Wind and Thunder Precious Scroll

Walking through the streets of Baiyun County, Shen Yi asked for the addresses of the girls one by one.

He had driven the other bailiffs away, mostly because he found their reputations too foul and ill-suited to be seen in his company.

Even so, the pedestrians on the street avoided him as if he were a plague god.

Shen Yi shook his head and knocked on the dilapidated wooden door before him.

The woman who opened the door had tear-blurred eyes; upon seeing the sword-bearing youth, she subconsciously tried to close the door to hide.

Shen Yi reached out to block it and turned slightly to the side. A little girl immediately threw herself into the woman's arms, sobbing with a hoarse, breathless voice, "Mama!"

The woman stood stunned for a long time, her red, swollen eyes blinking repeatedly as if she found it hard to believe. Then, her nose stung, and she hugged the thin, small frame tightly. "My child! Those god-forsaken bailiffs!"

Her words cut off abruptly. She glanced furtively at the tall figure standing in front and realized she had spoken out of turn.

Yet, Shen Yi acted as if he hadn't heard. He turned and took two bags of rice and flour, along with a slab of pork, from Chen Ji, then bent down to place them beside the woman's feet.

"The child has been hungry for a long time and suffered a great fright. Go cook her some meat porridge to build her strength back up."

Chen Ji carried the rice and flour, a hint of surprise breaking through his sullen expression.

He watched as the man who wore a cold face all day, Officer Shen, actually cupped his hands in a salute and offered an apologetic smile, before gently closing the door for the mother and daughter.

What the hell was going on!

This scene repeated itself six more times.

By the time all the girls had been returned home, Shen Yi retreated back to the street and rubbed his stiff jawline hard. "..."

Watching his movements, Chen Jinyu couldn't help but chuckle, finding it inexplicably amusing.

It was obvious that the man was not good at social interaction, and even worse at apologizing. Despite his calm and indifferent appearance, his entire body was actually rigid.

"Brother, is this the new superior from your yamen?"

Hearing this, Chen Ji glanced at his sister silently. "No, that is Shen Yi."

Upon hearing the name, Chen Jinyu subconsciously covered her red lips. Although she had never met the man himself, that was only because her brother had always protected her; she had long since heard of his notorious reputation.

"Stay away from him."

Chen Ji warned her in a low voice, but his own thoughts grew increasingly complex.

It wasn't just Shen Yi's changes that he couldn't fathom; there were more pressing matters to resolve.

Now that the girls were all returned, how were they to deal with those old apes?

When the agreed-upon time arrived, what would Shen Yi use to fulfill the quota?

"Officer Shen."

Chen Ji walked over slowly. Shen Yi regained his focus and glanced at him casually. "The rest is for your sister, take it all back."

"That is not what this subordinate wanted to say!"

Chen Ji gritted his teeth in frustration. He couldn't understand why the man always changed the subject.

It had been the same with the dog demon earlier. Could these problems simply be treated as non-existent if one refused to speak of them?

Under his gaze, Shen Yi stood with his hands hanging at his sides. After a moment, he said faintly, "I don't know."

The simple four-word reply caused Chen Ji's expression to change instantly. "Are you joking with me?"

Shen Yi looked at him calmly.

He was telling the truth.

The current Baiyun County was already riddled with crises, far beyond what a single bad man turning over a new leaf could resolve.

The black-skinned dog demon that had suddenly attacked him at the Liu Mansion, the Huang Laoliu couple who had settled in the village, and the ape demon with its ever-increasing demands—they were all trampling the unspoken rules established with the Baiyun County yamen as if they were nothing.

This meant that either the bailiffs' retreat had emboldened the demons, or the demons themselves knew that news of the Demon Suppression Division was coming and were worried the yamen might turn on them, wanting to vent their malice to the fullest in the final moments.

Shen Yi was merely a minor official; he had no standing to communicate with the Demon Suppression Division, and thus no ability to turn the tide.

He either had to hand over the people of the entire county to be trampled by demons at will, or shed this uniform early and prioritize his own survival.

[Remaining Lifespan: One Year]

He turned his head, looking at the cold text on the panel.

Self-preservation was meaningless. If he wanted to live, he could only hope there was some profound martial art here that could extend his lifespan.

Whether he relied on the panel to deduce techniques or sought them out within the Demon Suppression Division, it all required slaying demons and eliminating devils.

Shen Yi had only the long sword in his hand to rely on.

"Let's go." He started walking.

"Where to?" Chen Ji followed closely behind.

"To your place for a meal. I'm hungry."

"..."

It was clear that Chen Ji was extremely resistant to Shen Yi stepping into his home.

But after the events of the day, despite his deep reluctance, he acquiesced to the situation.

The siblings lived in a house assigned by the yamen.

There was only one bedroom, reserved for Chen Jinyu, and a small woodshed in the back that had been converted into Chen Ji's living quarters.

"Brother, come in and sit."

"No need. You go cook."

Chen Ji hung his head and led Shen Yi into the woodshed, dragging out two small stools.

"Isn't this a bit much?" Shen Yi raised an eyebrow, looking at the stool that was barely a foot high. How was this any different from sitting on the floor? "Your sister's room is quite spacious, and I'm not a thief. Why are you guarding against me?"

"Make do." Chen Ji walked to the bed, lifted the straw mat, and pulled out a yellowed sheet of paper from beneath it.

He closed his eyes and hesitated for a long time. In his mind, the image of Shen Yi hooking his arm around the dog demon to kill it contrasted sharply with the smile he had worn when returning the girls.

"I don't care if you truly have no way out or just don't want to discuss it with me, but I really can't help with much."

Chen Ji opened his eyes and handed over the paper. "Take this."

"What is this?"

Shen Yi took it, gave it a cursory glance, and his expression gradually shifted.

Before Chen Ji could answer, the panel had already provided the answer.

[Wind and Thunder Precious Scroll, Part One (Not Yet Initiated)]

"Back then, a captain from the Demon Suppression Division sought me out privately. He said I had talent, and besides the three standard martial arts, he wrote these seventy-eight words of true scripture for me alone."

"This is a method of medicinal refinement—sinews, bones, skin, and flesh, the four great barriers. Once cultivated to perfection, one reaches the pinnacle of mortal flesh."

Chen Ji wore a self-deprecating smile. "The captain had a discerning eye, yet he overlooked you. I don't know if he saw through your character long ago. It's a pity that in three years, I haven't even been able to break through the first barrier."

"Giving it to you now probably won't be of much use, but I have nothing else to offer... Read it slowly. I'm going out to help with the cooking."

Regarding Chen Ji's words, Shen Yi suppressed his joy and merely waved his hand. "Go, go."

The man's assessment was correct; even the most profound martial art would be of little use if one tried to cram at the last minute.

But for him, it was entirely different.

[Remaining Demon Lifespan: One Hundred and Ninety-Nine Years]

It was fortunate he had held back this morning.

Shen Yi steadied his breathing. Following the usual routine, he started with ten years.

Ten years of demon lifespan instantly poured into the Wind and Thunder Precious Scroll, and a few lines of text quietly emerged.

[First year: You study the method of medicinal refinement thoroughly, using the essence of heaven and earth to nourish the great sinews of your body.]

[Third year: With no medicine available, you can only absorb the meager essence through food; progress is slow.]

[Seventh year: You faintly sense signs of breaking through the barrier. Your sinews are like dragons, but suffering from a lack of essence, you can only proceed step by step, accumulating strength.]

[Tenth year: You break through the sinew barrier. The Wind and Thunder Precious Scroll, Part One, is initiated.]