be an eyesore. You dare to climb all over us? You're courting death."

Although these bailiffs had no real martial arts training, seven gleaming steel blades slashing out at once still looked quite intimidating.

However, Chen Ji did not blink. He swung his official blade casually, easily parrying the group's offensive.

Zhang Dahu was in his prime and had a large build; he was used to beating up peddlers as easily as catching chicks. At this moment, he gripped his blade with both hands, sweat beading on the tip of his nose, yet the blade he swung could not press down even an inch further.

The next moment, Chen Ji swung his blade again.

A sharp silver light flashed, followed by a crisp ringing of metal, and all seven steel blades snapped in unison.

The bailiffs stumbled backward, clutching their wrists in horror. The immense force transmitted from the hilts had far exceeded their imagination.

"Ah... ah... protect Lord Shen..."

Zhang Dahu knew the man was tough, but he had never imagined he would be this terrifying. His voice turned shrill, and he retreated toward the back while howling.

Chen Ji did not pursue them, but instead walked slowly to the last man, his expression indifferent.

Shen Yi stood with his hands hanging at his sides, frowning as he watched. He said softly, "Put down the blade first."

"If you dare to do it, you must dare to face the consequences. Do not beg for mercy." Chen Ji shook his head, his grip on the blade tightening further.

A leopard cannot change its spots.

A dog, in the end, can never stop eating filth.

A savage sneer curled his lips, and his voice sounded like a vengeful ghost claiming a life: "Lord Shen, be more careful in your next life."

As the words fell, the silver light reappeared.

The cold, sharp blade was raised high and brought down with heavy, crushing force, leaving the onlookers terrified, their breath catching in their throats.

"You certainly have a way with words."

Shen Yi raised an eyebrow. His hand finally rested on his own blade, but he did not draw it; he simply gripped the scabbard.

Then, he swung it out with an understated motion.

The pitch-black scabbard bypassed the silver light with exquisite precision, landing lightly on Chen Ji's shoulder just before the blade could strike.

The next moment, Chen Ji's pupils dilated in shock, his mind going blank as if he had encountered some incomprehensible, eerie situation.

His entire body suddenly sank, his knees buckling with a creaking sound—

The long blade slipped from his hand. He fell to one knee, his breathing ragged, his arms straining against the ground. The veins on his neck bulged, but despite using all his strength, he could not move even a fraction.

And the cause of all this was merely the scabbard pressing down on his shoulder.

Chen Ji stared fixedly at the official boots in front of him, glancing upward from the corner of his eye.

Within his line of sight, Shen Yi remained as calm as ever, his voice devoid of any ripples: "I said, put down the blade first."