A Fine Sword

"Sir, this is my son's room. Look at this."

Song Yuan's son led Lin Jun to the northwest corner of the estate. The maids and servants inside were crouched in the corners, watching Lin Jun with curiosity and fear.

Several bloody characters had been written on the door in some unknown blood.

Tonight, it's your turn.

It had been written in human blood—specifically, the blood of a child less than a year old.

No wonder Song Yuan was so panicked. This was practically a death notice for his family.

"Were the others the same?"

"Yes, yes. The children in the south of the city were all like this. First the words appeared, then the child in that household disappeared. Sir, you must protect my child!"

Lin Jun touched the blood with his hand. Waves of bone-piercing chill seeped from it.

Yet the blood had not frozen.

Lin Jun drew a deep breath and narrowed his eyes, sensing the lingering stench of blood in the air.

"Let's go."

"Huh?"

Song Yuan was utterly baffled by Lin Jun's inexplicable words. He did not understand what Lin Jun meant.

Ignoring the bewildered Song Yuan, Lin Jun turned and headed out of the estate.

"S-Sir, you're going to..."

Before Song Yuan's son could finish, Song Yuan grabbed him.

"Father?"

"Don't provoke him."

Song Yuan wore an expression of grim certainty.

Expecting someone who had done evil for three years to become a hero in a few short dozen days—no storybook would dare write something like that.

Lin Jun was still Lin Jun. It was only that the three-year term was nearly up, and he desperately needed to rack up some merit so that he would not return to the Demon Exorcism Bureau empty-handed.

"Let's just say we lost the bet."

He had only sought out Lin Jun with the mindset of giving it a try, so he had naturally prepared himself for failure.

It was just that the price of losing this bet was far too steep. His grandson had only been born a little over a month ago.

"Ah!"

Song Yuan's son punched a pillar. He did not resent Lin Jun; after all, Lin Jun had always been this way.

"Damned demons."

Lin Jun jogged all the way back along the road he had come from, then stood at the estate gate and looked around.

One glance nearly gave Lin Jun a fright—somehow, a crowd had gathered outside.

"Who are you people?"

"Just passing by, just passing by!"

"Yes, yes! The master told us to come out and buy vegetables. We just happened to be passing by. Sir, carry on, carry on."

The people hurried away one after another, but Lin Jun sensed that they had not gone far. Instead, each of them had hidden nearby.

It seemed these were all servants sent by the wealthy merchants of the south of the city.

Lin Jun said nothing. He scanned the surroundings, and before long, spotted the person he was looking for.

He Jing truly had not left.

Ignoring all those gazes, Lin Jun walked up to He Jing.

He Jing seemed to have known Lin Jun would return and had been waiting there all along.

"Regretting it now? I told you already, that wasn't a demon you could handle. How could such a terrifying demon have been born in Green Forest County?"

Remembering what he had seen then, he still could not help feeling a lingering dread.

"It's no big deal for young people to suffer a little. Don't throw away your life for the sake of face. I've been young too—I know what you youngsters think about all day. Come on, while that demon hasn't arrived yet."

The same held true as before. Although He Jing had a grievance against Lin Jun, when facing demons, he believed people should stand together.

He had waited here all this time because he wanted to see if he could lend Lin Jun a hand when he was at death's door.

"Thank you for your kindness, Senior. I came back this time to borrow your treasured sword. I hope you will agree."

Lin Jun's horse-chopping saber likely could not be repaired anytime soon. Ordinary blades could not withstand Lin Jun's Blood-Baleful Aura either, so Lin Jun set his sights on He Jing.

After all, he was the senior brother of a sect from Brocade City. The weapon on him could not possibly be poor.

He Jing's eyes widened, and he nearly cursed aloud.

He had risked himself by waiting here for Lin Jun, only for this to be the result.

"You! You thickheaded brat!"

"You're utterly unreasonable. Get lost!"

Though He Jing told him to get lost, he himself limped away.

Lin Jun simply watched him. Sure enough, after He Jing had walked about ten meters, he suddenly threw the treasured sword from his body to Lin Jun.

"Remember to return it!"

"Certainly!"

Lin Jun caught the treasured sword and slowly drew it.

Under the moonlight, the blade gave off not even the slightest reflection. It was black as charcoal.

A fine sword.

Although Lin Jun used a saber, as long as he imagined the sword as a somewhat unusual saber, it was not impossible to use.

Carrying the treasured sword just like that, Lin Jun entered the estate under the servants' watchful gazes.

However, something seemed a little off inside.

Song Yuan's son was wildly swinging a ceremonial sword.

"Ha! Demon, behold my sword!"

"With me here, don't even think of harming a single hair on my son's head!"

"If Heaven had not given birth to me, Song Hui, the sword path would be a long night through all eternity! Today, I shall use this demon's blood to consecrate my sword! Sword, come!"

Lin Jun: ...

Had he gone mad?

At that moment, Song Yuan, who lay on the ground with a face full of despair, suddenly saw Lin Jun and hurriedly got to his feet.

"Sir, you've returned."

Song Hui froze completely and turned around as stiffly as a machine.

"Please don't take offense, Sir. My son was trying to frighten off that demon."

This family was truly interesting...

Then again, the wealthy merchants in the south of the city all wanted Lin Jun dead. Since this family had been willing to lower themselves and beg him, their way of thinking was naturally different.

"You may leave. I'll stand guard here tonight."

"Find me a stool."

Song Yuan hurriedly ordered the servants, and before long, they brought over a chair.

A grand tutor's chair...

"Sir, this one is more comfortable to sit in."

Let it be said again: this family was truly interesting.

"Go on."

Lin Jun found a small stool nearby, planted the sword into the ground, and sat down with his eyes tightly shut.

Like a door god who inspired awe without anger.

Seeing this, everyone left one after another, though none went far. They all watched the inside with curious eyes.

Time slowly passed, and the sound of the night watchman came from outside.

"The air is dry, beware of fire and candles..."

The wind had turned cold.

Lin Jun slowly opened his eyes. At some unknown point, a white snake had appeared before him.

Unbroken frost spread around the white snake, extending all the way to Lin Jun's feet.

The white snake's eyes brimmed with hateful fury, as though it wished to swallow Lin Jun alive.

For a moment, Lin Jun could not make heads or tails of it. He had never seen this demon before, so where had it gotten such deep resentment toward him?

"Do you humans also feel pain when you lose a child? Hahaha!"

"My grandson who had not even been born yet—what had they done wrong? You killed them, you damned thing! How dare you!"

Lin Jun thought for a moment before slowly replying,

"Which one are you talking about? Sorry, I've killed too many demons to remember them all. Could you give me a hint?"

Other than when tallying his experience, Lin Jun never bothered to remember those demons.

That single sentence seemed to enrage the Snake Demon before him. A freezing gale rose around them, and the courtyard, once bursting with spring, instantly plunged into an ice cellar.

"I will skin you and tear your bones apart!"